Front and Centre

As we look back 2020 has been a long and challenging year. As a result of COVID nothing has been the same. It has been a fairly unique kind of year. Though we can not be certain what 2021 will look like it will at least initially contain more of the same. As much as it has been challenging I am grateful for what we have achieved in the past year. Several weeks ago we reflected on 1 Thessalonians which said ‘Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit.’ 1 Thessalonians 5: 16-19.

As much as it has been a challenging year we also have much to be thankful for. As I look back to 2020 I am thankful to be here at Emmanuel with such an amazing group of people. I am excited about being a part of a church that wants to continue to focus on its mission and purpose, and as we head into 2021 that we will be re-emphasising what it means to be a church that focusses on growing disciples. I am excited that we have had new families join us in the past few months. We have made the transition to online services and hybrid services. People have collaborated and worked well together to deal with the various government and church requirements to keep everyone safe. At times it feels as though 2020 has been a year we have had to survive. But as we turn to 2021 it is time to turn from survive to thrive. We really want people to thrive in this coming year. To encourage people to continue to grow and deepen their faith. There will be an emphasis upon small groups as one of the most effective means to grow people as well as being more COVID safe. January will be re-visiting our purpose focussing on our four e’s of exalt, embody, engage and explore and unpacking what that means for us now.

2021 will continue to be challenging but we look forward with hope and promise to what God has in store.

Brian

To read the rest of the newsletter click [here](https://mailchi.mp/7dcb70d3658e/newsletter-1920735)

Playgroup plans to resume again face to face on Friday 5 February 2021 with COVID Safe measures in place as addressed in the COVID safe plan [here](https://emmanueluca.org.au/d/4jqM6tAkvSlWkjJsZNiOD0co9).

We plan to meet every week in the Hall with different themed activities and crafts each week. A thematic program will be released soon.

Before attending Playgroup, all participants including children and adults MUST complete an online enrolment form [here](https://emmanueluca.elvanto.com.au/form/8af52058-d0db-46bf-95fe-8005dc7b7e46).

Playgroup will send regular updates via email to all participants and also via our Facebook page www.facebook.com/emmanuelplaygroup

Playgroup offers a safe place for children 0-5 to play and develop social skills. It is a great place to make new friends, learn new things, and become part of a community. We welcome all young children and their carers including stay-at-home, work-from-home, and work outside the home; mums, dads, grandparents, and nannies.

Join us each Friday 9:30 - 11:30am during school terms. Each week we have a different theme and activities to engage children. A large range of toys and helps provide new experiences every week.

Cost: gold coin donation per child, per session. Bring your own food and drink.

Emmanuel Girls' Brigade plans to resume Thursday 4 February 2021, with COVID Safe measures in place as addressed in the COVID safe plan [here](https://emmanueluca.org.au/d/WUUvcFfJ7WhvOKBnANYizp3ox).

Before attending Girls' Brigade, all participants including children and adults MUST complete an online enrolment form [here](https://emmanueluca.elvanto.com.au/form/923f468a-4895-4b28-9012-37e6c73e34a9), and must check-in every week.

Girls' Brigade is great for primary and high school-aged girls looking for fun and friendship in a safe and supported environment.

We meet Thursday nights during school terms at Emmanuel Uniting Church, from 6:00pm - 7:30pm

All girls have the opportunity to earn awards and participate in leadership development appropriate to their age in smaller groups:

Prep - Grade 2 (Cadets)

Grade 3-5 (Juniors)

Grade 6-8 (Seniors)

Grade 9-11 (Pioneers)

Girls' Brigade empowers girls and young women to be themselves, to develop and use their gifts and skills, and to discover what it means to have life to the full in their generation. Our weekly program includes a wide range of activities that supports the spiritual, physical, and emotional growth of girls and is committed to the values of:

- Living: We live our lives with God at the centre. Our relationships are centred on Him and rely on His word and direction.

- Community: We promote a sense of Community and belonging within Companies

- Partnering: We partner with churches to reach local communities with the good news of Jesus Christ

- Uniqueness: We accept the uniqueness of each girl & leader, using our individual talents to serve others as we grow

- Safety: We require safety for all girls and leaders

- Fun: We have fun in everything we do!

We would love to welcome you to Girls' Brigade soon.

Emmanuel Boys' Brigade plans to resume face to face on Wednesday 3 February 2021, with COVID Safe measures in place as addressed in the COVID safe plan [here](https://emmanueluca.org.au/d/sZzHFVpfJScOZBgg7dVyC2T5H).

Before attending Boys' Brigade, all participants including children and adults MUST complete an online enrolment form [here](https://emmanueluca.elvanto.com.au/form/9600a6a0-8c6a-475e-94a0-a29e343a6d90), and must check-in every week.

Boys' Brigade provides Fun, Challenge and Adventure for boys aged 5-18 years

We meet Wednesday nights during school terms at Emmanuel Uniting Church

5-7 years (Anchors) 6:30pm-8pm

8-11 years (Juniors) 6:30pm-8pm

12-18 years (Seniors) 6:30pm-8:30pm

We offer a weekly program that challenges Boys spiritually, physically, socially, and educationally. Our focus is on friendships, leadership, the self-discipline needed to achieve excellence, and understanding the Christian faith. All Boys have the opportunity to earn awards, badges, and participate in leadership training, working towards their Queen's badge (the highest award a boy can receive).

Our company also participates in other activities such as camping and inter-company competitions.

We would love to welcome you to Boys' Brigade soon.

Sunday School at Emmanuel plans to restart again from Sunday 31 January 2021, with COVID Safe measures in place as addressed in the COVID safe plan [here](https://emmanueluca.org.au/d/NaFYdxDfW1Y6QcXEX0IStEMGW).

Before you or your family attend Sunday School you MUST complete the online enrolment form [here](https://emmanueluca.elvanto.com.au/form/a5e52f18-e681-43e9-803c-7d761c3bea21)

We are also still encouraging households to continue with Faith at Home practices whether they attend weekly Worship and Sunday School or not. Dig in at Home resources that match and complement worship and Sunday School are available at www.emmanueluca.org.au/dig-in-at-home

Sunday School runs during school terms within our 9:30am Sunday Service and provides a time where children can share in fun, faith, friendships, and learn about Jesus.

Our leaders provide a range of varying experiences to help children draw closer to God through music, bible teaching, prayer, games, and creative activities. All our leaders are screened and trained and will love your kids almost as much as you do.

All children aged 3 - 12 are welcome and meet as one group in the Church Hall. A range of activities including games, craft, challenges, and small group time are provided to enhance age- and developmental- appropriate learning and connection for all.

Children will start each service in the church auditorium with the congregation for songs, prayers, videos, communion, and announcements and will move to the hall with their leaders when advised. In 2021 we will continue Digging into Foundation of Faith and follow the same readings and themes as Sunday Worship, learning more about the heart of God, and how to follow him.

To enhance child learning and discipleship, weekly Dig In @ Home materials are available at [www.emmanueluca.org.au/dig-in-at-home](https://vinteract.com.au/client/www.emmanueluca.org.au/dig-in-at-home), and we encourage you to connect with and talk about life and faith with your children during the week.

We look forward to "digging in' and connecting with your family soon.

Community Helping Hand is one way we can connect with our local Community by offering Help, using our Hands and Hearts.

What we offer is not fancy gourmet food, but basic things: baked beans, rice, noodles, milk, tea bags, toothpaste, etc.

COMMUNITY HELPING HAND HOURS ARE

MONDAY AND THURSDAY 9am - 12 noon only.

This is an emergency service only.

Due to the current Coronavirus, COVID-19 pandemic Community Helping Hand has had to reduce it's service hours and had to put other guidelines in place to try and keep everyone safe. We ask that if you are unwell that you do not come for a face to face consultation and call and we will try to deliver to you if we can. (this is will depend on volunteer capacity)

An Explore Group is an intentional gathering of people who meet to study the bible and apply it to their daily lives and to pray for and support each other. As expressed in Acts 2:42 – 47, Explore Groups meet to develop authentic Christian Community. Explore Groups meet weekly or fortnightly.

Each Explore Group is unique. Each group will have a time of bible study and discussion, where the passage being studied is understood and applied in our contemporary setting. In addition there will be a time of prayer. There may also be times of sharing and eating. Each Explore Group works out together how they will spend their time.

Due to the current Coronavirus, COVID-19 pandemic our Explore groups are meeting both face to face and in online modes to keep connected during this time.

If would like to join one of these Explore Groups and would like to know more information please contact the church office and we will get the group leader to give you a call.

Current Explore Groups

Solfa

2nd & 4th Mon 9:30am

KYB

Tues 9:45am

Wednesday Morning

Wed 9:15am

Bunnies Explore Group

Tues 7:00pm

Wednesday Wonderers

Fortnightly Thurs 7:00pm

Thursday Thinkers

2nd & 4th Thurs 7pm

Women’s Bible Study

Mon 12.45pm

If none of these times suit please also contact us there may be other like minded people and we can start a new group.

[Tiny Town Childcare Centre and Kindergarten](http://tinytown.com.au/)has enriched the lives of children in our community since 1974.

As an activity of Emmanuel Uniting Church, Enoggera, they specialise in a play-based learning programme which follows the QSA Kindergarten Guidelines.

Through their daily practices and interactions they promote the Christian ideals of love, forgiveness, respecting and serving others, equality, inclusiveness, and care for the environment.

Tiny Town believes in the principles of the Early Years Learning Framework, describing childhood as a time of belonging, being and becoming. We care for children from 2 to 5 years, with a specialist [pre-prep programme](http://tinytown.com.au/Pre-Prep-pg20246.html) for the year before school.

Tiny Town operates from 7.30am – 5.30pm - Monday to Friday. We have one group per day with a maximum of 24 children. Our indoor and outdoor play spaces are designed to provide children with the best educational play environment. For more information visit [tinytown.com.au](http://tinytown.com.au/)

Coronavirus, COVID-19 pandemic.

Hello friends of Enoggera Eisteddfod,

Sadly, with no end to the current restrictions on gatherings in sight, the committee has had to make the difficult decision to cancel the 2020 Enoggera Eisteddfod.

We are all incredibly disappointed by having to do this, especially as it is our 60th anniversary and we intended some celebrations. We expect that you will all be disappointed as well, particularly those who are 18 years this year and it will have been your last time competing with us.

However, in order to complete the receipt of entries, then arranging programme, prizes, adjudicators, accompanists etc in time, we need to start work now, and we can have no confidence at this time that we will be able to proceed.

We will keep our mailing list for next year so that we can be in touch then. If you know of any others who may be interested in the Eisteddfod next year, please ask them to contact us and we will add them onto the mailing list.

In the meantime, we wish you all the best through this difficult time and look forward to seeing as many of you as possible in 2021.

Kind regards,

Laurel

What is the Enoggera Eisteddfod

The Enoggera and District Eisteddfod has been an annual activity since its inception in 1960. It runs in August every year.

It provides an opportunity for young people up to 18 years of age to perform in front of an audience and to get feedback on their performance from highly qualified adjudicators in a friendly and safe environment.

Categories are

- PIANO

- VOCAL

- INSTRUMENTAL

- SPEECH AND DRAMA

The eisteddfod relies on volunteers and sponsors to remain viable and to keep entry fees as low as possible. If you can help in either way, please contact the secretary Laurel Muirhead.

Please email the secretary at eisteddfod@emmanueluca.org.au with any questions.

Stay tuned for Eisteddfod 2021 information.

Laurel Muirhead (Secretary)

Due to the current Coronavirus, COVID-19 pandemic Craft Group is currently not meeting face to face. We are instead keeping in touch with each other by other means.

We bring our own craft and work while chatting with each other.

Our ladies do crocheting, knitting and cross stitching.

Anyone who would like to join and learn a simple craft that our ladies do, would be very welcome.