The ACT Government has responded quickly to provide emergency food relief for Canberrans most in need during this lockdown.

The ACT Government has partnered with VolunteeringACT and the State Emergency Service to provide emergency food to those in need.

Any Canberran who is significantly and adversely impacted by this lockdown and is unable to feed their family is encouraged to call 1800 43 11 33

Callers will be linked with a VolunteeringACT staff member who will place a shopping order on their behalf and members of the SES will then collect the order and deliver it to them.

The SES are unable to enter a person’s home, so the groceries will be left on the doorstep after a knock at the door.

Free food and essential items for Canberrans in need during lockdown

Church Council (CC) met on 21 June.  Some of the key outcomes included: 

• A draft Pastoral Care plan was recently distributed for consultation.  CC agreed that comments should be provided by 11 July. 
• CC to follow up with a number of groups from the Mission and Vision workshop on taking key areas forward.
• One proposal from the Mission and Vision workshop to see if a community group might be interested in developing the vegetable garden as a community garden was raised.  It was agreed that the group responsible for this recommendation could further explore this option to see what it might entail. At request of the Worship Committee, CC will meet with them following CC’s July meeting to discuss their role (CC will first consider the issue at their July meeting). 
• A new church sign has been designed.  Further consultation is underway with the Mission and Vision workshop group responsible for raising GUCs profile in the community. 
• Budget: doing better than expected.  Income is higher than originally expected as Navitas has gradually increased their hours (at the time the budget was prepared, rental income was minimal).  Expenditure on electricity and cleaning is less than predicted.  Depreciation, roof repairs and audit fees are together significant upcoming costs. 
• The auditor has completed the 2019/20 audit of GUC’s accounts with no adverse comments. 

Regards

Narelle

On behalf of the Gungahlin Uniting Church Council

Walking Church is a open invitation to come along, walk and talk with friends and strangers, enjoy the outdoors and get some exercise.  We will stop at some point, read a story, pray together and then continue walking, it’s a simple practice that we do together.

BYO Water/Food/Bandaids etc

Invite a friend if you’d like, the more the merrier.

Email Darren if you need more information and would like to RSVP, leave us your phone number so we can update you if the weather turns nasty, or so we don’t leave without you.

Walking Church: May 08, 2021

Walk: National Arboretum. Plan to walk from the Cork Forrest car park, up to the Himalayan Cedars and then back down to the Cork Forrest where people can continue on a casual walk around the Cork forrest.

*if you’re wanting a lighter walk there might be a small group who will only walk the Cork Forrest.

Dog Friendly: Yes, on leash

Time: 9:00am 

Meet: Cork Forrest Car Park

Pdf: https://www.nationalarboretum.act.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0004/1496371/arboretum-master-map.pdf

Have you seen the food garden lately?

Are you aware we have an active food garden?

Here are some pictures of what it looks like at the moment. If you were to take a walk around the garden it feels like a jungle of pumpkin, beans and tomato vines oozing out of their garden beds with a forest of rhubarb, kale and broccoli leaves.

The food garden was established in 2015 with the aim to engage and create community with the view to providing vegetables to the Mustard Seed Food Pantry.

Over the years this has taken on many forms. Presently Mark Phythian, Riyadh and Chris, a friend of the pantry, have been tending to the garden.

Chris has put an enormous amount of time and effort in over the past five years since he walked through the doors of the pantry. During the summer he comes up most mornings and evenings to water, plant and tend to the garden bringing with him his vast knowledge of organic natural gardening methods.

Recently, due to his efforts, along with Mark and Riyadh we have harvested potatoes, kale, tomatoes, beans and rhubarb that we have given away to customers at the pantry. We will soon harvest broccoli and pumpkins. All this adds to helping feed and provide healthy foods to the visitors of the pantry.