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Save the Date – Pentecost Sunday Worship at Wesley Uniting Church 10am

The Uniting Churches of Geelong will be joining together in the one place on Pentecost Sunday, 5th June 2022 at 10am.

This means that there will be NO SUNDAY SERVICE AT ST LUKES ON SUNDAY 5th of June.

Instead we encourage everyone from St Luke’s to come to Wesley Uniting Church, 100 Yarra Street Geelong on that day.

We are also invited to join in with a combined choir and band, which will be rehearsing on the next two Tuesday nights, the 24th and 31st of May at 7:00pm at Wesley Uniting Church.  To take part, please register with Helen at Wesley UC on 5229 8866.

As plans unfold, there may be a need for helpers on the day, so if you are planning to come and able to assist, I would love to hear from you.  Likely tasks would be catering, ushering and such.  I will keep you posted as I find out more.  We will be sharing news of the Pentecost Service at Sunday mornings, and through our website and social media, however if you are in touch with friends who don’t connect there, could you please help to spread the word so that no-one is left at the front door wondering where everyone is?

May we be blessed with the fire and warmth of the Holy Spirit as we gather as one big Uniting Church community in Geelong!

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Summer edition of Congregation Connect from Uniting

From Dale Barker-Harrington at Uniting:

Dear Friends,

I hope this email reaches you in good health as these challenging times continue and that you enjoyed a safe and happy Christmas Season with your loved ones!

I am writing to you to let you know that a copy of the Uniting Vic.Tas Summer Congregation Connect has now been made available on our website for congregations to access. I have also attached a copy for your convenience.

In this edition, you and members of your congregation can read about a collaborative research project on COVID-19 supports, hear about how Toorak Ecumenical Movement members are supporting our Food For Families campaign and let us know how we can improve our performance in the future.

Please complete the survey here:

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Uniting_engagement_check

This year marks the 20th Anniversary of Pancake Day. As you would know, Pancake Day – or Shrove Tuesday – is traditionally the last day to eat all the luxury foods in the pantry before the start of Lent. These foods include flour, eggs and dairy products, the key ingredients of delicious pancakes.

Pancake Day is celebrated on 1 March this year and we are once again inviting everyone to heat up the burners and ‘Flip for a good cause’ by making pancakes to support Uniting programs and services. All donations and funds raised from events will go to programs or services that support people when they need it most.

There are 3 ways you can register your congregation to host an event:

  • Complete the online registration form here
  • Complete and return the attached fillable registration form either by email or post
  • Call us on 1800 668 426 to register by phone.

Although this year’s Coffee Cup Challenge is well under way, It is still not too late for your congregation to get involved.  All funds raised from the Coffee Cup Challenge will support people experiencing crisis, vulnerability and disadvantage. For more information or to register your congregation to join the Coffee Cup Challenge, please visit our Coffee Cup Challenge page.

As always, if you need to update your contact details or wish to amend the number of hard copies you are mailed in the future, please contact Ida or me on 1800 668 426.

Kind Regards,

Dale

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Christmas Services 2021

Christmas Eve Friday 24th December

There is no service at St Luke’s, however Belmont Uniting Church is holding a service at 7:30pm led by the Rev. Ikani Vaitohi

Address: 42 Thompson St Belmont.

Christmas Day Saturday 25th December

9:30am Christmas Day Service at St Luke’s Highton led by Rev. Paul Stephens

Sunday 26th December

Online reflection broadcast from the St Luke’s YouTube channel from 7:30am

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Dreaming Big – and St Luke’s Salt & Light Plans (as at 16 Dec 2021)

In 2017 St Luke’s Highton UCA began a process toward regeneration ministry. In 2018 with the arrival of Rev Paul Stephens the community undertook Dreaming Big studies, built on the Synod’s Property for Mission Workbook.

In 2020 in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic, we applied to City of Greater Geelong for an Infrastucture Planning Grant of $20000 to work with the community to understand how we could use our site and resources for the benefit of the broader community and to continue to be Christ’s “Salt & Light” in our community. We were successful and in 2021, we implemented this planning – throughout the challenges of another covid year.

The Design Brief (pdf format) that was developed is available here: StLuke_DESIGN BRIEF_9oct2021_CoGGlogo_Stage2

Deakin School of Architecture & Built Environment team gave an initial presentation of architectural ideas in response to the Brief in October to the “Community Voice” and Church Council groups. They took feedback away to refine the ideas.

On 17 December, Stewart Seaton & Dr Igor Martek presented their refined concepts to a broader group from church and community. A recording of the session is available on Youtube. Send us a message if you’d like to view it.

The plans show how the site could be transformed to create the environment to enable the Design Brief to become reality. The Deakin Team also created an animated 3D fly through that Stewart has narrated. (this will open in YouTube)

There were seven drawings and images presented:

StLukes_Concept_Plans – Overview

StLukes_Concept_Plans 2021 – Elevations

StLukes_Concept_Plans 2021 – Sectional elevations

StLukes_Concept_Plans 2021 – Views from the NE corner

StLukes_Concept_Plans 2021_ Views inside the Sanctuary precinct including possible extension of Sanctuary into the ‘gardens’

StLukes_Concept_Plans 2021 – View in the NW corner – repurposed Lane Memorial Hall in the market garden and looking to the original church

StLukes_Concept_Plans2021 – 3D model image of site

In the months to come, this will be refined and agreed on as a ‘Master Plan’ that over coming years will be ‘staged’ to implement as people, finance and most importantly, God’s Spirit, guide us.

If you have any questions or are interested in being involved in (or partnering with) this vision and work, contact admin@stlukesuca.org.au   (or call the Church Office or our Minister)

Thanks to City of Greater Geelong for the Infrastructure Planning Grant 2021 ($20,000) which was matched by the Congregation & partners (My Pilgrim’s Way, and Deakin University School of Architecture & Built Environment).

City of Great Geelong Logo