We will be at the free family community event Playgroup in the Park this year to celebrate Children’s Week 2009.
The event is Friday, October 23rd, Semaphore Foreshore and will feature:
To find out more ring Seaton Central (08) 8235 9556
On Sunday 14 December 2008, the 3rd Sunday in Advent, Port Adelaide Uniting Church celebrated the 140th anniversary of the current church building. During the morning worship service Val Bennett gave the following Reflection on Mary’s Song of Praise, the Gospel Reading from Luke 1v47-55.
God’s intervention into human history hangs upon this moment. A moment in real time – in the little-known & ill-regarded town of Nazareth. But also a moment out of time when God asks for space to become born in human form. We believe that the Christian redemption story hangs upon the consent of a young girl in Israel/Palestine, Mary, who is engaged to be married to a local carpenter called Joseph. We can imagine Heaven & Earth holding their breath as the angel Gabriel awaits Mary’s reply.
Each Tuesday morning we have a Bible Study group that looks at the Scriptures set in the lectionary for the next Sunday. Last Tuesday, one of our number commented… I wonder how many other girls God asked? I wonder how many knocked God back! I was once attending a course entitled ‘Men, women & the Bible’. (It was long ago when we needed to have such titles) when a young woman burst out ‘How can you Christians follow a God who raped a young girl?!’. But it wasn’t like that… we’ve just heard the story 3 times… in 2 songs and from our sacred book… God asked and Mary made the choice!”
If we want to, we can distance ourselves from this story and put Mary into a glass case, surround her with flowers & veneration, and avoid the personal consequences of this moment. Because God asks, not just Mary of Nazareth, but every one of us, to make Christ a human home, in our own bodies, minds, hearts & lives, where His redeeming work may continue. He asks for the broken threads of our own, personal, human experience, and promises to weave them into His dream for all creation.
God asks you… God asks me… will you give birth to My love, in your own life, so that all creation might be restored to wholeness? The question is put to us over and over again as we live out our lives. Sometimes we say “yes” with wholehearted assent. Sometimes the fears win & we hold back. God will never use force to persuade you. For God loves us. In Jesus, God has come to earth & opened Godself to all the raw brutality, as well as the warm tenderness of human life.
Symbolically we all carry the seed of the Christ-Child within us. We are, in a way, pregnant with the ideas, the creativity, the work, the dreams, that God wants done in this world. I invite you to sit quietly now, thinking back over this remarkable story…trying to get in touch with Mary’s experience… imagine yourself carrying the Christ… how do you tend it, nurture it, so that a healthy birth will happen, in the fullness of time. And what dreams of God do you carry now? What might God be asking you to dream, and plan for, and do! 2000 years ago, Mary said a resounding YES! to God. How that YES changed our world! 160 years ago refuge seekers from far across the other side of the earth said YES to God here in Port Adelaide. See how that has changed our world! And now it’s our turn. Are we saying YES to Christ living God’s vision in us?
Celebrate Christmas with us at Port Adelaide Uniting Church
Sunday 21st December
10am – Children’s Nativity Service
Children are welcome to come dressed as angels, shepherds or wise-men and participate in the nativity play.
Christmas Eve
11:15pm – Candle-light service
Experience this historic, 140 year old Gothic building lit by hundreds of candles (it looks stunning!). The service features Carols and a re-telling of the Christmas narrative from the Bible. At midnight the service ends with everyone sharing the light from the main candles and taking it outside to the foyer and exchanging Christmas greetings.
Christmas Day
9am – Christmas Service (including Christmas Bowl appeal)
On Sunday the 12th of December, 2008 we are celebrating 140 years since the Port Adelaide Uniting Church building was completed.
The rediscovery of an historic letter written by Matthew Hodge recalling the early days of settlement in Port Adelaide prompted the realization that 140 years had passed since the completion of the current building. It seemed timely to honour the past and look forward to being part of the rejuvenation of the Port.
When: Sunday 14th December 2008
Where: Port Adelaide Uniting Church
Time: 10am worship, 12 noon book launch and lunch
Twilight Christmas Parade 15 November 2008, 6pm along Commercial Road, Port Adelaide. Anyone in the neighbourhood is invited to come and celebrate Christmas. Watch for the Port Adelaide Uniting Church in the parade!
Regular walking for just half an hour, preferably every day, can make all the difference.
So, come walk with us! Heart Foundation Walking is fun, free and it’s easy!
To find out about or to join your local Heart Foundation Walking group contact your Area Coordinator or Walk Organisers on 0407 648 524, 8445 1709 or 8449 6749.
‘Walking For Life’ is a friendly, social group, open to all ages & levels of fitness.
Meet at The Cottage Kitchen, 160 St Vincent St, Port Adelaide Mondays and Fridays at 9.15a.m. Walk 9.30–10.30 am. followed by healthy morning tea.
People Promoting Mental Health (PPMH) invites you to the opening of ‘PPMH Going Digital Photographic Exhibition’. The opening will be Sunday 14 September from 4:30-6:30pm at Sarah’s Sisters Cafe, 117 Semaphore Road, Semaphore, SA (map).
A photographic showcase of digital images produced by the enthusiastic peoplefrom PPMH. Images are the result of a project where the participants were given the opportunity to learn, revisit and build on digital photography skills.
Project supported by funding from Community Benefit SA.
RSVP 5 September – People Promoting Mental Health, Jeff Helps. Ph: 0433 930 000 or email ppmh@bigbutton.com.au
The exhibition itself will run from to 14 September to 2 October 2008 (closed Wednesdays) and will be open from 10am to 3:30pm.
From 5 October the exhibition will move to The Cottage Kitchen, 160 St Vincent St, Port Adelaide (map) where it will run until 31 October.
A group of young people from PAUC will be going to SAYCO this October long weekend (October 4-6, 2008).
For more info visit the SACYO site.
We will be at the free family community event Playgroup in the Park this year.
The event is Friday, October 24th, Semaphore Foreshore.
Our worship seeks to be a creative, vibrant experience, for all ages, and for a variety of religious backgrounds. Because of this, you may find Port Adelaide a little different from other churches.
On the first Sunday of the month we gather together for communion, which is the focus for the Sunday worship.