Front and Centre

Christmas is a beautiful time to remember how thankful and grateful we are. It is a great time of celebration as we prepare to celebrate both the birth of Jesus, and the truth that he will come again. A time when families get together. As a result of that however for a number of people Christmas can be a difficult time. There are families who have lost loved ones during the year. In the year following the loss of a loved ones there are a number of firsts. The first birthday, or Mothers or Father’s Day, or Christmas are all times where we feel more keenly the loss of those we love. The Service of Solace that we offer is a way of helping people acknowledge loss at this time. It is not just if something has happened this year, there are people who like to come every year and remember and honour those they love. This year COVID has changed many lives and families and for most of us our family gatherings will be different. Those with families overseas are learning to skype and connect electronically. It’s not the same but it a way of connecting. COVID has other effects. Some people have lost employment and though government assistance has helped many families are struggling financially and our Community Helping Hand is one way that we seek to assist people. Your continuing support financially or with time and skills enables this ministry to continue and people’s lives to be changed for the better. Thank you to Ros and Helen and the team. Through the hampers of hope and joy we have been able to reach to needy families who are a part of Community Helping hand or have sought assistance from our local school chaplains. Thank you again to Ross and the team who have facilitated this. There are many local families who will have a better Christmas because of the work that people from Emmanuel do. Thank you to Judy and her team who have sought to make life a better place for the people of Noro in Solomon Islands. We can rightly be proud of what we do but also be aware that there is still much need out there. Take some time this Christmas to pray for those who are in need. For those refugees and those seeking asylum, for those in quarantine waiting for permission to go home, for those who live rough on the streets. Though we cannot meet everyone’s needs we need to start somewhere and make a difference? Thank you to those members of our congregation who do just that. In this Advent/ Christmas season think about how you can enrich and bless the life of at least one other person. Share with them the truth of Emmanuel, meaning God with us this Christmas.

Brian

for rest of the newsletter Click [here](https://mailchi.mp/1c251ed6680f/newsletter-1917727)

Playgroup is now allowed to meet again face to face, with strict COVID Safe measures in place as addressed in the COVID safe plan [here](https://emmanueluca.org.au/d/4jqM6tAkvSlWkjJsZNiOD0co9).

For Term 4, 2020 we plan to meet every week in the Hall with different themed activities and crafts each week. See the [thematic program](https://emmanueluca.org.au/d/4M2urPJB8qcwlLdigTYifcZOr) for details

Before you attend Playgroup you MUST complete the online enrollment form [here](https://emmanueluca.elvanto.com.au/form/ee0d2401-1941-4277-beaf-d803d7d5d226)

We are also keeping in touch with each other via email and our Facebook page www.facebook.com/emmanuelplaygroup

Please let us know if there is any way that we can support you during this time. We look forward to meeting with our playgroup community again face-to-face as soon as we can.

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 is now allowed to meet again face to face, with strict COVID Safe measures in place as addressed in the COVID safe plan [here](https://emmanueluca.org.au/d/WUUvcFfJ7WhvOKBnANYizp3ox).

For girls looking for fun and friendship in a safe and supported environment.

Thursday nights during school term, 6:00pm - 7:30pm

Girls’ Brigade supports families, serves the community and meets the needs of girls today. Our program includes a wide range of activities that supports the spiritual, physical, and emotional growth of girls.

Emmanuel Boys' Brigade is now allowed to meet again face to face, with strict COVID Safe measures in place as addressed in the COVID safe plan [here](https://emmanueluca.org.au/d/sZzHFVpfJScOZBgg7dVyC2T5H).

Fun, Challenge and Adventure for boys aged 5-18 years

Wednesday nights during school terms

New Section times

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.

Sunday School at Emmanuel is now allowed to meet again face to face, with strict 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 enrollment form [here](https://emmanueluca.elvanto.com.au/form/ffdc4295-746a-435d-a374-efe3d8935b07)

We are also still encouraging households to continue with Faith at Home practices whether they attend 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 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 2020 we will be Digging into Epic Stories of the Bible and 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 under the devotions tab above, and we encourage you to connect with and talk about life and faith with your children during the week.

To ensure that we can provide the best care for children in Sunday School, we ask that the enrolment form be completed the first time you attend Sunday School in each year. This can be found attached here, and will be available electronically on Sunday Mornings.

We look forward to "digging in' 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)

Youth Band is run on a Friday night from 5pm - 6:30pm.

It is a perfect place to connect with like-minded youth in a fun and safe environment.

Youth Band is open to anyone of high school age who can sing or play an instrument and would like to learn more about playing in a modern band setting.

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)