Welcome to BB Connex
27th January 2023
Welcome to BB Connex.
This is a means to stay connected through sharing resources, encouraging, supporting and praying for each other as a Presbytery.
Please e-mail Melloney by 10am every Thursday anything you would like to share.
Next BB Connex - 13th February 2023 |
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Words From Glen
A few years ago I shared a reflection that one of our Period of Discernment students wrote that jumped out at me:
“Don’t ask ‘what’s wrong and who’s going to fix it?’...instead ask ‘what’s possible and who cares about it?’”
As Congregations, a Presbytery and a Synod, I think we can sometimes get caught in the ‘this isn’t working, let’s fix it’ category. Don’t get me wrong; some things need fixing…they really do. However, the future of the church is not found in fixing what is wrong (or not working to produce fruit – you can add in your own thoughts here), but looking toward what is possible, what is transformative, what is the next right answer. It is a subtle (or perhaps not so subtle?) difference in mindset.
Take a moment to reflect: as you think about the future of your congregation, are you trying to fix it, or are you looking forward to what is possible? How do you know the difference? Who will you speak with about this?
Whenever we want to move to the next right answer, we need incredible courage to do so. Scripture is filled with people who with (dare I say trembling) courage, stepped into God’s next right answer for them. (Start in Genesis and work your way through to see how many there are!).
Many years ago I came across this paragraph while reading a book (I can’t find my reference at the moment, sorry)
Courage means dying to our natural tendency to seek safety and avoid risk. Courage is not the lack of fear but the management and subjugation of fear. As leaders, we are all afraid of something, if only the fear of failure. The courageous leader acts in spite of those fears, and defeats them. The most courageous people of all are those who are afraid, yet do what must be done. NBA coach Paul Silas tells his players, “If you take the last shot and make it, you’re the hero. If you don’t, at least you had the guts to take it.” We all need to learn to try for the shot.
What I think is brilliant, and give God thanks for, is I see some congregations beginning to ‘take the shot’. I, and indeed the Standing Committee, Presbytery Relations Committee and Mission Resource Committee, want to do all we can to help you take the shot and just maybe find the next right answer. So please ask how we can help with that.
As mentioned in the last BB Connex, there are some changes in our Presbytery to be aware of with regards to committees and staffing. Please find current contact details below.
Committees:
Presbytery and Standing Committee Chair – Rev Jan Whyte (chair@bremerbrisbane.org.au)
Pastoral Relations Committee Chair – Rev Gerda Olafsen (prc@bremerbrisbane.org.au)
Mission Resource Committee Chair – Rev Dr David Mackay-Rankin (mrc@bremerbrisbane.org.au)
Staffing:
Administration Officer (Office Manager) – Melloney Braithwaite (office@bremerbrisbane.org.au) 0413 667 671. Melloney usually works on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. (Part time)
Administration Office (Treasurer & Property) – Rev Ross Mackay (treasurer@bremerbrisbane.org.au) 0432 681 362, staggers his time as necessary. (Part time)
Mission Resource Minister (50%), Ripley Community Minister (50%) - Rev Russell Reynoldson. (mrm1@bremerbrisbane.org.au) 0412 209 737.
Presbytery Minister – Rev Glen Schweitzer (presmin@bremerbrisbane.org.au ) 0410 595 454
Lastly, you will see a number of upcoming events/training contained in BB Connex. Please decide what could be helpful for you and your congregation to attend and engage in.
Be blessed,
Glen.
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Rev Russell Reynoldson received a' Certificate of Appreciation' for
12 years service within the local community, at the Forest Lake Community Carols on 3rd December.
It was presented by Hon Milton Dick MP and Cr Charles Strunk & signed by the Qld Premier, Annastacia Palaszczuk
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Induction of Rev Emma Nicholls as new Minister for
Community Life Uniting Church (formerly Forest Lake)
22nd January 2023
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Service of Closure for Rev Dona Spencer at
Kenmore Uniting Church
22nd January 2023
Rev Dona Spencer is going into Bush Ministry
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PRESBYTERY & CONGREGATION UPCOMING EVENTS
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Bremer Brisbane Presbytery Meetings 2023
Saturday 4th March 9am - 3pm - Chapel Hill
Saturday 15th July - 9am - 3pm - Venue TBC
Saturday 18th November 9am - 3pm - Venue TBC
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Treasurer's Meeting
Saturday 11th March 2023
Bremer Brisbane Presbytery Office
13 Willaim Street, Goodna
More details to come
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The venue for the Women in Ministry lunch is now at
Wild Canary, Brookfield Gardens
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11 FEBRUARY | 9am - 3pm
Redcliffe Uniting Church
1 Richens St, Redcliffe
Cost: $20
Contact: adminsupport@mrpres.org.au
Attend in person or online with a small group of lay and ordained people from your congregation or Presbytery.
REGISTER
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Summer School: Theologies of Disability
1st, 8th, 15th, 22nd February, 2023
In-person and online
Running over 4 Wednesday evenings in February, the cooperative’s Summer School is a great way to explore theologies of disability. Understanding how Christian theology has understood and misunderstood disability and impairment is critical to our current public engagement. Topics covered will include: disability and the bible, social and contemporary models of disability, theologies of disability, inclusion and exclusion in church and community, and models of mission and ministry with people with disabilities. The class will be held in the ground floor Burnett Room of Wesley House, and online via Zoom.
Click here to register:
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Safe Ministry with Children (Congregation)
Face to Face - Modules 1 & 2 for congregations
(Lay preachers, church council etc)
Saturday 4th February - Module 1 only - 9am - 9.30am
Venue: Chermside Kedron Community Church
(590 Gympie Rd, Chermside)
Tuesday 7th February - Module 2 only - 7.30pm
Venue: Moreton Rivers Presbytery Office
REGISTER - 3366 0236 or adminsupport@mrpres.org.au
Saturday 18th February 9am - 12 noon
Saturday 20th May 9am - 12 noon
Wednesday 16th August - 6.30pm - via zoom
Saturday 4th November 9am - 12 noon
Venue - Bremer Brisbane Presbytery Office
13 William Street, Goodna
Register Here
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If you completed SMC training 2 years ago and are due for your refresher
and don't require assistance, please see below:
edUCate
NEW ON LINE LEARNING PLATFORM
At the bottom of the Safe Ministry With Children page (on the synod website) is a link to the new online learning platform – edUCate https://educate.ucaqld.com.au/login/
The Learning Team can provide assistance to log in or access an online account on edUCate.
The contact details for edUCate support:
learning@ucaqld.com.au or 07 3377 9990
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Code of Ethics
& SMC (Ministers Component)
Friday 10th March 2023
Presbytery Office - 13 William Street, Goodna
9.30am - 11.30am - Code of Ethics
12.30pm - 3.30pm - Safe Ministry with Children (Ministers Component)
RSVP to Melloney HERE
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Safe Church
New Safe Church Training Procedure
and Training Schedule
The Queensland Synod remains committed to providing a safe Church for everyone. Regular attendance at training assists us in maintaining an open and aware culture of safety. The Safe Ministry with Children (SMC) training is being reviewed to incorporate feedback, increase accessibility, and align with the National Curriculum being released by the National Safe Church Unit. The changes to the training schedule will mainly affect all people in child-related roles, including lay preachers and ministry agents. Please transition across to the new training schedule by the end of 2023. A copy of the new Safe Church Training Procedure with a Training Matrix is available from the Synod Learning Team.
Please direct all training enquiries, including enquiries about online training, to the Learning Team on 07 3377 9990 or learning@ucaqld.com.au.
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Trinity College Short Courses
Trinity love to put on events and courses that are topical and timely, relevant and life-giving.
Trinity hope their short courses, preaching and worship conference and art-filled Fridays will fill your tank and inspire a desire for more!
As promised they've also added in details of upcoming Open Days, the perfect opportunity for you to get a taste of Trinity.
CLICK HERE
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Attention all First Aid Officers
A First Aid officer needs to be available to provide immediate assistance to an injured or ill person. To provide first aid to a child or young person under 18, the Working with Children (Risk Management and Screening) Act 2000 requires a First Aid Officer to hold a current Blue Card. Apply for a Blue Card or contact Blue Card Services.
For information on first aid courses, don't hesitate to contact the team by sending an email to health.safety@ucaqld.com.au.
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New Forms from Blue Card Services
Blue Cards, Recordkeeping and new National Checks and Information Sharing
Maintaining up-to-date Blue Card records helps keep children safe. Accurate recordkeeping is an essential step in safeguarding children and vulnerable people. A congregation management systemis available to support congregations with recordkeeping. The Blue Card Services portal is available for use by congregations to maintain accurate Blue Card records. Recent changes will allow Blue Card Services access to a central database that records adverse interstate Working With Children Check (WWCC) decisions (a Blue Card ‘negative notice’) and allow information sharing with other WWCC agencies in Australia. A fact sheet Upcoming changes to the blue card system provide more information about how these changes will affect blue card holders, applicants and employer organisations. More information about recordkeeping is available on the website. Contact Lynde Davy at safechurch@ucaqld.com.au or 07 3377 9983. For more information about the Blue Card Services organisation portal, contact Blue Card Services on 1800 113 611
or 07 3211 6999.
Please let us know how we can work together better to ensure everyone can connect, contribute and belong.
Contact Lynde Davy at safechurch@ucaqld.com.au or call 07 3377 9983.
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Blue Care will be celebrating its 70th anniversary in 2023 with celebrations across Queensland.
We are encouraging localised celebrations in all our UnitingCare and Blue Care facilities and also in our Uniting Church congregations.
Do you have someone in your area who could be a local champion? Someone who could facilitate these local celebrations?
Plans are already underway and support will be given to our local champions in many and varied ways.
Please contact Sheri Holland via email at: sheri.holland@ucareqld.com.au for further information.
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The Wesley Hospital is putting the call out to find a group of very special people, to provide companionship to patients in their final days and moments.
To find out more and apply: myuniting.care/compassionatecompanion
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The Uniting Church has welcomed new recommendations for the National Redress Scheme after a two year independent review found rapid reforms were needed to ensure the Scheme remains accessible, efficient and survivor centred.
https://ucaredress.org.au/news/
UCA Redress Ltd and the NSCU work closely to ensure learnings from the past inform contemporary practice, communication and strategy.
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Project Plenty videos as discussion starters
Project Plenty seeks to support and resource the priority directions which the whole UCA has identified for its life across Qld in the coming years. Those directions gather around four pillars – discipleship, transforming communities, fit for purpose, and life together (one church).
Videos are being produced which share what is already happening across the church, to stimulate imagination in other contexts. Check out this growing video collection grouped around the four themes. Could you play one in worship, or at Church Council, or in home groups, as a catalyst for thinking about new possibilities in your space?
Join the Plenty Facebook group.
Read Uniting News.
Email the Plenty team at projectplenty@ucaqld.com.au.
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Coronavirus (COVID-19) update
For the latest COVID-19 updates and resources, visit the Synod website.
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Bremer Brisbane Presbytery Office Bearers
contact details:
Presbytery Minister
Rev Glen Schweitzer - 0410 595 454
Mission Resource Minister 1 & Ripley Community Minister
Rev Russell Reynoldson - 0412 209 737
Presbytery Chair
Rev Jan Whyte - 0411 114 948
Presbytery Secretary
Ms Gemma Ward - 0458 094 711
PRC Chair
Rev Gerda Olafsen - 0477 662 237
MRC Chair
Rev Dr David Mackay-Rankin - 0432 341 816
Presbytery Office Manager
Melloney Braithwaite - 0413 667 671
Treasurer
Rev Ross Mackay - 0432 681 362
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