UC National News 12-18 May - UCA Budget response, Building Harmony Iftar, our Justice-oriented Church and more

A welcome investment in vital services The Assembly of the Uniting Church in Australia has welcomed the historic investment in social services in the Federal Budget handed down yesterday. UCA President Dr Deidre Palmer commended the Federal Government's investment in measures that will make a difference in people's lives - including in aged care, mental health and support for women's economic participation and safety. Read the response from across the Church about welcome measures and missed opportunities.   Breaking the fast and building harmony About 100 people joined together for the eighth annual Building Harmony Iftar Dinner hosted by the Uniting Church in Australia and the Affinity Intercultural Foundation across two venues in Sydney last week.  "You are called by God" Get a taste of the recent President's Conference with this highlights video. Over four days participants gathered to hear about and reflect on the ways God is calling us to live lives of justice, reconciliation, hope and liberation in the world.  'A Reign of Justice' This week in our Identity series we look at justice as an integral part of the DNA of the Uniting Church. We celebrate the many expressions of this commitment across the life of the Church and tell the story of how the community of Brunswick Uniting Church has become known as an active presence of hospitality, justice and community engagement. "We must pursue climate justice" In our second Identity piece, Raúl Sugunananthan, President of Christian Students Uniting at Sydney University, writes to the Uniting Church about why he believes justice is integral to who we are as a Church. He invites UCA members to join him and other young leaders at the Schools Strike for Climate next Friday 21 May.  Next week we'll look at our Identity as a intercultural church. Stay tuned for our special Pentecost video with the reading of Acts 2:1-21 in different languages.  Get involved in National Reconciliation Week Reconciliation Week 2021 begins with National Sorry Day on 26 May - an important time to reflect on our commitment to a new way forward, announcing the rightful place of First Nations voices - a new way shaped by truth telling and treaty. Stay tuned for resources and more to be shared in the next two weeks. 20 years of the Uniting Medically Supervised Injecting Centre    It has been 20 years since the Uniting Medically Supervised Injecting Centre opened its doors in Sydney’s Kings Cross, the first of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere. The anniversary was celebrated with a presentation of dozens of hearts to NSW parliament and renewed calls for a health approach to drug law reform.  Stories of Childhood Stories of Childhood is held annually for those engaged in ministry – including Playgroups - with families with children aged 0-5. The 2021 online event will focus on nurturing spirituality in 0-5s and their carers, and on growing leaders. Help UnitingWorld end poverty UnitingWorld has launched their tax-time appeal. Read about the inspiring work of the Methodist Church of Sri Lanka and make a tax-deductible donation that can have up to six times the impact ending poverty and building hope in the world. The impacts of showing up This short video shares the story of how a Frontier Services team of Outback Links volunteers made a world of difference for Helen after her property was ravaged by bushfires and her family lost everything.  Join PreachFest Register now for this national 3-day festival from 1-3 June 2021 created to inspire and enliven the craft, art and vocation of preaching across Australia. Read more about the event inspired by The Festival of Homiletics in the US.

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JOIN US IN PRAYER FOR: Our political leaders and decision-makers to continue to seek the flourishing of all people and all creation. All those across the Uniting Church who are living out a commitment to seek and advocate for equality, be in solidarity with the marginalised, work for peace, and care for creation. Preparations for the 16th Assembly of the Uniting Church which will be held online from 17-18 July.  Copyright © 2021 Uniting Church in Australia, All rights reserved. We're sending you weekly updates because you opted into news from the Uniting Church in Australia. Our mailing address is: Uniting Church in Australia Lvl 4 262 Pitt St Sydney, NSW 2000 Australia