Did you ever go to Sunday School? Did you grow up hearing stories from the bible or remember singing songs about topics such as Abraham’s children and Jesus love as a child? Would you say you still have a Sunday School faith?

 

Over the next few weeks will re-examine some of the much loved Sunday School lessons we may have had as children and re-examine them from a more mature, complex perspective. This may be both unsettling and enriching. Some of the stories we know and love may reveal different and new details that challenge what we thought we knew.

 

We begin this Sunday with Noah and the Ark. I remember my bedroom curtains as a toddler had pictures of a big boat, zoo animals marching in pairs and a bright rainbow coming out of a cloud. Many kids today still play with a toy ‘Noah’s Ark’. Yet the story begins with God observing that the world was so full of evil and wickedness that God felt like he needed to flood it and wipe away most of creation to start again. It’s not really the start of your usual kids story. So let’s revisit the story and ask God to reveal more of Godself, to help guide us with words of encouragement, wisdom and strengthening of faith over these next few weeks. You can prepare by reading the story in Genesis chapters 6-9.

 

This Sunday we will also have a time of remembrance for Anzac Day.

 

Your brother in Christ,

Benji

Pastoral Contacts Gathering – Sunday 7th May – After worship finishing by 1:30pm.  A light lunch will be served. We will address the topic ‘Pastoral care as Discipleship’. RSVP to Di Croft 0439 811 179 or Rob Williams 0424 123 171 by Sunday 30th April please.
 

Generate Presbytery

Generate Presbytery will come together face to face for the first time in 2023 on 19 and 20 May. All leadership teams staff and emerging leaders are invited.  This event will add value to your leadership skills. Friday night session is an open night.  Bring a friend, share with your church and bring your youth group for a great night of ministry. Pre-registration is essential.  Register here by 14 May.
 
Friday night 7.30pm to 9.30pm  (arrival / rego from 7.00pm)
Saturday 9.30am to 4.00pm  (arrival / rego if not done Friday from 9.00am)

Where:  Hope Valley Church, 1265 Grand Junction Road, Hope Valley.
 

BCUC Congregational Meeting 

The next meeting of the congregation will be held on Sunday 21st May at 11.30am.
Please put this date in your diary.
 

mainly music Request

The mainly music programme, Monday mornings from 10 to 11.30am, is an outreach into our community. Due to unforeseen circumstances three of our regular helpers will not be available in Term 2 Monday 1st May to Monday 2nd July. We pray and hope that a there are people who would be willing to help during the term maybe every fortnight or however it fits in with their current obligations. After half an hour of songs and rhymes, in which both adults and children participate, the children have a snack. Then while the adults have morning tea in the Foyer, some of us spend time with the children.  Craft, dough play and story time offer sedentary roles while supervising children’s play and conversing with mothers means moving around.  Our usual attendance is 16-20 children plus adults.

 

Packing Day 2023 – June 4 & 5

Packing Day is a long-time project of the Uniting Church Adult Fellowships and will again be hosted by the Athelstone Uniting Church. As in previous years we will be packing boxes of goods to support Indigenous communities in northern Australia. We will also forward goods to Balhannah Uniting Church that will be sent to the Old Timers’ Fete in Alice Springs. Any leftover goods will be donated to Goodwill. Athelstone invites your congregation to join with us to make this another successful year.

Please see this flyer that lists the items required by the communities receiving the boxes of packed goods.  At Athelstone we are collecting for communities in northern Australia, so all clothing needs to be light weight and breathable i.e. suitable for the tropics. Contact Jayne Nicholas on 0418 836 266 with any queries.
 

Kettle Club 2023, 18-21 July

Please lock in these dates for your young ones. Tuesday – Friday during second week of July school holidays.  Watch this space for further details.  Volunteers needed and appreciated (speak to Aradhana).