Service Times:
Sunday: 9.30am
Taize: Third Sunday of the month 5pm
Thursday Reflections: in temporary recess
___________________________________________________________________________
Please Note: Some of the Services and Activities have associated web pages. They are listed in the Section ‘Current Activities’ below, after the section ‘Reflection on this week’s Bible readings’.
Leura Weekly Bulletin
The PDF file below contains the Leura Uniting Church bulletin for the 6th November 2022. Bulletin 6.11.22 If you click on it, it should open in your browser.
Alternatively, you may download the file.
Face to Face Services have resumed
For those who cannot make it to Leura Uniting Church
The Zoom links are:
9.30 am Sunday Morning Service
Join Zoom Meeting
https://uca-nswact.zoom.us/j/92687697749?pwd=L0FBbjVWYmlTbEtPSi9uaUpnazM3QT09
Meeting ID: 926 8769 7749
Passcode: Leura
Normally, there are no restrictions on who is able to attend
Complete details in the bulletin, available here
Note: the Leura Uniting Church Service is being recorded, and can be downloaded from the Worship Resources page here
Our Congregation
Our congregation is chaired by the Reverend Dr John Cox. More details can be found by following the Our Community link.
We embrace diversity, and welcome all who seek to know more of God.
Leura Uniting Church, in addition to this website of information and activity pages, has a Facebook page.
The web address is https://www.facebook.com/LeuraUnitingChurch , or, just search for Leura Uniting Church on Facebook.
You will find resources for Worship by following the link Worship Resources
Service Times and other Activities. as restrictions allow
Our regular service is on Sundays at 9.30 am. The first Sunday of every month is a Contemporary Service, the third is a Communion Service. We also have a children’s group, a youth group, a Taize service, a reflective service and various community support activities. Details of services may be found by following the Services and Activities link.
At the bottom of this page are links to dedicated pages for some of the Services and Activities.
Hall Bookings
The hall of Leura Uniting Church is available for regular and occasional bookings. Please contact Peggy Goldsmith or by email, tulipgold@bigpond.com
What’s happening….
. November
Sun 13 AGM after Morning Tea
Thu 17 Junction 142 Board 7pm
Material for Services is available on the page Worship Resources
Also,
The Uniting Church Synod of NSW and ACT has put out a list of churches who provide online worship services on a Sunday.
As well as reading our Leura services you might like to look at one of the “live” services on line.Just click on the link below.
https://nswact.uca.org.au/covid-19-information-for-presbyteries-and-congregations/livestream-options-for-worship-during-covid-19
A list of Leura Activities for 2022 are at the bottom of the page.
Pentecost 22 6 November’22 Luke 20:27-38
Where, on Earth, is heaven?
Carl Sagan challenged faith based on the biblical flat earth understanding of the shape of the Universe by suggesting that if Jesus had ascended at the speed of light, and if he had kept up that speed for the last two thousand years, then he hasn’t left our galaxy yet.
There are many dangers in reading the biblical texts and worldviews literally.
It is possible though to engage the texts faithfully as parable and story.
Though Jesus’ own understanding of the Universe contained a flat Earth, he nevertheless points to heaven here and now on the Earth beneath our feet more than in an afterlife spent above the colander dome of the sky.
In Luke, Jesus counters the misdirection of the Sadducees who were looking upwards, by looking down at the Earth where God is concerned with the living rather than the dead. An afterlife did not seem important to Jesus.
So, friends, where might we see heaven now? Could heaven be in the soils beneath our feet? In a woman sweeping her house to find a lost coin? In a burglar imaging God surprising us by turning up at unexpected places and times?
It is in unlikely places like these, Jesus says in his many parables, that we might experience heaven … right here on Earth.
*
As always, today’s preacher may have a different view altogether to the one expressed here. Which goes to show how wonderfully diverse are our interpretations of our Scriptures can be! Ian Pearson
Other nearby Uniting Churches
Katoomba – Sunday Worship 9.00am – Contact Ann Palmer 4782 1880
Blackheath – Sunday Worship 10.30am – Contact Bob Hendy 4787 7007
Hazelbrook – Sunday Worship 9.30am – Contact Marjorie Leggatt 4759 1228
Other Uniting Church Congregations
To view other Congregations of the Uniting Church in Australia follow the link,
Find a Church
Current Activities
Links, in red, lead to pages with more details about the activity.
Day Retreats An opportunity for renewal and refreshment of faith. The next Day Retreat will be announced soon.
Drawing and Painting Group Postponed till further notice see Weekly timetable on the Services and Activities Page.
Leisure Learning – Sew & Chat Postponed till further notice see Weekly timetable on the Services and Activities Page.
Open Table a sharing place to assist all members of the Mountains community.
Pilgrimages we seek God, and spiritual refreshment, walking in the bush. Starts from Leura Uniting Church at 8am. next Pilgrimage will be announced in late April.
Playtime 10am-12noon on Mondays during school term.
Quiet Reflection a guided meditation and reflection on the readings for the week. The Quiet Reflection is on Thursdays at 11.30am.
Reflection is in temporary recess.
Taizé Service renewal through common prayer, singing, silence and personal meditation. On the 3rd Sunday of the month.
Weekly Timetable of Activities of Leura Uniting Church
| Activities of Leura Uniting Church | |
SundayMorning Worship – 9.30am Taize Services 3rd Sun. 5pm Contact Carolyn 0413 993 368 MondayPlaytime – 10am-12noon during school term. Contact:Denise 4782 6556 Book Club –3rd Monday 3pm Contact Delma 0407 140 837 TuesdayTuesday & Sunday Lunch, Thursday breakfast, ThursdayQuiet Reflection 11.30am in Church Contact: Louise 4782 2931 |
Thursday (continued)
|
Hall Bookings
The hall of Leura Uniting Church is available for regular and occasional bookings. Please contact Ross Neville on 024703175 or rossneville012gmail.com.
Other nearby Uniting Churches
Katoomba – Sunday Worship 9.00am – Contact Ann Palmer 4782 1880
Blackheath – Sunday Worship 10.30am – Contact Bob Hendy 4787 7007
Hazelbrook – Sunday Worship 9.30am – Contact Marjorie Leggatt 4759 1228
Other Uniting Church Congregations
To view other Congregations of the Uniting Church in Australia follow the link,
Find a Church
Notices
Attention ALL Leura Uniting Church Members!
Things have changed!!
LEADERSHIP AND ADMINISTRATIVE STRUCTURE
There is anew leadership team of 12, who will be Elders, forming the new Church Council. The Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer will be elected from within the new Church Council, after the Council has been formed. Six areas in leadership and administration have been identified, with two Elders responsible for reporting back to Church Council for their area:
WORSHIP Worship leaders, Worship Group, special & regular Services, Taizé, Thursday Services
PASTORAL CARE Pastoral Elders, Congregation visitation, fellowship activities for congregational community building, cell groups, pastoral friends’ group
WIDER MISSION Junction 142, Learning Support Centre, Open Table, Ritz Nursing Home Services, Evangelism, Bidwill, craft/sewing groups, new projects, development of spirituality at J142
CHILDREN & YOUTH Messy Church, Playtime, SRE, P1, children in church
CHRISTIAN EDUCATION spirituality and development, Bible Studies, Retreats, Christian education workshops, interfaith
FINANCE & PROPERTY Administration, reporting to congregation and others as required, auditing, care and maintenance of property
PLEASE NOTE: Our present Elders, who have previously looked after the pastoral care of the congregation, will be known as Pastoral Elders and will be part of the second identified area of ‘Pastoral Care’. These Pastoral Elders may be also nominated as Elders of the Church Council.