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National Church Life Survey
Change of format for General Convention of Synod 2021
The business sessions of General Convention of Synod part one are available for playback at this LINK
Part two of the 20th General Convention of Synod will take place in 2022 at a place and date to be determined.
Worship during COVID-19
The easing of restrictions has commenced.
The new Vic.Gov FAQ for Religion and Ceremony Sector Guidance can be found HERE
The current FAQ (21 Oct) distributed by District Office can be found HERE
Many congregations offer an online presence via You Tube and other media. Use the LCA 'Find a church' page to find what's on offer.
Latest News and Features
20 October District eNews
This edition of District eNews contains a devotional message from DCC member Pastor Tim Stringer a feature on St Matthews Lutheran Church Footscray update on Pastor Calls links to the latest LCA eNews COVID easing of restrictions (see the Worship during COVID section on the homepage) The District Prayer List and more Read this eNews… Read more
06 October District eNews
This edition of District eNews contains a devotional message from Pastor for Service and Witness, Rev Gordon Wegener a feature on the Jacobs Well Bookshop in Horsham update on Pastor Calls links to the latest LCA eNews an opportunity to serve the District through the People & Strategy subcommittee Read this eNews and past editions… Read more
National Carers Week 10 – 16 October
Running from 10-16 October 2021, National Carers Week is a time to recognise and celebrate the 2.65 million Australians, and 430,000 New Zealanders, who provide care and support to a family member or friend. Carers are people who provide unpaid care and support to family members and friends who have a disability, mental health condition,… Read more
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Hanging on and hanging together. That has been the status of St Matthew’s Footscray over the past two years, as we have dealt with a pastoral vacancy and Melbourne’s series of COVID lockdowns. In the absence of a pastor, the leaders of our little (even littler since the lockdowns) congregation have not only handled the same lockdown fatigue and pressures as the rest of us, but stepped in to keep our church functioning and connected. We have been meeting through Google Meet each week. Although not all of our parishioners have joined us online, our numbers have been boosted at times by relatives from around the country, whose own congregations have not been able to meet.
“Being able to connect every Sunday has kept the community together,” said Vanessa Williams, the St Matthew’s council member who has coordinated, put together and run the online services, with the help of LCA resources.
“It’s been wonderful to see everyone on screen every week,” agreed Ruth Borchert, our church deacon. “So many congregations have absolutely nothing. It’s a long time without a pastor and difficult times. I think we can just be thankful that not too many things have happened in our congregation over the past two years.”
As well as allowing connection with distant family members, the online services have also enabled connection with members of our own church family, Ken and Esther Cross, who have continued to worship with us from their new home and workplace in Utopia, two or three hours’ drive from Alice Springs.
While this period has had its challenges (including some break-ins to the vacant church premises), it has also had its unexpected joys. One of these has been our new relationship with the VECA Hope Church, a Vietnamese congregation, who recently started sharing our premises. They happen to have quite a bit of building expertise in their congregation and have already helped revamp our kitchen and renovate our church hall. The timing of the new partnership meant that they have only had one service, which they combined with a celebratory lunch to which we were all invited, but it was a blessing that the timing of that event fell between lockdowns.
“They worked hard to be ready in time for that one service and they did,” said Simon Lienert, St Matthew’s chairman.
“It wasn’t because of COVID that they wanted to be ready for that date, but it turned out it was just about the only weekend in between lockdowns that we could physically worship at the church.”
It is perhaps a sign that, even more than the resilience that has helped us hang on to our worship tradition and each other in a new way, God is hanging on to us. While we are holding on, waiting for a return to physical services and the invigoration of a new pastor, we can be sure that God has other new blessings for us and our future.
by Sam and Bec Lienert3*0
Comment on Facebook Hanging on and ...
Are you Pastor Neville’s son?
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When this happens, it's usually because the owner only shared it with a small group of people, changed who can see it or it's been deleted.Behind the scenes with LLL CEO, Ross Smith, at Lutheran Church of Australia's (LCA) National Convention of General Synod. General Synod is held every three years and is the assembly of LCA representatives to resolve business and administration matters.
On Friday last week Ross delivered a message of growth, security, missional intent and gave thanks to our supporters for 100 years of trust. He delivered his message to over 380 delegates, including bishops, pastors and consultants of the LCA, virtually from Concordia College, Adelaide.
He closed his address with this prayer “Our loving father, we give you great thanks as we remember all of the supporters of the LLL. We are filled with joy working together with depositors and borrowers in partnership for your gospel for the last 100 years. With depositors, who entrust the LLL with their funds to pursue your mission, and with borrowers, who proclaim Jesus in word and deed. Thank you father for giving us a role to play in advancing your Kingdom and Growing Christ’s church.”
#100yearspast #100yearsfuture #LLLAust #FinanceWithAMission
Mobile phone scam warning.
It is the mission of the LLL to safeguard the interests of our depositors and we wanted to make you aware of a malicious scam activity that is circulating currently, called Flubot.
If you are an LLL Internet Banking customer please read more about what to look for and how to keep your account safe online.
www.lll.org.au/posts/2021/10/11/scam-warning--mobile-phones-flubot
#LLLAust #FinanceWithAMission #flubot #awareness #scam #warning
Is the gloom of COVID getting on your goat?
This year’s Gifts of Grace help you shine a light of hope!
🎇5 gifts under $10
🎇a barnyard of 5 animals to choose
🎇new Grace Cards with Christmas Tree bauble
🎇bright yellow envelopes!
See all gifts here: www.alws.org.au/what-you-can-do/gifts-of-grace/
