Uniting Church in Australia
Presbytery of North Queensland
PRESBYTERY PROMPTS
29 Wentworth Ave Mundingburra 4812 Ph: 07 4779 5818 presbnq@bigpond.net.au
Website: www.presbyterynq.net
TWENTY EIGHTH EDITION WEDNESDAY JULY 25TH 2007
On the Grapevine…
Hi everyone,
In the Daily Mail that Bruce Mullan puts out which some of you may also receive, he attached the following as the Quote of the Day for today (Wednesday 25th July). I think that also expresses the way Jesus viewed people and situations.
“Become a possibilitarian. No matter how dark things seem to be or actually are, raise your sights and see possibilities – always see them, for they're always there.” (Norman Vincent Peale)
Pastoral Notes and prayer points:
· Pray for the planning of State Youth ministry conference and that there will be a good attendance.
· Pray for the congregations that are moving into planning for future ministry placements.
· Please keep the upcoming Emmaus Walks, team members and pilgrims in your prayers.
· Pray for Garry and Teresa Hardingham as they return from their overseas trip.
Mission and Service Fund Allocations for 2008 :
The suggested amounts of the congregational allocations to the Mission and Services Fund for the Synod budget will be distributed to congregational treasurers this week. In order to be timely in our response to Synod and to help all of us plan effectively and budget for 2008 we would appreciate your congregation’s response by the due date, 31st August 2007.
Presbytery Leadership Team met last week. Due to circumstances of people being away, the Cairns show and other study and family commitments we were a little short on numbers at the meeting although we had more than enough for a quorum. In addition to a lot of routine admin type business, the following pending placements vacancies were noted.
· Wulguru and Townsville BlueCare Chaplain as John and Karen Walker will be moving to take up an overseas mission post in 2008.
· Aitkenvale as Malcolm Bottrill will be retiring after Easter 2008.
· Mossman as Graham and Cheryl Bizzell will conclude their supply position in December 2007.
· Tully as Carole Young completed her placement at the end of May 2007.
We also received the Mossman and Tully consultation reports, noted the ministers taking long service leave in the latter part of the year Anne Harley, Viv Chapman and Glenn Louttit and agreed to a change in meeting dates for the Presbytery Leadership Team so that they are more regular. We also associated Michael Jeffery (Director of YACMU) with the meeting for Steve Kersnovske’s report and to discuss the plans for Youth, Children’s and Family ministry in the north for the next 6 months and beyond.
Synod info re General Secretary appointment:
Those in our Presbytery who were members of the last Synod will have received correspondence
from the current General Secretary, Jenny Tymms regarding the process for appointment
of a new General Secretary. In the interested of open communication I share the basic
outline here:-
On Saturday 30th June the Council of Synod:
1. appointed the following people to the Search Committee which will be chaired y
the Moderator -
Those with an asterisk (*) were considered to have HR skills.
2. Approved a revised Position Description for the General Secretary that included
the essential ability “to live and work within the theological diversity of the Queensland
Synod”. The Selection Criteria were also amended so that the first requirement now
reads: “Membership of the Uniting Church in Australia and a commitment to, and understanding
of, the mission and ethos of the Uniting Church and of the Queensland Synod.” The
Position Description is available on the Synod web-
3. Requested the Search Committee to address specifically both the Selection Criteria and the overall ‘fit’ of their two nominees for the role of General Secretary in its report to the Special Synod.
4. Approved the following date for the Special Synod: Saturday, 24th November 2007. Chermside Kedron Uniting Church in Brisbane has kindly agreed to host the special meeting.
5. Expressed its thanks to the General Secretary, Rev Jenny Tymms, for her willingness to defer her leave and continue in the role of General Secretary until the end of January 2008, noting that there would be a consequent delay in her taking up her new placement.
GTIM – (Growing Together in Marriage):
Marriages are all different and each needs fine tuning
A Growing Together in marriage Weekend is a wonderful opportunity for enriching,
fine tuning and re-
The tune-
At Bramston Beach Motor Inn, 1-
On 17th to 19th August 2007.
Spaces for 10 Couples, 4 spaces already taken.
Cost: $200 per couple (accommodation & meals provided)
Further info from: Richard & Karen Hosking, 13 Jefferson Crescent, Kirwan. 4817.
07 4723 1690 or mob 0407 231 690 Email: rsklhosking@bigpond.com
New Secretary – International Rural Church Association:
At the recent International Rural Church Association Conference in Canada, Rev Garry Hardingham was appointed as the new secretary. This is the third ICRA conference to be held. The first was in Durham England in 1998 and the second was in Chennai India in 2002. I am not exactly sure what being secretary will mean except that Garry will have a significant part to play in putting the Australian perspective on rural ministry and will be able to glean ideas and processes from other countries.
“The theme of the conference in Canada “Cry of the Heart: Harvest of Hope in the Rural Landscape” speaks of the pain being sustained by rural communities and rural congregations, and of the powerful hope and convictions that sustain us as we hear God's word to us.”
On their website www.irca-
We look forward to Garry sharing more when he returns to Australia this week.
At the Minister’s Retreat last month Greg and Mereym Brown presented a video clip called “Stop It”. Some Ministers expressed interest in obtaining a copy. If you would like a copy please contact Hedley Fihaki at hedley@cairns.unitingchurch.com or Jane at the presbytery office on presbnq@bigpond.net.au
Blessings to you all,
Bruce C.
Steve’s Stuff…
We are privileged to have Dr Roland Martinson as our guest speaker at the upcoming State Youth Ministry Conference – Growing Apostles. Roland is Professor of Children, Youth and Family Ministry from Luther Seminary in St Paul Minnesota. He brings a wealth of knowledge and many years of practical experience.
Roland was the project director of a landmark study across the United States titled, Exemplary Youth Ministry’. The study was across nine different denominations and 131 congregations. One goal of the study was to identify what was happening and more specifically what was the culture in congregations where there was vibrant, thriving youth ministries and young people had a deep faith commitment and lived this out.
From this research the team identified nine characteristics of a mature Christian young person. In addition 44 faith assets were identified in congregations where young people were growing as disciples of Christ.
At the conference Roland will present some of the amazing findings which answer questions like, what matters in your ministry? What makes a real difference in the life of a young person? What lasts?
Roland will present and explore a variety of practical tools that will enable you to assist your congregation to be more intentional in your congregation’s youth ministry and ways to help young people develop a strong, deep and lasting faith.
The conference is being held over the weekend of Saturday the 25th to Sunday the 26th of August in Brisbane. We are truly blessed to have an international guest speaker and one who has been involved with children, youth and family ministry for so many years and authored numerous books and articles. Visit http://www.luthersem.edu/faculty/fac_home.asp?contact_id=rmartins to learn more about Roland.
Please email me at stevek@yacmu.com.au if you are interested in attending the conference or have any questions. For more information visit www.yacmu.com.au. Our Presbytery is funding up to ten people $100 each to assist with transport or registration fee. We pray that your congregation can send one person along.
Yours in Christ’s service, Steve.
YOUTH & CHILDREN'S MINISTRY EVENTS
August 25th – 26th – Youth Ministry Conference -
September 15-
October 12-
October – 20th – 21st – Kids Camp Out Northern Zone
January 2008 -
What’s New…
ADMIN KEY ACTIVATION
I’m pleased to say that the Admin Key function is now active on our website www.ncls.org.au. Feel free to forward this email to your churches to notify them on how to use their Admin Key. Further information will be available on our website. Churches / Parishes who participated in last year’s survey received their Admin Key, printed on the cover letter and the inside front cover of their Church Life Pack. It is a twelve digit key. Churches / Parishes enter their Admin Key on the bottom left column on our webpage to access the new services. This Key now enables a parish/ church to:
· Edit their Address and contact information
· Update their details on Church Search (a complimentary service of NCLS, see www.churchsearch.org.au )
· View their Extended Profile, showing all the answers to every question on the survey;
· Retrieve their Profile Number if lost;
· Order a Local Church Life Survey.
In the near future the Admin Key will allow churches to:
· Create a Customised Profile, such as Worship Service Profiles or Age Group Profiles.
I will update you when the Customised Profile function is operational. In the meantime, churches can view their Extended Profile.
Kathy Jacka, Logistics Coordinator, National Church Life Survey 2006
THE IMPORTANCE OF REINTEGRATION
We as a community are missing the target when it comes to providing services to inmates that focus on preparing them to reintegrate into the community. The tragic deaths of Craig Semyraha and Constable Brett Irwin provide an example of how devastating situations can be prevented with the implementation of life skill teaching centres. As inmates are released into the community some come to the conclusion that they do not have the skills to live independently without committing a crime and hence they resort to re offending. The whole community will reap the benefits of life skill centres. I often speak to people who have spent most of their life incarcerated and most recently a young man asked me for a list of “How to Do Things”. On his list included everyday tasks such as how to use an ATM or a mobile phone. The need for mentors and volunteers from the community to work with inmates one on one has also been suggested. We need to be more effective in our service delivering current and concise information on important areas of much need. Despite the transition programs that are already in place, there is much more that we as a community can provide. Please pray for the wives’ of inmates that are assisting us in a research project that began last Friday. That we are able to equip the women with new skills.
Beatriz Skippen, Senior Prison Chaplain
HOWARD & RUDD SPEAK LIVE TO CHRISTIANS TOWNSVILLLE WEBCAST
You’ve likely heard that Prime Minister John Howard and Opposition Leader Kevin Rudd will soon be addressing the Christian community and sharing why they feel they should have your support in the upcoming election.
This is an unprecedented opportunity to hear from the leaders of our nation and we’d
like to invite you and your congregation to be a part of this first-
The presentation will be broadcast via a live web-
Date: August 9, 2007
Time: 7:00pm-
Place: Reef to Outback 121 Ingham Road, West End
If you have any questions, please contact Anna or Rebekah at Reef to Outback on 4771 2123.
Please don’t forget these…
ALPHA COURSE IN TOWNSVILLE
Anne Harley (Uniting Church Mt Louisa) and Trevor Adams (Anglican Priest Ascension)
are pioneering a co-
Wednesday 15th August 7pm @ University Hall – Introduction evening – Week 3 Semester II
ALPHA – First Contact Course and Retreat on who JESUS is, the Meaning of Life
(Comes from the Anglican parish of Holy Spirit Brompton England)
For more information please contact Wayne Crockford on (w) 07 4781 5447 (m) 0412 385 477 or Mount Louisa House of Praise on 4774 5800
TOWNSVILLE JCU -
Organised by the Multifaith Chaplaincy Service
WHEN -
WHO CAN ATTEND -
university colleges etc.
· Cultural & Faith Groups make sure you book a table @ F3 with food, literature etc to share. Contact Chaplaincy
· Drama groups, street theatre / clowns etc, musical groups, choirs, solos, talks by students, speakers
· ‘hot’ topics e.g. social issues, global warming… what topics are important to your culture or group? You may have a speaker, literature or a course students or staff may be interested in
· Sign up students or staff to courses of interest, weekend away or a retreat
· Your suggestions and what fun things we can do to create an atmosphere of celebration? fun, interest?
· What give aways, freebies can be distributed to students?
· How about a market or ‘bazaar?’
· ALL STAFF please note ‘Sponsor a child’ programme with World Vision – Come along to their table on the day to sponsor a child.
Each cultural group or faith is asked to send someone to the next F3 Operational meeting, THIS Thursday 21st June, 2007 @ 11am in the Chaplaincy.
What cultural foods are you prepared to supply? Also you may wish to sell your cultural
food rather than provide it free as in previous F3. Book your table by contacting
the Chaplaincy and filling out the REGISTRATION FORM
This F3 we want to move from merely centering in on food and cultural aspects to more on faith. This means more literature and/or students who would like to share their faith and what their beliefs mean to them etc.............
For further information please contact Wayne R Crockford University Chaplain
Direct
Line: 07 4781 5447 Mob: 0427 793 455 Email: chaplain@jcu.edu.au MultiFaith
Chaplaincy Centre
MINISTRY OPPORTUNITY IN HUGHENDEN
Here is a unique opportunity to minister to the small faithful congregation in Hughenden.
We are seeking someone to lead us in a service of Communion on Sunday 2 September at 9:30 am whilst our normal ministry agent is absent on leave.
Accommodation (in the Manse) and travelling allowance will be provided.
Please contact Peter Harvey on 4741 1865 or flinderspatrol@bigpond.com to explore this opportunity further.
All offers of assistance will be greatly appreciated, and if that particular date is not suitable for you but you would like to come out at some other time, please talk to us about that as well.
Pastor Peter Harvey, Hughenden Uniting Church and Flinders Patrol
100 YEARS CLELBRATION ST ANDREW’S UNITING CHURCH HUGHENDEN
As part of the celebrations for 2008 we are planning to put together a potted history of the church in Hughenden and district. We would like to hear from anyone who may have photos, documents, anecdotes or other information about the people and events of the church over the last 100 years.
Please contact Heather Anderson on 4741 1282 or Peter Harvey on 4741 1865
or contributions can be mailed to 51 Stansfield St or emailed to flinderspatrol@bigpond.com
MARKET DAY -
Cnr Culgoa & Georgina Streets, Wulguru (Turn into Culgoa Street off Stuart Drive at the Shell Wulguru Service Station)
WHEN : Saturday, 11 August 2007
TIME : 11.00am – 3.00pm
WHAT’S ON : Sausage Sizzle Devonshire Teas Kid’s Corner Crafts Cakes and Sweets Jams and Preserves Plants Tombola White Elephant Stall and much more
ALL PROCEEDS FROM OUR FUNDRAISING GO TOWARDS ESTABLISHING A CHURCH IN FAIRFIELD WATERS.
DEATH OF ALISON HENDERSON & DEATH OF MR CORKIN
Alison (wife of the Uniting Church Assembly President, Rev Gregor Henderson), passed away in Hobart on Tuesday, 26 June after a long illness and Mr Corkin (father of the Uniting Church Assembly General Secretary, Rev Terence Corkin) also passed away recently. Your prayerful support for our President and our General Secretary and both their families in their time of great loss is appreciated.
General Secretary
TOP FOUNDATION GRANT GOES WEST
Wide geographic spread through five presbyteries has again been a feature of the successful applicants for the first round of UC Foundation grants in 2007, with the top grant of $10,500 going to Burke and Wills Patrol’s Rev. John Case in Charleville. After receiving 15 applications which totalled over $75,000, the Foundation Board’s deliberations resulted in 12 applications for $46,506 being successful. This brings the total number of general grants to over 190, amounting to over $890,000. The successful applicants in this round were:
APPLICANT PROJECT AMOUNT
Ashgrove West UC Christmas Tree and Craft Fair 1,000
Aspley UC Developing Young Families Ministry through commencement of Child Care Centre 3,500
Bayside UC Team training camp for Watoto building project 4,000
Burdekin UC Craft Spectacular Outreach 1,000
Burdekin UC IT Religious Instruction Course 4,000
Edmonton UC Family Festival Days 5,000
Frontier Services, Burke and Wills Patrol Drought Morale-
Glebe Rd UC “Mainly Music” Program for parents and young children 1,050
Maranoa Congregations Maranoa Reconnect 2,456
St George UC Day Camp 6,500
Sunnybank UC Mentoring Initiative 3,500
Tingalpa UC Welcome, neighbour! 4,000
TOTAL $46,506
Thanks mainly to the dedicated people whose Will has resulted in the Church receiving
an unrestricted bequest, the Foundation has been able to disburse its tax-
Ken Edwards, UC Foundation
GIPPSLAND FLOOD RECOVERY APPEAL
You are no doubt aware of the devastation caused by the recent flooding in Gippsland.
This latest disaster comes after prolonged drought, and more recently, bushfire and
so leaves many in the community particularly vulnerable. The Synod of Victoria and
Tasmania has launched a special appeal to help the Gippsland community during the
recovery phase. Funds will be directed to Kilmany UnitingCare, which has an excellent
reputation in the local community for its careful and compassionate support of those
in need. Funds raised will be used to re-
Jason Kioa, Moderator, Synod of VIC & TAS
Presbytery Calendar (including Bruce’s and Steve’s Diary)
July 29th – Steve in Tully & Mission Beach
30th – Meeting – Tully
August 3rd – 4th – Emmaus Training Day 2
7th – 8th – Steve in Brisbane YACMU
11th – Northern Zone meeting – venue Edmonton UC
13th – Mission Resourcing Committee meeting – presbytery office
17th – 18th – Emmaus Training Day 3 & commissioning teams
15th – 20th – Bruce to Brisbane for meetings
21st – 26th – Steve at YACMU & Youth Ministry Conference
25th – 26th – Youth Ministry Conference – Brisbane
27th – 31st – Bruce to Mt Isa, Cloncurry and Hughenden (Western Trip)
27th – 31st – Steve to Sunshine Coast for National Youth Worker Inservice
September – 1st – Southern Zone Meeting – Wulguru UC
3rd – 6th – Steve to Brisbane for Triple P Training
6th – 9th – Emmaus Mens Walk
10th – Mission Resourcing Committee Meeting – presbytery office
13th – 16th – Emmaus Women’s Walk
18th – 20th – Steve to Brisbane YACMU
18th – 21st – Bruce meetings in Brisbane
30th – Bruce to Preach at Malanda
October – 3rd – 6th – Bruce to Frontier Services Board meeting -
8th -
9th – Presbytery Leadership Team teleconference
12th – 14th – Young Adults Camp
16th – 25th – Bruce to Brisbane for meetings – Placements etc, CoachNet training
20th – 21st – Kids Camp Out, Southern Zone
21st – Ministry Sunday
24th – 26th – Steve to Brisbane for Discernment Retreat
28th – Bruce to preach at Wulguru
November 2nd – 4th – Presbytery meeting – Townsville area Venue to be advised
11th – 50th church Anniversary Mossman
12th – MRC meeting – presbytery offfice
20th – 23rd – Steve to Brisbane YACMU
21st – 24th -
24th – Special Synod Brisbane
26th – PLT teleconference
December – 11th – 13th – Steve to Brisbane YACMU
13th – Bruce to Brisbane for Placements
January 2008 – 9th – 14th – Summer Madness Camp, Sunshine Coast