Prayer Points

Ministry Team
BIUC Congregation
UnitingCare ReGen
D&E Committee
Presbytery Representatives – Kate and Jamie
Student House Program
Community Ministry
Love Makes a Way
Food Co-op
CTM
Our planet & all she holds

BUC News

Riding the Waves – Episode 6
Our sixth story features Vilma & Richard Collard.

All Saints Day
All Saints Sunday
is coming up on November 1. This is a beautiful service when we commune with the saints who have died, now gathered around Christ’s table in the glorious cloud of witnesses.
We invite you to contribute to All Saints Sunday – to send in a photo and/or the name of loved ones – family and friends who have died in the last 12 months – or longer. They will be honoured and remembered during our All Saints service on Sunday 1 November.
See the event post for details.

Pastoral Care Review 2020 – Gathering up Stories
It is 5 years since we introduced our new model and structures for Pastoral Care in our church (Vision Document). Now we are undertaking a review to celebrate what we have achieved in that time and to consider what we have learnt and might want to do differently as a result. We will be gathering up stories from congregation members, talking to committees and groups, and producing a report for consideration. 
The review will be supported and resourced by Anne Mallaby, Baptist minister and recently retired academic dean of Whitley College where she lectured in pastoral studies and ministry formation. Anne will work with a small team from within the congregation including Ian, Gwen Arnold and Jane Allardice. We look forward to hearing your stories and experiences over the next couple of months.

November Olive Branch
Next month’s monthly newsletter will be published on Sunday 1st November.  Please email your stories, news, reports, notices, photos etc to saide.cameron@bigpond.com by Monday 26th October.  Let me know if you need more time, ph. 0407 096 743.

Calling all photographers
The worship committee would love to hear from anyone who loves taking photos and wants to offer their work for use as Title Slides during worship.  Please contact Ian Ferguson, 0438 547 842 or Saide Cameron, 0407 096 743.

Christmas Bowl catalogue
As with most other activities our big Act for Peace Christmas Bowl FUNdraising stalls are being offered online.  An online catalogue will be available from Sunday 1st November for a limited time only.  Choose from biscuits, preserves, cakes and puddings, gingerbread houses, Christmas craft, home made gifts and an Art Silent Auction.  Pick up or delivery 12th-13th December or by arrangement.  Contact Saide, 0407 096 743, for more information.

Ian on leave
Ian will be taking a week’s annual leave from 2nd-9th November.  We will welcome Peter Blair, our Olive Way Pastor, as the preacher on Sunday 8th November.

Does anyone need a vacuum cleaner?
Hi everyone, I have a Nilfisk vacuum cleaner to give away.  It works on both carpet and hard floors and has attachments.
Please contact me on 0419 988 972 or foleyclairep@icloud.com

Climate Action News

Climate Action Group
The next meeting of BUC Climate Action Group (CAG) will be at 5pm on Saturday 7th November via zoom. Contact Richard Arnold for more information.

Make a commitment
CAG invites us all to make a voluntary climate crisis commitment. We ask that households try their best to reduce carbon emissions and to also consider advocating for society as a whole to reduce carbon emissions.  Members of the congregation have shared some of their commitments in this 9 minute video (an extended version of the offering segment from Season of Creation Worship 4).

Citizens Assembly – build Moreland back better
NUCA and NECCHi, along with the Coalition of Everyone are preparing to run a Citizens’ Assembly in late November (evening of Friday 27th and all day Saturday 28th). The objective for this Citizens’ Assembly (CA) is to ‘build Moreland back better’ in a way that is tailored to residents’ specific needs and circumstances by ensuring that the diversity of voices in Moreland is heard when making decisions around recovery plans – this is the opportunity for the community to get involved in identifying and prioritising a range of needs, as well as giving advice on how they would be most effectively and meaningfully addressed. 18 participants selected by lot, similarly to the creation of a jury for legal trial. The residents will be chosen to be representative along the lines of gender, age, location / region, and other important demographic factors. The participants who are chosen to be part of this mini-public event will be paid $100 each for their time. If you are aged 16 or over and live in the area covered by Moreland City Council, you can register your interest here: https://www.sortitionfoundation.org/necchi_2020 by Monday 9th November.  See a frequently asked questions (FAQ) document here

Wider Church News

Spring Congregation Connect
The Uniting Vic.Tas newsletter is now available.  In this edition, you can read about our recent submission to the Victorian Government’s Inquiry into Homelessness, a property sharing opportunity between Uniting Vic.Tas and Shepparton Uniting Church and the fantastic national response to our making masks initiative.
Uniting Christmas cards are now available to order with 4 new additions to the range. Each design has been thoughtfully selected by members of the Uniting Church to reflect the joy and hope of Christmas and all proceeds will support people in crisis.  An order form is available here.

Community News

Head to Help
DPV Health have recently launched the new free mental health initiative Head to Help.  Thank you to Kate DeLeon for sharing this with us.  Find out more.