News 2003
10 Nov 2003 CONGRESS GOES TO PETERBOROUGH
On Saturday 8th November, members of Port Augusta Congress travelled to
Peterborough at the invitation of the Peterborough UC.
Local members and congress folk enjoyed tea at the manse. Mattresses and
other gear was unloaded, sleeping arrangements organized, music gear set up
and tested in the church and the tv's dialled in to the rugby. The power
of
God's spirit began to work and in the morning.....
Sunday saw the church packed with around thirty from PA Congress and
forty locals. After a welcome from the local minister, Rev Darren Lovell,
PA Congress led the worship with much joyful singing, led by Auntie Kim,
Auntie Dawn and Daven with Racheal on drums, a bible reading by Auntie Kim,
a dreaming story by Auntie Denise who was joined by her sister, Auntie
Noeleen with a song in language. Uncle Eddie explained some of the story of
Congress in Port Augusta and Rev Hohaia Matthews preached on the story of
Ruth, an outsider, who was the great, great grandmother of King David from
whose descendents came Jesus. Indigenous people have been and are outsiders
and some parallels were drawn......
Racheal performed a solo and the fellowship continued with a barbeque
lunch. Uncle Joe (Rev. Matthews) thanked the Peterborough folk for their
great hospitality and threatened a return visit, after the congress bus
arrives, with even more people from the PA Congress community!
Click here for more photos
26 Oct 2003 UAICC STATEMENT
It was agreed that the Synod include the whole text of the
statement re Ministry, Membership and Sexuality Resolutions
made by the UAICC(SA) Regional Committee in the minutes of
Synod. A pastoral letter from the Moderator, Rev Dr Graham Humphris,
which included an extract of unconfirmed minutes and the UAICC(SA)
statement was read out to congregations on Sunday 26th October.
Click here for the full text
23 Oct 2003 BUS FOR PORT AUGUSTA FAITH COMMUNITY
Mrs Denise Champion, addressed the 2003 SA Synod
of the Uniting Church this morning. She told of the
tremendous growth in the Port Augusta Faith Community.
With growth, comes the need for a bus. Denise
said that lack of transport is a major issue for
the Aboriginal people of Port Augusta. As well
as transporting people to worship, the bus will
be used to take people to covenanting events, camps,
funerals and meetings.
The Foundation for Young Australians have already
committed raising $80,000 for the project.
A further $25,000 needs to be raised to purchase
the bus, and another $15,000 for running costs per year.
The proposal brought to the Synod was to establish
an appeal for the purchase of a 25 seater bus to be used for
ministry by the Port Augusta Faith Community.
The Synod voted in favour of the proposal. As there
was overwhelming support for the concept, the Synod also chose
to immediately donate $25,000 to the appeal from Synod funds.
(Source: Synod 2003 e update 23/10/2003)
14 Apr 2003 BAXTER PROTEST MARCH
On Palm Sunday 2003, Congress joined with other churches in
Port Augusta in a protest march to the Baxter Detention Centre.
Aboriginal people made up a sizable part of the group who walked
to the gates. We sang and prayed led by ministers, including Father
Ron Davoren, Captain David Wright and our own, Rev Hohaia Matthews
and Denise Champion.
Aboriginal people are very sad about how the detainees are being
treated and call upon the federal government to close all the centres
and begin to treat asylum seekers with dignity and compassion.
6 Mar 2003 VISIT BY TRIBAL WARRIOR
During the visit of the Tribal Warrior to Port Augusta, the Port
Augusta Faith Community put on a BBQ for local Aboriginal people and the crew.
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Events
- About Face 6
2 - 23 January 2004
About Face is a faith and culture exchange program
for young adults in the 18-30 year old age group.
Find out more by going to
http://aboutface.unitingchurch.org.au/
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