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

Worship this week
We welcome Fran Barber as our preacher on 25th July while Ian enjoys his quarterly weekend off.  Our building remains closed until the restrictions ease.  Worship will be live-streamed from the worship space with no congregation.  Please join us online.
Join Dave for a Zoom chat after worship at 11am.

August & September roster
The August & September roster has gaps in Welcoming and both Morning Tea rosters (providing food, setting up & serving tea & coffee).  Check out the dates with ?? and let me know if you want to participate ‘the work of worship’ by joining the Sunday roster system.  Call Saide, 0407 096 743.  Just a note to those who have received the Draft roster – some changes have already been made.

August Olive Branch
The August Olive Branch will be published on Sunday 1st August.  Please email all your stories, news, reports, photos and other interesting information to saide.cameron@bigpond.com by Monday 26th July.

Commissioning of Elders
We are looking forward to commissioning new and re-elected elders during worship on Sunday 8th August.

Climate Action News

ARRCC Stop Adani Digital Storm
Are you locked down but are itching to #StopAdani? Join people of faith on either of two sessions: 1pm on Friday 23rd & Friday 30th July, and engage with executives at Adani linked companies asking them to end their association with Adani’s climate-wrecking coal mine via one or more of the following mediums:
– Text and Whatsapp/Signal/Telegram messages
– Phone calls.
– LinkedIn.
Both sessions will be on Zoom :  https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84400660233

Direct Giving

Important notice
If you have a Direct Offering arrangement with U Ethical (formerly UCA Funds), please read this important notice.
If you have set up a regular direct giving arrangement directly from your bank account (typically using Online Banking), you don’t need to do anything.
Before online banking existed, many of us set up “Direct Debit” arrangements with UCA Funds (now called U Ethical). U Ethical takes the money from our individual bank accounts as per our instructions, and once a month, transfers all such offerings to BUC’s account.
On 31 July, this service will end. It’s an important cost saving for U Ethical, which will be passed on to the Synod via increased grants. If you don’t do anything, BUC will stop receiving your offerings after July.
What you need to do:
You need to set up a new direct giving arrangement, or “recurring payment”, directly from your bank account to BUC’s. Some banks will let you do this yourself using online banking (from your computer or smartphone app). Otherwise, ask your branch staff for help to set it up. The account details you need for BUC are:
BSB: 013236
BUC account number: 8687863
If you need additional information or assistance, please contact Shawn Whelan (0418 613 898).

Study Groups

Eco-theology Conversations
‘The world is charged with the grandeur of God’
– the challenge of being Christians in a threatened Creation.
The ecological crisis is a clear and present danger in our times.  Come and be part of a lively learning community where together we will engage with our theological understanding and practice of faith in response to this challenge.
First session:  Tuesday 27th July, 7:30pm on Zoom – join here. Meeting ID: 948 6101 8161.  Passcode: 486817
Thence fortnightly for 7 sessions with follow up reading between sessions.

Wider Church News

UC National News 21-27 July

  • Our Vision for a Just Australia, read the updated statement
  • Highlights of the 16th Assembly, summary
  • Celebrating women in leadership in the Uniting Church, read this
  • Let’s yarn about our Intercultural Church
  • Declare peace on refugees, eight long years
  • JOIN US IN PRAYER FOR:
    • The people of Fiji and Indonesia as they grapple with COVID-19 outbreaks. For those who are sick or grieving loved ones, those plunged into poverty and those working to contain the spread. We pray particularly for our church partners who are working to provide for people’s needs, deliver messages of safety and provide pastoral care.
    • Those in Australia impacted by the latest COVID-19 outbreaks and lockdowns. May we find ways to look out for and support one another.

Community News

Refugee Employment Experience: Struggles, Strategies and Solutions
The launch on Tuesday 27th July of this report from the Edmund Rice Centre will include a brief panel and Q&A discussion, 5:30-6:40pm
Where: Virtual Event (via Zoom) Registration is essential – please click here to register
You will receive a Zoom link to join the event once you have registered.  Please check your Junk Folder if you have not received the RSVP confirmation email in your inbox.

Space needed
Hello, my name is Tahnee – I am 25 years old and I am living in Fitzroy North. I have just finished studying music at Monash and am on the hunt for a space to call a studio! I need room for a desk and a small amount of music equipment. I would need to make some noise but not much…I like folk music and singing! I am clean and tidy and would be happy to rent the space
Tahnee (friend of Andy & Julie, contact Julie, 0409 019 987)