Prayer Points

Ministry Team
Ecumenical Neighbours
Assembly President
ASWC
CY&YA Committee
Property Committee
Mulling
Hospitality Ministry
Sanctuary Movement
Indigenous Hospitality House
UCA Assembly
Creatures of the air

BUC News

Worship roster
The rosters for April and May will be prepared over the next two weeks.  Please consider getting involved.  You can view the current roster here to get an idea of what you can offer to do.  Where you see initials in the roster this indicates gaps, ie not enough people to fill the rosters.  Please let Saide know if you want to get involved, saide.cameron@bigpond.com

BUC News

Lenten Reflection Group
The Discipleship & Education Committee has chosen the Centre for Theology & Ministry resource ‘Lenten Reflections 2019‘ for our focus this season.  You are invited to join with others in discussing your Lenten reflections.
When? Thursday evenings 21/3, 28/3, 4/4, 11/4 (and come back on 18/4 for our Maundy Thursday service)
Where? Gathering Space in the Church.
Time? 7:30-9:00pm in the Church
(unfortunately not enough people expressed interest in a day time group so there will only be an evening one at this stage)

Congratulations
Carlynne Nunn has accepted a call to be the minister of the Ballarat South Congregation.  She will be ordained on Saturday 16th March, 4pm at Brunswick UC.  Stay on after the service to party in the hall with Terry Towelling and the Tank Tops.  Bring a plate to share if you can.  Email saide.cameron@bigond.com to confirm.  See all the details here.

Commissioning of Elders
During worship on Sunday 17th March we will commission our new Elders – Karlien Kok, Amelia Ware and Kimberly Fraser together with Daniel Broadstock who is returning for another year.

Olive Way Review Information Session
for the Congregation on Sunday 17th March.  After the service from 11 am to 12 noon there will be an Olive Way Information Session in the Olive Way area. We will update everyone about the recent Olive Way Review which took place during 2018. There will also be a chance to ask questions.
There will also be a Question and Answer session during worship regarding the role of the Olive Way Coordinator. Church Council has recently asked the Presbytery to make this a Pastor role and Peter Blair will be available to share how he sees this role developing.
Come along and find out all about this important mission of Brunswick Uniting Church and its plans for the future.
Pre-read the Nine Key Recommendations.

Holy Week Worship preparation
The worship committee invites anyone interested in reflecting on and preparing for worship during Holy Week to our meeting on Wednesday 20th March, 7pm.  Location to be advised.  Please contact Saide Cameron, 0407 096 743, to express interest in attending.

Marvellously Munchable March Dinners
It’s time to sign up to join in the fun of sharing a meal the weekend of 29th to 31st March.  You can be a guest or a host.  Everyone involved is invited to contribute to the meal.  Please check out the invitation online or pick up a copy at worship. Responses are due by Sunday 24thMarch.  Contact Saide Cameron, 0407 096 743 if you have any questions.

Welcoming Ceremony
Our first Welcoming Ceremony for 2019 will be offered on Sunday 31st March.  This is an opportunity for people new to the congregation to offer a commitment to the ministry and mission of our community and for the congregation to offer a statement of support in return.  If you would like to participate please contact Ian Ferguson, 0438 547 842.

April Olive Branch
Please email your contributions (news, stories, reflections, photos, reports, etc) for the April Olive Branch to saide.cameron@bigpond.com by Monday 25th March for publication on Sunday 31st March.

BUC News

FUNdraising for the Uniting World Lent Event
After worship for three weeks beginning 31st March we’ll be offering FUNdraising stalls.  Come along to buy preserves, delicious baked goods and more.
Helen Burnham will once again be offering the Pop-up Op Shop experience.  Please start bringing in anything of value that you no longer want or need and then be prepared to buy somebody else’s treasurers.
We’ll be supporting the Uniting World Lent Event which takes us on a journey among people who embody the spirit of courage in Timor Lest.  Brochures and booklets are available at worship.  You are welcome to borrow the booklet and then return it for someone else to read the following week.
Donations will be used to support

Nourish is Back!
We’re delighted to announce that there will be a special session for children (mainly primary school aged) on both Wednesdays of the school holidays.
Julie and Ian will lead the 10th of April, and Janet and Ann Soo will guide the 17th – the day before Maundy Thursday
(We are looking for a kindly kitchen supporter for both sessions)

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.  Coming up:

Storywork
Padraig O Tuama will offer a seminar ‘Theology as Story:  Believing in the Truth of People‘, Thursday 9th May and workshop, Friday 10th May at the Centre for Theology and Ministry.

John Bell in Australia
John Bell will be in Victoria over the weekend of 11th-13th May during which time he will take part in conversations on God, Delight and Diversity, Non-Violent Peacemaking, Celtic and Indigenous spirituality.  Check out all the details here.

Community News

Climate Action
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:

  • Global Student #ClimateStrike in Melbourne CBD at the Old Treasury Building on Friday 15th March from 12 noon to 2pm – support the young people by gathering under the BUC  banner with other people of faith from ARRCC at 11:30 am at Treasury Cafe, 1 Macarthur St.
  • Funeral for Coal organised by ARRCC – outside Bill Shorten’s office, 12 Hall St., Moonee Ponds at 10 am on Wednesday 27th March
  • Moreland Climate Forum 6pm on Thursday 28th March at St Ambrose Community Centre, 287 Sydney Rd, hosted by Tim Read MLA and Adam Pulford (speakers to be announced)
  • Bob Brown Foundation Stop Adani Convoy is expected to be leaving Melbourne on Thursday 18th April (date, time and location to be confirmed)
  • Stop Adani Moreland – meets every second Monday at 6:3o pm, Coburn East Neighbourhood House