Presbytery of North Queensland
PRESBYTERY PROMPTS
29 Wentworth Ave Mundingburra 4812
07 4779 5818 presbnq@bigpond.net.au
Website: www.presbyterynq.net
ISSUE NINE 2007 MARCH 13TH 2007
On the Grapevine…
Greetings everyone,
We are now entering the fourth week of Lent. In the Synod Lenten studies, “Called
to Plant a Future” provided through the Journey this week, the focus is on “Engaging
a future with difference”. This focuses on Galatians 2:11-
Due to my often being away with work commitments early in the week and with UC Info coming out on a Tuesday afternoon, Presbytery Prompts will now be distributed on a Wednesday.
Please remember to get your Synod registration form (green one) to the Synod office no later than Friday 27th April 2007. Registration fee and form (pink one) should be sent to Presbytery office.
Pastoral Notes and prayer points:
• Pray for the Weipa community as they come to terms with the suicide of a 12 year old and the death of a 14 month old baby this week. Please also pray for Michelle Cook as she ministers in these situations as well as cares for her own baby Zane who is doing very well.
• Please be aware that Alison, the wife of Gregor Henderson (UCA President) is suffering from an aggressive cancer and the medical prognosis is not very good at all. Please pray for Alison, Gregor and his family at this challenging time.
• Phillip Hulme – a former minister at Atherton who is seriously ill at present with a form of cancer and a heart condition.
• Bevan Favelle, minister at Glebe Rd UCA –Ipswich who is seriously ill with cancer.
• Ian Wilson, former minister at Aitkenvale, has been diagnosed with prostate cancer. Please pray for him and Merlene.
An important decision: One of the decisions at the Queensland Synod meeting in May
will be the ballot for the Moderator –Elect who will take up office at the Synod
meeting in Sept/Oct 2008. In early February, the Moderatorial Candidature Task Group
asked me to consider allowing my name to be one of the names to go before the Synod
for possible election as Moderator-
I made it clear to the task group that before I made a final decision to allow my name to go forward, I wanted to engage the leadership of the Presbytery in dialogue and prayer as we sought God’s will together in this. The process that I followed was to share with some members of the Presbytery Leadership Team and from there to share with the whole Presbytery at the meeting in Cairns. As it was to be a nomination from the Task Group, the goal of the process at the Presbytery Meeting was not so much to endorse or not endorse the nomination, but to give me a guide as to what God may be saying regarding this through my sisters and brothers the Presbytery.
Through this process it has been affirmed that God has called me into my present position of Presbytery Minister in North Queensland. It has also become apparent that God has not closed the door on the possibility that the term of that call may be shorter that I had originally thought. In some respects, I had hoped that there would be a resounding “NO” but that did not come. Through scripture verses, prayers, words of encouragement and wisdom and even through visions, God reminded me that it must be God’s decision and not mine and that I would know clearly God’s will. If I was to decide not to allow my name to go forward then I may in fact be making a decision on my own feelings and not God’s plan.
I believe firmly the God’s call does come through the voice of the church and so I am allowing my name to go forward to the ballot for Moderator Elect at the May Synod meeting.
Please pray for that whole process that whatever happens, God’s perfect Will would be clearly known and God’s perfect peace will be clearly experienced by all. I covet your prayers.
It is agreed that the Mission Resourcing Committee should be expanded and the current members were given power to seek people with appropriate gifts and skills, including pastoral gifts, to be included in that team. Please make this a matter of prayer and discernment. If there are people who believe they may see this as part of their ministry or you want to suggest someone, please contact either myself or our treasurer, Ian Jessup. Currently the committee meets monthly early on a Monday evening for about 1½ hours but that time is negotiable with the personnel available.
Financial Returns: A reminder to fill in and send your Congregation Financial Statistics Returns if you have not done so already. Returns are to be received at Synod no later than 31st March 2007. Please also remember that a copy is to come to the Presbytery.
From Andrew Johnson (Synod Justice and International Mission Advocate)
For information on climate change you can go to our website on Green Church:
http://www.socialissues.ucaweb.com.au/index.php?page=content&idcon=3445
It includes links to:
A poster of ideas
Fact or Fiction page where you can ask questions
Common Belief: Australia's Faith Communities on Climate Change
The Vic/Tas Synod report on Climate Change
Seasons of Creation Worship Resources
Many other links from around the world.
If you want your own self audit kit please contact me.
Andrew Johnson
Justice and International Mission Advocate
Queensland Synod | Uniting Church in Australia
GPO Box 674 | Brisbane | QLD 4001
Phone: (07) 3377 9911
Email: andrew.johnson@ucaqld.com.au
Cairns Korean: Some of you will be aware that we have been working with the minister
in the Cairns Korean congregation, Young-
Townsville Korean: There will be a special time of worship and celebration at Townsville
Central Uniting Church on 25th March at 6pm. This will be when the Presbytery recognizes
the Korean worshippers as a Uniting Church Faith Community and Myeong-
From Milk Chocolate to Dark Chocolate
Andy King, who works with Calvary Presbytery, won the 2006 Townsville Council Community and Arts Award for writing a book titled From Milk Chocolate to Dark Chocolate. The book is the story of Andy’s personal journey since a malignant cancer was removed. Congratulations Andy!
Blessings to you all,
Bruce C.
Steve’s Stuff…
Child Safe Church training in Northern Zone will be held at Edmonton Uniting Church, Ravizza Drive Edmonton this Saturday 17th March 2007. Start time is 9.30am and finish time is 12.30pm
Child Safe Church Training in the Southern Zone will be held at Aitkenvale Uniting Church, Anne Street, Aitkenvale this Saturday 17th March 2007. Start time is 9.30am and finish time is 12.30pm.
What’s New…
SHALOM CHRISTIAN COLLEGE
Shalom Christian College officially launched its Academy of Sport program last Friday with the support of AFL
Queensland. With only 20 positions available until further funding can be raised, more than 80 students signed up to try out for the program.
The academy not only intends to build on Shalom's student sporting prowess but also
to bolster the students' self-
Shirley said natural sporting ability was not enough and students had to improve in their studies to remain members of the academy. "They have to attend all their classes and improve on their numeracy and literacy
levels to maintain their position in the academy," Shirley said.
PRESBYTERY BUS TRIP 2007
Hi All,
I greet you with great expectation and anticipation. Our 2007 Presbytery Bus Trip has been given the official green light by Presbytery of North Queensland. We went on a similar trip in 2003 and it was an outstanding success for all involved. The congregations visited liked being visited and the trippers liked meeting and encouraging people from very different places were isolation is considerable.
We plan to hire a bus to take us from Townsville to Julia Creek, Cloncurry, Winton, Longreach, Bowen and back to Townsville over the May Day long weekend.
1. Along this route we will be visiting as many Uniting Churches as possible for a meal or a morning/ afternoon tea.
2. In 2007, we plan to leave promptly at 8.30am on the Friday 5 May 2007 at the Wulguru Mobil Walkabout Palms Caravan Park & Roadhouse (cnr Stuart Dve and Bruce Hwy)and return to the same roadhouse on the Monday night 8 May 2007.
3. We are hoping about 50 people will come tripping.
4. It has been agreed that we need to have people registered with deposit of $50, paid by the 31 March 2007, otherwise there will be insufficient time left for organisational purposes.
5. At this stage the cost will be about $500 per person, which includes bus travel, accommodation (hopefully units / cabins in van parks) and food. We plan to have restaurant meals on the Saturday and Sunday nights.
6. People who are coming from further a field than Townsville need to arrive in Townsville before the Friday morning of 5 May. There is a large caravan park and roadhouse at our meeting point, where people can stay either side of the bus trip.
7. I am thinking of organising a polo shirt with a UC Presbytery Bus Trip logo
8. If anyone would like to help with the organisation in any way eg music, finance, food handlers certificate person etc, please contact Merilyn Thomas (me) on Hm 47784535.
9. Please register and pay your deposit at either
NQ Uniting Church Presbytery Office 29 Wentworth St, Mundingburra 4812 ph 4779 5818 email presbnq@bigpond.net.au or Townsville Central Uniting Church Office 73 Wills St, Townsville City 4810
Ph 47712584 email tcuc@ozemail.com.au
Please note
The Registration Form is almost complete and can be accessed via Townsville Central or Presbytery Office.
Registration Form must be completed and returned by 31st March 2007.
Merilyn Thomas, Co-
Please don’t forget these…
EASTER -
At a time when Aussies are becoming more and more interested in spirituality, the
Church must make sure the central message of Easter does not go missing from the
national consciousness. That is the message coming from Church leaders who are backing
the Awakening movement as it continues to build on the foundation laid through the
1990's.
National Coordinator of the Awakening movement, Mal Garvin says "In particular
it is vital that the importance of Easter Day is not lost. It is the celebration
of Christ's resurrection that must be central at Easter. Most faiths recognise that
Jesus was a remarkable man who died, but only Christianity says that he rose on the
third day to bring into existence both forgiveness and eternal life."
Mal says "Throughout
the year Christians try hard to get the central message of our faith into the marketplace
but at Easter, the nation comes to us, and it is vital we don't lose this cornerstone
of our culture as other forces vie for public attention."
The Easter Day (Sunday)
marches will again take to the streets in the heart of our capital cities with the
message that Easter is a God-
In the lead-
The Awakening started as
a partnership between most Christian Denominations and Christian Organisations in
1990 and since then has provided a framework for Christians across the nation to
work for transformation in their local communities.
For more specific state Information
on what may be happening in your area please contact the following State Coordinators:
NSW Perry Anderson 02 9789 4888
ACT Brenton Reimann 02 6162 3700
VIC Matt Garvin 03 5974 1442
TAS Craig Townsend 03 6397 8280
QLD Wells O’Neill 07 3208 2610
SA/NT Dean Polkinghorne 08 8351 9266
WA Andy Braun 08 9355 1159
Source: Awakening Movement
REQUEST FOR A MICROWAVE OVEN
If you have a microwave oven to give away, please ring Jan Brassington 4751 5396.
BLESSINGS, BONNETS AND BUTTERFLIES
Date: Saturday 31 March 2007
Time 2pmWulguru Uniting Church Cnr Culgoa & Georgina Streets Wulguru
• Family Afternoon for Mum, Dad and the Kids
• Guest Speaker
• Lucky Door Prize
• Join the Easter Bonnet Parade in your unique creation
• Prizes for the best Bonnets/Hats
• Devonshire Afternoon Tea
• Stall
Devonshire Afternoon Tea
Cost Adults: $10.00 Children: $ 2.50
RSVP by Sunday, 25 March 2007Jean Johnson 47732361ess would be appropriate.
ASSEMBLY OF CONFESSING CONGREGATIONS WITHIN THE UNITING CHURCH
Regional Meeting -
Sunday 25th March 2007, 5: 00 – 7: 00 p.m.
Speaker: Rev. Dr. Max Champion (National Chair of ACC).
Please come and hear first hand about the ACC and the good work the Lord is
doing through the confessing movement. All welcome.
For more information please contact Rev. Hedley Fihaki
hedley@cairns.unitingchurch.com phone (07) 40323966 or 0401698934
TRINITY NQ REGIONAL CAMPUS.
If there are specific subjects/topics/courses you wish Trinity NQ to run in your particular area, can you please let me know. At present we run two courses: one on ‘leadership’ and the other on ‘worship’. If you have other suggestions in relation to theological education and training for your area, can you please let me know as I will be attending a regional meeting at Trinity Theological College on the 16th of March to further discuss these issues for our area. Thanks.
Rev. Hedley Fihaki
SHARING AT PRESBYTERY.
One of the highlights of Presbytery is the two-
Please also check the information (and photos) on your congregation’s page on the website and notify Peter Blackburn if there need to be any alterations. Some extra “people” photos are always welcome.
SOUTHERN ZONE WOMEN’S RALLY
When Tuesday 17th April 2007-
Where Mt Louisa House of Praise, Cnr Bayswater Rd and Mather St, Mt Louisa
Start 10am
Theme WOMEN – GOD’S SPECIAL GIFT
Bring a plate for desert.
For further enquiries or to reserve your seat please contact Anna Pullen on 07 4721 4291 or leave a message.
ASSEMBLY UPDATE
The March 2007 edition of Assembly Update is now available. To download a copy go to http://assembly.uca.org.au/update/2007/march2007.pdf
Some of the articles you will find there are
• A Church of Passionate Disciples : The Membership Debate from Rev Rob Bos, National Consultant, Theology & Discipleship
• Farewelling John Mavor Acting National Director United International Mission from meera Aitkinson, Assembly Communications
• New Bachelor Degree distance course on offer from Lee Levett-
• A message from United International Missions new Director Rev Kerry Enright
• Training Initiatives aim to overcome skills shortages in remote Australia from Rosemary Young, National Director of Frontier Services
• Called to be One Church from Rev Sandy Yule, Chair Christian Unity Working Group
• Being Church differently from Rev Rob Bos, National Consultant Theology & Discipleship
• New National Committee for Youth Activities from Mark Hillis, National Director Christian Education
• Kairos Prison Ministry Australia from Rev Gregor Henderson, Assembly President
• Thanks from the President from Rev Gregor Henderson, Assembly President
Presbytery Calendar (including Bruce’s and Steve’s Diary)
March -
17th – Child Safe Training Northern Zone (Edmonton UC) & Southern Zone (Aitkenvale UC)
21st – Bruce to Heads of Churches meeting -
22nd –Bruce to Placements Brisbane
23rd – Bruce to Moderator & Presbytery Ministers meeting – Brisbane
25th – Commissioning of Myeong-
29th – Presbytery Leadership Team meeting – Teleconference
30th – 31st – Leadership Training Course – Townsville
April – 5th – 9th Easter Camp – New Life Pastures
15th – 20th -
23rd – Mission Resourcing Committee meeting – presbytery office from 5pm
28th Northern & Southern Zone Meetings –
Northern Zone venue TBA, Southern Zone venue in Ayr
29th – Bruce to preach in Atherton
May – 1st – Bruce to Placements meeting Brisbane
4th – Commissioning of Krishna Buhler as Lifeline Chaplain Cairns
14th – 15th Bruce to Frontier Services Board meeting
17th – Convocation of Ministries Alex Park Brisbane
18th – 22nd – Queensland Synod Meeting
25th – National Day of Thanksgiving
28th – Mission Resourcing Committee meeting – presbytery office from 5pm
Steve K’s Calendar
March 10th to 15th -
17th child safe church training
19th to 23rd -
April 5th – 9th -
17th – 19th -