Lenten Reflection Opportunities

In all of the change that happens around us, one of the constant aspects of our faith journey at St Luke’s is the annual cycle of the liturgical calendar, marking the seasons of Jesus’ journey on earth.

Tomorrow we commence the period of Lent – 40 days of reflection and sacrifice as we imagine the time spent by Jesus in the desert, grappling with fears and temptations.

If you are looking for some resources to use as part of your devotional time during Lent, here are some suggestions:

Common Grace

Every year at Easter, Common Grace brings a Lent series based on the central teachings of Jesus. In 2021 they’ve put together a compilation series from Christian teachers, who show us what it looks like when justice overflows from following Jesus.

To sign up to their weekly Lenten emails, click here.

Uniting World’s Lent Event

UnitingWorld is the part of the Uniting Church with the privilege of nurturing relationships with our global church family, and we love the season of Lent! Through Lent Event, we provide a Bible Study series to help you think through what it means to be a global neighbour, and encourage you to take action with a 40-day challenge to give or take up something that helps make the world a better place. With stories that show how your prayers and gifts are building hope and ending poverty around the world, we aim to cultivate generosity, compassion and awareness of others.

If you’re ready to take a new look at Lent, go for a deep dive online to find resources, and check out www.lentevent.com.au for simple ways to get involved.

 

Worship – Sunday 24 January – Day of Mourning – Aboriginal Sunday

The Sunday Service at St Luke’s Highton will be at 10am and we hope to Livestream to our Youtube channel
 
This is the Sunday (before Australia Day) where we join with our sister churches in a Day of Mourning to reflect on how God is calling us to respond to the ongoing challenges faced by our First Australians – the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
 
We’ll be using the Uniting Church Assembly resources, with more from Common Grace who have provided resources to churches and faith groups around Australia to share in Aboriginal Sunday.
The Preamble to the Constition of the UCA helps set our approach to relationships between First and Second Australians.
 
There is also a prayer service of reconciliation on Monday night (25th Jan) at 7:30pm – Victorian time – led by Aunty Jean Phillips – see www.commongrace.org.au/tunein  Some of us may gather at St Luke’s to participate.

Worship Online Sunday 8th November – Waiting, waiting…

Good morning friends, Grace and Peace to you.

Jesus often taught by telling parables … short stories containing a message that have a capacity to transform us …

Sometimes the meaning of a parable while confronting is pretty straight forward, think, for example, of the parable of the Good Samaritan …

But today we are going to look at a parable which is not so easy to interpret … the parable of the wise and foolish bridesmaids …

I am going to argue that at its heart the parable contains a counter-cultural message … that in God’s kingdom there is a place for waiting … faithful waiting

Remembrance Day this Wednesday

Paul reminded us that it will be Remembrance day this Wednesday.  The Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne is hosting a virtual service – details here

NAIDOC Week

A week of recognition and celebration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.  Here is a reflection on NAIDOC week 2020 written by  Alison Overeem of the Uniting Aboriginal and Islander Christian Congress in Tasmania:

NAIDOC Week Reflection

There are many events planned for NAIDOC week and you can find out more about them here:

NAIDOC Week Events

One of these events is the launch of a new song which you can listen to here:

And you might also enjoy this version of Amazing Grace by Paul Kelly and the late Gurrumil:

A blessing in the words of Archbishop Desmond Tutu:

Go in peace, and remember:

goodness is stronger than evil;

love is stronger than hate;

light is stronger than darkness;

life is stronger than death;

victory is ours

through Christ who loved us.

Amen.

Justice calendar 2021

The Justice and International Mission Cluster’s 2021 Social Justice Calendar is now available. It includes significant dates, such as NAIDOC Week, Refugee Week and the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.

Find it here:

Social Justice Calendar 2021

Pilgrim news

Pilgrim Theological College said farewell to 11 students at a valedictory service hosted via Zoom last week.

While these students are at the tail-end of their studies, you may be interested in beginning your own.  Pilgrim also have shorter courses which are a great next step for deepening your faith learning and discipleship.

Enrolment for 2021 is now open and the timetable is available here.

Pilgrim also welcomes Monica Melanchthon into the role of Academic Dean for the next two years.

More information:

https://pilgrim.edu.au/

NAIDOC week reflection

Leprena Centre  Manager Alison Overeem has written a poetic reflection for NAIDOC Week, which starts on Sunday. This year, the theme is Always Was, Always Will Be in recognition that First Nations people have occupied and cared for Australia for more than 65,000 years. Alison asks that we learn the history of First Peoples and hear and honour their stories. “It’s in knowing this connection to Land, through this lens of discernment the true lessons are learned. Honour the land and the stories sitting within Country wherever you may be. May our Churches and agencies discern, for it is in Nature’s classroom that we truly learn.”

NAIDOC Week 2020 reflection

Peter Wheeler is a Westfield Local Hero – thanks for your support on behalf of Uniting Barwon

Good News

A huge congratulations to Uniting Barwon’s Local Hero Peter Wheeler!

https://www.westfield.com.au/geelong/story/7EbYH4xMp60mDUW1K5dWU1/peter-wheeler

The votes have been counted and Peter is one of the 2020 Westfield Geelong Local Heroes! Thanks to everyone who voted for Peter, Uniting Barwon will receive a $10,000 community grant to support the community programs Peter has set up at the Uniting Barwon Op Shop in Wendover Avenue Norlane.

Peter would like to thank all those who helped to promote the community voting and all those who did vote. Thank you all!

Update from Uniting Agewell

Good afternoon St Lukes Congregation,

We hope each of you are keeping well and safe during these trying times.

We are reaching out to the Uniting Church Congregations to offer respite for any congregation member that may benefit from a rest; two weeks or more can be offered at a cost of $52.25p/d when a My Aged Care approval is in place.  A list of our residences are attached with photos on page 2.

Uniting Agewell Vacancy Report

We understand the apprehension around residential aged care at present, so we have included the link to our website that provides transparent and up to date information on any COVID related cases throughout our facilities at any given time, with all historic data from March 2020 onwards being available to view:

https://www.unitingagewell.org/covid19/for-residents-clients-families-and-visitors

COVID-19 Residence Guidelines:

  • We continue to take permanent and respite admissions across our facilities
  • All admissions require a COVID-19 test with a negative result all within 72hrs of an admission
  • Room viewings can be booked by contacting the associated admissions team member

Update Visitor Access Arrangements Victoria 21Oct20 (002)

Kind regards,

Kiri Johnston

Regional Admissions Coordinator – South/East
Uniting AgeWell