New Times - November 2005

November 2005

Issue 24, Number 10 PP 565 001/00190 ISSN 0726-2612

BY THE time this issue of New Times is distributed in churches, Rev Graham Vawser will be new Moderator of the Uniting Church SA. He will by installed at 7.30pm at the Concordia College chapel, Cheltenham Street, Highgate, on Thursday, November 3, during the Uniting Church SA’s annual Synod, November 3 to 7.

Graham will also become first chairperson of the new Presbytery of SA. There is a story on page 3.

LEFT: Graham is pictured here with his wife, Dee.

We have a new look New Times unveils a new look with this issue.

It’s the work of Edi Leane, of Joie Creative, and Les Colston.

inside…

Former detainee is a Moderator-elect 2 A good news story

3

Bali bombings

5

Network news

7

Kingdom values

9

Rebuilding lives

11

Distance education

13

How to write for New Times

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The issue that changed Dean The issue of asylum seekers has changed Assembly President, Rev Dr Dean Drayton. Before he wasn’t very involved in politics. Now he’s an “indignant observer” of what’s being done to them.

Dean spoke at a thanksgiving service for asylum seekers released from detention at Pilgrim Church, Adelaide.

LEFT: Dean (right) is pictured with Sr Pat Sealey, a Catholic chaplain at Baxter Detention Facility, and a recently released asylum seeker who does not want his identity known.

Please hand out at your church door

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NEWS

Christmas campaign “THERE’S MORE than one man behind Christmas ...” is the theme for the Uniting Church’s 2005 Christmas campaign. The campaign has three core strategies: • To distribute postcards inviting people to local worship.

• To place adverts in the press just before Christmas.

• To provide a comprehensive website listing of local worship times, Christmas events and information about how to get practical help at Christmas.

The project builds on the success of the “Don’t be alone this Christmas” and “Wish upon a star” postcard campaigns run by the Uniting Church Communications Unit in the past two years.

“The ‘Don’t Be alone this Christmas’ campaign exceeded expectations,” coordinator, Shannon Short, said. “The invitation to join the Uniting Church for worship in Christmas 2004 reached more than 60 per cent of homes in South Australia. Over 100 churches took advantage of the free listing on our website, with the details of over 250 worship services available online.

“We also received media coverage in The Advertiser, Messenger and regional press, as well as interviews on Channel 7’s Today Tonight, ABC 891, 5DN, 5AA and Life FM. To our knowledge this is the largest media coverage the Uniting Church in SA has ever received for an evangelistic message.”

Orders close early November. Congregations can personalise the message on the reverse of the card with details of their own worship and outreach activities.

“The postcards are very cost effective,” Shannon said. “We’re sharing the printing cost across many congregations. There’s no way a congregation could get 1,000 colour cards designed and printed on their own for $70 – so this represents great value for money.

“There’s also the added bonus of the advertising and website to reinforce the message they’ve distributed locally.”

All artwork must be finalised and approved by no later than November 10. The cards will be available for pick up on November 21. The cards cost just $70 for the first 1,000 and then $50 for additional 1,000s (plus GST if applicable).

You can find out more about the campaign, including viewing a sample postcard, at the website www.sa.unitingchurch.org.au/christmas — or from Jo Watts at the Uniting Church Communications and Public Relations Unit on 8236 4260.

NOVEMBER 2005

New Times

Former detainee is a Moderator-elect A FORMER “non-citizen” is Moderator-elect of the Uniting Church in Victoria and Tasmania – Rev Jason Kioa, currently minister at Wesley Uniting Church, Melbourne, While he was in detention in 1983 Jason vowed to God that if he got out he would become a minister.

Jason had been arrested and put into the Maribyrnong Detention Centre. He was accused of being an illegal immigrant and threatened with summary deportation to his native Tonga.

His case eventually worked its way to the Australian High Court in a process that took five years and cost more than one million dollars in legal fees.

“I know how it feels to have the power of the system against you and your family,” he said.

There is an interview with Jason on the SA Synod website.

THE NATIONAL Council of Churches in Australia’s Christian World Service has launched an Emergency Appeal for Pakistan-Afghanistan earthquake victims. It is coordinating the appeal with Action by Churches Together Internationa (ACT).

Details are available on the NCCA and Assembly websites.

UC Assembly President, Rev Dr Dean Drayton, has written a prayer for the people of Kashmir. It is also on the Assembly website.

Rev Jason Kioa “We are concerned the Government has failed to allow adequate time for public discussion and debate about the proposed laws.” The full statement is on the Assembly website.

VOLUNTEERS representing the SA Post Disaster Pastoral Support Ministry met planes returning direct from Bali in the week after the recent Bali bombings. The volunteers offered returning tourists information about coping after disastrous events. They were helping social workers from Centrelink on behalf of the state and federal governments.

THE FEDERAL Government’s anti-terror legislation puts Australia on a dangerous path according to the Uniting Church President, Rev Dr Dean Drayton.

“While every Government has a responsibility to protect its citizens, these new laws send a clear message that the only way to do this is to erode people’s rights,” he said. “They have the potential to create an atmosphere of fear and distrust in Australia.

ASSEMBLY President, Rev Dr Dean Drayton, has issued a statement on the recent Bali bombings.

It included a prayer for the victims. It is on the Assembly website.

Stewardship

Annual report

The Uniting Church has produced a new stewardship brochure in time for Stewardship Sunday. Stewardship Sunday is celebrated in South Australia on the second Sunday of November each year.

“This year we celebrate it on November 13,” coordinator, Shannon Short, said.

“November is often a time when we’re setting budgets and mission goals for the coming year.

“It’s an important time to set and sharpen the vision for our ministry in our community “Reminding people to support that vision financially is important.”

Stewardship Sunday is a specific day in the church calendar to profile: • How much money your congregation needs to achieve its mission plan.

• What your congregation does with the money it raises.

• How the wider church benefits (Mission and Service Fund).

The new brochure focuses on four aspects of stewardship – giving locally, giving to the wider church (Mission and Service Fund), investing our savings (UC Invest) and considering a bequest (Uniting Foundation).

The brochure will be available for congregations to pick up at Synod 2005.

The Uniting Church website also has some complimentary resources including a powerpoint presentation available for download. Visit www. sa.unitingchurch.org.au/stewardship More information from the Communications and Public Relations Unit on 8236 4260.

By the time this issue of New Times is distributed, the 2004-05 Uniting Church Annual Report will have been launched at Synod 2005.

The report highlights some of the achievements of our church in the past 12 months including: • Our support for victims of the tsunami and fires on Eyre Peninsula.

• The achievements of local congregations and Synod programs.

• A financial summary detailing how congregations’ contributions to the Mission and Service Fund were spent.

In his greeting to the Synod in the report, Moderator, Rev Dr Graham Humphris, wrote: “The 2004-05 annual report illustrates many stories.

“These stories are your stories. Not only because church members donated over $1 million towards the Uniting Church’s ministry last year, but because these stories are interwoven with your own unique stories of ministry and lives changed in your own local area.

“May the stories inspire all of us to discover afresh how God is calling us as individuals and faith communities to share the love of Jesus Christ.”

Both documents can be viewed on the Synod website at www.sa.unitingchurch.org.au or see your minister for a copy.

Additional copies are available from the Communications and Public Relations Unit – phone Jo Watts on 8236 4260.

NEWS

New Times

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The good news story of the year?

AN ADELAIDE story about a new version of the Bible created a real stir. It was about the Bible in modern man’s newest language – SMS or text.

The Bible Society in Australia has translated the entire text of the Bible into TXT language, so people can download inspirational messages or verses to their mobile phones or text them to friends, family, team-mates, colleagues or other contacts.

The story made front page news here in Adelaide. It was also picked up every major newspaper in Australia.

It was on the front page of the UK Daily Telegraph There was pretty well global coverage – including England, America, Spain, Portugal, Poland, Hungary, Russia, Argentina, Brazil, South Africa and Sweden.

Bible Society SA executive director Michael Chant was interviewed on the

BBC as well as Australian radio. Two thousand copies of the SMS bible were downloaded in the first 24 hours – and the Bible Society’s server crashed.

“The old days when the Bible was only available within a sombre black cover with a cross on it are long gone,” Michael Chant said. “We want to open it up for people of all ages, backgrounds and interests, and the SMS version is a logical extension of that.”

There has been growing access via the internet and other sources to Biblical verses in SMS or text language around the world.

The Bible Society took it a big step forward, translating the entire Bible, from Genesis to the Book of Revelation.

“This is an Australian creation developed and designed here,” Michael Chant said.

From the front page of The Advertiser, October 7

A strong sense of call “You must hear the word of God yourself,” says Rev Graham Vawser.

“Only then are you able to preach the word of God to others.” By the time this issue of New Times is distributed, Graham will be SA Moderator. He is speaking to Nicholas Kerr.

THE FAMILY in which I grew up had a strong sense of call. Dad was a minister in the Methodist Church and the sense of call and of obedience was strong for both my parents. You made your life and your ministry in the place the Methodist Conference sent you to.

I wasn’t conscious of that kind of inculcation while I was a child, but I am aware now that it was part of our lifestyle and has become something that makes sense to me.

Dad was always a preacher of the Gospel, and one who related the Gospel to society. He saw the needs of society and he ached for a better world.

I grew up in that environment. In one sense it isn’t surprising that I should be able to look back and pick one particular time in my life where I heard a call.

My call came during a program called “Faith and Life Movement” in the mid 60s. It was a little like the “Jesus. All about life” program, with a focus on increasing people’s awareness of how

Get the latest from Synod 2005 It is not too late to sign up for the Synod 2005 daily e-updates.

Simply send a blank email to eupdatesubscribe@sa.uca.org.au and you will be added to the daily email list. E-updates are being sent everyday throughout Synod 2005 and one is scheduled for Friday, November 11.

You can also access the archive of previous e-updates in the “events” section of the synod website. Go to www.sa.uca.org.au/ pages/events/synod2005eupdates/

Rev Graham Vawser: The presence of Christ as Leader and Guide is important to me, and must be to the church discipleship had an impact on daily life. I was about 16 at the time.

There were school Bible Study groups and I was part of one of those. The question was asked, “What will you do with your life? Will you give some of your time working as a volunteer overseas?”

My response to that was that I couldn’t. I didn’t have the capacity to go away. Financially – and probably psychologically – I wasn’t able to do that. But I did have a desire to encourage people to find their way in life.

Until that time I’d always wanted to be a technical studies teacher but I came to realise that there were other ways of serving, apart from teaching. In a way I moved from working with wood to working with people – though I still work with wood. I’m a woodturner in my recreational time.

That sense of call has continued to develop.

I think that, if I could go back in time, and if I could visit myself as a young probationer at Hawker 30 years ago, I’d find that I was extremely naive and limited in my understanding of the wider ramifications of what I was doing.

But I think I’d be pleased to see myself strongly committed to the encouragement of people and the church, and strongly committed to preaching the Gospel and to the pastoral services to the church – weddings, funerals and baptisms.

I think I’m more of an encourager now than I was then.

My sense of call has continued to develop. There was a call 40 years ago.

That call has matured and filled out. In one sense it’s the same call. In another sense it’s a different call because of that maturing.

I see myself as an encourager of ordained people. I also see myself as a strong encourager of lay people. I try

to encourage lay people to fulfil their ministry whatever that ministry might be – to teach people that they all have a ministry.

When I first began in the Methodist Church, the church still allowed ministers to have significant authority. All the churches were hierarchical and the minister was the top of the tree in the congregation.

Things are very different now. So I try to help people to understand themselves as called by Christ and to understand that they have a role. Sometimes it’s a real leadership role. Sometimes it’s a quiet unassuming role. But all of us have a role in service to the church and to the community.

Preaching has always been an important part of my ministry.

One of the exciting things about it is in the preparation, the discovery for yourself – until you’ve discovered the Word of God, you can’t proclaim the Word of God. Part of my commitment is to use the lectionary whenever possible. That means you have the same readings every three years. How do you come up with the new Word when you’ve been doing it for 30 years?

You have to keep studying. You have to keep reading. You have to keep reflecting on society. You have to live with your congregation. All of these things help the Word of God to break through.

You must hear the Word of God yourself. Only then are you able to preach the Word of God to others. I hope that those who listen will be able to go away with their own reflections in their own faith journeys.

That issue of continual study is important – the continual reflection, continually trying to identify the issues of society and always preaching good news, not just saying what’s wrong with society.

Continued on page 15 NOVEMBER 2005

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NOVEMBER 2005

NEWS

New Times

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Bali bombings unite religions Bridget Sheridan THE SECOND BALI BOMBINGS in three years united rather than divided followers of different religious faiths on the predominantly Hindu island, says the Catholic Bishop of Denpasar, Benyamin Bria.

In Adelaide last month to mark the third anniversary of the 2002 Bali bombings, and by sad coincidence to also mourn the recent October 1 terrorist attacks, Bishop Bria made it clear no religion should be blamed for terrorism.

“Don’t link this tragedy with any religion,” he said. “All religions teach you to love your neighbour. Religion does not kill.”

Potential divisions between Bali’s predominantly Hindu and expanding minority Muslim communities intensified when Islamic fundamentalist group Jemaah Islamiah took responsibility for the 2002 Kuta bombings which killed 202 people, including 82 Australians.

But, Bishop Bria said, even after the October 1 attacks, the people of Bali prayed as one against a common enemy.

“People from outside may think (there is) tension between Balinese of different religions, but there’s not,” he said.

“Two days after the bombings, all the faithful came together and they prayed together.”

After three years of planning a visit to Adelaide with long-time friend Adelaide Archbishop Philip Wilson, Bishop Bria presided over an ecumenical and interfaith service at St Francis Xavier’s Cathedral in Adelaide on the eve of the 2002 bombing anniversary.

The interfaith memorial service involved Adelaide leaders of the Hindu, Muslim, Buddhist, Jewish and Christian faiths who represented Adelaide’s unified stance against terror.

About 300 people attended the service, including Premier Mike Rann, Governor

Gathered in St Franics Xavier’s Cathedral for a multi-faith memorial service are, from left, Dr Carl Vedivella Belle, Deputy President of the Hindu Society of South Australia; Imam Sulaiman Noureddine from the Islamic Arabic Centre and Al Khalil Mosque; Most Venerable Thich Nhu Hue, president of the United Vietnamese Buddhist Congregation in SA; Emeritus Catholic Archbishop of Adelaide Leonard Faulkner; Venerable Thich Vien Tri from the Abbot Phap Hoa Vietnamese Buddhist Temple; Venerable John Collas, Archdeacon of Anglican Archdiocese of Adelaide; Rabbi David Kopstein of the Jewish Adelaide Progressive Congregation; Adelaide Catholic Archbishop Philip Wilson and Catholic Bishop of Denpasar Benyamin Bria. Picture by Ben Searcy

Marjorie Jackson-Nelson and families affected by the Bali bombings including the family of Adelaide bombing victim Josh Deegan. Josh’s brother, Patrick, 14, took part in the service.

Moderator-elect, Rev Graham Vawser, represented the Uniting Church at the service.

Governor Jackson-Nelson said the 2002 attacks were akin to an earthquake “with aftershocks that continue to

challenge our sense of security”.

“The trauma is not measurable,’’ she said. “It is catastrophic.’’

Archbishop Wilson told the multifaith service that Bishop Bria’s visit had strengthened the bond between Australia and Indonesia and demonstrated the resolve of both nations to support each other in the fight against such inhumane destruction.

“I hope this gathering together will

provide us with the opportunity of realising that in our own humanity, and in our humble belief in God, we have a great force that binds us together and enables us to do good as his people in the world,’’ he said.

Bridget Sheridan is a journalist with Adelaide’s Catholic monthly, The Southern Cross.

Are you paying too much?

Barry Atwell THE CHURCH is a very large organisation! Our size brings opportunities to make considerable savings when purchasing goods and services.

There are three groups out there working to secure excellent deals for churches – Combined Charities, Church Resources and the Synergy Project. There is also opportunity through the Victorian Synod for congregations to have access to large discounts on the purchase of Microsoft software products Combined Charities Incorporated (CCI) is based in Bowden. CCI is a not for profit organisation dedicated to meeting the procurement needs of the not for profit sector. It offers a range of goods and services at heavily discounted prices. As the Synod is a CCI member, all Uniting Church congregations are able to access CCI contracts free of charge.

Some examples of CCI contracts that might be of interest to Churches are:

• Waste disposal.

• Sanitary napkin disposal.

• Stationery and office supplies.

• Light globes and electrical.

To find out more, contact Tony Marshall on 8245 7110 or go to their website, www.ccigrouppurchasing.org.au.

Church Resources was established in 1997. It is a national organisation whose primary aim is to free up funds for ministry. They don’t have membership fees but offer a comprehensive range of purchasing opportunities for all not for profit organisations.

Our biggest national contract under Church Resources is for telephone and other data lines. Significant savings have been negotiated on call and line rental costs.

Other examples of Church Resources contracts you might be interested in are: • Computer hardware.

• Electricity and gas.

• Airfares, hotels and car hire.

Church Resources also offers Christian News Online, www.christiannewsonline. com.au a free weekly email news service for churches.

For more information on telephone costs call Telstra direct on 1800 819 398. For other Church Resources queries call 1300 651 365 or visit their web site www.churchresources.com.au The Synergy Project began two years ago as a specialty purchasing group for Uniting Church agencies, schools and the Synod. Synergy is part of a national Uniting Church purchasing group that seeks cost savings based on the combined requirements of all synods.

Synergy’s approach is consultative, utilising small project teams to complete contracts for specific needs, predominantly in the services area.

Synergy contracts that may be of interest to churches are: • Photocopiers and multi-function devices.

• Internet service provider services.

• Cars.

Synergy is currently working on projects for pest control services and scheduled fire maintenance services.

To register your interest in these projects or to find out more about the contracts listed above please contact Linda Bastick at the Synod Office on 8236 4263.

Microsoft products through the Victorian Synod: If you want information on the discounts available for these products you should access the Victorian Synod website www.vic.uca. org.au/its/microsoft.

So why not find out more about these groups today?

By tapping into the contracts they offer, you can save yourself time, money and effort because they have done all the leg work for you.

NOVEMBER 2005

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MAGAZINE

New Times

‘Lead us not into temptation’ Here is an edited version of the address Assembly President, Rev Dr Dean Drayton, gave at the thanksgiving service for asylum seekers released from detention.

The service was in Pilgrim Church, Adelaide, on October 2.

IN THE 1950s the great theologian Karl Barth visited the United States. On arrival he was asked what he would like to see. “I would like to visit a prison,” he said, to the surprise of those who welcomed him. “The way a society treats its prisoners reflects the value that society places on human life.”

I am glad that Karl Barth cannot visit our detention centres. What would he say about the way we value those who have risked all to escape from terror and threat and on arrival are treated like criminals, and locked up in detention?

I CAN still hardly believe we are here holding this thanksgiving service for asylum seekers released from mandatory detention.

Six months ago we faced a powerful government resistant to all voices of dissent against what it was doing to people in detention.

Today, while mandatory detention remains, the work of so many has brought modifications that help lessen a little its destructiveness. Slowly the truth has emerged from the shadows such that now it is DIMIA that has to work hard to be heard.

THE UNITING Church continues to oppose the mandatory detention system, the wasteful Pacific Solution, and the denial of human rights by preventing those on Temporary Visas from working and receive support.

As year follows year, the names of detention centres such as Baxter and Port Hedland are being burned into a story that Australia will not forget. They are becoming a symbol of the way this government operates.

THOSE released from Baxter asked for the reading of the Beatitudes from the Sermon on the Mount. In this multifaith and ecumenical service, we must focus on the poor in spirit, those who mourn, the meek, and the merciful, for here Jesus encourages the powerless to hear that God is for them.

Later in the Sermon on the Mount Jesus summarises the way one is to live before this God in what has become known as the Lord’s Prayer. It is a pilgrim’s prayer, always looking to the future with a divine perspective. But it has an amazing structure.

I WANT to focus on the last petition of the Lord’s Prayer. It can be read two ways, either “save us from the time of trial”, or “lead us not into temptation”.

Read the first way and it is part of the plea of every asylum seeker. Read the second way, and it can include us all as a nation. “Lead us not into temptation.”

BEFORE we focus on the petition, I want to share the truth that came home to me when teaching my daughter this NOVEMBER 2005

Assembly ’03 Since 1998 more that 12000 asylum seekers have come here as boat people from Iran and Afghanistan.

In 2003 the UCA Assembly meeting in Melbourne heard reports from those who had worked with asylum seekers and resolved in 03.17.02: TO CONDEMN the Australian government for its plans to forcibly deport Iranian people to a situation where they will face persecution and possibly death.

TO ASK members, and especially the President, to act on their behalf and those who were seeking justice for them. prayer. I had said, “Now dear, each line really begins with the address “Our Father”. (Now I would say father/mother to ease the pain of some people’s experience.)

She listened patiently as I prefixed each petition of the prayer with this beginning. Then she said, “You mean the Lord’s Prayer is like a target. If you get God right in the centre all else falls into place in a series of circles?”

Who was teaching who, I thought.

THE LAST petition then, is the outer one. From God, to God’s purposes, daily bread for us, forgiveness given and received; then there is the last, save us and deliver us from evil.

The shadows lurk around the edges, and we ask God to deliver us from this evil.

Here one is forced to live on the shadowy edge of society.

When God’s provision is not justly received we then move onto the need for forgiveness by communities and individuals; and when forgiveness is not given we have to face the consequences of hardened community and individual attitudes. What a terrible place to be.

THOSE who have lived through the mandatory detention system know what it means to pray “save us from the time of trial”. The end of a dangerous voyage of new beginnings was the beginning of detention.

The hope that held people together through the trip was devastated by what followed. Imprisoned in remote places, some for up to five or six years, treated like criminals, challenging a system that never had to give reasons for what they did, leaving the anxiety of having to legally fight rulings court by court.

OVER a thousand people harmed themselves, were pushed to riots, hunger fasts, caught by depression, had families torn apart, and people hunted down.

In the midst of this there emerged for many a searching for belief, and for some new ways to believe. For most who remained Moslems, and about a 100 who became Christian, this was a time which shook them to the very core of their humanity.

ONLY in the last year has the Australian public come to see what we

have wreaked upon others, and then only because it happened to an Australian citizen, Cornelia Rau (and as it turned out to many more as well). And even then it was an asylum seeker who, out of concern, raised the alarm with authorities as to what was happening to her.

IT WAS untrue for the government to sell to the Australian public that asylum seekers were queue jumpers, and that boat people were more of a security threat than others coming to this country via visa.

And the government has consistently refused to consider moving to complementary protection, as the United Nations suggests, and stuck to the older definition of a refugee, that avoids considering the issues of the violation of human rights and the threat to citizens from civil wars in their own country.

AND THEN, principally because of the care of Frontier Service Patrol ministers visiting the desert detention centres, those among the asylum seekers approached them asking questions about the Christian faith.

Some, after a long process, were baptized. This genuine search for meaning and faith in detention centres eventually led to the formation of a “UCA National Register of Baptized Members in Detention Centres”.

As well as speaking on behalf of all asylum seekers the UCA clearly had an added responsibility to act on their behalf. Though the register had to be kept from public gaze because of the risk to those on it, we were able to make presentations to the Minister on this matter and were encouraged by her efforts.

TODAY we celebrate the release from detention of many Iranians and some people from Afghanistan, and give thanks to God for this day of Freedom.

All on the UCA register are now free.

But it is only the beginning, because the fears and psychological effects go on and on. Yet the new possibilities are to be enjoyed, the joy of being with others, family, and work, the simplest and some of the best pleasures.

THIS other way of translating this passage is a word for us and our nation’s leaders. “Lead us not into temptation”.

BONHOEFFER in his book Temptations explains that temptation here is the act of us living life for our own ends rather than living life in relation to the fundamental centre of all life found in God. The temptation is to let some pay the price of injustice for the benefit of the rest.

AS WE reflect on the past five years, I believe we should say to those who govern our nation and build detention centres, “Lead us not into Temptation as a nation.”

Do not let the fear of the ‘other’, the unknown, lead us to build higher walls of a fortress Australia, and cast others into our deserts.

Do not let the fear of religious extremists cast a pall over the authenticity of those who worship.

Do not sow too great a fear of terrorism to cripple our experience of liberty and freedom.

IN THESE matters the Australian government has for too long closed its eyes to those who have paid the price of their policies. Our democratic nation must not let one group of people suffer to assuage our fears.

It is too often expedient that someone or some group should die for the people so that the nation does not perish – as Caiaphas calculated the removal of Jesus whom he saw as a threat (John 11:49,50).

IT IS easy for high sounding words to give reasons why a particular group is put at a disadvantage, but the test is in the consequences.

The proof of the pudding is not so much in the eating as the digesting. It has been the experience of seeing the consequences of mandatory detention that has revealed the shadow side of this policy.

WHEN so much is deliberately hidden from public view how can the checks and balances work? It is more difficult to get information. My encounters with the representatives of DIMIA were Kafkaesque.

Lead us not into the temptation as a nation to let PR and bland assurances be our truth.

Elected leaders, lead us not into temptation as a nation.

New Times

PSMN FEATURE

7

Network relishes new freedom Jill Freear THE NEWLY formed Gulf Mission Network is enjoying its new found freedom to pursue mission related matters.

The network consists of approximately 17 congregations, many of which are situated on Yorke Peninsula and across to the Adelaide Plains.

It is one of three new networks to emerge out of the Geographic Rural Mission Network. Rev June Ladner, based in Wallaroo, has been elected as the Network’s key liaison person.

“We’re off to a good start and everyone’s feeling very positive,” June said.

“The key perceived benefit at this stage is the freedom we feel.

We aren’t going to be bowed down by business matters and will be able to go in whatever direction the Spirit leads us in terms of mission.

“Mission is most definitely our focus and that’s why we’ve called ourselves the Gulf Mission Network.

“Our defining characteristic is that we consist of smaller, rural congregations. We’re all intent on serving our local communities and making the church a prime community focus.

“We’re also concerned about how we can grow our churches and believe there’s the possibility of growth everywhere, even in small country areas.

“We’ll look at how our congregations can best be small, strong churches and we’ll work together to discern our future.”

The Gulf Mission Network has been circulating a draft memorandum of understanding for discussion among members, as are the other networks, and finalising the draft memorandum for the annual Synod meeting.

The network has also appointed a PRC (Pastoral Relations Committee) Placements Committee member and three others who will be involved in administration, communication, planning and visioning.

Focus: engaging young people ELEVEN congregations on the outskirts of the Adelaide metropolitan area have chosen to join the Rural Urban Transitioning Network.

While there is a distance of around 120 kilometres between congregations on the outer edges of the network, there is a common thread joining them together.

All are situated in communities with aging populations and also young people who commute to the city or larger regional centres for study or work.

Key liaison person John Parker said the Rural Urban Transitioning Network’s main focus will be to try to involve these younger people in local church life.

“While the network’s member congregations range from Two Wells in the north, to Cudlee Creek and Sandy Creek in the east and Strathalbyn in the south, all of us are keen to share ideas and support each other,” John said.

So far the network has held two meetings and has finalised the memorandum of understanding it is required to have with the new Presbytery-Synod of South Australia.

“We’ve also elected a PRC Placements Committee representative and have decided to hold four meetings a year, tying in with the four meetings of the Presbytery-Synod,” John said.

“Our network finances are an area of concern as many of our smaller congregations have been unable to meet Mission and Service Fund contributions.”

While the new networks may ask congregations for five percent of their income, John hopes the network will be able to meet its expenses with a two percent contribution from members.

“Even then, some may not be able to afford that and others may be asked to help out.”

TOP: Chris Raffen, Necia Ebert and Rev June Ladner at Kadina. June is key liaison person of the new Gulf Mission Network. ABOVE: Revs Rebecca Purling, Jenny Ducker and Matt Curnow of the Small Strong Network

Visit our website: www.sa.unitingchurch.org.au/psmn

This page is sponsored by the PSMN Taskgroup.

NOVEMBER 2005

8

MAGAZINE

New Times

One of Glenelg’s churches to close ONE OF GLENELG’S two Uniting Church buildings will close this month. Trinity Uniting Church, Moseley Street, will hold its last Sunday worship service at 11am on Sunday, November 20.

The College for Seniors, which has been based at Trinity, will move around the corner to St Andrews by the Sea in Jetty Road.

Minister, Rev Christine Ostle, said the congregation at Trinity had been shrinking and was now down to about 40 people.

“When union came we had two churches very close, one Congregational, one Methodist,” she said. “With union, they both became Uniting – one just around the corner from the other.

“Many of the Trinity congregation have moved away.

A number of them have gone into nursing homes.”

Uniting Church SA General Manager, Resources, Barry Atwell, said the church is ensuring that the present members have ongoing ministry support and care through Christine Ostle.

“Funding has been found for her to continue to work with members of the congregation until December 2007,” he said.

“The Uniting Church is considering the best option for the building and site in the long term.

“It’s always sad when we close a church where so many faithful members have worshipped over many years.

“The congregation has voluntarily initiated the closure as the church is no longer viable.

“Members understand that there are better ways to use the resources currently being tied up in maintaining the building.”

Christine Ostle is half time at Glengowrie Uniting Church and half time at Trinity and the College of Seniors.

“We suspect many of the people won’t move to another church,” she said. “They’re mainly older people. A change like that at this time of their lives can be difficult. I’ll continue as a ‘wandering pastor’ to people in their own homes.”

Christine said Trinity had been one of the grand old Methodist churches. “Of its 36 ministers before Union, 16 of them had been presidents of the Methodist Conference.”

The original church was badly damaged by the 1954 earthquake. The new church which replaced it was dedicated in 1958.

Members of Trinity’s property committee, from left, Cliff Prosser, Elizabeth Matters, Lois Hoeper, community minister Dr Robert Fopp, John Swann and Rev Christine Ostle.

God can mend your broken heart, but you must give him all the pieces.

Artwork ©Copyright Edi Leane

To advertise in New Times: Contact Russell Baker phone 8361 6822, fax 8361 6833, email ribad@bigpond.com

NOVEMBER 2005

MAGAZINE

New Times

9

It’s all about Kingdom values DONALD, 5, is back home in Rabaul, PNG – and his bow legs have been straightened.

This is after nearly 12 months of visits to doctors, surgery and being in plaster for six weeks in Port Moresby.

Donald had vitamin D deficiency and rickets.

He now has a new lease of life, thanks to a group of pensioners who belong to a Goolwa Uniting Church home group.

The project to help Donald is one of the Goolwa church’s “Kingdom adventures”.

The church wants “to live out the Kingdom of God on earth”.

The “adventures” are to: REACH OUT, to share the Good news of Jesus Christ.

TRANSFORM, to experience a life-changing relationship with Christ.

GROW, to teach, nurture, encourage and equip.

EMPOWER, with passion, spiritual gifts, personality and purpose.

RELEASE, with ministry and mission.

Murdy Inglis is spokesperson for the house group that has been raising money to help Donald.

Murdy and Ruth Inglis’ son, Andrew, met Donald when Andrew was working in PNG. “Andrew got in touch and said, ‘Dad, what are you going to do about this?’ Murdy said.

“So that’s how it all started.”

More than a ‘good work’ Murdy said a Kingdom project is more than a “good work”.

“God’s heart for people is that they should see and experience his Kingdom at work, not just through your project, but also through your words and behaviour.

“In a way it’s outside the church. And it doesn’t expect any thanks – or even any acknowledgement – from the recipient.”

Murdy’s home group is hoping it will be possible to bring Donald to Goolwa to meet the people who have helped him.

“We’ve heard that he’s getting on fine,” Murdy said.

“We’re waiting for him to get a little bit stronger and then we’ll invite him to the South Coast.

“Donald and his mother, Alice, have been boarding with his aunt, Margaret, in Port Moresby during his time in hospital.

“Margaret has nine children herself.

“Margaret visited the church some weeks ago and spoke about Donald’s progress, which was a great experience.”

Murdy Inglis. His house group took on helping a boy from PNG as one of the Goolwa Uniting Church’s Kingdom adventures.

George Tarr, of Hindmarsh Island, is one of a group restoring this trailer-sailer which has been donated to the church. It will be sold to raise money for the church’s Kingdom projects.

Golf day for UnitingCare UC INVEST is planning a charity golf day next year to raise funds for local UnitingCare agencies.

UC Invest has been providing sponsorship and practical assistance for UnitingCare’s Pancake Day. Manager Paul Barnett sees the charity golf day as a way of expanding that support.

“We’re thrilled to be holding the day at the picturesque Mount Osmond Golf Course,” Paul said.

“We’re keen to see all areas of the church involved – from congregation members and ministers to staff from UnitingCare agencies and business contacts.

If you would like to know more or register for the UC Invest/ UnitingCare Pancake Golf Day, please contact Jill Freear on 8236 4228 or email jill@sa.uca.org.au.

The event will be held from 11.30am on Friday, April 21. Tickets are $100.

A fuller story is on the Synod website.

UC Invest manager Paul Barnett. He hopes all areas of the church will be involved in the golf day.

NOVEMBER 2005

10

LETTERS

New Times

About your letters Please keep your letters short — about 150 words is ideal.

Longer letters will be cut or rejected.

You’re welcome to email letters to newtimes@sa.uca.org.au or they can be posted to us at GPO Box 2145, Adelaide 5001 PRAYER RALLY It was inspiring to be part of the great crowd of over 1000 at the prayer rally for marriage outside Parliament House on October 10. The rain poured and the wind blew – but the people stayed, prayed and lifted their voices in glorious harmony of song.

Uniting Church speakers included Pastor Ian Clarkson of The Branches.

Hon Andrew Evans MLC of Family First explained that the Legislative Council is debating a bill which would undermine marriage by giving same sex and other relationships the same rights as marriage in 92 different SA laws.

The mass of umbrellas in front of Parliament House spread almost to King William Road in the east and towards the railway station in the west. Police had to close a lane of traffic on North Terrace. Yet The Advertiser declined to report the rally, and none of the footage filmed by a TV crew appeared in the news next day.

Thank God for New Times!

Ros Phillips Research Officer Festival of Light Adelaide WORK PARTY Streaky Bay Uniting Church congregation may be small in number and located a long way from Adelaide but they realise that their town is in for some rapid expansion and they want their church to be a part of the action.

One of the first steps they wish to take is to “spruce” up the church building in order to help it reflect a more positive presence in the community.

Although basically very sound, it does need painting both inside and out.

Unfortunately the congregation does not have the human resources to do all the work on their own and so they are appealing to the wider Uniting Church in South Australia for help.

A work party is being formed to leave Adelaide on Sunday, November 20, and several more able bodied people are urgently needed.

If you would like to help the people of Streaky Bay bring their church back to its former beauty, please phone Geoff Bond on 8280 0090 for details of how you can be involved.

Geoff Bond Streaky Bay ASYLUM SEEKERS One of my friends recently told me that in detention he only had one problem, his longing for freedom after six years.

Now that he has been released however, he has 1,000 problems!

As people like my friend are released from detention, try to recover from the trauma associated with prolonged detention, attempt to overcome

NOVEMBER 2005

racist verbal and nonverbal comments, as well as trying to make a new start, one of the many tasks they need to accomplish is finding work.

Many of my friends are multiskilled and longing to work rather than relying upon their Centrelink payments as a means of becoming self-sufficient.

While ideally my friends long for some form of paid employment, they are keen to also brush up their skills with work experience.

If anybody has any work experience or paid employment to offer or knows of any possibilities I would really like to hear from them via phone or email adam@sa.uca.org.au or 8236 4255. Thank you for your ongoing support.

Adam Tretheway Chaplain to Asylum Seekers and Refugees MORAL? The Prime Minister claims that the government’s proposed workplace relations changes are just as moral as the Salvation Army’s, who have joined the alarm bell ringers with their concerns for the detrimental effect on families.

Government immigration policies have allowed them to subject children to abuse in long

term detention and young men to years in the “suicide factories”, euphemistically called detention centres. In the same way the proposed workplace changes could destroy our society.

Allan Nield Whyalla Norrie RICH HARVEST I’ve long maintained the view that most crop farmers in SA generally come through each year fairly well.

Under the heading “Rich Harvest” (Advertiser 8/10/05) the Australian Bureau of Statistics figures for SA bear this out.

Of particular interest is that farmers’ monetary returns for the “bad drought year” 2002-03 were only 10 percent less than the second best season ever 2003-04.

In May this year an Adelaide TV news reporter filmed on two Yorke Peninsula cropping properties where the owners, whom I know, expressed serious concerns about this year’s outlook. I wrote to the reporter at the time suggesting a follow-up story – that the same properties be visited again in midNovember where I predicted there would be bumper crops. Today, nearly five months later, I stand by that prediction.

Roger Simpson Vista

PEOPLE AND PLACES

New Times

11

Rebuilding lives A VISIT TO tsunami ravaged areas in Southern Thailand has had a profound emotional impact on Uniting Church SA General Secretary Stuart Cameron.

Stuart visited the Khao Lak area with Partner in Mission Scott Litchfield six months after the devastating Boxing Day Tsunami hit parts of South East Asia.

Stuart was able to see first hand the reconstruction work being carried out in the Tung Wa Village, where homes were being rebuilt for a community of nearly 300 Moken (Sea Gypsy) people.

This project is one of many to benefit from a $500,000 donation given by UC Invest on behalf of the Uniting Church in South Australia.

Our donation is also helping hundreds of other people affected by the tsunami in India and Sri Lanka.

“Coming down the mountain, Khao Lak was laid out before us and we could clearly see the path the tsunami had cut into the hill, up to a kilometre inland,” Stuart said.

“The tsunami’s destructive force was still immediately apparent – we saw devastated resorts, razed villages and denuded vegetation.

“It was quite a surreal day, to be in such a beautiful place but also to witness the aftermath of such destruction.

“The forces that led to that destruction were breathtaking, but equally breathtaking was the level of reconstruction already taking place.

“We visited a Sea Gypsy community of just a few hundred people whose homes had been obliterated by the tsunami and we saw their new homes which were nearly completed.

“It had a profound impact on me, realising many of these families had been torn apart and that parents had had children ripped from their arms. There were photos everywhere of people still missing.

“I met with the village leader who was deeply appreciative of our support and the support

www.sa.unitingchurch.org.au

The tsunami’s force moved this boat a kilometre inland to a village where 2,000 of the 5,000 original inhabitants were lost in the tsunami. of others across the world which has made the reconstruction miracle possible.

“Our partner church in Thailand, the Church of Christ, has assisted with this rebuilding project and our Mission Partner Scott Litchfield is also involved, assisting with the coordination of several tsunami related projects.”

Stuart said this is an important partnership.

“It shows that our church is committed to working alongside these people and that we are in this relationship for the long haul,” he said.

“One thing we have identified as an ongoing need is the requirement for counselling and psychological support well into the future. These people have been severely traumatised and will need long term professional help.

“Despite that the people feel a sense of optimism for the future and are trying hard to re-establish their economic and physical lives.

“Recognising that Khao Lak is one small region and seeing the assistance that has been provided

by UC Invest and the UCA, I can only imagine what a profound difference the balance of funds have meant for literally thousands of other people.”

Meet Penny Pancake LAST MONTH Penny Pancake took to the streets of Adelaide to help spread the word about Pancake Day in 2006.

While filming the television community service announcement (CSA) Penny took the opportunity to schmooze with the sponsors, play a bit of volleyball and have some serious fun with students at Westminster School.

Although Pancake Day is not until February 28, 2006, Penny was out and about trying to drum up registrations for next year’s event.

As illustrated in the CSA, all types of groups can participate including churches, businesses, schools and community groups.

Westminster School leads the way as the first school to sign up for 2006 while students had a great time sharing pancakes with Penny.

New SA Pancake Day coordinator, Aimee Burtenshaw, meets Penny Pancake Pancake Day is an easy way for groups to support their local community while having fun and sharing time together.

Each year the event grows in size and in support for all

UnitingCare agencies.

To be a part of the event call 1800 060 543 or log onto www.pancakeday.com.au Look out for Penny on your TV from December to February.

NOVEMBER 2005

12

MAGAZINE

New Times

New ways and old ways to worship THE UNITING CHURCH has released a new set of worship resources. They give local congregations scope to develop worship relevant to their own setting.

Uniting in Worship 2 is a departure from Uniting in Worship 1 because many of the resources will be found on the CD-ROM rather than in the book The new package, devised by the National Working Group on Worship, includes an updated version of the book, with a green cover, as well as a CD-ROM. National Working Group on Worship convener, Rev Dr. Paul Walton, is excited about the possibilities of the new format.

“Uniting in Worship 2 isn’t just a book,” he said.

“It will be a book with a CD-ROM which will have a lot more resources. A range of Worship Services and resource templates will be in the book and on the CD-ROM so people can use them for the production of local booklets with local accents.”

The major benefits of the CD-ROM are the relatively easy process of updating it in the future and the ability to include more material than could be offered in book form.

“The CD-ROM includes a wealth of resources, including many sent by different language groups, such as

creeds and blessings,” Paul said. “The Assembly is releasing money so UiW2 can be reasonably quickly translated.

This will be a process that happens over time.

“UiW2 will go to a language group and they will determine which sections they want translated, so that the Korean version of UiW2, for example, will be different to the Samoan version.”

He said that, while worship leaders will need to have a copy of UiW2, congregations will be able to adapt the services in their own unique ways from the CD-ROM for local booklets, or on data or overhead projectors.

There will be no new People’s Book.

The material from Uniting in Worship 1 will still be contained in the new book and CD-ROM along with much new material.

A DVD will also be included, containing an introduction to the Easter Vigil and the Assembly’s Becoming Disciples process.

“Some of the new material includes a blessing of the home, a blessing of a civil marriage and a service of healing for those whose marriage is ending, or has ended,” Paul said.

The book costs $89.95 plus postage and handling . It can be ordered through MediaCom.

‘Witness the glory of God’ REV DAVID PITMAN from Brisbane and Rev Dr Geoff Scott from Adelaide were members of the 10th Assembly and were challenged by the theme of the Assembly – “Witness the glory of God”.

David and Geoff responded to that challenge and have produced a book, “Witness the glory of God”, which is now available for members of the Uniting Church.

The book identifies a number of the diverse avenues by which God’s glory is revealed – in Christ, in the natural world, in the worship of the faith community, in communities

NOVEMBER 2005

that nurture their citizens, in the service that is offered and received, and in those moments when we feel abandoned because of our life circumstances.

The book expresses the conviction that, notwithstanding controversy, the glory of God was evident at the 10th Assembly and that God’s glory can be, and is found in the lives of Uniting Church members and congregations, and if we open ours eyes and hearts we will see God’s glory in our midst.

“Witness the glory of God” is available through MediaCom, for $15 (including P&H).

Gregor announces Assembly theme THOSE who think conference themes are little more than a logo on a cover page better not tell the President-elect, Rev Gregor Henderson.

For Gregor, the 11th Assembly theme, God’s Word, God’s World, is much more than a letterhead and a logo – it’s a statement that will guide and shape the work of the Uniting Church over the coming three years.

While each of the last five triennial Assembly meetings has had a theme, Gregor sees a much expanded role for the 11th Assembly theme.

“Themes are important for the life of the Assembly meeting, but they need to have a life outside the meeting, before and after it,” he said.

“They should be more than just an expression of who we are and what we believe. For me, they need to be a statement of where, as a church, we are heading.

“It’s a critical time in the life of the Uniting Church. At a time when fewer people are associating with the churches, it’s even more vital that we take time to reflect on who we are as a church and how we bear witness to the Gospel in our context.

“How do we connect with the 80 per cent of Australians who don’t have regular contact with the church and how do we remain true to our mission in that environment?

“I hope this theme encourages members of the Uniting Church to think about how they are living out God’s word in the challenging environment which exists today.”

To help congregations tackle this question the Assembly will prepare some small group discussion starters in the coming months.

Gregor is also inviting congregations to contribute to additional resources that will be made available early next year.

“As we journey to the 11th Assembly I invite members of the church to reflect on the theme,” he said.

“What does the theme mean to you and your congregation locally? What

President-elect Rev Gregor Henderson local stories do you have that you would like to share with the rest of the church?

And what personal, or group reflections would you like to share?”

Reflections can take the form of stories, poems, hymns, prayers, photographs or even video reflections.

The only limitation is that they reflect on the theme, God’s Word, God’s World.

Submissions will be used as the basis of a booklet and DVD which will be shared across the church.

A version of the DVD, featuring every video submission, will also be shown during the 11th Assembly in Brisbane next year.

“Once compiled, I hope these reflections will be a source of encouragement and learning for congregations in their local mission,” Gregor said.

“I want them to be a showcase of the Uniting Church at work in Australia and a clear reminder to our church of the incredible number of ways we are responding to the call of the Gospel in Australia.”

Submissions will be received until January 31, 2006. Details of how and where to submit reflections on the theme are available on the Assembly website.

The 2006 Assembly will be held in Brisbane from July 5 to 11 next year.

PEOPLE AND PLACES

New Times

13

More people are taking up distance education MORE Uniting Church people – and others – are studying theology and ministry by distance education.

Coolamon College, the Uniting Church’s National Network for Distance Theological Education, has more than 300 students at the moment.

Principal, Rev Dr Lee Levett-Olson, expects the number is likely to increase by about 50 or 60 this month as people enroll for subjects to begin over the holiday period.

Coolamon provides three education streams. They range from courses for people wanting to explore their faith to academic studies up to PhD level.

“We have just over 100 people who write or assess for us – some of the best scholars and church leaders in Australia,” Lee said.

Coolamon is linked with Flinders

University and the three colleges – Catholic, Anglican and Uniting – that make up the Adelaide College of Divinity.

“We’re negotiating to do more with various theological colleges, as well as the Uniting Church colleges in other states,” Lee said.

“That means more topics can be made available to students across Australia.

“The notion is that we become a type of a network that links scholars right across Australia – and beyond.”

Lee said distance learning can make education accessible to people who are intimidated by all the aspects of formal academic study.

“Some students may be intimidated because they’re mature aged students who haven’t studied for a long time.

Some live well away from capital cities where all the established colleges are.

“The majority of our students are Uniting Church, but we have a fair number of Catholics and Anglicans, some from the Salvation Army and a whole range of others.”

Lee said Coolamon benefits enormously by being linked with the ACD and Flinders University.

“Our relations to the other colleges here on the campus are excellent,” he said.

“It’s a wonderful community of scholars.

“It also gives us a chance to be involved in wider dialogue, too.

“Our relationship with Flinders makes it possible for us to be part of the dialogue across the disciplines.

“We’re part of a movement that is putting theology back into the public arena.”

Rev Dr Lee Levett-Olson at the Adelaide College of Divinity campus.

Stories from the local churches THE “Tarooki” Uniting Church Campsite at Robe in the state’s SE was the venue for three days of learning and sharing experiences for 30 leaders of congregations from across the region and as far north as Spalding and Burra, at a “Go and Make Disciples “ Ministry School.

Resource ministers from the Ministry Resourcing Network, Revs Rob Stoner and Dr Ian Price, and Mrs. Sharonne Price, were keynote speakers sharing wisdom on the emerging trends in ministry and conflict management.

The “school” was generously sponsored by Uniting Foundation, which funded meals and on site accommodation as well as resources.

– Lynn Parker PILGRIM Church, Adelaide, is preparing to present the “Mass of the Universe” as part of its expo on the theme, “Valuing the

Longer version of these stories are on the Synod website Planet,” on the last weekend in November.

The Mass, to be presented on Sunday, November 27, at 7pm, has been written by New Zealand hymn writer and Methodist minister Rev Bill Wallace.

The Mass has been presented in New Zealand and earlier this year in Sydney and this will be a first for Adelaide.

Members of the 9.30 Pilgrim community are leading the Mass and the congregation on the night will be invited to share in this liturgical and music event.

Contact Pilgrim church office for more information or check their web site at www.pilgrim. org.au – un23087@bigpond.net. au – Dean Eland

In times past the Cudmore family was involved in community support, particularly through traditional Christmas and Boxing Days and by gifts of skipping ropes and footballs to school children.

As part of the continuance of this tradition Adare offered a free holiday to children of needy families.

The idea was well supported by local businesses.

A team of adult volunteers coordinated by the Uniting Church cared for the young holiday makers.

– Neil Pratt

Presbytery-Synod of SA, the old presbyteries were faced with a question of what to do with their accumulated resources.

Adelaide North West Presbytery chose, first of all, to make a $150,000 gift to the Uniting Aboriginal and Islander Christian Congress (UAICC).

The gift will be applied to the purchase of a manse.

The gift expressed the Presbytery’s affection for Congress — and the overwhelming good wishes that the disbanding Presbytery wished to convey to our Indigenous sisters and brothers of the Congress.

– Geoff Scott

AFTER more than 70 years of service, the Broadview Uniting Church Ladies’ Guild decided to become a Circle of Friends.

The formal Guild, with its demand to find officers and raise funds,was becoming too much for its members.

Now the Circle of Friends is an informal fellowship which meets each third Thursday of the month at 1.30pm.

The group invites guest speakers, participants tell their stories and sometimes the group meets for lunch.

The good attendance indicates that this group is meeting a need in the community.

– Merle Koher

WITH the disbandment of the seven presbyteries and the formation of the new

DID the “Season of Creation” leave you hungry for more? Or make you think of someone who would have loved it, if only they were still at church?

Then consider joining a new faith community venture – an ecofaith community – meeting weekly for worship in the Adelaide Botanic Gardens, Sundays at 10am.

Our first gathering will be Sunday, November 13. We will then meet every week in the lead up to an ecological carols in the park Christmas celebration.

To find out more contact Rev Jason John, Adelaide Ecoministry Project, 8223 1505, jason@scotschurch.org.au or visit www.scotschurch.org.au/eco – Jason John ADARE Conference Centre, Victor harbour, has long been part of the Victor Harbor community.

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PEOPLE AND PLACES

About this column: Notices for this column should be brief.

To submit your Uniting Church event and to view the synod online calendar, visit www.sa.uca.org.au/pages/events/calendar/.

Stewardship Sunday: November 13 is Stewardship Sunday. This is a new date in the Uniting Church calendar when we encourage churches to focus on stewardship. A simple brochure will be available for churches to use on the day.

Copies will be distributed at the 2005 Synod meeting. More information from

www.sa.unitingchurch.org. au/stewardship.

Hare Street anniversary: Hare Street Uniting Church, Kurralta Park, will celebrate its 50th anniversary on Sunday, November 13. Several former ministers will take part in the service. If you are a past member or wish to attend you will be most welcome. The service starts at 10am.

Frogs and God: The next forum in Blackwood’s “Life and faith @ the roundabout” series is “Of frogs and God, caring for the fragile balance of our environment,” presented

by Professor Mike Tyler and Dr Norman Habel, Blackwood

New Times Uniting Church Hall, at the Roundabout, 7.30pm, Thursday, November 10, 2005. All welcome. Supper provided. Gold coin donation.

Marriage: A workshop, “Shattered dreams” presented for the Marriage and Relationship Educators’ Association of Australia (SA branch) by Judith Murray from the University of Queensland, Saturday, November 19, 9.30am - 1pm, cost, $30 members, $50 non members, phone Helen Lockwood, 8269 9306, or Elizabeth Alvey, 8305 9674.

Final service: Trinity Uniting Church Glenelg (formerly Moseley Street Methodist Church) will hold its final service on Sunday, November 20, at 11am. We extend an invitation to all people of the church and community to join with us in acknowledging the 141 years of faithful witness by this church. Contact Christine 8295 1762.

Induction: The induction service for Rev Donald Wilson will be held in the Beaumont Uniting Church on Sunday, November 20, at 2pm. It will be conducted by the Rev. Graham Vawser. The preacher will be Rev Dr Dean Brookes, a former minister of the Beaumont congregation. The service will be followed by afternoon tea in the church hall.

Wakefield Presbytery: A warm invitation is extended to all past and present members of the Wakefield Presbytery to share in the special “service of celebration” for the Wakefield Presbytery on Sunday, November 20, at 4.30pm at the Kapunda Uniting Church. There will be a shared meal and Holy Communion at 6pm, phone Heather Miller, 8821 1862.

UCAF APRONS: Helpers at the Red Dove Cafe have made UC Adult Fellowship aprons from UCAF tea towels. Shown wearing them are, from left, Rae Cranwell (cafe coordinator), Josie Giles, Mavis Ellis and Ellen MacKay. Aprons/Tea towels cost $5. They are available from Mavis Ellis, 8240 0601, or they can be ordered and collected from the Synod office.

Quiz night: Earth will hold a fun quiz night involving trivia questions, food and laughter, on Saturday, November 26, at 7.30pm, at Rosefield Uniting Church, 2 Carlton St, Highgate.

BYO drinks and nibbles, tea/coffee available. More information, earth@rosefield. org.au.

Carols: The Adelaide Harmony Choir will launch its new CD, “Carols under the Cross,” at the Seniors Forum Hymn Sing on Sunday, November 27, at 2pm in Wesley Uniting Church, Kent Town, All the carols on the CD are by Australian composers or arranged by Australians. Details, Judy Langford. 8272 0771.

Worship Generation: For all youth pastors, youth leaders, youth ministries, youth consultancies and just generally youth, to mark in your calendars - the next “Next Generation” event will be on Friday, December 2, doors opening @ 7.30pm. Speaker and venue will be announced soon.

Concerts: Peter Combe’s Christmas concerts, featuring Peter’s Christmas band, dancers from Joni’s Theatre Bugs, and choristers, will be held on December 4, 2pm, Pedare Christian College Chapel, Surrey Farm Drive, Golden Grove, 8251 7149; December 11, 5pm, St John’s Anglican Church, 379 Halifax Street, Adelaide, 8223 2348 or 0415 974 524. Tickets $11 or $40 family.

Christian Endeavour: The 49th Australian Christian Endeavour Convention, celebrating 125 years of Christian Endeavour, will be held at Wesley Mission Conference Centre, Pitt Street, Sydney, from January 25 to 29, 2006. The theme is “New life in Christ”. Information, Margaret Dolan, National CE Secretary, 8252 1923.

Full details on the synod online calendar www.sa.uca.org. au/pages/events/calendar/

Level 2, 212 Pirie Street, Adelaide. GPO Box 2145 Adelaide SA 5001 Phone (08) 8236 4260 Fax (08) 8236 4295 Email: newtimes@sa.uca.org.au www.sa.uca.org.au

Telling stories about an innovative, growing church which is proclaiming Jesus Christ and is empowered by the Spirit to transform God’s world.

Who we are: New Times is a monthly tabloid news magazine serving the Uniting Church SA. It is published 11 times a year with a combined January-February issue. New Times is a member of the Australasian Religious Press Association. It has won the Gutenberg award for excellence in religious publication. Its editor has won the same award for excellence in religious communications.

Advertising: To advertise contact Russell Baker, phone 8361 6822, fax 8361 6833, email ribad@bigpond.com Deadlines and distribution dates: December: Deadline for contributions, Wednesday, November 9; distributed, Sunday, December 4.

Subscriptions: New Times is distributed free to Uniting Churches in SA. You can also subscribe and have New Times posted to you.

Subscriptions cost $30 if you are within SA, $35 if you are interstate, $40 if you are overseas.

Submitted material: New Times does not take responsibility for returning submitted photographs or other material.

Our partners: Many of our readers support New Times by making a gift to help us keep up with our costs. Gifts can be sent to us at GPO Box 2145, Adelaide, 5001.

Distribution: We are distributed on the first Sunday of each month.

Opinions: Opinions expressed in New Times do not necessarily reflect those of the editor or the policies of the Uniting Church.

Editor: Nicholas Kerr. Assistant: Jo Watts.

New Times is designed by Edi Leane and Les Colston of Joie Creative, PO Box 29, Kent Town, SA 5071 and printed by Cadilac, 64 Kinkaid Avenue, North Plymton, SA 5037

Deadline NOVEMBER 2005

DECEMBER issue: Deadline for contributions, Wednesday, November 9.

The issue will be distributed on Sunday, December 4.

15

New Times

New Moderator has a strong sense of call From page 3 The Gospel is “good” news. Every sermon must have a positive component. What’s the use of preaching bad news? What’s the point of leaving people with negative thoughts?

Whatever the crisis might be in the community, in people’s lives or in the world, there has to be a message of God’s saving grace.

Sometimes that can be hard for a preacher, especially if there are negative things going on

PRESIDENT’S TABLE: Rev Dr Dean Drayton hosted a President’s Table lunch at Seaford Ecumenical Mission last month. Dean, centre, is pictured with Rev Arthur Jackson and Margaret Davidson.

in his or her own life. But the call to all Christians must be the proclamation of God’s steadfast love and abiding presence.

That was one of the things I discovered for myself when I had a breakdown quite some years ago.

Someone bought me a bunch of Australian native plants – leaves, not flowers. One of them – I don’t know what the plant was called – had a stem with lesser twigs growing out from the sides. One of them formed a cross.

That really touched me. In a time of despair and a sense of loss I was able to see the Cross in an unexpected place.

It spoke powerfully to me. I took it then, and I continue to take it this way, as a statement of God’s blessing and God’s grace, of Christ saying to me, “You’re bedridden at the moment, but my Cross is there for you.”

The presence of Christ as Leader and Guide is important to me, and must be to the church.

Without a sense of Christ’s presence, all we do is self possessed. In Christ we serve the world, but always for God’s purposes and according to God’s design.

Classifieds WORK WANTED CARPETS LAID, Expert repairs 0417 872 105 or 8344 4725.

EXPERIENCED HANDYMAN, Cleaner, gardener. $15 per hour.

Caring, friendly, versatile service.

“Your spare pair of hands.”

References. Phone 8346 0933.

ACCOMMODATION HOLIDAY UNITS ON THE SOUTH COAST, Devon (Pt Elliot) 3 Star and Peter Wood Lodge (Victor Harbor) 3.5 Star 2 and 3 bedroom accommodation close to the beach.

Reasonable rates. A UCA site.

Bookings phone 8552 1657.

MARION BAY HOLIDAY HOUSE, Sea views Large Deck Sleeps 5/6 New home Off Peak and Pensioner rates. Phone 040 2088 279.

ADARE CARAVAN PARK, Wattle Drive Victor Harbor. 3 star rated. Clean, quiet and shady, close to the beach. Cabins available.

Bookings phone 8552 1657.

ADARE CONFERENCE CENTRE, Victor Harbor. For your next church camp. Catered or self catered.

Comfortable accommodation.

Spacious rates for UC groups. For information or bookings phone 8552 1657.

ACCOMMODATION TERTIARY STUDENTS, Vacancy Immediately - Morialta Uniting Church Student Houses - undergraduate university/TAFE students. Furnished single bedrooms, shared bathrooms, living areas. Proximity Uni-SA, Magill. Easy travel city and northern campuses. Mary Thornley (8332 2041) Church Office (8331 9344). Rent $265 monthly.

NOVEMBER 2005

16

MAGAZINE

New Times

How to write for New Times What is New Times?

It’s a monthly news magazine.

It serves the Uniting Church SA community.

It’s published 11 times a year.

It’s a news and views publication with a strong emphasis on people and local churches.

What sort of stories are we interested in?

We want to tell stories about: an innovative, growing church which is proclaiming Jesus Christ and is empowered by the Spirit to transform God’s world.

This fits in with the synod’s vision of the Uniting Church (SA Synod) in 2005.

This synod statement says this church will be: • Enthusiastic about celebrating God. • Passionate about knowing God and making God known.

• Focussed on empowering congregations and faith communities for effective ministry in diverse contexts.

• Committed to initiate and embrace change, freeing resources for new initiatives.

• Purposeful in identifying, developing and using people’s gifts.

• Deliberate in identifying, equipping and releasing leaders for ministry.

• Compassionate and innovative in caring for people.

• Proactive in working with God for justice for all people.

We want to share stories about the church and its people with you.

And we hope you’ll share your stories,

NOVEMBER 2005

too — especially stories about your local church.

How much should you write?

Our rule of thumb is 200 words maximum. That calls for a bit of discipline. It helps you work out what’s essential and what’s not.

What about letters?

We ask you to keep letters to 150 words.

How should you write your story?

The simple answer is – write simply.

Write it as it comes. Don’t try to be impressive, just straightforward. Be relaxed about it.

Is there anything to avoid?

Yes. Church papers are sometimes criticised because they use “God talk” or “church speak” — language a newcomer wouldn’t understand.

Remember the newcomers.

Don’t write as though your readers will know all about the Uniting Church, or all about your local church.

What should you put in the story?

Give the essential points people would want to know.

If you’re writing about an event, for example, say: What it is.

When it is.

Where it is.

Why it’s being held.

Who’s taking part in it.

How people can find out more about it.

It would be good to ask yourself the question: How is God acting in this?

How about a quote or two?

Personal touches can make a story more interesting. One of the most effective ways of supplying that personal touch is to quote someone.

Be accurate with your quotes. You can’t put words in someone else’s mouth.

Make sure quotes read naturally — that they’re conversational, not like extracts from a formal report.

You can suggest ways people can improve their quotes — by making their sentences shorter, for example, or by using “ordinary” words if they’ve used jargon or “officialiese”.

What about photographs?

We like photographs. But they need to be strong if they’re to be reproduced.

What sort of photograph?

How can you tell what sort of picture is suitable for us? The best way is to look at those we use. See what works.

Do we return photographs?

We usually do. But we don’t promise.

Sometimes things go astray.

What about digital pictures?

We like them. But they should be 300 dpi to reproduce well.

How can we reach you?

Should you mention people’s names?

Please put your name, address and phone number on anything you send us.

We might want to check a detail with you or get more information.

We don’t publish anonymous contributions.

Yes, where it’s appropriate. But don’t go overboard about it.

And finally ...

We want New Times to be friendly

Do you have to type everything? and easy to read.

No. Just make sure we can read what you write. And make sure names, dates and phone numbers are accurate.

If your handwriting isn’t very clear, use capital letters for names.

Can you email stories and letters to us?

Of course you can. We prefer it.

Our email address is newtimes@sa. uca.org.au

It’s a people paper.

It serves the church family. So there should be a family warmth about it.

At the same time we want to be professional.

If you have any questions, please get in touch with us.

You can also find this guide on the Synod website.