Olive Press during August

Daniel Broadstock will be responsible for editing and publishing the Olive Press during August.  Please email all contributions to: daniel.broadstock@gmail.com

Prayer Points

Ministry Team
BIUC Congregation
Fiona – MoD candidate
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

Meditation

We offer a Meditation group with music, spoken prayers and a reading on Tuesdays, during the Olive Way Program.

BUC News

Shed Project Working Bee
Our sheds (located in front of the Youth Hall will be completed on Friday 26th July.  On Saturday 27th July from 10am-2pm we’ll be assembling shelving and moving lots of things from one place to another.  Please come along and offer half an hour, an hour or even more to help make this happen as efficiently as possible.  There will be lists and drawings to explain what needs to be done.  Contact Saide, 0407 096 743, to ask any questions and/or offer your time.

Merri Project Consultation
On behalf of Church Council, the Merri Project Steering Group invites you to attend the first in a series of consultations about BUC’s future mission. Please join us for the first of three congregational consultations on Sunday 28th July, 11:30-3:30More information.

With Love to the World Coordinator
Are you enjoying using With Love to the World as part of your routine Bible reading?
Interested in getting more involved in the life of the congregation?
Perhaps being the coordinator and contact person for With Love to the World is the right thing for you. Faye Findlay is stepping down after her time in this role and we are looking for a new coordinator. The task involves promoting the magazine, ordering it quarterly and distributing the copies when they arrive. Faye has prepared a detailed  task list for the next person, so handover should be straight forward. Talk to Meg Orton or contact me at meg.orton@iinet.net.au for more information..

Julian Hamilton visit
Our favourite Irish Methodist Chaplain at Trinity College Dublin, Julian (Jools) Hamilton will be the guest preacher at Brunswick Uniting on Sunday 4th August. We are hoping to have a lunch after church for young adults (18 to 35), where Jools can share a bit more of his wisdom about faith, life, the Bible and all things good.

Bring a Plate to Share Morning Tea
On the first Sunday of August & September you are invited to Bring a Plate to Share for morning tea.  This will both help to ease the pressure on our regular morning tea providers with a few taking a break and give us all an opportunity to share our favourite treats in a low stress kind of way.  The Morning Tea Helpers will arrive just that bit earlier to help set things up ready.  Please bring your plate to the kitchen before worship on Sunday 4th August.

Samuel Wells visit
Rev Dr Samuel Wells is also visiting Brunswick UC on Thursday 8th August and the CTM on Saturday 10th August.  Sam is a preacher, writer and theologian. He spent seven years as Dean of Duke University Chapel in the US. He is currently priest at St Martin-in-the Fields, London, and visiting Professor of Christian Ethics at King’s College London. He has published 30 books exploring Christian ethics, social mission, liturgy and faith, and four collections of sermons. Find out more.

Safe Church Contact Person
Jane Allardice will fill in for Helen Rowe as the Safe Church contact person. Brunswick Uniting Church has a process for following up any concerns raised about the safety of our children. Please contact Jane in person or by telephone at 0419 385 544.

August & September Roster

Worship on Sunday morning is supported by our roster system.  It’s a rich and complex system involving 11 rosters and 45-55 people or households.  Some people are on one roster, others are on anywhere from 2-5 rosters.  Some people do something on one Sunday, others on up t0 5 or 6.  Every contribution makes a difference and participating is a great way to get to know people.  Some rosters require you to arrive early and others to stay on after worship.  There really is something for everyone.
So please consider joining the roster.   At the moment there is significant need in the following rosters:  morning tea, laptop, sound, flowers and minding the Olive Way door. There are quite a lot of people travelling over August and September which will put extra pressure on regular roster participants as well.  Contact Saide, 0407 096 743, if you want get involved or simply want to know more.
Also check out roster guidelines in the Members section.

Wider Church News

On the Edge
Facilitated by Graeme Garrett and Jan Morgan, these interactive workshops, 29th August, 12th & 26th September, will offer a contemplative space for exploration, meditation, silence and practicing attention in nature.  No cost. Bookings required.

Christian Meditation
Laurence Freeman, a Benedictine monk and the spiritual guide and Director of The World Community for Christian Meditation will be holding events at the National Conference of the World Community of Christian Meditation over the 11th-12th of October. There is also a special opportunity to for children and youth to participate.

Climate Action

Do you know about Earth Overshoot Day? It is happening on Monday, July 29 this year. By that day in 2019, humanity will have used more from nature than the planet can renew in the whole year. If everyone lived like Australians it would have been on 31 March!

  • At 12 noon on Friday 2nd Augustthere will be a protest organised by Stop Adani Melbourne outside engineering company GHD Group’s head office (180 Lonsdale St, Melbourne) to demand it cuts its ties from the disastrous Adani Charmichael coal mine.
  • Stop Adani Moreland– next fortnightly meeting is Monday 5th August at 6:30 pm East Coburg Community House, 32 Nicholson Street, Coburg.
  • The ARRCC (Australian Religious Response to Climate Change) are interested to hear from people who are planning to join peaceful faith-based actions to Stop Adaniwhen the time is right, either to go to the Galilee Basin or at other locations in major cities (such as Melbourne). If you are interested speak with Jamie Thom.
  • Global Climate Strike,Friday 20th September. This is more than a Students Climate Strike. People from all walks of life who care about about a safe climate future are being asked to strike from their usual work and join large gatherings in numerous locations around Australia.
  • The ARRCC is holding a National Conferenceon Faith in Action in Canberra on 8th to 10th November.
  • Thinking of switching to solar energy?Each month the Victorian government is offering rebates for the installation of solar panels on homes.