The national gathering of Wellspring Community was held recently in WA. Betty Matthews, retired deacon, was part of the organising committee and other deacons were involved, with Bev Fabb and Frances Hadfield leading worship and Lesley de Grussa Macaulay leading a post conference trip. Jean Stirling, retired deacon from SA was in attendance. The gathering focussed on working towards a caring future. The first day focussed on Reconcilation with Mark bin Bakar from Broome being the key note speaker, and the afternoon spent visiting the site of the Pinjarra Massacre. In the evening Mary G (Mark’s altar ego) entertained the gathering. The second day focussed on building a peaceful future through inter faith dialogue with speakers from a variety of faith traditions. Sustainability was the theme of the third day with Paul Newman, Professor of Sustainability at Curtin University as the main speaker. The gathering ended with a commissioning service for the new leadership of the Community.
Tag: Deacons
Liturgical dress – a paper by Robert Gribben
An historical overview of liturgical dress, with relevance to Deacons. Liturgical Dress in the UCA by Robert Gribben 2
Easter greetings
Easter 2011 greetings from Sr Doris Horn, President, Diakonia World Federation: Easter greetings
Positions vacant
This section will be updated from time to time, when we are informed about positions for Deacons, or placements with a diaconal focus.
Please check the Synod websites for more information
February 2021
Canberra Presbytery NSW
Queanbeyan (1.0)
Contact Ms Rinda Scott, rindy47@gmail.com
Far North Coast Presbytery NSW
Lismore Regional Mission
Yamba-Iluka UC
Contact: Rev Peter Overton, revpeteraoverton@gmail.com
Georges River Presbytery NSW
Georges River – Presbytery Pastoral Relations Minister (1.0)
Contact: Richard Hanna, richardha@nswact.uca.org.au
Kogarah (advertised as MoW only)
Mrs Ruth Fyfe, ruth.fyfe@bigpond.com
Illawarra Presbytery NSW
Gerringong UC (1.0)
Contact: Rev Grant Bilbey, grantbilbey@optusnet.com.au
Macquarie Darling Presbytery NSW
Bathurst UC (1.0)
Contact: Rev Peter Harvey, peterh@nswact.uca.org.au
Parramatta-Nepean NSW
Parramatta-Centenary-Northmead UC (1.0)
Contact: Mr John Cutts, johnc@pnpuca.org.au
Wesley Castle Hill (advertised as MoW only – have had a Deacon previously)
Contact: Rev Geoff Stevenson, geoff@pnpuca.org.au
Engagement Coordinator – Engadine Uniting Church (NSW)
Engadine Uniting Church is seeking to build a more public expression of our core values and priorities and to participate in ministry that is relevant to the community in areas such as managing anxiety, action on climate change and social justice issues. The Engagement Coordinator will be responsible for supporting, encouraging and equipping the congregation to develop new communities and activities in which faith and spirituality can be expressed and explored in a variety of ways.
(Not specifically advertised for Ministry of Deacon but could be worth a conversation!)
Contact: admin@engadine.unitingchurch.org.au
- For current available Uniting career opportunities visit their website.
- For Wesley Mission career opportunities visit their website.
- For Wayside Chapel career opportunities visit their website.
- For Exodus Foundation career opportunities visit their website.
- For Parramatta Mission career opportunities visit their website.
Presbytery of Gippsland and Frontier Services, Victoria
Bush Fire Recovery – Frontier Services Patrol
Contact: Anita Beer, 03 9340 8818, placements.secretary@victas.uca.org.au
Northern Synod – Pilgrim Presbytery
Presbytery Minister – Pilgrim Presbytery
Contact: Rev Helen Paine, Helen.Paine@ns.uca.org.au
Chaplaincy and Supervision Manager – South Australia
Classification: 0.6FTE Placement, initial period 5 years
Click on link for more information.
Applications Close: 1 March 2021
Queensland vacancies – click here
Western Australia – click here
Northern Synod – click here
20th celebrations to mark the renewal of the UCA diaconate
The 1991 UCA Assembly affirmed the renewal of the diaconate in the UCA, with the first Deacons ordained in 1992. To recognise the 20th anniversary, plans are being developed for celebrations in 2012. We’ll keep you posted as things develop…….
(UCA Deacons interested in the background planning can click on the ’20th celebrations’ on the top banner. It requires the password as it is password protected) – Sandy
DUCA Executive 2010-2012
At the DUCA meeting in October 2010, it was agreed that SA would provide leadership for DUCA, 2010-12. Sandy Boyce is the Convener of the DUCA Executive. The working style for the Executive will be based on networking with key individuals and groups, rather than doing all the DUCA business on their own. A small committee meets regularly, including Sue Langhans (DUCA Treasurer), Christa Megaw, Bill Harris, Juleen Villis, Cogs Smith and Naomi Rosenberg.
Contact details for Convener and Treasurer:
Rev Sandy Boyce, 0409 283 004, sandyeboyce@gmail.com
Rev Sue Langhans, 0417 868 221, suelang@chariot.net.au
Stoles – web links
Carrot Top Studios (Jenny Gallo)
Website – http://mysite.verizon.net/vzeoro2y/id6.html
Blogsite – http://www.carrottopstudio.blogspot.com
Jenny does wonderful work creating stoles for the seasons of the liturgical year. She is based in America, and with the strong Australian dollar it’s very reasonable to purchase online (PayPal or credit card). Cost of stoles is very reasonable and she does both the hanging at the front stoles as well as the ‘deacon’ across the body stoles. Either style is acceptable for Deacons. Jenny is very fast in shipping the stoles.
Highly recommended.
Contemporary Vestments – Alison Friend
Website – http://www.contemporaryvestments.com
Alison is based in Australia. Her stoles are well made, catering for both styles of stole. There are many options for the seasons of the liturgical year. The designs are contemporary and often with distinctive Australian images. The stoles are well crafted though more on the expensive side of things.
There are a number of other sources for stoles – please send URL links to Sandy Boyce, sandyeboyce@gmail.com, to update this resource.
Liturgical dress – UCA Guidelines (1992)
Deacons leading worship may choose to wear liturgical dress, and the UCA has prepared general guidelines on liturgical dress. Importantly, a Deacon may wear a stole across their body (symbolic of the towel Jesus wrapped around him when he washed the feet of the disciples), over their left shoulder and secured at the right hip. Alternatively, Deacons may wear a stole that hangs down at the front exactly the same as a Minister of the Word. A Deacon candidate or Intern may wear the blue UCA ‘scarf’. You can read more in the guidelines, Guidelines on Liturgical Dress
A service to mark the conclusion of a placement
At the conclusion of a Deacon’s placement, there should be a recognition of the the end of the placement as well as cutting of the pastoral responsibilities. A service outline is here, A Service to Mark the Conclusion of a Placement
Deacon – induction service into a placement
This service is for a Deacon already ordained, and being inducted into a placement. It is the official order of service from Uniting in Worship and can be viewed here, deaconinduction.