Sunday 4th November 2018
Greetings and welcome to this week’s newsletter
A Note from Linda
I’m back! Thanks for your prayers – I had a good week off, studying and relaxing!
Our focus during November is Extravagant Generosity: We worship a generous God. There aren’t enough superlatives to describe just how generous and wonderful our God is!
What is our response to that extravagant generosity as image-bearers? What does it mean for us to live lives that reflect God’s generosity?
It will be a fitting time to bless the packed Shoeboxes before they are sent off. We have so much to be thankful for! Come and let’s celebrate together!
Blessings, Linda
Sunday Evenings this month 4 Nov: Chapel service at 6.00pm
11 Nov: Messy Church at 4:00pm
18 Nov: Spirited Sunday at 6.30pm
25 Nov: Prayer Walk (details TBA)
November 11th – Remembrance Day
This particular Remembrance Day falls on a Sunday and will commemorate 100 years since fighting ceased in World War One. In our morning service on the 11th we will take time to remember those who lost their lives in war.
With Love to the World
The latest edition has arrived – it is due to start on the 5th November. Please pick up your copy in the church main foyer – there will be, as usual, an envelope attached in which you may place your payment in the offering bowl.
We have ordered an extra few copies if you would like have a devotional resource over the next 3 months.
The cost is $5.00. Thank you – Sharyn
Messy Church high chairs
Are you wondering how you can support our Messy Church ministry but you’re unsure how? Then this opportunity could be for you…We are looking for people who may be interested in sponsoring 4 high chairs ($25.00) for some of our younger members of Messy Church. If you are interested please contact Meg Edwards on 0431030079 or messychurch@athelstonechurch.org.au
Office News
Please notify the office of any changes to your contact details in our printed Directory, we would like to have an up to date version available at the Congregation AGM on November 25th. Sharyn
ToFs will be meeting on Tuesday Nov 13th 2.00 pm at the Church
Note this is the second Tuesday not the first in November.
Come and enjoy a cuppa while listening to our guest speaker James Hugo on the subject
”Prisoners-Past and Present”
Partners and friends are especially welcome to join us to hear this very informative talk
A Night in with Emu – Friday 2nd November at 7.30 pm
(an evening of live music and storytelling) – St Augustine’s Anglican Church, Unley. – see Notice Board
Wirra Words of the Week
The warmer weather is fast approaching and this reminds us of the importance of water. If you are passing through the wirra and notice an empty ice cream container, please top it up for our local koala population. The dampness under rocks, logs and leaf litter also provides shelter for many smaller creatures in the wirra.
Not only do the local fauna enjoy a supply of water in the warmer weather, but so do our Stay and Players.
Carers are encouraged to bring along spare clothes as it has been known for children to become enthusiastically drenched! Water play can not only provide sensory experiences for children, but also hand/eye coordination, fine and gross motor development and social interaction. If children are to care for their world, they first need to feel a connection to it. The wirra offers many possible opportunities and spaces for children to explore, experience and connect through water play. Joy Stewart
AGM – Our AGM will be held on Sunday the 25th of November at 10:45am
One of the roles of the congregation at this meeting is to elect a number of office bearers for the next 2 years.
The positions available are as follows:
- 1 position as Presbytery and Synod representative (previously held by David Riggall)
- 1 position as the Community Outreach Mission Network representative (position is currently vacant)
- 4 positions on Church Council (previously held by Di Curtis, David Riggall, Michael O’Connell and Victoria Pederick).
The other members of church council who still have another year remaining of their current term are Chris Pritchard, Eric Hurrell, Bob Stevenson, Glen Luestner and Jeff Dry.
Please prayerfully consider whom you might like to nominate (or re-nominate) for these roles, approach them, and complete the nomination form which you will have received either by email or collected from the foyer.
Completed forms can be returned to the wooden box in the foyer by Sunday the 4th of November.
News from Church Council
Church Council met last Tuesday and discussed a number of important matters. On this evening, our discussion was to a large degree focused on the decision before us regarding same-gender marriages. We have discussed this matter on a number of occasions, following on from the 40 days of prayer and congregational survey. After much prayer and discussion, Church Council decided by consensus, that it will allow same-gender marriages to be conducted on the Athelstone Uniting Church property.
We also adopted the Uniting Church Child Safe Policy which states that we are committed to protecting the safety of all people within our programs, ministries, and events, with a particular focus on children. Church Council will communicate more information about this in the coming months as we seek to improve our practice so it is in line with this policy. If you are interested in finding out more in the meantime, please check out the website https://sa.uca.org.au/safe-church/
Finally, the entry to the church will soon look a bit different! Council is having a ramp installed to the front door of the church. This will allow wheelchair access to the church from the car park, as well as eliminating that big step at the entry. We hope that this will make it safer and more welcoming for everyone. If you are pretty excited about this improvement and would like to support it via a donation, there will be a container by the name badges until Sunday the 11th of November.
Thank you for the prayers and encouragement that you have offered for our Church Council, particularly in recent weeks. We do appreciate your support
If you have any questions or suggestions, please don’t hesitate to talk to a Church Council member.
Polo Shirts
We still have some polo shirts with the Athelstone Logo… cost is $5.00. They are in the volunteer office if you would like to come and have a look. There are various colours and sizes available. Sharyn
DATES for 2018 – Term 4
6th November, 20th November, 4th December
We continue to have inquiries from new families and would appreciate more adult helpers on the already active team. Every contribution, however small or large, is appreciated, so if you would like to join us in this outreach to our local community, please make contact. All offers are welcome.
Bruce and Joy Stewart – Phone: 83362671 or Email: bruceandjoy@bigpond.com
Threads – This will continue meeting at the Athelstone Coffee Shop every 2nd and 4th Thursday at 2.30 pm
A superb concert of Christmas Music
This is by the superb Metropolitan Male Choir of SA (featuring 3 of our congregation!) – In a superb venue.
Saturday December 8, 7.30pm, Elder Hall. Tickets available from Lynton @ $25 during October, Ph 0438 565 021
Email Nichjl@bigpond.com
Electronic Giving – Forms are available or speak to Treasurer Glen Luestner for more information.
Pastoral care – Please contact a member of our Pastoral Care Oversight Team for assistance:
Rev Linda Driver 0458 500 656 Bob Stevenson 0400 641 242
Brenton Summers 0400 632 829 Ann Brown 0413 581 554
Prayer Requests – Can we support you in prayer? Here’s how:
Prayer Chain – send an email to, or call Brenton Summers, who will pass your prayer request on to a group of people who faithfully pray in response to Prayer Chain emails.
Confidential Prayers – if the issue is more personal you are invited to contact Linda for individual prayer
or one the members of the Pastoral Care Oversight team (Brenton Summers, Ann Brown, Bob Stevenson and Linda). All prayer requests going to the team will be kept strictly confidential within this team.
Prayers for Others (Sunday Worship) – Linda provides our Worship Leaders with prayer points as appropriate. Prayer points are also sourced from the Prayer Chain. If you have something you would like to be included in Prayers for Others, please contact Linda. “We are all called to pray for one another, and so we are all encouraged to offer to pray for, or with others, especially if they share a concern with you.” (James 5:13-16
Wider Church News- Please use the link to UC e-news at http://sa.uca.org.au/uc-e-news/
Website – We encourage you to visit our website: www.athelstonechurch.org.au
Newsletter contributions – Please email newsletter@athelstonechurch.org.au by 5pm Wed.
Lectionary readings
4th November – Ruth 1:1-18; Psalm 146; Hebrews 9:11-14; Mark 12:28-34
11th November – Ruth 3:1-5, 4:13-17; Psalm 127; Hebrews 9:24-28; Mark 12:38-44
Roster
| 4th November | 11th November | |
| Preacher | Linda | Linda |
| Worship Leader | Dave | Nola |
| Singers | Marie/Ruth/Sylvia | Meg/Lyndon R/Marie |
| Keyboard | Di | Gerald |
| Guitar | Chris/Scott | Grant/Scott |
| Data Projector | Samantha | Dave |
| Flowers | Carole Walter | Jenny Riggall |
| Door Stewards & Offering | Crisi & Sam | Barbara & Eric |
| Notices | Sylvia | Paul |
| Scripture Reader | Ray Walter | Friederike |
| Offering Count | Sylvia/Ray | Bob/Gus |
| Tea & Coffee | Sheralyn & Leanne | Crisi & Sam |
| Sound | Noel | Tara |
| Building Steward | Richard Read | Paul |
| Communion | Sam/Crisi/Leanne/Victoria |
What’s on this Week (5th – 11th November)
| Monday | 4.45-6.45 pm | Waratah Calisthenics College | Auditorium |
| 6.00-10.00 pm | Lions Club Dinner Meeting | Lwr Hall & Kitchen | |
| Tuesday | 9.00 am | Book Club | Coffee Shop |
| 9.30-10.30 am | Pilates | Top Hall | |
| 10.00-11.30 am | Stay & Play | Lwr Hall & Decking | |
| 10.00-11.00am | U3A Yoga | Auditorium | |
| 6.30-7.30 pm | Reach your Feat (Stretch & Balance) | Top Hall | |
| Wednesday | 6.00-8.00 pm | Waratah Calisthenics College | Auditorium |
| 6.30-7.30 pm | Reach your Feat (Circuit) | Top Hall | |
| Thursday | 2.30-4.00 pm | Threads | Coffee Shop |
| 5.30-6.30 pm | Reach your Feat (Stretch & Balance) | Top Hall | |
| Friday | 10.00-12.00 pm | Friendship Club – Soup & Sandwiches (ACH Martin Pace Entertainment) |
Auditorium |
| Saturday | 9.30-11.30 am | Pilates | Top Hall |
| 10.00-11.00 am | Waratah Calisthenics College | Auditorium | |
| Sunday | 9.30 am | Worship Service | Auditorium |
| 4.00 pm | Messy Church | Auditorium |