Happy Christmas! UC National News Christmas Edition

Hope because God is with us: President's Christmas message In her first Christmas message, Uniting Church in Australia President Rev Sharon Hollis reflects on the immense challenges of 2021 and how COVID has affected us all, one way or another.  "Jesus meets our fears, showing God is not distant from the world, but fully in the world," says Rev Hollis. "In meeting our fears, Jesus brings hope." The video message is available for UCA congregations and faith communities to play at Christmas services and events. Access the video using the password Hope2021. A Christmas story of trials, hope and love Meet Bill and Sana Soliola, grandfather Su'a, and their 10 children! The Soliola family from Lidcombe Samoan Uniting Church featured in the 2021 Christmas Message from Rev Sharon Hollis (see above). We share their Christmas story in this video. Bill and Sana reflect on what 2021 has been like for them amidst the trials of COVID-19, home schooling and Zoom church, and how their faith in Jesus and their love for each other has kept their light burning. Enjoy their inspiring story! President's Podcast launched Today we're excited to launch Dwelling - the new podcast from President Rev Sharon Hollis. We invite you to dwell in rich and deep conversation with some of the interesting and inspiring people the President meets. Series 1 is all about Act2, and in Episode 1 Sharon shares a conversation with Assembly General Secretary Colleen Geyer about her journey in the Uniting Church and the guiding vision behind Act2 to equip life-giving communities of hope in the UCA. Read the latest Act2 report and have your say. Prayers for Devonport In the wake of the Hillcrest Primary School tragedy in Devonport, Synod of Victoria and Tasmania Moderator Rev Denise Liersch and UCA President Rev Sharon Hollis have offered their prayers for the families and friends of those who died, their classmates and the community of Devonport.  Leprena UAICC Tasmania Manager Alison Overeem has offered a reflection expressing the love, care and compassion of all in Lutrawita (Tasmania). Day 22: Assembly Circles Advent Calendar Christmas in Fiji? Ofa Foiakau takes you there in this video reflection - Gift #22 in the Assembly Circles Advent Calendar. Ofa describes Christmas in a Fijian village, the sense of celebration, relationship and selfless giving, and shares her prayer that our world leaders act to protect these beautiful villages.  World Council of Churches Christmas Message World Council of Churches (WCC) Acting General Secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Ioan Sauca has shared a Christmas message reflecting on the intrigue and challenge of the Christmas story and urging us to find new ways of living that express our care for future generations. Thank you for sharing Everything in Common! UnitingWorld has been blown away by the support of Uniting Church members this Christmas. More people than ever have been hosting gift stalls, with over 120 advocates raising much-needed funds for the work of our international partners. Thank you for helping fight poverty and build hope with the global church!    There’s still time to support Everything in Common by ordering print-at-home gift cards and sending e-cards to your loved ones.  #ThanksforCaring As the end of the year approaches, UnitingCare Australia have sent a message of thanks to their supporters on social media celebrating their key achievements in 2021. Among them: record investment in Aged Care, the launch of Uniting Friends of Ageing, the first permanent increase to the base rate of JobSeeker in 30 years and a leading role in the swift response to support Australians during COVID-19! Day of Mourning resource Join others across the Uniting Church on or around Sunday 23 January in lamenting the dispossession of Australia’s First Peoples and the ongoing injustices faced by First Nations people in this land. The Assembly National News Update will return on Wednesday 19 January 2022. If you or someone you know would like to get the Uniting Church story delivered to your inbox each week SUBSCRIBE HERE. Wishing you a happy and holy Christmas!

JOIN US IN PRAYER FOR: The Devonport community. We pray for the families and friends of the children who died, their classmates, emergency workers who responded and all those providing care for the community.  The people of the Philippines in the wake of Typhoon Rai which killed more than 300 people. We pray for those mourning lives lost and families who have been displaced or left without food and water.  Uniting Church communities of faith and all Christians who will celebrate the birth of Jesus at Christmas. We pray we will be united in and transformed by God's hope, peace, joy and love.  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