Posts by Manningham UC

Posts by Manningham UC

COVID Update – 10 July 2020

Dear Friends and Members of Manningham Uniting Church, As you know, the restrictions have been increased by the Victorian Sate Government due to the number of COVID-19 cases.  As always, we continue to follow the advice of the State Government and the Synod.  The following protocols are now in place for the next 6 weeks. The church buildings are closed – no church groups or tenants will be using the buildings – but the church itself is very much open…

Worship – 12 July 2020

This week we are led in reflection by student Minister James Tang. He is joined by other members of the Manningham UC congregation and Rev Claire.

Reflection Points – 12 July 2020

This week’s reflection points are composed by student Minister James Tang. This weeks readings look at Amos 5:14-24 and Matthew 5:21-48. Download your document here for your reference and guide.

Dancing feet

The Young Explorers have been dancing their way through 2020. Here’s a quick video to get your feet moving! See if you can guess who’s who??

Meditation, prayer, perspective: How faith is helping some through the struggles of coronavirus

An article from the ABC this week on how people have been turning to faith and prayer practices during COVID-19.  Read about it here: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-07-09/meditation-prayer-faith-cope-anxieties-coronavirus/12434824 Remember that our church has several different ways to access prayer support and to be a part of that support: prayer resources on the website and mailed out prayer chain – please email Rev Claire to share a prayer request  Pray Where You Are on Thursdays at 8.45am – just stop what you are doing…

In My Blood It Runs

Dujuan Hoosan is a young man from Arrernte and Garrwa Country.  ‘In My Blood It Runs’ tells his story and was shown on the ABC on Sunday.  Crosslight’s Mikaela Turner talks about it here and how the education and justice systems are closely linked for young Indigenous people like Dujuan.  A must see documentary – and an invitation from Indigenous people to stay awake to the systemic racism in our society.

Worship – 5 July 2020

This week we look at Amos 3:1-11. This week’s service is led by Rev Claire and members of the congregation. We also welcome this week our newly appointed supply minister who has provided us with this weeks reading.

Introducing our Supply Minister*

My name is Rev. Dhirendra Narayan and I am an ordained minister within the UCA. Following my ordination, in December 2000, I have served in the Eastern Mallee rural parish, in Swan Hill, where I had five rural congregations spread over a large area. Following that placement, I served in Rosanna and then at Wesley, Box Hill, where I concluded my placement in 2018. After some much-needed time out I did some supply ministry at Plenty Valley, Mill Park, and…

What I Can See from My Window – Sharon

This was an extremely interesting topic, one I thought I could not achieve, so here goes my view from my window. Due to the current Covid time wherein we were asked to stay at home, to get our children or a friend to buy our groceries, to stay safe and stay well, looking out my window was done with more concentration than before. This especially applied to my age group and especially to me as I also have an autoimmune…

Viral Worship Team

This unedifying name has kind of stuck since the first meeting of the group back in late March when it became obvious that we were not going to be able to meet together for worship in the usual way for some indeterminate time. Being forced to imagine other ways of doing things has forced us to re-think our priorities in all aspects of life but particularly in the way we worship. Claire has contributed an article in this month’s online…

What I Can See from My Window – Rosemary

When we moved into our new home, I could see a tree with glossy green leaves from the large windows that overlooked our courtyard garden. As it was wintertime, we had no idea what the tree was.   However, when summer came, and large cone-shaped buds formed on the tree we learnt that it was a ‘Little Gem’ Magnolia.  I was amazed when the first bud opened revealing a large white flower of breathtaking beauty.   But I soon realised the…

Minister’s Message

Our bearded dragon, Thor, has gone into brumation. This is hibernation for reptiles basically. She goes to sleep in her tank when it starts to get cold and stays asleep until it warms up again. It doesn’t matter if we keep the heat lamp on or if the central heating is going, she still goes to sleep as the summer ends and wakes up as spring arrives. She just seems to know. Thor is now 7½ years old and she…

Missional Community Development at MUC – living out our values, some great stories………

This contribution celebrates some very promising outcomes of MUC’s decision in 2015 to develop and implement a Missional Community Development Strategy (MCDS) that better connects with and serves our community. The MCDS responds to our MUC Strategic Plan ‘Our Journey Forward’ (OJF). Together with and supported by the broader MUC Ministry Team our Missional Community Development Worker (MCDW) Emma Hanna has really brought this to life over the last few years with a focus on being relational, Christ-centred, and risk-taking.…

The Woman in the Red Hat

She had seen the red hat in an ‘op shop’. As it was an expensive brand, looked new, and was being sold cheaply, she couldn’t resist buying it. It was a daring purchase for one who had become so conservative. But now she wore it with confidence, and it was a good companion for her greying hair. As well she had got to a stage in her life when she didn’t care what people thought. Maybe moving to a more…

Trust

At this time when we can’t see the COVID-19 virus, we have to trust our leaders and medical experts that it exists. Our faith requires we trust in an unseen God so perhaps this can help us. While our freedom of movement is curtailed our memories are free to roam unfettered. This allows us to double-dip into pleasurable moments we’ve experienced in the past. Recently my mind drifted back to something I’d seen last spring while walking along the footpath…

Narrative lectionary readings

Until 13 September, the Narrative Lectionary does not set readings for each Sunday allowing the preacher to return to some themes or books of the bible, or to spend some time in other books and stories we don’t usually read and study together. Later in the year, COVID-19 allowing, we will be running a Bible study on the book of Revelation. This is one that chills the hearts of some and excites others, but it isn’t one we tend to…