Brian’s Buzz
Welcome to the New Year and what I hope and pray will be an
exciting year for us as a church. As a Presbytery, it is time to
consolidate, focus and seek to move forward. It’s exciting to have
Monique on board and she is getting around and catching up with
people, getting an understanding of where congregations are at so
as to support them in developing realistic, grounded pathways to
develop and grow disciples. This is one of our priorities from last
year’s review. The other two are helping congregations and indeed
the Presbytery to have a good honest look, and to build innovation.
As we move forward let’s look for creative, innovative ways to
grow and engage with people and processes.
There are a few events coming up as we try and assist congregations
to better understand and do the things they need to do.
Next week on Thursday evening and repeated on Saturday is a
forum on copyright matters. See the flyer or look on our website if
you need further details. An information night on Property and
Insurance issues is planned for 22 February at Forest Lake starting
at 7pm. The first Boost for the year will be on 26 February at
Indooroopilly. On 4-5 March is the Ignite Children’s Ministry Expo,
a great learning weekend if you can make it. MSM starts again in a
different format as we will run it over set Friday night and Saturdays
through the year. The first will be at Forest Lake in March 10 and
11th. It will be great for as many people as possible to attend. There
are also commissionings and inductions in the coming weeks and
months so stay tuned for further details.
It should be a great year.
Brian
BB CONNEX
January 2017 No. 14
UNITING CHURCH IN
AUSTRALIA BREMER
BRISBANE
PRESBYTERY P O Box 70 Booval Fair 4304 [email protected]
If you have something you would
like to share in the February
‘BB Connex’, please e-mail –
We would love to hear from you. [email protected]
Presbytery Dates 2017
24th January – Education &
Training – 1pm
7th February – Property
Meeting – 3pm
7th February – Standing
Committee – 4pm
7th February – PRC – 7pm
15th February – Presbytery
Meeting – Inala UC
Bremer Brisbane Presbytery
Admin office hours
Monday 9.30am – 2.30pm
Tuesday 9.30am – 2.30pm
Thursday 9.30am – 2.30pm
Friday 9.30am – 2.30pm
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Lay Preachers Gathering for 25 March 2017 with guest Craig Mitchell (National Director for Christian Education) he will be taking 2
sessions on the day “Taste & see that God is God” & “Making Worship and Preaching more
Creative”.
The day will be held at St Stephens UCA, Toowoomba. Further information & registration
details will be made available in the new year. The contact for the event is Bob Brownley, our
Presbytery Lay Preacher Coordinator [email protected] 0410 707 468
Like creating new experiences for your brain. A new experience makes your
brain work faster to communicate between different areas. And that helps
your memory and makes your brain stronger and more resistant to the
effects of aging.1So, to keep your brain in top shape, try these Brain
Booster exercises as you go through your day:
Brain Booster 4 – Play with spare change
We rely so much on our sense of sight, that other pathways and areas of the brain get
ignored. Well, here’s a chance to build up some of those other areas.
Exercise: Keep a cup of change on your desk or carry some in your pocket. When you have a
break (or you are standing in line), pick up some coins etc – without looking – try and identify
whether it’s a $1, $2, 50c, 20c, 10c or 5c.
Its’ that simple ! Soon, your sense of touch will become better refined because your brain
will devote more pathways to process this new ‘touch’ information.
Bremer Brisbane Presbytery needs a Logo – can you help ?
❖ Do you like a bit of a challenge ? ❖ We need a logo for Bremer Brisbane Presbytery – get your thinking caps on
and see if you can come up with an awesome, modern, relevant design. ❖ Entries close end of February. ❖ Please e-mail to Melloney [email protected]
Ministerial changes
Incoming
➢ Induction of Sharene Fechner Sunday 22 January 3pm at Forest Lake UC ➢ Induction of Craig Batty Sunday 12 February 4.30pm at Centenary UC ➢ Commissioning Ps Phuoc Dang 19 February 10am at Darra Uniting Church
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2017 Dates
Forum on property matters for all congregations to discuss property matters will be held
on 22 February 2017 Forest lake UC at 7pm. Synod property staff will be in attendance
to seek to outline processes and answer any questions. Congregations are encouraged to
come and ensure that someone attends.
SMC Trainers
The Presbytery will again be offering Safe Ministry with Children training using accredited Trainers appointed by the Presbytery.
Expressions of interest is called for from individuals who feel called to support the work of the church in this way.
The number of trainers will be limited to ensure a consistency of approach and quality, and training will be required of those accepted.
The training will be happening late in January for the 2017 year.
Expressions of Interest including any relevant experience should be emailed to [email protected] by Friday 13 January
Next Gen Arise is QLD Synod’s initiative to support cross-cultural young people to
develop their leadership, connect with each other and corporately worship Jesus. Our mission is to develop leaders who can inspire a movement of cross-cultural young people to passionately follow Jesus, selflessly build each other up, faithfully take place of leadership in the church and beyond, and fearlessly change the world. We would like to invite you to our 5th Sunday combined worship event where all cross-cultural young people from QLD Uniting Churches and other denominations are welcome. This event will be held at Brisbane Taiwanese UC (1 Wineglass Ave, Hillcrest), 7:00pm on Sunday January 29th. If you need more information, please contact Noah on [email protected] or go to our facebook webpage: https://www.facebook.com/nextgenarise. Noah Kim Multi Cross Cultural Next Generation Project Officer
The Uniting Church in Australia QUEENSLAND SYNOD
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Synod Support Services
Forest Lake Uniting Church, Dedication – 10th December 2016
528 Waterford Road, Ellen Grove
The Forest Lake Uniting Church has finally moved into its new church building after 23 years of using school classrooms or more recently the St. Johns Anglican college chapel.
On 10th December Rev David Baker dedicated the buildings to the glory of God.
We give thanks to God for his faithfulness and give thanks to wider church for sharing our vision and supporting us.
David Baker cutting the ribbon to the Op
Shop
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Lorraine Bettany (Op Shop Manager) and Greg Braithwaite
!
Greg Braithwaite
***************************************************
What love means in the eye of a 4 year old:
There was a four year old child
whose next door neighbour was an
elderly gentleman
who had recently lost his wife.
Upon seeing the man cry, the little boy went into the old gentleman's yard,
climbed onto his lap and just sat there.
When his Mother asked what he had said to the
neighbour, the little boy said,
'Nothing, I just helped him cry' ****************************************************
Jumping Castle and face painting
fun on Open Day
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Ordination of Sharene Fechner as Minister of the Word at Hatton Vale
11th December 2016
Above: Bible Reading by Lailah Kropman
Left: Rev Bob Heathwood preaching the Word
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FAITH FOR LIFE
Journey To Greece - 17th September – 1st October 2017
Escorted by Rev Rod Fisher Come along on an unforgettable journey in the footsteps of St Paul, as we travel through some
of the most significant historical and religious sites in Greece, from ancient empires, to the
early church and through to modern times. Whatever your particular interest, there will be lots
to see and do, plenty of bucket list items to tick and even enough time to rest in-between.
Rev Rod Fisher is a Minister in the Uniting Church and lives with his wife and two sons in
Brisbane. He is passionate about teaching and learning, having fun and meeting new people.
He is eager to share his insights gained during his recent tour of Greece in 2015. This journey
will be enjoyed by both student and tourist alike, regardless of educational or religious back-
ground. Be prepared to learn, to laugh and to join in the adventure.
Click on link for more info and registration form
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EASTER MADNESS 2017