One response to the disaster in Samoa

from Peceli,
I received this email and I am passing it on to our website. Me da masulaki Samoa.
UnitingWorld launches Samoa Tsunami Appeal
01.10.2009

In response to reports of the devastating impact of the Samoa tsunami and the enormous relief effort our partner churches face, UnitingWorld has launched an emergency relief appeal. UnitingWorld’s Associate Director Church Solidarity (Pacific) Bruce Mullan has been in contact overnight with the leadership of the Samoan Methodist Church and the Congregational Christian Church of Samoa to offer support to UnitingWorld’s Church Partners in Samoa.

“The leadership of our partner churches indicated that any support from the Uniting Church in Australia would not only be used to attend to immediate medical, food supply and clothing needs but also to address the long term impact of the tsunami,” said Mr Mullan.

UnitingWorld has learned that a Samoan Congregational minister’s wife was killed and many church members have been affected by the tragedy. Methodist General Secretary, Rev. Tupo Folasa II, reported that authorities are still finding bodies while many more are homeless and in need of food and clothing.

Congregational General Secretary, Rev. Dr Lutisone Salevao, said people were, “still reeling from the adverse effects of what has happened.”

“We’re doing our best to cope,” he said.

Mr Mullan said a key issue is not just the damage to homes, church buildings and property but the emotional damage that the Samoan people have suffered. “My feeling is that more than anything the appeal might address, they are comforted that their Uniting Church sisters and brothers in Australia were in solidarity with them at this time,” he said. “They really covet our prayers.”

UnitingWorld is accepting donations to the Samoa Tsunami Appeal for the immediate needs and long term wellbeing of the affected communities. More information about the appeal is available on UnitingWorld’s website at www.unitingworld.org.au

Donations can be made to UnitingWorld: Online www.unitingworld.org.au
Call 1800 998 122 Via mail PO Box A2266 Sydney South 1235
Gifts of $2 and over are tax deductible.

Happy Christmas - mo marau ni Siga ni Sucu

from w
This morning we went to Altona Meadows/Laverton Uniting Church where Peceli is a Minister in Association. All the Fiji gang seemed to have headed for Suva for a big wedding that was on last Friday! Anyway it was a lovely morning with so many dressed up kids and adults performing a nativity play. The top photo is of Leonie, the minister, with little kids, another is of the music band including a Samoan guitar player, one of boy angels, another of 'Mary' 'Joseph' and a real baby.

Davuilevu has a website but what is it?

pictures above are of the Theological Students Chapel and Baker Hall Church at Davuilevu.
from w
Church website boosts training
Saturday, March 31, 2007 (from Fiji Times)

THE Methodist Church Theological College at Davuilevu is set to boost its training of ministers with the opening of the library extension and launch of the college website yesterday. College Principal, the Reverend Epineri Vakadewavosa said the occasion marked a new chapter in the history of the college. "The new extension will provide more space to the existing library, a computer lab for students, as well as two dedicated classrooms for the bachelor of Divinity students. The idea behind the extension was a natural progression of our academic journey," Mr Vakadewavosa said.

Visiting other colleges we saw the need to lift our standards of facilities and with the Bachelor of Divinity program applying for accreditation from the South Pacific Association of Schools, the time was ripe for us to enhance our provision of and access to quality research," he said. "There was an unmistakable need for more and relevant books in our libraries and access to the internet for the students," he He said the project was part of a concerted effort to raise the level of theological education offered at the school.

"As more of the laity becoming well educated and with the impact of the media, our ministers are being left behind. "The clergy needs to have a level of theological education to be able to read the signs of times and be aware of the reality of the issues that are affecting those under their care," he said. "While this is a humble beginning for us, we look to the future when we will be able to purchase more computers to accommodate the growing needs of students." He said the project was the result of the hard work of both the faculty and the students.
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And may I add, the generous donations of many people overseas including a project of Dr Meo in Melbourne, and also Tepola Raicebe's church group in Melbourne.
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I do hope the students are already accessing some of the church stuff on the web - which of course goes from the excellent to the ridiculous! Some gems are there to assist leaders and seekers. One blog I found to be super is by a Uniting church woman in Gippsland. It's simply called seedstuff. and I have posted two pics from her website.