"Stand up and be counted" - #NAIDOC2022 edition of UC National News 6-12 July

NAIDOC 2022: "Stand up and be counted!" This week is NAIDOC Week, a celebration of the history, culture, resilience and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples. Reflecting on the theme, Get Up! Stand Up! Show Up!, Uniting Aboriginal and Islander Christian Congress (UAICC) Interim National Chairperson Rev Mark Kickett said it was a reminder of the call of God upon our lives and an invitation to reflect on the journey we have been on as First and Second Peoples. He said: "The colonisation of this country disempowered and took away all that we were as human, as First Nations People, created in the image of God. This week we recall those who were not afraid to be brave, to stand up to injustice, to say, ‘this is not right’. We are reminded of where the path of following God takes us. God is calling us to get involved. To stand up and be brave. To stand up and be counted." Uniting Church President Rev Sharon Hollis said NAIDOC Week was an opportunity to celebrate First Nations People - all they’ve achieved and all they long for in these lands. We will continue to invite people this week to celebrate First Nations People at the heart of the UCA and explore ways to Live the Covenant Locally. Read more below and stay updated on our Facebook page.  Read more Reflections on the NAIDOC theme This year's NAIDOC Week theme is Get Up! Stand Up! Show Up! Hear from First and Second Peoples across the Church as they reflect on what this year's theme means to them.  Innovation in faith and art at Nungalinya College This week in NAIDOC Week 2022, we wanted to highlight the innovation taking place at Nungalinya College and one First Nations artist who is empowering others to share their faith and culture. Meet Noongar man Joe Cuttabut, a gifted artist, author and passionate teacher.  Living the Covenant Locally: Your story What does it mean to place First Nations People at the heart of our church? This week we are encouraging people to think about Living the Covenant Locally - an invitation for Second Peoples of our Church to engage in deep listening, learning, action and meaningful connection with First Peoples. Hear from some of the first UCA people and communities to sign on to this new initiative.   Two takes on the Census data The 2021 Census figures released last week found Australians are less interested in Christianity. More than 670,000 people identified with the Uniting Church, a decline of around 22 per cent since 2016. We offer two takes on the data that consider what opportunities lie ahead. UCA President Rev Sharon Hollis considers the call to be creative, courageous and hopeful and Assembly National Consultant Rev Dr Apwee Ting considers how a more culturally and religiously diverse Australia might expand and enrich our life.  WCC Assembly theme goes multilingual Ahead of the World Council of Churches' 11th Assembly to be held from 31 August to 8 September this year, a series of theological reflections on the Assembly theme, 'Christ’s Love Moves the World to Reconciliation and Unity', has been made available in nine languages. The global ecumenical gathering is expected to bring together more than 4000 people in Karlsruhe, Germany. Resourcing your ministry with children and families The latest Children & Families Ministry Update from Chris Barnett in the Synod of Victoria and Tasmania has lots of great events and resources for celebrating NAIDOC Week, nourishing faith at home and intergenerational worship. You can get this curated collection directly to your inbox every month by emailing Chris. UnitingCare celebrates NAIDOC Week UnitingCare Australia hosted a morning tea for NAIDOC Week with colleagues from the Salvation Army and Anglicare Australia on Tuesday 5 July. First Peoples Policy Advisor Sam Gledhill, a proud Murri woman from North Queensland, led the group through the reflection written by UnitingCare Australia board member Alison Overeem. It was a great opportunity to connect with friends in the Major Church Providers group and the first step in an exciting collaboration as we heed calls for a Voice to Parliament. Read more about how UnitingCare is committed to walking together as First and Second Peoples. JOBS Marketing and Communications Specialist - Uniting Church Synod of Western Australia Join the work of the communications team in the Synod of WA telling the story of the Church and its vision for justice, equality and creation. This is a contract role, until the end of December, based at the Uniting Church Centre in East Perth. Community Chaplain - Mount Dromedary Parish, Synod of NSW/ACT The unique role will serve within the Canberra Region Presbytery’s overall framework of responding to community needs identified in the aftermath of the 2019—2020 bushfires. The Community Chaplain will work to build capacity in communities which have been heavily impacted by bushfires and COVID-19. Join us in prayer for First Peoples across Australia and ongoing NAIDOC Week celebrations. As First and Second Peoples may we follow the path on which God is leading us, to get involved, stand up, be brave and be counted. The Ministry of Nungalinya College in Darwin. We give thanks for its work in developing the First Nations theological perspectives and equipping First Peoples for leadership in churches and communities. Safety and shelter for communities in NSW experiencing extreme weather, and those evacuating their homes due to heavy rainfall and flooding. Sudan, South Sudan, Uganda as part of the WCC Ecumenical Prayer Cycle. What does the NAIDOC Week theme Get Up, Stand Up, Show Up mean to you? Email Us

Copyright © 2022 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