News

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March 2023 Monthly News

Dear friends,

Here is the March update from St Luke’s.

20230310 Monthly news

Also please find the latest issue of “The Westerly”, our Presbytery update:

The Westerly No.44 3rd February 2023 – Women

If you would like to receive the weekly National Update from the Assembly of the Uniting Church in Australia, you can subscribe here or read the latest edition here

You can find Lenten reflection 3 here

You can find resources for building a more inclusive church congregation here – this was mentioned in the last Assembly update and looks at ways we can include First Nations people, People with a Disability, and people of diverse genders in our community gatherings.

 

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News from Uniting

Here’s the latest from Dale Harrington at Uniting:

Dear Friends,

I am pleased to send you the 2022/2023 Summer edition of Congregation Connect.

In this edition, you and members of your congregation can read about:

  • The impact of our Food For Families program
  • Findings from Uniting’s recent report on the rising costs of living
  • How to get involved in our Coffee Cup Challenge.

Meanwhile, Pancake Day – or Shrove Tuesday – is just around the corner on 21 February 2023.

This is traditionally the last day to eat all the ‘luxury’ foods in our pantries before Lent. These include flour, eggs and dairy products, which just so happen to be the key ingredients of delicious pancakes!

Many congregations are already starting to think about Pancake Day 2023.

So, I would like to invite your congregation and its members to participate. Any funds raised from any events you hold go towards programs or services that support people when they need it most.

There are three ways you can register:

  • Complete the online registration form here
  • Complete and return the attached registration form by return email or post
  • Call us on1800 668 426to register by phone.

And of course, please pass this on to the person in charge of Pancake Day or your Church Council to arrange registration if it is not you.

If you need to update your contact details or wish to amend the number of copies you receive in the future to better suit the needs of your congregation, please get in touch.

Yours sincerely and warm wishes for Christmas,

Dale

Uniting Congregation Connect – Summer 2022

Pancake Day 2023

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November Prayers

PRAYER REQUESTS

Prayer requests received during Prayer gatherings throughout October 2022. Please use these prayer points as a reference for your prayer time.

Praise and Thanksgiving

Praise God for the blessing of life and the blessings we receive each day from our families, friends, and work colleagues.

We are reminded and thankful for the many people in the church and the community who do God’s work quietly, seeking no recognition or acknowledgement. Praise God for the opportunities that open as we talk and work together.

Thankyou Lord, for the joys that we share each day, for those who are uplifted by good news regarding medical results, job opportunities, new houses to create as their own, for the opportunity to reconnect with friends and family.
Continued praise for the hospital, age care and health workers who work tirelessly to care for the vulnerable.

Praise for the philanthropic partners in the Geelong community who support aid agencies, medical research, and outreach programs such as Food bank, Uniting, Noah’s Ark children’s services, Bethany, the SES, plus many more organisations, and thanks to the volunteers who sustain these groups.

General Prayers
Our ongoing prayers each week are for the people of Ukraine, especially for the brave medical and community leaders who work in dangerous circumstances to support the people in so much need. Organizations like Doctors without Borders, Humanitarian Aid workers and UNHCR agencies all supporting the efforts of local people

Our love and prayers are with those of our congregation who are unwell, receiving treatment, have experienced grief or loneliness. Grant them peace and strength to continue and let there be someone who can support them during their time of need. We pray for Dawn and the Fielder family as they grieve the loss of Brian.

We pray for the many and varied needs of our new arrivals to this country and our city. Praise and thanks to the ‘army’ of workers who walk beside these families to support and guide them in the direction of help and practical support.

Prayers were shared for those impacted by the recent floods. The shop owners, government infrastructure such as schools/ovals/transport, students especially VCE students about to sit exams, farmers, and exhausted SES and army workers working with the town people.

We pray for our congregation; that people will step forward to take on responsibilities, in the Church council, on rosters and pastorally. We pray that the right person will be found to maintain our church office and to lovingly care and support our congregational needs, while maintaining connections with sister churches.

ALL PRAYER REQUESTS ARE CONFIDENTIAL NAMES ARE MENTIONED ONLY WHEN SPECIFICALLY REQUESTED.

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November monthly update

You can find the November Monthly update here:

20221110 Monthly news

A story from our Chapel Collectibles –

Some of the charming collectibles available at the Garage Sale

ST LUKE’S CHAPEL COLLECTIBLES
I believe that your continued interest in reading our Collectible stories inpires me to continue – as the Team continues to support and raise funds for newcomers and people in need.

October saw another breathtaking month. Record breaking in the number of new faces visiting the Chapel, record breaking with increased sales, and record breaking as we rostered a new Team from our community – this providing some much needed respite from our St Luke’s regular helpers.

I take a special moment to especially thank Geoff Boehm for his never ending support, encouragement and a supporter of helping solve some Collectible logistic problems. Geoff and his Men’s Shed team are a very integral part of what we do. Thank you team.

The collection of Collectibles continues to change each month. We are boasting a large collection of old land-line telephones, a collection of Japanese furniture and art-work, a collection of porcelain and of course as we think of Christmas we display a large range of gifts and decorations.

So here is our monthly question. How can you help?
If you have any unwanted items in your house and you wish to declutter, why don’t you think about passing them on to our Chapel Collectibles. (But firstly check with your family beforehand.)

Linda Salamy & Rae Anderson – Collectibles Co-Ordinator