Hello friends,
Please find an invitation to consider your giving of time, talents and money to St Luke’s and make any changes you may wish to.
If you missed Paul’s reflections and invitations to Stewardship in July, you can find them here:
St Luke's Uniting Church, Highton
St Luke's is a congregation of the Uniting Church in Australia, located in Highton, Geelong.
Hello friends,
Please find an invitation to consider your giving of time, talents and money to St Luke’s and make any changes you may wish to.
If you missed Paul’s reflections and invitations to Stewardship in July, you can find them here:
New Synod Meeting Planning Committee |
Expressions of interest are now open for people interested in helping shape future Synod meetings. Synod 2022 adopted a proposal to create a new committee appointed by the Standing Committee, with its membership to include up to eight people incorporating a diversity of Church members and minority voices. Its purpose is to plan and arrange the theme, venue, community life and timetable for future meetings of the Synod, giving priority to broad engagement with the membership of the Church, through the implementation of interactive, engaging and creative strategies and processes. |
This year’s Tributes Service will be held at Wesley Church (Lonsdale St Melbourne) on Saturday, July 23 from 2.30pm. Traditionally held during Synod meetings, the service honours ministers who, since the previous Synod meeting, have been ordained, retired or received from other denominations, or celebrated 50, 60, 65 and 70 years since ordination or commissioning. The service will also be livestreamed.
UC members gathered in Melbourne recently for three days of discussion, deep engagement and discernment as part of Synod 2022. All three days and the Opening Worship service, which featured the installation of Moderator David Fotheringham, can be found on the Synod 2022 YouTube channel, while daily updates were posted to the Crosslight website.
Applications for 2022 Share Grants are now open. Since 1980, the Share Grants program has provided financial assistance to enhance the quality and scope of UnitingCare and Uniting Church services to the community in Victoria and Tasmania. With the program now part of Uniting Vic.Tas, this year’s grants are once again available for parish missions, congregations and others in the community.
St Luke’s has some great activities which could qualify for these grants
Gospel lecture |
The role of the Gospel of Matthew in engaging with community-led issues, such as violence, land and food security, and unemployment in South Africa will be the focus of an August 4 lecture by Professor Gerald West. The lecture will be held in person at the Centre for Theology and Ministry and also streamed live. |
Faith and diversity |
Recent Census data has provided a snapshot of modern Australia, including the fact that for the first time, first and second generation migrants make up more than half of our population, at 51.5 per cent. National Assembly Consultant Rev Dr Apwee Ting explores what this means in terms of faith and diversity. |
The role of history and truth-telling in working towards a more just and self-determined future for First Peoples is the subject of a webinar on July 21 organised by the Uniting Church National History Society. First Nations leaders and historians will be part of the Zoom event exploring the Uluru Statement from the Heart.
The Mental Health Foundation of Australia are offering online information sessions about current Mental Health Topics which St Luke’s and wider community members may be interested in joining – topics include:
To register for the webinars, click here
This edition we explore the theme of ‘Seeking Refugee’ with Rev. Geoff Barker’s story of retreat time in a French abbey, JIM Article Refugee week, Rev. Fi Bottcher (Deacon) encourages us to all practice self-love. Rev. Mat Harry (Deacon) speaks about the statistics around young adults who are taking refuge in their faith. If you missed your June 5th Edition of the westerly back editions are available at Newsletters – Presbytery of Port Phillip West (ucappw.org.au) .
From Dale at Uniting:
“We are pleased to send you the Winter 2022 Congregation Connect. In this edition, you can read about:
We have also included copies of our latest Uniting Heritage newsletter. The Uniting Heritage Service supports and their families who were adopted, spent time with foster care providers, in children’s or family group homes, and in orphanages.
If this out-of home care was provided by former Presbyteryian, Methodist or Uniting Churches, we help people piece together memories and better understand their past. ”
Pick up your copies from the St Luke’s foyer this Sunday.
The Geelong Chorale recommenced rehearsals at St Luke’s every Monday evening in 2022 and are excited to present their upcoming concert:
Having been delayed in making this overseas journey for the past two years, we are delighted that we can finally present “Around the World in Eighty Minutes”. Although restrictions have generally eased, overseas travel still remains a challenge. So come on an overseas journey with us, no need to check in or stand at the luggage carousel, as we take you on an epic journey via the world’s treasury of folk songs.
Tickets are also available at the door and cash or card payments can be accepted.
Here is the monthly update for June:
If you are looking for some good news to encourage you, be sure to pick up a copy of the latest update from Uniting world. You are invited to donate to the annual appeal which demonstrates how one action from you can ripple out to the Partner churches and organisations of Uniting World and help them to build up communities who are struggling in oppressive circumstances.
To donate online, click here