It's out! 💬 President's Easter message released in this National Update 29 March - 4 April

29 March - 4 April 2023 National Update Your weekly snapshot of the Uniting Church in Australia

Our Featured Story New life in Christ  “In the death and resurrection of Jesus is a call from God to new life in Christ. It is a call from despair to hope, from evil to goodness, from sorrow to joy.” This is the reflection of Uniting Church in Australia President Rev Sharon Hollis in her 2023 Easter message which is now available for Uniting Church members to watch and share.  In this year’s video message, Rev Sharon Hollis has invited three Uniting Church women ministers to reflect on what it means to have new life in Christ, sharing in their own languages. Rev Heeyoung Lim from Leighmoor Uniting Church speaks in Korean, Rev Kharis Abadani from Mulgrave Uniting Church speaks in Indonesian and Rev Juliette Maua’i from St Stephen's Uniting Church Williamstown speaks in Samoan. Their combined reflections remind us that the gift of resurrection life is the hope that we have in the transforming power of Christ and the assurance of new life in our own lives and in our world. With thanks to the community of Springvale Uniting Church for providing the location for this message. The message is freely available to download, we just ask that you please do not share this message on social media until Easter Sunday.  Download and watch the Easter message INTERFAITH NEWS Building Harmony Iftar Dinner celebrates 10 years In an expression of hospitality, solidarity and friendship, 90 guests gathered for the annual Building Harmony Iftar Dinner co-hosted by the Uniting Church Assembly, Uniting NSW.ACT, the Synod of NSW/ACT and Affinity Intercultural Foundation, this year marking its 10th year. The dinner had a special focus on what it means to build harmony in our nation with the theme - Journey to the Heart – reflecting on the Uluru Statement from the Heart and the invitation of the upcoming referendum. The keynote address was powerfully delivered by Indigenous filmmaker Rachel Perkins. JUSTICE Walk for #Justice4Refugees on Palm Sunday As Christians remember the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem, people from all walks of life will participate in Palm Sunday rallies and marches to call for peace and justice, especially justice and dignity for refugees and people seeking asylum in Australia. Our story has the details of events all around the country this Sunday 2 April. LENT Lenten reflection #6: New life In our sixth Lenten reflection, Rev Erik Lennestål shares a beautiful icon from his collection and reflects on Christ as the 'gardener of creation' and of new life, justice and reconciliation in the here and now. Erik is a member of the Act2 Project Unit and Eastwood Uniting Church in NSW. HUMANS OF THE UNTING CHURCH Meet Wendy Elson Next up in our Humans of the Uniting Church series we meet Rev Deacon Wendy Elson, minister at Wonthaggi and Inverloch Uniting Churches on Victoria's beautiful Bass Coast. She reflects, "When that big question 'Where are you God?' arises, I look into the face of those on the edges, and of our community’s wonderful kids. The answer is right there looking out through their eyes." If you know an inspirational Uniting Church person or community with a great story to tell, contact us and nominate them to be featured. UNITINGCARE AUSTRALIA Church providers unite for the Voice UnitingCare Australia has joined Australia’s major faith-based charitable service networks calling on all members of the 47th Federal Parliament to support the Voice.  The leaders of six major service networks released an open letter to the Parliament, met with a number of MPs, and spoke to the media in Canberra on 22 March. The open letter says that “we have an historic opportunity to support justice for First Peoples”.

Act2 Project Sign up! Uniting in Prayer Between Pentecost and the Uniting Church Anniversary this year (28 May-22 June), the Uniting Church will share in a national time of prayer. Make sure you're signed up to get the worship resources and to join in prayer over the 26 days. Sign up now Uniting Friends of Ageing Next Conversation It is two years since the final report of the Royal Commission into Aged Care. Join Uniting Friends of Ageing and UnitingCare Australia’s Senior Policy Adviser, Nathan Blane, to discuss the progress of aged care reforms, at 4 pm, AEST, Tuesday 4 April. Contact: Warren Talbot on warrent@nat.unitingcare.org.au Join UnitingWorld Jane Kennedy signs off This week UnitingWorld said a very grateful and fond farewell to Jane Kennedy, who has been serving with the organisation in various roles for a decade. She shares a reflection on her time at UnitingWorld.    Read Jane's farewell blog Frontier Services Bush Chaplain wanted! Frontier Services is seeking a Bush Chaplain for the Cunnamulla, Burke and Wills Remote Area to provide practical, pastoral and spiritual support and a community presence. Are you someone who loves connecting God, people and the land, and supporting people in the places they live?   Find out more

Positions Manager, Escaping Violence Payments - Uniting VicTas Lead this innovative pilot program offering assistance and support to help people move forward and live free from violence. Younger people and families Minister - Ipswich UC, QLD Lead the congregation to develop a quality, engaging, sustainable, innovative ministry for and with young people and their families. Join us in prayer for Those who will march for peace and justice this Palm Sunday. We pray that our leaders will hear the call for policies that lead to permanent protection for all refugees. As we mark International Transgender Day of Visibility on Friday, we pray we might be allies for transgender people in our communities, and for all people to know God's infinite love.  Interfaith harmony in our communities. That as Christians we might follow Jesus' example in giving and receiving hospitality, particularly with those of other faiths and no faith. May we seek to build friendships and bonds of mutual respect. Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia as part of the WCC Ecumenical Prayer Cycle. Do you have a story to share? Email us! Our weekly PowerPoint with stories, resources and prayer points for use in your weekly worship. 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