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
FORTY-
On the Grapevine…
Hi everyone, the information below comes through Bruce Mullan’s Daily Mail this week.
“Rev Tim Costello is chief executive of World Vision Australia and brother of the federal Treasurer wrote:
I am not campaigning for Kevin Rudd in this federal election. And equally I am not campaigning against the Government, the Prime Minister, or my brother. But I have bought into the election campaign because I believe the issue of overseas aid and the position of the two major parties is critical. Indeed it is a matter of life and death.
World Vision research shows the extra funding that Labor has committed to aid, if
delivered, could allow funding of programs that could reduce child deaths by 140,000
each year in the Asia-
The funding boost could also reduce maternal deaths by 4200, lead to at least 29,000 fewer deaths from AIDS and 31,000 fewer deaths from TB annually. And it could provide access to safe drinking water to almost 37 million people.
Overseas aid is too important to be captured by partisan politics and it is my sincere hope that the Government will move to match the ALP's pledge on aid. That pledge — to boost overseas aid by 0.5 per cent of Gross National Income — represents the minimum amount needed for Australia to match international efforts to halve global poverty by 2015.
Individually, Australians are among the most generous donors on the planet when it comes to giving to overseas aid — and we expect our Government to also act generously and with compassion.
[Posted by John Mark Ministries. Read the full document at http://jmm.aaa.net.au/articles/20461.htm]”
Pastoral Notes and prayer points:
• At the Presbytery meeting we prayed for Derek Wright, a young man from Ingham who was seriously ill in New Zealand. His parents, Lynton & Pam are with him and while he is home from hospital he is still weak and there has not yet been a definitive diagnosis. Please pray for them all.
• Pray for the preparations for Stable on the Strand in Townsville and for other Christmas events in communities across the north.
• Please pray for Karen Walker (wife of John Walker minister at Wulguru) as she recovers from surgery. She is getting stronger but it is a long road.
• Please pray for Richard Stewart, a member of the Frontier Services Board currently undergoing treatment for Mantel Cell Lymphoma.
Presbytery Dates for 2008 (repeated from last week)
• Presbytery 16th -
• Ministers Retreat – 19th -
• Northern Zone meets 23/2/08 & 23/8/08;
• Southern Zone meets 1/3/08 & 30/8/08.
• Cape/Gulf Zone -
• Presbytery Leadership Team meets monthly (see below)
• Mission Resourcing Committee meets second Monday of every month
• Synod (31st Oct – 5th Nov 2008)
• Presbytery 10 – 12 October -
The dates for the Presbytery Leadership Team meetings for 2008 are as follows:
• Thurs. 7th February -
• Tues. 4th March -
• Fri. 11th April – full PLT (face to face -
• Tues 6th May -
• Thurs. 5th June – full PLT -
• Thurs. 3rd July -
• Fri. 8th Aug. -
• Tues. 2nd Sept. -
• Wed. 1st Oct. -
• Thurs. 13th Nov. -
• Thurs. 4th Dec. -
Presbytery Feedback
Thank you to those who were able to take the time to fill in the feedback sheets from the last Presbytery meeting. We have collated the responses and will be looking at improvements we can make in the light of them. If you have still to send in some thoughts or have some others to contribute the Presbytery Leadership Team will be very pleased to receive them so that we can include them in our discussion on 5th December.
Thursday Island Manse:
I am reliably informed that there are already donations coming in to Synod for the appeal even before the envelopes go out, which they will with the next copy of Journey: thank you to all those who have supported this already. I say a special thanks to Bruce Mullan and the Journey team for their excellent work in all of this.
I have spoken to the builder, Dave Kennedy this week who plans to be working on Thursday Island in early February. This will be weather permitting for the barge to get through with the necessary supplies and equipment.
John (minister at Wulguru and BlueCare Chaplain) and Karen Walker have moved house. Their new address is Unit 22/17 Canterbury Road, Kirwan 4817. Their new ph no. is 07 4723 0870. The mobile number and email address has remained the same. This will be their address until they leave Townsville.
Information from the Assembly
Greetings to members of the 11th Assembly,
From time to time there are matters of such importance in the life of our country and / or church that warrant contacting those people who were members of the previous Assembly. This we believe is one of those occasions.
At the 11th Assembly special care was taken to ensure that the distinctive voice of Congress could be heard through the way we organised our business sessions. During the 11th Assembly Congress raised a number of specific matters, most of which were focused on empowering Indigenous people to take responsibility for their life and future.
In recent months the Commonwealth Government has rolled out its intervention into
the Indigenous communities of the Northern Territory. This intervention is distressing
to many people in the communities because it is undermining their capacity to positively
shape their lives for the future. In July the Congress came to the Assembly Standing
Committee and asked that efforts be made to bring this issue to the forefront of
the minds of Australian voters. It is also hoped that by raising this matter with
members of Parliament and candidates at this time it will assist us to progress the
discussion after the election -
Attached to this email there are two letters.** One is from Rev Shayne Blackman as National Administrator of the UAICC and Lin Hatfield Dodd as National Director of UnitingCare Australia outlining what has been done in response to the July ASC decisions and also how you can be involved in a campaign through a web based strategy and letter writing. A draft letter to Federal Members / Candidates is also attached for your use.
Even though it is late in the election cycle by taking action now we will highlight the ongoing importance of this issue and strengthen the approaches that will be made in the new year. I encourage you to go to the Australia Fair website and join the campaign and to write some letters. Please encourage as many people as possible to do the same.
Yours Sincerely,
Terence Corkin
Assembly General Secretary
** Letters are not attached to Prompts but are available from the Presbytery Office. Please ask for them and Jane will send them on to you.
28 DAYS OF PRAYER LEADING INTO THE FEDERAL ELECTIONS
SUNDAY 28TH OCTOBER TILL SATURDAY 24TH NOVEMBER (INCLUSIVE)
The Australian Prayer
Network is pleased to join with all the major National Prayer Networks in Australia
in calling all Christians to a 28 day season of prayer leading into the forthcoming
Federal Election. There are resources available for each day prepared by the Parliamentary
Prayer Network. If you would like to receive them please contact the Presbytery office.
They are developed and published weekly.
RESOURCES
Hedley Fihaki (Cairns Emmanuel) has emailed me an excellent article by Dean Brookes entitled “Effective Church Councils”. It is in PDF format and is available from Hedley on hfihaki@tpg.com.au or from the Presbytery Office. It is 80 KB in size.
Don’t forget this section of Prompts. It is for you to share with the Presbytery any books/cds /websites or other resources that you have found useful in your personal or congregational life.
I am sure that there are some excellent resources out there you are using for Advent. Why not let the rest of the Presbytery in on the secret?
HUMOUR ME
Today’s offering from “You won’t Die Laughing” by Patricia Cameron-
Under subchapter heading of “Respond Don’t React” Patricia and Shayne have included the following:
“The ABC Method of Changing Thoughts
You have the power to change your thoughts and to choose a better response, but it takes discipline and awareness to do it. Here’s a proven method for doing this:
A is for Awareness -
B is for Breathing – Breathing helps you to relax and regain control.
C is for Change – Change your thoughts to those that are more helpful: I affirm in myself the courage to do what needs to be done. God is beside me here and now to support and help.
The reason the ABC Method works is because it brings your automatic thinking to your conscious mind for checking and control. And because we can only think one thought at a time, when we choose the new ones we have to drop those which are causing anxiety. If these old thoughts return, acknowledge them (don’t get mad at yourself), let them go and return to some new ones.”
At the bottom of each page in the book is a saying or thought that is often funny and mostly thought provoking. Two such sayings on the bottom of the pages I have quoted from are:
Bad news travels fast. Good news takes the scenic route.
Tact is the art of convincing people that they know more than you do.
Blessings to you all,
Bruce C.
Steve’s Stuff…
Greetings in the name of Christ!
Next year I will be coordinating the following ministry events across the life of our Presbytery:
Easter Camp (20th – 22nd March, 2008)
Kids Camp Out – both northern & southern zones
Young Adult’s Retreat (October)
I will have dates for both Kids Camp Outs and the Young Adult Retreat within the next two weeks.
I encourage you to use the above ministry events strategically. Below are some possible outcomes/possibilities:
• Outreach/Connection Point – Invite children and youth who are on the fringe of your congregation to the events. Send an invitation to children on your baptism roll to Kids Camp Out.
• Leadership Development – There are lots of opportunities for both teenagers and young adults to be involved in various leadership roles at the above events. As a church we need to provide opportunties for young people to explore and use their gifts in a safe setting.
• Discipleship – A great way for your children, youth or young adults to grow in their walk with Christ.
• Platform – You may use one of the above events to start a new ministry in the life of your church.
• Bigger Picture – Presbytery wide camping events help children, young people and
young adults see that there are more people their age in the wider church. The ministry
events are a great place to make new friends, catch-
If you have any questions or suggestions, please contact me. I pray that more congregations will connect and support the ministry events next year. It doesn’t matter whether you bring one or one hundred people along.
Yours in Christ’s service, Steve.
YOUTH & CHILDREN'S MINISTRY EVENTS
January 2008 -
March – 20th – 22nd – Easter Camp
October – Young Adults Retreat – dates to be advised
Kid’s Camp Out – Northern & Southern Zones dates to be advised.
What’s New…
AT THE TOP
At the recent Presbytery Meeting we began the process of discerning what we as a
church want to be at the top of by 2020 for the launch of a new vision next year.
Have you talked to your Elders/Leaders about the 'At the Top' 2020 Vision yet? If
you weren't at Presbytery as someone who was. COMING SOON -
Paul Clark, Minister Burdekin Uniting Church
AN INVITATION TO BE PART OF WHITE RIBBON DAY
White Ribbon Day is an opportunity for men around the world, working in partnership with women, to show their commitment to stopping violence against women. On Sunday November 25, thousands of men in Australia and across the globe will be wearing white ribbons to encourage all men to condemn violence against women. In Queensland, White Ribbon Day is coordinated by Australia’s CEO Challenge, with funding provided by the Queensland Government. Find out more about White Ribbon Day at www.whiteribbonday.org.au. As White Ribbon Day falls on a Sunday this year, the organisers are keen for churches to be involved. Churches are encouraged to: have a message in the service on November 25 about violence against women; hold a White Ribbon Day event for their community or making a statement to their local media; purchase White Ribbons to give to their parishioners or local community members to wear on the day; order free promotional and educational materials through visiting www.ceochallengeaustralia.org. For more information about becoming involved in White Ribbon Day, please contact the State Coordinator, Ben Pennings, on ph: (07) 3119 6347 or mob: 0418 164 014.
Bruce Mullan, Manager, Communication Services Unit
MAKE SURE PEOPLE CAN FIND YOUR CHURCH THIS CHRISTMAS AND EVERY WEEK
All congregations are invited to list their Christmas services and activities on the There’s more than one man behind Christmas promotion campaign section of the Synod website. Congregations which registered to have postcards are automatically listed. Other Queensland congregation may list without charge. To register go to http://www.ucaqld.com.au/christmas2007/registerOnly2.php and fill in your congregations Christmas activity details. Registrations close on Friday, 30 November. On Monday, 3 December congregations’ Christmas activities will be listed and also linked to their “Find a Church” listing with map, photo and church details. Congregations not registered for the “Find a Church” listing should do so at http://www.journeyonline.com.au/register/ or update their congregation’s details and map listing at http://www.journeyonline.com.au/register/login.php. For help call Osker Lau on ph: (07) 3377 9912 or email osker.lau@ucaqld.com.au
GUIDELINES FOR USE OF THE UNITING CHURCH LOGO
The Uniting Church logo is a source of pride and inspiration for all members of the Uniting Church in Australia. The Assembly has provided a logo library and accompanying guidelines where members can download the approved versions of the logo for both print use in black and white and colour and for web use. Please take time to read the new guidelines and download the approved copies of the UCA logo from the library for your records. The guidelines and logos can be found on the assembly website at http://nat.uca.org.au/logos/.
Bruce Mullan, Manager, Communication Services Unit
FUTURE NEEDS FOR MENTAL HEALTH CHAPLAINCY
The group looking at the future needs for mental health chaplaincy are wanting to make contact with each congregation within the Qld Synod in order to be better able to inform the wider church of resources and training events pertinent to mental health. In doing we hope to raise the awareness of mental health issues, and to better equip congregations to care for people who either have a mental illness, or who care for someone who has. We would appreciate it if each congregation would provide us with the name(s) and contact details of one or two interested people. This information can be sent to Helen Prior at helen.prior@health.qld.gov.au or phone Helen on ph: (07) 3240 2111 pager 325.
Helen Prior, Convenor, Mental Health Chaplaincy Group
GIFTS OF LOVE – UCA STYLE
This Christmas, Uniting International Mission is urging members of the Uniting Church to support the Partner Churches of the Uniting Church in Australia by giving from the Gifts of Love catalogue. It is gratifying to see so many charities offering gifts for Christmas that reduce our materialistic world and support those who are really in need. With a wide range of charities to support and gifts to choose from let’s let ‘charity begin at home’ this Christmas. Call 1800 000 331, email infouim@nat.uca.org.au or visit www.uim.uca.org.au/gol to view the catalogue.
Rosemary Cottrell,Communications and Fund Raising Manager, Uniting International Mission
“BUILDING PARTNERSHIPS — A GUIDE TO COVENANT RENEWAL WITH INDIGENOUS PEOPLE THROUGHOUT THE UNITING CHURCH IN AUSTRALIA” AVAILABLE
It is now over 21 years since a covenant relationship was formally established between the Uniting Aboriginal and Islander Christian Congress and the wider UCA. The UAICC has been the expressed desire that the covenant relationship with Congress be invigorated at its most foundational level.
One part of a broad plan for reinvigorating the Covenant has been the development of a short study/discussion resource alled “Building Partnerships”. The Assembly has produced enough of these booklets for one to be sent to every Minister in placement and every Church Council Secretary free of charge. If needed, additional copies can be purchased from mediaCom. The aim of this material is to provide conversation starters in a variety of contexts, for example schools,
congregations, agencies, etc with the hope that it will lead to particular action steps that give expression to the covenant relationship with Congress.
Please watch for your copy coming in the mail.
Terence Corkin, Assembly General Secretary
Please remember these…
AFRICAN CLERIC SAYS CHURCH HAS A PROPHETIC ROLE AND MUST NOT REMAIN SILENT
Zimbabwean Roman Catholic Archbishop Pius Ncube has not forgotten the massacres of the 1980s when 20,000 people were killed. With this in mind, President Robert Mugabe's crackdown in Zimbabwe, has made the Archbishop ready to give up his life to save his country.
"The Church has a prophetic role to speak the truth when no-
As a young priest, Ncube witnessed the suffering surrounding the massacres in the 1980's and was desperate to speak out, but his church superiors stopped him, and now he is "determined not to watch in silence again."
CHINA REACHES AN OFFICIAL FIGURE OF 130 MILLION CHRISTIANS
China's top religious official Yie Xiaowen has rejected decades of ambivalence toward religion by declaring that "religion is one of the important social forces from which China draws strength." He also admitted that the number of Christians in China has reached 130 million, including some 20 million Catholics! The Chinese government has intentionally understated the number of Christians for decades in a futile effort to downplay the continued miraculous growth and impact of the church. House church believers have never been recognized or counted. This announcement through the official Chinese news agency is significant. Dr. Bob Fu, President of China Aid Association, writing about this latest official revelation said, "The unprecedented growth has happened under ceaseless persecution. We pray that China will realize true religious freedom soon."
THANK YOU FROM WULGURU UNITNG CHURCH
Thank you from the Wulguru Uniting Church for the support that we had from members of our fellow churches at the 'Christmas Capers' Luncheon held on Tuesday, 30 October.
It was an enjoyable time of fellowship and as always an opportunity to catch up with friends.
The luncheon was very successful financially and Wulguru UC was able to add much needed funds to the Fairfield Waters Building Fund.
Thank you again.
Jean Johnson, On behalf of Wulguru Uniting Church
Presbytery Calendar (including Bruce’s and Steve’s Diary)
November 14th – Bruce to Brisbane to conduct a funeral
16th – 18th – Bruce & Margie to Mareeba
20th – 23rd – Steve to Brisbane YACMU
21st – 24th -
30th & 1st Dec. – The John Flynn College Strategic Planning weekend.
December – 4th – Bruce to Brisbane for meetings re The John Flynn College.
5th – PLT – full meeting presbytery office.
7th -
11th – 13th – Steve to Brisbane YACMU
13th – Bruce to Brisbane for Placements
23rd Dec – 7th Jan. – Bruce & Margie to Brisbane (holidays)
-
25th – Christmas Day
January 2008 – 9th – 14th – Summer Madness Camp, Sunshine Coast