• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • LCA Portal
  • LAMP2
  • LCA Online Donations
  • IT Help
  • Contact

SA/NT District

  • HOME
  • ABOUT US
    • About Lutherans
    • Our Mission
    • District Staff
    • Congregations and Pastors
    • Child Safety Commitment
    • Opportunities
  • DEPARTMENTS
    • Mission
      • Aboriginal Ministry
      • Mission Grants
    • Administration
    • Communications
    • Professional Standards
    • Chaplaincy
    • Child, Family, Youth, Young Adults
    • Ministry Partners
    • Other Ministries
  • NEWS
    • Latest News
    • Together Magazine
    • eNews
    • Call Information
  • EVENTS
    • Convention of Synod
    • Conferences and Other Events
    • Training and Workshops
  • RESOURCES
    • LCA Worship Resources
    • Policies and Procedures
    • Real Grace, Real Life, Real Community

Support Continues For Bushfire-affected

14 August 2020

by Amelia Dawkins

While COVID concerns and braving the winter weather may be front-of-mind for many at the moment, a group of dedicated Lutherans are making sure those affected by the Cudlee Creek bushfire aren’t forgotten.

Collectively the group maintains a number of services to fire-affected families in and around the Adelaide Hills, including meals delivery and a manual labour service that helps property owners clean up and restore their land to pre-bushfire status.

Working alongside them from the beginning has been Lutheran Community Care, providing free counselling services and financial guidance to those facing loss, grief and trauma.

Tamara Martin, LCC Family Relationship Practitioner, says that feeling supported and heard has been a blessing for many, and counselling with a Christian perspective has been deeply meaningful.

“In counselling, God’s love allows us the privilege of being with people, listening deeply as they share personal stories and work through feelings of loss and the pain of grief,” she says.

Mental health and wellbeing have been identified as a priority and LCC, Top of the Valley pastors and key church contacts have been working to develop ways to make the subject easier to broach.

“Offering care packs which contain local products, as well as information on mental health, the LCC counselling services and inspirational messages from the LCA has been a great way to connect with and support people,” says Tamara.

The care packs have been distributed by pastors and key church members to locals who have suffered large losses and setbacks from the fires, helping them to remember they’ve not been forgotten, and offering them the opportunity to talk further.

Feedback from the community has been overwhelmingly positive and Tamara says although there is a sense that many are still struggling to cope with the devastation the fires have brought, LCC and the Top of the Valley congregations have made a commitment to stick by the community for as long as it takes.

“We see God’s love in action everywhere,” says Tamara.

“It is God’s great love within people that empowers them to reach out and help others during, and long after, the fires. God’s love is experienced in the many acts of compassion and kindness – trees being planted, fences and homes being rebuilt, the clearing of debris. And God’s love is in nature – the new growth and possibilities of each new day.”

Counselling and financial counselling appointments with Lutheran Community Care can be made for a one-off chat or for ongoing support. Appointments can be attended in person at the Woodside Lutheran Church office or over the phone or Zoom. To make an appointment, please call 0438 890 256 (counselling) and (08) 7070 6717 (financial counselling).

READ MORE STORIES ABOUT Bushfires

« Celebrating Worship In Our Church Buildings
A Word From Your Bishop »

Primary Sidebar

Archives for all Posts

  • June 2025
  • May 2025
  • April 2025
  • March 2025
  • February 2025
  • January 2025
  • 2025
  • 2024
  • 2023
  • 2022
  • 2021
  • 2020
  • 2019
  • 2018
  • 2017
  • Tags

    Aged Care ALWS baptism Bishop Blueprint Ministries Blueprint Ministries Youth Bushfires Camps celebration Central Australia Chaplaincy child safety Child Safety Standards Christmas community events conference congregation congregations Convention of Synod COVID disasters Easter Education events family Grant LLL lutheran care Lutheran Community Care Lutheran Disability Services Lutheran Women of SA-NT LWSA-NT ministry mission mission grant nurses outreach pastors Professional Standards resources schools volunteering WHS worship youth

    Footer

    Contact Us

    137 Archer Street North Adelaide SA 5006
    Phone 08 8267 5211
    Email us

    Copyright © 2025 · LCA Districts Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in