6th March 2025 Church Council Meeting Update
1. Discussion/review of the year’s activities and the working groups established to initiate and implement activities. Members of the Congregation are invited to join these groups.
- Pastoral friends and welcome: Next meeting 18th March
- Community connection and mission: The current schedule of regular activities will continue (English classes, community chat, table tennis, Chinese class, zoom catch up) as well as specific events such as Lunar New Year. The effectiveness of these activities will be reviewed and further opportunities for mission will be explored.
- Spiritual growth and education: Blessing of students and sausage sizzle held in February. Lent studies have commenced in March. Next meeting 14th March to consider future activities. The intention is to have a rolling program of diverse activities which is well advertised. A movie with discussion groups is one option, as well as a further round of Bible studies.
- Finance and property- Priority is preparation of draft 2025/2026 budget to be presented to Congregation in June/July, with the continuing need for members to increase financial support. Long term review of Vera St property condition and use required.
Deteriorated windows in the East/West room fronting the piazza to be replaced.
Repair/replacement of some pavers on the access driveway to the piazza completed.
- Communication and social media. Maintaining an effective level of communication for different audiences is the challenge, including Instagram and Facebook accounts, EUC website and consistent presentation of announcements in all worship services.
- Worship: The immediate focus is to evaluate the existing services. This assessment will consider the attitudes of those who regularly attend, as well as exploring why people may have chosen not to attend. This will address the missional expectation that services should seek to be engaging for new attenders. It is anticipated that a survey of those who currently attend the different services will be undertaken.
Upcoming activities:
- 18th May, Pot luck lunch.
- 22 June, On-site camp for all church members.
2. The recent Gathering of Uniting church youth/young adults in the Presbytery’s Ryde zone at EUC was supported as a good initiative to engage youth and young adults and to provide a basis for further gatherings.
3. NREMA grant application has been approved by Presbytery and submitted to Uniting Mission and Education. Presbytery advise that a decision is imminent.
4. An invitation has been received from the Henty/Culcairn Congregation for members of Eastwood UC Congregation to visit during 2025. The potential for a visit in early June or July will be investigated.
5. A request from Uniting to use the EUC church premises to hold a federal election candidates forum for the Bennelong electorate, on 3rd April, was approved.
Next Church Council meeting Thursday 8th May.
Church Council members: Phil Looby (Chair), Janelle Dodd (Treasurer), Lesley Bradbury, Linda Brunton (Congregation chair), Kerrie Springett, Jermaine Yan, Mark Leal, Wynne Cheng, Rev Kiduk Hwang, John Brunton (Minutes), Rev Seung Jae Yeon (Ministry team leader), and Rev Marion Gledhill.
Linda Brunton, Congregation Chair
- Pastoral friends and welcome: Next meeting 18th March
- Community connection and mission: The current schedule of regular activities will continue (English classes, community chat, table tennis, Chinese class, zoom catch up) as well as specific events such as Lunar New Year. The effectiveness of these activities will be reviewed and further opportunities for mission will be explored.
- Spiritual growth and education: Blessing of students and sausage sizzle held in February. Lent studies have commenced in March. Next meeting 14th March to consider future activities. The intention is to have a rolling program of diverse activities which is well advertised. A movie with discussion groups is one option, as well as a further round of Bible studies.
- Finance and property- Priority is preparation of draft 2025/2026 budget to be presented to Congregation in June/July, with the continuing need for members to increase financial support. Long term review of Vera St property condition and use required.
Deteriorated windows in the East/West room fronting the piazza to be replaced.
Repair/replacement of some pavers on the access driveway to the piazza completed.
- Communication and social media. Maintaining an effective level of communication for different audiences is the challenge, including Instagram and Facebook accounts, EUC website and consistent presentation of announcements in all worship services.
- Worship: The immediate focus is to evaluate the existing services. This assessment will consider the attitudes of those who regularly attend, as well as exploring why people may have chosen not to attend. This will address the missional expectation that services should seek to be engaging for new attenders. It is anticipated that a survey of those who currently attend the different services will be undertaken.
Upcoming activities:
- 18th May, Pot luck lunch.
- 22 June, On-site camp for all church members.
2. The recent Gathering of Uniting church youth/young adults in the Presbytery’s Ryde zone at EUC was supported as a good initiative to engage youth and young adults and to provide a basis for further gatherings.
3. NREMA grant application has been approved by Presbytery and submitted to Uniting Mission and Education. Presbytery advise that a decision is imminent.
4. An invitation has been received from the Henty/Culcairn Congregation for members of Eastwood UC Congregation to visit during 2025. The potential for a visit in early June or July will be investigated.
5. A request from Uniting to use the EUC church premises to hold a federal election candidates forum for the Bennelong electorate, on 3rd April, was approved.
Next Church Council meeting Thursday 8th May.
Church Council members: Phil Looby (Chair), Janelle Dodd (Treasurer), Lesley Bradbury, Linda Brunton (Congregation chair), Kerrie Springett, Jermaine Yan, Mark Leal, Wynne Cheng, Rev Kiduk Hwang, John Brunton (Minutes), Rev Seung Jae Yeon (Ministry team leader), and Rev Marion Gledhill.
Linda Brunton, Congregation Chair
Beside me all the way – book launch
Saturday 29 March 2025 from 2.30pm – 4.30pm
What kind of blessing have you experienced through God's people?
Join us for the book launch of "Beside me all the way", an inspiring story of one faithful person's commitment to spreading the good news of Jesus Christ. This remarkable biography tells us a journey of faith, sacrifice, and service - a life dedicated to sharing hope and love with others.
Come celebrate this legacy and chat with the author, Lena Reichardt.
Sureka Goringe, National Director at Uniting World, will be speaking about the challenges today.
Click here for the Facebook event link.
What kind of blessing have you experienced through God's people?
Join us for the book launch of "Beside me all the way", an inspiring story of one faithful person's commitment to spreading the good news of Jesus Christ. This remarkable biography tells us a journey of faith, sacrifice, and service - a life dedicated to sharing hope and love with others.
Come celebrate this legacy and chat with the author, Lena Reichardt.
Sureka Goringe, National Director at Uniting World, will be speaking about the challenges today.
Click here for the Facebook event link.
Eastwood Uniting Church Ongoing Mission Plan for 2025-2029 and
Congregational Meeting 15 September 2024
The draft Eastwood Uniting Church Ongoing Mission Plan for 2025-2029 was endorsed by Church Council on
1 August 2024, to initiate discussion and enable deliberations regarding the future mission and ministry of the Congregation. During August a summary of the document was translated into Chinese and Korean languages to ensure all members of the Congregation can actively participate in this process. On the 8th September 2024 Church Council facilitated discussion sessions following the 9.30am Worship service where questions were answered and any further contributions considered. Church Council finalised a revised draft document that was adopted at a Congregation meeting on 15th September 2024.
Click here to view the draft document.
Click here for the minutes of the Congregational Meeting
1 August 2024, to initiate discussion and enable deliberations regarding the future mission and ministry of the Congregation. During August a summary of the document was translated into Chinese and Korean languages to ensure all members of the Congregation can actively participate in this process. On the 8th September 2024 Church Council facilitated discussion sessions following the 9.30am Worship service where questions were answered and any further contributions considered. Church Council finalised a revised draft document that was adopted at a Congregation meeting on 15th September 2024.
Click here to view the draft document.
Click here for the minutes of the Congregational Meeting