Prayer Points
Ministry Team
Palm Sunday rally
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
Holy Week worship
- Palm Sunday, 28th March, 9:30am
- Maundy Thursday, 1st April, 7:30pm
- Good Friday, 2nd April, 9:30am
- Dawn Service, 4th April, 6:00am
- Easter Day, 4th April, 9:30am
BUC News
Palm Sunday, 28th March
Our worship and the livestream will be and look a little different this Sunday. We will join our Anglican neighbours on the steps during worship and process to Christ Church for an ecumenical celebration with Brunswick Baptists and the Brunswick Salvation Army. Our procession will be lead by Francesca the donkey and her faithful companion. We will then return to BUC to conclude the service. To ensure that everyone can join in online and in person the service will be livestreamed using a camera only and not our usual equipment configuration. If you are worshipping online please use the regular YouTube link.
Masks During Worship
A number of people have asked whether the easing of restrictions this week means that we don’t have to wear masks in church any more. In the current low risk environment we have decided to give priority to fitting our whole congregation into the church rather than using an overflow space. This means that it is impossible for us to strictly maintain 1.5 metre social distancing during worship. The current restrictions still say that “facemarks must be worn at all times when social distancing cannot be maintained.” And while singing has been allowed in worship for months, the following recommendation still holds: “Singing and chanting in religious settings have been shown to spread the virus. It is best if face masks are worn by congregants when singing occurs.” It is on the basis of these two points that we are continuing to ask people to wear masks during worship at BUC.
Church Camp
This year the Church Camp committee is very excited to welcome you back to our old stomping ground, Adekate Lodge, as part of the 2021 Brunswick Uniting Church Camp. Save the date for 23rd – 25th April to be part of a fun, relaxing, and affirming weekend in fellowship with our BUC community. Don’t miss out on this chance to meet new folks and catch up again with old friends over a meal, a bushwalk, or a good old fashioned sing-along. Keep an eye out for registration details to be sent out in the next week.
If you are keen to get involved, or have any questions about the event, please contact Courtney Rohde, cerohde1@gmail.com / 0448 233 321.
Faith Exploration Group
Interested in a deep dive into Christian faith? – perhaps with a view towards Baptism and/or Confirmation? Ian is forming a group to go on this journey together, destination unknown! If you’d like to be part of it or just want to know more about it, please contact Ian on iferguson@icloud.com 0438 547 842.
Healing Haunted Histories – a reading and discussion group.
A number of people have expressed interest in reading and discussing together the latest book by Ched Myers written with his spouse Elaine Enns. Join Brad Coath for a number of sessions working through the book together. Please let Brad and Ian know if you are interested and we will find a time that suits (iferguson@icloud.com 0438547842 brad@unoh.org).
In their latest book, Healing Haunted Histories: A Settler Discipleship of Decolonization, Elaine Enns and Ched Myers take on the “ghosts” of settler colonialism, Indigenous displacement, and white supremacy that can be found in many of our family histories — if only we have the courage to look for them. The book is available online as an ebook or paperback and is equal parts:
- memoir (mostly focusing on Enns’ Mennonite family and community, who endured the Russian Civil War, fled the Soviet aftermath and settled on Indigenous land in Saskatchewan in the 1920s);
- social analysis;
- theological reflection; and
- workbook for those ready to “do their own work.”
Palm Sunday, 28th March
Our worship and the livestream will be and look a little different this Sunday. We will join our Anglican neighbours on the steps during worship and process to Christ Church for an ecumenical celebration with Brunswick Baptists and the Brunswick Salvation Army. Our procession will be lead by Francesca the donkey and her faithful companion. We will then return to BUC to conclude the service. To ensure that everyone can join in online and in person the service will be livestreamed using a camera only and not our usual equipment configuration. If you are worshipping online please use the regular YouTube link.
Masks During Worship
A number of people have asked whether the easing of restrictions this week means that we don’t have to wear masks in church any more. In the current low risk environment we have decided to give priority to fitting our whole congregation into the church rather than using an overflow space. This means that it is impossible for us to strictly maintain 1.5 metre social distancing during worship. The current restrictions still say that “facemarks must be worn at all times when social distancing cannot be maintained.” And while singing has been allowed in worship for months, the following recommendation still holds: “Singing and chanting in religious settings have been shown to spread the virus. It is best if face masks are worn by congregants when singing occurs.” It is on the basis of these two points that we are continuing to ask people to wear masks during worship at BUC.
Church Camp
This year the Church Camp committee is very excited to welcome you back to our old stomping ground, Adekate Lodge, as part of the 2021 Brunswick Uniting Church Camp. Save the date for 23rd – 25th April to be part of a fun, relaxing, and affirming weekend in fellowship with our BUC community. Don’t miss out on this chance to meet new folks and catch up again with old friends over a meal, a bushwalk, or a good old fashioned sing-along. Keep an eye out for registration details to be sent out in the next week.
If you are keen to get involved, or have any questions about the event, please contact Courtney Rohde, cerohde1@gmail.com / 0448 233 321.
Faith Exploration Group
Interested in a deep dive into Christian faith? – perhaps with a view towards Baptism and/or Confirmation? Ian is forming a group to go on this journey together, destination unknown! If you’d like to be part of it or just want to know more about it, please contact Ian on iferguson@icloud.com 0438 547 842.
Healing Haunted Histories – a reading and discussion group.
A number of people have expressed interest in reading and discussing together the latest book by Ched Myers written with his spouse Elaine Enns. Join Brad Coath for a number of sessions working through the book together. Please let Brad and Ian know if you are interested and we will find a time that suits (iferguson@icloud.com 0438547842 brad@unoh.org).
BUC News
Pastoral Care Review Report
Many of us participated in interviews for the review of our Pastoral Care ministry late last year. The report produced by the Review Team has been received and adopted by Church Council and is now available to be read. We will celebrate our Pastoral Care ministry in worship this Sunday.
The report is available here. It responds to our Pastoral Care Vision Document from 2014 (link) with its themes of Hospitality, Compassion and Community
Community News
Pastoral Care Review Report
Many of us participated in interviews for the review of our Pastoral Care ministry late last year. The report produced by the Review Team has been received and adopted by Church Council and is now available to be read. We will celebrate our Pastoral Care ministry in worship this Sunday.
The report is available here. It responds to our Pastoral Care Vision Document from 2014 (link) with its themes of Hospitality, Compassion and Community
Palm Sunday Rally
Palm Sunday (28th March) is an important opportunity to raise awareness of the continuing injustice and cruelty experienced by refugees and people who are seeking asylum. This year Palm Sunday actions are calling for:
- Permanent visas for all refugees
- Basic income support for people in the community while their refugee status is assessed
- Release ALL Refugees from Detention
- An end to offshore processing
Brunswick UC will be joining the Palm Sunday rally carrying our Welcome banner. Look out for the banner near the corner of LaTrobe and Swanston Streets. Phil Hudson and other members of Love Makes a Way Phil Hudson and other members of Love Makes a Way will be singing from 1:30-1:45pm, if anyone wants to come early to watch. Contact Abi, 0429 194 161, if you want to join in the singing, rehearsals have been organized.
Wider Church News
Hosanna in the Highest, Ecumenical Service
The Palestine Israel Ecumenical Network in Australia and Sabeel Ecumenical Liberation Theology Centre in Jerusalem are organizing a joint Ecumenical service. The service will be screen via Zoom on Saturday 27th March at 5:30pm. As we mark the beginning of Passion Week, clergy and lay people from both countries will offer prayers, praise, readings and reflections proclaiming the liberation and presence of God even as we acknowledge the situation in the Holy Land today. This is a unique event providing the opportunity for Christians in Australia and Palestine to worship together at this significant time of the year. Register to attend the hour long service here. More details here.
Sunday Lunch Fundraiser
Join Coburg Uniting Church for lunch on Sunday 28th March from 1:00pm in support of the Asylum Seeker Welcome Centre. Details here.
UC National News, 24th – 30th March
- Chaplains support flood-affected communities, more
- Palm Sunday rally – #Justice4Refugees
- Towards Zero – Assembly Climate Action plan
- Dreams for the future – take the Act2 survey
- National Close the Gap Day 2021, more
- And lots more
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JOIN US IN PRAYER FOR:
- That the peace and justice embodied in Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem prevails.
- For those devastated by the flooding in NSW and QLD as they begin to rebuild their lives.
- Refugees and people seeking asylum in Australia to find safety and welcome.
- For places of conflict in our region, including Myanmar and the Philippines.
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