UNITING CHURCH IN AUSTRALIA BELMONT CONGREGATION 42 Thomson Street, Belmont Vic

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1 UNITING CHURCH IN AUSTRALIA BELMONT CONGREGATION 42 Thomson Street, Belmont Vic SUNDAY 25 th FEBRUARY, 2018 WORSHIP LEADER: MS. JEAN MURRAY We welcome all who are worshipping with us today, especially newcomers and visitors. WELCOME LUNCHEON A luncheon to welcome new members to our Congregation will be held on Sunday 4 th March, following the Morning Communion Service and the Annual General Meeting. All members of the Congregation are asked to bring a plate of food to share. WORLD DAY OF PRAYER The ecumenical service for Geelong will be held on FRIDAY 2nd MARCH at 11 a.m. at WESLEY UNITING CHURCH, 100 YARRSTREET, followed by light refreshments. TOWELS FOR A SAFE HOUSE A women s Safe House in Geelong, operated by Rob and Denise, is in need of towels. Our Social Justice group has undertaken to collect towels for use in the house. Can you help? Towels can be new or used. Collection will take place over the next two Sundays ( 25 th Feb and 4 th March).See Raye Pearson if you need more information or help in getting towels to church.

2 The Ministry Team is based at the Belmont Church Office on most Tuesdays to Fridays from 9.30a.m p.m. Rev. Ikani Vaitohi will be in attendance on most of those days. Pastor Geoff Aitken, on some Wednesdays and most Fridays. They welcome any congregational members who would like to drop in for a cuppa or chat. Please Note: In case of emergency, the Ministry team remains available at any time. See back page for contact numbers. CONTRIBUTE TO OUR WEBSITE: Belmont Uniting Church (BUC) website is at (or Google us). Please remember to go there for information, to make a suggestion or make a contribution. WELCOME MAT: Operates every week on Fridays from 10 a.m pm. Join us for a cuppa, chat, games and lunch at 12. You are most welcome. Bring a friend and enjoy the fellowship and fun. Any queries, contact Carl Schaller, Muriel Bullock or Fay Harper. B.U.C. EVENING FELLOWSHIP Wednesday next 28 th February at 7.30pm in the Church Hall, when Norma and David Phillips will speak on their trip to India. This is an OPEN meeting all welcome. Devotions: Lorraine Supper: Miriam and Muriel CONGREGATION ANNUAL MEETING, Sunday March 4 th after the 10 am service.. Please bring your Annual Report to the meeting with you. Your attendance at this important meeting of our church community will be appreciated, as we review the life of our congregation. If there are important matters which you wish to share, please discuss them with Raye Pearson, or Alex. Page, by the end of February, at the latest. CRAFT FELLOWHIP will meet on Tuesday March 6 th at 10 o clock. All welcome. Please bring your own craft and enjoy the camaraderie. 2

3 Theme: Journey Within The English word for Lent stems from the word for spring which refers to the penitential period preceding Easter. Early Christians felt that the magnitude of the Easter celebration called for special preparation. As such, we will mark the commencement of this period with an evening service on Ash Wednesday followed by series of daily prayers and meditations to accompany us along our individual and communal journey toward Easter. Our theme for this period is Journey Within. The Ministry Team, Education and the Worship Committee have put together these offerings to assist us in that journey. The finer details of these offerings will be made available to you later. Daily prayer and meditation: am Monday to Friday commencing Thursday 15 Feb Fri 30 April Bible Study: Praying the Psalms 6.00pm Sunday evenings 18 Feb 18 March Walking the Labyrinth: Mon 26 March Easter Sunday afternoon. Stations of the Cross in Belmont: Good Friday Afternoon. Easter Vigil: A night of prayer over Saturday into Easter morning commencing 9pm 6.00am Easter Sunday Service: 10.00am 1 April AFTERNOON COMMUNION SERVICE AND FELLOWSHIP Wednesday 7 th March at 1.30 pm. All welcome. Leader: Rev. Ikani Vaitohi Minister s Stewards: J & P Rankin Tea Hostesses: J. Cocking, G. Chapman Transport is available by calling

4 THE CHURCH COUNCIL The Church Council met on Tuesday 13 th February and it reports to the congregation:- 1. Fay Costin was welcomed to her first meeting as a Councillor. 2. The Treasurer tabled the Belmont Congregation statement of Income and Payments 1/1/17 31/12/17. Council adopted this statement which will be published in the Annual Congregation Report available on Sunday 25 th February prior to the Annual Meeting, 4 th March Council also adopted the Budget for The Thanksgiving Sunday will be May 27 th. 4. Church Council for 2018 Ray Ferguson (Chair) Bev Dickie Alex Page (Dep Chair) Rev. Ikani Vaitohi Glen Coomber (Secretary) Loris Jackson Brian Couper (Dep Sec) Bill Jennings Graeme Allen (Treasurer) Les McCann Julie Ferguson (Minute Sec.) Graeme Mitchell Pastor Geoff Aitken Liz Moss Len Champness Raye Pearson Cherry Collins Lorraine Rankin Fay Costin Jim Rossiter Alwyne Merritt will represent the congregation at Presbytery. 5. Council received a Pastoral Statement from Stuart McMillan, President of Uniting Church in Australia written at the conclusion of the landmark Royal Commission into Institutional Responses into Child Sexual Abuse. This Pastoral Statement will be published in the Star. 4

5 6. The BUC Evening Fellowship has written to Council seeking approval to pursue a significant fund-raising enterprise using their catering skills with the funds being directed towards new/refurbishing seating in the church. Council agreed that the BUC Evening Fellowship should pursue this undertaking. 7. The Baptism of Archie Derrell Treble will be held in April. 8. Rev Ikani prepared a Conversation Starter with an aim to establish a Strategic Plan for the Belmont Congregation which will focus our effort and resources on the priorities and a team approach to Ministry. Our team includes the whole of the Congregation, Church Council, Team ministry, Ministry partners, Wider Church and Community. Council will hold a Special Council meeting on March 13 th to discuss this paper. 9. Rev. Ikani led the Council in a Commitment Service of Holy Communion to conclude the meeting. WORSHIP ROSTER To those who have served so faithfully on the current roster a very big thank you: Now the time has come to prepare a new roster for the months April to July inclusive. It will be presumed that everyone is willing to continue but, if you have dates you will be unavailable for duty, please advise by leaving a note in the F pigeonhole or by calling on Any information regarding the roster is required by Sunday 18 th March and it is anticipated the new roster will be ready by 25 th March. ARE YOU INTERESTED IN HAVING A CHRISTIAN BOOK SHOP, RESOURCE CENTRE AND BIBLE MUSEUM IN GEELONG? If you would like to be involved in this endeavour or have any ideas, please attend on Monday 26 th February at 7 p.m. at Belmont-Highton Baptist Church, Mt. Pleasant Road, Belmont. For more information see the notice board in the hall 5

6 CHURCH NAME BADGES Today is the last day to order a name badge. I will be near the door of the hall after church if anyone wants to do this. Badges are $12 and you can choose a pin or magnetic fastening (magnets are unsuitable for anyone with a pacemaker). I will have envelopes and change available. If you are a newcomer to Belmont Uniting Church and wish to be an ongoing member please talk to me as we would like you to have a badge so people learn your name. There are funds available towards the cost of this. Alwyne Merritt NARANA SALE IN MARCH Many will know of NARANA, Aboriginal Cultural Centre at 410 SurfCoast Hwy, Grovedale with shady Parking just as you drive out of Grovedale. It s a good place to take visitors of all ages, and it changes, so worth a look if you haven t been for a few years. The short walks, Cafe, displays of local photos and Art Gallery make it varied and interesting. Supporting Indigenous Australians is important I think. There s to be a SALE of All Items Out the Front. for 3 days from MARCH 1 TO 3 9am to 5pm. 40 PERCENT OFF Sale includes Hand-crafted Aboriginal artefacts, Artworks, printed hand-bags, tablecloths, plates, teapots, candles and souvenirs.and MORE. I always like the Cards if nothing else catches my eye! Put the dates on your calendar/diary! Liz Main PRODUCE STALL A small number of freshly made items are now offered for self service (price on lids) on some Sundays, around 9.30a.m. & 11.30a.m.: Apricot Jam, Fig Jam, Lemon Butter, Plum Jam, Raspberry Jam, Strawberry Jam, and Tomato Relish! Only the regular variety! 6

7 SERVING THE BELMONT CONGREGATION Duty Stewards Sunday, 4 th March, 2018 Worship Leader: Rev. Ikani Vaitohi Lent a.m. H.C. P. Woods (M & HC), N. Woods (L) B. Couper, J. Jeffers W & P Jones, K & M Moore W & P Jones R. Pearson (P & HC), B. Vaitohi L. Moss, R. Jeffers C. Schaller, D. Ives W. Jones Alwyne Merritt S & W Jennings, M & K Moore P & W Jones Readers Porch Stewards Host/ess P.A. Flowers Morning Tea Transport (1) R. Jeffers (2) A. Merritt (3) L. Moss PRAYER POINTS Dear Lord, we thank You for the many ways You bless us and for Your creation. You provide us with the resources to produce numerous goods, vegetables, fruit, etc. Help us to know the importance of giving and sharing. We pray for new members who have joined our church fellowship in recent months. Help each of us to show love, kindness and care as we support our new members in the days ahead. Loving God, we pray for homeless people and those who are separated from their families.. Bless the agencies which work to provide counselling, accommodation, food, clothing and other forms of assistance to people in need. 7

8 BELMONT UNITING CHURCH MINISTRY TEAM doctors, nurses and aid workers who are desperately trying to help the people in need. Rev. Ikani Vaitohi Evenings only Pastor Geoff Aitken Congregational Coordinator CHURCH OFFICE: 42 Thomson Street, Belmont Vic Phone Fax SERVICES IN AGED CARE HOMES Kalkee Nangatta: Thursday 2 nd March 2 p.m. Geoff Aitken Kalkee Murray Hostel: Thursday 2 nd March 3.30 pm Geoff Aitken Opal South Valley: Alan David Lodge: LECTIONARY Sunday 4 th March, 2018 Exodus 20: 1-17 Psalm 19 1 Cor 1: John 2: CONTRIBUTIONS for the NEWS SHEET Please include author s name & phone number, number of repeats required and place in the Church Letterbox at the top of church steps next to the meter box on the right before 4p.m. on Wednesday. Our BUC website is at (or just Google us) 8