Keeping in Touch

Weekly Newsletter

Despite the wooly weather we are planning for our Services to carry on as normal on Sunday, if there are any changes to this it will be posted on our Website, Facebook Page and subscribers to the kid will be notified by email.

VISION SUNDAY

Holy Communion

February 2 at 9 am

Preacher: Esteban L

Bible Reading: David K (Exodus 2:1-10)

News: David BT

Worship: Kemeri L

Singers: Audrey S, Meli L

Music: Kemeri L, Solomon L, Peter I, Esteban L

Projector: Kathy R

Feb Roster

From the Minister’s Desk

I wanted to take this opportunity to share with you about this exciting training that we are hosting at Kirwan UC. It is exciting for two reasons, firstly, because connecting with our wider Uniting Church family and this a great way to learn more about what is happening in the life of our church. But secondly, because we at KUC are at a point where we have some amazing people who want to express community and care, beyond our usual spaces. They have a desire to serve in the wider community, whether it’s in the hospital, aged care setting or through schools chaplaincy – there are many ways that we can share the love of God and who we are as Christians in the community. Sometimes, we find that a difficult thing to do, without sounding like we are ‘preaching’ all the time. We also do not necessarily want to have it seem as if we are just out to convert people or evangelise, when we just want to be an ear to hear and offer support for folks who may not have another alternative.

As many of you are aware, I was an Aged Care Chaplain for two years before coming to Kirwan – a ministry where I had never before felt a sense of Call, but a space that I am aware is of great need for persons who are ready to bring love and care. I felt under-equipped to enter this space and am grateful to my wife Kemeri, who will be running this training for us; that she helped me understand the importance and value of this kind of pastoral care in the wider community.

This has shaped how I do pastoral care in every aspect of my ministry, and I have found that I have been better equipped with the skills to be able to identify areas of need in pastoral care and listening; even when I am just out in the world.

So if you would like to learn more about this, this is a wonderful opportunity to step out in faith and learn and be equipped for this awesome work – too often taken for granted in our wider community. As our circumstances change in our growing city of Townsville, we will find that we increasingly need volunteers trained with these skills. People ready to respond in spaces such as those mentioned above, but also in situations such as where disasters strike or the loss of a loved member of our community.

To register, please click or tap on the image above and you will be directed to our Facebook Event where all the details are listed, you may also click this link to send an email registering your interest.

Evening Services FEB 2025

Feb 2 5.30 pm – Psalm98 Service (Kemeri L)

Feb 9 5.30 pm – Communion Service (Peter I)

Feb 16 4.30 pm – Tongan Service (Rev. Malia Ma’u)

Feb 23 5.30 pm – Gospel of Mark Service (Kira C)

Bible Study Groups Back On!

Bible Study Groups will recommence next week, and the Family Bible Study will return monthly from March.

Wed Night Bible Study, 5th of Feb at 7:30 – Jesus’ “I Am” Statements

Friday Morning Bible Study, 7th of Feb at 10:00 am

This Year we will look at joining in with the Together for Townsville Churches for a city-wide Alpha Course, expressions of interest most welcome!

Elders Meeting, Monday Feb 3, 7:30 pm

Council of Ministry Meeting, Monday Feb 10, 7:30 pm

Boys Brigade is a Christian association for Boys aged 6 to 18 that equips them with the skills and knowledge to develop positive friendships, engage in leadership and develop an understanding of their Biblical role as sons of God and men of valour. Kirwan Uniting Church has been invited to host Townsville only Boys Brigade Company, Townsville 3rd Company – to be captained by Zack Lyons and BBs Chaplain, Rev. Esteban Lievano. For any Kirwan UC members who might like to join the Brigade as leaders, or just learn more about Brigades in general there will be a Leaders Training held at Kirwan UC:

Townsville 3rd Boys Brigade

Leaders’ Training

Saturday Feb 8, 9 am

To register your interest email Rev. Esteban

Monthly Service at Brooklea Lifestyle Village 2025

Kirwan UC will be taking over for the first six months at Brooklea for their Monthly Church Service. We seek volunteers who would like to bring a few songs, a word of encouragement and share in sometime of morning tea with the residents.

The Service is held on the third Wednesday of the month, dates listed below.

If you would like to participate, please contact Rev. Esteban on this email.

Feb 19 at 10.00 am

Mar 19 at 10.00 am

April 16 at 10.00 am

(Easter Service)

May 21 at 10.00 am

June 18 at 10.00 am

Nominations for Congregational Meeting

Since our last KiT, Ashlee K and Wendy dM have withdrawn their nominations for leadership positions. On behalf of all the current members of COM and Elders, we support Ashlee and Wendy, and appreciate their consideration and reflection in discernment as they came to this decision. We will continue to encourage Ashlee and Wendy, as well as all those who have engaged in this process in their discernment and engagement with God’s Call and direction in their lives.

This is the nomination for the Congregational Meeting, Feb 2 following worship:

Andrew Reid – Member of COM

Per Uniting Church Regulations, nominations we brought forward by Rev. Esteban and Seconded as part of COM proceedings, the nominations fall within the required period notice before the Congregational Meeting

KUC Development Plan Working Group

Primary Purpose of Development on KUC land:

1.           Construction of buildings and spaces that will benefit of the Church and the Community.

2.           Create an income stream from rental payments that will support the church budget and provide long term security and viability (buildings and spaces will only be rented – no land is to be subdivided or sold).

Secondary Contributions which support our plan:

1.           Urban infill; city council policy is to increase urban density through better use of unused land within the urban footprint.

2.           Affordable housing; addressing a housing crisis in Queensland is State Government policy, specifically to encourage construction of affordable housing and furthermore to engage with churches in the use of vacant land to support this policy.

The working group plans to identify sources of funding and will draft a couple of scenario layouts that may include community buildings and affordable houses.

A presentation will be made to the congregational meeting on Feb 2 discussing the current progress on this matter and outlining the possible roadmap to achieve this goal. The Development Committee will seek an in-principle decision from the Congregational Meeting in support of the road map and direction moving forwards.

The Development Committee wish to stress that no decision or financial commitment will be made without a Congregational Meeting in a formal vote will be made  

Preaching Plan for 2025

In 2025, we will be using a Preaching Plan developed collaboratively at our Leadership Retreat ealier this year. Members of COM, Elders, Sunday School and Worship gathered around 24 themes and began to look at which ones would help inform and develop our congregation. They were split into two groups, and came up with 8 out of 10 of the same themes. Out of this discernment, Rev. Esteban has compiled a set of readings to compliment these themes throughout 2025:

January – Preacher’s Choice

Understanding the Culture of the Bible

February – Moses’ Leadership

March – The I Am Sayings of Jesus

April – Journey to the Cross/Journey to Heaven

May – Culture and Context in Esther

Exploring Mission in Scripture

June – Miracles in Acts

July – Missional Jesus, Teaching on Mission in the Gospels

August – the Faith of Ruth

September – Crossing the Invisible Divide, Jesus and Gentiles in the Gospels

October – Servant, Healer, Rebuker, Redeemer, Examples of the Leadership of Christ

November – Parables for the 21st Century

Advent – Actors in the Greatest Story Ever Told

If you would like to know more about these themes, or if you are among our talented pool of preachers and would like to participate in the preaching plan.

Please speak to Rev. Esteban

www.soundcloud.com/kirwan-uc

Church Office: (07) 4723 2932

Minister: Rev Esteban Lievano

este.lievano@hotmail.com

040 773 1950