Thank You members of Living Faith!
On Sunday the 15th of September, the Pond Children and volunteers made and sold cake pops at Living Faith Church to raise money for Safe Water September. The children had a lot of fun decorating the cake pops and were excited about selling them to raise money for Safe Water September.
Safe Water September is a fundraising event where people drink only water for the month of September to raise money for clean water projects around the world. Members of Living Faith have been participating in this for the last 11 years and are proud of the efforts of all those who participate by drinking only water or by donating to our team.
This year due to the help of our members, the children raised a total of $866 for Safe Water September.
Thank you so much for all your support.
Summary of the Uniting Church Guidelines for Safe Ministry using Digital Media
This summary is written with the primary focus on the context the parents and volunteers of Living Faith Church Pond program may see at Living Faith Church. In the context of our church, digital media can refer to zoom meetings, emails and text messages. It can also refer to our Church YouTube channel where our weekly services are live streamed. In the context of our wider community digital media also includes social media such as Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat and Instagram.
If you would like to read the original Guidelines for Safe Ministry using Digital Media, please see the attached PDF.
The document sets out the following Principles for all uniting churches to follow
- Digital Media interactions need to be age and content appropriate, non- discriminatory, and inclusive (see page 6).
- If you are in contact with someone under the age of 18 via email or other digital methods (e.g., text) this should be through the parents. For example, a volunteer is under age and you are planning a lesson with them. You send the email to the individual and cc their parent as well.
- The guidelines suggest, "In some instances a parent/guardian may deem communication with their child/ren through a digital medium is okay; you must have consent for this communication in writing from the parent/guardian" (page 5)
- However please note: "if a child gives you a phone number, email address or initiates contact with you via social media or a gaming platform, it is important that you communicate this with their parent/guardian" (page 5).
- Appointed leaders should avoid social media connections that do not keep records ( such as SnapChat, BeReal, etc) with those under 18 years old.
- If you are sent an inappropriate image, DO NOT DELETE, forward or share the image. Immediately contact the Culture of Safety unit. They will advise you what to do. This may involve contacting the police (page 7) or the E safety commissioner. You could also reach out to the Living Faith Church Safety officers for advice, however do not show them the image.
- Don’t use flirtatious, sexually suggestive, explicit or offensive language, links or images. In all manners, try to avoid ambiguous comments, or comments that could be read with a double meaning. Be careful that your communication does not leave room for misinterpretation; even if your motives are appropriate, your intentions can be misunderstood (e.g. communicating at late hours). (page 7)
- Only take photographs of children when you have their parents’ or guardians’ written permission, and the child is willing for the photo to be taken (page 8)
Page 9 of the document also provides a table to offer assistance in determining what is age appropriate when communicating with children via different means of communication.
Here is an example of a part of that table.
As mentioned earlier at Living Faith Church our worship and funeral services are usually live streamed. They are also recorded and are available on the internet and the LFC website. Your image/s may appear on these platforms on various occasions.
At Living Faith Church, we spent two Sundays reflecting on this year’s NAIDOC theme and our responses to this call: “Keep the fire burning.”
We considered…
What is it like for us to come closer to this fire?How are we, a church in suburban Melbourne, connected to our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island siblings, these lands, these stories that we hear? What stories do we bring that we offer to God for weaving into the larger story of reconciliation, redemption and unity in The One? Where do the Biblical storylines offer points for honest stocktaking, truth-telling, and reorientation? What in particular is the invitation to each of us from Moses’ encounter with a sacred fire and the presence of the divine on the sacred ground we find ourselves on (Exodus 3)?
Among other creative engagements, the participants of our Craft Group created candle holders that express some of these themes. Different shades of natural-coloured sand represent different parts of this beautiful land. The work that has gone into this project and the conversations around it connect us in yet another way to all these reflections. When we use them again, we will be reminded again of the big story on this land and how we are woven into it.
In June, five members of the Living Faith Church community attended an evening discussion on Queer Spirituality with special guests Reverends Josephine (Jo) Inkpin and Penny Jones. Jo and Penny lead Pitt Street Uniting Church in the heart of Sydney. https://pittstreetuniting.org.au/
Many in the packed-out audience shared their journeys, encouraged by Jo and Penny’s conversation. Jo and Penny also shared a little about the Pitt Street community, which welcomes people regardless of age, race, class, relationship status, language, creed, culture, sexuality, gender identity, or intersex status. Theirs is an ‘affirming to the core’ church that practices justice and compassion.
"Sounds like a Jesus church to me", says Kate Clough - Family, Youth and Young Adult Minister
Jagajaga Community Volunteers Awards 2024
On Saturday 20th April, 2024, Rod Ferris with Mabel Kealty, were two recipients of the Jagajaga Community Volunteers Awards 2024.
There were 2 dozen or more other recipients and it was interesting to hear of their various avenues of service.
Rod’s awards were for Rotary service, for over 35 years, and as Justice of Peace duties for 33 years.
(Photo credit: Kate Thwaites MP)
Mabel’s awards covered her work with the Cancer Council since 2008, organising the Biggest Morning Tea, in most years, at her home, since 2008, and as a volunteer with the Diamond Creek Park Run.
(Photo credit: Kate Thwaites MP)
Sincere congratulations to two of our Living Faith Church Congregation engaged in brilliant community projects.
In early 2024, Donna and Gwenda, dedicated members of the music team, looked in the corner room of the Sanctuary and decided the music, stands, and instruments needed to be organised. With a lot of fun and giggles, they sorted through the congregational music, discarding old and unused music. Ultimately, they indexed the songs and placed them in the top drawers of the filing cabinets to keep them well-preserved and easily accessible for years to come.
Thank you, Donna and Gwenda, for your time and commitment to having fun while organising!
We join Voices for Change in congratulating and recognising Michael Mayne for his dedication and leadership in disability and justice self-advocacy.
Michael was presented with his award at the Fitzroy Town Hall on Wednesday, April 10, 2024, when Voices of Change celebrated four years of disability and justice self-advocacy.
Voices for Change is a self-advocacy group for people with acquired brain injury and experience of the justice system. It exists to support people with acquired brain injury and justice system experience in developing confidence and skills to speak up and have their voices heard.
An acquired brain injury is any injury to the brain after birth and has many causes, including a stroke, an infection, accidents, family violence, brain tumours, drug overdose and long-term alcohol or drug use.
An acquired brain injury has many effects on people, from physical to cognitive and emotional. It affects people’s lives in many different ways.
Voices for Change states that 42% of men and 33% of women in Victoria’s prisons have an acquired brain injury, compared to 2% in the general Australian community.
Robert and Nola MacDonald are members of Living Faith Church and met Michael over 5 years ago through the work of Friends of Dismas, a multi-faith, nondenominational organisation that welcomes everyone regardless of criminal convictions. Their love for others is infectious, and they continue to see and support Michael weekly.
Michael and his supportive partner Sarda come regularly to Living Faith Church.
To learn more about Voices for Change please visit their website or Facebook page.
https://voices-for-change.org
https://www.facebook.com/voicesforchangeaustralia/?ref=embed_page
To learn more about Friends of Dismas please visit their website.
http://www.friendsofdismas.com
We are excited to welcome Ellen Grabner to the Living Faith Church Ministry Team!
Ellen joins us after a long tenure with Doncaster Church of Christ, a community we at LFC have some close connections to. At Doncaster, her role was focused on community building initiatives, and she is excited to bring her passion and expertise for inter-generational ministry to Living Faith.
Please join us in welcoming Ellen into our community.
Easter is almost upon us, and we've got a variety of Easter Services planned, both in person and online.
Maundy Thursday, 28th of March
- 6:30PM — Quiet Meditation from 6:30PM
- 7:30PM — Pascal Dinner
Good Friday, 29th of March
- 9:30AM — Worship Service (This service will be live streamed to our YouTube channel)
Easter Sunday, 31st of March
- 5:30AM — Sunrise Vigil
- 10:00AM — Worship Service
All are welcome to join us at any of these events, whether you are a regular attendee or a brand new face! If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us at admin@livingfaithchurch.com.au