New Times - March 2010

Issue 29, No 2 March 2010 www.sa.uca.org.au/newtimes

walking together

If a picture says a thousand words we shouldn’t have to say anymore...

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The advertised offer is available from 1 March 2010 and is subject to change or withdrawal without notice.

Offer available to new investments greater than $5,000. Interest paid at maturity on 8 month term investments and annually on 48 month term investments. UC Invest is an activity of The Uniting Church in Australia Property Trust (S.A.) ABN 25 068 897 781. Neither UC Invest nor the Uniting Church SA are supervised by the Australian Prudential Regulatory Authority (APRA). Investments lodged with UC Invest are not protected by the provisions of the Banking Act 1959. UC Invest is designed for investors who wish to promote the charitable purposes of the Uniting Church SA.

PP 565 001/00190 ISSN 0726-2612

faith, fringe-dwellers and families

Pancakes and provisions

Community on the fringes

UnitingCare Pancake Day flips for a cause p. 3

Embracing new family p. 5-11

Ed&Mod

2

New Times

The ugly truth I’d have a very odd life if all my friends and family were the same as me. We’d all hit our heads on the same thing, be in queues for the same sold-out music events and disappointed about the same six week wait for our same theology books to get into stores.

As much as I value the things I’m interested in, it would be boring.

I’ve heard that we naturally gravitate to those like us, because we find natural affinities. I’ve got to agree, but there needs to be a limit!

While shared interests are good, identical personas are not.

It would not only be all of our positives coming to the fore, it would also be all of the same flaws.

An attitude of wanting identical peoples is not just humorously clone-ish though, it can be downright dangerous, even deadly.

A friend of mine shared an email with me recently suggesting a new Australian flag. The flag looked the same, with one addition - someone had ‘wittily’ typed into the middle ‘F*#% off, we’re full.’

My friend thought it was funny – I didn’t.

‘Innocent jokes’ like these dehumanise the ‘issue’ of asylum seekers; when we dehumanise each other, atrocities become acceptable.

When we only associate with ‘those like us’ we instigate riots like on Australia Day in 2009 young people roaming Manly’s

streets chanting ‘If you’re white and you know it clap your hands...’

We see a deadlier dehumanisation in events like WWII. Etc, etc, et al. There’s no end to the depravity when we no longer identify the goodness of each other, as different as we might be.

Jesus constantly re-framed what it meant to be different or, in the most beautiful sense, ‘holy’ - that is, distinctive and set apart. He redefined family.

He joined the outcasts and weirdos. He turned ideas of grandeur on their head.

It’s the topsy-turvy world of God’s kingdom that will also upset our applecarts - in our hearts, in our culture, in our homes and in our churches – if we’re willing to let it.

Embracing my own oddness,

Caryn Rogers, the ed.

ISSN 0726-2612 New Times is the voice of Uniting Church SA. Published monthly, February through December, New Times represents the breadth, diversity and vision of Uniting Church members in SA. News policies, guides and deadlines appear online at sa.uca.org.au/newtimes. Articles and advertising do not necessarily reflect the views of the Editor.

Editor

Caryn Rogers 8236 4230 crogers@sa.uca.org.au

Advertising

Russell Baker 8361 6822 advertise.newtimes@sa.uca.org.au

Enquiries and Book Reviews

Alex McGrath 8236 4242 amcgrath@sa.uca.org.au

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MARCH 2010

A very full house Rod Dyson, the Mod. In Luke chapter 2.41-51 we see a very different view of family to the current view in Australia. I imagine that if we set out on a journey without checking that all of our children were present (a la Home Alone) we would be in breach of the law.

I presume that Mary and Joseph had assumed two things; that Jesus would be in the group of people that they were travelling with and, secondly, that he would be looked after by other adults.

Parenting was the responsibility of several generations and even the wider clan. We still see this understanding in the countries where most of the Uniting Church’s international partnerships are located.

In Australia the focus, in general, is more on the nuclear family and we assume the right to a lot of individual space. The house next to the manse we live in sold some time ago - the first contact with our new neighbour came with a request that we remove the current boundary fence and replace it with one that is two metres high.

“It will be better for our privacy,” he said.

In sharp contrast, one of my daughters approached Liz and me a few months ago. The lease on their house was coming to an end; they needed to move out and as she and her husband were about to start building a house, ‘could they move in until the new house was finished?’

In the middle of February this year we gained two adults, a two and a half year old granddaughter, a five month old grandson and two cats.

It took Liz and me quite a while to empty two rooms. That was the first space we had to create.

We would also need to adjust our day to day living and work out some new house rules to make sure that our various needs would be met – including our needs for individual space (all four adults spend a lot of time in relationally rich environments).

I suspect that there will be times when our house feels too crowded and times when it will be a lot of fun. I am also presuming that this period of eight months (or so) will be a gift and when we become a household of only three again our house will feel very empty.

As I write this Luke 5.1-11 has just been the Gospel lectionary reading.

Welcoming more of our family into our home feels like being called into the deep. If we had said ‘no’ I think we might have missed out on one of the biggest ‘catches’ of our lives.

Rights can be very barren and unfulfilling.

A broad embracing, generous and welcoming way of life, where family is everyone we meet, is complicated and demanding but is part of the abundant life that God offers to us.

And now, when the baby cries in the night we can say, “At least we can stay in bed.”

The times, they are a’ changin..

Yes New Times is changing! As of May 2010 we will be refreshing our format and taking on a new shape and design style. For any advertising queries associated with this facelift, please contact Russell Baker on 8361 6822 or advertise.newtimes@sa.uca.org.au.

Otherwise, watch this (changing) space!

Next issue:

Easter proclamations

News

New Times

3

Adelaide flips over Pancake Day

Rundle Mall faced a different kind of heat on Tuesday 16 Feb, as Firemen from the Metropolitan Fire Service (MFS) took on local improviser-extraodinaires, the Changing Jennifers, in UnitingCare’s eighth annual pancake-flipping race – all part of the mix in Pancake Day festivities in 2010.

The Firies narrowly beat out their opposition, commenting that they hoped for even stronger competition from other local services bringing their

A-Game to the race next year.

The city and state Pancake Day events promote the work of UnitingCare and raise funds to support local UnitingCare agencies in their work to alleviate poverty and disadvantage within communities state-wide.

UnitingCare’s eighth launch event was a great success, raising more than $4,800 - to be further supplemented by the almost 90 Uniting Church congregations hosting their own events.

A huge thank you from all of the UnitingCare SA team to the more than 60 volunteers who served up over 4000(!) pancakes on the day, as well as to the MFS, Changing Jennifers, Nick from indie/pop quartet ‘Galleon’ and local singer-songwriter Georgia Germein for entertaining the crowds.

Remember, you can still hold an event too just call 1800 060 543 and get organising!

Coming up for children and youth Buckle up for KCOnia United What are you up to on March 13-14?

If you’re aged between seven to 12 years old then belt up for your intergalactic ride to KCOnia United with us!

If you’re aged between seven to 12 years, it’s unlikely that you’d be reading this article. But if you’re a parent, grandparent, aunty or uncle – get ready: KCO 2010 is just one week away!

We’re really looking forward to being together at the beautiful Barossa Valley Tourist Park. The setting is a lovely, serene country setting with big overarching trees, and wildlife everywhere you look. We’re expecting that your children will not keep the serenity for very long though!

Over the weekend we’ll be discovering a universe of faith, fun and friendship – while celebrating community united under the cross of Jesus.

Through creative crafts, carnival activities, general adventuring and scavenger hunts your child should have

a suitably exhausting and exciting time – and be home well in time for a good night’s sleep before school on Monday.

So... fly to KCOnia United – we’ll see you there! (or fly online to www.sa.uca. org.au/goto/kco for more information)

What is KCO? KCO (KUCA Camp Out) is a 24 hour camp committed to assisting 7-12 year old children explore faith through their own discovery, encouraging sharing and relationships with their peers. At KCO kids enjoy a wide range of performances, activities, games, worship and music based on a central theme unpacking Jesus’ life and teachings in an understandable, age-appropriate and incredibly fun manner.

Time to live life - loud Get ready Adelaide. Out of the Valley (OOTV) Ministries is coming to Adelaide West Uniting Church on Friday 19 March, and calling on all youth and youth leaders across the state to celebrate what God has done and Live Life Loud.

OOTV is the Uniting Church SA Mission Resourcing Centre for youth; Live Life Loud is wired to get Uniting Church youth groups together, in worship, friendship and missionthinking to greater strengthen the Uniting Church youth body.

“We are using this event to help build and strengthen the youth and youth ministries of SA - both leaders and youth,” said Katrina Levi, OOTV event coordinator.

In conjunction with the Uniting Church’s South Australian Youth Camp Out (SAYCO) and new Youth Mission Planner, Will Hall, OOTV is aiming to share the love of Christ with more young people and create better

opportunities for a thriving Uniting Church future, safe in the hands of an enthusiastic, yet deeply-spiritual, generation of believers.

“We wanted SAYCO and OOTV to work together to better support youth as they network and make friends,” continues Katrina. “It’s really exciting to ‘join forces’ and dream big.

“Together in community, focussed on Christ, this young generation is going to ‘be’ the church in years to come – we want to facilitate them growing holistically into that process.

“If you’re in youth ministry, keep an eye out for our training events across the year – we’ll definitely make sure you hear about them!”

Live Life Loud takes place at Adelaide West Uniting Church on Friday 19 March at 7.30pm. For more information head online to outofthevalley.com or contact Katrina Levi on admin@outofthevalley.com.

MARCH 2010

News

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Recommendations to stem gambling tide Rev Graham Pitman and Mark Henley, Uniting Church nominees to SA Churches Gambling Taskforce Members of the South Australian Heads of Christian Churches Gambling Taskforce (GTF), met with Commissioners and staff from the Productivity Commission’s review of Australia’s gambling industries on two occasions last year.

A draft report was released in October and submissions in response were due to be submitted by Christmas.

Key findings included: • Only around 15% of Australian adults gamble regularly, excluding people whose only form of regular playing is on Lotto or ‘scratchies’ (essentially ‘safe’ forms of gambling) • Roughly 10% of these would be classified as ‘problem gamblers’; an additional 15% of regular gamblers experience ‘moderate risks’.

Parenting – it’s a blessing and a curse Shannon Short I’d like to think we all love our children to bits but, the reality is, when they are screaming, fighting, asking ‘why’ for the umpteenth time, toilet training, or feeding the dog things they shouldn’t … they aren’t always easy to love.

Most parents lament the absence of an instruction book.

We learn as we go from day one … sleep is over-rated … change little boys’ nappies quickly before you wear it … and it’s possible to squash almost any food substance into a DVD player - but much harder to get it out.

The Uniting Church has much to offer new parents (although unfortunately we can’t do much about the DVD players). With over fifty churches running playgroups we offer a genuine

hub for new parents and carers to connect with others.

Then as children grow up – there are kids clubs and youth groups – again offering a positive role model for children and teenagers.

Then there are the professional counsellors, chaplains and teachers who reside within our agencies.

So much wisdom – so how we do we share it?

Later this year, the Uniting Church will continue its Uniting People campaign with a focus on positive parenting.

The Uniting People campaign commenced in December with press and radio advertising (refer to page 16 of New Times to see one of our advertisements). Thirty Uniting Church schools and churches displayed Uniting People banners. Hundreds

of people visited the Uniting People website during the campaign.

The aim of Uniting People is to build the church’s profile and help others to grow in their understanding of what the Uniting Church offers the community.

Each phase of the campaign focuses on a theme. Whether that’s around loneliness (the focus of our first campaign) or parenting, the idea is to share the wisdom we have on key life issues.

The next campaign will focus on affirming the role of parents and encouraging people to spend quality time with their loved ones.

Our advertising will point to the Uniting People website (unitingpeople.org.au) which hosts a list of churches and agencies who offer programs and services for families.

Wanted: Parent-friendly churches Churches are encouraged to register their interest in the next phase of the Uniting People campaign and to run a parent-friendly event during the month of May. Possibilities include: • • • •

Parenting seminar Timeout for parents event Playgroup open day Thanksgiving service for past Baptism families

A further 15% of pokie players face ‘moderate risks’ Members of the GTF are very pleased with both the focus and recommendations from the Productivity Commission as they concentrate on practical measures to increase consumer protection. The GTF has highlighted the following recommendations as priorities for action during 2010.

The GTF strongly supports the recommendation for a universal pre-commitment program, to be in place by 2016 across Australia.

Pre-commitment will enable poker machine players to use a swipe card, or other data storage devices, to set limits to their gambling and to keep an accurate record of spending. Time and money spent, per session, are key limits that should be pre-set.

The GTF states that pre-commitment programs should be mandatory for all poker machine players, while the industry is proposing a voluntary scheme. Arguably this is the most important recommendation.

Other significant proposals include: • A maximum bet of $1 per spin on any poker machine.

(Poker machines give gamblers the option of playing multiple lines and multiple credits on any spin, so $20 $30 per minute can easily be spent, even on a one cent machine.)

• A reduction in accessibility to poker machine gambling is important. The GTF suggests that the hours of 10am to midnight are more than adequate for EGM operation.

• Limits on credit and access to cash for gambling. GTF members see no reason for ATMs to be located in gaming areas.

The final report of this Productivity Commission study is anticipated for release in April this year; the difficult job then will be to have governments willing to act on the recommendations.

They will be heavily lobbied to take no action.

Recently Victorian and South Australian church-based gambling taskforces, the only two in the country, met to develop a strategy for implementation of the report.

We’re hoping that agencies and congregations will partner together to host events.

For more information contact Sarah Urmston on (08) 8236 4260 or email surmston@sa.uca.org.au

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MARCH 2010

Around 15% of this group are ‘problem gamblers’ and their share of total spending is estimated to be about 40% of total spending on Electronic Gaming Machines (EGM).

We will be asking local congregations to get behind a postcard campaign. Once the final report is released, we’ll be calling on supporters and churches to send a postcard to the Prime Minister specifying the priority actions required to reduce gambling harm.

Please plan to join this important campaign.

Fringe-dwellers & Family

New Times

5

Uniting Care-Copper Triangle is in the business of interior decorating – with a difference. Volunteers Moss Potter, Joy and Ian Chappell, Necia Ebert, Christine Raffen, and Joylene Potter are just part of the team behind the furniture relocation program supporting families in need of a significant helping hand.

Triangle of support for struggling families Shannon Short The shed looks unremarkable from the outside, but a truly remarkable program is operating underneath its tin façade.

The shed is full to the brim with everything you need to furnish a house.

Since late 2007, a dedicated team of volunteers on the Yorke Peninsula have been helping those in need.

Ninety five percent are leaving situations of domestic violence. They leave with nothing.

I’m struck by the spirit of this dedicated team of volunteers who gather to help others in need. In February this year, they furnished their hundredth home.

UnitingCare-Copper Triangle is an outreach program of the Uniting Church community in

Kadina, Wallaroo, Moonta and Jerusalem.

Mission statements sometimes make grand promises, but these volunteers seem to bring theirs to life by providing ‘Christian care, concern, practical assistance and comfort to any in need’.

They work in partnership with other community agencies and aim to provide support where they see gaps in the services.

They started a second-hand whitegoods program in July 2005.

They source fridges and washing machines from Adelaide. Families and individuals on low incomes can purchase them through a ‘nointerest’ loan repaying just $40 a fortnight.

In 55 months, they have sold 57 appliances.

One of the women who came to buy a fridge shared that she was taking the appliance home to an empty house. It was that passing comment that gave Necia Ebert an idea.

“It just came up in conversation. I said I’d see what we could do,” explains Necia.

“That Sunday I asked at church if anyone had anything that they could give. Within 10 days we’d furnished the entire house.”

The furniture relocation program started soon after.

The program relies on donations from the public. A nearby motel supplies items they no longer need and a local furniture shop passes on their trade-in furniture.

“If something needs a repair job done to it, the local Vietnam Veteran group help us out.”

Necia works with a team of four ladies who sort and pack the crockery, linen and other donated items. Another ten men can be called upon to deliver the furniture.

UnitingCare and Families SA refer people direct. In recent times, they’ve averaged one home per week.

“Unfortunately demand is growing. The worst times of the year are Easter and Christmas.

“I’ve had people say to me ‘If people have got nothing they’ll be happy with anything’ – but I won’t take junk.

“I say ‘Do you realise these people have been through trauma? Giving something like that is only degrading them more.’”

Their kitchen boxes include things like a toaster, kettle, saucepans, cutlery, crockery, containers, utensils – even a tea towel.

Finally I ask Necia: Why do you this? It must take a lot of your time.

“I’m just a person that likes to help people who need help,” she replies.

That’s the understatement of the year.

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MARCH 2010

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Fringe-dwellers & Family

Sick and homesick Jonathon Nicholls, Manager Indigenous Policy and Advocacy, UnitingCare Wesley Adelaide

Leonard Burton is an Aboriginal man from northwest South Australia with chronic kidney disease. He used to live on a small homeland near Amata – an Aboriginal community 20 kilometres south of the Northern Territory border.

Today, he lives in Adelaide.

Last year, as Leonard’s health worsened, it became necessary for him to receive regular kidney dialysis (typically one session every three days).

Leonard did not want to leave his homeland but he had no choice. There are no dialysis machines in Amata or any other community on the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) Lands. The closest machines are in Alice Springs – about 500 kilometres from Amata by road.

Leonard had planned to join the 16 people from the APY Lands already on dialysis in Alice Springs. From Alice Springs, he would have been able to make short return visits to his traditional country. This would have allowed him to participate in important cultural occasions and attend funerals and other significant events.

In early 2009, however, the Northern Territory Government had decided that no new clients from outside of the Territory would be able to access any of its renal dialysis treatment centres. The fact that Leonard lived just 20 kilometres south of the Territory border made no difference.

Leonard reluctantly moved to Adelaide where he began to receive the much-needed dialysis treatment. Given the long distance from home – Amata is more than 1400km from Adelaide by road - it is all

Last year, Leonard Burton (pictured here with Jonathan Nicholls in May 2007) had no choice but to leave his community of Amata, just 20km south of the Northern Territory border. Leonard is one of a growing number of Aboriginal people moving to Adelaide for renal dialysis that is not available on their traditional lands, and which can no longer be accessed in Alice Springs due to a lack of government support. but impossible for Leonard to make even short return visits to his traditional country.

Last month, a homesick Leonard wrote to South Australia’s Minister for Health (Hon John Hill MP). The letter read (in part): “When we go on dialysis we have to leave the APY Lands. We have to go and be strangers a long way from our own people and our own country. We feel sad being such a long way from our country.

Everything is different and we feel like we are losing our culture… Up in the Lands people

respect me. People listen to me.

But down here I feel lost. I feel like important things in my life are slipping away...”

UnitingCare Wesley believes that State and Territory borders should not prevent people from accessing dialysis as close as possible to their home community. Late last year, the Western Australian Government negotiated a new arrangement with the NT Government so that its citizens can, once again, move to Alice Springs if they need dialysis. Sadly, the South Australian Government did not follow suit. Instead, it has

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MARCH 2010

The Presbytery and Synod office of Uniting Church SA invites people with a keen interest in property, buildings and the life of congregations, to submit expressions of interest in becoming part of the Regional Property Advisors Team, for a 2 year term.

Regional Property Advisors visit congregation properties in defined regions throughout country and metropolitan areas. They convey information and monitor property maintenance and compliance, providing a valuable link between congregations and Property Services staff.

The team report to the Congregation Property Advisor who provides resources, support and training.

For further information contact the Congregation Property Advisor, Catherine Stock ph 8236 4240 Expressions of interest close 5pm Friday 26th March 2010, and should be addressed to; Uniting Church SA, Property Services GPO Box 2145, Adelaide 5001

maintained that people from the APY Lands will be treated in Adelaide, Port Augusta or Whyalla.

Leonard Burton wants the State Government to establish a dialysis machine on the APY Lands. Until that happens - or until the Government agrees to make it possible for South Australians to access dialysis in Alice Springs – Leonard and more people like him will be stuck living on the fringes of Adelaide, in an unfamiliar environment, far from home.

10,000 reasons to support CBM Australia is launching ‘10,000 Miracles in 10 Days’ to raise money from 12-21 March for 10,000 cataract operations for some of the world’s poorest people – those distinctly on the fringes of society. Over 18 million people, half of the world’s blind, cannot see because of cataracts.

This includes seven year old Vincent, who lost both parents to AIDS and now relies on relatives.

“Vincent has been going to school but he’s quickly falling behind. He can’t see the teacher or the blackboard. He tries so hard to read and write but he just can’t see letters and words properly,” said John Jeffries, CBM Australia’s National Director.

“The good news is, a relatively simple operation could remove the cataracts and restore his sight – the bad news is his aunt and uncle can’t afford it. Soon it will be too late. By the time he’s eight years old, surgery won’t help and he’ll be blind for life.”

Eighty-five percent of people with cataracts live in developing countries. For those who are desperately poor, CBM is a world leader in providing operations that restore sight, with 2010 marking the completion of its ten millionth cataract operation.

CBM supporters from the Uniting Church have played a significant role in helping raise funds for cataract operations.

Supporters can help restore the gift of sight by donating $32 for an adult cataract operation or $230 for a child.

With help from the Uniting Church and donors from South Australia, CBM hopes to perform another 10,000 operations through 10,000 miracles in 10 days.

Go to www.cbm.org.au for more information.

Fringe-dwellers & Family

New Times

Get moving to the music Caryn Rogers

If your child likes action songs, they’re going to love ‘Music Capers’ at Hallett Cove Uniting Church.

Created in 2009 by Sharon McGowan and members of the church, the programme was started with a passion to connect young children and parents through the wonderful mediums of music and movement.

What began as a new way to ‘do playgroup’ in Hallett Cove has been so successful that the team started running a second session to cope with the increasing interest and growing numbers.

The opportunity that such a simple programme affords its attendees is a great one – it encourages parents to intentionally engage with their child while connecting with new faces in a colourful, fun world full of personal expression and creativity.

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It is most important to note that it is seriously FUN. The interactive group sessions run for 45 minutes followed by half an hour of morning tea and talk time. The programme itself involves free movement, instruments, parachutes, rainbow rings, ribbons and teddy bear dancing - simply to entertain and engage babies, children up to four years old and their participating parent, getting them moving, thinking, humming, and most definitely smiling and laughing.

I certainly wanted to put down my camera and step into the games, but without an accompanying guardian, I was not allowed to play with the other children.

If you’d like to join in the capering, you and your child are more than welcome to join the fray on Thursday mornings at either 9am or 10.20am.

For more information, please contact Karen on 0431 977 573.

Heidi Harding, Uniting Church SA’s Children’s Mission Planner, gets into the fun and games of Hallett Cove Uniting’s ‘Musical Capers’ with daughter Amelie.

Working at welcoming Adam Tretheway

It was days before Christmas when a homeless lady set up camp at the front of Woodville Uniting Church.

Because of her history, she was labelled as an outcast and constantly found herself placed in the ‘too-hard’ basket. While she was demanding and at times difficult to work with, she longed to be loved, valued and accepted.

This experience was quite challenging at the time, especially for some of the staff and volunteers who had no knowledge of how to deal with the situation. It was a matter of taking one step at a time, keeping ourselves safe and at the same time offering a hand to this homeless lady.

While the lady has since moved on and is living in alternative accommodation, having her in our midst highlighted to us as a congregation the importance of seeking ways to welcome fringe-dwellers while finding ways of living out our calling to this in both word and action.

Being located on the intersection of two busy roads and neighbouring the Queen Elizabeth Hospital,

our church is in a prime, readily recognisable location for the community – and we’re capitalising on that with open arms.

Our Coffee Shop on Wednesdays has been running for over 20 years and seen many enter its doors who are longing for a place of solace, a listening ear and prayer.

As a result, many have seen Christianity, God and the church in a new light. As an ongoing commitment to love and care, people have often been followed through further and even offered meals, food, drink, bus tickets and petrol.

Often the volunteers in the coffee shop only need to listen; at other times more support is needed. Just seeing a friendly face and being welcomed in, regardless of their appearances, has been valued by our ‘customers’.

We have found that people on the fringe often don’t want people staring at them, or talking about them behind their backs. Rather, they want to be treated like everyone else.

We offer ‘Blue Christmas’ and healing services and receive many visitors to both our regular morning and

evening services. Some drop in because they were driving by, have recently moved into the community, are looking for something different or have been a patient at the hospital and need a quiet place to be at peace.

With the Cramond Clinic in our midst, along with people living in our community struggling with their mental health, we are building bridges to help people within the congregation become better informed about mental health issues, in order to break down the stigma.

During Mental Health Week last year, a large display of Beyond Blue resources were created to provide the congregation, hall users and community with an opportunity to become better informed regarding mental health.

Many have found these resources to be life and permission giving.

Through listening to stories of people in our congregation and community it is clear that, in every family, there lies someone who has been touched in some way by mental illness.

Whether it be a new mum who

has postnatal depression or an elderly person dealing with the loss of a lifetime partner or a young person struggling to find identity and cope with the pressures they’re under.

Issues like these are easy to ignore and much harder to face head on. We’ve found that, though difficult, facing them has greater rewards and helps to create trust, openness, honesty and closer relationships.

We’re always aiming to find ways to build a real community - where people of all ages and cultures are given opportunities to express their gifts and participate fully. Woodville is a very multicultural congregation.

This is something that both enriches our congregational life and presents challenges for us.

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At times we are mindful of the need to be patient and tolerant of one another’s differences while also celebrating the things that make us unique.

Creating a place of welcome is a work in progress. We certainly don’t have all the answers. At times it has been hard work, but through the teething problems we have learnt the importance of listening to one another, breaking down stigmas and seeing things from a different perspective.

PALM SUNDAY CONCERT “The Messiah” by Handel will be performed

by The Kapelle Singers and the Bacchanalia Quartet and Friends on Sunday, 28th March 2010 at 2.30pm in St. Peter’s Cathedral

Tickets will be available through all Bass outlets and at the door.

MARCH 2010

8

Fringe-dwellers & Family

New Times

Hanging out on the fringe Out in the yard, children can be merciless with subtle forms of bullying such as exclusion and gossiping. Bullying through isolation and alienation of peers is all too common in schools, often making school years far from the happiest in young people’s lives.

Mike Wardrop, Christian Pastoral Support Worker

Are you interested in serving as a Board member?

Volunteer your time, support your local Uniting Church agency or school and enrich your life through serving as a Board member.

To register, visit http://unitingdirector.sa.uca.org.au Uniting Director links people wishing to serve as a Board member with Uniting Church agencies and schools seeking to fill Board vacancies.

Register yourself: tell your colleagues, friends and social networks and help spread the word.

UnitingCare Wesley together with Channel 9 Telethon offer you the Wallis Cinemas Take 9 Movie Card

Contact 8202 5112 or moviecards@ucwesleyadelaide.org.au Funds raised through this sponsorship will assist us to continue to provide vital programs and a voice for the South Australian community.

www.unitingcarewesley-sa.org.au MARCH 2010

Every child takes a completely different set of memories away from their school years. For me, I remember playing basketball with my friends, playing on the clatterbridge as well as getting soaked and soaking others from the taps when it was sufficiently hot (getting the inevitable dressing-down from unimpressed teachers afterwards of course).

I am one of the lucky ones.

Many children in our schools today do not experience the same joys.

Studies within the last 12 months have found an astonishing one in four children in Australian schools, between years four and nine, consider themselves to be regularly attacked. Most ‘attacks’ at school nowadays come in the form of psychological bullying rather than the more recognisable physical bullying, though that is still frighteningly prevalent.

The following conversation is all too regular at regular schools during regular recess or lunch:

“What are you doing today Amy?” A shrug.

“Well, who do you normally hang out with?”

“I normally hang out with Shannon but she’s playing with Brittany now. Brittany’s in another class and she’s friends with Callie and Callie doesn’t like me. She told Brittany that she wouldn’t play with her if she played with me so now Shannon won’t either!”

Confusing isn’t it? But this convoluted drama is indicative of many similar occurrences within the schoolyard – children refusing to play with peers because of real or imagined slights, and then ensuring that their friendship group does the same thing – isolating and distressing the child.

In my role as a Christian Pastoral Support Worker I see the extent of communitycravings in school - organised activities delight kids, seminars inspire them and something as simple as remembering their name makes their day.

I see this communitycraving even more at youth groups; kids with different belief systems, family histories and socio-economic backgrounds come together in a place where they feel safe, valued and encouraged.

It’s a rare trifecta, but what tops even that is the sense of belonging; that no matter who they are, they are welcome.

Christian Pastoral Support Workers are in an extremely fortunate position – essentially treated as a member of staff but with a degree of flexibility that allows us to relate well to kids and get alongside them.

We are able to simply hang out with the ignored and unloved kids. By spending time with kids like Amy, not only do they feel special but other children notice and want to spend time with them as well.

It can have a happy ending and your prayers and support are so important for this to happen.

Mike attends The Journey Uniting Church with his wife, Jenny, and daughter, Grace.

Fringe-dwellers & Family

New Times

9

Miss Dorothy Wilson, pictured centre amongst fellow Resthaven residents, has spent her life building the ‘family’ of Resthaven, having lived on site as a matron for 21 years. Now a resident, the 94 year old has not changed her caring attitude at all.

Miss Dorothy Wilson’s rather large family Julie Johinke, Public Relations Manager Resthaven Miss Dorothy Wilson will turn 95 in April, having dedicated her life to the care of older people.

She commenced work at Resthaven Leabrook, a landmark on the corner of Kensington and Glynburn Roads, on August 24, 1953. For over 21 years, Miss Wilson was the ‘Matron’ - in an era when the matrons ‘lived in’ on the premises; on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to assist residents with their needs.

However, this was more than a job to Miss Wilson, who wrote in her ‘Memories’, “When I came to

Resthaven there were 31 in residence and I admitted 334, making 365 people that I was privileged to call my family.”

During her time as matron, Resthaven grew to accommodate up to 117 residents ‘in their eventide’. She advocated on behalf of the residents and always went the ‘extra mile’, accompanying them to appointments and many other extra duties.

From time to time, Dorothy spoke to church groups about Resthaven, rallying support and fundraising for better equipment and the little extras that make life more comfortable.

Resthaven was her family and remains so today. She now resides in

the low care facility, having previously lived independently at Resthaven Leabrook.

Throughout her life, she has volunteered on an almost daily basis in a variety of ways. Only recently, she cut back her volunteer activities, which included visiting residents and undertaking small tasks for them; serving in the ‘Chattery’ coffee shop; sewing and mending for residents for whom this is difficult and without relatives to assist; active member of the Friends of Resthaven - a group involved in fund raising activities to supply additional items for residents; and organising the onsite

Chapel services including floral arrangements, seating, hymn books, liaising with the visiting ministers, making scones and afternoon tea following the service on Sunday, and, of course, cleaning up afterwards.

She has a caring manner with an aura of peace. She does not look for praise or recognition and willingly offers her assistance whenever she can for a variety of other tasks.

“I look back with great gratitude not at what I was able to give others, but at what others gave me. Each one had something to give and my life has been so enriched by knowing them,” she says.

Education with Uniting Church Schools

89 Greenhill Road Wayville

2-30 Surrey Farm Drive

Campus Drive, Aberfoyle Park

PO Box 571 Kent Town

Carruth Road Torrens Park

546 Portrush Road

Alison Ave, Marion

South Australia 5034 P: 8422 2288 F: 8272 0142

Golden Grove 5125 P: 8280 1700 F: 8289 2677

South Australia 5159 P: 8270 3033 F: 8370 7734

South Australia P: 8334 1200 F: 8363 0702

South Australia 5062 P: 8274 4333 F: 8274 4247

Glen Osmond 5064 P: 8303 9000 F: 8303 9010

South Australia 5043 P: 8 8276 0276 F: 8 8276 0277

www.annesley.sa.edu.au

www.pedarecc.sa.edu.au

www.pilgrim.sa.edu.au

www.pac.edu.au

www.scotch.sa.edu.au

www.seymour.sa.edu.au

www.westminster.sa.edu.au

Our seven independent schools provide education for around 6,000 students in South Australia from Early Learning to Year 12.

They offer a variety of learning environments, and a world-class standard of excellence in facilities and academic standards.

While these schools respect the faith diversity of all students, the story, values and practices of the Christian faith are expressed with integrity in order to nurture young lives for sound learning, faith, compassion and responsible service.

MARCH 2010

10

Fringe-dwellers & Family

Risking fringe-dwelling Sarah Agnew, ministry candidate and leader of the Esther Project As the Fringe Festival materialises, I am reminded of my dream: to participate in this vital Adelaide event by offering an ‘Esther Project’ production of Esther and Mordecai.

But this year, we’re still needing time and space to allow our identity to emerge and establish ourselves as a storytelling community, before pursuing anything further.

Life in community, life as an artist, is often like this.

Sometimes an idea won’t come to fruition, or will turn out not to be the most life-giving direction, so the idea changes - or you change. It’s about flexibility and improvisation – like jazz music.

I heard Philip Roderick, involved with an alternative church in the UK, speak on the topic of jazz and communities of faith at Greenbelt in 2008; the analogy has been refreshing to me ever since.

As a community we strive to breathe together, think together, pray together – in

improvisation. Community thus resembles a jazz band, with its delicate balance of personalities, each individual and each group learning the best of the past and adding our own personal vision.

Relating jazz to the kingdom, Philip suggests that there is failure in neither, only feedback; jazz operates on the knife-edge of failure, incorporating mistakes and bum notes.

The original vision for the Esther Project was to be a community of faith, creativity and sacred story. The community currently spends three evenings with each story over three weeks – two evenings are spent hearing the story and ‘wondering’, engaging with the story and the stories of our lives. In the third week we create an alternative worship space from these encounters using drama, arts, music, silence and symbol.

As people began to gather together for food and story it became evident that a theatre production was not the best way for us to collaborate

What is a ‘fresh expression’ of church?

One thing is certain about the future church – it will engage forms of ‘church’ that are different from the conventional models we are used to. These new models are becoming known as ‘fresh expressions’.

A key feature of a fresh expression of church is that its purpose in being established is for the benefit of people who are not yet members of any church.

MARCH 2010

New Times

The Esther Project is a Fresh Expression of Christian community, gathered around a shared table, storytelling and our live interaction with The Storyteller together as creative storytellers at this time.

The dream of producing a play was not a mistake, or even a bum note. Rather it marked the beginning of our journey as a community who are attentive, attuned, and alert to the Spirit - so attuned, the Spirit can play the Esther

Project into an embodiment of the body of Christ.

And what of the Fringe dream? We have not abandoned it; in fact, we are serving it better by taking time to allow any offering we make to emerge from regular

and deep encounters with, and retelling of, the stories of our faith tradition in creative ways.

The Esther Project is a fresh expression of church begun in August 2009 which meets on Monday evenings at Christ Church Uniting, Wayville.

www.estherproject.unitingchurch.org.au

Fringe-dwellers & Family

New Times Andrew Zeuner, Senior Manager of Business Services and father of two, rode in the recent ‘Mutual Community Challenge’ to support UnitingCare Wesley Port Adelaide’s ‘Focus on Fathers’.

Les Underwood, Minister UnitingCare Wesley Port Adelaide

Lance Armstrong has become a household name in South Australia, particularly because of his participation in the Tour Down Under and his generous support of organisations associated with cancer.

Here at UnitingCare Wesley Port Adelaide (UCWPA), we have a new household name: Andrew Zeuner.

His cycling achievements in the ‘Mutual Community Challenge’ were sponsored by UCWPA staff for the promotion of ‘Focus on Fathers’ – an exciting initiative of UCWPA’s Community Services.

This fatherhood support initiative is an inclusive programme offering support, education and encouragement to fathers and potential fathers through identifying key roles in the development of children as well as working with issues surrounding family relationships, personal identity and well being.

Andrew, as our Senior Manager of Business Services at UCWPA, is strongly committed to and lives out the vision of UCWPA which strives for, “a compassionate, respectful and just community in which all people participate and flourish.”

Andrew is also a devoted father. He and his wife Rachael have two boys, Harrison (two and a half) and Ashton (six months).

Reflecting on his identity as a father, Andrew claims, “Fatherhood is never dull, there is always something new and exciting about my children’s development. I enjoy watching them learn and being involved in what they are doing.”

Same church, fresh expression Sarah Urmston

The first person to create a fresh expression of church Andrew, pictured left, was wasn’t from this century. Or the one of 8,000 cyclists who last. In fact, many would argue that the first person to create a took part in the challenge fresh expression of church was - completing the 165km Jesus Christ – which takes us back some 2000 years. journey from Adelaide to Because of Jesus, century-old Goolwa in the respectable traditions like the temple and time of six hours. Photo priests were no longer needed to gain access to God. The body courtesy of Epsom Road of believers became the church; Studios. they were the new ‘temple’.

So often we revert to defining church as a building, or that time when Christians gather to hear a sermon, sing songs or celebrate Communion.

We forget that the Church is this but, moreso, it is a body of people.

UCWPA created our fatherhood programme We are all different because, in our modern society, new responses to people, with different tastes, changing social structures, expectations around preferences and needs. So it’s stereotypical role models and individual family not surprising that, for many arrangements were required. people, the conventional We wanted to better understand and facilitate Sunday morning service may the now-common societal roles of single not be the best environment to fathers, shift-workers and stay-at-home dads, connect with God and fellow ensuring that dads were invited and welcome to believers. participate more readily in playgroups.

It doesn’t mean we disband The Dale Street playgroup creates an church as we know it. Rather, environment welcoming to dads. Their monthly we recognise our golden ‘Sunday Funday’ attracts over 40 families and opportunity: to create new focuses on dads engaging in play and learning ways of being church by activities with their children, in whole family recognising these differing participation. needs and more.

Fatherhood worker Michael Hocking stresses You may not know it, that the motivation for his task is to promote but there are already fresh a sense of empowerment for men to become expressions within the Uniting effective fathers and partners.

Church.

For example, Sarah He provides education, counselling and Agnew’s Esther Project; support around issues and pressures which arise Greenock’s Hungry No More surrounding the birth and early childhood. These programme; Stillpoint services; may include postnatal depression of mother or CitySoul.

They may not look father, financial pressures, potential changed dramatically different to church employment or health factors. as we know it but each offers Michael’s work also links fathers with a something different and reflects variety of supportive programmes offered by UCWPA through ‘Communities for Children’ and the diversity of the church body.

Dale Street Family Centre. Currently, Michael Rev Rob Stoner, a Mission is expanding his work with the Vietnamese Planner with the Mission community through St Patricks School, Resourcing Network, has spent Mansfield Park. much time investigating the Michael Hocking may be contacted on fresh expressions movement.

8440 2248 for further information.

Focus on fathers

METROPOLITAN MALE CHOIR OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA ENJOY SINGING? This 80-strong Male Choir is always seeking new members.

If you are interested in the unique experience of Male Voice Singing, prospective members are very welcome.

Practices are held on Wednesday evenings, from 7.30pm – 9.30pm, at Rosefield Uniting Church, 2 Carlton Street, Highgate.

For further information visit the Choir’s Website at www.mmcsa.org or contact: Bruce Whitehead by telephone on 8261 5205 or e-mail at brayew@adam.com.au

He also heads up the team dedicated to encouraging these endeavours, as part of Uniting Church SA’s strategic plan.

Rob believes the development of new models is vital to engaging people on the fringe noting that the process of developing these is something every congregation should be looking at, to assist them to connect (or reconnect) with people outside the church.

“Whether they become a ‘fresh expression’ or not, I think every congregation needs to be saying, ‘Where are the people on our fringe?’ and invest some of their best resources – leadership, time, money – in that.

“With the right sort of development, if you continue to relate with these people you may develop a community with the potential to become a fresh expression, either alongside of the congregation or standing in its own right.”

“I think it’s vital that every congregation has some means by which they are intentionally engaging the non-churched people on the fringe of their church.”

To understand more about fresh expressions, make sure you read Rob’s report on fresh expressions, which details his and Rev Ian Price’s experiences and observations of fresh expressions of church in the UK. It makes for valuable reading for any congregation member and Minister, as we ask ourselves how we can reconnect with people on the fringe and continue building the church – however that may look.

As Rob says, “Lessons learned from fresh expressions do apply to the conventional church. But we also need to acknowledge that fresh expressions are not merely a fad - they’re a reality in the life of the Church, both now and in the future.”

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M a g a z i ne

New Times

This spectacular view is what congregation members of Robe Uniting Church can look forward to seeing every week from their new church building.

New church with heavenly views A new era has arrived in Robe.

A crowd of 170 people gathered from across Adelaide and the Limestone Coast region, including all local Christian denominations, to officially dedicate the new Uniting Church.

Built as the new home for the Robe Congregation, the centre is a multipurpose facility to complement the

existing Tarooki campsite and provide a place for teaching, learning, and family functions which, it is hoped, will encourage new people to enjoy Robe.

The centre was funded by the sale of the original Robe Uniting church and a Federal grant. The Tarooki Management Team applied for the grant as part of the projects in ‘disadvantaged fishing

communities’, with a purpose of creating employment and bringing revenue into the local community.

The modern function centre was drafted by Mt Gambier architects, built by a Naracoorte builder and serviced by local tradesmen.

Rev Dr Ian Price spoke during the dedication service about the many people

using these new facilities in the future, commenting that, “While they are in this peaceful place, looking at the spectacular view, they will have an opportunity to come closer to God.” While the building will be used as a worship centre for the local congregation each weekend, it is available for hire through the Tarooki booking officer on (08) 8767 3124.

Celebrating 75 years of supporting older people and their carers 1935 - 2010

Join us on Sunday, 21 March at 2 pm at Malvern Uniting Church, 44 Marlborough Street, for our Service of Celebration!

Resthaven offers in-home care and support for older people and respite options for their carers across metropolitan Adelaide, the Murraylands, Riverland and throughout the Limestone Coast.

For details call 1300 13 66 33 (cost of a local call - you will be diverted to the nearest community service location).

Residential high and low care and short term respite is offered at: • Bellevue Heights • Marion • Murray Bridge

• Craigmore • Malvern • Paradise

• Leabrook • Mitcham • Westbourne Park.

Independent living unit accommodation is available at Bellevue Heights, Marion, Malvern and Paradise.

Details: ph 8373 9123 or visit our website.

A new facility is under construction in Mt Gambier - opening 2011. Expressions of interest - email: pr@resthaven.asn.au

www.resthaven.asn.au MARCH 2010

M AGAZI N E

New Times

13

Lohmeyers make sea change Claire Bell, Cross-cultural Missions Coordinator, Coromandel Valley Uniting The Lohmeyers are on the move, from the mountains to the sea, in their next placement with Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF).

Tony Lohmeyer has been invited by MAF to take up a position as Chief Engineer in Bangladesh. He and his wife Jill will move there in April 2010, after seven years with MAF in Papua New Guinea (PNG).

The Lohmeyers have worked with MAF for over fourteen years, in various parts of PNG and in Alice Springs before that. They have shown remarkable adaptability and excellence in building relationships with local people - wherever they live.

This quietly spoken couple will need all these graces and more as they shift to an entirely different culture, language and

environment from those they have previously known. But, being keen bushwalkers, I’m sure they will enjoy exploring the new landscapes.

While MAF planes in PNG have to cope with high mountains, poor visibility and remote locations, Bangladesh, in contrast, has large areas of water and great populations frequently overwhelmed by monsoonal disasters.

As an aircraft engineer, Tony takes his responsibilities seriously. He maintains the planes for optimal function, an especially difficult task given the extreme conditions. He is also keen to train local staff and use every opportunity to share and show the gospel of Christ in action.

As Jill throws herself into supporting the members of the MAF community, the local church and the wider community, she will be on the lookout for what she can

contribute in this new venture.

Tony and Jill will spend February and March here to share time with family and widen their support team as they move forward into this new season which God has called them. They would be delighted to add new people to their support team; for prayer, financial provision and to build new relationships.

The Lohmeyers are members of Coromandel Valley Uniting Church and have three adult sons based in South Australia.

If you would like further information or would like them to speak at your church or group, please contact Helen Filmer, the SA State Council Secretary for Mission Aviation Fellowship, on 8263 9654, or Claire Bell, Cross-cultural Missions Co-ordinator at Coromandel Valley Uniting Church, on 8370 0289.

Letters to the Editor February New Times left me with a dilemma. Some articles implied that power is of itself, “bad; God gave up power and became ‘powerless’.” I believe that God, God-in-Christ are powerful. Their power is not ‘power over’ but ‘power with’; exercised together as community for justice. Christ is not power-less. His power was different from that of a king or overlord, oppressing and manipulating people for his own aggrandisement.

Without energy as power none of us could exist! We often stereotype power as ‘win-lose’ or ‘zero-sum’ where, if one person has power, others have less or none. God’s energy/power is exercised in community, not individualistically for personal ends, but directed towards the realisation of the Realm of God, “the reconciliation and renewal of the whole creation.”

Let us endeavour to live consistently with God’s power towards God’s reconciling, renewing, grace-filled powerin-community, as we engage in God’s mission in the world.

Dr M. Harisun, Magill

I always look forward to the first Sunday in the month when New Times arrives.

I found the February edition most helpful and extremely relevant to me.

The moderator’s challenge for us to consider our priorities when determining how much time we give to the church and to the wider community; Sarah’s article drawing attention to the relevance of strategic planning for local congregations; ‘A service for those hurt by the church’ and ‘Snapshots II’ ads inviting congregations to enter into dialogue; finally your article on ‘flexing your political muscles’ which came just as I was beginning to plan a forum of candidates in our electorate so people could have an opportunity to know what candidates were offering before they cast their vote.

All these matters are extremely relevant for a member of a small congregation that is facing important issues. Thankyou again. Please don’t lose your focus with your new format.

Rev B. Harris, Encounter Bay

newtimes@sa.uca.org.au or PO Box 2145, Adelaide 5001.

Co-creating a vibrant future Jennie Gunther, Corporate Coordinator of Lifestyle & Volunteer Programmes, Eldercare On Wednesday 10 February, representative volunteers from all 12 Eldercare residential sites were invited to co-create a volunteer action plan in its third annual Eldercare Volunteer Summit.

This gathering, unique to Eldercare, provides opportunity for exciting dialogue between participants from all levels of the organisation.

Priority areas identified by volunteers at the inaugural 2008 Summit were re-introduced and expounded by members of the executive team and Eldercare Board with expertise.

Each area was then brainstormed and developed for action. The particular value of this exercise is that ideas raised in this forum are implemented in ongoing programmes.

The current youth engagement focus, for which Eldercare have been awarded a ‘Community Voices’ development grant through the Office for Volunteers, is a direct result of a past summit.

For more information or to become involved, contact Jennie Gunther on jg@way.eldercare.net.au or 8291 1000.

Be topical, be brief, be timely.

Letters over 150 words will be edited; responses to previous letters /articles will be considered within two months of the original item’s publication only.

All letters are published at the editorial team’s discretion.

The Australian Research Theology Foundation Inc. is inviting applications for grants for 2010 – 2011.

The purpose of these grants is to support theological research and education for formal academic research, new projects or other related concepts.

Further information regarding the Foundation and detail of the application process can be obtained directly from :our website www.artfinc.org.au in writing to -

Send your letters to:

Tony and Jill Lohmeyer are moving to Bangladesh to continue their work with Mission Aviation Fellowship. They are pictured here in their previous placement, Papua New Guinea, where they have lived for seven years.

by email to -

The Administrative Officer A.R.T.F. Inc. PO Box 7418 Geelong West Victoria 3218 or inquiries@artfinc.org.au

Applications* must be received by the end of May. Notification of Grants will be made from the end of July.

At Eldercare Inc we take pride in our work.

One of South Australia’s largest and most experienced providers of residential and retirement living, our organisation operates 24 locations throughout the Adelaide metropolitan area and country South Australia.

We provide a blend of low care, high care, transitional and respite care facilities, as well as specialist memory units for individuals who have dementia and related disorders. This range of services provides real security of tenure for our residents and we pride ourselves in being able to offer “ageing in place”.

Further information available at www.eldercare.net.au or on ph: (08) 8291 1000 A Community Service of

*Applicants are requested to provide one emailed application and one paper copy as outlined in the application form.

MARCH 2010

14

R E V I E WS

New Times

The Lord is King

Science meets Spirituality

Book: God’s Fury, England’s Fire: A New History of the English Civil Wars Author: Michael Braddick Recommended for: Lovers of history and those interested in learning more about the European Wars of Religion In short: ‘Civil war’ is an oxymoron.

RRP: $49.95

Book: Global Perspectives on Science and Spirituality Author: Pranab Das Recommended for: : those interested in discovering the nexus between science and religion In short: Scholarly reflections on the nature of science and spirituality.

RRP: $29.95

During the European Wars of Religion, Scottish and Anglican king of the ‘United’ Kingdom, Charles I, refused to commit troops to the continental conflicts against Roman Catholicism. Instead, he launched an attack on British Protestants, playing one theology against another, and both of his Celtic kingdoms against England.

In Braddick’s view neither civil nor social justice played much part in the series of battles that covered much of England in the 1640s. His account of the war is biased in favour of the King as king, yet is quite critical of the royalist armies and of Charles’ character.

This book is interesting from a Uniting Church perspective.

Oliver Cromwell was a Congregationalist and the wars began when the Presbyterian Church of Scotland tried to reform the Church of England from outside. Highlighting this in his book, Braddick reminds us that unity in diversity cannot be accomplished at the point of a pike and thus, councils are a dire necessity to represent their people rather than becoming platforms for the ambitions of their incumbents.

Whilst the small font was difficult to read, the narrative remained engaging. I enjoyed the religious elements which played a major role in this narrative, and were not overwhelmed by details of battles as many civil war books tend to do.

In our age of ‘just’ conflicts founded in religion and opinion, there is much of interest in looking back to a struggling Olde Engelonde.

- Damien Tann

Global Perspectives on Science and Spirituality is a series of twelve short essays themed to allow the exploration of dialogue between Eastern and Western spirituality and the sciences, from a variety of perspectives.

Commissioned to, “stimulate those familiar with the sciences and religion literature, and engage general readers with an interest in the flux of ideas,” this book unfortunately fails to engage.

In spite of an introductory claim that the essays were constructed to be accessible and avoid jargon laden prose, they were not. For example, sentences such as, “each (essay) makes a case for re-visioning the boundaries around analytic modes… appeals to our innate excitement at uncovering the hidden connectedness between our disparate thought structures,” could better be described as turgid rather than accessible.

Each essay was more comprehensible than its introduction. However, the first on the Puzzle of Consciousness, the fifth on the Daoism and Quantum Theory, and seventh on Embryonic Stem Cell Research and the Sanctity of Life were the most thought provoking.

The eighth and ninth on Darwinism and Human Origins were almost incomprehensible to a scientist working in the field.

I remain unconvinced that the effort involved in trying to understand the essayists’ logic was rewarded by further enlightenment.

- Emeritus Professor Lesley Warne

MARCH 2010

The Bible – whence and whither?

Book: The Bible Author: Karen Armstrong Recommended for: anyone engaged in interpreting the Bible In short: How the Bible emerges and has been used (and abused) in the past and present.

RRP: $24.95 Published by Allen and Unwin in the series Books That Shook the World, The Bible is a 230 page summary of how the documents which now constitute both the Jewish and Christian Bibles came to be written and how they have come to be interpreted through the centuries. By doing this Armstrong has produced a compelling background for understanding where we are at as people of God and how we may go forward.

Significantly, Armstrong also identifies a pivotal point in Jewish/Christian history: “While Isaiah had received his prophetic initiation in the Temple, Daniel found his in the sacred text. The exiled Israelites in Babylon learned to make contact with their God in sacred writings, rather than in a temple.

“Israel was not a people because it dwelt in a particular country, but because it lived in the presence of its God.” Karen Armstrong has rendered a service very similar to that which John Robinson did in 1963 through Honest to God. She has consulted the work done by many recent scholars and provides an absorbing summary of their findings together with her own insights.

After a lifetime of reading, studying and interpreting the Bible, I am deeply stirred by this book. Serious reading, but engaging, challenging and rewarding!

- Allan Shephard

If God could Twitter Book: Technology and Religion: Remaining Human in a Co-created World Author: Noreen Herzfeld Recommended for: people wanting to learn about the tension between contemporary scientific issues and faith In short: An accessible exploration of the place where technology and theology meet.

RRP: $33.95 In a world of climate change, stem cell research and Twitter, it’s hard to ignore the rapid change in technology.

A professor of theology and computer science, Herzfeld seems qualified to offer her own thoughts and respond to the question: “what is our response as people of faith to the inevitable ethical questions that come with technological innovation?”

This book does not set out to answer this question, but rather explores the inherent tension to which it alludes.

Bill Gates claims that technological innovation has brought us to a, “high point in human welfare,” and continues to deliver solutions in social justice. His detractors argue however that science could soon take humanity to a place from which there is no return - where our values are lost.

We cannot accept either claim without considered thought, Herzfeld asserts, instead setting out issues as broad as pharmaceuticals, cyberspace, artificial intelligence, genetically modified crops, nanotechnology and globalisation.

With scientific precision, we are guided through each topic, exploring perspectives from Christianity, Judaism and Islam.

This is no easy read, but a thoroughly rewarding one. This book provides a timely reminder that we were designed to be creative, a reflection of our creative God, but that we must equally embrace responsible stewardship of these gifts and our world.

- Matt Osborn

Bible study and Preaching Resource Book: The Synoptic Gospels Set Free Author: Professor Daniel J. Harrington S.J. Recommended for: reflection of the Gospel and insight into the Christian, Jewish and Muslim relationship In short: A helpful and brief introduction to Matthew, Mark and Luke with commentary from each Gospel as set out in the common Lectionary cycle.

RRP: $38.95

The question of the Christian and Jewish relationship has a much tormented history, from the first century to the present day. Such tension is still present and replicated in our present age with the modern tension between Christians and Muslims as well as Jews.

These three Abrahamic Faiths have been in contention with each other down throughout their common history.

In his introductions and commentaries, Professor Harrington is able to take some of the angst away from this tormented history and place the Gospels in the context of the time of their writing.

Professor Harrington’s style is easy to read yet scholarly in substance. At the end of each of his Sunday comments, he asks the reader three questions which bring the reader, preacher, and bible study member, firmly back into modern times and facing modern issues.

Drawing a notable link between the title of the book and the themes embodied within the text, the reference to ‘setting free’ highlights Professor Harrington’s attempts to release these readings from the anti-Semitic bias that has badly affected the Christian and Jewish history.

At $38.95 this is a book well worth having as not only a resource over the three year lectionary cycle, but as a valuable insight into the books of Matthew, Mark and Luke.

- Lindsay Faulkner

15 M AGAZI N E

New Times

What happened to the Healing Ministry?

Recent editions of New Times have focused on the broad range of healing ministries in the church. The significant role of the basic ‘Healing and Wholeness’ ministry in congregations and the involvement of Elders and others in such a ministries were an important part of many parishes, especially during the 1980s.

Now the picture is very different, with few special Healing Services and privacy issues limiting the nature of intercessions in many churches.

We also see the declining interest in the Order of St Luke which, though born in Anglicanism, greatly encouraged many of our people over the past three decades.

Many Elderships in the eighties were deeply challenged by the Uniting Church call to ‘every member a minister’, hence seeking training to equip them to engage in this hands-on ministry in their congregations.

In more recent years a much-needed, renewed focus on mission stirred us to take the good news to others - rather than focus on internal needs of the converted. Who could question the wisdom of that move?

Healing is part of this missional activity. Despite the wonderful God-inspired advances of modern medical science our ‘prayers of faith’ on behalf of the sick are still powerful evangelistic tools in bringing people to faith.

Several retired ministers have recently thought much about the decline of this healing ministry in modern churches. We would like to encourage young leaders to realise the tremendous importance of the place of this ministry in the local church and beyond it.

We hope that contemporary leaders will catch a renewed vision of how this core ministry to ‘heal the sick’ can best be applied in the church today.

I would like to remind all leaders of an important report, ‘The Healing Ministry: a theological understanding of health and healing’, presented to the1983 Synod of SA. This booklet presents helpful guidelines for any who seek to further the healing ministry in their local church.

If you would like a copy of this report, please email me at acgeorge@adam.com.au.

Get involved in governance When people think of volunteering, their thoughts often focus on roles such as the ‘Lavender Lads and Ladies’ at the Royal Adelaide Hospital, growing seedlings for Trees for Life, friendly visitors to residential aged care dwellers, delivering meals for Meals on Wheels, the Year Four cricket team coach, community bus drivers, hamper packers at Christmas or those manning the church fete’s barbecue.

Have you ever considered a volunteering opportunity like being part of a Uniting Church School or Agency boards or on an Uniting Church committee like the Resources Board?

That’s why Uniting Director was launched: to help link those wanting to be on a board with Uniting Church organisations seeking board members.

“One purpose of Uniting Director is to fill these governance roles,” said Rev Peter McDonald, UnitingCare Wesley Adelaide. “We started Uniting Director because a school or college would ring up the Moderator and say ‘we’ve got a vacancy - can you recommend someone?’

“If the Mod couldn’t pull out

a name or number, we were unable to fulfil the reasonable request to fill our Uniting Church School and Agency boards with Uniting Church people.”

If you feel like you’d like more information on how to join a board, or what this would entail, head to sa.uca.org.au/ uniting-director. Over 600 people are already serving as board, council and committee members for the Uniting Church, agencies and schools.

How about you?

To advertise in

New Times:

contact Russell Baker p. 8361 6822 f. 8361 6833

Administration Assistant

Mark Sayers releases his book ‘The Vertical Self’ in Adelaide on Wednesday 17 March from 7.00pm at 40 Waymouth St (upstairs) Adelaide. The book traces Mark’s personal journey, beginning with ‘an exploration of what our culture means by using the terms ‘cool’, ‘sexy’ and ‘glamour’ and ends up wrestling with our quest to redeem our desires and find out who we really are.’ All welcome to this free event, not to be missed.

A monster garage sale will be held in the carpark of the Vermont Uniting Church at 578 Cross Road, South Plympton on Saturday 20 March (Election Day) between 8.00am and 4.00pm.

Along with the usual bric-abrac there will be a cake stall, sausage sizzle and morning/ afternoon tea. Enquiries to Bill, ph 0427 357 010.

The Uniting Aboriginal & Islander Christian Congress is beginning a new ministry in Adelaide city at Pilgrim Uniting Church. We are calling on congregations who might have a drum kit in reasonable condition that they no longer require to donate to us to compliment our worship.

If you can help, please contact Rev Ken Sumner on 0407 717 367 or 8236 4235.

To have your upcoming event or message published here, email notebook@sa.uca.org.au with ‘Notebook’ in the subject line.

Enfield Uniting Church has identified a need for administration support for the Office Administrator/Ministry Support. The person appointed to this position will be providing support to individuals and groups engaged in activities that extend the mission of the church community. The initial position is for 5 hours per week, permanent part time Clerks Award (SA).

To obtain the job description telephone Sharyn Dobroszczyk 8344 7857 or email enfield.church@internode.on.net

MINISTRY DEVELOPMENT OFFICER (Young Adults) 0.6 FTE Earth – Grounding Young Adults in Christian Faith – is the Centre for Young Adults and part of the Mission Resourcing Network of the Uniting Church in SA. We are looking for a person who is passionate about young adult ministry and has excellent organisation and communication skills to: • Participate in and contribute to young adult ministry at Rosefield Uniting Church, as part of a team • Co-ordinate the annual synod-wide Leadership for Life Weekend • Play an important role in helping to shape and develop a new direction for Earth ministry including working closely with Management Team to resource and support congregations and interested groups in their own young adult ministries.

EXPERIENCED HANDYMAN Home maintenance with gardening $20 per hour. “Your spare pair of hands” Phone: 8346 0933

For a copy of the Job & Person Specification and Application Details visit www.rosefield.org.au/earth, email rowan.steele@gmail.com or call 8271 9528

Applications Close: Friday 19 March 2010

MARCH 2010

16

World

New Times

Protecting the future of the Pacific would ‘cost us little’

Many families and communities in West Timor live off less than two dollars a day. Economic empowerment, through microfinance, is changing their futures, by enabling access to education and healthcare.

Loaning freedom to West Timor Associate Director, Relief and Development Mr Rob Floyd today announced the expansion of UnitingWorld’s Relief and Development projects in West Timor, Indonesia.

Two key projects, focusing on economic empowerment through microfinance, will continue to be supported and grow in partnership with the Evangelical Christian Church in Timor and its development agency, the Tanaoba Lais Manekat Foundation (TLM).

“TLM are currently doing excellent work to empower communities in West Timor through microfinance,” says Associate Director, Relief and Development Rob Floyd.

Microfinance is the provision of small, low-interest loans to families and community groups living in poverty to fund practical, income-generating projects. Once the loan is repaid, the borrower keeps the profit which helps pay educational and medical fees, or to fund future projects. Examples of projects

include cattle fattening, farming, and small business expansion.

In a show of solidarity with our Church Partner in West Timor, UnitingWorld has launched the Loans for Freedom Appeal. Rob has been working with TLM since 2001, and is excited about the opportunities the new project will generate.

“These loans don’t bind people down in debt, but empower them to generate an income and build their own future,” continues Rob. “I strongly believe in this project, and urge you to give generously to this appeal.”

Donations to the Loans for Freedom appeal can be made: Online www.unitingworld.org.au Call 1800 998 122 Via mail PO Box A2266 Sydney South 1235 Gifts of $2 and over are tax deductible.

For more information, please visit www.unitingworld.org.au

West Timor at a glance West Timor is located in Nusa Tenggara Timur (NTT), forming part of the economically poorest state in Indonesia. Eighty-four percent of the population live in rural areas, 80% are unemployed, and 17% are unable to read or write.

levels, he believes there are a range of factors to be taken into account, including their economic strength as nations.

“Often these countries are already not viable. They are simply too small and isolated, and would collapse without foreign aid.”

The Uniting Church in Australia, who has the largest network of Pacific partners of any Australian church, is currently working with partners in the Pacific to facilitate a range of exchange opportunities. From Tuvalu and Kiribati leaders in health, chaplaincy and IT will visit Australia through 2010 and 2011.

The exchange program increases their leadership capacity, passes on vital skills for living and working beyond their shores, and strengthens the relationship between their church and the Uniting Church in Australia.

“We recognise the difficulty our partners will face in the next few decades,” said Bruce. “By strengthening bonds with our friends in the Pacific, we are ensuring a supportive network will already exist when it comes to the crunch.”

Over, not out Rev John Minchin recently retired as International Mission Officer in the Uniting Church SA office. John played a significant role in Uniting Church SA’s engagement with mission, and is responsible for setting up the International Mission Opshop at Glenelg.

The op-shop, entirely run by volunteers, funds the needs of partner churches in the Philippines, PNG, Thailand, Korea and West Papua. The extremely successful shop, only open six hours per week, raised $1000 last fortnight alone.

In true retiring minister form, John will continue to be the point person for this endeavour. If you would like to volunteer your time, please contact Lyn on 8236 4203.

The Mission Resourcing Network is still seeking a new International Mission Officer to work with Lyn Leane in the Uniting Church SA office.

JAM UNG/0006/A

Families and communities in many cases live on less than two dollars a day, putting education and basic healthcare out of reach.

“Australia should follow New Zealand’s lead and offer Pacific Island Nations an economic safety net against catastrophic climate change,” was the claim made by former Garnaut Review economist, AusAID Chief Economist and World Bank Lead Economist, Professor Stephen Howes, from the Crawford School of Economics and Government at the Australian National University.

Bruce Mullan, UnitingWorld’s Associate Director Church Solidarity (Pacific), said Professor Howes’ suggestion was a radical alternative to current options being made available for the low-lying nations under greatest threat, but, “is worth serious consideration.”

“It would cost us little,” said Professor Howes as he discussed relaxing immigration from Pacific nations, in response to questions from UnitingWorld supporters concerned about the impact of climate change on Australia’s island neighbours.

While Professor Howes does not deny that countries like Kiribati and Tuvalu are highly vulnerable to rising sea

A community isn’t a collection of individuals. It’s made up of you & me & us & them.

MARCH 2010

unitingpeople.org.au