General Updates

General Updates

Worship in the Coming Weeks

At this time, we are planning to re-gather in person for worship.  It will involve registering for services so that we can monitor numbers.  However, if you have been advised to stay away from others for medical reasons, if you are the slightest unwell, or if you are uncomfortable to attend in person, we will continue to ensure that worship resources are available online and in print.The plan is for one service at Westfield Drive which will be live streamed to Woodhouse Grove…

UCA prays for USA

Assembly President Dr Deidre Palmer has conveyed the Uniting Church’s prayers of solidarity with the people of the United States to the UCA’s partner churches in that country.

Change or Suppression (Conversion) Practices Prohibition Bill 2020: Statement from the Moderator

Rev Denise Liersch (The Moderator of the Victorian/Tasmanian Synod – State wide representation of the Uniting Church) responds to the much debated bill that was put ti the Victorian Parliament. Much debate has also occurred in churches and the community. Read the response here: https://victas.uca.org.au/change-or-suppression-conversion-practices-prohibition-bill-2020-statement-from-the-moderator/

When and how can we enjoy singing in church again?

I hope you are all joining in singing lustily during our online worship services! The one thing I am most grieving about during this crisis is that it is looking like it will be quite some time before we can enjoy congregational singing. The reason being that singing is a very effective way of spreading the COVID-19 virus. When someone coughs, sneezes, shouts, talks loudly or sings, a huge cloud of droplets are propelled into the atmosphere and these droplets…

Introducing our New Supply Minister*

After bidding goodbye to Rev. Dhirendra Narayan at the end of August – he has taken a permanent placement in another congregation – we now welcome Rev. Beth Bear. She writes by way of introduction: Hello MUC and thank you for welcoming me for the next few months. I am a Minister of the Word in placement as chaplain at The Scots School Albury and have been here since 2016. My favourite parts of my ministry are building community and…

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…

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…

Giving in a time of Crisis

We are all facing difficult times and some more than others. Even though we are not meeting physically we are doing many different ways to keep in touch. Some, who are in a position to do so, have indicated that they would like to keep on giving. Some who are better off at this time have indicated they would like to give more generously. This may even lessen the burden on others.

Manningham UC online

In this space you will find: our online worship space where we will be adding worship opportunities for you in your own space. For tomorrow there are two service options and a reflection opportunity the latest updates from Church Council and the Ministry team resources from our congregation members and other ministers and congregation to help you navigate this time while we’re not meeting in person as a community We’ll also be adding in more content as we go, such…

UPDATED MUC COVID 19 – Practices & Protocols #2 (19 March 2020)

Dear members and friends of Manningham Uniting Church, Following the latest advice, we are suspending all of our worship services until further notice, starting from this Sunday 22 March. This is so that we can keep everyone safe and, as much as we can, slow down the spread of the COVID19 in the community. This week, a small team has been working to identify ways we could still offer worship to you in case this happened. On the church website,…

What on earth is this ‘Messy Church’ thing?

It’s just Church! Messy Church is simply a way of being church. It isn’t a gimmick and it isn’t particularly new anymore, the first Messy Church having started over 14 years ago in the UK. The name sounds weird, I admit, and it isn’t a new concept at all, but I feel it has taken different lessons and experiences from a variety of places and has come up with something that engages people in a faith community who would not…

Inclusive church Resolution

Following its 12 August discussion, Explorers Small Group agreed to submit a proposal to the MUC Church Council for its consideration of an appropriate response. The proposal was embraced by Church Council for presentation to the November meeting of the Congregation which, with Church Council’s agreement, is asked to approve Explorers’ proposals. At a Congregational meeting on 24th November, Manningham Uniting Church adopted a resolution to affirm our intention to be an inclusive church. The Resolution agreed reads; As followers…

So what are we are reading each week? Some background and a quiz! (yes, there’s a prize)

So what are we are reading each week?  Some background and a quiz!  (yes, there’s a prize) September saw the start of the Narrative Lectionary at Manningham, a new order of Scripture readings for our Sunday services on a 4 year cycle. If this is all new to you, please refer to the read this post. I found myself pondering the importance of names in this first group of readings:the Garden of Eden and man naming all the animals after…

It’s Mangoes Fundraiser time!

If you love mangoes, here’s your chance to again indulge in fresh juicy Kensington Pride mangoes like many of you have done over the last few years.  They make a wonderful Christmas gift.  Trays are picked and packed during the premium harvest and will be delivered in late November to early December depending upon harvest at a cost per tray of only $27 – 7kg  (the same price as last year) –  14-20 mangoes depending on size.   All profits to…

Statement in relation to reporting in The Australian

Today, the Australian newspaper reported a story which contained false information. Please read the UCA Assembly’s response and talk to Rev Claire if you are unclear about anything contained. The Uniting Church in Australia Assembly (National body) have released a statement following: The Australian newspaper has published an article today on the Uniting Church’s decision on same-gender marriage.  Regrettably, the story includes a number of allegations in relation to a congregation in Queensland which are untrue. At the 15th Assembly in July…

What are we reading from the Bible?

Just when you thought you knew about all the changes up ahead for MUC, we are soon to experience another one. It concerns which Bible passages will be read in worship each Sunday. There are good reasons for the change, which has been proposed by our Minister, the Rev Claire Dawe. The Worship Portfolio has approved the change, which will begin in September of this year. So why this change and what will it be like? To see that clearly,…

Voluntary Assisted Dying Update

Members of the 2019 Synod of Victoria and Tasmania met to discern our response to the Victorian Voluntary Assisted Dying Legislation.The Synod heard a wide range of strongly and faithfully held views, from various theological and cultural perspectives In light of all this, permission was given to the relevant UCA institutions and associated hospital group within Victoria,to make voluntary assisted dying allowable for their patients, clients and residents, under the specific conditions of the legislation. For more information download:

Urgent: More help needed for English Conversation Class!

The English Conversation Class has commenced again this year with a significant increase in numbers each week. Last year we regularly had at least 10-15 students each week but this year it is closer to 30 students. We do very little advertising but the word seems to have got around! While it is wonderful to see so many attending the classes it does place pressure on the small number of helpers. Can you help? The class meets each Friday morning…

Lenten Study for 2019

Instead of a Lenten Study series over three or four Monday evenings this year, Manningham Uniting Church members are invited to engage with a daily study guide called Lenten Reflections, 2019. The Lenten Reflections comes in a very attractive magazine format, and includes  daily Bible reflections, prayers, activities and questions for discussion. Apart from the excellent, easy to read and well presented material, Lenten Reflections can be followed in the comfort of your own home, by individuals, couples, families, children…
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