UC National News 7-13 July - Counting down to the 16th Assembly, NAIDOC Week stories, TNC goes online, Older Persons Sunday and more

Counting down to the 16th Assembly With just nine days until the 16th Assembly begins, we encourage you to pray for the meeting and its members to be led by the guidance of the Holy Spirit.  Members of the Assembly had the opportunity to come together online for the first time this weekend building connections that will extend across the triennium. Read about the gathering of youthful delegates and the first meetings of community working groups. All Uniting Church members are invited to watch the Opening of the Assembly and the installation of Rev Sharon Hollis as President of the Uniting Church in Australia. The service will take place next Saturday 17 July at 11.30am. Tune in on our website or Facebook page. Six Weeks of Dwelling in Prayer In Week 5 of Six Weeks of Dwelling in Prayer, Rev Faye Talatonu leads us in prayer for the 16th Assembly in Samoan. Congress voices uplifted in NAIDOC Week As we celebrate the ancient culture, resilience and achievements of Australia's First Peoples during NAIDOC Week 2021, it has been wonderful to see the voices of our Uniting Aboriginal and Islander Christian Congress (UAICC) shared in the wider public space. In the last week, the ABC has featured the stories of UAICC Interim National Chair Ps Mark Kickett, Aunty Rev Dr Denise Champion, Brooke Prentis, Aunty Janet Oobagooma and Ps Kirsty Burgu on TV and radio. We share these links and other resources to help you participate in NAIDOC Week. Second Generation lead first online TNC For the first time in its history, the Tongan National Conference (TNC) of the Uniting Church met online, and its Second Generation team led the way. Hear from David Fungalei about the behind-the-scenes work and watch their highlights video.  Solidarity, support and fellowship: UCA National Conferences Read the highlights or watch the full webinar exploring the history and witness of the Uniting Church’s National Conferences which continue to give shape to our identity as a multicultural church.  Continue the conversation in the Being a Multicultural Church Circle. Save the date: Older Person's Sunday Uniting Churches are being encouraged to recognise the human rights and dignity of older people on 3 October, the first Sunday after the United Nations’ International Day of Older Persons. WCC Central Committee meets online World Council of Churches (WCC) Central Committee Member Emily Evans shares how the WCC negotiated 24 different time zones, daily meetings and zoom fatigue to run its first online business session. The impact of joining hands with UnitingWorld UnitingWorld wanted to say a big thank you for joining hands and helping people take charge of their lives through education, training and employment initiatives.

Ministry Team Leader - Southside Uniting Church, Southside Uniting Church is seeking to call a Ministry Team Leader to provide strategic, missional, pastoral and operational leadership through collaboration with the Church Council, ministry team and the church communities. Aboriginal Employment Specialist - Uniting, Sydney Uniting seeks an Aboriginal person for an Aboriginal Employment Specialist role based in Parramatta, Sydney. Use your passion for creating employment and career opportunities for Aboriginal peoples to make a difference.

JOIN US IN PRAYER FOR: Final preparations for the 16th Assembly of the Uniting Church in Australia and for the online gatherings taking place this weekend with Assembly agencies and groups as they report on the national life of the Church.  For healing of this land and her First Nations Peoples. The space that enables the gifts and leadership of emerging generations in the Uniting Church to flourish.  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