The LCA Worship Planning Page is an initiative of the Commission on Worship to help laypeople prepare and lead worship services in the Lutheran Church of Australia.
Visit www.lca.org.au/wpp for your worship planning needs.
Faithblocks
Faith for Life
BE IT RESOLVED that Convention supports the establishment of a District Sponsorship Program (DSP) to replace the single District Appeal between Conventions and that the DSP be focused at supporting the District’s Strategic Initiative #1, specially Youth and Young Adults Ministry and Church Planting.
2016 Victorian District Synod resolution
District Sponsorship Project arose out of a direction by Synod to:
•use assets effectively, encouraging more support for Mission and Ministry,
•explore funding models outside of congregational giving,
•achieve new Churches planted,
•seek sustainable Ministry,
•establish a systematic committed generation of funds around particular projects – namely Church Planting and Youth and Young Adult Ministries.
This is an opportunity to participate and encourage the growth of the gospel at ground level through providing financial assistance and by prayer and advocacy.
The spiritual welfare of our youth and young adults is very much at the heart of many congregations. The District Youth and Young Adult Ministry team (YYAM) supports young people through Camping Ministry, Worship (Sunday Night at St Johns – SNAS) and in transition as teens move from school into further education, work life, travel and perhaps moving away from home. YYAM can help put networks around them as this unfolds.
Renew is the means by which tired or struggling congregations can be revitalised through discernment around their activities and strengths and a focus on ‘letting go’ to move forward. New Church Planting is the opportunity for existing mature churches to ‘plant’ a community of believers in a new location. Support, mentoring and training will be offered through the Congregational Support Department at District level. The message of hope is then able to spread locally and organically in different cultural contexts.
Sponsorship rather than a one-off donation has been chosen as the model in order that commitment is made to keep these projects going. These ministries are the way our Church can grow into the future. These ministries allow us to make a difference in peoples’ lives – including our existing members.
How to sponsor
Individually, in a Sponsorship group (perhaps your small group or guild), or as a congregation, choose a project and financial goal then sign up by contacting us via email sponsorship.vic@lca.org.au. You can also get straight into things by making a payment electronically to your chosen project!
Payments can be made electronically via your bank through the “Pay Anyone” option. Make the payment to Account: LCAVD, BSB: 033 172, Account No. 117564.
Please include in the transaction comments the code for the chosen project and your initial and surname. Then email us to let us know you have signed up! We’ll get you set up to receive project updates.
Download a Sponsorship Form
Suggested Finance Goals per year: $1500 (30.00 p/w), $1000, $500 and $250
The Sponsorship Project Codes are:
Renewing Churches- NREW
Church Planting General: NRCHU
For a specific Plant –
Pakenham Church Plant – NRPak
Wyndham Hobsons Bay – NRWer
For YYAM –
General – YYAM
YYAM Camping – YYCamp
YYAM SNAS – YYSNAS
Our contact email is: sponsorship.vic@lca.org.au or phone District Office and ask for Maya or Erin 03 9236 1200 Tuesday to Friday
Positions available in Lutheran congregations and agencies can be publicised here. Please email the district office with brief details on the role including the title, time fraction, and location, plus contact details and applications close date. A short advertisement can also be included.
This page will be updated with official communications and relevant attachments from the Lutheran Church of Australia (LCA) Victorian District.
20220621 communication to congregational leaders regarding easing of restrictions HERE
20211130 Updated FAQ v3.1 new material in blue
20211119 Updated FAQ v3 new material updated in blue
20211103 Updated FAQ v2.6 new material in blue
20211029 LCA Victorian District Church Council's encouragement to be COVID-safe communities HERE
20211027 Updated FAQ V2.4.1 issued 27 October. New material in blue.
202110121 Updated FAQ issued 21 October
20211018 Updated FAQ in light of easing of restrictions being brought forward. Revised dates and a suggested template for registering vaccine status are included
20211015 FAQ regarding the Vaccination rollout and National Roadmap
20211013 letter regarding the National Roadmap to chairpeople, pastors and lay workers from Bishop Lester Priebbenow
20210908 Letter re lifting of restrictions in Regional Victoria
20210823 On 21 August new restrictions were announced putting all Victoria under lockdown. Summary of Restrictions across all Victoria.
20210816 email METRPOLITAN MELBOURNE extension of restrictions and curfew and permits for authorised workers
20210816 METROPOLITAN MELBOURNE summary of restrictions
20210809 email Lockdown to lift in Regional Victoria only
20210809 Summary of restrictions Metro Melbourne and Regional Victoria
20210623 Email re further relaxation of restrictions
20210610 Email re relaxation of restrictions
20210609 Summary of revised restrictions effective 11.59pm 10 June 2021
20211002 Summary of circuit breaker restrictions effective 11.59pm 03 June 2021
28 May Updated Religion and Ceremony information Victorian Government
27 May 7 day circuit breaker restrictions summary
07 April FAQS for congregations
30 March FAQs for congregations
23 March Victorian Government Summary of COVID restrictions HERE
03 March FAQs for congregations
At 11.59pm Friday 26 February some restrictions were relaxed including re where and when to wear a face mask. Please also see the Stay Safe Stay Open Victorian Government summary of restrictions
As of 11.59pm 03 February it is required that face masks are worn in all indoor public spaces including religious gatherings.
27 January 2021 Industry Restart Guidelines for Religion and Ceremony updated
27 January FAQs for congregations
January 2021 Industry Restart Guidelines for Religion and Ceremony
8 December Frequently Asked Questions for Congregations
24 November FAQs for congregations relating to the Last Step Restrictions
24 November sign in sheet for gatherings (modified)
22 November Last Step easing of restrictions summary from the Victorian Premier
In July 2020 Victorian District Church Council communicated guidance for online church business meetings, for instance AGMs. Please find the communication and two attachments below.
20200727 DCC Guidance for Alternate Meeting Arrangements
Attachment 1 ACNC advice on meeting via alternate methods
Attachment 2 COVID 19 Legislation re alternate meeting methods
20200927 Summary metropolitan Melbourne restrictions
20200907 Letter re JobKeeper 2 eligibility criteria and reporting dates from LCA National Office
20200812 Letter regarding Business Victoria Business Support Fund - Expansion from District Administrator
20200807 District email to pastors, church council chairs, secretaries and SP3 coordinators regarding COVIDsafe plan and permitted worker Travel Permit
20200807 COVIDsafe base congregational plan v1
20200805 permitted worker Travel Permit
20200804 Increased Restrictions across Victoria District Office
20200802 Statement on Changes to Melbourne's Restrictions Premier's Office
20200802 Statement on Changes to Regional Restrictions Premier's Office
20200802 Summary of Restrictions for Metropolitan Melbourne and Regional Victoria
20200730 Update on restriction outside of Metropolitan Melbourne and Mitchell Shire
20200729 Treasurers - Extension to Jobkeeper from District eNews. Includes a link to an explanatory article from District auditors Saward Dawson
2020727 Guidance for Alternate Meeting Arrangements V1.3.1
20200722 For professional reasons a face covering may be left off (for example leading worship and preaching) but that all other attendees at a live stream must abide by this new restriction and the preacher should wear a face covering in public when not recording. You can find more information on the quidelines for wearing face coverings HERE
20200720 Letter to Treasurers re Victorian State Government Business Support Fund Expansion from District Administrator
Attachment to Letter to Treasurers re Victorian State Government Support Fund Expansion 20200712 Information from the Victorian State Government
Tips for cleaning and disinfecting to reduce COVID-19
8 July 2020 – letter from District Administrator re the increased restrictions in Metropolitan Melbourne and Mitchell Shire
8 July 2020 attachment – link to additional information from Victorian Government on restrictions for religion and ceremony Metropolitan Melbourne and Mitchell Shire
Sign-in sheet updated format
23 June 2020 attachment 2 – Considerations for safe return to worship – update replacing former communications with this title
23 June 2020 attachment 3 – Frequently Asked Questions for Congregations
replacing former communications with this title
20 June 2020 – email sent regarding maximum worship numbers to remain at 20 until 12 July 2020 at least
16 June 2020 – COVID-19 Victorian District Contagion Communications Plan
16 June 2020 – LCA Victoria Tasmania Return to Worship Communications Plan
5 June 2020 – Premier of Tasmania – Stage 2 restrictions begin to ease
28 May 2020 – Can we celebrate Holy Communion email from Bishop Lester
26 May 2020 – email from Bishop Lester on return to worship considerations
Attachment 1 COVID-19 Bishop’s Update Vic–Tas
15 May 2020 – COVID-19 Bishop’s Update Vic–Tas
11 May 2020 – Victorian Government on easing of restrictions in worship
8 May 2020 – Tasmanian Government Roadmap to Recovery
5 May 2020 – District Administrator to Treasurers and Chairs
5 May 2020 #1 – three government grants available v3.1
5 May 2020 #2 – state government grants via the Business Support Fund
24 April 2020 #3 – COVID-19 Government JobKeeper Support
5 May 2020 – urgent HRS update
30 April 2020 urgent HRS update
6 April 2020 – District Administrator Communication v2 includes links to boosting cashflow for employers, stage 2 government release, government payment JobKeeper support and state government grants via the Business Support Fund
8 April 2020 – important communication from District Bishop Lester Priebbenow and District Church Council Chair Tim Wiebusch
3 April 2020 – PM Press Release including update on streaming worship services emailed 6 April 2020
This page contains useful links to Health & Safety and Risk & Compliance websites
Victorian Government OHS and Worksafe
www.worksafe.vic.gov.au/laws/ohs
Tasmanian Government OHS and Worksafe
www.worksafe.tas.gov.au/
State Emergency Services - Emergency Management Victoria
www.ses.vic.gov.au/
State Emergency Services - Emergency Management Tasmania
www.ses.tas.gov.au/
All members of the Lutheran Church of Australia should be encouraged to read the LCA Ethical Standards of Behaviour.
Click HERE for LCA Standards of Ethical Behaviour Document 06.07 (V2 2016)
Practical information on making a safe workplace including basic checklists can be found in the Safety Management Online Team Leader and Coordinator Manuals. The Coordinator Manual also contains useful web resources.
The District Office and some Lutheran Schools use the company Dynamiq to assist with evacuation plans and diagrams.
Ph 03 8340 5200
Lutheran Men of Victoria (LMV) welcomes men of all ages. The group regularly gathers around the word of God in study and fellowship.
LMV also supports various projects, including Lutheran Media Ministry, Men in the Ministry and Trans World Radio Cambodia.
Members include:
Lutheran Men of Victoria holds two camps each year: a retreat (usually in March) and the 'Men Led by God' camp in August. Both are generally held at Tandara Lutheran Camp, Halls Gap.
For more information about upcoming events of Lutheran Men of Victoria, please visit the Coming Events page or contact the District Office.
Every Sunday the offering plate comes past you again in church. To whom, or to what, are you giving? I’m not looking for an answer like ‘To God, of course’. Where do you believe your money is going? Christians are called to be generous. If your gift is going to help your congregation meet its budget, you may not be passionately moved to give generously. Budgets are hard to get really enthused about – unless you’re a congregation treasurer! We don’t give to budgets; we give so that people may be better equipped to do God’s work. Or we give to meet the needs of people who are hurting in some way. Or we give so that our pastor may continue to equip us for our ministries. Or so that new pastors, lay workers and teachers may be trained. Or so that some lonely person listening to a radio may hear the gospel. We are called to be generous. We are called to help people.’
—From a devotion by Bob Turnbull, in ‘New Strength for each Day’ (LCA, Openbook, 1998)
Planned giving from congregations to the district is a very important part of each congregational budget. Planned giving supports the staffing of the District Office, which in turn provides support back through training, assistance with advice, managing risk and the various other high-level administrative and compliance tasks that arise in our congregational communities.
The Business of Convention includes the election of Committee Members to Standing Councils, being District Church Council, Council for Lutheran Education, Victoria, New South Wales and Tasmania, and Council for Ministry Support.
Terms of Reference for District Church Council
Terms of Reference for Council for Lutheran Education, Victoria, New South Wales and Tasmania
Access the CURRENT EDITION and ARCHIVE HERE
As Congregations and Parishes hold annual AGMs, you are requested to forward a copy of the AGM Book of Reports to District Office, along with a list of Office Bearers, as soon as is practical.
Email Keryn Middelmann at District Office.
Thanks to those who have already sent in Books of Reports for their last AGM.
Congregations/Parishes are requested to complete their statistics for 2024 by the end of February. Statistics can be entered into LAMP 2 via the LCA Portal. Contact the District Office for assistance if needed.
Read more HERE
Leaders from across our Vic-Tas District came together on Saturday 9 May for our annual Strategy Morning, to share and discuss their thoughts on the strategic direction for our District…. Read more
Emmy so far… So what’s EMMY? EMMY kicked off this year at the initiative of the LCANZ’s Mission Directors. It’s a simple, generous space for pastors and leaders to pause,… Read more
Most of us have experienced Pentecost Sunday services full of dramatic impact; with dramatized readings of the Pentecost story, prayers spoken in different languages, symbols representing different nationalities, visual images… Read more
The Lutheran Church of Australia (LCA) is committed to providing a safe church environment for children and young people. The LCA acknowledges that children are a precious gift from God, with special vulnerabilities, that they require nourishment and nurture in their spiritual development and that they are to be protected from all forms of abuse. The LCA also affirms that it has no tolerance for child abuse and that all its people have an important responsibility to care for children and to keep them safe. The way we care for children reflects our genuineness of faith. It is also a reflection of God’s love and his divine protection.
Coming up THIS SUNDAY afternoon! A FREE CONCERT featuring St Pauls members and friends and music from Andrew Lloyd-Webber to Monteverdi. Donations will go to the organ restoration appeal.
Free Music Concert 31st May at 1.30pm
www.stpaulsboxhill.org.au
Please join us for a dazzling musical showcase, featuring St Paul's members and friends. From Andrew Lloyd-Webber to Monteverdi, there is something for everyone!Leaders from across our Vic-Tas District came together on Saturday 9 May for our annual Strategy Morning, to share and discuss their thoughts on the strategic direction for our District. Read more here:
LCAVD Strategy Review - Victoria Tasmania District of the Lutheran Church of Australia
www.vic.lca.org.au
Leaders from across our Vic-Tas District came together on Saturday 9 May for our annual Strategy Morning, to share and discuss their thoughts on the strategic direction for our District.... Read moreThank God for our volunteers who serve across the LCANZ behind the scenes ...
Comment on Facebook Thank God for our ...
So many people out there doing quiet service. Inspiring and bringing hope.
Registrations for CLW at Tandara are now open!Christian Life Week Vic/Tas registrations are now open! Don't miss out on this year's Camp DETECTIVE! Link in the bio. Signed up right away! 🔍🧐
brushfire.com/lyv/christianlifeweekvictoria2026/626022
Fantastic to see so many students taking the opportunity to study through ALC. Thank God for these future servants and leaders of our church 🙏
www.lca.org.au/alc-sustains-growth/
Comment on Facebook Fantastic to see so ...
God bless you all with gifts and passion to the glory of His name, and the benefit of all people
More about my journey …
Towards the end of high school, I showed some interest in possibly studying to become a pastor, but I did not follow this up – although the idea of only working on Sundays was appealing!!
While I completed my Bachelor of Health Science, I boarded at ALC, which is one of the ways that God shaped my faith – I was in a community of many young Christians, and also got to know the Pastoral students. When at ALC I tried to get to Chapel when my studies and workload allowed, which was followed by morning tea. One morning over a cuppa I bravely said that I had no pastors in my family, so I was safe – and it was mentioned to me that I would make a good pastor. So, I wasn’t quite as safe as I had thought!
After this many people commented to me that I would make a good pastor and asking me when I was enrolling. I kept saying that I wasn’t sure about it and that the Church needed good lay people too and I could contribute with music.
After finishing my degree in Health Science, I did a bit of work in the field, but didn’t really find my niche. I was offered full-time work at the ALC Refectory. My sense of call strengthened over the years that I worked in the Refectory, and a variety of people continued to encourage me to study at ALC. My response changed from “no, that’s not for me” to “yeah, next year.” That was the line for a couple of years. It was always “next year.”
In 2018 I had quite an experience of God’s protection when I was up in Cairns during the wet season. I went swimming and somehow I got caught in the current, although the water was not very deep. I then realized that I was going to bump through the rapids and down the waterfall. I prayed to God to protect me and my head as I bumped through the rocks. It was a very real possibility to me that I might not get out of this one. I was then caught under the pounding water at the bottom of the waterfall, and once again prayed for a breath of air. At the last moment, I got half a breath of air. I then had to swim across the canyon to a rock plateau before I went down the next waterfall. After giving a thumbs up to my aunt I then had the challenge of climbing out of the gorge (without my glasses or shoes!). At the top there were no footholds to get me over the edge, so I dragged myself over with my elbows. Amazingly, the only mark I had on my body was a small mark on my left leg. Psalm 91:11-12 came to my mind immediately: “For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.”
As time went by, I continued to say that I’d work another year before starting studies. But God had different plans. On the Sunday evening on the 2018 Ordination service I was sitting with some friends who were over for Ordination – they asked if I was enrolling and I said “No, I want a good story and if God wants me he’ll have to make it clear” and one of them responded with “Well, when God wants you, He’ll get you there regardless”. The very next day I was made redundant.
It was almost as if a weight had been lifted off of me when I finally enrolled. Since studying I have enjoyed delving into God’s Word and learning how to share this with others. My vicarage at the Goulburn Murray Parish has been particularly enjoyable, and perhaps my favourite part has been making connections with so many people and walking with them on their journey.
