Staying Safe Online
Now that so much of our community life is happening online, you may find that this environment has a few traps for new players. Certainly criminals are taking advantage of our new reliance on technology. Both the VicTas Synod and the Australian Government have produced some helpful resources to keep you informed about how to protect yourself, your friends and your family online.
An Update from Synod:
COVID-19 has seen a dramatic escalation in cyber attacks and we urge you to remain vigilant in protecting your digital assets, particularly your email accounts. Some of the hackers are very sophisticated and are using COVID-19 themed emails to try to trick people out of money. The Government’s Scamwatch has received more than 3060 COVID-themed reports, with more than $1.3 million in reported losses. IT Services has compiled a resource explaining some of these recent attacks and also tips on how to protect yourself from scams.
E-Safety Commissioner
If you are an older person and new to the online environment, the eSafety Commissioner also has some great resources for helping you to stay safe online and avoid the scammers.
https://www.esafety.gov.au/seniors
Vote for Peter in the Westfield Local Heroes Awards
Dear Volunteers and Supporters of Uniting Barwon,
Uniting Barwon Volunteer Peter Wheeler is one of 6 finalists in the Westfield Local Heroes awards with the chance to win a grant of $10,000 for Uniting Barwon Norlane.
Peter needs your vote!
Please forward this link to your network of family, friends, colleagues and neighbours.
To vote for Peter, click on this link:
Volunteer Peter Wheeler has created an Op Shop and community space that offers much more than second-hand clothes and household goods. With his vision and drive, Uniting Barwon’s new Norlane Op Shop is also a safe place for disaffected locals to socialise and seek help. There are comfy sofas where any members of the community can read a book, have a chat, relax and enjoy a cuppa, plus a kids’ corner with toys, books and puzzles. Thanks to Peter’s dynamic and inclusive approach, there has been a surge in volunteers and shoppers as word of mouth spreads. He is proud that the Op Shop has saved several tons of goods from ending up in landfill each month, while helping those in need.
“We have community members who, by volunteering and participating, have gained an improved level of self-worth,” Peter says.
Peter is driving further initiatives, before COVID-19 restrictions, including a community arts program and literacy and numeracy programs, conversational English for new arrivals (in conjunction with Diversitat), Messy Mums group (an evening program for parents and kids), an evening wellness program (some yoga and relaxation), community internet café, a vegie garden supporting provision of free light lunches from our approved kitchen, community engagement events, including community movie nights and regular car boot sales with sausage sizzles.
“Any profit made from the shop goes to our Emergency Relief Program for those in greatest need in our community.”
Voting closes on 14 September.
Thank you for your vote!
Sunday 30th of August is Share Sunday for Uniting
Dear Friends,
The focus of Share Sunday this year is on Youth Homelessness, with the theme ‘A place to call home.’
Your congregation was sent a pack that shared the story of Bronte and how Uniting supported her through a challenging time in her life.
Unfortunately there have been delivery delays with Australia Post, meaning many of you have not received these resources to use on Sunday.
If any members of your congregation would like to make a donation as part of Share Sunday, we have created an online page where members of your congregation can securely make donations directly to our Share Sunday Appeal – https://www.unitingvictas.org.au/share-sunday/donate/
Many thanks for your ongoing support.
Kind Regards,
Dale
Worship Online Sunday 30th August: The Exodus Story and Us – Part 2
Hello friends,
A report released recently by McCrindle Research[1] shows that during these days of COVID-19 there is an increase in the numbers of people in Australia giving time to prayer and thinking about God.
This all makes sense.
The reality of the pandemic means we are faced with core questions about what it means to be alive and to be mortal: questions like, “Why am I here?” and “If there is a God what is God like?”
In this weeks video we will have some space to pray, but also some time to think about the nature of God as we explore another famous passage from the book of Exodus: the story of Moses and the burning bush.
[1] https://www.smh.com.au/national/the-meaning-of-life-australians-praying-more-during-covid-19-20200820-p55nla.html
For music listening, try this version of the Blessing:
A little treat in the grocery donations for Uniting
Anyone who’s had kids in Australia would understand that whenever there’s Milo in the house, it disappears very quickly!!
Our helpers at Uniting Grovedale have a request – while you are at the supermarket this week, could you pop a small tin of Milo in the trolley for Uniting?
The folk who rely on supplementing their food needs from Uniting’s emergency pantries in Grovedale and Norlane would very much appreciate this small treat for their kids.
Thanks!
Worship online Sunday 23rd August: The Exodus Story and Us – Part 1
Over the next two or three weeks, we will be hearing readings from the book of Exodus … the grand sweeping story in the Hebrew Scriptures about the liberation of the people of Israel from slavery in Egypt.
You might well ask, “Well what has that got to do with our situation now?”
“How does a story about events some 3,000 years ago help us today in the time of the Pandemic?”
I think it has loads to say to us.
At one level this is an epic story … absolute grist for the mill for Hollywood movie producers. Ever heard of films with the titles “The Ten Commandments” or “The Prince of Egypt?”
But on another level, there is much in the story of the Exodus that intersects with everyday life … the key protagonists confront us with the way we humans respond to difficult situations.
You can watch this morning’s worship service here:
John Bell has released a new song, for this time of separation from one another:
And some notices for you this week:
May the Lord bless you and keep you;
may the Lord make his face to shine on upon you
and be gracious to you;
may the Lord lift up his countenance upon on you
and give you peace.
Amen.
Messy Church this Friday on Zoom at 4:30!
It’s Messy Church time again!
Our next Messy Church Zoom will be 4:30pm Friday 21st August- put it on the calendar! The story we will be reading is from Matthew 14 v22-33 about Peter walking on Water towards Jesus.
Some fun things are happening during our actual Messy Church Zoom Meeting- including craft, music and catching up and seeing all our friends!
Some things to have ready for our craft
- Before our get together have ready a couple of sheets of square origami paper and some sheets of A4 or small rectangles like A5. We are going to be folding them in our craft time. They can be any colour you like.
- have a bible handy– if you have one with pictures that would be great
- also, if you know how (I don’t!) you could dazzle us with a virtual zoom “watery themed” background. It could be the beach, a lake or underwater. Check out this tutorial: https://support.
zoom.us/hc/en-us/articles/ 210707503-Virtual-Background - your dancing/singing selves for our celebration at the end of Messy Church
Here is a Prayer we will be saying that night. It’s a good one and you can pray it anytime you like! God is always listening to us.
“Dear God,
Thank you for rescuing us from the stormy seas of life.
Help us to remember to trust in you for strength and power,
Help us keep our eyes and hearts fixed on you
We can do nothing without you.
Thank you for giving us strength, Thank you for your love
We love you, God!
In Jesus name, Amen”
16 August 2020: Worship Online – Bridging the Boundaries
We have gone out to the ‘boundaries’ of Geelong today for our theme “Bridging the Boundaries”. It is filmed at the Narana Aboriginal Cultural Centre and our thanks to the community there for their welcome.
Our passage from Matthew 15:21-28 doesn’t sound like the Jesus we know and love – his words initially are harsh and even cruel. Yet there is more to this story – with real parallels for us today in our busy lives. In fact, as we juggle working from home, home-schooling and all our daily chores during these Covid-19 times in Victoria, the lessons from this story are particularly relevant.
As you prepare for St Luke’s worship, enjoy a ‘Flashmob Gospel Choir’ , Filmed at Five Points South Fountain in Birmingham, Alabama in 2013 (50 years after the civil rights protests that ended segregation in the USA commenced there).
Join in worship…
Reflect on how much God loves you with this song from the Hillsong team
Who you say I am – Hillsong Music ©2017 (Ben Fielding, Reuben Morgan)
Many thanks to Hadeel Al Badran again who helped me with the filming and edited today’s service. Hadeel is continuing work on new videos for Humans in Geelong like the post about Mental Health.
Thanks also to Nilu Bizhani (Gospel reading) and Deb Walker (Creed) for your contributions, and to the young people from Uniting Faith & Families who helped open my eyes to some ‘home truthes’ from this passage last week! And to Graeme Gardiner for providing ‘We will love’ in the middle.
Don’t forget to join us on Zoom for sharing time at 10am – link in a separate email.
Grace and Peace go with you into the week,
Lloyd
New staffing arrangements at St Luke’s Preschool
Cathy Coles, the Early Learning Co-ordinator at Uniting, has written to advise that there are new staffing arrangements at St Luke’s Preschool:
“With the resignation of our permanent team leader and early childhood teacher, Tanya Henry, Uniting has undertaken a recruitment process and it is with great pleasure that we can announce the outcome.
We are delighted to announce that Emma Lane has been appointed and will be stepping into the St Luke’s Highton Team Leader role in an ongoing capacity.
In addition, we are further delighted to announce that Caroline Davies has been appointed to our permanent early childhood teacher role at St Luke’s Highton Preschool.
In the past months both Emma and Caroline during the challenges of COVID-19 have shown resilience and compassion while navigating the daily challenges this has presented. They have collaborated with the team at St Luke’s Highton and demonstrated all of Uniting’s values. We are delighted that they are now both permanently part of our Uniting team.
Please join me in congratulating both Emma and Caroline to their roles at St Luke’s Highton Preschool.
It’s great to hear that this ministry of caring for and education young children and supporting their families continues at the St Luke’s Preschool and we give thanks for the skills and dedication that Emma and Caroline bring to their roles. It has been a very challenging year and these two educators have met the challenges with grace, commitment and compassion.
We give thanks also for the many years of care, education and leadership provided by Tanya Henry and we wish her the very best in her future activities.
Be sure to give the St Luke’s preschool team a smile and wave if you see them in the yard when you’re visiting St Luke’s!
