InterculturalMeeting2023113

Link to InterCulturalMinistry

INTERCULTURAL TASK GROUP MEETING 7:30pm face to face at church

Friday 3rd November 2023

1. AGENDA

1.1. Indonesian Christmas celebration 10th December 2023.

1.2. Lunar New Year celebration 18th February 2024 11am to 9pm Kingsway

(see email I forwarded to you from Neil with the information)

1.3. KOLINTANG – offer from Consul-General

• See Report to church council:

• DavidMorgan (Council secretary) has asked:

  1. How could we store them safely so they remain in good condition?
  2. How often would we use it?
  3. Do the Glen Iris Indonesian congregation have an interest in them?
  4. What is likely to happen to them if we decline?
• Draft letter to Consul-General – below*

1.4. Sharing with GMIM, Riedel – Christmas celebration?

– involve Pdt. Lini, Gita, Jerry and Evan?

1.5. Bible reading at worship in languages other than English.

1.6. Update on GMIM young adults here on Working Holiday Visas.

1.7. Indonesian Fellowship update (Lucky & Glyn)

1.8. Future plans for 2023/ 2024?

1.9. AOB

Mr Kuncoro Waseso,
Consul-General of the Republic of Indonesia for Victoria and Tasmania.
72 Queens Road,
Melbourne.
18 October 2023
 
Dear Mr Waseso,
 
Re: Kind offer to gift the kolintang to GWUC
 
Firstly, thank you for the very generous offer from the consulate to gift the kolintang to GWUC.  As you know, with the assistance of Mr Lucky Kalonta, we have featured it a number of times over recent years in our worship and celebrations. Consequently, Church Council is receptive to the idea, but at this time they are unable to think of a suitable storage area so they would like to request more time to consider the possibilities.
 
Glyn Howells
Convenor Intercultural Task Group
on behalf of the Church Council,
Glen Waverley Uniting Church.

2. DRAFT Notes from INTERCULTURAL TASK GROUP MEETING 7:30pm face to face at church

Friday 3rd November 2023 room 4

Present: Glyn (notes), Sachin, Lucky, Vida and Jan Clear.

Glyn opened with a prayer and an Acknowledgement of Country from the Uniting Church website.

2.1. Indonesian Christmas celebration 10th December 2023

made up of
A) worship: culturally diverse? Glyn and Lucky to discuss with ministry team.
celebration – dance, songs, …
Lucky to organise B); ask David Fraser to be MC; followed by dinner
Introduce and welcome young people on Working Holiday Visas.
Announce in bulletin/ congregational meeting November 19th
Invite via Newsbeat, email to neighbouring congregations, Inter-church council, Monash interfaith group.
Seek participation from our linguistically diverse members in worship/ or celebration

2.2. Lunar New Year celebration 18th February 2024 11am to 9pm Kingsway

(see email I forwarded to you from Neil with the information)

• YES we want to participate; Vida to be convenor.
• ask Joanne to fill in and return application
• children’s activities – colouring and craft – ask David Fraser to design/ create as he did last year; youth group to help?
• Is there a budget? $440 for a space as non profit, need an extra $500 for materials eg brochure, Chinese sweets, pencils, activity materials for children?
• Working bee week before to prepare (after church)

2.3. KOLINTANG – offer from Consul-General

See Report to church council:

• David Morgan (Council secretary) has asked:InterculturalReport202310

  • How could we store 8 units safely so they remain in good condition?InterculturalReport202310	Store room B – Glyn and Lucky to investigate with DavidMorgan initially: build metal shelves to house (Lucky has done this before); risers from Free Spirit can be stored in outside shed. Investigate before going to property committee.
    How often would we use it?	3-4 times per year
    Do the Glen Iris Indonesian congregation have an interest in them?	No. It is a peculiarly Minahasa instrument – local culture.
    What is likely to happen to them if we decline?	We didn’t answer this

    • Draft letter to Consul-General – below*

2.4. Sharing with GMIM, Riedel – Christmas celebration?

We could involve Pdt. Lini, Gita, Jerry and Evan who are from GMIM. Linda and Adi from north Sumatra. Could we record and send parts to share with Riedel.

2.5. Bible reading at worship in languages other than English.

Endorsed especially in Chinese/ Cantonese.

2.6. Update on GMIM young adults here on Working Holiday Visas.

Lucky, Geri, Andrew and Glyn had bbq with Gita, Lini, Evan, Josh, Adi, Linda on Melbourne Cup Day. Invited them to Christmas celebration. They have built up a strong network to support each other and share working opportunities/ offers among themselves and new arrivals. Some have connected strongly with local Uniting Church, Anglican and Presbyterian churches in various places.

2.7. Indonesian Fellowship update

It was proposed that next year we meet in person and zoom each week. Need budget of $5,500 (?) assuming honorarium each week for minister. Our current time of worship means GMIM friends/ family are in church at the same time so can’t join us. Suggestion: eat at 2pm and worship at 3pm so we’re not in the way of 5pm group. How would this affect those who attend from here? Needs more discussion and perhaps a trial for February and March before finalising arrangement.

2.8. Future plans for 2023/ 2024

UCAF speaker from Indonesia – Lucky to inform Margaret Duncan with date and name Intercultural Festival: 2025. See if David Fraser’s globe can be resurrected as it speaks to new arrivals. Idea of a greeting banner to replace the one in storage with a national flag/greeting/ Bible passage in English from John – “God so loved the world…”.

2.9. AOB

Jan to text Steven Chew re Khor Cheng Moral Uplifting Society function.

2.10. Next meeting:

week 3 of January: zoom or face to face – to be decided (not sure where I will be)
Schedule meeting to invite Rev Ian Ferguson
Continue discussion of whether to have an Intercultural Festival in 2024 or 2025.

Jan closed the meeting with prayer at 9:30.

GlynHowells