Hello friends,
Here is the monthly update for March:
And here is the monthly update for April:
Apologies for the delay in adding these to the website!
Spotlight on Community Partners: The Geelong Chorale
The Geelong Chorale have been rehearsing at St Luke’s for many years now on a Monday evening. Here’s an update from them as they return to rehearsing and performing again:
The Geelong Chorale are pleased to announce that we are in rehearsal again and will present a feast of singing in three major concerts this year.
Our first concert will celebrate the 150th anniversary of the birth of Ralph Vaughan Williams, the quintessential English composer of the 20th century. For this concert we will be joined by four soloists to present a selection of some of his finest choral music: grand anthems, partsongs, folksongs, and movements from the Mass in G minor.
Having been delayed in making any overseas journey for the past two years, we are delighted that we can finally present “Around the World in Eighty Minutes”: a veritable whistle-stop tour of many countries via the world’s treasury of folksongs. Sunday 10th July at 2:30pm in All Saints Church, Noble Street.
In October we will combine with Music at the Basilica’s Windfire Choir to present the monumental ‘St John Passion” by J.S. Bach. This moving work has rarely, if ever, been performed in Geelong. First-class soloists and orchestra will accompany the combined choir, all conducted by Joseph Hie.
Allister Cox OAM, Conductor.
Autumn edition of Uniting’s Supporter Newsletter and Congregation Connect update is out now
From Dale at Uniting:
Dear Friends,
I do hope my email finds you well and you have all had a safe and happy Easter.
I am writing to you to let you know that a copy of the Uniting Vic.Tas Autumn Congregation Connect has now been made available on our website for congregations to access. I have also attached a PDF copy for your convenience.
In this edition, you and members of your congregation can read about:
- An update on the Marrageil Baggarrook accommodation facility for older women experiencing or at risk of homelessness
- Ballarat Lifeline’s 50th anniversary celebrations
- How the Carer Gateway service is supporting people to manage their wellbeing.
I have also attached a copy of our Autumn Supporter Newsletter. In this you can learn about:
- The work of our Heritage Service team in supporting people to better understand their past
- How your generosity at Christmas helped people to build a brighter future
- Peter, who has left a lasting legacy through a gift in his Will.
This newsletter is also available online in a new interactive format where you can easily zoom in on the content as well as learn more information about stories of particular interest to you with a simple click.
Kind Regards,
Dale
Easter Services 2022
Easter Services 2022
Join us in Holy Week to reflect on the journey of Jesus through persecution, crucifixion and resurrection, and consider where God is in the midst of uncertainty, displacement, war and disease. How does God’s transforming Grace help a community to understand what is happening, to help one another through strife, and to heal trauma?
All services held at St Luke’s Uniting Church, 174 Barrabool Rd Highton
Good Friday
Friday 15th April 2022 at 9:30am
A short reflective service.
Easter Sunday
Sunday 17th April at 9:30am
Celebrate the resurrection of Hope!
Both services will also be live streamed via YouTube.
April Crosslight is here
Pick up your copy of the April Crosslight magazine from the foyer this Sunday – including a feature article about Queenscliff Uniting’s Sacred Edge festival.
Vox Angelica Concert Friday 29th April 2022
VOX ANGELICA GEELONG CHAMBER CHOIR
Directed by Tom Healey
7.30pm Friday 29th April, 2022
St Paul’s Anglican Church, LaTrobe Tce, Geelong
$25/$20/Under 18 free, at the door
or https://www.trybooking.com/BYDGB
Meltingly beautiful music sung by this outstanding Geelong choir, including works by Monteverdi, Faure, Lauridsen, Elgar and Moses Hogan
Act for Peace Ukraine Emergency Appeal
“Dear St Luke’s Congregation,
The Russian invasion of Ukraine has created a humanitarian crisis unlike anything seen in Europe since World War II – and throughout the history of the Christmas Bowl.
According to the UN refugee agency, in just over a week more than 1.5 million refugees have already fled their homes in Ukraine to neighbouring countries. And millions more people could become refugees, forced from their homes and their loved ones if the fighting continues.
As you may know, we’ve launched an emergency appeal to support the people affected by the conflict in Ukraine and I hope that you will find time during this busy season to take part. This is a situation we must respond to together.
I have written to thousands of churches across Australia. I am asking you and the members of your church to join us as we respond to Christ’s call to love our neighbour.
Your congregation has been faithful and generous supporters of the Christmas Bowl and Act for Peace’s work over many years.
I pray that you are moved by the Spirit and heed God’s call to help displaced families forced from their homes by this horrific conflict.
Our ACT Alliance partners in neighbouring Hungary have already sent truckloads of relief to support families forced from their homes by the war.
The shipments include 28 tonnes of canned food, flour, sugar, oil, rice, pasta, biscuits, long-life milk, tea and hygiene products which will be distributed at the Beregszasz and Uzhhorod reception centres in Western Ukraine. But much, much more is needed.
While I know it’s an incredibly busy time for churches with Lenten preparations taking place, this senseless violence in Ukraine is causing an urgent need.
I was reflecting on this week’s Psalm, Psalm 91, and the words of the Psalmist really struck me, especially those in verse five.
“You will not fear the terror of the night, or the arrow that flies by day.”
Those words took on new meaning as I heard the reports from our ecumenical partners telling us of families hiding, and mothers comforting terrified children as they shelter from the missiles of invading forces. It is my prayer that these resilient people stay safe and are able to take refuge in the Lord.”
Read more:
Letter: Emergency Appeal for Ukraine
This Sunday, please pick up an envelope and use it to donate to the emergency appeal for Ukraine. Or you can donate online here:
https://actforpeace.org.au/ukraine
Messy Church Nature Walk Tuesday 12th April
You’re invited to an intergenerational Nature Walk with Messy Church friends!
As we soak in the beautiful natural surrounds of the Barwon River, we’ll explore what it means to walk with Jesus toward Jerusalem as Holy Week and Easter approach. This walk is for people of all ages, children, parents and grandparents are welcome!
Meeting Point:
Buckley Falls Lower Carpark, accessed from Buckley Falls Road in Highton.
Wear: Comfortable shoes for walking and clothing that can be easily adjusted to suit the weather. (Be ready for rain!)
Bring: Hat, waterbottle, insect repellant, sunscreen, snacks
After a short gathering time, we’ll head off to explore the wilder parts of the Barwon River, coming together for afternoon tea and an Outdoor Messy Celebration, finishing by 5pm
Let us know you’re coming by Monday the 7th of April—
Contact Robyn 0427571453 or email
info@stlukesuca.org.au
Emergency Appeals – Ukraine, East Coast Floods, Tongan Tsunami
Friends, we are in challenging times!
If you are wondering how to help and would like to work through trusted church agencies, here are some links:
Act for Peace Ukraine Emergency Appeal
Our ACT Alliance partners in neighbouring Hungary have already sent truckloads of relief to support families forced to flee their homes due to the war. The shipments include 28 tons of canned food, flour, sugar, oil, rice, pasta, biscuits, long-life milk, tea and hygiene products which will be distributed at the Beregszász and Uzhhorod reception centres in Western Ukraine.
https://actforpeace.org.au/ukraine/
Uniting Church East Coast Flooding Emergency Appeal :
The Disaster Recovery Chaplaincy Network (DRCN), a ministry of the Uniting Church Synod of NSW and ACT, at present has deployed 35 chaplains across 19 evacuation centres that are accessible by road, with many more centres inaccessible due to flood waters.
Some Uniting Church communities opened their doors to people left stranded or needing to evacuate.
Rev Hollis is inviting to the wider Uniting Church community to make a donation to support those affected by contributing to the Assembly’s National Disaster Relief Fund.
https://uniting.church/east-coast-flooding-emergency-appeal/
UnitingWorld Tsonga Tsuami Disaster Appeal
On Saturday 15 January, a tsunami was triggered by the eruption of underwater volcano Hunga Tonga Hunga Ha’apai, just 65km from the capital city Nuku’alofa on Tonga’s most populated island.
Communications have now been restored and we have been in touch with our partners, the Free Wesleyan Church of Tonga (FWCT). They have been assisting evacuations from low-lying islands that were hit hard. In Nuku’alofa, FWCT personnel have been assisting affected communities with relief supplies and trauma counselling. They have appointed a disaster response Coordinator and are scalling up their response with help from international partners including UnitingWorld and the Pacific Conference of Churches.
Frontier Services needs a champion at St Lukes! Can you help?
Our latest update and appeal letter from Frontier services arrived last week – perhaps some of you received a letter too. Our bush chaplains in rural and remote areas play an important role in encouraging and supporting communities that are experiencing great hardship caused by natural disasters, especially after the initial attention that such disasters often receive.
Unlike the media, our chaplains stay focused on the people who are recovering for the long haul.
Frontier Services also runs work parties connecting volunteers to communities in the bush.
Perhaps you are originally from a rural area yourself?
You might be just the right person to share the stories from Frontier Services with the congregation and wider community, helping to raise much needed funds and connect city and rural places with each other.
If so, please contact Robyn at the office!
