​The latest Messenger is here

Sunday's service
This Sunday's service from 9.30am at Gloucester Uniting Church will be led by TySoupidis.
Christmas Hamper
Donations of food or gift items are sought up until Christmas.
There is a basket in the foyer for this purpose
Bible readers needed!
If you are willing to add your name to the bible reading roster, please let Kerry Chisholm know as soon as possible.
Offering envelopes
Offering envelopes for 2019 are now available from the box on the table in the foyer
Envelopes for Act for Peace (Christmas Bowl) will also be handed out.
Café on Cowper Report – 2018
Café on Cowper has enjoyed a successful 2018. There are an average of 20 to 24 regular attendees but we are always seeking new ways to invite more people.
The approach of having two teams to do alternative months for catering continues to work well. The menus have been varied and overall the response from our guests have continued to be very complimentary.
Although the meal is advertised as ‘No Cost’, most people do give a donation so we continue to make a substantial profit. $626.45 was deposited into the church account in June. Donations of $250 each were made in December 2017 and January 2018, to Gloucester High School for their breakfast programme, GrandAids, Broken Hill UC patrol padre and Lifeline.  A further $1000 will be donated during December 2018.  As it’s ‘their’ money, we ask our guests to make suggestions as to where the money should be donated and let them know where the donations finally go.
We are always looking for new guests to come along so we encourage the whole congregation to identify people who may benefit from a wholesome meal and pleasant, safe social interaction.  So please get in contact with us.
We were pleased this year (ie 2018) to have two new volunteers, Margaret and Allan Cornish.  Margaret does a great job in kitchen and Allan helps washup and put the furniture away.  They join David and Marg Collett, Sandy and Bob Tebbet, David Marston, Jenny Shaw, Colleen McKay, Johanna Heyink, Christine Bolton, Elaine Murray and Hilary and Jeff Kite.
Jeff Kite – 15th November, 2018
Same-sex marriage decision
Gloucester Uniting Church members on Sunday, November 18 voted in their majority to support their Australian Church Assembly's decision on same-sex marriage.
The decision by the assembly is to allow two different definitions of marriage, that is to hold two equal and distinct statements of beliefs  being that marriage is between a man and a woman and that marriage is between two people.
The decision on same-sex marriage came after the Annual General Meeting for the Election of Office Bearers for the 2018/19 year:
Sam de Witte remains as chairman of the congregation, Shirley Hazell is again secretary, presbytery representative is Coll Reynolds, inter church council representatives are Rhonda Merchant and Anne Williamson, hall booking officer Helen Parsons.

Mission

Our mission is to be a living presence of God in the Gloucester community and to
follow the example of Jesus Christ so God's transforming love may be experienced by all.

The Gloucester Congregation supports local, national and international groups, such as:

• SRE programme in the local high school
• Christian & Life Education in local primary schools
• Wauchope Aboriginal Youth Group
• Nungalinga College
• Broken Hill Outback Patrol
• Leprosy Australia
• Samburu Sponsorship, Kenya
• Lausanne Australia, St Andrew's School in India