NewTimes-March2011

March 2011

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Issue 30, No 2 March 2011

stewardship, charity & compassion

Exploring faith KCO tackles new program, p. 10

Dealing with disaster Floods, friends and funds, p. 11

You’re invited to

UnitingCare Pancake Day

Tuesday 8 March, 8.00am-2.30pm

Outside Pilgrim Uniting Church (12 Flinders St) Join Penny Pancake at UnitingCare’s ninth annual Pancake Day event. Watch Hilton’s Executive Chef Dennis Leslie cook up a storm, cheer on Port Power players and the MFS in a flipping race, enjoy a delicious pancake, and much more!

Pancakes will be exchanged for gold coin donations throughout the day. All money raised will help UnitingCare agencies provide practical support to South Australians in need.

New Beginnings Support UnitingCare Wesley Adelaide and help others to create New Beginnings this Easter.

Please give generously.

For further information about our New Beginnings Easter Appeal or to make a donation please telephone 8202 5111 or go to www.ucwesleyadelaide.org.au

visit www.sa.pancakeday.com.au or free-call 1800 060 543 (orders for CBD pancake deliveries welcome) iStock ref: p. 5 pjludlow, p. 16 vicnt

Editor

Production

ISSN 0726-2612

Caryn Rogers

Joie Creative

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/new-times-home. Articles and advertising do not necessarily reflect the views of the Editor.

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Deadline for April March 9

Enquiries e. newtimes@sa.uca.org.au

Phone: (08) 8236 4200 1300 766 956 (toll free from regional areas) Fax: (08) 8236 4201 Email: presbyterysynod@sa.uca.org.au Street address: Level 2, 212 Pirie St, Adelaide

sa.uca.org.au/new-times-home Next issue: This

Sporting Life

Postal address: GPO Box 2145, Adelaide SA 5001

Sport. It’s part of our national identity. But how is it part of our churches?

“Because death is just so full and mine so small,” sings Indie-Folk Band, Mumford & Sons, in their song, ‘After the Storm’.

Death is such a great and difficult thing for us to grapple with and generally, as a culture, we’re not very good at it.

We attend funerals and cry quietly into our hands, before wiping our eyes and ‘getting on’ with the day. We allow some grace to those closest to the lost, but often fail to realise that the magnitude of death changes the spectrum of each world that the passed one has touched – no matter how briefly.

Betty was exceptional.

To know Betty was to be encouraged, to laugh, to be uplifted, to be motivated.

Whenever I saw Betty, I saw joie de vivre. She was a wonderful woman to share a church-family with.

Death makes stewardship seem that much more important. How we spend our lives, how freely we give our smiles, how effervescently we give our love, how sincerely we believe in our God.

There was no doubt about her faith – and faithfulness – to the Gospel. She buoyantly lived a faithful, fruitful and functional belief in the risen Christ.

One of my favourite songwriters, Sufjan Stevens, puts it so well:

Betty was indeed someone whom, upon entering into eternal life, the words, ‘well done, good and faithful servant’ would ring in her ears, as her face split into a smile.

“When I live, when I live I’ll give it all I’ve got.”

Thank you, Betty, for inspiring me, and so many others, to live with all we’ve got.

We learn so much from the great event of death - it shows us the breadth and measure of life.

It drives us on to live up to the greatness of the ones that left before us.

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Death forces onto all of us the immediacy of living – now – and spending our lives well, because all that we leave behind is material things , motivations and memories.

As I heard at her funeral recently, the ‘memorial’ of this wonderful woman was not to be found on her gravestone. It was in her daughter’s. Her grandchildren.

Her former students. Her life.

It shows us that, even in death, good stewards continue to point us along the Path.

We learn so much from the great event of death - it shows us the breadth and measure of life.

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Rev Rob Williams I can’t ever remember more requests in the media to ‘give now and give generously’ than during the shock of the Queensland floods, the Western Australian fires and Cyclone Yasi.

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And the people of Australia responded marvellously.

Many of us made personal donations. We saw cricketers collecting contributions around the boundaries at one day games; supermarket chains and businesses donated percentages of their sales in answer to the call to ‘give now and give generously.’

The response to human need was truly inspiring. Not only was money given, but also people’s time, skills and physical efforts were offered in response to these catastrophic happenings.

Thankfully, it’s been my experience that such generosity isn’t generated only in times of natural disaster. I know many who have given sacrificially when made aware of a friend’s or neighbour’s tough time. They have also given in response to overseas crises. Their giving has sometimes been financial, sometimes through using

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a special gift or skill they happen to have or simply ‘being there’ to meet a need.

Not everyone responds with generosity in times of need.

It’s not just a matter of what one may or may not be able to give. One’s attitude to giving also comes into it.

We sometimes need reminding who we are and whose we are. As Christians we find ourselves immersed in the One who, being in very nature God... made himself nothing by taking on the very nature of a servant.

(Philippians 2:6-7). He told stories about living generously and giving whatever people had to enrich the lives of others. He lived a life of giving generously in every way – even his life on the Cross.

Remembering who we are and whose we are shapes our attitude to giving.

Our giving in its various forms may be simply a response to the grace of God in our own lives as we are faced with human need – an expression of our thanksgiving. It may also be a way of affirming our commitment to use everything we have and are in service to God and those whose lives meet ours.

Let the ‘mind of Christ’ be in you to shape your attitude to giving, knowing that every day presents with opportunities to ‘give now and give generously’.

Egyptian military urged to halt torture of detainees On 12 February 2011, the Supreme Military Council announced that Egypt would abide by its international treaties.

Egypt has been a party to the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment since 1987.

But six days later, on 18 February, Amnesty International urged the Egyptian military to take action to stop the use of torture and other ill treatment against detainees, amid fresh evidence of abuse.

“The Egyptian military authorities have committed publicly to creating a climate of freedom and democracy after so many years of state repression,” said Malcolm Smart, Amnesty International’s Director for the Middle East and North Africa. “Now they must match their words with direct and immediate action.”

“The military authorities must intervene to end torture and other abuse of detainees, which we now know to have been taking place in military custody.”

Recently released detainees told Amnesty International researchers in Egypt that members of the armed forces used beatings, whipping and other forms of torture and ill-treatment to intimidate protestors and to obtain information about plans for the protests.

After an interrogation by a man in plain clothes, the 29-year old, whose name is being withheld to protect his security, was beaten over the head with a chair by a soldier, leaving him unconscious.

He told Amnesty International that he was moved on 4 February to another location, where he was beaten, subjected to electric shocks and threatened with rape, and then taken to a military prison in El Heikstep, northeast of Cairo. He said he was regularly beaten by soldiers there until his release on 10 February.

In a separate case, an 18-year-old student from Cairo told Amnesty International that he was tortured at an unknown location after being arrested by soldiers near Tahrir Square on 3 February.

“They put a chain or rope to my legs and lifted me up – so that my head was hanging down. From time to time they would let me down into a barrel that was filled with water. They told me to confess that I was trained by Israel or by Iran.

They also put electric shocks to my body and I fainted,” he said.

detained without charge in Tora prison, south of Cairo.

Arrested on 30 January by military police while carrying leaflets in support of the protests, they were held in the Nasser Military Academy in Cairo’s Agouza district, where they say they were whipped and subjected to electric shocks.

“The authorities must immediately issue clear instructions to all security forces and members of the army that torture or other ill-treatment of detainees will not be tolerated, and that those responsible for these abuses will be held to account,” said Malcolm Smart.

“The authorities must immediately disclose the names and whereabouts of all detainees and either release them promptly or charge them with recognisable criminal offences.

“Those now in power must ensure that all allegations of torture or other ill-treatment are investigated promptly, thoroughly and impartially, that officials responsible for such abuses are brought to justice, and that victims receive full reparation.”

Amnesty International also spoke to relatives and friends of two brothers in their late twenties who are still being

One former detainee, a 29-year-old decorator from Gharbiya Province north of Cairo, told Amnesty International he was tortured by soldiers on 3 February in an annexe to the Museum of Egyptian Antiquities.

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The call came because former detainees had told Amnesty International they were tortured, including by whipping and with electric shocks, after being detained by members of the military in the last days before President Mubarak stood down.

“They called me a traitor and a foreign agent and forced me to take off my clothes except my underwear and to lie face down on the floor. Then they beat me with a whip and stepped with boots on my back and on my hands. They kicked me. Many other detainees there were also beaten with a whip,” he said.

Considering and care “How do we consider the voice of the child?” queries Linda Vinall, Duty of Care (DOC), Manager for Uniting Church SA. The answer to this question is something that she is seeking to flesh out with congregations across the state.

“Consideration needs to be given to how we include children in the decision making of the Church. Considering the voice of a child in our church services is something we need to develop.”

This consideration is one of seven principles that were highlighted in her report to the Complaints Committee in October last year, as the DOC team sought to discover future directions for the Uniting Church’s ‘Called to Care’ policies. The seven principles were: 1) Identify and analyse risk of harm 2) Develop a clear and accessible child safe policy 3) Develop codes of conduct for adults and children 4) Choose suitable employees and volunteers 5) Support, train, supervise and enhance performance

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6) Empower and promote the participation of children in decision-making and service development 7) Report and respond appropriately to suspected abuse and neglect

“The Government is trying to tell us to create a child safe environment – but we as the Church are saying that their specifications don’t go far enough. They need to go beyond children and be more thoughtful of other demographics.

“As a Church, the seven principles ensure we’re continuing to uphold the value of all people by providing a safe environment to be in community. We’re doing a lot of administration on this as well as petitioning the Government - that is our role on behalf of the Presbytery and Synod of South Australia.

“We as a Church deal with many other vulnerable people groups that require safety policies, like elderly, infirm, disabled, mentally ill people and more.

“We want to create a safe place for everyone. I see it as us taking seriously what it means to be a church that is about Uniting Church – Uniting People.”

For those concerned that this will mean more ‘pencilpushing’ and less ‘ministry’ – never fear. The compliance statement has already been completed from the central point of the Uniting Church SA Synod.

“DOC is very much about helping congregations make their ministries safe – but we know that takes concerted time and effort. Just remember we’re here to help!”

To find out more, contact Linda Vinall on: p. (08) 8236 4248

MIGHTY HELPFUL MITRE 10 321 Unley Road, MALVERN Tel: 8272 8566 Fax: 8271 4930 Email: malvern@barrowandbench.com

For all your property needs OPEN 7 DAYS

e. lvinall@sa.uca.org.au

Don’t miss out on your Easter postcard - orders close soon With little over a month to go until Easter arrives, congregations are urged to get their orders in for Easter postcards as soon as possible.

COUNSELLING A team of highly qualified counsellors experienced in handling issues of anxiety, stress, burnout, depression, grief, chronic illness and relationship matters.

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIP CASA

MALVERN CENTRE FOR COUNSELLING PHONE: 8271 6817 44 Marlborough Street, Malvern

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“Easter is a great time to connect with your community and remind them of your church’s presence with a thoughtprovoking postcard,” said Sarah Urmston, Communications Project Officer and Easter postcard coordinator.

“It’s a very low cost, effective way of raising your church’s profile and sharing the message of Easter with friends, family and neighbourhoods.”

Postcards start at $65 per 1000 and are available to order from sa.uca.org.au/postcards. Orders must be received and approved by 11am Thursday 17 March to guarantee timely printing and dispatch.

Enquiries: Sarah Urmston p. (08) 8236 4260 e. surmston@sa.uca.org.au.

Playing to win

Playgroup in the Park attendee, Amelie, wasn’t deterred from her fun because of a little rain.

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Playgroup in the Park - an annual event held at the Semaphore foreshore each year to celebrate Children’s Week - won ‘Event of the Year’ as part of the Australia Day Awards from the City of Port Adelaide Enfield.

Playgroup in the Park is a totally free event put on by churches in the Western Suburbs where playgroup aged children can blow bubbles, create crafts, finger paint, eat and play for hours - with thousands of other children.

Though concerned that rainy weather may be a deterrent for the 29 October gathering, the warmth of the downpour ensured that crowds still flocked to the seaside location.

Between 3-4,000 people attended over the course of the event - families were dancing in the rain and no frowns could be seen, only smiles. Kathy Blazewicz, one of the key event organisers even commented that, “It was like we had all been baptised.”

Rev Sue Ellis and Kathy accepted the award on behalf of the Playgroup in the Park committee and the community of the City of Port Adelaide/Enfield.

A resounding congratulations to all those who participated in running this event: congregations from West Lakes, Woodville, Semaphore, Port Adelaide, Lefevre Peninsula, Western Link, Henley Fulham and Grange. Each group will receive a replica of the award; the original will be given to the Mission Resourcing Network for display in the Uniting Church SA office.

Playgroup in the Park will be held again this year on Friday 28 October 2011.

8261 8211 All hours

www.ivanbutlerfunerals.com.au enquiries@ivanbutlerfunerals.com.au 26 OG Road Klemzig SA 5087

AUSTRALIAN FUNERAL DIRECTORS ASSOCIATION

Volunteers from churches and playgroups across the Western Suburbs made Playgroup in the Park ‘Event of the Year’ according to the City of Port Adelaide Enfield.

Geoff Lewis General Manager

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Congregational websites relaunched In a world that increasingly uses the internet to research their choices, having a well maintained web presence is a cheap and effective tool to help any organisation welcome new people.

The Uniting Church SA has recently refreshed their congregational website template to continue to provide a simple, ready to use website package.

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“While the sites have been serving a large number of congregations very well, changes to the technical landscape meant it was time to update the technologies which run the sites,” said Josh Curtis, Uniting Church SA’s webmaster.

“We’re also able to offer increased support to those using the initiative through additional web-skilled staff here in the Synod office.”

Congregational Websites have been offered since late 2008 to support congregations with a ‘web presence’ without needing to have their own congregational web expert in their congregation.

To see a sample of the new site, go online to: unitingchurchsa.org.au.

A congregational website and websupport is available to all Uniting Church congregations.

For more information or to enquire about getting your congregation online, email congregationalweb@sa.uca.org.au.

Around 75 congregations are currently making use of the sites. Are you?

“Some highlights of the refresh include the introduction of a monthly statistics report to analyse the number of visitors to each site and an updated graphic style to better highlight key details like service times.”

March Presbytery and Synod meeting On 11-12 March, the Presbytery and Synod of South Australia will be resourced by Dr Tom Long and Mrs Kim Bracken Long. Both are widely acclaimed preachers and teachers who will facilitate workshops aimed at enhancing the skills of all ministers, preachers and worship leaders.

Those being commissioned/inducted are: Rev Dr Ian Price Executive Director of MediaCom Education Inc (0.6) Induction Rev Dr Ian Price Strategy Planning Officer (0.4) Induction

This is a resourcing meeting and is not restricted to Presbytery and Synod members. All are welcome; anyone involved in worship teams and services is strongly encouraged to attend.

Rev Rod Dyson EO – MRN Induction

The Opening Service on Friday night, commencing at 7.00pm, will be a great celebration. Led by Rev Dr Ian Price and Rev Jenni Hughes with Dr Tom Long preaching, the service will also include the induction and commissioning of several Presbytery and Synod staff. We look forward to seeing you all there.

Rev Ruthmary Bond Fresh Expressions & Evangelism (0.5) Induction

Mr Alan Dutton (Pastor) Mission Officer, Rural & Regional SA Commissioning

Rev Ashley Davis Pastoral Relations Officer (Rural) Induction Rev Dave Williamson Multicultural Ministries (0.5) Induction Rev Sarah Williamson (Deacon) Solidarity and Justice Officer (0.5) Induction

Catholic Theological College of SA

Adelaide Theological Centre 34 Lipsett Terrace, BROOKLYN PARK

SA 5032

P: 8416 8460 F: 8416 8470 E: cris.henriksson@flinders.edu.au W: www.ctcsa.edu.au

STUDYING THEOLOGY IN 2011 CTC is associated with the Department of Theology at Flinders University and teaches its degrees, such as the Bachelor of Theology.

There is also the option of Auditing BTh topics—which means no assignments, and no grade at the end. Cost = $200.

Topics for Semester 1 include: Interpreting the Old Testament; Interpreting the New Testament; Reformation Church History; Ecology and Christian Theology; and Quest for the Spirit - Exploring Theology & the Arts.

ENROLMENT : Ring Cris asap to discuss your options — 8416 8460

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Saturday’s program will begin at 9.15am.

EVENT DETAILS Location: Adelaide West Uniting Church,

312 Sir Donald Bradman Drive, Adelaide.

Cost: Full registration:

Presbytery and Synod members: $55.00

Non members: $70.00

Per session

Members: $22.00

Non-members: $27.50 More information or to register Contact: Bev Freeman

p. (08) 8236 4243

e. bfreeman@sa.uca.org.au

Stewardship & Charity Stewardship speaks of our responsibility to God, to others and to the world at large. Like it, charity is concerned with the care of those less fortunate than ourselves. To steward faithfully that which we have, as little or as much as that is, for the betterment of all Creation is indeed the backbone of Christian charity. And it looks very different, from place to place and face to face...

New community centre opens at Bridgewater After over 15 years of ‘pipe dreams’, Bridgewater Uniting Church will open its new community centre this month.

Members of the congregation have long dreamed of expanding the church building but plans in recent years were knocked on the head when building estimates for an expansion were well in excess of $1 million.

Then came an idea out of left field. One of the members of the congregation worked for a Catholic School that had received funding to build a new kindergarten.

In the ultimate act of recycling, the former kindergarten building was to become Bridgewater’s answer to prayer.

In what could be described as the building’s ‘second coming’ it made its move from St Margaret Mary’s Catholic School at Croydon to the Adelaide Hills.

The project hasn’t been without its hiccups (the first being that while a kindy may be for ‘little’ people, you can’t fit that ‘little’ building through the Heysen tunnels!) So the building, was split in two, and taken by truck from Croydon via Sedan, Murray Bridge and along the old highway route through Kanmantoo and Nairne.

It’s been stewardship in action, as volunteers have spent over 12 months renovating the centre which will now be called “The Oak - Bridgewater Uniting Church Community Centre.”

The congregation hopes that it will be a hub for community programs – a valuable meeting place that strengthens Bridgewater. It is already home to a playgroup and the University of the Third Age will run courses in French, music, travel and drawing. It is hoped that drama classes will commence soon.

Local church members, Garry and Julie Burchell, who are involved in the CFS, are planning The Oak’s first community seminar. A bushfire survival planning evening will be held to help people prepare their bushfire plans. The seminar is for people who are new to the Adelaide Hills, or those who are confused about how to prepare a survival plan.

It is the first of what the congregation hopes will be many community-building initiatives.

Events at The Oak 409 Mount Barker Road Free Community Open Day Sunday 6 March, 1.30 - 4.00pm Free activities include: • Live music by Sevenfold • Petanque • Afternoon tea • Activities for children • Magician • Face painting Bushfire Survival Planning Evening Thursday 10 March, 7.30pm Enquiries: Julie and Garry Burchell, 8339 6772.

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Lynne Aird never went to KCO as a child, but now she just can’t get enough of it. The Aberfoyle Uniting Church member is a devoted KCO team member, and sold out for the valuable role this event plays in children’s lives.

“I believe in the vision of KCO,” Lynne comments enthusiastically. “I want to see kids have an experience that sees seeds sown and faith grow.”

stewardship & charity

Lynne has been involved in more than eight KCOs. But, before I can congratulate her on such an achievement, she is quick to note that there are many who have been involved for far more years than her.

The KCO team – a group almost entirely consisting of volunteers – is responsible for running the annual Uniting Church campout which usually attracts around 1500 children, aged 7-12 years old from Uniting Churches across the state.

She, like many other volunteers, has no intention of giving up her fun, I mean, service to KCO as they participate in nurturing our very valuable asset – children.

And it’s easy to see why. Every year at KCO, from the youngest child to the oldest leader there are smiles beaming from the sea of faces. Kids come for the carnival fun, for the chance to have a real, campout sleepover with their friends (old and new), to play and laugh together – but also to explore faith and experience community together on a grand scale.

“It gives kids an opportunity to see God in a perspective wider than their own congregation,” Lynne continues. “For small congregations especially, kids get to see that having faith in God is big and vibrant and exciting - it’s an event that stretches them in their framework of how they see God.”

Lynne started her involvement with KCO through her own children’s experiences, before becoming a team member while she was worshipping at The Vines with her family.

“There was an unchurched kid we were taking one year who was usually a bit of problem at our church events. He was from a dysfunctional family, and had the problems normally associated with that. But, he fit the age group and he wanted to go.

“He was like a kid in a chocolate shop - he’d never seen anything like KCO before. Out of the group that we took – he was the best one! We don’t know what seeds were sown in that KCO – and that boy’s story is just one out of thousands.

“That’s the power of what God does at KCO. Kids are just so excited at what they see that they often squash their usual disruptive behaviours in favour of joining in with the community.

They don’t want to miss out!

“There are kids that come to KCO that don’t know Christ.

This is a great opportunity to see primary school age children explore God for themselves, for faith to grow and for lives to be transformed.”

Lynne heads up the prayer team for KCO, so if you’d like to join in with the intentional prayers of this team, please contact her on laird@sa.uca.org.au. CR

KCO At a glance KCO (KUCA Camp Out) is a 24 hour camp committed to assisting 7-12 year old children explore faith through their own discovery and encouraging sharing and relationships with their peers.

Dates: March 26-27 Location: Barossa Valley Tourist Park

Need more info?

Head online to kco.sa.uca.org.au or contact KCO Event Officer, Jo Lohmeyer on: p. (08) 8236 4246 e. kco@sa.uca.org.au

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On Wednesday 9 February almost 150 young people gathered to hear music, see street art and raise money for Queensland flood victims.

Rain Cheque, a relief event hosted by The J Project in partnership with innercity, fresh expression Uniting Church, CitySoul, was an event sitting close to their collective hearts: justice.

Project Officer for The J Project, Keegan Brice, having spent some time in Queensland just prior to the floods, felt a particularly strong pull towards fundraising for those struggling to rebuild in the face of catastrophic weather.

And so, Rain Cheque was born, bringing together local bands and artists in a selfless effort to support those affected by the recent natural disasters.

“Obviously this is a way for young people to share and explore their faith in some way. It’s subtle though; people are in a church, with church people and they’re able to ask questions, but no one’s telling them how to believe.

“A huge part of the J Project is putting faith into action. That’s all we’re really trying to do here.

“Part of the J Project’s style is to help people ask questions about our world, and start to look for more positive ways forward.

“We can’t sit by while people suffer and not do anything about it, when we know there’s something we can do.”

The J Project is a ministry engaged within the life of young adults in South Australia – uni students, young churchgoers and activists – with a primary goal of sharing practical, Biblical justice. It works within a field prime for this kind of initiative: young people whose minds are being stretched and broadened as they come to understand new world views, and consider their roles as change agents within that.

“For me, I don’t see how you can have faith without being concerned with justice – the Bible’s full of concern for social balance and care for the poor,” Keegan continues.

“We believe Jesus is a huge part of that journey, but we’re letting people find their own path to that.”

The event raised $830.31, through a $5 entry fee, food sales and donations.

All proceeds went towards flood victims through the Uniting Church Flood Appeal, with the bands and artists having given freely of their time for the cause.

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“I had friends that were affected and had to evacuate,” said Keegan.

“I thought that we could do something for them from here in SA - I just wanted to help out.”

“We chose to do a music gig because we know there are musicians at CitySoul, it’s a fun way to raise money and it’s a natural way to explore what it means to have justice and community go together.”

The J Project seeks to provide practical opportunities for young adults to participate in social justice issues. It is an initiative of the Uniting Church SA as part of Key Direction 6 of the Strategic Plan: Championing Justice. www.thejproject.org.au

Rain Cheque raised funds for flood victims in Queensland through local music and art.

Pictured: Adelaidean brother/sister duo, Justin and Steph Daughtry, were both born in Queensland and were the first act on the bill.

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Our Uniting Church SA Schools are continually looking for ways to contribute on a community and global scale.

This ideal of service, compassion and charity has been the substance of their ethos right from the beginning, and has continued throughout their histories.

Stewarding values for life In 1902, the Methodist Ladies College (MLC) was established with an educational ethos ‘to learn the numbers and measures of true life’. Core values of authenticity, courage and compassion, were instilled in the school from the beginning and, though now known as Annesley College, their values remained.

Though 2010 brought significant challenges to the College, new Principal Ms Cherylyn Skewes has communicated a desire to leave the past behind and get on with the College’s purpose– educating young women.

“Let us go about our business being truly proud of what we do,” stated Cherylyn in a letter to the school community this year. “Annesley’s name deserves the respect of the wider community and through our dedication in providing each girl with the best education possible, we will ensure that the Annesley reputation is upheld.”

After 109 years of educating girls, Annesley College remains focused on the girls, and supporting them to be authentic, courageous and compassionate contributors to the future.

Photo: New Annesley Principal, Ms Cherylyn Skewes.

Financing a future Out of charity, Prince Alfred College (PAC) was born, thanks largely to Thomas Greaves Waterhouse.

A man of strong Methodist faith, Thomas shared the vision of PAC’s founders to establish a Methodist School for boys. From vision, came action, as Thomas invested significant finances in the purchase of land in Kent Town as a site for the school and for the commencement of the Main Building in 1867– at the cost of his own family’s financial inheritance.

While the College maintains an outstanding reputation for academic performance, sporting results, chess, musical and drama productions, artistic development and for the quality of care shown to the students, its moral and ethical foundation in the Christian tradition underpins it all.

Photo: Thomas Greaves Waterhouse’s philanthropy contributed largely to PAC’s existence.

A flood of support Wendy Brooks, Pedare Students at Pedare Christian College returned to school with compassion and enthusiasm to assist the children in two rural townships of central west Queensland that were severely impacted by the recent floods.

Alpha State School, a small P-10 community, lost everything. Pedare Junior School students will raise money to repair and redevelop sporting facilities at Alpha whilst the Year 6-12 students are offering support to Denison State School (P-7) located in Emerald. Emerald was flooded two years ago and severely flooded again earlier this year.

These Pedare student led initiatives of Christian service and compassion will establish links with the students in regional Queensland during this difficult time. It is an opportunity for our students to make a difference in their world.

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Photo: Year 7 Pedare students brainstorm about possible fundraising activities to assist students in flood-affected areas of Queensland.

Wii can help Deb Roberts, Pilgrim Our Junior Primary classes at Pilgrim School are reaching out in love to our local elderly community. We have enjoyed visiting, making cards for and singing to local nursing home residents.The middle primary classes have also been involved.Whilst visiting the nursing home they noticed a new Wii console which was not being used and some return visits were arranged so that the students could ‘train’ the residents in its use. Some wonderful cross generational sharing followed in which both the residents and students learnt from each other.

We hope that our young students will value the aged and all their knowledge and experience and develop a heart of Christian compassion and stewardship to others.

Photo: Pilgrim students are often involved in awareness projects or work with the community.

Scotch-flavoured compassion Rev Scott Magann, Chaplain, Scotch College Finding genuine ‘hands-on’ charity projects, beyond tokenism or pure fund-raising, can be challenging – especially if you are looking for something that can engage 600 school students, whilst simultaneously educating them about some of the more disadvantaged members of our human family. But for four years now, students at Scotch College have been fortunate.

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Scotch have developed a partnership with the Birthing Kit Foundation, an organisation that provides small, hygienic birth kits in large numbers to impoverished communities around the world. Each year, hundreds of our students form simple ‘production line’ parties and, with ready smiles, disinfected hands and warm hearts, assemble thousands of birth kits, ready for shipping. It is a practical and compassionate way to meet a real and pressing need.

Photo: Scotch students assemble string, gauze, gloves, soap, a plastic sheet and a scalpel, to create a simple, hygienic birth kit.

General uplift Lynne Moten, Seymour For the past four years, Seymour College staff and students have spent their January holidays working with communities in India.

In recent years, this program developed into Seymour College’s Sarvodaya program.

Sarvodaya is a word first coined by Ghandi, and means ‘general uplift’ or ‘well-being of all’.

This year, the group worked within Mother Theresa’s Houses in Kolkata, with HIV positive children in Mangalore, within a school in Bajpe, with children retrieved from slave labour and destitute women in Chitradurga, and worked in a school for severely disabled people in Chennai.

The Sarvodaya program is the flagship of the Service program, which is a defining feature of Seymour College, where the Christian principle of service is central to the College’s ethos, Crescam Ministrando (I grow by serving).

Photo: Seymour girls and staff commemorate a time of service in India with a photo.

History of giving Peter Trenorden, Westminster Old Scholars’ Executive Westminster Senior School students have a long tradition of supporting charities and organisations.

Many fundraising activities are organised through our House system where students are encouraged to support those less fortunate than themselves. In 2010, the students sold family portraits, ran cake stalls and organised fun runs and barbeques amongst many fundraisers. One House sent 80 gift boxes to Papua New Guinea as part of Operation Christmas Child. Often the motivation for students choosing a particular charity comes from personal experiences or being affected by events. An international student from Pakistan spoke at an Assembly about the catastrophic floods at home in 2010 and consequently the School raised $3,000 in two days for the Pakistan Relief Fund.

Photo: Westminster students raising money through a car wash.

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stewardship & charity

In the girl-child’s wake Somewhere amongst the floods and fires, between the highs, lows, cold fronts and rainfall, we started to get serious about our weather small-talk, and discuss the catastrophic weather tendencies of late 2010 - early 2011 as La Niña and El Niño behaviours.

It’s not always bad news - it’s just the weather. In the earth’s structured order, El Niño and La Niña are designed to even each other out in natural phases.

For many of us though, the names give us titles to tote around, without recognising that they may not be the only cause for climate concern.

Climate scientists have found La Niña’s fingerprints on a number of extreme weather events like the devastating Pakistan flood in 2010, the flooding in West Africa, South Africa and, most recently, in Queensland.

These weather siblings, La Niña meaning ‘the girl child’ with her brother El Niño, ‘the boy child’, manifest paradigmatic values on the Southern Oscillation Index (SOI) – the boy, low values; the girl, high.

The changes are interrelated, affecting Australian water, wind and waves in quasi-periodic cycles averaging five years in length; El Niño generally bringing dry weather, La Niña alternately bringing the wet.

The patterns do encourage extreme weather events though - drought for the boy and floods for the girl.

The girl-child is also to blame for Cyclone Yasi, the second most damaging Australian cyclone on record after 1974’s Cyclone Tracy. Like Yasi, Tracy took place in a La Niña year, a year which also flooded Queensland horrifically.

Extreme events such as flooding and cyclones are expected features of La Niña conditions in Australia. But the spike in these events over recent years has caused climate scientists to query the relationship between a changing, warming climate and the increasing extreme behaviour of cyclical weather patterns.

While individual flooding events and cyclones are not caused by humaninduced climate change alone, record warm ocean temperatures have exaggerated the conditions of a La Niña environment, increasing the risk of extreme rainfall events.

And the underlying warming trend of oceans around the world is linked to human-induced climate change.

Beyond the natural phases of weather patterns and seasonal rise and fall, the continuously rising water temperatures indicate a world struggling to selfregulate.

The Biblical creation account paints an ordered world created from nothingness and chaos. Since then though, our attempts to dominate the world have pushed it further and further from its created order and thus we live out of order from within the created order.

We have used up all our resources and we have even impinged on our poorer neighbours’ resources.

It is time for us to ponder, as people of faith, how far we will drive away from order, from Genesis, before we realise that we’re creating our own climate versions of Revelation.

(The false prophets and beasts might just look a little different to what we expected.) CR

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Linda Sutton On Sunday 13 February, four banners representing elements of Kadina Wesley Uniting Church’s mission statement were unveiled.

Time and effort was spent in searching for just the right materials to create four pieces of inspirational art, with exquisite quilting and embroidery.

The creative ideas of Gerri Muenchow, well-known local artist and church member, inspired the group in the selection of scenes and symbols.

With the encouragement of Rev June Ladner, Ellen Baker’s team of workers, bonded in a concerted effort. The completed works are tangible signs of the commitment of the small band of quilters over the past three years.

The beautiful banners are a reminder to all who enter the building of the church’s commitment to worship and serve God in the congregation, the community and beyond.

In early February 2011, the term ‘charity begins at home’, was given to selfish connotation as Leader of the Opposition, Tony Abbott, used it to articulate plans to reduce overseas aid funding rather than support Labor’s flood levy.

The scheme to be cut was a John Howard initiative, building schools in Indonesia intended as both a charitable and an ironically strategic endeavour: to fight antiWestern teaching.

The intention was that of an MP devoted to Australians in light of the tragic flooding of Queensland. Unfortunately, to borrow also from another colloquialism, this narrowed focus on our own backyard required an unbeatitudinal

desire to put our own means above others.

Kerry Enright, National Director of UnitingWorld, blogged on 10 February: “I think the Coalition decision to defer spending on the Indonesian education program is unwise. In this context, the saying that has been used ‘charity begins at home’ can pit one form of neediness against another. ...It seems unfair though to use local need to justify deferring attention to others in need. And it doesn’t seem consistent with our experience of Australian people.”

In light of the flooding and cyclone damage this year, churches across Australia have opened their doors,

prayed, sent pastoral carers and donated sacrificially to see fellow Australians recover from their loss, while still continuing to believe in their own vision, and cross-cultural support.

Aberfoyle Uniting Church decided it would give offerings from all of its four weekend services to support the clean up.

“We felt convicted as a pastor’s team and challenged as a church,” said Lead Pastor, Rev Phil Pynor. “The effect in the whole congregation was one of celebration and a real discipleship step.

“It brought home to us that God calls us to be wise stewards of our resources, and also to be generous.”

The Synod of the Uniting Church in South Australia

also felt convicted.

UC Invest Manager, Paul Barnett, CEO/General Secretary Graham Humphris and Moderator Rob Williams assessed what could be done to support Queensland’s recovery.

“We had a good year last year in comparison to the years of the Global Financial Crisis,” comments Paul. “The UC Invest Board was very keen to make a contribution.

“Because of the extraordinary situation of the floods, we wanted to make an extraordinary response.”

A grant of $50,000 was agreed upon as a gift to the Queensland Synod for pastoral and practical postdisaster recovery.

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stewardship & charity

Right: Gerri Muenchow, Esther Manley and Lynne Routley from Kadina-Wesley Uniting Church.

Lent for Loans Lent Event SA will support seven development projects in countries within our current partner church links: • Rural village water in PNG

The special discipleship journey of the Easter season will become a unified focus for Uniting Churches across the country through Lent Event.

stewardship & charity

“The program follows the Lenten tradition of fasting by inviting individuals and communities to forgo something for 40 days as a way to deepen their personal and communal discipleship,” said Sarah White, Lent Event’s Founder.

“Lent Event encourages participants to think about the various ‘things’ that make up their lives, and stop to consider what is really needed for a meaningful life.

and to allocate the money we saved to the Lent Event projects.”

• Remote scholarship scheme in PNG

In South Australia, Lenten giving will support the work of our partner churches in Papua New Guinea (PNG), Indonesia and the Philippines.

• Microfinance in PNG

Lent Event is an educational, faithbuilding experience offering a deep engagement with the traditions of Lent, within the context of today’s church.

• Livelihood Support in Papua, Indonesia

“They are then pressed to uncover what they could give up as an expression of solidarity with people enduring extreme poverty.”

Featuring multimedia resources, ‘Sacred Friendships’ Prayer & Bible study materials and contemporary worship resources, the Lent Event materials connect with the tangible development projects of the Millennium Development Goals which seek to halve world poverty by 2015.

“Getting involved in Lent Event means doing with less, rather than just giving more. We’re invited to do without something we usually spend money on

For more information and resources, head online to lentevent.com or contact Uniting World SA Officer Christa Megaw on cmegaw@sa.uca.org.au, 8236 4203.

• Health capacity and HIV Issues project in PNG

• Livelihood Program in North Luzon, Philippines • Young Ambassadors for Peace Program in Mindanao, Philippines Each project will make a real impact in the lives of people living in poverty and is part of Uniting Church SA’s commitment to our church partners.

Donations to Lent Event SA ($2 and above) are tax deductible.

Microfinance at a glance In late November 2010, 34 local PNG women gathered to participate in a United Church of Papua New Guinea microfinance program on New Ireland.

Some women had rowed many nautical miles from outlying islands to hear what microfinancing may have to offer them.

The program ran for six days, and by the end of it, 33 of the women had taken out small loans enabling them to start up small businesses. These loans, upon being repaid, would then go on to support more women in other regions to take out loans and earn income also.

Cathy Walo from Alotau (Milne Bay region) has participated in microfinance sessions in other provinces for the past couple of years.

She has seen microfinance initiatives empower women in her area to earn income for themselves and their families, and is aware of many others who have benefitted from the program elsewhere in PNG. Cathy will succeed Ruth Sellick as the point person for microfinance training for the United Church PNG.

Microfinance is changing the income climate for many women in Papua New Guinea; basket weaving is one of the numerous business initiatives kickstarted through this loan system. You can support this and other initiatives through Lent Event 2011through our partner churches in PNG, Indonesia and the Philippines.

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Yes to debate

Cancelling Easter

Sadly J.Harris & T.Carter (Feb NT) spoiled their contribution to a lively discussion by making disparaging remarks about fellow Christians.

The Victorian Government intends cancelling the present ban on major businesses opening on Easter Sunday.

Such ungraciousness is inappropriate, especially as my December letter was not a criticism of anyone’s theological stance, but an observation related to Julia Pitman’s article and based on evidence/documentation.

An example of such evidence: - Basis of Union strongly emphasises (the Risen) CHRIST JESUS (God’s Living Word), in varying terminology. He is lauded eight times in Article 1 alone.

- Material from ACC & like groupings tends to strongly stress BIBLE supremacy.

The former more likely to emphasise Jesus’ Love, the latter God’s Righteousness.

These distinctions/streams are not value-judgements.

They just are.

The latter stream has been more dramatically recognisable, zealously promoted in the rhetoric of contentious Synod debates which led to changes in the UCA structure in SA.

Minister Louise Asher says the new laws will ‘give people more control over their lives’.

Is forcing workers -- who would like to spend Easter going to church and/or relaxing with family -- to go to work … is that giving them ‘more control’?

Were not 363 days enough days to worship money?

The Church should protest loud and long about this attack on the Christian Faith.

Easter Sunday commemorates the Resurrection of Jesus the Son of God from the dead.

That historical event is the key point in God’s revealing himself to the human race.

Frittering away this holy day – this opportunity for some silence and contemplating what is most important in life… what could be stupider than that?

A. Jago, Mildura

letters to ed

Surely we are all on the one Jesus team. Jesus’ disciples had different perspectives too.

Debate, YES! Insults, NO!!

N. Bennett Port Adelaide

Prayer to an absentee god Dear God, are you there? Are you here? If you are, why don’t you make yourself known to me? You are deaf to my cries of anguish. I can’t bear your silence in this dark place where I find myself. There are no signs here of your presence. Is it because you have already spoken and I have been inattentive, deaf to your words?

I confess I have been looking for something from you, when all you might want is my company. I am unworthy of your attention, but still Lord, I am here praying because of it. There is no one else who could ever understand my plight, but the One who called out to You from the darkness of the Cross, and I wait in hope that is faith renewed.

L. Sutton, Kadina

Send your letters to: newtimes@sa.uca.org.au or PO Box 2145, Adelaide 5001.

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.

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Celebrating community and Christ Rev Rob Tann, Whyalla Uniting Church

diary notes

Whyalla Uniting Church began their Australia Day celebrations with a prayer meeting, followed by a sausage sizzle breakfast under a big gum tree in the church grounds.

We also presented our own ‘Australia Day Awards’ on Sunday 23 January to recognise groups and individuals from within the church. The Whyalla community’s Australia Day celebrations were also special this year as our congregation member, Mrs Norma Matters, received Whyalla’s ‘Citizen of the Year’ – for the second time. Norma

has the unique record of being the only person to ever receive Whyalla’s ‘Citizen of the Year’ twice – having previously been recognised by the local community in 1999.

The Mayor, Cr Jim Pollock, presented the award to Norma, an Elder and pastoral team leader in our church. She was recognised for her tireless efforts as a hospital palliative care counsellor, funeral celebrant, aged care visitor, and church carer.

Like many rural areas, and despite a population of well over 20,000

Hymnfest at Adare Uniting Church, The Drive, Victor Harbor. Sunday 13 March at 2.00pm. Come for a drive to Victor and join in this enjoyable time of hymn singing with the Adare Choir as guest artists. Afternoon tea will follow. All welcome. Further enquiries to the Adare Uniting Church office 8552 8377.

Yeelanna Uniting Church celebrates the centenary of the opening of the first church in the district on Sunday 20 March.

Worship service at 10.00am, with Moderator Rev Robbie Williams giving the address. Enjoy a BBQ lunch at 12.00noon and reflection and fellowship from 1.30pm - 3.00pm. Past ministers, congregation members and friends are invited to help celebrate. More info: David Pearson (08) 8676 8071.

people, Whyalla has many struggles as a city. Despite the mining boom being good locally, rural ministry takes extra commitment and determined effort.

There is no way that we could continue to function as a church community without a team of deeply committed and faith-filled leaders. Whyalla is extra blessed with two younger elders coming on team in 2011.

We have a hope, a vision, and a future grounded in Jesus. Systems and distance from ‘the action’ can affect us all, but in Christ we have placed our trust.

A special service to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Salisbury Uniting Church building will be held on Sunday 20 March 2011 at 10am with a shared lunch to follow. Enquiries: Salisbury Uniting Church Office 8258 2675 State Mission Fellowship meets on Tuesday, 29 March at 10.30am at Scots Church, North Terrace. Morning tea and lunch available. Speaker from UnitingCare Wesley. All welcome.

To give away: 20 copies of the ‘Majesty, experience in worship’ song books, consisting of seven pages. If interested contact Bill: 8449 2996.

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

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Time to heat the pan This Tuesday 8 March is the official UnitingCare SA Pancake Day. Two Wells Uniting Church, one of UnitingCare SA’s star fundraisers, is well and truly prepared again for this fundraising opportunity.

For nearly ten years, Two Wells has been running Pancake Day’s in their local community. But it’s not without quite a bit of hard work from coordinator Pamela Duncan and the small congregation.

“We have quite a good band of helpers,” said Pamela. “Our church members help a great deal.

We enjoy it and have good fun.”

For the past few years, the church has run two Pancake Days: one at the local primary school of 300-400 students on Shrove Tuesday, one in the main street of town the following Friday.

“It’s a great fundraiser and very good for awareness about UnitingCare. At the school, the chaplain also gets an opportunity through this to explain about what Shrove Tuesday is.”

It’s not too late to get your church or group involved in Pancake Day this year – register your event today! w. sa.pancakeday.com.au p. 1800 060 543

magazine

2010’s Top Ten Fundraisers: 1) Two Wells Uniting Church 2) Naracoorte Uniting Church 3) Westminster Prep School 4) Kadina-Wesley Uniting Church 5) Balaklava Uniting Church 6) Pilgrim Uniting Church 7) Prince Alfred College 8) Encounter Lutheran School 9) Jamestown Uniting Church 10) Tumby Bay Uniting Church Pancake Day is a great way for your church, workplace or school to support UnitingCare in their work to support vulnerable and marginalised people in South Australia. Penny Pancake is ready – are you?

Australia Day 2011 Honours list Ten Uniting Church members received awards in the Australia Day 2011 Honours list - unassuming, hardworking Hyde Park local, Jenny Macintosh, was just one of them.

She had nominated others for the Awards successfully before but was totally stunned to receive one herself this year.

Her award was noted simply: for service to the community, particularly through the Embroiderers’ Guild of South Australia, and to the Guiding movement. ‘Service to the community’ doesn’t quite cover the far-reaching and diverse nature of Jenny’s interests, and service though.

She is involved with the Effective Living Centre as Chairperson of Social Issues Task group, on the committee for ‘Friends of Co-Opera’, organiser of Bush Voices Newsletter, a life member and contributor to Girl Guides and keenly involved in the Embroiderers’ Guild of SA. Don’t let the term ‘embroidery’ fool you. This isn’t just ‘Granny’s little sewing circle’ as many have assumed, according to Jenny.

The Embroiderers’ Guild of SA was part of the South Australian Living Arts Festival last year. It has 600 members, 12 country branches, a State-accredited museum and a 4000 book library.

Congratulations to Jenny, and all other recipients.

Uniting Church in Australia members awarded Australia Day Honours in 2011 include:

Member (AM) of the Order Of Australia The Honourable Grant Ernest Tambling, Darwin, NT For service to the Parliament of Australia, to the community of Norfolk Island, and to the Northern Territory through contributions to local, state and federal government.

Medal (OAM) of the Order Of Australia Mrs Jessie Elaine Bell, Coffs Harbour, NSW For service to music as an organist, and to the community of the Coffs Harbour region.

Mr Thomas Dyster, Mount Barker, SA For service to the community of the Adelaide Hills Region.

Mrs Dorothy Elma Horsman, Yass, NSW For service to local government, and to the community of Yass.

Mr Peter Lynn, Coal Point NSW For service to the community through the Uniting Church In Australia.

Mrs Jennifer Judith Macintosh, Hyde Park, SA (see above story) Mr Joe Mannix, Annandale, NSW For service to the community through advocacy roles with a range of disability and social welfare organisations.

Mr John Walter Pugh, Wilson, WA For service to the community through social justice organisations, and to the Uniting Church.

Mrs Margaret Mary Pugh, Wilson, WA For service to the community through social justice organisations, and to the Uniting Church.

Mr Raymond Alan Welsford, Warrnambool, Vic For service to the community of Warrnambool through a range of education, local government and service organisations.

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MRN There have been many changes in the Mission Resourcing Network (MRN) of Uniting Church SA. New staff have been employed, resourcing centres for children, youth and young adults have centralised within the Uniting Church SA office and a not-so-new face has joined the MRN team – Rev Rod Dyson.

After handing over his Moderator duties to Rev Rob Williams in October last year, Rod has now taken up the role of MRN Executive Officer. Still keen to communicate with New Times readers, and after much positive feedback on his ‘moditorials’, Rod needed a new place within the news.

And so, the MRN page was born. This is just one way to keep you in touch with the people, resources and events available to support you, and your congregation, in the mission of God that we’re all participating in.

Can do In March this year, Uniting Church SA youth and young adults groups will be collecting canned goods to donate to welfare agencies across the state as part of the MRN’s ‘Yes We Can’ event.

Groups are charged with the task of identifying a local area, then making a simple two step approach. Letterbox-drop a flier to let your community know who you are, and what you’re on about. Step two – doorknock those homes to pick up your cans.

Event coordinators, Katrina Levi and Will Hall, are hopeful for over 15 groups to participate.

“Our hope for Yes We Can is to help youth groups connect with people in their own communities and encourage relationship building – and while supporting those struggling to put food on the table,” comments Katrina.

“We’re sharing in the vision of many local churches – to build relationships with and serve their local community to share the love of Christ.”

The statewide initiative will take place on the weekend of March 19-20.

All donations will be used to stock their local foodbanks.

To get your youth or young adult group involved, contact Katrina Levi on: p. 8236 4266 e. klevi@sa.uca.org.au

New faces Rev Alan Dutton Mission Officer, Rural and Regional SA Rev Ruthmary Bond Fresh Expressions and Evangelism Officer Rev David Williamson Mission Planner for Multicultural Ministries Rev Sarah Williamson (Deac) Solidarity and Justice Officer Katrina Levi Youth & Young Adults Administrator (centre formerly ‘Out of the Valley’ at Hope Valley Uniting) Mary-Jo Zwar and Melissa Cellier Children & Family Ministry Team Outreach Coordinators (centre formerly at Parafield Gardens Uniting)

Trusting a setuata Rev Rod Dyson Stewardship and Charity – they’re old words.

My initial reaction to them is negative, probably because when they are talked about in the church many people feel quite uncomfortable.

Another initial reaction to ‘stewardship’ and ‘charity’ is that they don’t sit together.

That’s because we have lost track of the meaning of the words.

When I lived in Tonga the word steward (setuata) was still widely used by the church.

The agricultural college that I worked at had a second property some kilometres away. A setuata was in charge of that property. He was often on his own for weeks at a time.

The best stewards were trustworthy. He certainly needed skills to look after cattle but his understanding of the role was vital. It was not about duty. The steward needed to understand that the resources on the property were not his – they belonged to the college. His role was to look after them to the best of his ability to help finance the college’s education programs.

Good stewards were deeply grateful for their role and they understood that their work was part of their discipleship.

To be a good steward is to faithfully serve God. Stewardship and charity are about what we do with

the whole of our lives. Our stewardship springs from our relationship with God. Every single part of our lives needs to be converted – even, or especially, our use of money.

Stewardship is about our worship, witness and service.

We are called to grow as stewards – that will happen if we grow as disciples. We only get one go at it – three score and ten – or hopefully a lot longer! And it isn’t about duty, or what’s God’s and what’s mine.

It is about grace and generosity and justice. For me it is simply about entering into the joy of my master. I don’t want to hold anything back from that.

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A strong message for the final journey In a former life, retired minister–now– author, Walter Sholl, was a newspaper and commercial photographer in East Gippsland, Victoria. Having been involved with the Uniting Church in various ways as a parishioner and a Lay Preacher, Walter took to fulltime ministry a couple of years after the death of his first wife Pam, in 1992.

Initially, this ministry took Walter to Darwin as an industrial chaplain with Inter Church Trade and Industry Mission.

reviews

Walter was called upon early in his ministry to conduct a memorial service for one of the staff whose company he was contracted to as an Industrial Chaplain. It threw him ‘into the deep end’ of funeral ministry with the request, ‘As he is a Vietnam Vet. can we have the service in the RSL Clubrooms?’

“I guess this set the scene for my approach to funeral services,” Walter recalls. “After Darwin, I took up a role as a hospital chaplain in Tasmania.

“One of the funeral directors used to call on me regularly with the comment ‘and no religion’, knowing full well

where I was coming from and that this wouldn’t exactly happen!”

Retiring last July after years of various chaplaincy placements, postdisaster ministry and 11 years in parish ministry, Walter hasn’t quite managed to retire from being ‘in ministry’.

“The only ministry I am doing in retirement is funerals. I had nine in December and seven in January.

As I said a week ago at Presbytery (Gippsland) when doing a presentation of my book, ‘people are obviously dying for my services’.

“I’m not sure whether that was a pun or just my sense of humour.”

Walter’s book Grave Business: Words for the final journey, is designed to help those who may also be thrown into the deep end with funerals, or for experienced practitioners wishing to refresh their dialogue with different people groups.

The book is a result of his experiences, as he adapted his message to suit the religious and non religious, without losing the integrity of the Christian faith.

It’s a grave business Walter Scholl has spent the better part of a lifetime in ministry in the Northern Territory, Tasmania, and Victoria. During that period, he has noted that funerals are increasingly conducted away from church for people who do not consciously hold a belief in God. Grave Business: Words for the Final Journey; A Book of Resources for Funeral Services represents his response to that trend.

Author: Walter Sholl Available from: UniChurch Resources Recommended for: those involved with funeral services In short: A valuable resource for anyone – lay, ordained or unchurched – who may be conducting funeral services.

RRP: $15.95

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Grave Business is a collection of funeral services conducted in contexts ranging from the fraught to the familiar. Through each of these occasions, Sholl exhorts his audience to pay attention to their feelings, to actively sit with the grief, anger, sorrow and sense of abandonment that frequently follows in the wake of death. Only by doing so can we hope to heal the suffering that occurs when those we love pass away.

Some may find Grave Business problematic, especially Sholl’s unashamed use of secular elements in the funeral liturgy. But for those looking for resources to help them deal with the challenge of Christian ministry in a secular context, this book could be a more than useful starting point.

- Brendan Byrne

The Greatest Ever Thinkers Reveal Why They Believe Book: Belief

The three hundred or so pages contained within the bindings of Belief have changed the world, and continue to do so each day. The compiled insights are the foundations of modern day Christian belief, taking the reader from Ancient Greece to post-World War II England and beyond.

Author: Various, Ed. Francis S. Collinse Available from: Harper One Recommended for: the Christian Thinker and the Non-Christian Doubter In short: An anthology of writings from some of the greatest apologists, philosophers, authors and scientists ever to walk the earth.

No review could do justice to the 33 brilliant essays, but I will highlight a few that have inspired and broadened my mind. N.T. Wright clearly and directly sets the scene with a look at the undeniable need for belief, while later Blaise Pascal brings his mathematical logic to the argument of human reason. Madeleine L’Engle shows her depth of insight by explaining the importance of emphasising the Truth found in Christianity rather than just reducing it to a series of facts. Alvin Plantinga’s sojourn on the irrationality of naturalism brings a childhood simplicity to an adult argument.

One important thing to note is that even amongst these amazing thinkers, the writings of C.S. Lewis stand out like a city on a hill. His eloquence, clarity of thought, humility and authority show much of why he is revered as the pinnacle of Christian thought.

I thoroughly recommend this to anyone who wants to be subjected to new names in Christian and secular philosophy. There is hope, insight and joy contained in Belief and you will come away with a new found precision as to why exactly you believe.

- Callum Iles

RRP: $15.99

A New Way of Being

Book: The First Paul: Reclaiming the Radical Visionary behind the Church’s Conservative Icon Author: Marcus J. Borg & John Dominic Crossan Available from: Harper One Recommended for: anyone wanting to discover the major features of Paul’s life and theology.

In short: A fascinating book with a careful and challenging analysis of Paul’s writings.

Book: Breathe. See. Nourish.

Energize: A Pathway to Healing Author: Frances Murchison Available from: Seabury Books Recommended for: anyone looking for a new way of seeing their life.

In short: Suggests ways to take stock and improve quality of life based on spiritual principles – mostly.

RRP: $39.95

RRP: US$13.99 This is the third book renowned New Testament scholars Borg and Crossan have jointly written on New Testament issues, this time exploring the significance and meaning of Paul’s theological vision for the church in the Roman world. They describe him as ‘a Jewish Christ mystic’.

In the introductory chapters they argue quite persuasively that the ‘radical’ Paul—the first Paul—in the title of the book, must be understood from his universally acknowledged seven primary letters in the New Testament: Romans, 1 and 2 Corinthians, 1 Thessalonians, Galatians, Philippians and Philemon. This argument is developed by an

intensive analysis of Philemon, which they believe outlines Paul’s case for equality in the church, with Onesimus as the test case.

Some of their conclusions are controversial, but this book is stimulating to read, and well grounded in the writings of Paul.

It gives an overview of the life and writings of Paul, and gives a deep insight into his passions and vision for a new life found in Christ.

Is it worth the time and effort to read and reflect? Definitely!

- Rodger Bassham

What is it with titles that are a string of imperatives? I had reserved Eat. Pray. Love from the local library and thought this was what I was getting to review!

Instead it was Breathe. See. Nourish.

Energize.

Frances Murchison draws on Scripture, a broad range of those who have gone before and from other traditions including the Desert Fathers, Bernard of Clairvaux, Teresa of Avila, Mahatma Gandhi, and Thich Nhat Hanh.

Interspersed amongst the text are boxed exercises I found to be intrusive, probably only because I wasn’t really keen to use the book as a workbook. I found the case studies more interesting although

they tended to be snippets and didn’t follow through – I wanted to know more!

Some may be put off by the language – talk of the Divine, coupled with quotes from outside the Christian world may have some muttering ‘new age’ but this quest for wholeness is firmly rooted in the Gospel.

Believing that all goodness and wholeness comes from God, I see this as a valuable book with some practical strategies.

- Glenys Badger

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reviews

The passion of Paul

p a n c a ke d ay i s t u e s d ay 8 m a rch

Buttermilk Pancakes Ingredients makes about eight 7.5 cm pancakes • 1 cup plain flour • 1 large egg, lightly beaten • 1 teaspoon baking powder • 1 cup buttermilk • ¼ teaspoon baking soda • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted • ¼ teaspoon salt • extra melted butter for greasing the pan • 2 tablespoons granulated white sugar

Method Mix 1. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and sugar.

2. In a separate bowl, whisk together the egg, buttermilk, and melted butter.

3. Add the egg mixture to the flour mixture, all at once, and stir or whisk just until combined. Leave the batter to rest for a few minutes. Make sure you do not overmix the batter or the pancakes will be tough.

Cook 1. Heat a nonstick frying pan over medium high heat and melt a small block of butter, gently tipping the pan in a circular motion to grease the whole surface.

2. Using a small ladle or scoop, pour about ¼ cup of pancake batter onto the pan, cook one at a time for perfection!! Cook the pancakes until bubbles form around the edges of the pancake and the lift the edge to sneak a peak of the bottom where it should be golden brown. Flip the cake and cook until the other side is golden brown.

3. Repeat with remaining batter, melting butter between batches.

Dennis Leslie began his hospitality career as a Trainee in 1996 in the same kitchen he now presides over as Executive Chef: Hilton Adelaide.

Serve Serve with extra runny fried eggs, crispy bacon and real maple syrup!!