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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

Outside the gates The protest service
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

Tribal Warrior BBQ
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.


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/