Christmas Worship
We are offering our regular four Christmas services this year however please note that there will not be a worship service on Sunday 26th December. The Blue Christmas service was offered on Thursday – a recording will be made available over the weekend.
Prayer Points
Ministry Team
Ecumenical Neighbours
Assembly President – Sharon
ASWC
CY&YA Committee
Property Committee
Mulling group
Hospitality Ministry
Indigenous Hospitality House
UCA Assembly
Creatures of the air
BUC News
COVID Safe Settings – a message from Ian
Dear Friends, the change in COVID safe settings this week means that we no longer need to check vaccination status when you come to worship. We are still required to check in using the Services Victoria app, and we ask you to continue wearing masks in worship while infections are rife. We will discontinue the 11:30 am service from this week.
Ministry Team News
- Last Sunday Joel Hallinan (CYYA committee) announced that Dave Hall, CYYA pastor will conclude his role on 1st May 2022, this will also conclude 25 years of working for the Uniting Church in a number of ways
- Ian is on leave from 3rd to 23rd January – we welcome Daniel Broadstock (9/1), Graeme Garrett (16/1) and Fiona Bottcher (23/1) as our preachers
- Dave is on leave from 3rd to 25th January
- Peter is on leave from 29th December to 10th January
Writing Cards for Stewart Lodge
Last year we gave each Stewart Lodge resident a handwritten card and a small bag of shortbread. JAM would like to do this again. The shortbread is in hand (thank you!) but we need to write the cards. Could you take 10 minutes after worship on Sunday 19th December to write a few Christmas cards? Cards (and words) supplied. Meet in the Olive Way after worship.
Uncle Brian Birch
We recently heard the sad news that our friend Uncle Brian Birch died in the past few days. His family is holding a private funeral. We will let you know as information about a possible memorial service becomes available. In the meantime, here is a link to his recent exhibition: Under the clearest blue sky.
Christmas Bowl Catalogue
Our Act for Peace Christmas Bowl Appeal Catalgoue is now available featuring Gingerbread houses (oh dear – all sold out!), Christmas Cards (artwork by Ann Soo), Gift cards (photos by Ian Ferguson), preserves, cakes and puddings. Download the catalgoue and place your orders now. Donate to the Christmas Bowl here.
Baptism
We will celebrate the baptism of Yosef, youngest son of Luke and Leli Arnold during worship on 2nd January. We will also celebrate Holy Communion and renew our commitment to care for the earth.
Change the Heart service
You are invited by Senior Aboriginal Christian Leader, Aunty Jean Phillips, to gather together to pray in unison on the evening before January 26…. Join BUC for a screening of Common Grace’s 10th Anniversary Change the Heart service on Tuesday 25th January. Watch this video from NITV (National Indigenous Television).
COVID Safe Settings – a message from Ian
Dear Friends, the change in COVID safe settings this week means that we no longer need to check vaccination status when you come to worship. We are still required to check in using the Services Victoria app, and we ask you to continue wearing masks in worship while infections are rife. We will discontinue the 11:30 am service from this week.
Ministry Team News
- Last Sunday Joel Hallinan (CYYA committee) announced that Dave Hall, CYYA pastor will conclude his role on 1st May 2022, this will also conclude 25 years of working for the Uniting Church in a number of ways
- Ian is on leave from 3rd to 23rd January – we welcome Daniel Broadstock (9/1), Graeme Garrett (16/1) and Fiona Bottcher (23/1) as our preachers
- Dave is on leave from 3rd to 25th January
- Peter is on leave from 29th December to 10th January
Writing Cards for Stewart Lodge
Last year we gave each Stewart Lodge resident a handwritten card and a small bag of shortbread. JAM would like to do this again. The shortbread is in hand (thank you!) but we need to write the cards. Could you take 10 minutes after worship on Sunday 19th December to write a few Christmas cards? Cards (and words) supplied. Meet in the Olive Way after worship.
Uncle Brian Birch
We recently heard the sad news that our friend Uncle Brian Birch died in the past few days. His family is holding a private funeral. We will let you know as information about a possible memorial service becomes available. In the meantime, here is a link to his recent exhibition: Under the clearest blue sky.
Christmas Bowl Catalogue
Our Act for Peace Christmas Bowl Appeal Catalgoue is now available featuring Gingerbread houses (oh dear – all sold out!), Christmas Cards (artwork by Ann Soo), Gift cards (photos by Ian Ferguson), preserves, cakes and puddings. Download the catalgoue and place your orders now. Donate to the Christmas Bowl here.
Baptism
We will celebrate the baptism of Yosef, youngest son of Luke and Leli Arnold during worship on 2nd January. We will also celebrate Holy Communion and renew our commitment to care for the earth.
Change the Heart service
You are invited by Senior Aboriginal Christian Leader, Aunty Jean Phillips, to gather together to pray in unison on the evening before January 26…. Join BUC for a screening of Common Grace’s 10th Anniversary Change the Heart service on Tuesday 25th January. Watch this video from NITV (National Indigenous Television).
BUC News
PIEN Fundraising Dinner
A few weeks ago I attended a great online Palestinian cooking class, organised by PIEN, the Palestine Israel Ecumenical Network. Now, I am keen to practise my new skills, so early in the New Year, I will be organising a small Palestinian dinner at our place. It won’t be a big group, but the idea is to share some Palestinian food (hopefully nicely cooked) and have an informal conversation about Palestine. It will also be a fundraiser for PIEN, but don’t feel pressured by that.
Please let me know if you would like to be involved. It will probably be on a Friday evening, sometime in late January or February. Anyone is welcome, but numbers are limited, so please let me know as soon as possible.
Thanks! Tim Budge, 0412 051 574
Accommodation wanted
A young person connected to Castlemaine Uniting Church is moving to Melbourne for work, and he is looking for a room to rent. His name is Alex. His mum, Julie, knows Gordon and Abi Bannon. Alex has a job at a cafe in Collingwood, and is currently commuting back and forth to Castlemaine. He is flexible with the living situation – age-range, house / flat / granny flat. His mum says that he’s a quiet young fella.
If you know of a room, PM or text me for details on 0417 310 128. Feel free to share this with others you know.
Wider Church News
UC National News, 15-21/12
- President’s Christmas Message – A message of hope
- Day of Mourning, resource available
- Act2: who’s sharing their insights with us?
- Share the Joy with the Assembly Circles
- Church leaders share their Christmas messages
- A little pig goes a long way
- And more …
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JOIN US IN PRAYER FOR:
- Those impacted by the latest outbreaks of COVID-19 in the community, including those who are ill, health workers and others caring for them, and those who will need to isolate over the Christmas period.
- Vaccine equity across the world and for more ambitious investment in programs to deliver vaccines in low income countries.
- Our church partners across the Pacific, Africa and Asia who are working to break the cycle of poverty, create gender equity, enact climate justice and respond to disasters.
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