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

Emergence
The exhibition has formally concluded however there are many ways to continue to engage with artworks and experiences offered.  See the 14/11 worship email for details.  Thank you to Courtney Rohde, Exhibition Coordinator for creatively guiding the committee, volunteers and artists as we worked through various challenges to make the exhibition a stunning reality.

Changes in Guidelines
Look out for more information over the next couple of days about the impact of government announcements on worship.

Worship – Reign of Christ
On Sunday 21st November we will commission our Elders elected at the AGM – Joel Hallinan, Claire Foley, Shawn Whelan, Kenna Morrison, Amelia Ware and recently co-opted Elder – Semisi (James) Tapueluelu.
The title slides for worship will feature Nicole Batch’s Emergence submission ‘Wildflower Discovery’.

Worship – Advent
During Advent we will listen to the voices from our lectionary readings together with the voices around us.  We will continue to feature Emergence artworks through the services.

Pageant Choir
We will be preparing two items for the Pageant Choir as pre-recorded items.  Please contact Elaine Potter, 0434 671 109, if you would like to join the virtual choir.  Backing tracks will be provided for you to practice with and put down your recordings.

December-January roster
The roster is currently being prepared.  If you want to join in the ‘work of worship’ please contact Saide, 0407 096 743.  There are lots of up front and behinds the scenes possibilities.

December Olive Branch
Please email all contributions (news, notices, stories, reports, photos etc) to this months edition to saide.cameron@bigpond.com by Monday 22nd November.  Publication will be on or about Sunday 28th November.

Small Group Reflections
This new group will now be meeting fortnightly on Wednesdays – next meeting 24th November at the home of Kirsty & Martin Brown.  Contact Kirsty for more information, 0410 510 305.

Community News

Accommodation needed 
This request comes to us via Eva Rugel …
My name is Theodor. I am 15 years old and I would like to stay in Australia for 6 months in 2022. I am from Bremen – the Northern part of Germany, where people say „Moin!, Moin!“ (means kind of Morning! Morning!) all day long.
My family and I stay in a nice old house at an historical peat canal. So there is a chance to go far away from home by ship…
30 years ago my dad cycled across Australia and he often told me about the hospitality and friendly people from „Down Under“. His uncle came to Australia in 1960 and lived in Geelong, but passed away last year.
Eva Rugel, an old friend of my father’s, had the idea for this paper.
So I am looking forward to finding a nice host family for half a year – from February to Juli 2022. (Room rental according to the arrangement)
please contact me: famHBlehmann@gmail.com
During my spare time I like doing sports and my favorite one is playing soccer. I`m also interested in politics and history.
p.s.: In my grandparent’s garden we often play cricket with wooden balls through small goals… – please explain the „Australian Cricket“ to me! I won’t leave Australia without learning the complicated rules…

Wider Church News

Nominations for Port Phillip West Presbytery Positions 2022
Church Council would like to place a spotlight on the Uniting Church Presbytery of Port Philip West.  Presbytery has advised that nominations are currently being invited for positions on committees.
BUC asks that all members of our congregation give this consideration.  It is particularly important that Presbytery reflects diversity in terms of CALD (culturally and linguistically diverse), gender, age, clergy and lay diversity.
There are a number of positions including positions on The Ministry Formation Committee, The Mission Strategy and Education Committee and the Presbytery Liaison to Ecumenical Relations Committee.
Our church already has a strong representation on both Synod and Presbytery.

  • Kate Skull is on Presbytery’s Standing Committee.
  • Jamie Thom is currently on Presbytery’s Mission Strategy & Education Committee.
  • Helen Rowe has just accepted a position on  the Synod Child Safety Unit (policy and practice review).
  • Shawn Whelan is on the Synod Sexual Misconduct Complaints Committee.
  • He also chairs the General Secretary Oversight Group and has recently completed a role as convenor of the General Secretary Placement Review Team.
  • Joel Townsend is on Synod’s Committee for Discipline.
  • Richard Arnold is on a Synod Climate Action Group
  • Kenna Morrison is providing assistance to Fi Botcher’s mental health ministry, through Presbytery.

This reflects the commitment of our Congregation to the very important roles of Presbytery and Synod.
As a large and thriving congregation BUC has many talented people who could be willing and very capable of serving Presbytery.
Please give this prayerful consideration.  Reach out to Jamie or Kate for further information regarding the ‘how’ of Presbytery.  Claire Foley can forward nomination information.
Nominations close on Friday 26th November.
Claire Foley, Secretary, Church Council 2021, foleyclairep@icloud.com, 12 November 2021

UC National News, 17-23/11

  • Act2:  Where are we?
  • Small steps not enough at COP26
  • Praying for Myanmar
  • Hearing your voice on ageing
  • And more
  • JOIN US IN PRAYER FOR:
    • Those impacted by and responding to a COVID-19 cluster in the Northern Territory. We pray those who need it have access to healthcare and vaccines.
    • Our partners in Indonesia, GMIH, who are gathered for their 5th Annual Assembly meeting in Ternate, North Maluku.
    • Conversations taking place across the Church as part of the Act2 project. May we discern the leading of the Spirit as we look to the future.