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

THIRTY - THIRD  EDITION                                                        WEDNESDAY AUGUST 29TH 2007

On the Grapevine…

 

Hi everyone,

I am writing this from Mt Isa where there has been a fantastic view of the lunar eclipse. I have just taken my last of many photos. (Unfortunately I have not yet worked out how to get the best out of my camera to get a really good photo.)

It is so clear out here. I had forgotten how many stars there really are in the universe. In the large cities we do not see the full picture of the night sky do we.  There are too many other lights.  There are many sermon illustrations in that image aren’t there.

The news in the last few days has been full of the news and consequences of the horse flu outbreak.  This has mostly focused on the horse racing industry and the millions of dollars that has been lost. We must not forget of course that this industry mostly relies on gambling for the large amounts of money in the industry and the lost income quoted includes what would have been wagered. There are of course many families that are affected by a member of their family who has a gambling addiction.

The other aspect of the ban on movement of horses that I am very aware of in the west is the effect on the cattle industry. Many properties muster by horses as well as motorbikes and helicopters and while there no ban on movement on one station there is between stations. The other group of people who are affected are the recreational horse owners, some of whom have been unable to return home with their horses. There is significant cost across the nation, even in Birdsville, where I think that I heard that the annual Birdsville races have been cancelled for the first time. Frontier Services continue to play a significant part in the races in providing valuable services on the weekend. Income has been lost there also.

  

Pastoral Notes and prayer points:

· Please keep the upcoming Emmaus Walks, team members and pilgrims in your prayers.

· ALL people affected by the horse flu outbreak.

· The congregations in Mt Isa and Cloncurry as they minister in the west and especially Gordon Burley as he continues to struggle with his mobility, and the Hardingham family.

· Pray for Greg Rankin from Mt Isa as he prepares after 7 years there to leave. He is a candidate for ministry and will attend Theological College in Brisbane next year.

· Pray for the conversations with the Department of Housing regarding the flats in Mt Isa that are used as Medical Emergency Flats for people in the outback regions in North West Queensland who have to come to Mt Isa.

 

SOUTHERN ZONE MEETING

If you haven’t replied re your attendance please do so asap for catering purposes to Jean Johnson on

4773 2361

 

2008 Mission and Service Fund Allocations: Church Council treasurers have been sent the allocations that the Presbytery Mission Resourcing Committee is asking congregations to commit to for 2008. Please note that we require the responses from congregations by 31st August. Thank you to those congregations who have already notified the Presbytery Office of their acceptance. There are nine (9) congregations who have not yet advised us of their response to the letter.

 

The Ministerial Support Funds Committee is the body in the Synod that has the responsibility for setting the Stipends and allowances each year.  They have yet to make a firm decision on the stipend for next year but indicators are that there will be an increase of 4% to 6% so Church Councils will need to take that into account when setting their budgets for 2008. The stipend is set based on a number of factors including minimum weekly earnings, CPI increases as well as a recognition of the impact of increases on congregations capacity to absorb any increase.  It is a delicate task that the committee, which is a representative committee, has as its task.    

 

BP cards to be cancelled: Many ministers will have had the use of BP fuel cards through UCIS. This was because BP had the state government contract to provide fuel and the Uniting Church is able to tie in with that contract price. BP has lost that contract which has been won by Caltex. If you have been using BP then you should have received advice that as of 14th September the BP cards will be cancelled. We are invited to apply for a Caltex Star Card which will continue to give discount fuel. My experience of these massive changeovers is that they do not always go smoothly so it may be worthwhile to get the process going early.

 

I am not sure, but my hunch is that there are many more BP servos in the north than Caltex ones. An update on this is that there is a Caltex in Hughenden and in Mt Isa but I have yet to find one in Cloncurry.

 

Blessings to you all,

Bruce C.

 

Steve’s Stuff…

 

Steve is in Brisbane currently attending the National Inservice for youth workers working with children young people and families.

 

Greetings in the name of Christ!

Thank you for keeping Tracie, her family and myself in your prayers last week with the death of her Nana late Monday night.  It was a blessing that we were able to fly to Brisbane Monday afternoon and spend some time with her before she passed-away.  Please continue to pray for Tracie’s family, especially for her Mother, Donna.

 

It was great being able to worship and celebrate Holy Communion with the evening congregation at Aitkenvale last Sunday night.  After the service I shared about the 2008 tour to Israel with a small group of young adults.  In addition I shared very briefly in the service about the young adult retreat taking place over the second weekend in October (12-14).

 

The guest speaker at this year’s young adult retreat (18-35 year olds) is Duncan Macleod who is currently the Vision for Mission Advocate for the Queensland Synod.  The theme will be ‘Mission with New Eyes’. The retreat will take place at New Life Pastures Campsite at Kennedy.  More information will be available soon.  Please let your young adults know.

 

Kids Camp Out – Southern Zone, 15-16 September

If your congregation is planning on sending a group along to KCO can you please let me know, stevek@yacmu.com.au.  At this stage I am wanting to get a rough idea of who will be attending.  If you need another information pack please let me know.

 

Kids Camp Out – Northern Zone, 20-21 October

Information packs will be sent to you soon.  Please mark this weekend in your diary.

 

I am now in Brisbane until Saturday the 8th of September for a variety of ministry events and conferences.  Please see the diary at the end of presbytery prompts for further information.  However you can still reach me via email or on 0427 727 070.

 

Please pray for Jack, Graeme and Tracie as they attend the State Youth Ministry Conference in Brisbane this coming weekend.

 

Yours in Christ’s service, Steve.

 

YOUTH & CHILDREN'S MINISTRY EVENTS

 

September 15-16th – Kids Camp Out Southern Zone

October 12-14th - Young Adult Retreat - New Life Pastures, Kennedy

October – 20th – 21st – Kids Camp Out Northern Zone

January 2008 - 11th - 14th - Summer Madness - Sunshine Coast

 

What’s New…

TOWNSVILLE CENTRAL UNITING CHURCH FETE

Saturday, 15th September, 9 am to 1 pm

Church Grounds Wills cnr Stokes St Townsville 

Craft ** Trash & Treasure **Plants**Kids Entertainment**Silent Art Auction**

**Sausage Sizzle**Cakes, Sweets and Preserves***

ALL WELCOME!!!

LENT APPEAL 2008

A decision of the Council of Synod last weekend determined that in 2008 the Synod annual Lent Appeal will partner with the Uniting Church Lent Event program. More than just a fundraising venture, Lent Event will invite people to participate in a spiritual journey. It will provide educational and community building resources for children, youth and adults; liturgies, sermon starters and worship suggestions; comprehensive promotional resources including a DVD presentation for use in worship; and detailed project fact sheets for each supported project. The supported projects will be coordinated though Uniting Church Overseas Aid (UCOA), the aid and development arm of Uniting International Mission (UIM). Under the Lent Event program donations can be given by credit card and cheque as well as cash, and will be tax deductible. Lent Event will support the poorest of the poor through projects that bring the greatest possible benefits to very needy communities, are wanted and embraced by the communities, and are sustainable in the long term. Projects supported by the Lent Event through UCOA have included water tanks for Zimbabwe, education and meals for tribal children in the Nilgiris (South India), safe drinking water supplies for rural villages in PNG, education and nutritional support for orphaned children in Zambia, and micro-enterprise development in Timor. For more information you can visit the comprehensive Lent Event website at http://www.prowessdev.com/lentevent/pages/about.aspx. More details about the Lent Event will be available shortly and congregations will receive comprehensive information kits to help prepare for this exciting new program.

Bruce Mullan, Manager, Communication Services Unit

 

LEADERSHIP RESOURCING

Most ministers and church councils would quickly agree that as congregations our greatest resources are our people. The Holy Spirit indwells each local expression of the Body of Christ. However, the challenge we face continually is how to best encourage, develop and release the gifts of God's people for mission and ministry. The Synod Mission Consultants offer a variety of resources and consultancy services to help your congregation make the most of the gifts and capacities of your people. Examples include:

· DiSC Behavioural Profile - a behavioural style assessment inventory that enables teams to identify the strengths and preferences of their members. This is an ideal resource for leadership teams such as Church Councils as a number of councils have discovered.

· Discovering & Using God's Gifts - a small group based short course on helping congregational members discern their gifts and callings, together with a system to release people into ministry within, through and beyond the local church.

· Developing Small Groups and Teams - a variety of workshops and processes that develop small group and team leadership as well as exploring the possibilities of small groups and ministry/mission teams.

· What Makes a Leader? - a short course on the foundations of leadership development.

·         Systems Leadership - developing the systems and processes that resource and strengthen congregational ministry and mission.

In addition to these are other services, the Consultants are available to work with your congregation to develop resources that respond to your specific leadership development needs. For further information, please contact me as below:

Graham Beattie, Synod Mission Consultant

 

NOMINATIONS FOR FINANCE, INVESTMENT & PROPERTY BOARD (FIPBOARD)

Nominations and expressions of interest from members of the Uniting Church are sought for two positions on the Finance, Investment & Property Board (formerly Finance & Property Board). The Board supports and resources the strategic missional planning of the church by providing a framework for planning, monitoring, reporting and acting on the stewardship of assets of the Church. The Board exercises oversight in relation to Church investment strategies, audit risk management and effective property and asset management. Board members need to have a mix of skills including an understanding of the Church and governance. Expressions of interest are being sought from individuals with particular skills in banking, finance, investment, and audit and risk management. A full information pack is available via the website (http://www.ucaqld.au/employment.php) or contact Ana Mila on ph: (07) 3377 9705.

Jenny Tymms, General Secretary

 

ADMINISTRATION OFFICER - SYNOD SUPPORT SERVICES

Located at the Uniting Church Centre, Auchenflower, a vacancy exists for a full time Administration Officer within Synod Support Services. Reporting to and as directed by the Executive Administration Assistance, the successful applicant will be responsible for the provision of administration support to the Queensland Synod’s Executive Committees – Council of Synod, Synod Leadership Team and Placements Committee, the Office of the Moderator and General Secretary and Synod Support Services. The administration support provided should be done in a manner which is deemed timely and helpful and enhances the overall quality, effectiveness and efficiency of duties performed and responsibilities carried out by the Office of the Moderator, the General Secretary and Synod Support Services. If you are interested in working in a friendly supportive team environment where individuals are committed to ethos and mission of the Uniting Church in Australia, Qld Synod, then please contact Ana Mila for an application package on ph: (07) 3377 9709 or email: HERE. The closing date for the receipt of applications is close of business on Monday, 24 September 2007. Applications should be marked CONFIDENTIAL and addressed to Rev Jenny Tymms, General Secretary Qld Synod, GPO Box 674, Brisbane Q 4001. 

Ann Warren, Synod HRA

 

UNITINGCARE HEALTH CHAPLAIN – EDUCATOR

Applications are invited to fill the position of UnitingCare Health Chaplain-Educator at the Wesley Hospital, Brisbane. The position is full time and would suit a person well versed in both health care chaplaincy and chaplaincy training. The duties include:

· Co-ordinating and lecturing in the Trinity Theological College course in Hospital Ministry and Pastoral Care

· Contributing to the implementation of the Mission, Vision and values of the hospital and the Foundational Values of Uniting HealthCare.

· Providing pastoral care in the hospital community.

·         Participating as a member of the Pastoral Care Team.

For additional Information contact the Acting Synod Chaplaincy Co-ordinator, Rev Alan O'Hara on ph: (07) 3377 9721 or HERE. Applications close on Friday, 28 September 2007.

Alan O’Hara

MICAH CHALLENGE AWARENESS

Micah Challenge has been seeking to raise awareness of world poverty and injustice over the last three years. They have asked the Christian Research Association to assist them in the evaluation of their activities. For that purpose, we have prepared a short questionnaire for leaders of local churches / congregations. Whether you know much about Micah Challenge or not, would you help us by going to www.cra.org.au/micah1 on the Internet and completing a short questionnaire? It will take just a few minutes to complete, but will greatly assist Micah Challenge in evaluating their activities and in planning future activities to inspire and equip Christians to speak out against poverty and injustice. We would be most grateful if you could complete the questionnaire prior to Friday, 14 September 2007. If you have any questions about this research, please contact Philip Hughes by email (p.hughes@cra.org.au) or by ph: (03) 9878 3477.

Philip Hughes, Christian Research Association

 

ALAN ROXBURGH ON CULTURE CHANGE IN THE CHURCH

Duncan Macleod has written a summary of the presentation by Alan Roxburgh at the seminar held recently in Brisbane. Roxburgh was talking about the ways in which congregations and their members are helped to engage with the world in which they live. Read it online at www.missionresources.unitingchurch.org.au and leave a comment.

Duncan Macleod, Vision for Mission Advocate

 

THANK YOU FROM TRINITY THEOLOGICAL COLLEGE

A couple of weeks ago, Trinity Library sent out a plea for help in acquiring multiple copies of J. Weingreen's A Practical Grammar for Classical Hebrew. The response was wonderful. Some of you loaned us your copies, so that they in turn could be loaned to students studying Biblical Hebrew I, and others of you donated your copies. We are most grateful to everyone who has helped us out. So, thank you very much.

Alethea Hubley, Librarian, Trinity Theological Library

 

SONGS OF THE NATIONS

A complete set of masters of Songs of the Nations as well as plastic transparencies of most of the songs is available to give away. An incomplete set of plastic transparencies of Songs of Praise and Songs of the Kingdom is also available to give away. Contact Beverley Bell on ph: (07) 3264 4317.

Yvonne Sutherland

 

NCLS RESULTS – WORSHIP NOT BORING NOT AWESOME

The following article appeared in Journey and www.journeyonline.com.au. Church Councils, worship teams, Elders and ministry teams are encouraged to read the article together with the statistical information and use the questions below as a basis for group conversation and discussion.

That those attending Uniting Church worship services in Queensland are not bored is the good news story from the National Church Life Survey (NCLS) results from 2006. Questions on the impact of worship on the lives of people show that fewer than 2% of Uniting Church worshippers always experience boredom. None of those over 65-years of age report being consistently bored at church. Less encouraging is that fewer than 6% of people regularly experience awe or mystery in their Sunday worship experience, and the results suggest that while congregations are not bored, neither are they inspired.

Read the full article in September Journey or HERE.  

Survey results relating to vital and nurturing worship (NCLS 2006 – UCA Queensland)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

      

Note: up to two music options could be selected, so percentages may not add to 100%

Questions for discussion:

1. Were there any surprises for you in the story or the statistics?

2. Where do you find your sense of “awe or mystery” in your relationship with God?

3. What are the implications of the lack of boredom and the lack of awe and mystery for the worship life of your congregation?

4. What are the implications of the research regarding preferred styles of music for the worship life of your congregation?

5. What is your response to Rev Ian Lord’s comments on the strength of meaningful community?  How could the worship life of your congregation help strengthen this sense of community?

Bruce Mullan, Manager, Communication Services Un

 

OCTOBER JOURNEY

The deadline for copy and advertising for the next issue of Journey is Friday, 14 September. Journey will be looking at the issue of “mental health” and providing some election 2007 information for voters. To change subscription numbers please contact Kristine Bromiley HERE or call: (07) 3377 9825.  

Bruce Mullan, Manager, Communication Services Unit

 

SEPTEMBER JOURNEY

The September Journey will be delivered to congregations this week for immediate distribution. The theme for the month is “Evangelism” but Journey also features three articles /opinion pieces on John Shelby Spong.

1. An extended analysis of Spong’s new book Spong’s Jesus: not radical enough by Dr Benjamin Myers, a theologian and research fellow at University of Queensland. A strong critique of the content of the book delivered with generosity and grace.

2. Shelby Spong: wrong and welcome by Rev Dr David Rankin who affirms the role of heretics in helping the church maintain its orthodoxy.

3. Could Spong be Uniting? By Rev Dr Geoff Thompson looking at where Spong sits in relation to the Basis of Union.

Journey is also available as a PDF download HERE. 

Bruce Mullan, Manager, Communications Services Unit

 

BOOKS FOR REVIEW

Journey is looking for reviewers for the following books. A reviewer’s brief will be provided.  300 words length, one month to review and you get to keep the book.

· A spectator’s guide to World Views: ten ways of understanding life   Edited by Simon Smart Highlights society’s most influential voices including New Age, Secular Humanism, Relativism and Postmodernism. 

· Spirited Practices:  Spirituality and the Helping Professions  Edited by Fran Gale, Natalie Bolzan and Dorothy McRae-McMahon  Shows how it is possible for professionals to think critically, and be open to spirituality at the same time.  Inspiring reading for anyone in the helping professions seeking to develop a spiritually aware practices.

· After the Heavy Rain Khmer Rouge killed his family. He tracked them down - but not for revenge   Sokreaksa S. Himm  Thirteen of Reaksa Himm's immediate family, including his parents, were brutally executed by Cambodia's Khmer Rouge.  Severely wounded, Reaksa was hidden by the bodies of his family

· On the Front Line A father and son, 30 years apart, debate what it means to live all out for Jesus.  Clive and Gavin Calver   We must no longer proclaim a gutless gospel in which Jesus is relegated to the exclusive status of "Saviour" . . . This Jesus has always demanded that he must be, now and forever, my Lord and King.

· Finding Our Way Home Turning Back to What Matters Most   Mark R. McMinn   In some quarters, Christians have a reputation for being deathly afraid of diversity, conflict, humour, sexuality, and most of the other things that help make life worth living. Here is a book to prove it need not be so.

· Destiny What's Life All About?   Krish Kandiah   Have you ever dared to stop and ask the big questions of life? This book invites you to look at six questions we all need to answer: 1. Who shall I be today? 2. What am I supposed to be doing? 3. Why am I so mixed up? 4. What on earth is going on? 5. Which way should I go? 6. Where is my life going?

· The Scrapbooking Journey A Hands-On Guide to Spiritual Discovery   Cory Richardson-Lauve  In this imaginative, creative resource, award-winning scrapbook designer Cory Richardson-Lauve leads you on a celebration of the divine connection you experience through scrap-booking.

· If Jesus were Mayor How your local church can transform your community   Bob Moffitt with Karla Tesch   How would your community change If Jesus Were Mayor? The local church is of pivotal importance to the welfare and development of its community.  Jesus' agenda for community health and transformation is expressed and modeled through His church. How can local churches be equipped and mobilized?

Contact Bruce Mullan HERE to offer to review. First in first served. Reviews will be published in Journey or at www.journeyonline.com.au.

Bruce Mullan, Manager, Communication Services Unit

 

CEM WEEK: 4TH - 6TH SEPTEMBER 2007

We regret to inform you that due to insufficient numbers, the CEM Week scheduled for 4th - 6th September 2007, has been cancelled. We sincerely apologise to those who did register and shown a keen interest in attending our various workshops. We will keep you posted of any future workshops/seminars hosted by our College through UCInfo.

Trinity Theological College

 

Please remember these…

NEW 'CHRISTIANS IN DIALOGUE’ KIT

The 2007 Christians in Dialogue kit is now available. Called 'Hope for a New Pentecost', it is a set of five prayer-study-discussion sessions inviting local ecumenical groups to explore together points at which there are differences among us and looking for possibilities of things that we can do together. Information about the new kit is available on http://www.ucaqld.com.au/files/christians in dialogue 2007.doc.

Don Whebell, Secretary, Synod Ecumenical Relations Committee  

 

CAR BOOT SALE

Where : Jensen Uniting Church, Veales Road Jensen

 

When : Saturday 8th September

 

Time : 8am to 1pm

 

$10.00 per site

 

Sausage sizzle, morning tea, soft drinks, clothing, books, plants, household items and more

 

For more information please phone 4779 7693 or 4723 2932

 

FREE TEA AND COFFEE

 

 

EXPRESS YOUR CHRISTIAN FAITH IN SYNOD WEBSITE

Here's an opportunity to help the Uniting Church express its Christian faith in a public arena. 

 The new Synod web site will have three sections on its front page (faith windows) relating to Christian faith, written by a range of people.  These faith windows will rotate on a daily basis giving a different set of content and images every day of the year

 Section 1 will have excerpts from core documents and answer questions like 'What is the Uniting Church for", and 'How did the Uniting Church start?'.

· Section 2 will be about short comments from a range of people writing about their faith.

· Section 3 will be people talking about how they live out their faith.

 We particularly need contributions for the second and third sections – personal reflection on what faith is about for you, and what it means to live out that faith.

 To see what the faith windows looks like read the samples below, or visit the Beta version of the new website at http://new.ucaqld.com.au/

 For more information contact Duncan McLeod at duncan.mcleod@ucaqld.com.au or Bruce Mullan at bruce.mullan@ucaqld.com.au

 

Presbytery Calendar (including Bruce’s and Steve’s Diary)

 

August 27th – 31st – Bruce on Western Trip – Mt Isa, Hughenden, Cloncurry

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

11th – 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 - Adelaide

8th -Mission Resourcing Committee Meeting – presbytery office

 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 office

 20th – 23rd – Steve to Brisbane YACMU

 21st – 24th - Bruce to Brisbane for Placements etc.

 24th – Special Synod Brisbane

 26th – PLT teleconference

 

December – 11th – 13th – Steve to Brisbane YACMU

 13th – Bruce to Brisbane for Placements

 25th – Christmas Day

 

January 2008 – 9th – 14th – Summer Madness Camp, Sunshine Coast