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
EIGHTEENTH EDITION WEDNESDAY MAY 16TH 2007
On the Grapevine…
Greetings everyone,
Pastoral Notes and prayer points:
· Pray for the forthcoming Synod that God’s Spirit would be evident in ALL that is said, done and decided.
· Garry and Theresa Hardingham and family with continued concerns for Tamara
· Innisfail and Tully residents as they continue to work through the effects of the cyclone, physically, emotionally and spiritually, especially the ministry agents.
· Please pray for the ministers and their families in the Northern Zone of our Presbytery i.e. in Mossman, Cairns area, the Atherton Tablelands area, and the Innisfail and Tully areas.
· Be with Carole and Colin as they move towards the last few weeks of being in placement in Tully and support the transition processes.
· Please pray for Frontier Services and their management of ministry in Remote Australia.
Placements Paradigm Sheet: Can I strongly encourage ALL ministry agents, lay and ordained, to fill in Placements Paradigm Response Sheet and return it to David Pitman or to me if you wish by 30th June. Ministers would have received that in a special edition of UC Info as well as being included in last week’s Prompts.
Director of Mission – UnitingCare – The announcement has just been made that Rev Robyn Kidd has been appointed as the Director of Mission for UnitingCare. As Director of Mission, Robyn will work with Anne Cross, the Director of UnitingCare and Richard Royal, the UnitingCare Health CEO and the executive team to ensure that the development and the implementation of UnitingCare and UnitingCare Health’s strategic and operational plans reflect the faith foundations and mission of the Uniting Church.
Robyn will come into this role having spent the last seven years as Co-
The National Day of Thanksgiving is scheduled for 26th May this year. There is also the encouragement to hold functions etc in the preceding week. I know that many congregations and communities are planning some very special things. I add here the messages from the Prime Minister and the Leader of the opposition regarding the NDoT.
PRIME MINISTER’S STATEMENT
I am delighted to provide this message in support of the
National Day of Thanksgiving on 26th May 2007.
Every year, the National Day of Thanksgiving
gives us occasion to reflect on the efforts of those who work, often without fanfare
or financial reward, to enrich the lives of all Australians. It is a day to honour
the otherwise unsung heroes of our society.
In 2007, we pay special tribute to older people, who have laid the foundations of
present-
We also salute volunteers and
service organisations, who contribute their expertise and enthusiasm to initiatives
that make a real difference. Across Australia, many dedicated individuals and groups
donate their time and energy to important causes and offer emotional and material
support to those in need.
Given the pace of modern life, it is sometimes easy to take
for granted the extraordinary contributions that ordinary people make to our community.
However you and your family choose to mark the National Day of Thanksgiving, I encourage
all Australians to take time to say "thank you".
(John Howard)
Prime Minister
On behalf of the Federal Labor, I am pleased to offer my full support
to the National Day of Thanksgiving.
The National Day of Thanksgiving is a unique
opportunity to reflect, both on our own lives and those around us.
But it is also
a day of celebration, a time where we can express our gratitude and praise our fellow
Australians who enrich our nation on a daily basis.
This year, in particular, we
acknowledge the enormous contribution of our senior citizens, Indigenous Australians
and all those in our community who give of their time to assist those less fortunate.
This group includes the nation’s unsung heroes -
Whether attending
an official event or not, the National Day of Thanksgiving is an event in which we
can all participate.
I encourage everybody -
Kevin Rudd
Federal
Labor Leader
Source: Australian Prayer Network
Frontier Services;
I have just returned from the Frontier Services Board meeting. It was a very good meeting in which we noted that a lot is being achieved with regard to health and community services and Patrol Ministry in Remote Australia. Some important governance information was shared and decisions made.
We have a strong connection in the North with Frontier Services with Michelle Cook in Weipa in the Cape York Patrol, Peter Harvey in Hughenden in the Flinders Patrol, and the links we have in our McKay Patrol (which is a Queensland Synod Patrol supported in part by Frontier Services). In the north there are also a couple of RAFS (Remote Area Family Services) teams, others children’s programmes, as well as health and support programmes across the north. The student group home operates in Atherton.
There are of course many staffing challenges, especially in the recruitment of personal care and nursing staff for remote areas. Please pray that qualified people will feel called to this ministry opportunity. If you would like more information about these opportunities, please contact me and I can point you in the right direction. There are specific needs at the moment in Central and North West Australia.
McKay Patrol
Some of us in the Presbytery have been working very hard in recent days to try to
get the McKay Patrol on a solid financial foundation to relieve Garry of the added
burden of raising funds for the Patrol. Donations are well down so far this year.
The McKay Patrol is a Queensland Synod Patrol which receives some support from Frontier
Services and the Synod budget but with the extra expenses recently associated with
the unexpected repairs to the airframe cracks and airbox replacement we are already
behind the 8 ball to the tune of more than $8,000.
Ian Jessup, Garry and I are trying
to put together some sponsorship applications as well as do an application for tax
deductibility for the Patrol. If there are folk in the Presbytery with expertise
in these areas who can give us a hand we will be very grateful.
It almost goes without saying but all donations are very gratefully received. Please send them direct to Garry at PO Box 95 Cloncurry Q.4824.
Please note that while it is important that the whole of Frontier Services receives financial support from individuals, churches and community through donations, bequests etc., if you wish to donate specifically to the McKay Patrol those donations need to go direct to Garry or through the NQ Presbytery or Queensland Synod and be specifically noted for MacKay Patrol.
Blessings to you all,
Bruce C.
Steve’s Stuff…
Greetings in the name of Christ.
In last weeks edition of prompts I made reference to SUMMER MADNESS CAMP. This included who it is for, when, what it is all about, how to get your youth ministry involved and possible ways of getting to the Sunshine Coast.
No sooner had Jane beamed prompts through ‘cyber space’ that I received a phone call from Michelle Cook telling me that if we character a coach, they would like to book around six seats. How exciting!!! Already we have about 20 people signed up for Summer Madness 2008. It is going to be HUGE. It will be the biggest youth ministry event in Queensland for years.
Imagine this. The coach leaves Cairns on Thursday the 10th of January 2008 for the Sunshine Coast. We pick you and your young people up on the way. On our journey we play bus games, get to know each other and form awesome community. That night we sleep in a church at Mackay. Friday we hit the road again and finally arrive at SUMMER MADNESS for an awesome weekend. We have formed a strong identity as ‘North Queensland’. Other people think, “Wow! North Queensland have brought a whole bus load down”.
We spend four great days with our young people. When we leave our young people don’t want to leave as they have made heaps of new friends. They are swapping mobile numbers and msn details. You have spent four great days with your young people and they are fired up about their faith and youth group for 2008. We finally get away. The first night we stay at Maryborough. Then we travel on to Mackay and sleepover again. We start to drop people off on the way through to Cairns. Finally we arrive home on Wednesday the 16th exhausted! SOUNDS GREAT!!
Please have a chat with me, ask your Minister for the Summer Madness information kit, check it out at www.yacmu.com.au. I invite you to jump on board and bring your young people to this significant ministry event in the life of our church. If you finish year 12 at the end of this year but would still like to come, there are plenty of volunteer roles that you could do. If you finished high school many years ago but would like to help, please also let me know. Even if you have one young person, send them along. Don’t let your young people miss out on the trip of a life time and the Summer Madness experience.
Celebration of Youth & Children’s Ministry Service
At the end of last year I sent resource packs to each congregation and asked them to hold a service some time in February to celebrate youth and children’s ministry. In addition I also asked congregations to have a retiring offering so we can continue supporting young people attend youth events into the future, like Summer Madness and NCYC.
At this stage I know that some congregations have had their service but haven’t sent their cheque to presbytery office. Please send this in as soon as possible. I also know that some congregations are planning to do their service latter in the year. If you haven’t planned to have a service yet, I encourage you to start thinking about it. It is not too late. It is one way that we can ensure that we can support our young people into the future. If you are still planning on having a service, please let me know.
If you are looking for resources or need any assistance, please let me know on 4036 4440, 0427 727 070 or at stevek@yacmu.com.au.
YOUTH & CHILDREN'S MINISTRY EVENTS
August 25th – 26th – Youth Ministry Conference -
September 15-
October 12-
October – 20th – 21st – Kids Camp Out Northern Zone
January -
Yours in Christ’s service, Steve.
What’s New…
ABOUTFACE
About Face 8 has room for a couple more people. It's soon so you will have to act fast.
About Face 8 faith and cultural exchange with indigenous people will be held from
1st -
Develop friendships with some excellent indigenous people in their communities and reflect on your faith together.
See www.aboutface.unitingchurch.org.au
or email Sandy Boyce at aboutface8@sa.uca.org.au
BASIS OF UNION 30TH ANNIVERSARY RESOURCES
From: Assembly Wednesday 22nd June 1977 was an auspicious day. The inaugural service of the Uniting Church in Australia was held at Sydney Town Hall and broadcast live on ABC television. The upcoming 30th anniversary of this historic occasion offers an opportunity to refl ect on the journey and to consider the unity that continues to be the backbone of the life of the Church. To that end a new set of resources titled “God’s Word, God’s World, God’s Church: Resources for the 30th Anniversary of the Uniting Church in Australia” is available to members, congregations, presbyteries, synods and agencies. The resources include prayers, songs, suggested themes and gospel readings and are designed to be adjusted and adapted to local situations as well as to inspire other ways of acknowledging and commemorating the 30th anniversary of the Church. Also getting into the birthday spirit the Queensland Synod has posted a “Hitchhikers Trip Through The Basis of Union” on their website as a resource for the 30th Anniversary reflections on the character and mission of the UCA. This can be found at: http://www.ucaqld.com. au/downloads/hitchhiker.pdf “God’s Word, God’s World, God’s Church: Resources for the 30th Anniversary of the Uniting Church in Australia” is available at: http://assembly.uca.org.au/30th/
200TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ABOLITION OF THE SLAVE TRADE IN THE BRITISH EMPIRE
Pre-
Reading Cinemas Wednesday 6th June 6pm
Drinks, nibblies & movie Ticket $20 (Student / Concession $18.00)
Movie Ticket Only $14 (Student / Concession $12)
JCU Student Assn Office in the student Mall
Or Chaplaincy Or Amazing Grace Table on Campus
Wayne R Crockford, James Cook University Chaplain
APPOINTMENT OF SYNOD CONSULTANT FOR DISCIPLESHIP FORMATION & SPIRITUALITY
At its most recent meeting the Synod Leadership Team approved the appointment of the Rev Jenny Tymms as the new Synod Consultant for Discipleship Formation & Spirituality. The appointment was recommended to the SLT by the Synod Search Committee following a process established by the Council of Synod. The role of the Consultant is:
1. To proactively equip Church leaders (lay and ordained) to develop and enhance discipleship, Christian spiritual formation and theologically reflective practices within their local contexts
2. To resource ministry leaders in relation to their own ongoing spiritual and vocational development
3. In collaboration with the other Mission Consultants and Synod Support Staff, provide consultancy services which will enhance the vitality of the Church across the Synod
4. As appropriate, work collaboratively within a team context at Synod and Presbytery level on Church initiatives and projects
Jenny will take up her appointment later this year.
Rev Dr David Pitman, Moderator and Chair of the Synod Search Committee
HANDBOOK FOR MINISTERIAL STIPEND AND BENEFITS
The Handbook for Ministerial Stipend and Benefits is now available in PDF format on the Synod website. Some amendments have been made to Appendices A and C to update to 2007 information. To access the Handbook please use the following link: http://www.ucaqld.com.au/MSF%20Handbook%20v2_Jan%2007.pdf. For those individuals and churches who indicated at the time of the original release of the hardcopy version of the Handbook in 2005 that they would like to receive any amendments in hardcopy, please note that these amendments will be in the mail to you shortly.
Bruce Binnie, Director, Department for Financial & Property Services, on behalf of the Ministerial Support Funds Committee
MINISTRY SUNDAY DATE CLAIMER
Please mark 21 October in your diaries as date set aside for Ministry Sunday for 2007. Future of Ministries Project Team plan to have resources for this year will be found on Synod Website early August.
Lynne Davis for Future of Ministries Project Team
LIST YOUR CHILDREN AND YOUTH PROGRAMS ONLINE
Two new websites, www.goldcoastkids.com.au and www.brisbanekids.com.au, will be launched in the next month. These sites aim to be the most comprehensive information resources for families with children up to 12 years living on the Gold Coast (encompassing Gold Coast City and Beaudesert Shire) and in Brisbane (encompassing Brisbane City, Logan City, Beaudesert, Redcliffe, Pine Rivers and Redlands Shire). Both sites are offering free listings for Churches that provide Sunday Schools, Creche facilities and family or Youth groups. Listings may include the Church name, times and dates these services are available (please mention if they are not available during school holidays), and a contact telephone number. At this stage listings will be included on the 'Education' page. For more information please contact Keer Moriarty at Footprints on the Net on mob: 0407 671 286, email: HERE OR HERE.
Bruce Mullan, Manager, Communications Services Unit
Please don’t forget these…
FROM CAROLE AND COLIN YOUNG (TULLY)
We would ask if you would thank the folk who have prayed for us over the past few weeks, in Presbytery Prompts. We have appreciated this enormously and have felt the results in many tangible ways. We report that the family in Perth is at peace and in many ways happy that Olga (Carole's mother) is now also at peace, after many years of suffering Alzheimer's. Our dear friend Selwyn in Sydney will be home this weekend, but will have to travel to the hospital 5 days a week, for 6 weeks, for Chemo. (a three hour return trip each day).
Thank you so much for being there.
UCA QLD SYNOD EMAIL ADDRESS
Please note that many of the Synod UC Centre email addresses have changed. Take out the “uccentre” in the middle of the address. E.g. instead of Ana.Mila@uccentre.ucaqld.com.au, the address will now be Ana.Mila@ucaqld.com.au. The old email addresses will still work however only for a short time.
SIMPLY SHARING WEEK—AUSTRALIANS BECOME INTERACTIVE TO SHARE EDUCATION
Simply Sharing Week, a program of Caritas Australia and Christian World Service/National
Council of Churches in Australia, has taken its annual education program online.
This year’s theme, Send My Friend To School, highlights the fact that education is
an important component in poverty reduction and peace. Simply Sharing Week will be
celebrated 17-
Bruce Mullan, Manager, Communication Services Unit
ROAD TRIP TO ADVOCATE AGAINST GLOBAL POVERTY
Oaktree Foundation is inviting members of the public to be ambassadors of their Zero Seven campaign. They are calling on Schools, Universities and Church leaders across the country to nominate outstanding young people (aged 16 to 26) to become Ambassadors as part of Australia’s first national road trip to advocate against global poverty. This is an opportunity for young members of your church to develop their leadership skills. Read more about the Zero Seven Road Trip HERE or call mob: 0424 615 592 or email: HERE.
Clinton Ku, Queensland Churches Coordinator, The Oaktree Foundation
Presbytery Calendar (including Bruce’s and Steve’s Diary)
May – 17th – Convocation of Ministries Alex Park , Alexandra Headlands, Sunshine Coast.
18th – 22nd – Queensland Synod Meeting – Alex Park Youth and Conference Centre
24th – Bruce returns from Brisbane
26th – National Day of Thanksgiving
28th – Mission Resourcing Committee meeting – presbytery office from 5pm
30th to June – 3rd -
4th – 7th – Minister and Spouses Retreat – Sister’s of Mercy Centre, Cairns
14th – 15th – Bruce to Brisbane for meetings
18th – Mission Resourcing Committee meeting – presbytery office
29th June – 2nd July – speaking at a mens’ camp – Burdekin
July -
11th – Placements -
18th – Presbytery Leadership Team meeting – face to face Presbytery office
29th – 1st August – Meeting – Tully
August 11th – Northern Zone meeting – venue TBA
13th – Mission Resourcing Committee meeting – presbytery office
15th – 20th – Bruce to Brisbane for meetings
Steve K’s Calendar
May 15th -
18th -
20th -
June 4th -
19th -
July 15th -