Presbytery of North Queensland
PRESBYTERY PROMPTS
29 Wentworth Ave Mundingburra 4812
07 4779 5818 presbnq@bigpond.net.au
Website: www.presbyterynq.net
ISSUE SEVEN 2007 FEBRUARY 27TH 2007
On the Grapevine…
Greetings everyone,
Presbytery Prompts is a bit later this week as both Jane and I took some time off on Monday and Tuesday.
Presbytery Meeting info:
Thanks to everyone involved with the Presbytery meeting in Cairns this last weekend. From the comments received and the involvement of everyone I believe that the meeting was a good mix of business and fellowship, information giving and the opportunity to give input as well as plenty of banter and laughter to encourage us all.
Those who were present may like to share some of the information and decisions with others in your congregations so that there is good communication of all the issues. Could I particularly encourage you to explore how you as individuals and as churches can begin to cut down on electricity use and so help lessen the impact on global warming? There are a number of steps we can take that cost very little and may make considerable difference, not only to the environment but also the size of our electricity accounts.
The newly appointed Justice and International Mission Advocate, Andrew Johnson, shared a lot of information and a number of tips to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels. I will add some here from time to time. We were encouraged by a number of people to view the documentary on climate change called “An Inconvenient Truth”. I would be interested in someone doing a mini review of that for a future Prompts, any volunteers?
I have included with this issue of Prompts, Andrews first newsletter, JIMA. I will not be including it every week so if you wish to be on his email list, could you please contact him direct on andrew.johnson@ucaqld.com.au.
One thing we forgot was to prepare a feedback sheet to help us plan the next Presbytery meeting. For those of you who receive this and were at the presbytery meeting if you could please send any comments to us (either Jane’s computer presbnq@bigpond.net.au or mine bcornish@bigpond.net.au ). The following are the questions that were in the feedback sheet you did not receive.
1. What for you were the highlights of this Presbytery Meeting?
2. What for you were the parts of or actions within, this Presbytery Meeting that you believe could have been improved? (Please add any suggestions for improvements)
3. Please give feedback as to the helpfulness and timeliness of information and material received prior to the Presbytery meeting.
4. Has the ordering of the Agenda been helpful for you or could you suggest changes to the agenda that would have made this Presbytery better for you?
5. Has there been anything that you have heard or experienced at this Presbytery meeting that has challenged you or you believe will add value to your ministry context?
(Please list one or more of those.)
6. Please list areas or agenda items that you would like included in a future Presbytery meeting.
7. Any other comments……
The Presbytery meeting also elected the office bearers for the Presbytery for the coming period of time. Some are for 2 years and some for 1 in order to have an appropriate succession planning process.
The Presbytery office bearers and members of the Presbytery Leadership team are:
Deputy Chairperson – Barry Cox (1 year)
Secretary -
Treasurer -
Lay Preachers Convenor – Marguerite Chapman (1 year)
Ministers rep. – Paul Clark (2 years)
Ministers rep. – Craig Mischewski (1 year)
Lay rep. – Peter Ireland (1 year)
Lay rep. – Ruth Parker (2 years)
Other members of the Presbytery Leadership Team are:
Presbytery Chairperson (Bruce Cornish), and the Zone Chairs (Garry Hardingham, Doug Foster and Malcolm Bottrill)
Other elected positions are as follows and will be for 2 years:
Rural Ministries coordinator – Garry Hardingham
Working Group on Worship – Michelle Cook
National Covenanting Committee – Rus Clark
It was 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. The presbytery was also encouraged to make this a matter of prayer and discernment.
The Commissioning of Marcia Cowen as the Community Minister in Edmonton was an especially significant part of the Presbytery meeting. It was a special celebration and time of encouragement for all.
Pastoral Notes and prayer points:
• Ian Boudry – currently on return from a family wedding in the USA. Has been diagnosed with a form of pneumonia and is slowly recovering. Please pray for him and Sue. They plan to be back in Ingham later this week.
• 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.
• Evan Stenlake, currently in supply as Presbytery minister in The Downs Presbytery who had what was described as a neurological incident last week.
• 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.
Birthday Cards: Many of you who are ministry agents in the Presbytery and your families will have received a hand made birthday card in the past 2 years. As you know, these have been made by Jane as a part of her ministry gift to you all. As you will also realise, each card takes quite some time to make and Jane has made them in her own time. With the pressure of time in other areas of Janes life increasing it will not be possible for her to continue to make these cards for you. On behalf of you all I have said thank you to Jane for those special cards that have so enriched our lives. We will still be sending you and your families greetings for your birthdays but the greeting will be on commercially produced cards. Thank you again Jane for your ministry to us.
Continuation of Holidays: In lieu of the holidays I lost over January when I had to attend to business at the Synod offices and return to Townsville for the announcement concerning the sale of Wesley Hospital, I will be taking from Wednesday evening to Sunday as holidays. Margie and I will be in Brisbane, clearing out the house we have sold.
“ICE” Campaign: I was sent this information as an email and it certainly sounds like a good idea to pass on so here it is.
Isn't it true that we all carry our mobile phones with hundreds of names/numbers stored in its memory but yet nobody, other than ourselves, know which of these numbers belong to our near and dear ones?
Let us for a moment create a scenario wherein (God forbid) we are involved in an accident or had a heart attack and the people attending to us get hold of our mobile phone but don't know which number to call to inform our family members. Yes, there are hundreds of numbers stored but which one is the contact person in case of an emergency?
For this reason, we must have one or more telephone numbers stored under the name ICE (In Case of Emergency) in our mobile phones. Read below for more details.
Fwd: " ICE" Campaign: Recently, the concept of "ICE" is catching up quickly. It is simple, an important method of contact during emergency situations. As cell phones are carried by majority of the population, all you need to do is store the number of a contact person or person who should be contacted during emergency as "ICE" (meaning In Case of Emergency).
The idea was thought up by a paramedic who found that when they went to the scenes of accidents, there were always mobile phones with patients, but they didn't know which number to call. He therefore thought that it would be a good idea if there was a nationally recognized name for this purpose. Following a disaster in London, the East Anglican Ambulance Service has launched a national "In case of Emergency (ICE)" campaign. In an emergency situation, Emergency Service personnel and hospital staff would then be able to quickly contact your next of kin, by simply dialling the number stored as "ICE".
For more than one contact name simply enter ICE1, ICE2 and ICE3 etc. A great idea that will make a difference!
Let's spread the concept of ICE by storing an ICE number in our mobile phones today!
Blessings to you all, Bruce C.
Steve’s Stuff…
Child Safe Church Training
Towards the end of last week Ministry agents in congregation placements from across our Presbytery should have received two copies of the child safe church manual and a letter from me. Below are the details of the up and coming training events:
Southern Zone
Saturday 17th of March
9:30am – 12:30pm, Aitkenvale Uniting Church
Northern Zone
Saturday 17th of March
9:30am – 12:30pm, Edmonton Uniting Church
This training is predominantly for Ministers and congregations child safety officers. Can you please phone Jane in the presbytery office and let her know who will be attending from your congregation. In addition, please let Jane know who your congregations’ child safety officer is and a contact detail for that particular person. Thank you.
Easter Camp
Please encourage your young people in high school up to the age of 21 to attend Easter camp 2007. Even if you have one or two young people, please encourage them to come along and meet other young people from across the north. In addition, if you would like to come as a leader and assist in some way, please let me know. Details of Easter camp can be found at www.yacmu.com.au. Under ministry you will find ‘Easter Camp NQ’. Click here and you will find all the information you need. You can also download registration forms. However if you would prefer me to post them to you, please contact me on 4036 4440 or at stevek@yacmu.com.au.
Celebration of Youth & Children’s Ministry
When your congregation has had their celebration service including a retiring offering, please forward one cheque to the presbytery office made out to the ‘Presbytery of North Queensland’. Our goal is to raise $2900 to top up our presbytery’s youth and children’s ministry account for future events. This is the amount we spent to assist leaders to attend the Qld State Youth Ministry Conference last August and young people to attend NCYC earlier this year.
I will be on study leave in Israel from Monday the 18th of February to Thursday the
1st of March. Unfortunately this means that I will miss the first presbytery meeting
for the year. Presbytery meetings are always a great opportunity for me to touch
base with people from across our large presbytery. So if you would like to catch-
Yours in Christ’s service, Steve.
What’s New…
LEADERSHIP COURSE.
30th – 31st March 2007.
Aitkenvale Uniting Church
Cnr Ross River Road and Anne Street
Aitkenvale Qld 4814
Course Outline
This course is aimed at lay persons or groups who are exercising primary ministry
functions in congregations. We would like to offer this course as a way of sharing
advice, expertise and knowledge to help overcome the many challenges that we are
confronted with in ministry. The full participation of members in a congregation
does not happen without leadership. The business of leadership training is precisely
to enable, encourage, and sustain the activity of all the members, through the power
of the Holy Spirit.
Proposed program and schedule.
Friday 30th March
7: 00 p.m. – 10: 00 p.m. Pastoral Care (Rev. Bruce Cornish)
Saturday 31st March
9: 00: -
1: 00 – 4: 00 p.m. Visioning mission (Rev. Craig Mischewski)
5: 30 – 8: 30 p.m. Recruiting and resourcing leaders (Rev. Craig Mischewski).
Cost $32.50 per person: includes Friday Supper, Saturday morning tea, lunch, afternoon tea & dinner
Payments to be made on Friday.
-
REGISTRATION: LEADERSHIP COURSE TOWNSVILLE.
Name: ………………………………………………………………………………………
Address: …………………………………………………………………………………….
Phone: …………………………………. Mobile: ………………………………………..
Email: …………………………………………………
Have you completed other units through Trinity NQ? YES / NO
Name of unit: Leadership or worship
Post or email registrations to:
Rev. Hedley Fihaki
Trinity NQ Coordinator
6 Harper Close
Manunda 4870
Phone: 40323966 or 0401698934 e-
SYNOD ACCOMMODATION:
Glenn Louttit, the minister from Innisfail UC would like to make known that he has 1 spare bed (maybe 2) for anyone who might want to share accommodation at the Synod in May. Glenn has booked a cabin at the Alex Beach Top Tourist Park which is a very short walk from Alex Park Youth and conference Centre (the venue for synod).
Please contact Glenn if you are interested in sharing. Cost would be around $35.00 for one person or if there is room for two, the cost would come down to $25.00
Glenn Louttit Minister, Uniting Church P.O. Box 632 Innisfail. 4860 Ph 07 4061 1180 0418 747204
NOMINATIONS FOR THE MODERATOR’S MEDAL
Nominations for the Moderator’s Medal are once again being requested. Announcement
of the Medal recipients will be made at the Queensland Uniting Church’s Synod in
Session meeting being held on 18-
Beverley Hollands
MINISTRY IN DISASTER SETTINGS: LESSONS FROM THE EDGE
Disasters not only affect the victims, but also those at the front line of help. A new book by Uniting Church minister the Rev. Dr Stephen Robinson provides priceless insight into the affect of disaster on clergy and points to the biblical hope that can be offered to hurting people and those who try to help them. Stephen Robinson, Uniting Church minister at Lugarno, Sydney, has been involved as a fire chaplain with the Rural Fire Service since 1996 and is the Uniting Church’s representative on the NSW State Disaster Recovery Committee. The book gleans lessons of what such ministry looks like, the price paid in it and how to prepare and survive as well as possible. $25 plus postage and handling ($5). More information from: Rev Dr Stephen Robinson on (02) 9153 8653 or email HERE.
Bruce Mullan, Manager, Communications Services Unit
IMPROVE YOUR WEBSITE
A new online self-
Bruce Mullan, Manager, Communication Services Unit
CONFERENCE FOR PRISON CHAPLAINS
Please pray for the upcoming Conference for Prison Chaplains being held in March. We will have almost a hundred chaplains from different denominations around the State involved in training from 25 – 28 March. Prison Ministry Uniting Church will hold an extra day’s training for our Chaplains and Volunteers. We expect around thirty people for this part of the conference and our Uniting Church Chaplains will hear from speakers in the areas of Pastoral Care, Mental Health, and Crime Prevention. Our speakers will be Rev Burt Johns, Dr Robert Padley, and John Guy. Our focus is to train and equip our Chaplains so that we can reach others with the love of God. Hold us in your prayers, particularly in the area of crime prevention and family support and after release programs. Prison Ministry believes strongly that God is calling us not just to walk alongside inmates but to reach out to their families as well. Whom shall we send …
Beatriz Skippen, Senior Chaplain, Prison Ministry
RURAL MUSTER 2007 -
The next Rural Muster will be held on 27 April at the historical Jondaryan Woolshed on the Darling Downs, and will focus on lay ministry in congregations without fulltime Ministers. In many places, the church has taken up the challenge of working in a different way that seeks to support local lay people in enabling an ongoing vital presence of the church in rural communities. The main aim of the 2007 Rural Muster is to encourage, inspire, uplift, and equip congregational members of small rural churches in that ongoing presence. As we take a ‘SQUIZ’ at Lay Ministry in the rural church, our aim is to equip lay leaders and leadership teams for ministry. The Muster will provide participants with practical resources they can adapt for their own setting. Brochures/Registration forms now available. Contact: Julie Savage on ph: (07) 3870 2621 or email HERE.
Julie Savage
UNITING IN WORSHIP PLANNER
The release of Uniting in Worship 2 has been very well received yet one of the realities
is that it uses a print medium in a time when more and more people are using electronic
means of presentation and production for their worship resources. As a way of making
Uniting in Worship 2 functional the Assembly and Mediacom have produced the Uniting
Worship Planner. The Uniting Church’s Worship Planner is a custom-
For more information or to order visit: http://mediacom.mediacomonline.org.au.
Terence Corkin, Assembly General Secretary
LENT APPEAL THANK YOU
The United Aboriginal and Islander Christian Congress have reported in detail about the “Tomorrows Leaders Today” program at their National Assembly in June 2006 in the latest issue of The Message Stick. This program was a recipient of 2006 Lent appeal project funding. Development and Outreach Officer of Calvary Presbytery, Rev Shayne Blackman said, “I give thanks to the wider Uniting Church for their support and provision of these blessings that enabled such involvement and development of our lay people.” For copies of The Message Stick email HERE.
Bruce Mullan, Lent Appeal Coordinator
COPYRIGHT AGENCY LIMITED (CAL) – WORSHIP LICENCE
There are still numerous Churches that have not returned their CAL renewal forms, the due date was 30 January 2007. If you haven’t returned your renewal forms please do so now.
Jackqueline Hargreaves, Property Administrator
LATEST NEWS AT WWW.JOURNEYONLINE.COM.AU
"AMAZING GRACE" FILM CRITICISED FOR 'PRETTIFYING' HORROR OF SLAVE TRADE A film about the abolition of the slave trade in the British Empire 200 years ago has been condemned by some black leaders for reducing the suffering of enslaved Africans to "a mere bit part". HERE.
THE BOY IN THE STRIPED PYJAMAS BY JOHN BOYNE The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas is Boyne's fourth, and most successful, book. This novel is an astonishing attempt at the most difficult of quests: to describe, through the telling of a fable, the collision of innocence with evil. HERE.
FAST NEWS ARCHAEOLOGISTS, SCHOLARS DISPUTE JESUS DOCUMENTARY Filmmakers and researchers on Monday unveiled two ancient stone boxes they said may have once contained the remains of Jesus and Mary Magdalene, but several scholars derided the claims made in a new documentary as unfounded and contradictory to basic Christian beliefs. HERE.
Bruce Mullan, Manager, Communication Services Unit
APRIL JOURNEY DEADLINE
The deadline for copy and advertising for the April/Easter issue of Journey is Friday, 9 March 2007.
Bruce Mullan, Manager, Communication Services Unit
SPREAD THE NEWS WIDER
Agencies and activities of the Uniting Church in Australia are invited to commence or increase their subscription to Journey, the monthly Queensland Synod newspaper. Journey is suitable to distribute to your staff or place in waiting rooms, common rooms or staff rooms for occasional reading. To arrange a Journey subscription or to increase the number of copies you receive please contact Kristine Bromiley by email click HERE or call ph: (07) 3377 9825.
Bruce Mullan, Manager, Communications Services Unit
Please don’t forget these…
PRESBYTERY BUS TRIP
Discussions are being held with regard to a Presbytery bus trip. The proposed itinerary includes traveling west to Cloncurry, south to Barcaldine and Longreach and back to the coast through Collinsville to Bowen and back to Townsville. The congregations en route have been contacted and have warmed to the idea should it become a reality. Possible dates are May or June long weekend. The last trip was from Townsville to Mt Isa back in 2003. Morning teas, lunches and dinners were served at churches along the way and a great time was had by all participants.
Before preparations can be made, an idea of how many people would be interested in such a trip need to be organised. If you are interested and would like to know more please contact Jane at the presbytery office on 07 4779 5818 or email to presbnq@bigpond.net.au or Townsville Central on tcuc@ozemail.com.au
ABOUT F.A.C.E.
About F.A.C.E. (Faith and Culture Exchange) for young adults aged 18 -
Bruce Mullan, Manager, Communication Services Unit
ATTENTION ENHANCE USERS
One of the biggest frustrations that users of Enhance (Queensland Synod’s lectionary based multimedia resource) tell me about is the ability to use the search engine. To save you time and some of that frustration I will provide you with a list of 4 to 6 clips that will work with the lectionary readings for the upcoming week. I have also provided some ideas on how the clip might be used. All this is available from the website. You can also preview the whole collection online. Why not take a couple of minutes to have a quick look. Go to www.digistry.org.
Michael Jeffrey, Director, YACMU
WALKING FREE RENEWING MINISTRIES
Walking Free Renewing Ministries is a faith community of the Presbytery of the Downs. It is a new ministry that has been started up by Rev Dr John Lucas to help people be renewed by God through Healing, Teaching, and Training. He has been working in the area of healing and teaching for 20 years and is the former CEO of Freedom Life Centre at Toowoomba.
Walking Free offers a face to face or phone ministry service to people suffering from disease and damaged lives through:
· Abuse (sexual, emotional and physical) by others
· Addictions (including gambling and pornography)
· Fear, anxiety and depression
· Substance Abuse
· Suicidal tendencies
We offer to churches, through weekend or half day seminars, teaching and training in the areas of Releasing God’s Gifts, Walking in the Freedom of Christ, Releasing God’s power in one’s life, Unlocking the power of Prayer, Hearing the Voice of the Master, Warfare prayer, healing (physical and emotional), Conquering Rejection and Fear. For further information contact Rev Dr John Lucas on ph: (07) 4630 1101 or mob: 0448 132 262.
John Lucas
Presbytery Calendar (including Bruce’s and Steve’s Diary)
Feb -
March 5th – Bruce to Hughenden for Peter Harvey Induction
8th – 9th – Bruce, Craig Mischewski, Malcolm Bottrill and Doug Foster to Brisbane for Coach Net Training
11th – Bruce to Ingham – Preach and Worship
12th – Mission Resourcing Committee meeting – presbytery office from 5pm
14th – Bruce drive to Tully for Consultation
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
16th – 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
February 19th to the 1st of March – study leave in Israel
March 10th to 15th -
17th child safe church training
19th to 23rd -
April 5th – 9th -
17th – 19th -