Presbytery of http://wr.victas.uca.org.au/tasmania

Issue No. 114

December 2013

UNITINGCARE TASMANIA NEEDS YOUR HELP THIS CHRISTMAS UnitingCare Tasmania is asking for the support of local congregations with donations of food and supermarket vouchers which will allow it to provide its Northern clients with food hampers over the Christmas period. The Operation Santa partnership, between UnitingCare Australia and Target Australia, continues to provide gifts, but our northern clients - who are based in and around Launceston and along the North West - are not supported to receive food hampers through other organisations this year. In Southern Tasmania we are able to support emergency relief and family services clients with food hampers through Emergency Relief services but we are not an emergency relief provider in the north and north west. We are asking for the churches to support UnitingCare Tasmania by collecting food and supermarket vouchers so that we can provide our Northern clients with this support between now and December 24. We would be most grateful to receive donations in Launceston at 34 Paterson Street, or on the NW at the Ulverstone Uniting Church, 72a Reibey Street. (Cash donations of more than $2 are tax deductible.)

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Presbytery of Tasmania Children’s Ministry Catalyst

Reflection on Ministry

Rev Jenny Tymms told us a few years ago, when reflecting on the wilderness we are in, to discern what to put in our back packs, try different paths, “experiment like crazy”, to think deeply, and get going.

Earlier this month at the Presbytery Gathering the Presbytery expressed its appreciation to Andrea Bartley, Children’s Ministry Catalyst and Youth Networker, for her enthusiastic promotion of ministry with children, youth and families, leadership and resourcing. “Over the past eight years, what have I heard from younger generations in and around our Uniting Churches? “We are tired and feel alone.” We just need some leadership, or a team of people, so that we can do things differently, worship in the way we want, something that our peers relate to.

So, that is what I am telling our families to do. Try Messy Church, Godly Play, Play Groups, and Faith Communities. Why not move around in worship and allow everyone to engage with their faith journey. Play with art, with prayer, with music. Worship in the park, in your homes, in the Pub, in the Bus Shed! Have meals with people, provide and accept Hospitality, share your faith, discover more of your biblical stories and allow families to participate in them. Allow people to use their senses, their intelligence, their knowing, the quiet, and do not underestimate the spirituality of children. We have much to learn from unsocialised spirituality, and the pure faith of children.

We are in a deconstructing stage of the Christian Church. So, I wonder what are the essentials that we pack into our boat? What will not wither, or burden us further? Which route do we set sail toward? How do we keep the Biblical Stories alive for our children and youth? Rev. Sunny Chen, when talking to us about the book of Acts at the School of Ministry this year, said that understanding the literary patterns shows us that the writer’s idea of the church was more like a ship than a building, more on the move and open to people in their differing communities than a closed upper room of disciples.

In the past eight years of ministry with younger generations, this is what I have learned from this Presbytery. Thank You all. Andrea Bartley 2

Old ministers never die; they just become ‘unplaced’

Reflection on Retirement

“Retirement confronts one with one’s mortality. I, too, have reached this ‘terminal’ stage of life. As a twenty one year old, while on exercise with the Citizens Military Forces, I was critically injured in a car crash. I have lived with my mortality ever since, so retirement does not throw up my mortality as a new challenge. Every day has been a gift from God to be enjoyed and employed for Him, whatever the particular task. The story of the talents has been a guiding theme: “entering the joy of the Master” as an agent of the Master, or making God out to be a liar, thief and bad judge of character for giving me one talent only.

congregation. Katherine shared that involvement and we were accredited as Lay Preacher at the same time. I enjoyed teaching, so the call to ordained ministry after two decades of teaching was not all that welcome, even though I had the joy of being Chair of Elders during a ministerial vacancy in the parish. People appreciated what I was doing. These people became part of the call to ministry, as did a conference at Pilgrim UC led by Dr James Haire later to become President of the UCA Assembly. Now retired, I continue to do what I have come to enjoy. I do a little bit of teaching at the local school, lead the occasional worship service, do some hospital visits, have more time for family, write up the minutes for the Resource and Development Committee of the Presbytery, and visit the various arms of the health profession a little more often.

Retirement supposedly frees one to do what one likes. Working with and for God in the company of His people to make the world a better place, is an acquired taste which gives you that freedom, even while working full time! Acquiring that taste is the call to Christian maturity. I entered teaching, my first profession, with that orientation, having been brought up in the faith by my parents. Katherine and I have brought up four children and got involved in the local

Nothing much has changed, except for those visits, phone calls and internet connections to Centrelink. I still have the same problems I had while working full time – managing my time to do justice to competing interests! This article was written on the deadline for publication! Retired or not, may “entering the joy of the Master” be for you not just an eschatological promise but also as present reality.” Walter Abetz 3

LAY PREACHER NEWS Information for Lay Preachers and of interest to others

News from the Synod Lay Preachers Committee of Management Meeting 8th November 2013 Synod Lay Preachers Conference will be held March 14th and 15th 2014 at the Centre for Theology and Ministry Melbourne. Accommodation available at Maclean House but you need to book early. Please put this date in your diary. Registration form available at UCA Tasmanian Office. National Lay Preachers Conference Perth WA. Saturday 5th to 7th April 2014. The Committee of Management agreed to provide up to $300 assistance to Tasmanian Lay Preachers who attend; further details will be in Witness. Conference details from the brochure already circulated. Please note that you will need to book for an extra night, at the start of the conference because the start time is 9am, and that has not been included in the conference costs. Also there may be cheaper accommodation in the area which would reduce costs so please check the possibility. Both conferences count as continuing education- as I write I am in South Australia and away from the form telling me how many points per conference but they are each worth at least 2 points. Continuing Education Certificates: 3 Tasmanians have completed the requirements for continuing education certificates which will be presented at the Synod Lay Preachers Conference in March. Congratulations to Graham, Shirley and Katherine. If unable to attend the conference the certificates will be sent for presentation during a church service in the local congregation after the conference. The next group of applications will be processed by the Committee of Management on February 14th so get your applications in as soon as possible so they can be processed before the February meeting. Applications need processing by your Church Council, they are then sent to the Presbytery Minister who then sends them to the Synod Committee of Management. Most of these people have holidays December/January so please get your application to your Church Council as soon as possible or they will miss the February meeting of the COM. A review of the Synod Continuing Education system continues but the Assembly Review of Lay Preachers is also underway and may make changes to continuing education requirements. At the moment Lay Preachers are expected to do one hour per week of continuing education. Things like reading 4

for service preparation or attending any training days which your minister, the presbytery minister or presbytery organise, which aid you in your position as a Lay Preacher, all count towards your continuing education. The lists on the application form are only to give you an idea of how many points to give yourself. You know what you are doing e.g. If you are preparing sermons you are doing research for the sermon and that counts towards your continuing education. Don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any questions at [email protected] or phone 6272 3096. God Bless you as you prepare for the Christmas Season. Heather Cowled Tasmanian Representative on the Lay Preachers Synod Committee of Management

NCYC is run every two years by the Uniting Church for young people over 16 years of age. It is a great experience mixing with people from all over Australia, the South Pacific and our indigenous brothers and sisters. See the Facebook page (NCYC 4 Taswegians) where you can access information and share your thoughts with others who have gone before. Please let me know if you are interested as I am arranging a bus tour and return flights. We have financial support available and I am sure we could fundraise together as well. Please contact me or “like” the Facebook page if you wish to attend. Register online: www.ncyc.com.au Andrea Bartley

2013 CHRISTMAS CARD MISSION PROJECT Christmas cards are available through the UCA Tasmanian Office. Please note that card 5 has sold out. Proceeds from the sale of these cards are donated to UIM mission projects and to Frontier Services. Cards, calendars and order forms are available from the UCA Tasmanian Office. 5

Youth Networker

Presbytery of Tasmania

Advent Retreat 2013 Where are you, God?

Living Leadership When? November 30th 10:00am – 3:00pm Where? Kingston Uniting Church, Jindabyne Rd. Cost? A plate of lunch to share Leader : Rev Adelene Mills RSVP? If you are able to come, please reply by Wednesday 27th November so that material can be prepared Contact? Adelene millspring2@bigpond. com

The Centre for Theology and Ministry recognises the organic and evolving nature of leadership in contexts of challenge within times of change. We invite you to engage with us through the ‘Living Leadership’ website and 'Living Leadership' events to build capacity, insight and resilience in your leadership. We each have a range of skills, passions and experiences that when shared will enhance our leadership community. So please question, comment and share resources/materials that you believe would add value to other UCA leaders. For Teams: Part 1: 11 – 13 February 2014 Part 2: 11 – 13 March 2014 For individuals: 7 – 11 July 2014 More information: http://ctm.uca.edu.au/livingleadership/

or ph. 62299859

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All Age Christmas events but great for kids All with big Welcome & most with Food 28th Nov 5th & 12th Dec Christmas Crafts 3.30-5.30pm Launceston Nth Sat 7th Dec. Messy Church 4-6pm Launceston Nth UCA Sun 8th Dec.

Christmas Church 10-12 Pilgrim UCA

Sun 15th Dec. Hobart Advent Adventure 3-4.30pm Glenorchy UCA Tues 24th Dec. Children’s Christmas Eve 6-7pm East/Lawrence Vale UCA

Christmas Bowl Resources Corflute signs and kits full of resources you can use throughout December: available at the TCC office from Rev Bob Faser [email protected] or Ph: 0418 307 449 Also: many different resources including PowerPoint presentations & dramas available online. Christmas Bowl website & click on the resources tab. Note: any extra money collected by the Christmas Bowl this year will go to the Philippines.

Kris Kringle, Secret Santa or Everything in Common? You may wish to change the way you spend money on gifts this Christmas. Select a gift from the Everything in Common catalogue and use the opportunity to alleviate poverty, build peace, develop new leaders or support Uniting World volunteers. This year your money could be helping to change the story of someone in need. Everything in Common is the Uniting Church in Australia’s own gift catalogue. In a Uniting way, this is the place to buy gifts that feed the hungry, give sight to the blind, free the captive and bring good news to the poor. Check out the website for more information. http://www.unitingworld.org.au/get-involved/gift-catalogue/ 7

Ministry and the Family In October Rev Bob Imms celebrated 50 years since ordination. In this article, Miriam Imms reflects on Ministry and the Family. What was the effect of ministry on the family? Mobility. For a home and location based person like me connected to Taroona from 1900, continual uprooting was a trial. From a three year term at Salamo, TPNG, after a gruelling shipwreck, and 5 Tasmanian circuits, there were 15 different home moves.

jobs, 50 ways of using apples , 50 variations of mince, but always gifts at the door of garden vegetables and fruit from wonderful parishioners,. And when Paul was born and the cook incapacitated for weeks, 7 Christmas puddings, dozens of cakes and biscuits, and household help.

For the growing family of five this included frequent changes of schools and friendship circles. There was some teasing about their role as parson’s kids- snide and hurtful comments even from college staff- for the 60/70s were years of swiftly changing moral values and attitudes to church life which we see more clearly in retrospect.

But there was always a Sunday roast, often a leg of succulent lamb, after church and Sunday School. Expectations: Of course all went to church, to Sunday School, Christian Endeavour, a good training ground, Friday Youth Club, usually run by Dad, early rowing training on the Tamar, music lessons, sailing in the Manly Junior. On Saturday afternoon vegetables had to be prepared so we could get to church on Sunday.

The budget: We lived, in the probation period, like many of our day, with very strict budgets, somewhat relieved after ordination. Holidays were camps in leaky post and rail tents or renovated worker’s huts, seeking out places of natural beauty with bush, mountains, beach and sea. But there was just one small boat to be shared, one bicycle, one car, one income of course, home sewing, after school

There was certainly a role to be filled – we became a transportable youth club, people still liked their 8

young ones to be connected with the church, with its no liquor, no smoking attitudes, but lots of fun. There were camp outs, hang outs, hikes, a 15 bike expedition from New Town to the Petchey’s Bay house , from New Town to Freycinet with readings and prayers and songs on Wineglass Bay to the sound of surf rolling in. And the musicals taken round Hobart, the eastern shore, the Huon – Cool in the Furnace, Lightshine, Joseph and the Dreamcoat, Music Machine. So many were occupied with Band practice, gathering singers and learning the songs, lighting and effects, costumes and travelling here and there.

goodness and service to God, the local church and missions laid out on the altar of Church Unity in trust and hope. Then to the burgeoning Kingborough Circuit,with 7 churches here, from Taroona, Sandfly and Kingston, through the Channel to Kettering, Woodbridge and Middleton. The Huon circuit next door was added with 4 more all to be consulted and matters re Proposed Union discussedFranklin, Glen Huon, Judbury, Ranelagh and Cygnet and procedures carried out. A busy father was rarely home in evenings and had 3 services each Sunday.

Each of the children has suffered a little with us, at times a great deal, and borne their share of a totally unsought role cheerfully and with patience and given back to us loyalty, respect and support.

But the vigour and buoyancy of the music loving, contemporary, forward thinking, seafaring, creative younger family carried on a visionary branch of ministry throughout Kingborough, Taroona, Hobart, Melbourne, even Sydney, and across the Northern Territory as Desert Song to this very day.

Then came 1976, and the last Methodist Conference was held in the magnificent and historic Wesley Church, Hobart. 29 young people from lively Moonah and more sedate New Town were gathered at the parsonage for tea- again the expandable mince and apple variations with barbecues sausages on the ploughshare and then all were packed into the galleries of Wesley to reverberating hymns.

Thanks be to God. Old George James, often tense and fractious and very overworked, and his gentle Quaker wife, would be surprised when he asked Wesley Church to put Taroona on The Plan, he might see God himself at work in a string of descendants, generations later.

How much more significant this event was than we could envisage -.a generational faith, and a heritage of gentle

So in this God we trust. Miriam Imms 9

Praying for the Presbytery

This month please remember in your prayers: Philippines Those congregations and UnitingCare agencies impacted by property divestment decisions Staff in Synod Property Office

Ecumenical Reconciliation Group Dear Friends, Following the Awakening Easter Day Celebrations, people from different churches have been meeting every few months to talk about the ways Christian people, and our churches can be involved in building relationships between Aboriginal and other Australians. In August we discussed the proposed changes to the Australian Constitution with Bill Lawson (Tasmanians for Recognition). Our next gathering is on Sunday 24th November 2:00 – 4:00pm at Leprena, Uniting Aboriginal and Islander Christian Congress, 280 Main Road, Glenorchy (at the entrance to Cosgrove High School). We will hear an update on the steps toward changes to the Australian Constitution and discuss projects that are happening among our church and what we might be able to do together in 2014. I apologise for the late notice for the gathering, but I hope you might be able to join us and encourage others in your networks to come along as well. Kind regards, Rev Grant Finlay, UAICC Tasmania [email protected] Ph 6272 9234. 0417 340 050.

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This ‘n That

Lenten Studies for 2014 Bible discussion sessions for congregations based on the Lectionary readings for Lent and Easter are available from Mediacom. “Keys to Understanding Paul, the Apostle” and “Amos of Israel: Let Justice Roll Down” are also still available. More information is available at [email protected] or phone 1800 811 311

Resources for Lectionary Year A: Gospel of Matthew The Revised Common Lectionary (RCL) is a three-year cycle of Bible readings; it follows the seasons of the Christian calendar with each year commencing on the first Sunday in Advent. This usually falls on the last Sunday in November. The Lectionary offers congregations a balanced diet of readings and is used in churches around the world. The Bible readings in the Year of Matthew, after the season of Pentecost, mainly focus on the Gospel of Matthew and the story of Moses from the Old Testament. This also includes readings from Genesis, Exodus and the Epistle of Romans. Uniting Church Resources Centre are available at; phone 03 9340 8807 or email [email protected] or website http://ucrc.org.au/wpcontent/uploads/2010/11/UCRC-brochure.pdf Books books books The UCA Presbytery of Tasmania has a large number of books at the UCA Tasmanian Office donated recently by retiring ministers and others. Some of these are useful resources for those in study and may be loaned; others are available for people to take for an appropriate donation per book. You are welcome to come to the UCA Tasmanian Office and browse. Donations will go to supporting fi=urther education of Lay Preachers and Worship Leaders. Sammy Stamp is the logo for the Uniting Church Adult Fellowship Special Needs Fund – Stamps, which provides grants for small projects not covered in the Synod Budget. Funds are raised by the sale of used stamps and Met cards (Melbourne) collected from churches, business houses and other organisations. The stamps are collected, sorted, trimmed, packaged and sold by an enthusiastic group of around 40 volunteers who meet at the Synod Centre in Melbourne each week. We encourage you to save all Australian and overseas stamps. Please leave the stamps attached to paper and trim the stamps leaving a 1 – 2cm surround to enable adequate trimming room. All stamps can be left at the UCA Tasmanian Office for delivery to Melbourne. A Week of Prayer and Fasting for justice for the First Peoples 17 – 23 March 2014 Please mark this date in your diary. A range of resources will be produced by Assembly to enable congregations and Presbyteries to participate in various ways through the week and beyond. 11

What’s On December Tues 24 Tasmanian Office closes (reopens Thur 2 Jan) Centre for Theology and Ministry Advent Resource download via CTM Advent Resource 2013 or reflections can be accessed daily via the CTM Advent Resource Website.

January Tues 07 - Fri 10 Thur 23 10.00am Tues 28 10.30am

NCYC, Yurora, North Parramatta, NSW Presbytery Standing Committee, Launceston Resource & Development Committee, Launceston

February Claim the date –Sat 8th and Sun 9th February Rev’d Dave Male – tutor in Pioneer Mission training at Ridley Hall Cambridge UK is available to us in Tasmania. More information coming soon. See http://www.ridley.cam.ac.uk/people/centre-staff/centre-for-pioneerlearning/david-male

Seasons Greetings

to everyone in the Presbytery from the UCA Tasmanian Office Carol, Alison, Andrea, Sue, Rob, Bronwyn, Don, Brian and Graham Please note: There is no January Uniting Tasmania. Next issue will be February 2014

Published and distributed in the week before the last Sunday of each month. Contributions received seven days prior to publication. Editor: Graham Booth 96 Margaret St. LAUNCESTON 7250 or (03) 6331 9784 or [email protected] Presbytery of Tasmania website: http://wr.victas.uca.org.au/tasmania 12