NewTimes - August 2009

Issue 28, No 7 August 2009 www.sa.uca.org.au/newtimes

Crisis Over?

Healing people – and piggy banks

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inside…

Assembly news 3 • The economy 5-10 • Thrift: the new fashion trend 6-7 Getting to the bottom line 10 • Are you a welcoming church? 11 • Book reviews 14

2

NEWS

New Times

A time for planning, praise and pastoral action Barry Atwell, Executive Officer, Resources Board

From the Editor...

PIGS FEATURE widely in children’s stories and the fondness that we, as children, think of pigs matures into a similar fondness of our piggy banks, as adults. We love them and worry if they’re sick.

For most of us, we’ve been worried. Our global piggy bank’s economical bacon has been pretty close to cooked over the past year or so.

It’s been the story of the little piggy that went to the stock market (and crashed), the little piggy that stayed home (unemployed), the little piggy that had roast beef (budget cut, not prime), the many little piggies that have none (and had none to begin with) and the little piggy that went wee wee weeee sobbing, all the way

home (after their loan request was denied).

One of the first recommendations filtered to charity donors was ‘when feeling the pinch - stop giving’.

But contrary to the selfpreserving culture we live in, the Bible recommends that we continue to give, even when a helping hand for others means a hurting hand for ourselves.

It’s not a self-harm mechanism – it’s sacrifice, and reconciles our trust in God for his provision with our everyday existence.

While we manage our finances with diligence and caution, we need to keep our eyes out for those hurting more than us, sharing with them even if we might miss out on a little in the meantime.

I’D LIKE US to pause for a moment to reflect on some reasons for thanksgiving, as well as the need for prayer and action as the Church’s response to the financial crisis.

In the broader Australian community, the pain is being felt acutely by many, particularly those out of work because of this crisis and selffunded retirees needing to draw on their investment assets now, well before they had planned.

Many of you will know somebody who has been personally impacted – if not there is a high probability you will.

From a Uniting Church point of view the impact is being felt in every Synod - most severely in the Queensland and Victorian/Tasmanian Synods where budget pressures have required major reductions in their mission and ministry activities.

This Presbytery and Synod has been blessed with healthy financial reserves as part of its heritage. Our financial reserves have taken a battering though and will need to be rebuilt in the next few years - we’ll be

using funds set aside from previous years’ UC Invest distributions to fund our programs until a budget reprioritisation is completed.

I believe that financial planning as a whole South Australian Synod is a partnership between congregations and the Presbytery and Synod. This partnership has aimed to, at least in part, insulate congregations from the wider consequences of the global financial crisis. Through actions like funding the South Australian portion of the shortfall of the Beneficiary Fund by the Presbytery and Synod, we are sharing the weight of the financial crisis with congregations.

The work that the Standing Committee will do at its August 2009 meeting on the Service Level Review recommendations, including setting some new financial savings targets, will provide a strong lead on

what must change to create a sustainable, long-term budget.

We are not certain what the future of investments will look like, but we do know that God expects us to plan well, whatever the economic circumstances and have projected our likely revenue and expenditure out to 2014 accordingly.

At all times, the Resources Board and Standing Committee will ensure ongoing consultation processes in how we prioritise our future Mission and Services Fund mission and ministry budget.

We can also be prayerful about what this current crisis requires of us as individuals, congregations and agencies in terms of pastoral and practical action. For those who have had their life plans dramatically changed by these circumstances outside their control – could this be an opportunity for us to provide hope for them in their time of need?

Uniting Church SA Budget at a glance Original estimated investment revenue for 2009 = $4.6 million Revised investment income expectation = approximately $3.8 million Revised expected deficit = $900,000

To advertise in New Times: contact Russell Baker p. 8361 6822 f. 8361 6833 e. ribad@bigpond.com

Worshipping a big God the past President. There is a heightened tension between the leadership of the two Koreas and we experienced PROK’s sadness about the division between North and South.

Having arrived as strangers we left as friends, challenged by PROK’s commitment to righting wrongs in their care for the poor and others disadvantaged by life’s circumstances, and amazed at their dedication to prayer, arising at 5am each day to pray.

Next issue: Spiritual disciplines

ISSN 0726-2612 Editor: Caryn Rogers p. 8236 4230 e. crogers@sa.uca.org.au Advertising: Russell Baker p. 8361 6822 e. ribad@bigpond.com Circulation: Alex McGrath p. 8236 4242 e. amcgrath@sa.uca.org.au Production: Joie Creative Printer: Cadillac Printing Circulation: 11,500 Distribution: On the first Sunday of the month Editorial deadline for September: August 11 Advertising deadline for September: August 13 New Times is published 11 times a year by the Uniting Church SA Communications Unit.

Articles and advertising content do not necessarily reflect the views of the editor or of the Uniting Church.

New Times articles and policies are published on the Uniting Church SA website www.sa.uca.org.au.

Uniting Church SA, Level 2, 212 Pirie Street, Adelaide.

GPO Box 2145 Adelaide SA 5001 Phone: 8227 0822 Country callers: 1300 766 956 Cover pic courtesy of iStockphoto.com/DNY59

AUGUST 2009

Rod Dyson WHEN THE Uniting Church was formed, particular attention to existing special relationships between the founding denominations and other churches testified to the unity of faith and mission that we have in Jesus Christ. In this, we recognised that our faith and life in Christ was much bigger than us: it transcended cultural, economic, national and racial boundaries.

Next year we will celebrate 20 years of sharing one of these special relationships with the Presbyterian Church in the

Republic of Korea (PROK) - our Presbytery partners with Iksan and Kunsan Presbyteries in South Korea.

Recently I, and three other Uniting Church members, visited the PROK, in tumultuous times. The past President of South Korea had recently committed suicide and North Korea was testing nuclear weapons.

The new President in the south is more hard-lined and taking a more aggressive stance toward the north, winding back the openness existent with

The partnerships we have with other churches are a gift we learn from their witness to Christ, their experience of life and faith, and are strengthened by our fellowship with them.

Get involved in a partnership - our International mission staff in the Synod office can help connect you. And in 2010 let us be ready to join with our South Korean friends when they visit us to celebrate 20 years of partnership.

We worship a big God – bigger than our differences, bigger than we will even imagine in our life on earth.

Rod is preaching at Strathalbyn (August 9); Berri (August 23); Western Link (August 30).

ASSEMBLY NEWS

New Times

3

Church adopts new preamble

The 12th triennial Assembly of the Uniting Church has elected the Rev Dr Andrew Dutney as its next President.

South Australian chosen as Uniting Church President-elect AT THE 12th Triennial Assembly the Uniting Church in Australia voted Reverend Dr Andrew Dutney to be the new President-elect to lead in three years’ time.

“People have been fantastically supportive,” enthuses Andrew. “I’m getting pretty excited about it all. It’s wonderful knowing how many people are already praying for me in this.”

Looking to the future, Andrew said, “Reconciliation is what we’re all about. So we must be a church that transcends whatever fractures and divides our world.

“It means being a church with a passion for and practical commitment to reconciliation between Indigenous and nonIndigenous Australians.

“It means being passionate about sharing the message of God’s love for the world, confident that the Gospel still has the power to heal and transform broken lives and societies.

“It means being a multi-generational, multi-ethnic, cross-cultural network of congregations and agencies with genuine relationships with people on the edges of Australian society and with Christian communities in Asia, the Pacific and Africa.

“It means working harder at enabling the participation and leadership of women in the church.”

Asked to name three things he was passionate about for his profile in the Assembly’s ballot documents, Andrew listed: providing a vision of the Basis of Union in a way that energises people to action, contributing an explicitly Christian point of view to public discussions of the issues of the day, and mentoring church members as they discern and respond to God’s call to ministry.

“BROTHERS AND SISTERS: it’s time to stand up and acknowledge who we are. I know this will be hard, but it is important for our future,” declared Rev Shayne Blackman, on Friday 17 July, as he launched the case for the new preamble to the Constitution of the Uniting Church in Australia at the 2009 National Assembly in Sydney.

For the first time in Australia, and possibly in the world, a major Christian denomination in a Western nation is redefining itself in terms of its relationship with the people dispossessed by colonisation.

The significant and controversial preamble was passed on Monday 20 July, after much debate.

Deliberations on Sunday evening became highly emotional, with profound distress expressed by many speakers. At one point Congress representatives withdrew from the Assembly saying they felt ‘unsafe’.

This was followed by many expressions of profound hurt, dismay, sorrow and apology.

President Alistair Macrae then led the entire Assembly of 265 members outside the meeting hall where they joined with the Congress representatives before re-entering.

“It was an interesting time,” said Rev Ken Sumner, the newly appointed Chair of Congress.

“There was a lot of discussion in the meeting, a lot of struggle.”

“It was a very demanding process, everyone was feeling the pain of it,” said South Australian Moderator, Rev Rod Dyson. “But the debate is an important part of our journey together. This is a covenant; it’s about two groups seeking the way forward.”

“Assembly took it seriously, both in the floor of assembly, but also in community working groups.”

On Monday morning, President Alistair Macrae sought resolution by consensus.

Andrew Dutney THE WORD ‘economy’ comes from a Greek term meaning the management of a household or, by analogy, a state. Naturally households and states represent different kinds of management challenge, but there are principles in common.

Announcing the decision to the Assembly the President, Rev Alistair Macrae, said that the President-elect would, “bring abundant gifts to the role.”

Andrew is well-known to the South Australian public as a media commentator on religion, ethics, spirituality and society. He is widely published in theology and ethics, and has been a leading interpreter of the history and theology of the Uniting Church.

You know if a member or part of the household is being neglected. They complain, breakdown or grab your attention in some other way.

He has been a key reformer of ministerial and lay education in the Synod of South Australia — reshaping curricula, staffing and governance around a vision for the development of effective missional leaders, lay and ordained.

The management of a state is, undeniably, far harder. But the measure of success is the same. This was Jesus’ approach to economic analysis: Who’s being neglected or abused in our management of this bigger ‘household’?

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The Assembly also considered a number of other reports and proposals regarding helping the church become who God wants us to be, particularly in regards to the economy of life and trade justice.

For an in-depth wrap up of Assembly’s proposals and reports go to www. assembly2009.uca.org.au.

President-elect on the economy

Success in household management is relatively easy to measure. There are usually a small number of people in one household to consider. Most days you can probably remember everyone’s name, dietary requirements, appointments and deadlines.

The three other nominees included Ms Rosemary Hudson Miller (WA), Rev Jason Kioa (Vic/Tas), and Rev Dr Rob Bos (QLD).

This failed, with about seven dissenters. The Assembly then moved to formal procedures where an overwhelming majority supported the proposal, approximately 256 to nine.

“The preamble is very much Congress’ story – what’s happened to them, the great tragedy and sadness of that,” said Rod. “My own view would be that we need to include that story before we can move on in any healed way.”

“Much of this decision helps to set people free - it certainly helps Aboriginal people in terms of their story,” continued Ken. “It also sets nonAboriginal people free to correct some of our history, to be able to move forward as a church and as a people.

“This takes the lead in this country, giving the rest of Australia a platform to help build a better nation.”

The preamble takes the Uniting Church Covenant between Indigenous and nonIndigenous members to another level, telling the truth about the history of Australia and placing the Aboriginal and Torres Straits Islander people at the centre of the denomination’s life and witness. It is not legally binding in terms of interpretation of the constitution, or for any understanding of regulations which flow from it.

The amendment awaits approval from a majority of Synods and two-thirds of the Presbyteries in accordance with Uniting Church process, before it can take effect.

Mark 12:38-13:2 is a case in point. Generally

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we hear it as an exhortation to sacrificial giving.

But look again.

That story is introduced with a warning about leaders who strut about parading their importance while at the same time “devouring widows’ houses.”

Then Jesus watches people bringing their contributions to the temple – a kind of ancient tax to support the community. Amongst the many rich people there’s one of those impoverished widows he’d just mentioned! She puts in two coins – worth almost nothing. Jesus says, “this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the treasury…she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, her whole living.” It’s not a comment on her piety. It’s a comment on the system – a condemnation of an economy that “devours widows’ houses.” So Jesus goes on to say, “There will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.”

Who’s missing out in the management of our global ‘household?’

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AUGUST 2009

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CONGRESS NEWS

Building a future of hope Alison Atkinson-Phillips

DURING THE week of the triennial Uniting Aboriginal and Islander Christian Congress (Congress) National Conference, members were exploring the book of Nehemiah; a story about a man responsible for the rebuilding of the city of Jerusalem, who led the people out of brokenness into hope.

“Nehemiah’s first actions were to get right with God through prayer, fasting and communion; that was his priority,” explains Rev Ken Sumner, the new Chair of Congress.

“We’re wanting to get to the core of what’s really the problem so we can fix it. We’re looking at rebuilding

right from the core, from the root of our spiritual lives.

The whole thing is dependent upon our relationship with God, fixing that, getting that right. Then I believe everything else falls into place.”

Both Ken and newly appointed deputy-Chair, Roberta Stanley, are aware they face a daunting task.

“We don’t want to put bandaids on the symptoms,” says Ken in reference to the troubling statistics relating to Aboriginal communities in Australia. “There’s lots of symptoms that we have in the community; the alcohol and drug abuse, domestic violence and sexual abuse.

A lot of these are symptoms of something deeper.”

“You know what’s really encouraging for me?” asks Roberta. “We’ve tried all these programs — we’ve tried this, we’ve tried that. It’s like God is saying, ‘You come back.’ It’s like God is saying, ‘I’ll give you hope. You put me first and we’ll go on. We’ll turn those statistics from hopelessness to hope.’”

“It’s a huge task, a huge challenge ahead for us,” says Ken. “But it’s not an impossible one when we work together.”

Congress has a broad and diverse membership from across Australia; remote desert communities, Islander peoples, as well as urban dwellers and everything between.

New minister for Mobile Aboriginal Patrol Felicita Benedikovics

Mechanic to minister Gowan Armstrong and Ian Dempster NEW CHAIRPERSON for the Uniting Aboriginal and Islander Christian Congress (Congress), Rev Ken Sumner (pictured), is a proud Ngarrindjeri man.

It’s been 22 years since Ken began his journey to become a Minister, and reflects on the importance of support from the late Rev Jeff Miegel in that process.

“For Aboriginal people it’s so hard to succeed, there are a lot of obstacles to overcome. If it wasn’t for Jeff guiding and helping me, I may not have made it. He made me proud of who I am – an Aboriginal person.”

Early in 1987, Jeff, the newly appointed Uniting Church minister in Narrung, came into the garage where Ken Sumner worked as a motor mechanic.

In their first conversation, Ken, a Christian worshipping with another congregation, noted his desire to become a minister; Jeff’s response was, “Let’s see what we can do,” and over time, guided Ken through to ordination.

“We were the only Aboriginal people among all the whites when we joined Narrung Uniting,” recalls Ken. “Jeff sat with us, invited us into his home and family. It’s one thing to stand up and preach; Jeff was someone we trusted; he loved us.”

Ordained in 1998, Ken became the Congress minister at Salisbury and has been the state Chair of the UAICC in South Australia for many years, State Development and Outreach Officer for the past six years and deputy-chair of Congress over the past three years.

Ken has overseen the growth of Congress in South Australia with ministry centres now in Salisbury, Port Augusta, Kalparrin and through the Mobile Aboriginal Patrol (including at Oodnadatta).

Ken is married to Shelley, they have seven children and two grandchildren.

AUGUST 2009

FRONTIER SERVICES, the major provider of aged care, health and community services to remote areas of Australia is pleased to announce the appointment of Reverend Walter Fejo to its Patrol Ministry.

“With Walter’s experience in education and pastoral care he is the perfect fit for the Mobile Aboriginal Patrol,” says Frontier

Services Associate National Director David Thiem. “We are delighted to have him onboard; he’ll make a real difference.”

The Mobile Aboriginal Patrol is based in Port Augusta and covers most of the upper north of South Australia; their focus is the Aboriginal communities throughout the region.

“I am looking forward to working with the communities

to address some of the issues they face,” says Walter.

“I would like to assist the communities in planning ahead so that positive change can occur.”

Walter, whose experience includes working as a prison chaplain and Principal of Nungalinya College in Darwin, Northern Territory, started his role on Monday 20 July.

Youth dramatise transformation Heather Dowling AT THE UAICC National Conference youth participated in a program designed to create strength within individuals based on Nehemiah.

The youth presented a range of skits at the beginning of each session, based around the theme of transformation. The skits raised issues including scenarios with family, friends and in the church around

issues of violence, gossip and jealousy. The youth demonstrate two different ways of handling them – one destructive and one positive.

“These skits reflect the communities of where they have come from, what they go through and how they would like to better it,” said Cheryl Lawson, the WA representative for the National Youth Committee. “They have all experienced these things

somewhere along the way; this is helping them find a way to overcome these situations.”

“Hopefully they can take what they have learnt back to their own communities,” said South Australian representative Natasha Sumner. “As the wall in the ‘Nehemiah’ study is broken and the people all come together to restore it, the young people learn that people can strengthen a situation when they all work together.”

The Gospel umbrella Heather Dowling

REV PETER NYANINGU, an Aboriginal elder and Uniting Church minister from Ernabella in South Australia has a picture of an umbrella drawn in his diary with the words ‘the power of Gospel’ written in it.

“That’s our umbrella,” he said. “Children these days are being led astray, it’s important

to keep them under the ‘umbrella’ of the Lord.

“Things come in leading people in bad ways – TV, movies etc,” he said. “Kids need the church to guide them.

We want to keep them in our community and in our church.”

Peter believes that good education will transform the lives of many people in

Aboriginal communities.

“I am happy because the young people back home are happy and they come to the church and sing,” said Peter.

He is working to bring Sunday school back to his church, “so they [the young people] can learn the Christian way and grow up to be strong in the church.”

ECONOMY

New Times

5

Picture courtesy of iStockphoto.com/mevans

Time to fetter the market?

Mark Henley, Manager Advocacy and Communications, UnitingCare Wesley Adelaide

ARGUABLY, the three ‘institutions’ that have the greatest impact in shaping societies around the world are ‘representative democracy’, ‘evangelical Christianity’ and ‘market economics’. These three institutions have been central to influencing high-level decision-making for at least 50 years with economics, probably, having the most impact on the daily lives of individuals and households.

Contemporary economic thought is regarded as having started with a small group of classical ‘economists’, none of whom were actually economists. These were individuals who all sought

to answer the fundamental question of: how are scarce resources best allocated between competing demands?

The person most regularly referred to as setting the central constructs for contemporary economic thought is Adam Smith with his thoughts about ‘the invisible hand’ of the market being most widely promoted from his book The Wealth of Nations. It’s a great pity his earlier book The Theory of Moral Sentiments isn’t given as much attention.

In a nutshell, classical economists focus on the idea of a ‘market’ existing that allocates goods between

buyers and sellers through price. Many recent economists have taken this idea to assert that governments should not interfere with markets, since unfettered markets give the most efficient and, hence, ‘best’ outcomes for all involved.

The problem is that, well before Adam Smith, other moral philosophers identified the problem with unfettered markets. Amos, the Old Testament prophet, spoke harshly of sellers who ‘trample on the needy’ (Amos 8.4), and ‘deal deceitfully with false balances’ (8.5).

A modern response to the potential for markets to exploit

has been for governments to regulate markets in the best interests of the broader community.

This, then, is the ongoing moral and economic question: to what extent should governments’ regulate markets that have two competing objectives: fairness for all buyers and incentives for economic activity that create employment?

Economic policy for the past 30 years has been dominated by the pro market view, which has advocated for small

governments that do not interfere in the marketplace.

In short, the collapse of global financial markets last year, is largely a consequence of inadequate regulation.

Current debates are therefore focused on the role of government in regulating what Adam Smith calls the ‘animal spirits’ of the market.

The tragedy of the global financial crisis is that many millions of lower, modest income people will be badly hurt. Assisting with this pain will be the central work of many church, and secular, community services, for years to come.

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ECONOMY

Thrift: the new fashion trend

Extending your fashion dollar Angela Osborn, Adelaide fashion designer offers suggestions on getting more bang for your fashion buck 1) Sew your own clothes.

It’s a great way to save money while creating garments that fit well in the exact colour, style and fabric you want.

2) Experiment with pre-loved clothing if starting a garment from scratch seems a bit daunting. Change a neckline or remove the frill you despise - sometimes even just changing the buttons on a garment can bring it to life again.

Margaret Adams, coordinator of West Lakes Uniting Church’s opshop ‘Bargains by the Bridge’, with local State member Michael Wright at the official opening on 23 May 2009.

Bargains by the Bridge Rev Sue Ellis, West Lakes Church WEST LAKES CHURCH had a vision: to live out the good news of Jesus’ love by bridging the gap between their local community and their congregation. So, earlier this year, they opened ‘Bargains by the Bridge’, a new op-shop proving to be a great success.

Congregation members Margaret Adams and Joy Smith were inspired women, transforming the church storeroom into an attractive room full of bargains and raising a team of volunteer staff from the wider community and the church congregation.

“Everyone seems to like coming here,” remarks Joy. “Some want to stay for a chat and tell us their stories, so we make cups of tea and sit down with them. Our helpers are kind, friendly and interested people who are ever ready to listen.”

Bargains by the Bridge provides quality clothing cheaply and, in the midst of that, forges new friendships. A local lady, who often cares for her grandchild, heard about the church playgroup when she visited the shop. According to playgroup staff she came along and loved it, feeling so welcome that she and grannies from the group arranged to go out for coffee later that week.

“Our atmosphere is very happy and informal - perhaps even homely! Many of our clients are soon back, often with a wide array of goods to donate.

“People from the community are even telling us what they need now so we can keep an eye out for them. We’re also networking with other agencies, like UnitingCare Wesley Port Adelaide and OARS, which only furthers what we can offer to the community.”

Bargains by the Bridge is more than an opportunity shop – it’s an opportunity for community.

3) Fix, ditch or stitch?

Take stock of what is in your wardrobe and work with what you’ve got.

FIX: Replace buttons or zips. If you can’t fix them yourself, take them to a tailor.

DITCH: If you have clothes that are in good condition but don’t fit can’t be altered or you just don’t like them anymore, donate them to Goodwill for someone else’s enjoyment.

STITCH: Get creative - add a ruffle trim to the neckline of an otherwise plain singlet or t-shirt, or cut off jeans with holes in the knees to create shorts.

4) Make layers your friend.

Spend some time experimenting with different combinations in your wardrobe. Combine different prints and textures with a consistent colour theme so the outfit looks coordinated not like you got dressed in the dark.

5) Ebay – the mispelled way.

Search for vintage and discount designer clothing (pre-loved or new) online at ebay.com. au. Try incorrect spelling of the designer’s name, sometimes the seller makes this error and you might just have less people bidding against you.

stores offering designer-style at cheaper prices like Karen Walker and Wayne Cooper for Myer, with Hi There and Wayne by Wayne Cooper respectively. Target also has one-off collaborations with designers; Big W with Peter Morrissey later this year.

8) Shop smart.

Don’t buy something just because it is on sale.

If it doesn’t fit well or doesn’t flatter your figure it’s not a bargain, no matter how cheap it is.

Don’t automatically buy something new every time there is a special occasion - borrow from a close friend or family member.

9) Buy quality classics.

Given the current economic climate there has been a resurgence of classics. As long as the silhouette is classic and the quality is good you will be wearing it for years to come.

10) Avoid disposable fashion.

You know the type: super trendy buys that are so cheap you know the garment won’t last for more than a season, nor will the style. Ideally when you tire of your clothes, it’s great if they can be given to charity - if the quality is poor though they’ll just end up in landfill, which is not trendy for anyone.

11) Accessorise, accessorise, accessorise.

Accessories are a cheap and cheerful way to bring life and sparkle to outfits based on neutrals or classics. Chandelier earrings, bright shoes or scarves, jewelled brooches and sequinned headbands can really improve or dress up an otherwise simple outfit.

6) Be a sales stalker.

If there is a particular brand that you adore but find too expensive, you can generally sign up to be notified of their sales by receiving updates from their website – so stay informed.

12) Your mother was right –read your laundry labels and put your clothes away.

Take good care of your clothes by storing and laundering them correctly – they’ll last longer and help you appreciate what you have. Polish shoes regularly and get heels re-capped when they wear down.

7) Don’t be a chain-store snob, designers aren’t.

Many designers collaborate with department

For more helpful tips, see the full guide online at sa.uca.org.au/newtimes

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AUGUST 2009

ECONOMY

New Times

7

Share, share and share alike OVER THE PAST three years there’s been new clientele striding through the doors of Goodwill stores state wide. Generating income through the sale of quality recycled and new goods for the many services of UnitingCare Wesley Adelaide, Goodwill staff are more than happy to see their customer base continue to broaden. As the sales increase, so does the profit and support to Lifeline and Byron Place.

“In terms of the wealth pyramid, I think we’re getting the next bracket up of clientele from what we were prior to the downturn,” says Kylie Simmons, manager of Goodwill stores in South Australia. “We’ve always appealed to ‘working class’ people, but now we’ve got people coming from higher income areas to shop with us!”

Goodwill has come a long way since its humble beginnings at the original Pitt Street store, opened in 1952.

“Our target market isn’t just welfare – it’s pretty much anyone from Generation Y, through to the elderly.”

Goodwill and other opportunity shops often attract people who are looking for something unique when shopping, even celebrities. Op-shops the world over had a

memorable celebrity endorsement in 2000, when Kylie Minogue sported a pair of opshop bought, teeny-tiny gold hotpants in her Spinning Around video clip.

While hotpants may not be your cup of fashion tea, pre-loved clothing does afford benefits to the astute buyer.

“I think it’s really exciting what you can dress in from our shops - you can be an individual.

Particularly for those shopping in our Hindley street store - that’s where the very fashionable vintage and retro stocks are.

“My hope is that Goodwill will get a wider target market out of the financial crisis. Once people come to our shops they’ll realise how great it is to shop here. Prior to this they may never have come in - now we’ve got them for life!”

All stores stock a complete range of quality affordable clothing and need more quality donations - all clean items are acceptable.

“We’re running out of all clothing. We need clothing and shoes, handbags - everything. That is our greatest need, straight up - all ladies, children’s and menswear across the range.”

Colonel Light Gardens Church hall was one site of Packing Day activity.

Margaret Miller, pictured here amongst the organised chaos, will receive some of this clothing when it eventually arrives in Gali’winku where she works for the Northern Synod’s Centre for Support of Indigenous Scriptures (CSIS).

Packing for opportunity Rev Bill Edwards IT TOOK volunteers three days at three churches to pack cartons of much-needed goods for regional communities.

In June, volunteers gathered at Colonel Light Gardens, Balhannah and Salisbury Uniting churches to pack clothing, books and other articles to support the work of churches in remote communities of Australia.

Packing Day at Colonel Light Gardens was made even more meaningful to participants by the presence of Margaret Miller, one of the recipients from Elcho Island’s major settlement, the Gali’winku community, speaking about her continuing work with the Djamburrpuyngu Bible Translation Project a project substantially supported by the sale of Packing Day wares.

Over three days, 209 large cartons were packed; 66 from Colonel Light Gardens, 61 from Balhannah and 82 from Salisbury.

The surplus goods went to local Goodwill outlets and the Prison Fellowship Op Shop.

Allied Pickford trucks transported the goods, free of charge, to central depots in Broome, Alice Springs, Tennant Creek and Darwin. Cartons were transported from Darwin to Arnhem Land communities by Perkins Shipping, again, free of charge.

In the 1960s and 1970s, my wife Valerie and I were living in Pitjantjatjara communities and recipients of such goods, which were greatly appreciated by the Aboriginal people. I thought at the time that these supplies were meeting a temporary need that would pass away; it continues today because of increasing populations, social problems and the difficulty of developing profitable industries in these remote areas.

Just as there are increasing demands on Goodwill and other charity shops in Adelaide due to the present economic climate, there is an increasing demand on these items to supply op shops in remote towns and churches in isolated communities.

Jo Watts, Matthew and Angela Osborn (L-R) showcase just how fashionable you can be in clothes from Goodwill stores. The sum total of these outfits? The three came in under $100 altogether. Now that’s thrifty.

To find out where your closest store or donation receptacle is, visit UnitingCare Wesley Adelaide’s services page online at ucwesleyadelaide. org.au. Or if you are in the CBD, bring your pre-loved wares into the Synod office, 212 Pirie street, Adelaide.

AUGUST 2009

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ECONOMY

New Times

Travelling in grace

UAICC members and supporters with the newest member of the team – Grace the bus. Pictured (L-R) Bill Lockyer, Marion Sumner, Diane Thomas, Greg Sinclair and Dean Whittaker. Grace is both a generous donation and an answer to prayer– hence the name.

An 800+ Member Congregation Located in Sydney’s CBD looks to Further Growth The Wesley International Congregation (WIC) is looking for a full-time Minister of the Word to fill the role of SENIOR PASTOR, commencing in 2010, who will take us to the next level and spur us on with clear, strategic and dynamic leadership.

Thank you Congress wants to say thank you to God and to everyone who prays for Aboriginal ministry, provides pastoral, practical and political support and/or directs financial resources to our ministry. Your commitment enables Congress to serve Jesus and the Aboriginal community, and relying on the Holy Spirit, to speak out against injustice, to be agents of healing, reconciliation and hope, to nurture and develop Aboriginal leaders and to grow Aboriginal churches. Thanks so much!

Everyone has Something to Give

You will need to: • be an engaging communicator with the ability to cast the vision and provide strategic direction for our cosmopolitan, contemporary, evangelical and charismatic congregation • have a demonstrated ability to develop leaders, make disciples, and inspire growth and maturity in our congregation • possess a genuine love for people and be able to equip our congregation to be a missional church.

For more information, please contact Mr Johnny Teong on 0431 575 348 or wic-jnc@hotmail.com Applications should be sent to Mrs Meg Herbert, Associate Secretary (Ministry), NSW Synod, PO Box A2178, Sydney South, NSW 1235, Australia.

Under the Commission for Children and Young People Act 1989 it is illegal for prohibited persons to apply and a “Working with Children Check” will be required.

WIC is the international congregation of Wesley Mission in NSW. Wesley Mission is part of the Uniting Church in Australia.

AUGUST 2009

Please Give to our Appeal Donate to UnitingCare Wesley Adelaide GPO Box 2534 Adelaide SA 5001 (08) 8202 5112 www.ucwesleyadelaide.org.au

A BIG PART of the ministry of Uniting Aboriginal and Islander Christian Congress (Congress) in Adelaide is transport, especially to services on Sunday, and other church and community events during the week, bussing or arranging rides for indigenous people from all over town.

While they use various means to do this, including a much appreciated bus-share arrangement with UnitingCare Wesley Adelaide and Aldersgate Aged Care Complex, the need was still outweighing Congress’s resources.

Also some people in wheelchairs were unable to attend services because of limited wheelchair friendly capacity.

Congress minister Rev Dean Whittaker had been praying for increased capacity to provide transport for folk involved in Congress and to provide appropriate transport to the frail and aged people who were living in the Aboriginal Elders Village.

Around this time, UnitingCare received a phone call from a couple that had bought a bus some years back.

They’d had it professionally fitted with an electric internal wheelchair lift, automatic retracting step at the side entrance and additional hand rails for transporting their Meningie Congregation’s elderly to services and social outings.

Now unable to continue the service they had bought the vehicle for, they wanted to give the bus as a gift to someone who would use it for a similar transport ministry.

The couple, who wished to remain nameless, wanted to donate rather than sell the vehicle because over their lifetime they believed they had received grace upon grace from God. It explains why the newest member of the Congress team is named ‘Grace’, as the couple explained, “It’s so all who travel in her, travel in grace.

We believe that grace is a free gift - you can neither buy it, nor sell it. As the song says freely, freely you have received, freely, freely give.”

Grace the bus was the answer to Congress’ prayers.

The gift and Congress’ joy in receiving it are further testimony of God’s grace and benevolence, despite testing economic times. Many elders and others in Congress are now able to attend Sunday services and worship with their community once more.

ECONOMY

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God’s mission not dulled by the economy “We are a rural community doing it tough like many others. Each community has its own challenges. We give thanks to God for empowering us to say no to the doom and gloom of our situation and yes to the grace we have received in Christ.” Rev Simon Dent Janelle Weatherley (left) shares a cuppa with Carolyn Dent at Clare Uniting’s ‘WAGS’ young women’s support group.

CLARE UNITING CHURCH had been looking to employ a person to reach out to young families in the community and oversee its family ministry.

The vision gained clarity at a leader’s retreat and they began the process of applying for funding.

journey in discipleship for the congregation; the church council decided to selffund the position alongside a church-wide, corporate engagement in discipleship.

“We recognised that this ministry would bear fruit only as the gospel of Jesus Christ was heard afresh. So we began Engage 09, an eight week ‘home grown’ engagement program incorporating four elements; engaging with God in worship, in the Word, in genuine Christian community and in mission.”

The people at Clare Uniting had hoped to receive grant funding from Uniting Foundation to help support its mission objectives. A rethink was required, however, when funding became unavailable due to the Foundation’s inability to release funds given In Sunday services the the economic climate. church worked their way “We revisited the vision and through Ephesians 1:3-14 which spelled out the blessings asked God to lead us further in what we were called to do,” we have in Christ and that, in him, we are called to be a commented Rev Simon Dent. blessing to others.

“It became even clearer that we were called to continue Sunday 22 March was in the original vision and pledge day and a great that God had an even more celebration. A young woman exciting journey ahead of us.” was baptised on the day which further focused the church What seemed to be a community in their worship dead end turned out to and thanks to God. The be a blessing and growth

congregation was called on to raise approximately $60,000 in pledges to employ a family ministry and outreach worker, half-time for two years.

Clare Uniting responded to God’s extravagant grace by giving extravagantly and pledging over $56,000. The vision and celebration began in earnest on Sunday 5 July with the appointment of a gifted local woman to the role of Family Ministry Worker.

“We thank God for the great work the Uniting Foundation team do and recognise the heart breaking position they are in, however, we have been renewed as a church through the current economic turndown.

“People are saying there is a real buzz about the place; others have said this is the most exciting thing we have done in years. Our prayer is that this spiritual hope may flow from us into the lives of many others.”

Are you interested in serving as a Board member?

Volunteer your time, support your local Uniting Church agency or school and enrich your life through serving as a Board member.

To register, visit http://unitingdirector.sa.uca.org.au Uniting Director links people wishing to serve as a Board member with Uniting Church agencies and schools seeking to fill Board vacancies.

Register yourself: tell your colleagues, friends and social networks and help spread the word.

Education with Uniting Church Schools

89 Greenhill Road Wayville South Australia 5034 P: 8422 2288 F: 8272 0142 www.annesley.sa.edu.au

Campus Drive, Aberfoyle Park South Australia 5159 P: 8270 3033 F: 8370 7734 www.pilgrim.sa.edu.au

PO Box 571 Kent Town South Australia P: 83341200 F: 83630702 www.pac.edu.au

Carruth Road Torrens Park South Australia 5062 P: 8274 4333 F: 8274 4247 www.scotch.sa.edu.au

546 Portrush Road Glen Osmond 5064 Telephone: 8303 9000 Facsimile: 8303 9010 www.seymour.sa.edu.au

Alison Ave, Marion South Australia 5043 P: 8 8276 0276 F: 8 8276 0277 www.westminster.sa.edu.au

Our independent schools provide education for around 6,000 students in South Australia from Early Learning to Year 12.

They offer a variety of learning environments, and a world-class standard of excellence in facilities and academic standards.

While these schools respect the faith diversity of all students, the story, values and practices of the Christian faith are expressed with integrity in order to nurture young lives for sound learning, faith, compassion and responsible service.

AUGUST 2009

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ECONOMY

New Times

UCare, I care, we all care together UNITINGCARE, the aptly titled care and education arm of the Uniting Church is always looking for creative ways to engage more Uniting Church people in showing the love of God - in every context, to all people.

Particularly in such a critical time of need, the Uniting Church is enthusiastic about the number of congregations looking to work with UnitingCare agencies to further their service to the community.

The Uniting Church exists to join with God in reconciling and renewing the whole of creation – a cause integral to UnitingCare’s core business of transforming lives in a very practical, grass-roots setting.

This is precisely why UnitingCare is more than happy to be part of upcoming justice and volunteering festival, ‘Another Way to Love’, as the opportunity celebrates a shared passion for faith-based community service.

“There are heaps of ways people can be involved with UnitingCare to make a difference (including advocacy and direct service delivery), and the more people we can get involved, the more lives we can transform,” says Michaela Tiller, Executive Officer of UnitingCare.

The inaugural Another Way to Love festival, taking place on Saturday 29 August at Seaton Christian Family Centre is aimed at turning opinions into action by providing dozens

of opportunities for people to personally and practically get involved in transforming the lives of others. For more information visit www. anotherwaytolove.com The event includes live bands, comedy, dance, a fair trade market, op-shop, acoustic cafe and giant aid, justice and volunteering expo as well as a public address from Dr Lynn Arnold, musical items by Amity Dry, Josh Spier and more. Entry is $10.

Volunteer with UnitingCare and play an active part in transforming our communities to be places of hope and belonging for everyone. To find out what opportunities await you, go online to unitingcare.sa.uca.org.au.

Getting to the bottom line Money matters Aberfoyle Uniting Church

Does money equal power? Aberfoyle pastors Peter Riggs and Peter Morton mock-wrestle with the issue for the camera in light of the church’s recent teaching series on Money Matters.

WANTING to invest congregational time and thought into how God desires us to handle money, the pastoral team at Aberfoyle Uniting Church began by disbanding five big money myths, followed over coming weeks with principles and wisdom to help to give a healthy frame of reference for this topical issue.

“Economy is a concern that people have,” said Peter Morton, Discipleship Pastor at Aberfoyle Uniting Church. “We wanted to give people a bit of wisdom and practical teaching – not just a ‘we need your money’ kind of thing.

“There are many misconceptions of

money. We wanted to explore what God desires from us with our finances, viewing money less as a treasure and more as a commodity or a tool for us to use.”

Along with sermon outlines for churchgoers, the pastors put together a video to help the congregation hear wisdom straight from the mouths of the financial experts they had consulted with prior to the series.

“The financial advisors were really helpful in articulating how to get out of bad money habits and looking at ‘advanced decision making’.

“We weren’t just after Bible verses, we had those – we wanted to bring

relevance to the Biblical precepts that we’re often quite familiar with.”

“We encouraged our people to personally seek out practical financial advice if it was required. We also ran a short Money Management Seminar discussing topics such as budgeting.

“There’s nothing wrong with having money, but what importance is placed on it, and what do we do with it? Do we have a hold on it, or does it have a hold on us?”

If you’d like some ideas on how to discuss the economy with your congregation visit www.aberfoyle.org.au/resources.html, the Aberfoyle Uniting Church website, to download the sermon outlines and video.

Give us your money UC Invest

UC Invest Management team, Andrew Fechner and Paul Barnett, turn investment profits into mission and ministry.

UC INVEST provides competitive investment products for the Uniting Church community, generating profits to help fund mission and ministry.

Like everyone else, the organisation has been affected by the crunch of the Global Financial Crisis (GFC).

“In the context of the GFC, it’s been a particularly difficult time for us,” said Andrew Fechner, Assistant Manager, UC Invest. “Our board are proactive in taking steps to ensure our investors remain protected…they are our utmost

priority. We’ve progressively taken a more defensive position on asset allocation over the past 24 months when the downturn actually started.

The GFC, as we now know it, blew up at least 12 months before the public became acutely aware of it.

“As much as the media keeps reporting on it, the hype seems to be fading as people get on with their lives.

Currently the Australian economy remains relatively sound and seems to have dodged a bullet, although there

may still be some difficult times ahead.

“We’re definitely looking forward to better times. Profits from UC Invest are directed back into the mission and ministry of the Uniting Church. In the past we’ve provided millions of dollars to this effect.

“We’ve made significant changes to our operation to ensure we can provide again significantly in the future.” ucinvest.sa.uca.org.au

Good old-fashioned advice ABN AMRO Morgans Barbara Sibley, State Director

Barbara Sibley and Fraser MacLeod of ABN AMRO Morgans offer helpful advice for financial planning.

AUGUST 2009

WITH NEWS dominated by the ‘Global Financial Crisis’ and its impact on the global economy, it is easy to lose sight of your personal big picture and become caught up in the emotion of the day. However with common sense and planning, you can manage through the challenging times. Professional advice provides strategies to help you save, create and protect your wealth – regardless of your stage of life.

Despite a tumultuous year, markets have improved recently on the back

of renewed investor confidence as substantial stimulus packages work their way through the global financial system “We expect the Australian economy to decline in 2009, but growth to kick in strongly in 2010. Our key investment strategy remains an investment bias toward quality companies with a reliable track record of paying dividends,” said Fraser MacLeod, Investment Advisor with ABN AMRO Morgans.

With the uncertainty, people are feeling less secure about their decisions, fully aware that if they make the wrong

decision, it could be very costly.

Those who are succeeding in the current market are those who have invested wisely with a long-term outlook. There will be periods of volatility, but we have noted that investor confidence is returning.

ABN AMRO Morgans ‘Five Steps to Wealth Creation’ document is available on the New Times website: sa.uca.org. au/newtimes.

MAGAZINE

New Times

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Welcoming church-shoppers, church-hoppers and everyone in between Get welcome ready Uniting Church SA’s Communications and PR Unit are working with congregations to help create fresh church brochures – at around half the usual price. While nothing beats a warm face to face encounter with a person from the church community, often people interested in your congregation want to take information home with them to mull over in their own time.

Brochures are a great way to give visitors information about your community that will help them to discover who you really are and what you do as a church.

Normally, 1000 brochures would cost upwards of $700, but working together means it will only cost $360 – a package price that includes professional editing and graphic design work.

Full details are available from www.sa.uca.org.au/goto/brochure.

But be quick - registrations close Friday 7 August.

Enquiries: Sarah Urmston, 8236 4260 or surmston@sa.uca.org.au

Sarah Urmston, Communications Project Officer HAVE YOU ever thought seriously about how people are welcomed into your church?

Have you forgotten what it’s like to feel new?

When was the last time you visited another congregation – and felt totally out of place or unfamiliar with its practices?

Ideally, our congregations should be the ultimate display of welcome and hospitality.

We want people to come and hear the gospel. But if we want them to come – and return – it’s important that the whole experience is positive and the person experiences true welcome throughout their visit.

You could liken it to having a guest over for dinner. In preparation, the house is tidied, you give the guest clear directions to your house and upon their arrival you greet them, begin conversation and offer nibbles and drinks for their comfort. Your guests are made to feel relaxed and you serve the best food, wine and coffee, always attending to their needs.

You would remember little things, like letting them know you’ll pray a blessing over the food and pointing them towards the bathroom, making every effort to ensure the experience leaves a pleasant memory of your hospitality – one they may wish to return to.

And you would certainly never put a sign on your toilet door, instructing people to ‘remember to flush the toilet!’

What can I do?

Remember that Uniting Church SA offers a free website to congregations. Websites are another way people discover churches, so if you’re keen to make a good e-impression contact Steve Davis: sdavis@sa.uca.org.au for full details.

Looking with fresh eyes

IMPORTANTLY, we may need to fight the urge to view a newcomer as a prospective member (and contributor to the offering) but as a person to whom we have the opportunity to show a warm welcome - one that they may have never experienced before – without the expectation of a return visit.

IF YOU’RE not sure how welcoming your church is, consider the following ways to find out:

There are some small steps that each of us, as individuals and congregations, can take to make our church more welcoming.

Things like arriving to church earlier so visitors don’t arrive to an empty space, ensuring the building is clearly signposted for easy navigation and greeting newcomers beyond a hello are just a few helpful ways to contribute to building a welcoming culture in your congregation.

• Ask a friend of a friend to visit your church to record their first thoughts and impressions. Their feedback could show up some church habits you didn’t realise made new people feel uncomfortable.

For more ideas about making your church more welcoming you can read the full version of this article online at www. strategicplan.sa.uca.org.au. And if you have any stories of how your church is extending a hand of hospitality –we’d love to hear from you! Please contact Sarah Urmston on 8236 4260 or surmston@sa.uca.org.au and we’ll share your helpful hints around as we learn to welcome, together.

• Download the ‘Welcome Audit’ from Uniting Church SA’s Strategic Plan website – www.strategicplan.sa.uca.org.au - and work your way through it with open eyes.

• Visit a church on the other side of town where you don’t know anyone and rediscover what it feels like to be a newcomer.

This will help you to gain a better understanding of what gets noticed when visiting a church, and what you actually want to experience when visiting a new church community.

It’s all Happening at Adare In Victor Harbor!

New Management Hilary James and her team offer the wider community: • Cabin accommodation • Caravan Park stays • Modern Conference facilities – well equipped and comfortable • Morning and afternoon teas, and lunches • Beautiful surroundings and cheerful service

Building on a solid Foundation The Uniting Foundation’s capacity to make grants depends on you.

Since 2004, 195 grants totalling $7,902,714 have funded mission and ministry work of the Uniting Church throughout South Australia.

Today’s donations and tomorrow’s bequests earn income

Winter Weddings

• the Centre for Multicultural Ministry

Held in our magnificent heritage building and offering: • Competitive and affordable prices • Wood fires • Old style ballroom • Beautiful surroundings • Gorgeous photographic settings

• the ‘Life Shed’ ministry recognising and utilising the gifts brought by men to the congregation and the community

Winter Specials

which supports: • the establishment of a new faith community at Mount Barker • a Friday morning worship service for parents/carers and young children

• a church-based annual symposium exploring values for living in the 21st century • provision of the Australian Leadership Magazine to every minister and lay pastor Your donations and bequests to the Uniting Foundation make this possible.

It’s whale season. Come down…see these magnificent creatures and have a holiday as well.

• Off-peak rates till September 31st • Special rates for all UCA members • Very special rates for UCA Ministers • Book a 3-night weekend – pay for only 2 nights.

For further details on any of the above please contact Hilary or Amy at the

Contact the Synod office (8227 0822 or presbyterysynod@sa.uca.org.au) or visit the Uniting Foundation web page on www.sa.uca.org.au

ADARE CENTRE – VICTOR HARBOR Phone 08 8552 1657

AUGUST 2009

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MAGAZINE

New Times

Going back to Morse Bob Badenoch

IT’S THE LOST communication that looks like a series of punctuation and sounds like a typewriter. To those that know it, it’s a dead art, but for others, it’s a historical lesson in how much effort people have made to communicate with each other. For those who struggle with understanding the internet, but fondly remember and recite Morse code – this is your time to gloat.

In Back-to-Morse week, mid June, qualified telegraph operators came out of the woodwork to delightedly reminisce about how it all began, and to dust off the machines to help people enjoy the novelty of communicating using the language familiar to so few.

One such operator was Rev David Houston a qualified telegraph operator and postal clerk before he joined the ministry in the Uniting Church.

Over 130 years ago, Morse code was established in Australia to whittle one way correspondence time down to a measly seven hours.

With mail from the ‘homeland’ taking three or four months to arrive, Adelaide’s

Rev David Houston, former Uniting Church Lay Education coordinator, is a qualified telegraphist, an old skill he is glad to dust off when the occasion arises.

Superintendent of Telegraphs, Charles Todd, in a bid to overcome Australia’s isolation, agreed to build a telegraph line across a virtually unexplored Australia to connect with what would later become known as Darwin.

In August 1872 this massive job was completed. There did still exist a 630km gap between the central and northern sections, though, over which an

estafette, or pony express, was introduced for a short period.

Morse code disappeared from official postal service in 1963.

In 1990 a group of retired telegraphists formed the SA Chapter of the Morsecodian Fraternity. It was decided to keep the romance of telegraph alive by operating Morse lines between Adelaide and Alice Springs (at the Old Telegraph Station) and Adelaide and

Darwin (at the British-Australia Telegraph House) for one week each year so that tourists and locals could send messages to family and friends. No charge was made as the telegraphists and postal clerks, who also had to have Morse qualifications, cheerfully volunteered for their once a year ‘skills-recharge’.

Rev David Houston agreed to help operate the Adelaide

terminal situated in the Myer Centre. As can be imagined, operators are thin on the ground as age catches up to us, and David’s efforts in Back-toMorse Week 2009 were greatly appreciated.

From telegraphist, to Uniting Church minister and back again.

David still hasn’t forgotten his first trade and, trust me, 50 years is a long time to remember!

Celebration brings hope Barbara Horne, on behalf of Friends of Unity

The Adelaide Gay and Lesbian choir led a celebration at Clayton Wesley Church to celebrate changes in Federal Law. Spirits were lifted by the music, especially by the song ‘You raise me up’ - a great celebration of love.

First National Riggall

A thinking heart: a practised and practical way towards making a difference in our world Friday 21 August 2009, 7.30 pm

• Residential • Commercial Sales • Leasing

Speaker: Philip Carter

“Maybe the market’s better than you think. Talk to us… we put you first!”

John Riggall Principal 8342 3399 24 Hours…All areas 469 Regency Road, Prospect

AUGUST 2009

Christian Supplies SA 183A Findon Rd. Findon SA 5023

Reliable real estate service.

AS COUPLES, families, singles, groups of friends, old, young, gay and straight, we came together with celebration and joy, filling Clayton-Wesley Church on Sunday 5 July.

At last, Federal Law has recognised and granted a measure of equality to gay and lesbian couples, with most of the same rights and privileges accorded to heterosexual couples. With rainbow coloured fabrics flowing from God’s table towards us we gathered to worship and give thanks to the God of justice, love and grace who, in the words of one of the prayers, “loves all of us extravagantly, unconditionally and irrevocably.”

These recent changes came about through the gutsy persistence of thousands of gay and lesbian people, and others of goodwill, through a long and hard struggle.

Worshipping with oppressed people is always a poignant experience, certainly so in this worship shared with and led by gay and lesbian people. It was a blessing!

We left the church singing with the choir, “We’re gonna keep on walking forwards…never turning back...”

There was sorrow and lament that some did not live to see this new day, mixed with recognition that there is yet more work to be done to achieve full equality. And so the journey continues.

Effective Living Centre, 26 King William Road Wayville $12/$10 Philip Carter - Founder of the Julian Centre for Spiritual Direction and Spirituality.

Bookings essential, ph 8271 0329 or office@effectiveliving.org

Phone. 08 8244 1811 Fax. 08 8244 1822

UNDER NEW MANAGEMENT Suppliers of Crucifixes, religious statues, rosary beads, candles, medals, memorial cards, greeting cards, church-ware, holy pictures, certificates, clerical shirts, vestments, sacramental wine, altar bread, children’s books. A large range of gifts.

Contact Peter and Albina De Palma Trading Hours: 9.30am - 5.00pm Weekdays 9.00am - 1.00pm Saturday Email: chrisupp@adam.com.au

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Picture a new era – Kensington Park, Tusmore Memorial and Tusmore Park Uniting Churches are combining to more intentionally create effective mission opportunities. This is the proposed building for Burnside City Uniting Church.

Burnside Uniting Churches, better together Rev Rob Williams, Geoff Bean, and Keith Maynard THE FORMER congregations of Beaumont, Kensington Park, Tusmore Memorial and Tusmore Park have amalgamated to form the new congregation of Burnside City Uniting Church. Driven by a call from the former Mount Lofty Presbytery to consider how the congregations in the Burnside City Council area might be more effective and intentional in mission, the congregation believes God is calling it to centre on Jesus, create community, empower people and make Jesus known.

Friendly relationships are developing between people across the whole congregation, building a sense of

community. Joint ministries exist through regular combined worship, rotation of ministers through the four current locations, combined home groups and congregation consultations, joint fellowship meetings and other events.

We are learning to use our limited resources more efficiently and finding that we are ‘better together’.

The same principle operates in relation to our mission in the wider community, with new forms being explored. Our policy to work with other agencies has instigated conversations with UnitingCare Adelaide East and Burnside City Council staff to optimise cost-benefits and avoid ‘competing’.

Faith-sharing is becoming embedded

into our culture as a congregation, together with discipleship programs and ongoing opportunities for evangelism.

The congregation will also foster leadership development and ongoing Christian education.

A range of rich and vital worship styles will be at the heart of our life together with Wednesdays promoted as days of prayer for the life and mission of the congregation and its leaders.

One of the key factors for success in many activities is achieving critical mass. Our Eastern Youth, which has been going well for several years now, includes youth from congregations even beyond Burnside City.

While at the group level, building costs and materials may be less costly

we are expecting our return on property sales to be down. In contrast, school building projects arising from the Australian Government’s stimulus packages is starting to push costs up.

The downturn itself has impacted strongly on many of our congregation through reductions in their superannuation benefits and the effective value of their savings. Talk of inflation following the downturn has also reduced people’s confidence in their financial future.

Planning for this amalgamation began well before the current financial downturn began and while the uncertainty of the market makes planning difficult it has strengthened our faith in God.

‘The Haven’ has Peterborough in stitches Robyn McKay EVERY WEDNESDAY the doors of the Peterborough Uniting Church Hall are opened and people from the community come for a cuppa, some lunch, a game of draughts, or just a chat.

Known as ‘The Haven’, the group is led by Jill Walker and Phyllis Eddleston, two hardworking congregation members.

In order to offer free sewing classes for members of the community, Jill and Phyllis successfully applied for a community grant to purchase a new sewing machine, iron and ironing board as well as cotton and other equipment.

Once word got out into the community people began to come forward and make donations: three more sewing machines, a sewing cupboard, materials and another ironing board and iron. A local farmer even provided cleaned wheat from which people have made wheat bags.

“God’s provision has just been amazing,” said Jill.

Assisted by fellow church member and sewing wiz, Dot Deaves, courses have been running since late June. Despite the cold weather, people have come to learn or refresh their skills, some of whom have had no prior contact with the church.

Phyllis and Jill are excited to see what unfolds in the future.

“God continues to expand The Haven to meet the needs of the community,” said Phyllis.

Phyllis Eddleston and Renee Wells road test their new sewing machine at Peterborough Uniting Church’s community sewing group, ‘The Haven’.

The sewing group offers free lessons to the community.

CEDUNA UNITING CHURCH CENTENARY CELEBRATIONS - ALL INTERESTED PEOPLE ARE WELCOME NEXT NOVEMBER (Please bring any photos and memorabilia you have)

MIGHTY HELPFUL MITRE 10 321 Unley Road, MALVERN Tel: 8272 8566 Fax: 8271 4930

FRIDAY 13th – ANNIVERSARY DINNER AT FORESHORE HOTEL 6pm (bookings to be made in advance)

Email: malvern@barrowandbench.com

SATURDAY 14th – MEET AT CHURCH HALL 11.30 a.m. THEN LUNCH AFTERNOON - VIEW MEMORABILIA AND BUS TOUR OF TOWN (Depending on numbers) EVENING - TEA IN HALL AT 6 p.m. - REMINISCING

For all your property needs OPEN 7 DAYS

SUNDAY - ANNIIVERSARY SERVICE – 10 a.m. - GUEST SPEAKER REV. ROD DYSON – LUNCH TO FOLLOW For further information contact Heather Workman – 08 86252895 - email: worky2@people.net.au Allen Stott – 08 86252493 – email: allenstott@bigpond.com

COUNSELLING A team of highly qualified counsellors experienced in handling issues of anxiety, stress, burnout, depression, grief, chronic illness and relationship matters.

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MALVERN CENTRE FOR COUNSELLING PHONE: 8271 6817 44 Marlborough Street, Malvern

AUGUST 2009

14

REVIEWS

Experiencing the dying of a loved one Book: In Due Season Author: Valerie Volk Recommended for: all who must face the death of a loved one, which is most of us In short: A collection of poems exploring the issues of grief and loss.

RRP: $24.95 Early in 2008, Noel Volk was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a form of blood cancer. Although there was no cure Valerie and Noel were given to understand that, with treatment, they would have some years ahead together. It was not so. Sadly, Noel died in September 2008.

Subtitled ‘Poems of Love and Loss’ the poems, in both simple and profound language, trace the anguish that Valerie experienced as she watched the process of Noel’s dying, death and the aftermath while revealing the deep love the Volk’s had for each other.

It is a love that, for Valerie, transcended death.

In revealing her own thoughts and feelings in a time of grief, Valerie has articulated what so many feel at such times, but cannot find the words to express.

Grief and loss are something we all must experience in the course of our lives. For those involved in comforting and counselling the grieving – many of whom may be within our church communities – it is likely that you’ll find a deeper understanding of the grief process through these poems.

The poems, varying in style from sonnets to villanelle to free verse, are accessible to even the most non-poetic readers and accompanied by the splendid photographic work of Ivan Christian.

- Ray Creevy

AUGUST 2009

New Times

Back to basics Book: Belief Matters: A guide to Christian believing based on the Apostles’ Creed Author: Pete Briscoe and Todd Hilliard Recommended for: those who are new to Christianity, and those wanting to review the basics after years of believing In short: Everybody believes, but belief can only have a positive effect when what is believed is true.

RRP: $21.95 Christians may describe themselves as those who believe in God but as our beliefs determine our experience of God, what we believe about God is extremely important.

Pete Briscoe’s approach to the matter of belief in Belief Matters comes out of his understanding that people can have weird ideas about established statements of truth.

What the Church believes and knows to be true is known to be so because it is based on the Bible’s testimony and because it has lasted through twenty centuries.

Briscoe brings the fourth century ‘Apostles Creed’ into the twenty-first century in a hope to enable today’s Christians to develop a solid, Biblical foundation for their belief, and then to use that foundation in sharing the gospel with others.

I enjoyed Belief Matters; Briscoe has a similar stance to mine on issues beyond the core values of Christianity and he writes with humour and large doses of practical wisdom.

Belief Matters is a book that can be read and immediately applied both in personal study of the foundations of our faith, and also in analysing how to go about sharing the gospel in a postmodern world of conflicting truths.

At my church, Unity Hill, we are currently developing an eight part study in ‘The Basics of Christianity’ to present to new Christians and, next to the Bible, Belief Matters has become our primary resource.

- Damien Tann

For better or worse Book: My Donkey Body Author: Michael Wenham Recommended for: contemplation of the value of human life In short: An autobiographical reflection on the broader issue of faith in relation to suffering.

RRP: $19.95 Fuelling the belief that in one brief moment your entire world can change My Donkey Body is the compelling story of one man, Rev Michael Wenham, and his courageous struggle with Motor Neurone Disease.

Aided by sheer determination and an unwillingness to show self-pity, Wenham takes readers on an emotional journey as he struggles to continue living his life, in spite of the rapid deterioration of his heath.

Retaining his position as the vicar of three parishes and endeavouring to holiday in Europe with his devoted wife Janet, Wenham quickly conceded that his condition would essentially be very public, unless he chose to live in seclusion.

Adopting a strong comparative tone Wenham discusses, at length, the contentious issue of euthanasia.

Though struggling with fears of his own self worth, Wenham overcomes such angst, realising that the love his family display for him results from whom he is rather than what he can provide them with. In doing this, he convincingly argues in favour of allowing God to give or take away life – whatever that may look like.

Lending poignancy to his account, Wenham includes touching letters from other sufferers and their carers, inspiring readers with their heartfelt messages of hope.

Contrary to the title, this book is truly an inspiring and uplifting testimony to one man’s faith as he learns to live with distressing symptoms and fast ailing mobility.

- Linda Sutton

Modern images of the incarnation

Be inspired by the blessing it is to love God

Book: Icons of the Incarnation Author: Sophie Hacker, with meditations by Ronald Riem Recommended for: consideration of poetic expressions and theological themes through creative images In short: An expression and analysis of the divine coming of Christ through visible objects.

RRP: $49.95

Book: Loving God Author: Charles Colson Recommended for: understanding and building a deeper connection with God In short: A journey into how and why we love our God. RRP: $24.95

Trained as an abstract artist, Sophie Hacker was commissioned to produce nine visual creations to accompany the organ composition ‘The Nativity of the Lord’ by Olivier Messiaen, performed in Winchester Cathedral in 2008.

In Icons of the Incarnation, Hatcher offers the reader a brief but profound insight into the way she created each piece to represent musical movements including ‘Virgin and Child’, ‘Jesus Accepts Suffering’ and the ‘God Among Us’.

Hacker provides readers with the opportunity to become immersed in the images she created through detailed depictions of the materials used and the significance of different colours. She evokes a strong sense of realism in her work, showing how created symbols can both communicate and be understood through other means.

The poetic meditations by Roland Riem add a further interpretive dimension to this collaborative project which creatively unites art and music.

Music, words and visual images in art are all ways which touch our senses, and help provide the means of stimulating the imagination.

The colours, shapes and reflections of incarnation offered through this book reward the reader richly for time spent becoming immersed in this beautiful creative venture.

- Rodger Bassham

The conversion of Charles Colson is one of the shining lights of modern Christianity.

Emerging from a prison term resulting from a life as Nixon’s ‘hatchet man’, to the founder of Prison Fellowship and one of the finest teachers of contemporary faith, his personal journey and work is inspiring.

In Loving God, Colson combines principles from his own story with those of others showing how through our simple actions we can disappoint or glorify our Lord.

Notably, the brilliance of this book is in the way it exemplifies the importance of the everyday, and how it was the everyday obedience of church forefathers that made them great.

This challenging but simple read breaks down a bit of the complexity surrounding how we love God. When one is asked what the core of the Christian faith is, it is easy to glibly reply, ‘To love the Lord, and others.’

What is not quite so easy is to explain exactly how you do that.

If our faith is not by works then why do we need to do anything? What Colson specifies is how while we’re not required to do anything, if we truly know God, we will want to do what he desires.

A highlight of this book is the masterfully told tale of the conversion of Alexander Solzhenitsyn on the surgeon’s table of a Russian Gulag.

Read to be refreshed, read to be challenged and read to fall deeper in love with your Lord.

- Callum Iles

15 MAGAZINE

New Times

A SPECIAL CELEBRATION and thanksgiving service for ‘Bargains by the Bridge’ at West Lakes Church, Bartley Terrace will be held to honour volunteers and the community they serve. 10.00am on Sunday 9 August at West Lakes Shore.

Enquiries: Rev Sue Ellis, p. (08) 8449 2422.

AS PART OF ‘SOUTH AUSTRALIA LIVING ARTISTS’ (SALA), from 9 – 23 August, The Corner Uniting Church presents works by Helen Sherriff titled ‘All things new - and old’. Official opening

by Anne Hewitt at 11.45am, on 9 August. Viewing times: Tuesdays to Fridays 10.00am to 3.00pm, Saturday & Sundays 1.00pm to 3.00pm. Enquiries: p. (08) 8350 5400.

WARMING WINTER CONCERTS at Wesley Kent Town (27 Grenfell St, Kent Town) continue with organ recital and PAC saxophone quartet. 2.00pm on Wednesday 12 August. Tickets at the door: $10 and $5 (includes afternoon tea). Enquiries: David Clarke, p. (08) 8362 2544.

CROSSING CULTURES: ‘Exploring cross-cultural relationships through the Bible and film’. Rev Hoon You, from Monash Uniting Church, Melbourne, will facilitate a series of four discussions, from 7.15pm on Friday 21 August to 4.30pm Saturday 22 August at the Adelaide College of Divinity (34 Lipsett Tce, Brooklyn Park).

All sessions are free. Enquiries to Meryl Gemo, p. 8277 7842 or e. mgemo@picknowl.com.au.

SNOWTOWN UNITING CHURCH will hold a service to celebrate the centenary of its opening (9/09/1909) at 11.00am on Sunday 13 September. Pooled lunch to follow the service. Everyone who has had a connection with the Snowtown Church is very welcome to attend. Enquiries to Phil Sanderson, p. 8865 2018, e. billfr@bigpond.com.

ANOTHER WAY TO LOVE - a justice and volunteering festival taking place on 29 August at Seaton Christian Family Centre.

Live bands, comedy, dance, a fair trade market, op shop, acoustic cafe and giant aid, justice and volunteering expo.

Guests include Dr Lynn Arnold AO, Amity Dry, Josh Spier and more. $10 entry. Profits go to World Vision Child Rescue projects. More information: www.anotherwaytolove.com THE NORTHWEST ADULT FELLOWSHIPS regional celebration will be held at One Tree Hill Uniting Church on Wednesday 23 September at 10.00am. Morning tea provided, followed by Valmai Hankel speaking on on ‘Sand and Paper: Solo travels in the Australian outback’. Offering for the Church of Christ’s Aids Ministry (CAM) in Northern Thailand. Enquiries: Sybil Winsor, p. (08) 8280 7038.

A REUNION to celebrate 30 years of Easter Camps on the Yorke Peninsula will be held on 10 October in the Ardrossan Town Hall. All who wish to attend will need to register for the evening meal. Contact us to indicate your interest and gain further information. Phil and Tanya Whittaker, p. 8837 3072 or e. eastercampyp@hotmail. com.

ALL WELCOME next November to attend the Ceduna Uniting Church centenary celebrations from Friday 13 November to Sunday 14.

Please bring any photos and memorabilia. Celebrations include an anniversary dinner, viewing of memorabilia and an anniversary service on Sunday with lunch to follow. More information online, on the Uniting Church events calendar.

Enquiries: Heather Workman, p. (08) 8625 2895, e. worky2@ people.net.au.

COMPLEXITY OF CHURCH PARTNERSHIPS I was disturbed by the article ‘Fiji Methodist heroic diplomacy’ – New Times, June 2009.

There is another side to the part played by the nationalistic Methodist Church of Fiji, evident since the 1987 Coup, and the attempts by Commander Frank Bainimarama to work for a fair and equitable Fiji… albeit as a ‘dictator’.

In 1987, we experienced the bottle and stone throwing riots by many Methodist Fijians against Indians in Suva. The Lautoka Methodist Youth Group vandalised, burnt and desecrated temples, mosques and sacred writings of the ‘heathens’. There was universal outrage by Christian people of all denominations from all over Fiji.

It was the same Methodist Church which has disbanded the ecumenical, non-political Fiji Council of Churches and formed the exclusivist Assembly of Christian Churches in Fiji, seeing itself as the true ‘Body of Christ’.

Fijian political and religious history remains very complex.

M Bennett Willunga

About your letters Please keep your letters short — about 150 words is ideal. Longer letters will be cut or rejected.

You’re welcome to email letters to newtimes@sa.uca. org.au or they can be posted to us at GPO Box 2145, Adelaide 5001

STAND FIRM The President elect of the UCA stated in July’s New Times that ‘Mainstream churches in Australia are in a crisis situation’.

I ponder why is this so?

Sadly I conclude that, unlike Christian Churches in the past, the current UCA seems to be considered irrelevant in our present society.

It has been said that the Christians should be ‘in the world but not of the world’. As a Church we certainly have not heeded Paul’s instruction in Romans12:2 as translated by JB Phillips, “Don’t let the world around you squeeze you into its own mould”.

To regain the important role with which the Church has been entrusted, we must at all times “stand firm” to the basic teachings of the Bible. Christians should note what the English Philosopher, Edmund Burke said: “All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing”, and not meekly follow the ways of the world.

KR Moore Coromandel Valley

PRAY FOR HEALING ‘Health and wellbeing’ was a very broad topic for the July New Times and included excellent reports on church programs and advice for enhancing one’s health. I would be interested to know how many churches offer opportunities for people to receive prayer with laying on of hands and, where appropriate, anointing with oil.

It would be good to know that people could walk into a church and be offered a personal ministry for their health and wellbeing. Surely, such a ministry has an important part to play in the life of the church.

Everyone has great faith, quite rightly, in the members of the medical and nursing professions to return them to health when they are ill, however to seek ministry for healing through Christ should be seen as an added dimension in one’s journey to health and wellbeing. After all, wasn’t healing of the sick a large part of the ministry of Jesus?

Rev G Graetz Hillier

THINGS I AM GRATEFUL TO THE CHURCH FOR TEACHING ME If you stand in front of a bulldozer there is a good chance you will be run over: Don’t expect the driver to see or hear you amongst all the dust and clatter.

A sign that the Church is an instrument of God is that it always recognises the truth: Even though it usually takes 400 years.

The Church is being an instrument of God when it doesn’t take itself too seriously: After all it is an institution of humans.

A Nield Whyalla

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0417 872 105 or 8344 4725.

To have your upcoming event or message published in the Notebook section of ‘New Times’, email . notebook@sa.uca.org.au, with the word ‘Notebook’ in the subject line.

Help us save his home.

Mother Nature is in trouble but you can help. Offset your emissions through Carbon Neutral or get involved in Trees For Life.

There’s lots you can do!

www.treesforlife.org.au (08) 8406 0500 A South Australian organisation helping South Australia’s environment.

EXPERIENCED HANDYMAN Odd jobs and gardening. “Your spare pair of hands” Phone 8346 0933 ACCOMMODATION TERTIARY STUDENTS VACANCY IMMEDIATELY AND FOR 2010 Morialta Uniting Church Student Houses – undergraduate university/TAFE students.

Furnished single bedrooms, shared bathrooms, living areas. Proximity Uni-SA, Magill. Easy travel to northern campus and city for Adelaide University and Uni-SA. Mary Thornley (8332 2041. Church Office (8331 9344). Rent $290 monthly

AUGUST 2009

16

MAGAZINE

New Times

Celebrating 100 years and looking forward to the next century MALLALA UNITING CHURCH celebrated their century, re-enactment style, on Sunday 28 June. Participants in the re-enactment from (L-R): Amy Jordan as Lady Way, David Cawrse as Lieutenant Gov Sir Samual Way, Shauna Madigan as Mrs Dingle, Tim Cawrse as Rev Dingle, Lauren Cawrse a Mrs Joseph Ashton, Brett Davies as Mr Thomas Nevin and Hannah Jenkin as Mrs Nevin.

Secretary of Mallala Uniting Church, Rosemary Jenkin, comments, “these events only occur once every 100 years and are a wonderful chance to honour our forefathers, but now we must look to the future. So many changes have occurred and will occur in the next 100 years. One wonders of God’s plan for us all. We can only honour, trust and serve in the Word of God…” Head online to sa.uca.org.au/newtimes to read a full account of the celebrations.

AUGUST 2009

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