St Luke's Uniting Church, Highton
St Luke's is a congregation of the Uniting Church in Australia, located in Highton, Geelong.
Anyone who’s had kids in Australia would understand that whenever there’s Milo in the house, it disappears very quickly!!
Our helpers at Uniting Grovedale have a request – while you are at the supermarket this week, could you pop a small tin of Milo in the trolley for Uniting?
The folk who rely on supplementing their food needs from Uniting’s emergency pantries in Grovedale and Norlane would very much appreciate this small treat for their kids.
Thanks!
Cathy Coles, the Early Learning Co-ordinator at Uniting, has written to advise that there are new staffing arrangements at St Luke’s Preschool:
“With the resignation of our permanent team leader and early childhood teacher, Tanya Henry, Uniting has undertaken a recruitment process and it is with great pleasure that we can announce the outcome.
We are delighted to announce that Emma Lane has been appointed and will be stepping into the St Luke’s Highton Team Leader role in an ongoing capacity.
In addition, we are further delighted to announce that Caroline Davies has been appointed to our permanent early childhood teacher role at St Luke’s Highton Preschool.
In the past months both Emma and Caroline during the challenges of COVID-19 have shown resilience and compassion while navigating the daily challenges this has presented. They have collaborated with the team at St Luke’s Highton and demonstrated all of Uniting’s values. We are delighted that they are now both permanently part of our Uniting team.
Please join me in congratulating both Emma and Caroline to their roles at St Luke’s Highton Preschool.
It’s great to hear that this ministry of caring for and education young children and supporting their families continues at the St Luke’s Preschool and we give thanks for the skills and dedication that Emma and Caroline bring to their roles. It has been a very challenging year and these two educators have met the challenges with grace, commitment and compassion.
We give thanks also for the many years of care, education and leadership provided by Tanya Henry and we wish her the very best in her future activities.
Be sure to give the St Luke’s preschool team a smile and wave if you see them in the yard when you’re visiting St Luke’s!
As the ripples of COVID-19 restrictions continue to be felt in our community, Uniting’s Emergency Assistance pantries are experiencing higher demand. Now that we no longer gather each Sunday in person, the number of food donations to Uniting from St. Luke’s is dropping.
But! You can still help!
The church office is open between 10am and 12 noon on Tuesdays and Fridays to receive donations in our trolley – these are take to Uniting by Jean Daw who is a regular volunteer there.
Jean has advised that the following items are currently needed:
The regular list of items for you to add to your shopping includes:
Please remember to:
Your donation of a few items from your weekly shopping makes a huge impact on our ability to help people in need – thanks for your support!
Greetings friends!
Today’s worship will be premiering on YouTube at 9:30am, followed by our first Zoom gathering. Details have been emailed and will also be posted in the Facebook Group.
The beautiful celtic flute playing in the prayers was by a group called Senor Cabrales, and here’s a little more of them:
For singing today why not join with the Notre Dame University Folk Choir? They’re joyous!
Verse 1
Longing for light, we wait in darkness.
Longing for truth, we turn to you.
Make us your own, your holy people,
light for the world to see.Refrain
Christ, be our light! Shine in our hearts.
Shine through the darkness.
Christ, be our light!
Shine in your church gathered today.Verse 2
Longing for peace, our world is troubled.
Longing for hope, many despair.
Your word alone has pow’r to save us.
Make us your living voice.Refrain
Verse 3
Longing for food, many are hungry.
Longing for water, many still thirst.
Make us your bread, broken for others,
shared until all are fed.Refrain
Verse 4
Longing for shelter, many are homeless.
Longing for warmth, many are cold.
Make us your building, sheltering others,
walls made of living stone.Refrain
Verse 5
Many the gifts, many the people,
many the hearts that yearn to belong.
Let us be servants to one another,
making your kingdom come.Refrain
© Bernadette Farrell 1993.
Uniting have made their newsletters available online and you can find them here:
Be sure to read them and if you are able please continue to donate to Uniting as their services will be more in demand than ever in these coming months.
The Uniting Church Synod has put together a list of Frequently Asked Questions about the COVID 19 restrictions and what congregations are able to do. You can find this information here.
Church Council are meeting online this Tuesday to review the changes in restrictions and see how they will impact St. Luke’s. The Annual Meeting of the Congregation remains deferred, however we hope to have the Annual Report for 2019 out to you sometime this coming week.
Please continue to pray and care for one another and for our wider community.
Looking forward to seeing you all on Zoom today at 10. The details have been emailed and are also available in the Facebook Group.
Grace and Peace to you!
Robyn
Here is the weekly update for this week:
Weekly Update Sunday January 26 2020
and the launch of the Uniting Bushfire Appeal:
Warm food and warm clothes are everyone’s priority at this time of the year. Uniting Barwon has been busy distributing food and clothing to people feeling the cold and having to manage their winter bills whilst feeding their families.
You can help families by donating the following items:
ALL DONATIONS MOST WELCOME AND CAN BE MADE VIA THE TRUSTY ST LUKES SHOPPING TROLLEY IN OUR FOYER. GOODS ARE THEN TAKEN TO UNITING.
You can also add your financial support by donating to Uniting’s Winter Appeal here.
Are you keen to volunteer in the Porter Ave Op Shop 2 hours (or more) a month?
Uniting Barwon URGENTLY needs motivated reliable volunteers from 10am till 12pm Saturdays!
Uniting Barwon (formerly UnitingCare Geelong) is an emergency relief agency providing assistance to individuals and families in our local community who need practical support during times of financial and personal struggle.
If you—or someone you know—would enjoy being part of a can-do volunteer team, please contact Elizabeth Hopkin on 4210 1113 or email Elizabeth.Hopkin@vt.uniting.org
Support vulnerable people in the community and help make a difference.
*Volunteer appointments are subject to satisfactory criminal history checks, reference checks and Working with Children Check prior to commencement.
