Weekly News Sheet The Uniting Church in Australia St. Luke s Congregation, Highton Sunday 4th March, 2018 Worship Leader: Rev. Paul Stephens 3rd Sunday in Lent Jesus cleanses the temple Cathedral Rossano, Italy Illuminated manuscript 6 th century Are you new to St. Luke s? If you would like to connect with us, complete a pew card or please let one of the pastoral connections team know so that you can be included in our contact list and invited to join in. Please note that the Weekly News Sheet submissions deadline is 9:00am Thursday mornings. Email articles to news@stlukesuca.org.au Our worship is a lifestyle, 24 hrs a day,7 days a week that reflects our loyalty to Christ. 1
Congregation Reports and News Mid-week 25th Anniversary Invitation - 8th March - 2pm On March 8th the St. Luke s Mid-week Worship Service congregation will be celebrating 25 years of shared study and worship. You are invited to join us at this service of praise and thanksgiving, which will be held in the sanctuary at 2 pm, led by Rev.Paul Stephens and followed by afternoon tea. Please RSVP to Joy 5243 4284 or Pam 5243 9575 if you would like to join us. St Luke s Congregational Annual General Meeting - 18th March St Luke s Congregational Annual General Meeting will be held at the conclusion of the service on Sunday 18th March. Business will include reports from the Church Council and the presentation of St Luke s budget for 2018. Garage sale - Advanced notice - Saturday 24th March From Ken Anderson - Men s Shed The St Luke s Mens Shed will be holding another Garage Sale and individual sites can be arranged through Ian Pooley (5243 4832) @ $20 per site. Refer to news sheet Feb 18th 2018 for further details St Luke s Annual Picnic - Sunday 25th March - 12 noon Please put in your diary or your calendar now that the Annual St Lukes Picnic will be held at Barwon Valley Park, Barrabool Rd, Belmont. All ages welcome. More details later. Beth - Pastoral Connections. Council Meeting was held 22nd February - Key Points Website: stlukesuca.org.au Email: info@stlukesuca.org.au Ph: 5244 2997 2
Present: I. Pooley, L.Walker, B.Murphy, C.Finlay, J.Daw, P.Stephens, S.Anderson, R.Hodge. Council Meeting was held 22nd February - continued It is the intention of our new minister Paul Stephens to spend 6 months getting to know us before any future directions are decided. A retreat of key members may be one way of discernment when the time comes. In general, Paul will lead 3 of 4-5 service/month and also lead Messy Church Celebration time. It was noted our Congregation is in urgent need of a Presbytery Representative to attend 4 meetings/year. What a wonderful way to meet the wider church community- see Ian or Lloyd if you feel the call. Banking arrangements to transfer to Bendigo Bank from CBA are nearing completion with signatories to be updated to: I. Pooley, J. Daw, R. Hodge and L. Walker Mission Outreach often has spare loaves of bread on its Monday collection day. If you, or someone you know would appreciate extra bread, please see Jean.. The office upgrade is moving ahead on high priority as the lack of a window and locked door are an OH&S issue. The size of the window was extended to 2 meters. This will provide a more welcoming feature for visitors and greater visibility for the Office Worker. Mission Outreach will evaluate worthy causes to donate to and these will be endorsed by CC before being presented to members for their consideration. The Preschool has a large grant and so communication between Uniting Child Services/CC and the Preschool are beginning soon to determine future expansion. St Luke s will switch to a monthly news sheet, with a single sheet weekly handout for urgent notices and volunteer reminders. Can anyone volunteer to take the minutes of Church Council? The secretary position will soon be vacant- there are only 4 meetings a year to be minuted for a friendly bunch. Please see Robyn for further details. Website: stlukesuca.org.au Email: info@stlukesuca.org.au Ph: 5244 2997 3
Reports need to be submitted by 3rd March to be included in the Congregational Annual General Meeting is scheduled for Sunday 18th March where the budget will be presented. Church Directory, Calendar and Contact information The Members Area of the St Luke s website is where you will find a list of key church contacts, the monthly roster, and the online calendar showing when the St Luke s Buildings are in use. This area is password protected, email info@stlukesuca.org.au or call the office to have it issued to you. Printed copies of this information can be obtained from the Church Office during open hours. The Church Directory is will be available at the end of February for those who consented to be included. Requests and Appeals From Rae Anderson - Mission Outreach Wanted Cake plates and platters, serving trays, nut bowls...in fact any unused/unwanted tableware. (even table cloths). As we continue to provide material aid to refugee families, we know that our supply of cake plates is very low. If you are about to clean out a cupboard, or have any plates that you no longer use...would you like to pass them on to our Mission Outreach Team? From Raye Pearson, Social Justice Group Belmont Uniting Church Towels for a Safe House A women's Safe House in Geelong, operated by Rob and Denise is in need of towels. The Social Justice Group has undertaken to collect towels for use in the house. Can you please help? Towels can be new or used. Collection can take place TODAY. Website: stlukesuca.org.au Email: info@stlukesuca.org.au Ph: 5244 2997 4
From Beth Allan, Pastoral Connections Easter Biscuit Bake Pastoral Connections ministry team once again is inviting you to participate in the Easter Biscuit Bake for prisoners, where each prisoner in Victoria is given a pack of 10 home-made biscuits a sign of God s love and the care and concern of the Christian community. Each pack will be presented by Prison Fellowship, together with a card with an Easter message. Biscuits such as Anzacs and choc-chip (no nuts, please) are to be packed in disposable containers, and placed in the box provided in the foyer for the NEXT 2 SUNDAYS (final day 18th. March) Your help would be most appreciated. For further details, phone Beth on 5243 6874 Coming Events Activity Date Geelong Inter-Church Social Justice Network (GICSJN) is hosting a screening of A Plastic Ocean at Village Cinemas Geelong 12th Mar 6:30pm To ensure that this event goes ahead, 57 tickets need to be sold by TOMORROW. If successful, further tickets will be available to purchase up to 12th March. Tickets from https://tickets.demand.film/event/3703 - Hope to see you there! Planning for the later stages of your life Men s Shed Discussion Ms Sarah Cohen - Senior Associate, Harwood Andrews 13th Mar 9:30am Website: stlukesuca.org.au Email: info@stlukesuca.org.au Ph: 5244 2997 5
For the joy of singing the classics A Geelong Chorale event - Opera Choruses at St Luke s 18th Mar 2-5pm Conductor - Dr Daryl Barclay Accompanist - Hugh Davidson $15 - Music and afternoon tea included. Bookings Essential with Anne Pilgrim pandapilgrim@gmail.com or 0412 524 316 Geelong association of music and art inc. From Judy Boehm Kids Church Pancakes A huge thank you to everyone involved last Sunday in making our Pancake Day so successful Thank you to: The 15 young people who cooked and served The helpers and supervisors The kitchen ladies and gentlemen Doug Jackson for arranging and setting up the numerous electrical cords required Joan Jackson for her wealth of knowledge and help in setting up, & Thank you to all of you who bought pancakes and helped us raise $206 to donate to Uniting Geelong Prayer points for this week Well done everyone!!! Prayers of Thanksgiving Website: stlukesuca.org.au Email: info@stlukesuca.org.au Ph: 5244 2997 6
Give thanks for the life of Billy Graham, and for his world-wide ministry over many decades. For the many active small groups within St. Luke s (27), and the support base that exists within each group to love and care for each other. Give thanks for new challenges, new initiatives and new opportunities for ministry. Give thanks for families and the involvement of children in worship for their insights and enthusiasm. Personal Prayers Enlighten our lives with your Word, that in it we may find our way and our hope. In this Lenten period, help us draw near to the Jesus of the Cross. Prayers for Others Pray for Uniting Barwon it s agencies of care and for all those in need who receive help. Pray for the planning and preparation of the Easter services. Pray for the Messy Church team as they plan for this year, and for the families who attend. Pray for all ministry teams for new members and Spirit-led initiatives. Continue to pray for those who are ill, facing surgery, recovering from surgery, frail aged, and those experiencing loss, loneliness, anxiety or depression. Prayers for the World Pray for those who are suffering injustice around the world, and for all those who work to alleviate that suffering. Pray for those in war-torn countries in the Middle East, Africa, and Asia who are the innocent victims of power struggles, and for peaceful resolution. Website: stlukesuca.org.au Email: info@stlukesuca.org.au Ph: 5244 2997 7
What s On this coming week What s on @stlukeschurchgeelong 5th - 11th Mar 2018 Men s Shed Tue/Thu 9:30-12:30 Trekkies Fri 9:15am Sunday Worship 9:30am 11th Mar Lectionary Readings Worship Leader: Welcomer: Ushers: Sound: Powerpoint: Reader: Flowers: Morning tea: Connections: Drivers: Sharing the Journey: Rev Paul Stephens J Smith D & T Ayrton M Baum & P Gill K McAvaney M Seller J Daw J White J Pooley & P Caddy I Tattersall V England & J Hick D Ayrton 0352433467 Num: 21:1-7 Psalm 107:1-3,17-22 Eph 2: 1-10 John 3:14-21 Weekly Offering & Attendance Attendance Budget Actual Difference YTD Budget YTD Actual Difference 94 $1815 $1933 $118 $14,520 $15,734 $1,214 Pastoral Connections Midweek Upcoming meetings Wednesday 7th Mar 1:00pm Thursday 8th Mar 1:00pm Fellowship Room Sanctuary The weekly bookings calendar is updated and displayed on the noticeboard facing the Sanctuary. Church volunteers can check online or on this noticeboard to see when spaces are available for setup etc. Website: stlukesuca.org.au Email: info@stlukesuca.org.au Ph: 5244 2997 8