Prayer Points

Ministry Team
Culture of Safety program
Moderator
Stewart Lodge & residents
Worship Committee
Finance Committee
YUCY & YUCY-OG
Compassion Ministry
D&E programs
Synod of VicTas
Creatures of the sea

BUC News

Pastoral Care Community Team Survey
The Pastoral Care Community Team invites you to participate in our survey.  We’re aiming for 120 people to have responded by Sunday 24th February.  Please make sure that you are one of them (we only have three so far!!).  If we get more that would be amazing and fabulous.
Read on and then click on the link today.  It’s a short, thought provoking survey and we are looking forward to reading and analysing your responses.
Purpose – To review ‘where we are at’ with respect to the group life of our congregation because this is at the heart of our Pastoral Care model
Definition – Our model of pastoral care happens not only in one on one conversations but in all specs of our congregation life. It nurture opportunities for hospitality, compassion and community building through existing relationships, groups and committees as well as new programs
Click here to begin

Thank you
On Sunday Janet Watson Kruse thanked Faye for her many years of dedication to our children’s ministry and in particular the gift of Godly Play.  You can read the story here.  Faye offered her thanks for the gift that Janet offered on our behalf:
The gift you gave me included a beautiful handcrafted card from BUC and two books:  ‘When I talk to you’ by Leunig and ‘In the Shelter: finding a home in the world’ by Padraig O Tuama.  You will recall that Padraig visited BUC and spent a stimulating time reciting poetry.  I am looking forward to enjoying both books. Thank you.

Names Tags
All the colours of the rainbow – choose your colour and have a name tag made.  Wear the name tag so people can greet you by name.  Contact Saide, 0407096743, to have a name tag made just for you!!

BUC Collage display at CTM
A range of works from the ‘More than Cut & Paste’ workshops held in 2018 and the last two weeks are now on display at the Centre for Theology and Ministry, College Cres. Parkville.  Make a time to go and view the works any time during February.

Olive Pages
It’s time for the big annual update of our Directory of contact details.  Check the pages after worship during morning tea to update your details or add in new information (especially if you only recently started coming to BUC).  You are also very welcome to email this information to saide.cameron@bigpond.com

Congregational Meeting
The Joint Nominating Committee (JNC) for the proposed new Minister for the children, youth and young adults (CYYA) of BUC worked diligently on this project through December 2018 and the New Year.
The members of the JNC are John Buckley, the Presbytery Liaison Person; Ron Rosinsky – Rep from Pastoral Relations Committee; and from BUC: Anita Brown-Major – chair of CYYA Committee;  Colin Hunter – rep from Student House committee; Claire Foley  – rep from Church Council.
We are very to announce that we have requested that a Congregational Meeting be held after worship on 10th February.
The purpose of the meeting is for the JNC to present a name to the congregation for consideration in filling a second ministry placement focusing on our Children and Families, Youth and Young Adults.  Please join us at 11:15 for this very important meeting.

Table Church
is not on this weekend but will reconvene on Sunday 24th February at the Rowe’s home in Essendon.  From 6-8 pm. We share in a simple meal and liturgy at the start of a new week. Contact Helen helen.rowe@rocketmail.com

Food Co-op
Next distribution day is Saturday 16th February from 10 am – 12 pm in the Olive Way space.  We buy in bulk and you bring your empty pantry containers or cloth/paper bags to purchase what you require. New members welcome. Contact Helen Rowe for more information 0423 009 813

BUC News

Working Bee
The Property Committee is holding a short working bee after worship on Sunday 17thFebruary.  This is an opportunity to tidy up around the place after the holidays in preparation for the Sydney Rd. Street Party.  The Deaconess Storeroom will also be tidied up.  Please plan to stay on for an hour or so and then enjoy a simple sausage sizzle and fruit platters lunch.  Contact Ray Cameron, 0407 883 654, to offer your assistance. We also need people to manage the BBQ, offers of fruit platters are also welcome.

Let’s play
Join us for A Backyard Band Party with covers band Terry Towelling & the Tank Tops on Saturday 23rd February, 4pm till late.
Enjoy tennis, swimming, BBQ, dancing and relaxing.
FUNdraising for our Godly Play program (just one component of our Children & Youth Programs)
Come any time for as long as you like.  BYO drinks, tea & coffee supplied.  Salads and desserts to share are also welcome.
RSVP or questions: Saide – 0407 096 743, Wayne – 0415 378 362, Janet – 0425 71 71 79

Annual General Meeting– Our AGM will be held after worship on 24th February.  The key agenda item will be the presentation of The Olive Harvest (our collection of annual reports) together with a presentation from the Finance Committee. Please plan to be there to celebrate the ministry and mission that we shared and offered during 2018.  Stay on after the meeting and bring a plate of something to share for lunch.

Sydney Rd. Street Party
Join in the fun on Sunday 3rd March. As always we will have a presence on the street with hospitality offered in our buildings.  Our theme for this year is Respect.  We want to engage the community in a conversation about respect – who we respect and who we don’t, who needs respect.  The party is such a fabulous opportunity to get involved with the whole Sydney Rd. community.  Please consider offering an hour or two of your time for one or more of these activities. Contact Saide Cameron if you can, 0407 096 743.

Wider Church News

Slow Spirituality
Come and explore the power of the arts to communicate the Divine in this once a month series at St. John’s Essendon, 5pm on selected Sundays.  Find out more here.

Spiritual Ecology
Are you aged 18-35 with a spiritual practice and passionate about ecology and environment? This program is for you…
CERES Environment Park, in conjunction with Initiatives of Change Australia, are seeking young people with a faith or spiritual practice who are passionate about ecology and environment. There are 10 places available.
Applications: https://goo.gl/forms/ZZOgC8FuEg5MZzhP2
Program information & details: ceres.org.au/spiritualecology

New community choir 

“SOUListas” is a new community choir based at Fairfield Uniting Church. Rehearsing on Monday evenings during school terms, they welcome all singers (no music reading or special talent required) and sing for justice, peace and care of the earth. See the attached poster/flyer for details. All welcome, any time!

Community News

Stop Adani
January was the hottest month in Australia’s history, wildfires continue to rage in Tassie, millions of fish dead in Menindee (again), Townsville declared a disaster zone due to flooding, drought conditions continue to plague farmers in NSW and QLD,
This isn’t the plot for a bad disaster movie – this is the tragic reality of the last 2 weeks, and it will only get worse if we don’t urgently transition away from climate-cooking fossil fuels NOW.
For meaningful change to happen, hundreds of thousands of us need to get active, consistently, visually, positively. People Power is the ONLY hope we have. Here are some events you can join in, details here:

  • Stop Adani Moreland – meets monthly
  • Climate Change & Energy Forum – Monday 25th February
  • Global #ClimateStrike – 15th March
  • Bob Brown Stop Adani Convoy – date to be advised