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Prayers of the People

Prayer gathering 12th May, 2021.

Praise and Thanksgiving.

1)         Praise God for the many blessings that we have received, known by each of us in our hearts.

2)         We celebrate the blessing that we live in a peaceful country where we are free to worship and share our beliefs, feelings and concerns openly.

3)         We give praise and thanks for good news and times spent with family.

4)         Our prayers and thanks are for the scientists who are developing the COVID vaccines, and for those who are tasked with administering the doses.

5)         Praise God for volunteers who quietly work behind the scenes and for the team at St. Luke’s who are working on the way forward for our property and outreach programs.

General Prayers.

1)         We pray for those countries where COVID 19 is out of control and where the consequences are impacting   on so many families. We pray that the vaccine will be readily available to those most in need both locally and for smaller countries who do not have the same access as bigger more powerful countries.

2)         Pray for Paul as he pastoral cares grieving, hurting families, as he prepares for the funerals taking place at St. Luke’s this week and for families who are unwell, receiving treatment, undergoing tests or rehab.

3)         We pray for young people who have recently arrived in this county as they face the many challenges of a different culture, language, schooling, and home environment. Give them strength and courage Lord,  to ask for and seek help and we pray for those working with and encouraging them.

4)         Our prayer is for peace in countries where there is conflict or disease. We pray for families separated and the anxiety of being unable to support or help loved ones.  

5)         We think of and pray for those who are under pressure with work, home, and community commitments.       May they be granted peace of mind with time and space to serve you Lord as we are all called to do.

6)         We pray for World Environment Day on June 6th and that preparations worldwide will showcase the  possibilities for each of us as we take responsibility and contribute to the search for ways to combat climate             change.

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Uniting’s Winter Appeal is underway – donate online today!

Uniting VicTas is the welfare arm of the Uniting Church in Victoria and Tasmania.  They recently held their Annual Meeting online – check out the stories of the work being done over the past year by dedicated staff and volunteers – you might even see some familiar faces amongst the presenters.

You can support the ongoing work of Uniting by donating to the Winter Appeal – follow the link to do this online here:

https://www.unitingvictas.org.au/appeal/

Or you can pick up a donation envelope from our table in the foyer at church.

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Coronavirus update and contact tracing at St Luke’s

News this week from Synod:

Two important changes from May 28, 2021:
The Victorian Government has announced density limits will lift on small to medium-sized venues, including places of worship.

From 28 May, venues including places of worship with less than 400m² can  have up to 200 people per space without any density limit, provided
COVID marshals are on site ensuring all patrons are checking in to each space using the QR Code system.

All venues must use the Government QR Code Service to maintain electronic record keeping.

How do QR codes work?
1. Register for a FREE QR code service from the government at  https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/register-to-use-vic-gov-qr-codeservice.
2. Once you have your QR Code, you will need to display this prominently, eg at all entry doors.
3. Everyone entering the building can then scan this QR Code using the camera on their smartphone or tablet device. This automatically opens the registration app, which knows that they are registering at your building.
4. They will then be asked to enter their name, phone number and residential postcode, and have the option of providing details of other individuals in their party.
5. When using QR codes, every gathering will require a designated greeter at every door by which the public can enter. Each greeter will need to have a smart phone or tablet device.  The role of the greeters is to ensure that
everyone entering the building registers using the QR code, to assist with registrations as required, or to use their own phone or tablet to register any attendees who do not have the capability of registering themselves.

How do older people, or those without a smartphone sign in using the QR Code?
The government QR code allows you to sign in another person. By having event greeters at every entry door, they can sign in any attendee who is
unable to register themselves. The requirement for every attendee to be signed in using the QR code method is a government requirement as of April
23, 2021.

What does this mean for St Luke’s?

Currently we have 8 people who have indicated that they are prepared and able to scan people in on Sunday mornings.  These same people are also rostered on for other roles, and don’t want to be rostered on every week, so more people are needed for this role.

Knowing that many of our regular attenders do not have mobile phones that can host the Victorian Services app, and that many others do not have mobile phones at all, I made contact with the people in the Victorian Government responsible for the app.  I explained our situation with many people needing to be checked in at the same time who are the same people who come each week.  This is their response:

Good afternoon Robyn,

Thank you for reaching out regarding the check-in requirements.

As long as you are recording the manual entries for each person in your venue for more than 15 minutes, and keeping track of this in a consistent manner that can be supplied to contact tracers when requested, this will be sufficient.

This does not need to be via the Service Victoria app, but can instead be through a paper form with names and phone numbers, or a spreadsheet maintained by your team.

Please ensure the manual check-in form has a way to contact each guest, ideally via mobile phone.

We appreciate your work in protecting Victoria through maintaining contact tracing efforts.

So, while we are still able to sign people in with pen and paper,  should there be a case of Coronavirus exposure at St Luke’s, those recorded through the QR code can be contacted more quickly.   If you would like to be able to do this but are not sure how to go about it, please register your interest with Robyn at the church office.

 

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Combined Pentecost Service Sunday 23rd May 2021

When:  May 23rd 3pm 

Where:  Western Heights Uniting Church.  

Who: All the Uniting Churches in the region

What: Great Music, Inspirational speakers, quiet meditation allowing the Spirit to speak to us, fun activities for all ages, Mission Expo. 

Why: We love to gather as one people of God, as the body of Christ in this region. We want to worship our amazing, creative God, three in one. 

 

Preparations are coming along with only two weeks to go – excitement is building. 

The band and choir have been rehearsing and are enjoying working together.

Due to covid restrictions we would like people to register for this worship service.  

You can register through this link https://www.trybooking.com/BRFDA

 

 

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Thankyou from Act for Peace Christmas Bowl campaign 2020

St Luke’s received a thankyou letter and certificate of appreciation today for our donations to the Christmas Bowl in 2020.  The Christmas Bowl is part of our commitment as a church to ecumenical action – churches working together for good.

Thankyou to everyone from St Luke’s who contributed!

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Reserve your copy of Crosslight today!

Every 2 months, we receive copies of the Crosslight Magazine from the Synod of Victoria and Tasmania for St Luke’s members.  The magazine has many interesting articles about people and ideas in our wider Uniting Church family.  

This year I have noticed that we have quite a few copies left over.  To avoid waste, I would like to order accurate numbers for people who are interested in receiving it.  

Please contact Robyn at the church office by the 16th of May if you would like a copy reserved for you.

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Safe Church Training

Wednesday 2nd of June 2021 from 7-8pm on Zoom.  

For St Luke’s folk involved in leadership and pastoral care on behalf of the Church.  The session will be led by Rev. Paul Stephens, and includes recognising situations of abuse and what you should do if a vulnerable person discloses abuse to you.

Ensuring that our leaders complete Safe Church Training is part of the St Luke’s Statement of Commitment to Keeping Children Safe.

St Lukes Highton signed statement of Commitment

Contact the church office to register and receive the Zoom link
info@stlukesuca.org.au

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Uniting World’s Seven Days of Solidarity

Beginning April 18th, Seven Days of Solidarity is inspired by the work of our partner churches, celebrating where the risen Christ is at work changing lives.  

Celebrating the good things God is doing seems important after a year of strain and struggle to adapt to a pandemic that is still the source of pain for millions of people.

COVID-19 continues to make life so incredibly difficult for our partners, but through it all, God is faithful.  Their incredible lives remind us that we’re surrounded by a cloud of witnesses who keep the faith, and giving up is not an option.  

UnitingWorld holds these partnerships on behalf of the people of the Uniting Church, and we wanted to take the opportunity to share some of their stories and inspire you in faith and action.  

In the weeks immediately after Easter, when we celebrate resurrection life and the birth of the Church, this is an opportunity to bear witness to where the risen Christ is at work.  Join us to celebrate our partners, give thanks, and share resources to keep this mission alive.

Booklets containing the stories and devotions are now available to pick up from the church foyer, along with donation envelopes.  You can also find them online here:

https://donate.unitingworld.org.au/7dos

Lent Event Update

https://donate.unitingworld.org.au/fundraiser/stlukesunitingchurchhighton

Friends, this year we took our fundraising online for Lent Event.  We set up a St Luke’s Team Page, which raised $255 of our $3000 goal from 3 donors and 1 team member.  This is less than St Luke’s has raised for Uniting World than in past years.  If you missed the chance to donate, please consider donation through the Seven Days of Solidarity campaign instead.  Our Partners in the Pacific very much need our support.