We continue our #HumansoftheUnitingChurch series in this week's National Update 8-14 February

8-14 February 2023 National Update Your weekly snapshot of the Uniting Church in Australia

Our Featured Story Meet Anna Wilson This week we continue our new series, Humans of the Uniting Church, featuring people who make up the Uniting Church in all its areas of ministry and mission. We invite different people to share in their own words about faith, community, the Uniting Church and how we can pray for them. This week we hear from Anna Wilson, who serves on the Assembly Standing Committee and is a member of Ascot Community Uniting Church in the Synod of South Australia. Anna participated in the online gathering for the National Young Adult Leaders Conference last month. She shares her hope for us to be Church that welcomes everyone. "I hope for more young people to feel at home in the church, and also that all people can feel included and like they have a place in the church." If you know of someone with a great story to tell, contact us and nominate them to be featured! Meet Anna Act2 Full steam ahead on Act2 The Act2 Project Steering Committee endorsed the Act2 Project Plan at its meeting last Wednesday. We’re excited about the many opportunities for Uniting Church people, communities, councils and other bodies to participate in Act2 through 2023! In this update get a summary and visual snapshot of the Project Plan, and opportunities for you and your community or council to take part in the next three months. Prayer Earthquake devastates Syria and Türkiye We extend our prayers to the people of Türkiye and Syria in the midst of the devastating earthquakes. We pray for rescue efforts and for those grieving, including the Syrian and Turkish communities in Australia. Thank you to Assembly National Consultant Rev Dr Apwee Ting for sharing this prayer in English and Indonesian. Read about how churches in the region are reaching out to their communities. From around the Church Canowindra community connections Read the story behind Canowindra Connections Centre - an innovative space dedicated to building connections with and serving the community of Canowindra in the Central West of NSW. The project has come to life through collaboration between the Canowindra, Cranbury, and Cudal linked congregations, the Anglican Church, Uniting (NSW.ACT) and community members. Late last year, the Canowindra Connections Centre was officially opened by Uniting Church President Rev Sharon Hollis, Assembly General Secretary Colleen Geyer, Macquarie Darling Presbytery Chairperson Dr Denise Wood and members of the Macquarie Darling Presbytery.  Ecumenical news "It is a joy knowing God encompasses the earth." In this profile, World Council of Churches (WCC) new General Secretary Rev Prof Dr Jerry Pillay shares his vision for the global ecumenical movement. In describing the WCC fellowship of churches, he says,  "All churches are significant. All of them make up the family; when one suffers, we all suffer, and when one rejoices, we all rejoice. We are a fellowship of churches, and every church is of equal importance to the WCC." Photo: Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay. Credit: Peter Williams/WCC Events Uluru Statement from the Heart: Voice – Treaty – Truth Join Churches Together SA at two events with Professor Aunty Anne Pattel-Gray and Reverend Dr Garry Worete Deverell delving into the Uluru Statement of the Heart next Wednesday 15 February. Join in person at Adelaide West Uniting Church or online. Once you register and pay, a link for the livestreaming will be sent prior to the event. UnitingWorld Watch the LentEvent video It's two weeks until Lent Event begins! In this video, UnitingWorld National Director Dr Sureka Goringe gives her perspective on how we can make a difference in the world, despite the huge challenges facing us. Lent Event is a season of prayer, simplicity and generosity to change the world. And along the way, we change ourselves. Join here UnitingCare Australia Parliamentary year begins with prayer UnitingCare Australia joined the Ecumenical Service in Canberra this week to mark the start of the Parliamentary Year. The service was attended by political and faith leaders, including members of the To e Talatalanoa faith community at Canberra City Uniting Church. Fay Mound, Policy and Advocacy Director, participated in the pews, and Anna Page, Communications and Public Affairs Director, sang with St Paul’s Junior Choir. What a great way to start the parliamentary year!

Resources With Love to the World The next edition of With Love to the World is now available offering daily Biblical reflections based on the Lectionary from contributors across Australia. This issue covers the seasons of Lent and Easter. The cover art (above) is by artist and UCA minister Rev Rod Pattenden.   Find out more Act2 Project Drop-In this Friday The Act2 Drop-Ins are kicking on in 2023. Every fortnight you can find the Act2 team on Zoom. Join them for a relaxed conversation about your ideas, questions and feedback for the Project as the Exploration phase continues. The next Drop-In is this Friday 10 February at 1pm AEDT. Register Resources Just Earth App The Environmental Action Group - an action group of the Uniting Church in South Australia - has an app to guide you through Lent on the theme of Lamenting and Caring for Creation. It includes a  Biblical quote, inspiring pictures, quotes, prayers and actions for each day. Download the app (Android) or access it directly.   Download the app UnitingCare Value of Care submission Read UnitingCare Australia's submission The Value of Care to the Government's Employment White Paper. It outlines the opportunity for the care economy to be transformational for Australia’s future and for the care sector to advance gender equality.   Read the submission

Positions Office Manager - Newtown Mission Work as the key support person to the Senior Minister in the financial, administrative and property matters of Newtown Mission. Director of Ministry - The Wayside Chapel Reporting to the Pastor/CEO, the Director of Ministry is a significant leadership role in the life of The Wayside Chapel. Join us in prayer for Those impacted by the earthquake in Türkiye and Syria, for those grieving, for the safety of those missing and for the emergency response on the ground.  Young adults in the Uniting Church. We give thanks for their gifts, leadership and passion.  The worldwide ecumenical movement and for the leadership of the World Council of Churches in responding to global challenges. Andorra, Italy, Malta, Portugal, San Marino, Spain, Vatican City, as part of the WCC Ecumenical Prayer Cycle. Know a great story in the Uniting Church? Email us! Our weekly PowerPoint which can be incorporated into what you use each Sunday. These slides include a feature story, highlight resources and suggested prayer points. This week we include the prayer for Syria and Türkiye by Rev Dr Apwee TIng. Share Tweet Forward Copyright © 2023 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