Issue 34, No 8, 2013
The voice of Uniting Church SA
September 2013
Love is believing discerning and developing faith NEW FAITH, NEW LIVES
JOURNEY TO JERUSALEM
Baptism of new Australians Experiences of at Coromandel Valley
West Bank occupation
pp. 10-11
pp. 14-15
Uniting College for Leadership & Theology
Contents FEATURES A just society
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Coming to faith
9
New faith, new lives
10-11
Journey to Jerusalem
14-15
Caring for carers
We believe...
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The Certificate IV and Diploma in Christian Life & Ministry offer you a wonderful opportunity to explore what you believe and go deeper in your understanding of the Christian faith.
REGULAR PAGES
Moderator’s Comment Getting to know... Letters to the Editor
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Units include: Believing in Jesus Christ Engaging in our Christian Faith Engaging in the Christian Life
18-19 20
Contact Nichola for more information.
Diary 21
Uniting College for Leadership & Theology is the ministry training and theological education agency of the Uniting Church SA. Uniting College is a member college of the Adelaide College of Divinity (ACD), a registered Higher Education Provider and Registered Training Organisation.
Reviews 23 Editor: Catherine Hoffman Editor-in-Chief: Bindy Taylor Advertising: Loan Leane Design: David Lombardi Print: Graphic Print Group For editorial inquiries: p. (08) 8236 4249 e. newtimes@sa.uca.org.au m. The Editor, New Times GPO Box 2145 Adelaide SA 5001 For advertising bookings: p. (08) 7007 9020 e. advertising.newtimes@sa.uca.org.au
CONTACT: 08 8416 8420 info@unitingcollege.org.au unitingcollege.org.au acd.edu.au
UCS-CLT-001_Advert_ SEPTEMBER_2013 NEW TIMES.indd 1
newtimes.sa.uca.org.au facebook.com/NewTimesUCA ISSN 0726-2612 New Times is the voice of Uniting Church SA. Published monthly, February through December, New Times represents the breadth, diversity and vision of Uniting Church members in SA. News policies, guides and deadlines appear online at newtimes.sa.uca.org.au. Articles and advertising do not necessarily reflect the views of the Editor.
Print circulation: 10,000 Uniting Church SA Level 2, 212 Pirie St, Adelaide p. (08) 8236 4200 f. 8236 4201 country callers. 1300 766 956
Pilgrim Uniting Church in the City 12 Flinders Street, Adelaide
Organ Recitals at Pilgrim Sunday 1st September, 2013 2.30pm Michael Fulcher (Melbourne) In conjunction with the RSCM (SA Branch)
Sunday 29th September, 2013 2.30pm William McVicker (UK) In conjunction with the Organ Historical Trust of Australia and the Organ Music Society of Adelaide.
Cost: $20 pp (each Recital)
October:
Love is growing up Throughout the course of our lives, every one of us continues to grow – physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. With growth and change come growing pains and new experiences but, in the midst of these, we can find comfort in the never-changing presence of God. DEADLINE FOR OCTOBER
Wednesday September 11
14/08/13 11:50 AM
Pilgrim Uniting Church 12 Flinders Street, Adelaide p: 8212 3295 e: office@pilgrim.org.au w: pilgrim.org.au
editorial
Pray, and let God do the worrying In 1949, a Gallup Poll of Australians found that 95% of the population believed in God. A similar analysis was conducted by the Australian National University 60 years later, in 2009*; this survey found that 47% of Australians called themselves believers. This 47% covered people with wide-ranging strengths of belief. Overall, 25% of the population firmly believed and had no doubt of God’s existence. The remaining 22% were less certain. Some confessed to generally believing but having occasional doubts whilst others said that they believed in God some of the time but not always. These statistics got me thinking about what it means to be a true and wholehearted believer in God. The Bible tells us, and demonstrates in many different chapters and passages, that believing in God changes everything about our lives. For me, and many of my other believer comrades, believing in God means handing over our lives for him to control. Personally, I no longer feel the need to stress, worry or get anxious about where my life is heading; there is no need to overanalyse the daily ups and downs that life is certain to bring. A few years ago whilst driving through the Barossa, I noticed a quaint church housing a sign that captured my attention; it read “Pray, and let God do the worrying.” I can still visualise the sign, and I remember that it really resonated with me at the time as I had just unloaded a whole lot of baggage onto God. For many years, I struggled to deal with different situations life had thrown at me – playing them over in my head and tying my insides in knots. It wasn’t until I truly believed in Christ that I realised I could hand things over, give up control and feel good about it. God‘s love is unconditional. It is giving. God wants the best for our lives. Love, by its very nature, is deeply connected with the decision and will to always want the very best for someone. God wants the very best for us. *The 2009 “Survey of Australian Attitudes” conducted by the Australian National University surveyed 1718 adults.
Cover details In previous editions of New Times the editorial team have not provided captions or explanations for cover images. However, last edition we received so many queries about who our beautiful cover stars were that we’ve decided to make a change. From now on you can look to this space for information about the who, what and where behind our cover image. This edition’s cover photo relates to the article “Journey to Jerusalem”, which is featured on Pages 14-15. The image was taken by Rick Smith, the author of the article, and shows fellow volunteer, Tor, and a local shepherd watching over sheep on a vulnerable hillside.
Westbourne Park Centenary Reunion Change of date to 12 & 13th of October.
Bindy Taylor
Saturday night: Buffet Dinner at the Church $20 Sunday: Morning Tea at 10 a.m. followed by an 11 a.m. Church Service. Hotel meal at 1 p.m. (venue t.b.a.) (Bookings for both meals essential.) Email Barbara Worley, bedsw@internode.on.net Phone 8373 3030 or Elizabeth Beare 8276 2468 R.S.V.P. by September 23rd.
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moderator
To believe or not to believe? I don’t know whether it’s a getting older ‘thing’ or not. Maybe it’s a discernment ‘thing’. The ‘thing’ is related to what I’m exposed to by the media every day – it’s something to do with believing and accepting what people tell me. I sometimes struggle with doubting questions such as, ‘is this for real?’ or ‘what’s motivating this person to tell me this?’ These are questions you might have asked yourself, too. From time to time, I find myself grappling with whether or not I can believe my eyes and ears; whether I can trust that what is said and done is truthful. I am very aware that trust levels within our community have been significantly eroded, and that human beings are likely to be very wary of one another in certain situations. I hear more and more people lamenting that their confidence in others in slipping away or that they feel they have been let down by the actions of other people. How often have you been told that your phone call to a certain company is “valued”, before being put on hold? How often do companies promise to return your call but fail to do so? These are just two examples among many that demonstrate disparity between what someone says and how that is played out in professional relationships. Is it really so surprising that the distrust experienced here has leaked into personal relationships, too? To believe or not to believe – that is the dilemma. Alongside my disillusionment and, at times, cynicism, stands a miracle that I do well to remember daily. All these people, whom I sometimes feel have been placed on this earth just to make my life a misery, are actually like me in more ways than one – I have to admit that I let people down, just as I am let down. The miracle I need to remember is that all of them are loved by God as I am loved by God – even those whose mission in life seems to be to make mine difficult. Through his son, Jesus Christ, God has demonstrated an amazing belief in humanity. After calling 12 ordinary people to be his disciples, after being crucified, after rising from the dead, Jesus calls the disciples to carry on his work – all this after being misunderstood by them, betrayed by one, denied by another and deserted by all! Jesus believes in his disciples. Through the promise of his presence, they are able to act on his call and gather new followers for him. We are called to do the same as Jesus’ disciples today. This I firmly believe.
Rev Rob Williams
Placements News Upcoming Special Services: Rev Lyn Leane, Woodville Gardens Uniting Church on Sunday 22 September at 11am Ordination Service: To be held at Adelaide West Uniting Church on Sunday 8 September at 2pm Robyn Caldicott, Candidate for MOW Lyn Leane, Candidate for Deacon Albert Patrizi, Candidate for Deacon Christine Manning, Candidate for MOW Vacant Placements: Profiles available – Bordertown, Buckingham and Mundulla; Burnside City; Colonel Light Gardens; Coromandel Valley; Dulwich Rose Park United (from 1 March 2014); Echunga, Goyder Ministry Area; Hawthorn (0.5); Kent Town (0.7); Mallala and Two Wells (0.6); Morialta; Port Elliot (0.5); Rosefield; Waikerie. Profiles not yet available – Aldinga-McLaren Vale Linked Congregations (from 1 January 2014); Clearview (0.5); Klemzig (0.5); Para Hills (0.4); Port Augusta Uniting Aboriginal and Islander Christian Congress; Windsor Gardens (0.5); Whyalla. National placements vacant – Defence Force Chaplaincy; National Coordinator, Uniting Aboriginal and Islander Christian Congress; National Director, Formation Education and Discipleship. For more information on any of these placements, please visit sa.uca.org.au/pastoral-relations/placements-vacant
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news
A just society In 1977, the first Assembly of the Uniting Church in Australia issued a “Statement to the Nation”, recognising the importance of Christian responsibility to society within the mission of the Church. Additionally, this statement emphasised the need for the Uniting Church to be involved in social and national affairs as part of the church’s response to the gospel. This is something to be considered as we edge closer to the Federal Election scheduled for Saturday 11 September. Earlier this year, Uniting Justice created an election resource that aims to give a Christian perspective on a number of election issues. Titled “A Just Society: your faith, your voice, your vote”, the resource is an invitation to consider what needs to be done, individually and as a nation, to ensure a just society.
Addressed within the resource are explorations of the key issues that Australian people are facing, including: recognition for Aboriginal Peoples, justice for asylum seekers and refugees, climate change, rural challenges, aged care, international development and much more. “A Just Society: your faith, your voice, your vote” has not been created to lead people to any particular conclusion about who to vote for in the election; the purpose of the resource is not to rate the policy platforms of any political parties. Rather, it aims to explore how the gospel may be applied to various aspects of Australia’s national life, helping those within the Uniting Church to identify vital issues within the nation and to vote discerningly. For further information, or to access the resource, please visit unitingjustice.org.au/election2013 or contact Uniting Justice on 8267 4236.
Update on Playgroup in the Park For several years now, Playgroup in the Park (affectionately known as PiP) has been run annually during Children’s Week. The event, held between 10am and 1pm on the Semaphore foreshore, has successfully brought together children, parents and carers in a huge outdoor playgroup session. This year, several of the key organisers of the event have had to leave the PiP committee. As such, a decision has been made to put PiP on
hold for this year – the event will next be held on Friday 24 October, 2014 instead. This will enable the current committee to source new volunteers and work towards delivering a well-organised, energetic event for those attending next year. For more information, please visit the PiP Facebook page at facebook.com/playgroupintheparksa
Faith, fun and fellowship On the October long weekend, Woodcroft College will again play host to the annual South Australian Youth Camp Out (SAYCO). This Uniting Church event, which attracts both Christian and non-Christian youth between the ages of 12 and 17, provides a safe place for teenagers to have fun while growing and exploring their faith. Each year, SAYCO offers a unique combination of worship, games, workshops and activities designed to grow campers’ leadership skills, encourage their relationships with one another, and nurture their faith. “SAYCO was amazing – there seemed to be a real fervency amongst some of the youth groups, and a really positive vibe generally,” said Rev Dean Whittaker, reflecting on the 2012 event. “My feeling was that there was a heightened sense of God’s favour and presence. I came away really encouraged.” To find out more about SAYCO (5-7 October, 2013) and how to get involved, please visit sa.uca.org.au/sayco or contact the Jo Lohmeyer, the SAYCO Event Officer, on 8236 4246.
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Youth having fun at SAYCO in 2012.
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A UC Invest investment reaches way beyond your hip pocket. It helps others by supporting programs that benefit all members of our community; programs like Lifeline and chaplaincy, aged care and education facilities and many, many more.
Investing for now and for the future. Invest with someone who invests in your community. Visit us at ucinvest.com.au or call us on 1300 274 151. UC Invest is an activity of The Uniting Church in Australia Property Trust (S.A.) ABN 25 068 897 781, the legal entity of the Uniting Church SA. Investment services are provided on behalf of the Uniting Church SA pursuant to ASIC Policy Statement 87 exemptions and APRA Banking Exemption No. 1 of 2013 (“The Uniting Church in Australia Property Trust (S.A.)�). Neither UC Invest nor the Uniting Church SA are prudentially supervised by APRA. Investments and contributions lodged with UC Invest will not benefit from the depositor protection provisions of the Banking Act (1959). All products offered by UC Invest are designed for investors who wish to promote the charitable purposes of the Uniting Church SA.
news
Barbequing for remote communities As spring approaches, barbeques right across the country will ignite to support the amazing work of Frontier Services through their annual fundraising campaign – the Great Outback BBQ. Frontier Services are encouraging churches to show their support by hosting their own Great Outback BBQ event. Churches can fire up the barbie on the launch weekend (31 August-1 September), any time in September, or at an even later date in spring or summer. One local Adelaide church is already on board – Brougham Place Uniting Church in North Adelaide. “We’re always looking for fun and worthwhile things to do, and we thought the Great Outback BBQ was a really great idea,” said organiser Bronwyn Hern. The congregation will host a BBQ following a ‘Frontier Services Sunday’ worship service on Sunday 13 October. Their efforts will raise money to support Frontier Services’ work in remote ministry and vital community services. For those churches who cannot host a BBQ, hosting a Billy Morning Tea with fresh scones or damper is also an option, as are other fundraising event ideas; events can be tailored to the needs of each congregation involved. All participants registering an event will receive a ‘BBQ Host Pack’ including recipes, fundraising ideas and other materials to get started. In the last two years, more than 180 Great Outback BBQs have been held across Australia. These events have raised $140,000, helping
Frontier Services to provide a network of care and support in the most remote areas of Australia. To register an event or download resources, visit greatoutbackbbq.com or phone Great Outback BBQ Coordinator Charlotte Caress on 1300 787 247.
Great Outback BBQ events have raised $140,000 for the work of Frontier Services over the past two years.
Presidential appointment for Uniting Church SA Deacon At the World DIAKONIA Assembly, held in Berlin in July this year, Rev Sandy Boyce was elected the new World President of the DIAKONIA World Federation of Diaconal Associations and Diaconal Communities. Sandy has been involved in the organisation for many years and has previously held other roles locally, regionally and globally. These include: National Convener, DIAKONIA in the Uniting Church in Australia; English co-editor for the annual DIAKONIA News; member of the DIAKONIA Executive Committee, representing the Asia-Pacific (DAP) Region. Sandy’s new role will involve leading and coordinating the annual meeting of the Executive Committee, in addition to working
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on the tasks of the Committee in general. This includes – reflecting on the nature of task of Deacons around the world, providing a network for those engaged in diaconal work worldwide, supporting the development of groups undertaking diaconal work, developing ongoing ecumenical relationships and consultation, and organising the next Assembly (held every four years). As a whole, the members of DIAKONIA hope to further the understanding of the diaconate, strengthen a sense of community and understanding between groups and individuals from all over the world, encourage each other to explore any diaconal callings, and provide a forum for discussion of diaconal issues.
“I remain convinced that a diaconal approach – connecting church and community – is core to who we are as ‘church’; it informs our mission, and our priorities, projects and commitments,” Sandy reflects. Sandy has been appointed for a four year term as World President of DIAKONIA from 2013 to 2017. During this time, Sandy will continue her work as a Deacon in placement, supporting and engaging with diaconal ministry in and through Pilgrim Uniting Church, as well as the wider church. For more information about the DIAKONIA World Federation, please visit diakonia-world.org
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Awareness events Suicide: it’s no secret will run again this year with its usual focus on lifting the silence that surrounds the topic of suicide. A Remembrance Service for those lost to suicide will be held at Scots Uniting Church in Adelaide on World Suicide Awareness Day, Tuesday 10 September at 5.30pm. For more information, please call 8236 4200 or email communications@sa.uca.org.au
8261 8211 All hours
www.ivanbutlerfunerals.com.au enquiries@ivanbutlerfunerals.com.au 26 OG Road Klemzig SA 5087
Organised by Seeds Uniting Church’s XS Community along with In2Life and Woodcroft College, the event will be held on Thursday 19 September, 7.30pm at Woodcroft College (Bains Road, Morphett Vale). For further information (including how to RSVP), contact Neil Milton on 0416 143 328 or neil.milton@seedschurch.org
Attention all men
AUSTRALIAN FUNERAL DIRECTORS ASSOCIATION
Geoff Lewis General Manager
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Keeping Young People Safe is an event for adults concerned about the issues that today’s young people face. Three speakers will address topics such as depression, bullying, youth suicide prevention and mental health issues.
The Living Waters Mighty Men’s Conference is on again this year, taking place from Friday 11 to Sunday 13 October at Emmaus campsite in Halbury, just east of Balaklava. Men from all over Australia will gather together for worship, fellowship, encouragement and friendship. There are few opportunities in our culture where men can stand with men and position themselves to simply receive from God – this annual event has the sole purpose of doing just that. The conference is designed to help men hear the call of God on their lives and to receive encouragement from him, as well as from one another. The event will include great speakers, worship, food and fellowship – most of all though, it’s a great time to reconnect with God. God has been using these gatherings in amazing ways – prayerfully consider sponsoring someone or suggesting that they attend the event. For more information, or to register, visit mightymensconference.org.au/living-waters-balaklava
L ove i s b e l i ev i n g
Love is believing. Believing in equality. Believing in justice. Believing in others. Believing in goodness. Believing in the salvation that comes through Jesus Christ.
Coming to faith Dr Deidre Palmer
In reflecting on how I have come to faith, I could give you a date and location – Easter, 1969, Mt Barker Showgrounds – but that would not be completely accurate. My ‘coming to faith’ began long before that wonderful moment at Mt Barker Easter Camp. I was nurtured and loved by a local church, Seaton Methodist – my mother took me to Sunday School there. I can remember dramatic renditions of the Prodigal Son and the Good Samaritan, singing songs like “Jesus wants me for a sunbeam”, and running in races at Sunday School picnics (fuelled by delicious red cordial!). Above all, I believe I came to faith through the witness of this Christian community,
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because they loved me and pointed me to Jesus. The adults, including teachers, girls’ club leaders and parents of friends, cared about us. They opened their homes to us. I remember great conversations around kitchen tables or in lounge rooms about everything – from contemporary music to whether God answers prayer. While immersed in this community that was living its faith, I was blessed to have a Sunday School teacher who encouraged us to think about our relationship with Jesus. I can remember thinking, ‘this is really important – her relationship with Jesus affects her whole life.’ That brings me to Easter, 1969. I have a sense of mystery about what happened that
night, when someone invited us to “come forward and give your life to Jesus.” I can’t really remember the exact words used. What I do have is a strong memory of being borne up by someone beyond myself and moving to the front of that hall, filled with an overwhelming sense of joy and love. I would now describe that event as the Holy Spirit moving me to respond to God’s call on my life – the Divine Mystery. But the path that brought me to that experience was not a mystery. I was blessed to be part of a Christian community that intentionally discipled its children and young people, loved them and invited them into relationship with Christ.
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L ove i s b e l i ev i n g
New faith, new lives Coromandel Valley Uniting Church has recently seen the baptism of a number of men and women from Iran, largely asylum seekers. Here, Jill Baker shares details about the growing relationship between the congregation and its new, Iranian attendees.
“You Australians just don’t know how lucky you are.” This passionate declaration, made by a slightly built man with striking middle-European looks, caused the congregation at Coromandel Valley Uniting Church (CVUC) to sit up and take notice. “At my home, I had a good education, good job, steady family, enough money – but I had nothing here,” the man continued, clapping both hands on his chest. “In Australia, I have nothing – no house, no family, no money, no job…” The man paused for a moment, and his face lit up as he gently placed both hands over his heart, lowering his voice to say, “…but I have everything here.” Fred (Fard) was our CVUC congregation’s first glimpse of an extraordinary movement of God taking place in our midst – and it had just resulted in eight Iranians being baptised by full immersion. To be a part of this experience was humbling, spiritually stirring and awe-inspiring. For several months, Iranians had been coming to CVUC, meeting in the lobby with Abu, another faithful Christian, for Persian bible study and a Farsi translation of the day’s teaching. Bible readings were projected in both English and Farsi, and the congregation was starting to sing a new song where the only word non-Iranian attendees recognised was ‘Alleluya.’ These Iranians were asylum seekers, or ‘boat people’; they were those people who were causing much political gnashing of teeth in Australia. But Fred, Abu, and their friends and acquaintances were in our church, offering a different side to the story than that presented by politicians or the media. Every Sunday, CVUC played host to approximately 30 to 40 Iranian men, women and children – people coming to our church to discover more about Christianity. Over time, the Iranian people started to tell stories of Jesus appearing in detention centres, of miraculous healings, and their astonishment in discovering the love, grace and forgiveness intrinsic in Christianity. As a congregation, we witnessed their weeping, their grief and their joy. Other stories depicted the journey of different individuals to Australia – the false promises of cruise ships to take them from Indonesia to Australia, and the harsh reality that followed. The congregation heard how torturous the journey was – four days in a wooden boat that rode just above the waterline, four days in rough seas, four days without food or water, four days for the reality of what must await them in Australia to truly sink in.
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The narratives also encompassed the reasons many had for leaving, largely related to the possibility of being detained – something that often happened unpredictably or without real reason. Of those attending CVUC, two people had been Christians before they left Iran. As a result of their faith, they suffered the distancing of many friends and family members. They had to meet in secret, usually in house churches with people they trusted, and there was a constant need to be on the alert. Even in Australia, many of the new Christians feel wary. They know there may be spies in their midst, waiting to report on their newfound beliefs in ways that could endanger themselves or their families. Through their joy in embracing the teachings and love of Christ, the Iranian people are alert. However, they are also determined. There is a particular desire and call amongst the group to spread the word about their faith to Muslims in Australia. Additionally, many of the Iranian men and women, including Fred, have been swamped with requests from all over Australia to teach, to preach, to tell their stories and to heal. While the nation struggles with concerns over asylum seekers, God has sent us his healing balm in the conversion of these devout people of Iran to Christianity. “Love has suddenly been poured out on us,” says CVUC minister, Rev Greg Pearce. “We are witnessing the Spirit of God at work. It is happening in other churches too – and it seems to be happening in Iran itself. I get the feeling that the whole crowd at Coro Uniting is pretty eager to see what God is going to do next.” There are more baptisms to come and, while these newcomers to our community get to know and understand the love of Christ, the congregation of Coromandel Valley Uniting Church is being lifted to new levels of spiritual understanding and awareness.
L ove i s b e l i ev i n g
An Iranian man being baptised at Coromandel Valley Uniting Church in July this year. Photo courtesy of The Advertiser.
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Sharing faith with young people Melissa Neumann
‘I believe in you.’ This is a powerfully affirming and encouraging phrase to say to someone, particularly to a young person. Parents, relatives and even friends, at church or at home, need to affirm young people through words. Words are powerful instruments – they can build a person up or cut them down; it is important to look for the good in one another and state it. Even when someone disappoints us, our words can show that we still care. Author, pastor and relationship counsellor Dr Gary Chapman identifies words of affirmation as one of the ‘five love languages’, recognising how such words can help people to effectively express love (for more information, please visit 5lovelanguages.com). Blessing someone is another way of affirming someone’s worth. Blessings can range from Bible benedictions to something said in a person’s own words – even something as simple as ‘God loves you, and so do I’ or ‘You are God’s child.’ A blessing may also be accompanied by a hand on the other person’s head, by a hug or by making the sign of the cross. Children may also be invited to give a blessing to someone else. This affirming act conveys both love and faith. As adults, we want to share our faith with young people, but we often feel ill-equipped and unsure about the best way to do this. Knowing that God is at work in the lives of young people, and that they are open to God, can be a good starting point. At a recent Australian conference* about children’s spirituality, Dr Brendan Hyde said, “We are spiritual beings who have a human life not human beings with a spiritual life. Therefore all children are spiritual.” Spirituality is an innate human characteristic. Accordingly, the role of adults in teaching children about their faith is more like that of a tour guide than a lecturer. Adults within church communities do not need to be the source of all knowledge but people journeying
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alongside one another, and including young people. As a tour guide, there may be times where we share experiences together, as well as times where we point to Jesus, allowing young people the space to make their own choices. In More Ready Than You Realise, author Brian McLaren relates a story about someone who came to faith because the Christians he was spending time with shared their problems; through this, the person realised that he could have problems and still be a Christian. Sharing a personal story can be as simple as speaking about a first encounter with Jesus or a situation where faith has been helpful when life has gotten hard. Young people need faith for every day. Following Jesus can sometimes be difficult, and is often about daily decisions; however, following him also brings deep joy and peace that play a role in daily life rather than being separate from it. By sharing daily struggles and celebrations, adults give young people permission to do the same. *The Children & Spirituality Conference with Rebecca Nye was held in Victoria in April this year. For more information about children’s spirituality or forming faith in homes, please contact the Children & Family Ministry Team, Uniting Church SA on children@sa.uca.org.au or 8236 4281.
Photo taken by Luke Roberts.
The “Faith 5” tool, created by Faith Inkubators, is a simple and effective way for Christians journeying together to think about life and faith. The five points can be addressed by individuals or with friends or family, daily or as regularly as possible. 1. Share your highs and lows of the day 2. Listen to God’s word (read a verse or two from the Bible) 3. Relate the verse to your highs and lows 4. Pray for one another 5. Bless one another To find out more about the Faith 5, contact the Children & Family Ministry Team (details at end of main article) or visit faithink.com.au
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Musicians play at the Justice More than a Word album launch on Saturday 3 August. Photo courtesy of Warren Bradley.
Promoting justice through music Neil Milton
On Saturday 3 August, over 300 people came to witness history in the making. Recently, Seeds Uniting Church’s XS Community joined together with World Vision Australia to record an album, titled Justice More Than a Word (JMTAW). The album comprises 11 tracks, all revolving around the theme of justice. The fundraising initiative provided an opportunity to promote topical issues through music. Proceeds from the album will go towards World Vision’s work in the Republic of Malawi, located in southeast Africa. On the first Saturday in August, the album was officially launched at an event at Light Square House in Adelaide. The contributing artists gathered at the event to perform live on stage to a packed audience. Included were performances by World Vision national artists Georgia Germein, Sheryn Binks and Levi McGrath. Local talent was wellrepresented in the form of The Viennas, They Set Fire, Interval, Cutting Space, Paige and Rye, Rachel Michael, Coralie Kate and Rebecca Pynor. The genres covered by the talented musicians ranged from punk to hip hop, rock to ballads – a little something for everyone. Each artist was interviewed before playing their song, providing an opportunity for the audience to hear why they personally believe that justice is more than just a word. Musicians were also invited to share what their song was about, allowing the audience a unique insight into the true meaning behind each song. The all-ages event utilised a pub/cafe style set-up with tables and chairs scattered around the venue and standing room closer to the stage. The money raised by the cafe, and through the sale of tickets and merchandise, amounted to over $5,000. These funds will also be directed towards World Vision’s work in Malawi. Return to Contents
Since the event, JMTAW has gone on sale through iTunes (Apple), Play Store (Android) and at Koorong. The album recently rose to number 97 in the iTunes charts and number 13 in the rock genre charts. This amazing achievement is made greater through the knowledge that the money raised will go towards vital work in Malawi. A physical copy of the JMTAW CD can be purchased from Koorong. Digital copies can be purchased through the iTunes store or the Google Play Store. JMTAW has been supported by World Vision Australia, Disc Edits, The Valley Studios, Life FM, Seeds Uniting Church and the Seeds Foundation. For more information, please visit jmtaw.com
A large crowd gathered for the JMTAW album launch. Photo courtesy of Warren Bradley.
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L ove i s b e l i ev i n g
Journey to Jerusalem The Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel (EAPPI) brings internationals to the West Bank to experience what it is like to live under occupation. Rick Smith recently returned to Adelaide after participating in EAPPI. He shares some of his experiences below.
“Oh, no. God doesn’t have a son. Mohammed is his last prophet. I like you, Rick, but you will go to hell if you believe that.” So a very earnest young Palestinian and I discussed our different faiths. Actually, I was anxious not to talk about religion; although I was with the World Council of Churches, I was in the South Hebron Hills (SHH) to participate in humanitarian work, not to evangelise. The subject of religion is very touchy in Israel/Palestine, where the world’s three monotheistic faiths have some of their holiest sites. During the Second Intifada, when strife between Jews and Muslims took violent form, the Jerusalem Heads of Churches used their Easter Address to beg the world for help. And so, in 2003, the Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel (EAPPI) was born. Ever since, four times a year, a new batch of Ecumenical Accompaniers (EAs, as they’re known) arrive in Jerusalem. The EAs are there to support efforts to reach a just peace through an end to occupation, respect for international law and the implementation of UN resolutions. My group, #45, featured EAs ranging from a 19-year-old Brazilian boy to a 72-year-old South African woman. The 34 of us were divided into seven placements around the West Bank: Tulkarm, Jayyous and Yanun to the north, Bethlehem, Hebron and the SHH to the south, and, of course, East Jerusalem itself. My colleagues in the SHH were a retired Dutch midwife, a Finnish clown and a Norwegian music teacher. EAs believe that, by walking with Jesus at the side of the oppressed and dispossessed, we are doing his work. And indeed, the role of an EA is literally to walk beside Palestinians, especially where their lives take them into situations where they feel threatened by the Israeli presence on their lands: either military installations or the civilian towns built in contravention of the Fourth Geneva Convention. Wearing a recognisable vest, EAs are not human shields (despite what my father thinks) but observers who keep everyone playing by the rules. One morning we went into an olive grove with some farmers to harvest their crop. Under heavy military guard (the grove was quite close to a settlement) the farmers began to pluck the olives and prune the trees. We were just enjoying a glass of Arabic tea – super sweet and flavoured with mint – when a pair of young men with the tell-tale tassels on their white shirts walked down the hill from the settlement. Gradually more came, seeming to want to intimidate the soldiers as much as the Palestinians. It was quickly clear, even without understanding Hebrew or Arabic, that they wanted us gone.
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Had we not been there with them, the farmers may have been sent away before they were done. We often provided a similar service to shepherds hesitant to graze their sheep where they could be seen from a settlement, and to grain farmers who were sowing their crop. Being with people need not have an immediately practical effect, of course. Such ‘solidarity visits’, as I called them, were a second chunk of our time in the SHH. We enjoyed coffee with the volunteers at the Yatta branch of the Palestinian Red Crescent, built a relationship with a family whose youngest daughter had cerebral palsy (possibly because she was born at a check point and not in a hospital) and joined the whole village of Ad Deirat as they watched a magnificent house get demolished by the Israeli Defence Force. Of course, the EAPPI program allowed plenty of ways to relieve the shock and stress. Mid-term training took us to the Mediterranean Sea to meet Arab Israelis in Haifa, and placement visits meant I could visit Jerusalem and the Jordan Valley on a ‘working holiday’. I spent my days off visiting Jericho, swimming in the Dead Sea, or cycling around the Sea of Galilee. A less enjoyable part of my trip was getting up very early, two mornings a week, to monitor check points in the separation wall. Built to prevent Palestinian access to Israeli cities, this barrier has been condemned by the International Court of Justice because it is twice as long as the border it demarcates, frequently expanding several kilometres into Palestinian territory and often cutting off villages from their lands, or each other. Seeing the enmity between the Palestinians and the Israelites can be disheartening; it can be difficult to believe in a solution. US Secretary of State, John Kerry, announced re-opened peace talks between the nations in August, but many felt these talks were doomed before they even began. Organisations like EAPPI provide some hope for those who are most strongly impacted by the struggles, as Christians can offer protection and understanding. For further information about the program, visit eappi.org
A Palestinian home is demolished by the Israeli army.
In the foreground is a Palestinian village; on the neighbouring hill is an expanding Jewish settlement.
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The Dome of the Rock as seen from the Lutheran Church Tower in Jerusalem.
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magazine
Caring for carers Bindy Taylor
Within the South Australian community, there are many carers who provide support to others who cannot function independently – people with physical, intellectual and/ or mental disabilities, people who are frail or aging, or people with mental illnesses. A carer’s role can be demanding, tiring and isolating, especially in situations where support is required 24/7. This is where Dernancourt Uniting Church and UnitingCare Wesley Bowden (UCWB) step in – they have launched a combined initiative which they have affectionately named ‘The Good Life Carer Lunch Club.’ After receiving feedback from carers, UCWB discovered that there were many who wanted a social group to meet other carers and share ‘like-minded’ experiences and useful information. Many carers expressed a desire for an event with special support that would allow them to bring along the person being cared for. When the Dernancourt congregation approached UCWB about getting involved in a community project, it seemed like a perfect opportunity to create something new – a regular lunch event for carers. The first lunch was organised for April 11, 2013. Many people from the Dernancourt congregation have been actively involved in volunteering with the project – Ron and Cyril (above left photo, left to right) number among these volunteers. When talking to
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them about the carers’ lunch, the joy and fulfilment that the project has brought them is clearly apparent. “We feel God has been very active in the growth and fruition of this project,” Cyril explains. “We were recently awarded a $2000 grant from the council to purchase a new dishwasher, which is a further endorsement of God’s encouragement in support of this vital community project.” “People are making their attendance a priority – even changing appointments so they can make it to the carers’ lunch,” adds Ron. While such a statement may seem almost unbelievable to the uninitiated, when attending the event it immediately makes sense. The space in which the event is held seats approximately 80 people; a welcoming, friendly buzz fills the room and the atmosphere is one of excitement. Strangers and friends are seated at each table smiling, chatting and sharing stories. Each lunch is different; on Thursday 18 July the itinerary was full and diverse, featuring guest speakers, a mystery door prize, a dancing dog, a quiz on the royal family and, most importantly, a delicious three-course lunch. For many carers, this is the first time someone has served a meal to them in a very long time. Some are unable to go out to a restaurant with the person they care for as their personal care needs are too great.
The lunch overcomes this by providing fully trained support workers to assist where required. Many of the people attending the event are husbands and wives in situations where one person has deteriorated in health and needs assistance from the other. It is heartwarming to see the love these couples have for one another, even as they have to adjust to caring for each other in new ways. The Good Life Carers’ Lunch Club provides a space for both carers and those they care for to join in community and share stories – it is a beautiful opportunity for people to connect with others who can understand what they are going through. The Good Life Carer’s Lunch Club program runs from 11am until 2.30pm on the second to last Thursday of every month (apart from December). Upcoming dates are 19 September, 24 October, and 21 November in 2013, and 23 January in 2014. To find out more or to enquire about attending, contact Dernancourt Uniting Church on 8369 0802. If the phone is unattended, leave a message and someone will get back to you. Alternatively, contact UCWB on 8346 8329. UCWB and Dernancourt Uniting encourage other churches to host carers’ lunches, and invite any interested congregations or individuals to give them a call.
magazine
100 years at Westbourne Park Don Blesing
On Sunday 18 August, Westbourne Park Uniting Church celebrated 100 years of ministry by holding a special Centenary Anniversary Service. The seeds for this celebration had been planted a long time ago, and the idea of growth and harvest were present in many aspects of the service – particularly the communion. Last winter, people from the Westbourne Park congregation, in partnership with people from Meningie Uniting Church, prayerfully sowed wheat seeds at a farm in Malinong. The wheat was harvested and ground into flour before being lovingly baked into a communion loaf. This process was one of sharing and growth, and was completed together with people from the Meningie congregation. This partnership encapsulated the essence of the centenary celebrations, and provided evidence of the importance Westbourne Park places on forming relationships with rural congregations, the local community and global needs. “From its earliest days as a Methodist Church to its time as a Uniting Church, this congregation has helped people grow their faith with a focus on meeting community needs,” says Westbourne Park minister, Rev Tony Eldridge. “I am excited that this church takes change seriously – change in our lives, change in the things God can do for us and through us,” Tony continues. “Westbourne Park is a church willing to embrace newness, welcoming newcomers to our community from a variety of cultures and faith backgrounds.” There was an emphasis on both newness and history in the message given by Uniting Church SA Moderator, Rev Rob Williams. Choosing Acts 17:28, “For in him we live and move and have our being”, as the focus for his message, Rob spoke on the topic of “Moving with God – but where?” “At a centenary celebration, it’s helpful to trace where we’ve come from as a congregation and who we have become,” declared Rob. “Our true identity, however, now and into the future, is inextricably bound to the God who gives us life, direction and purpose, individually and as the people of God in this place, for this community.” The Moderator recognised areas where Westbourne Park has stepped out in faith in recent decades. The areas mentioned included: weekly craft workshops attracting over 300 people; weekly fitness classes for people from the local community and other churches; support for more than 50 netball teams; caring for orphans, widows and children in Uganda; and building houses in a remote village in Timor Leste (East Timor). The centenary service also provided an opportunity for the launch of Faith Stories. Included within this book are 45 extraordinary stories told by ordinary church people, all of whom have worshipped in Westbourne Park’s ordinary brown pews. Return to Contents
The communion loaves were baked by Angela Mason from Meningie with Helen Sampson and Sarah Flynn (left to right).
Rev Rob Williams with Tim Burrow holding wheat used for baking communion bread.
The book was presented by church council chairperson, Jenny March, who also wrote the introduction to the book. In the introduction, Jenny draws attention to the long history of people seeking to record and share their experiences of God, as evidenced in the many letters of the New Testament. This book is Westbourne Park’s opportunity to share their experiences, taking part in a tradition of story-telling that goes back thousands of years. “This isn’t a traditional history book,” Jenny writes. “It doesn’t attempt to tell the definitive story of Westbourne Park over one hundred years. Instead it is the story of Westbourne Park as seen through the faith experiences of those who wanted to write something.” “This church and its culture...it’s where I have seen the best of community at work: selflessness, understanding, happiness, acceptance, encouragement, love, hope and belief,” editor Mike Sexton wrote in his own story, also contained within the book. These sentiments were certainly echoed by many at the August centenary celebrations. Westbourne Park Uniting Church will continue its celebrations at a Centenary Reunion on Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 October (details on Page 3). Another book, Moving Forward with God, will be released for sale over the reunion weekend. This book provides an update of the history of Westbourne Park from 1913, now in an electronic format.
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g e t t i n g t o k n ow. . .
Finniss Uniting Church What is your church’s mission/vision? To maintain a place of worship in Finniss. Roughly how many people attend your services? Finniss Uniting Church holds a morning service on the third Sunday of each month, followed by a shared the lunch; approximately 30 people attend the service. Who makes up your senior leadership team? What are their passions and focus? Finniss has too few locals to conduct the usual church committees and programs, but that does not diminish the congregation's sincerity. Can you give us a basic history of your church? The original church/day school was built in 1869, and demolished in 1993. The present church building was constructed in 1910. In recent years, the building has been fully renovated with voluntary labour and funds raised from various activities. Finniss Uniting Church has a number of beautiful, historical characteristics. The standouts are the attractive, restored pressed metal ceiling and the leadlight windows, which were donated by six different families. The 1869 foundation stone was saved and incorporated into a sandstone monument. In the past two years, the outside timber has been painted, and the stone work repainted where needed. The surrounding garden is attractive and well-maintained.
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What is God doing at your church at present? God is the same at Finniss Uniting Church as everywhere else, for which the congregation are grateful. What are your hopes for the future? The congregation at Finniss Uniting Church hope to have more people entering the community, to share in the fellowship and friendship that is clearly evident at the church’s services. How do you connect with the local and wider communities? Once again, the small number of locals restricts the activities of the church. However, the congregation does allow local groups to use the Sunday School Hall for meetings, and have made donations to charities in the past. What makes your church unique? Through the congregation's sincerity for God's work, and the conviviality that exists each month, Finniss Uniting Church attracts worshippers from other denominations and outside of the district. The Sunday School Hall has a fully equipped kitchen, with inside and outside toilets, making it an attractive community meeting place.
g e t t i n g t o k n ow. . .
Freedom Uniting Church, Paralowie With a strong focus on community, and a mission to bring people to Jesus and grow passionate disciples, Freedom Uniting Church in Paralowie have recently been blessed to see a growth of attendance, particularly of families. A significant portion of this growth has occurred as people have come back to a Christian church after some time away. Freedom provides a welcoming community where it doesn’t matter how much money someone has or where people are in their faith journey – the congregation at Freedom delights in including people and helping God to grow and shape them. Freedom Uniting Church Pastor, Stephanie Tai, has a strong focus on local Christian community fulfilling the mission of God. Steph, as she is known, is passionate about reclaiming discipleship for Christians, and as a way for others to discover more about God. Her aim is to equip people to share about Jesus – who he is and what he has done – with friends, family and others. With a growing number of children and young people in attendance, Amy Incledon has been brought on board as Freedom’s Children’s Ministry Coordinator this year. Amy has a deep desire to see children grow up to know, and have a personal relationship with, God. She currently oversees the Kid’s Church program for school-aged children at Freedom. The leadership team at Freedom oversees the management of the congregation and works with the pastoral team to discern the church’s vision and direction. Despite being established approximately 18 years ago, the congregation at Freedom believe that they are only just starting to see what God has in store for them.
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“We are in exciting times as a church,” says Steph. “We are hearing great stories of God moving in peoples’ lives; there is an expectation that, as we seek God, we will see him move not only in the lives of people within the congregation but in the lives of those who we long to see come into a relationship with him. “There has been a resurgence of passion for prayer as we recognise that it is Christ who transforms lives and that we need to lean into him.” The church runs a number of events and programs to engage with the local community, including: The Shed (an op-shop), Hot Soup Lunch, K@FFE (Kid’s Club), a youth group, an Easter egg hunt and Christmas Eve Carols in the Park. The congregation also connects with staff at the local primary school and nearby shops. The congregation at Freedom is consistently outward-looking through both the programs they run and the personal expression of their discipleship. “While we love the impact and opportunities that our events and programs create, we are keenly aware that the greatest impact occurs when every individual takes on a mission to share God’s love in their every day lives,” Steph continues. “My hope for the future of the church is that the people who God has brought to Freedom will be grounded in simple and easily reproducible discipleship – that, as disciples, they are encouraged by the church and empowered by the Holy Spirit to be able to share faith with their friends and family,” Steph explains. “My deepest desire is that everyone will see their loved ones coming to faith in Christ.” Freedom Uniting Church holds a weekly service on Sunday at 10am that generally attracts 50 to 70 people, including children.
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letters to the editor
Public school stories
Having read the August edition of New Times and the contribution of our private colleges, I look forward to an edition celebrating the work of Christian teachers in state schools. They are in an important position as the leaven in that secular environment and we should uphold them in that ministry. Their work situation has been described as ‘the reverse John West’ position: we accept the ones the others reject. I was left considering – perhaps mischievously – “Which would Jesus attend?” R.A. Lee Aldinga Beach
Keeping the elderly safe
The church has gone some way to address the safety of children by implementing programs such as child safe environments. This ensures that anyone working with children has the necessary knowledge to determine if a child has been abused or neglected, and to act upon their findings. Unlike child abuse, elder abuse is a topic that is just emerging. Elder abuse at present is under-researched, remains hidden in our society and is at the stage that child abuse reporting was at 30 years ago. The limited research available suggests that older adults who are attending our churches may be experiencing some form of abuse. It is estimated that between 2-10% of older adults experience some form of abuse with the two most common types being financial or psychological. At the recent World Elder Abuse Awareness Day National Conference, the key note speaker, Paul Greenwood (Deputy District Attorney, Head of the Elder Abuse Prosecution Unit in San Diego in the US), called for all ministers of religion to be trained in elder abuse and its detection. I petition the Uniting Church to take up this challenge and make it mandatory that all ministers, and those working with older adults, receive appropriate training in elder abuse. We have a duty of care to protect all vulnerable people and this issue will only increase as our population continues to age. E. Prior, Highbury
Christianity, climate change and clean energy
Divesting our fossil fuel shares and investing in clean renewable energy, goes to the very heart of our life as Christians to care for God’s creation and to love one another. That’s because, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA), to achieve a relatively safe climate with a rise of two degrees Celsius, two-thirds of the currently known oil, coal and gas reserves must be left in the ground.
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The Uniting Church is in line with 97% of climate scientists (according to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, for example) in accepting that humans are causing climate change. The overwhelming scientific consensus is that the major cause of climate change is greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere by burning fossil fuels. Climate change brings severe and frequent natural disasters; the poorest people, in the developing world, will bear over 90% of the burden (former UN Secretary-General and President of GHF Kofi Annan 2009), yet they are least responsible. The Uniting Church in Australia is setting an example through the Queensland Synod, which has no fossil fuel investments; the Synod of New South Wales and the ACT recently decided to divest theirs, too. As individuals we can do the same. Divesting shares can be effective. Action by the international community on the anti-apartheid divestment movement significantly contributed to the fall of the South African apartheid government, according to Archbishop Desmond Tutu. Over 2,600 Australians recently signed an open letter to the big four banks demanding that, for the sake of the environment and economic responsibility, they stop funding new fossil fuel projects. Several plans demonstrate that renewable energy can replace fossil fuels; a plan by Beyond Zero Emissions with the University of Melbourne Energy Institute involves wind and solar energy with storage, for instance. This project is endorsed by international and national experts. Such technology operates in Spain and is being built in the US. A campaign to build Australia’s first solar plant with storage in Port Augusta is currently taking place (repowerportaugusta.org). The UCA cautions against using nuclear power, as it produces radioactive waste and risks nuclear weapon proliferation. Clean coal technology is not commercially available and may never be. The UCA urges members to respond to the climate change crisis. What can we do? We can divest our shares in fossil fuels, buy green power and install solar panels on our rooves. We can urge our MPs (aph.gov.au) and use our vote to support the rapid development of renewable energy and to stop subsidising fossil fuels. M. Marshall, Eltham, Victoria
Send your letters to: newtimes@sa.uca.org.au or PO Box 2145, Adelaide 5001. Be topical, be brief, be timely. Letters over 150 words will be edited; responses to previous letters /articles will be considered within two months of the original item’s publication only. All letters are published at the editorial team’s discretion.
positions vacant/diary
SILENT RETREAT DAY. The Australian Christian Meditation Community SA is holding a Silent Retreat Day on Saturday 14 September from 11am to 4pm at St Ignatius Church Hall (Queen Street, Norwood). Our retreat leader will be Lynona Hawkins, the SA contact for the Wellspring Community, and the theme for the day will be “Images of the Christ.” Please bring your own lunch (not for sharing). Donation is $15. For further information, contact Bev on 0407 392 809. INTRODUCTION TO MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES AND DEPRESSION. Evening seminar to be held on Tuesday 17 September, 7pm-9pm at Dernancourt Uniting Church (1 Vingara Drive, Dernancourt). Speaker Rev Mark Boyce is a Uniting Church chaplain to Northern Mental Health Services and has been working in the mental health field for many years. Pastoral carers, members and people from the local community are welcome to attend this event. For catering purposes, please contact one of the following people if intending to go to the event: Milton Lewis on 8396 5057 or Kelvin Dickens on 8369 2371. These contact details can also be used to find out more about the event. GARAGE SALE. Come and browse at the Corner Uniting Church (corner Oaklands and Diagonal Roads, Warradale) on Saturday 21 September from 9am to 1pm. Bargains for all, sausage sizzle, plants, homemade cakes, and kids’ corner. Devonshire Tea available in the church cafe. Come and enjoy the friendly atmosphere and fun. INTERFAITH SYMPOSIUM. The Multifaith Association of SA will hold its fourth Interfaith Symposium on Sunday 22 September, 1pm-7.30pm at the Hawke Centre at UniSA’s City West Campus in Adelaide this year. The topic for 2013 is “Unity in Diversity”; discussions will focus on the future of Faiths in a globalised world. The symposium will feature a main discussion, four different break sessions, an interview session and a closing ceremony. Cost is $40 (full) or $20 (concession) and includes a vegetarian meal. For more information visit multifaithsa.org.au/up-coming-events or contact Gunhild Jonsson on 0402 884 536 or multifaithsa@gmail.com
Blended Educational Design Coordinator 0.5 - 0.7 of full time (Fixed two year contract)
Uniting College for Leadership & Theology is seeking a person to provide leadership in the embedding of blended learning as a key mode of delivery. This will include resourcing, developing and supporting both faculty and students in the transition to fully blended theological and ministry education at both VET and Higher Education levels. An expertise in relevant technologies, including Moodle, websearching and video conferencing will be essential. Applications must be received by the close of business on September 30, 2013 with desired commencement as soon as convenient. Enquiries to Rev Dr Steve Taylor, Principal Uniting College, 34 Lipsett Terrace, Brooklyn Park, SA 5032 or steve.taylor@flinders.edu.au
EXHIBITION. The Corner Uniting Church will present work by the students of Suneden Special School, Tuesdays to Fridays from Tuesday 24 September to Friday 18 October. Also on sale are silk scarves and cards made by the children. For further information, please contact Pauline Shinkfield on 8350 5400 (church reception) or 8376 2666 (home). NATIONAL URBAN MISSION CONFERENCE. This year’s National Urban Mission Conference will take place from Tuesday 24 to Thursday 26 September. The conference will focus on “The Postsecular City: Implications for congregations and their community engagement”. Dr Chris Baker, Director of the William Temple Foundation in the UK, will be the speaker and primary resource person for the conference. Uniting Church President, Rev Prof Andrew Dutney will also be present to assist in reflections on social change and faith. Cost is $100 and includes lunches. For further information, visit the Urban Mission Network website (urbannetwork.org.au), the Pilgrim website (pilgrim.org.au) or contact Dean Eland at djeland@bigpond.com WILDFLOWER WALK IN LOCAL BUSH. Thursday 26 September, 1pm. Meet at Sandy Creek Uniting Church (162 Williamstown Road, Cockatoo Valley) for a guided walk in an easy walking area. Cost is $7 and includes afternoon tea. Book in with Mandy Hughes on 8523 7428 or Hazel Afford on 8524 4149. ROUND TABLE CONVERSATION. Friday 27 September, 9.30am for a 10am start, concluding by 12.30pm at Pilgrim Centre (12 Flinders St, Adelaide). Dr Chris Baker, Director of the Centre for Faiths and Public Policy at the University of Chester, will present. Discussion will focus on “The Place of Religion in Public Policy and Social Development”. Hosted by the South Australian Council of Churches (SACC) and Pilgrim Church Adelaide, this ecumenical event will provide an opportunity for people to explore the evolving place of religious organisations in public policy, social development and community building. For further information, phone 8215 0300, or visit pilgrim.org.au or sacc.asn.au JUBILEE 150 TRUST GRANTS. Australian Church Women SA Unit Inc. invites applications for small grants for women who, due to lack of funds, are unable to undertake a course or purchase equipment which would benefit them or their families. The applicant should be sponsored by a Christian church body or individual office bearer of a Christian group. The applicant herself does not have to be a church attendee. Applications are due to the Convener by Monday 30 September. Grants are presented in November. For brochures or further information, please contact the Convener of the Trust, Coralie Wright on 8258 3580 or wrightcoralie795@gmail.com To have your upcoming event or message published here, email diary@sa.uca.org.au with ‘Diary’ in the subject line.
classifieds RESTORE your phonographic records or tapes to near original quality & preserve them on CD Restore your faded 35mm slides to bright colour and preserve them on DVD. Ask us about VHS or MiniDV video tape & 8mm film to DVD conversion, SA MEDIAWORKS, Kent Town SA Ph: 8362 2251 samediaworks@soundtrack.net.au
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magazine
A true “Heritage Hero” Sue Farrant
During SA History Month, Jim Everett of Walkerville Uniting Church received a commendation from the Hon. Ian Hunter, Minister for Sustainability Environment and Conservation, as a “Heritage Hero.” The Heritage Hero awards recognise those volunteers who have made an outstanding contribution to the upkeep of South Australia’s heritage. Jim has combined his previous professional experience of more than 20 years in cemetery administration with a personal passion for sharing his knowledge of colonial South Australia – through publications, talks and guided tours of Adelaide’s early suburbs and cemeteries. His work has particularly highlighted the influence of Methodism in South Australian history. For over two decades, Jim has been very much involved in sharing local history – leading tours of the suburbs of Campbelltown, College Park and St Peters, and the cemeteries of Payneham, West Terrace and Walkerville. In addition, he generously gives his time to speak on local history to a wide range of community groups. Jim was the Foundation President of the Campbelltown Historical Society, and was instrumental in the establishment of the Friends of the West Terrace Cemetery. Currently he is Chair of Walkerville Uniting Church and Deputy Chair of the Friends of the Walkerville Wesleyan Cemetery. Jim’s active membership in the church has motivated his involvement in recording church history in South Australia, with four publications on the history of Adelaide churches, and considerable research freely given to other authors. As an archivist
Jim Everett leading a tour of Walkerville Wesleyan cemetery.
for the SA Synod of the Uniting Church, Jim has given countless hours to ensure that church records are meticulously maintained for future generations. Significantly, Jim is always willing to share his knowledge with others, as a guest speaker and tour guide. As many at Walkerville can attest, he is just as eager to assist those investigating their personal family trees as he is researching material for other authors. Congratulations on this special commendation, Jim!
A long history at Cherry Gardens Alan Dube
The Cherry Gardens Uniting Church, on Hicks Hill Road, began life as a Wesleyan Methodist chapel on land donated by a pioneer of the district, Henry Field. It was the first community meeting place in Cherry Gardens, a fact which underlines the belief that from earliest settlement God’s people here have sought a focus for the expression of their faith. The original chapel was built in 1849 and has been in continuous use ever since. As the church grew, the chapel was expanded and extra buildings were erected to provide more room for Sunday School and meetings. A walk in the garden surrounding the church gives insight to some of the history of Cherry Gardens. Graves are dedicated to a number of pioneers, including one
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dedicated to Isaac and Elizabeth Jacobs whose descendants still live in the district and worship at Cherry Gardens. Descendants of other pioneers also return to the church for services of remembrance on special occasions. Cherry Gardens is currently undergoing some new additions with the help of the congregation – a plumber, a builder and an electrician are included amongst their number. Along with a building that will contain a meeting room, kitchen and bathroom facilities, a memorial wall has been erected. The wall is 28 metres long and over a metre high, and connects the old buildings with the new. It will feature memorial plaques placed in memory of loved ones for future generations to witness – Cherry Gardens has been around for 164
years and the congregation strongly believes it will last another 164. With approximately 40 active members, Cherry Gardens is a church where everyone plays a role – whether it is preaching, providing music, leading services or reading scripture. The congregation also works with the local Community Association to provide a monthly newsletter, an ANZAC service and a Christmas Carols service. In this way, the relatively small group of people at Cherry Gardens can share with community and make a strong statement about their belief in Jesus – carrying on the work of the begun by pioneers many years ago.
reviews
Becoming an intercultural community Dr Rosemary Dewerse, the Director of Missiology and Coordinator of Postgraduate Studies at Uniting College for Leadership & Theology, recently wrote a book, Breaking Calabashes – Becoming an intercultural community. Dewerse explores ideas of acceptability and inclusion within church communities, focussing on practical ways to become a truly intercultural community. Here, Andrew Dutney provides a reflective review of the book. The church in its essential, biblical form is “the visible fellowship, not of those whom we choose to be our friends, but of those whom God has actually given us as our neighbours. It is therefore simply humanity in every place re-created in Christ.” (Lesslie Newbigin, A Theological Life). From this perspective, our alphabets of denominations, our single postcodes crammed with different churches, and especially our intractably mono-cultural, monolingual habits and assumptions, are a sad sham. It appears we have missed the point of the Gospel – the reconciliation and renewal of humanity, and the whole creation in Christ. We are certainly missing out on our foretaste of the kind of new community the Gospel announces. I'm not satisfied with this. Are you? In this book, Rosemary Dewerse dares us to see through our self deception, and glimpse the truly revolutionary promise of the Gospel – a genuinely intercultural community in Christ, where “There is neither Jew nor Greek, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” (Galatians 3:28). Scholarly and personal, visionary and practical – this is good reading! I warmly welcome this timely book, and encourage Christians everywhere to read it – together if possible – and to practice the principles of intercultural living and discipleship it uncovers. Breaking Calabashes is available for purchase through the Mission Resourcing SA Bookstore or through MediaCom. A leadership guide to accompany the book can also be purchased from MediaCom.
Love, intrigue and global warming Book: Tipping point – time is running out Author: Roger Norris-Green Recommended for: people who like a novel that creatively and interestingly raises social and environment issues In short: A well-researched and very readable Australian story about the extremes people will go to when pursuing their dubious goals. Available from: Roger’s Books: PO Box 100, Moonta, SA, 5558; email rogersbooks@y7mail.com RRP: $20 I bought this book while holidaying at Port Hughes on the Yorke Peninsula, the same location where this dramatic story begins. This, being one of my favourite places, immediately increased my interest, and I wasn’t disappointed as I got into the story – or, should I say, as the story got into me? It is a novel with intrigue, excitement and romance, set in familiar surroundings for South Aussies; the author lives in the area, and he accurately depicts places and customs. Woven into the fiction is the very critical, very real issue of climate change. While captured by the story and the characters, the reader is alerted to some of the devastating results of global warming and the lengths that some people might go to in order to hide or deny it. The novel should appeal to readers who enjoy a solid narrative and are opening to learning more about critical problems currently facing the environment. Roger Norris-Green is the author four books that provide a snapshot of life in the Kadina-Moonta-Wallaroo area. It is refreshing to read a book by a local writer with an aptitude for a good story and a heart for creation. Dean Brookes
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Left and centre: Robin Dixon-Thompson and other volunteers worked on the Mbereshi Mission Hospital's water system. Right: Mbereshi Mission Church (photo courtesy of Ilona Hupe Verlag).
Life-giving water In recent months, Robin Dixon-Thompson of Port Lincoln Uniting Church (also known as Unity Hill) visited Mbereshi in Zambia. He details some of his experiences in the article below, particularly those related to the establishment of a running water system at Mbereshi Mission Hospital and his role in the process.
A short time ago, I received a request to replace a pump and overhead tank at a hospital in Mbereshi, situated just below the Congo border in Africa. Mbereshi is a village in the Luapala Province of Zambia, which was the site of a large mission founded by the London Missionary Society in 1900. The mission established schools, a large church and a hospital in the village; these buildings are now mostly government institutions. Within this village my destination was Mbereshi Mission Hospital, an 80-bed hospital that is currently run by the United Church of Zambia. Surrounded by wide rivers, the village is difficult to access. I was flown into the area with Chiz, an American from North Carolina who is assisting in building up the new Uniting Church in Mwandi, Zambia. The equipment required to repair the hospital’s water system (pumps, fittings, tools, etc.) had to be driven up by truck. Knowing how difficult this process was, my mind boggled to think how missionaries managed to make the journey and build in the area over 100 years ago. When I arrived there, the hospital had been without running water for three years – toilets were broken, shower walls were
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severely cracked, pipes were blocked, and the roof was coming off. As there was no running water, the hospital’s water system consisted of buckets of water situated around the hospital; 10 buckets were for use in the operating theatre. Despite the difficulties that this caused, the hospital was spotlessly clean. Not once did I hear the hospital staff complain about the conditions they were expected to work in – they simply got on with their jobs. The amount of work required to repair the hospital’s water system was daunting. With assistance from locals, Chiz and I had to dig a 1000 metre trench in which to place 1000 metres of poly pipe; the task also required removal of the old galvanised pipe. In order to connect with the plane, which only came to the area once a week, we had only three days to complete this work. We knew we would be pushed for time so we decided not to go to church while we were in Mbereshi; Zambian church services usually take two to three hours. But God had other plans. As we were working, a car pulled over and a church Elder stepped out – he was there to take us to the service. When we entered the church, clothes filthy from the work we had undertaken, the entire
congregation stood and clapped, showing their appreciation. It was an emotional occasion; we felt the impact of God’s love through his people in the village. Later, we managed to get the water system up and running again. Young children looked on in disbelief as water freely ran from taps in the building, and even the hospital staff could not quite believe their eyes. It was an answer to prayer for many. I never thought that I would experience such strong Christian faith as that which I witnessed in Mbereshi. When I first arrived in the village, I saw darkness. However, I soon realised that, if we let him, God can reveal himself to us through other people – regardless of what language they speak, where they live or what they look like. This certainly happened to me. When I left, I no longer saw darkness – instead, I saw people who had a strong belief that their prayers would be answered. Funding for this trip was provided by the Presbyterian Church of North Carolina in the United States of America. Robin has contacted them about providing additional funding, encouraging them to support and meet the urgent needs of Mbereshi Mission Hospital.