Uniting Church in Australia - #Budget2023, Fijian Bible Study launch, Join Together, Yes, Unite in Prayer + more in this week's National Update 10-16 May

10-16 May 2023 National Update Your weekly snapshot of the Uniting Church in Australia

Our Featured Story Welcome support for vulnerable Australians The Uniting Church in Australia has today welcomed the clear commitment in the Federal Budget to deliver support to those who are most vulnerable in our community.  Uniting Church Assembly President Rev Sharon Hollis said it was pleasing to see significant investments in the budget  for rent assistance, single parenting payments, bulk billing to improve access to GPs, energy price relief and the aged care workforce, while noting some measures fell short.  “We are thankful for the priority given by the Albanese Government to address cost-of-living pressures facing many Australians and a range of measures that will support vulnerable Australians.” Rev Hollis acknowledged the increase to JobSeeker but said an additional $2.85 a day would not lift people out of poverty.  Read more from the President and our national agencies about what the budget included for aged care, climate, First Nations people, those in the bush and international development assistance.  Read our budget response RESOURCES Fijian Bible Study book launch A new publication containing detailed Bible Studies written in Fijian has been launched this week at a worship service hosted by the Fiji Parish at Canterbury Uniting Church. The text is the work of respected Uniting Church Fijian minister and theologian Rev Dr Iliesa Jovili Meo who for many years produced the weekly Bible Studies to support Fijian speakers in deepening their faith through engagement with scripture. VOICE TO PARLIAMENT Join Together, Yes: UCA Information session The upcoming referendum is a historic opportunity for Australians to acknowledge and honour First Nations people. Uniting Church people have an opportunity to be a part of this. Together, Yes, is looking for people to host small local conversations that provide open and respectful spaces to talk about the issues underpinning a Voice to Parliament. An information session specifically for Uniting Church members will take place on 1 June at 12pm AEST. Register now! Humans of the Uniting Church  RACHEL COLLIS 'A safe haven for exploring doubts' Next up in our Humans of the Uniting Church series we meet singer-songwriter Rachel Collis. Originally a classically trained pianist, Rachel was awarded a Masters Of Music in Composition in 2012 and has released four studio albums. Rachel will be performing in a fundraising concert for refugees in Sydney on Sunday 4 June where all proceeds will go to the Asylum Seekers Centre (ASC) and Refugee Advice & Casework Service (RACS). If you know an inspirational Uniting Church person or community with a great story to tell, contact us and nominate them to be featured. ACT2 PROJECT 5 ways to Unite in Prayer this month There's less than three weeks until Uniting in Prayer kicks off around the national Uniting Church! We'll be journeying through 26 days of prayer for our communities, our life and future as the Uniting Church, and our world. From hosting prayer in your community to joining our national prayer chain, sharing together at home and praying with us daily - here are five ways to take part in this national movement of prayer. UNITINGWORLD Rev Dr Apwee Ting welcomed to a new role Uniting World has welcomed Rev Dr Apwee Ting as its new International Church Partnerships Manager. A combined closure of ministry and induction service marked Apwee's transition from National Consultant with the Assembly to his new role with UnitingWorld. We continue to give thanks for Apwee's faithful ministry across the national church - and now with our international partners too!

UnitingCare Australia Budget 2023-2024: Putting people first UnitingCare Australia welcomes the Albanese Labor Government's significant funding for the wellbeing of Australians in the 2023-24 Budget. "Budgets are about choices and people should be at the heart of those choices. We welcome the Government's commitment to invest in the wellbeing of Australians, especially the most vulnerable,” said Claerwen Little, National Director of UnitingCare Australia. Read UnitingCare's response Ecumenism 'Signs of the times': NCCA The National Council of Churches in Australia Faith and Unity Commission offers this short report of its latest meeting from 26-27 April in Melbourne. With a focus this year on scanning the 'signs of the times', the Commission heard from a range of people working to promote Christian Unity. Read more Events National Conference: From Colonising to Covenanting The Uniting Church National History Society will host its fourth national Conference from 24-27 August this year in Darwin. With a focus on the history of the Uniting Church and its predecessors in Northern Australia, this conference will include 150th anniversary celebrations for Darwin Memorial Uniting Church and mark the centenary of Milingimbi Methodist Mission. Register now Events President's Conference There's exactly three weeks left to get the Early Bird discount for the 2023 President's Conference! To be hosted by President Rev Sharon Hollis in Redcliffe, QLD, we're excited to gather nationally to connect, break bread together and be enriched by reflection and challenge from three key speakers. Register now

Positions Associate General Secretary - UC Synod of Vic/Tas An exciting senior leadership opportunity within the Synod of Victoria and Tasmania. The AGS is a member of the senior leadership team and supports the General Secretary in their pastoral, advisory and administrative roles. Children and Families Ministry Worker - Dee Why Uniting Church St David's Uniting Church in Dee Why seeks an innovative and enthusiastic Children's and Family Ministry Worker to re-establish and grow its ministry among families in Dee Why. Join us in prayer for Those who advocate for and directly support the most vulnerable. We pray our leaders make economic decisions that put people first.  The Act2 Steering Committee which is meeting in Sydney this weekend. The ever-deepening of our Covenant with the Uniting Aboriginal and Islander Christian Congress, as we mark one year since the Renewal of the Covenant which took place at the 16th Assembly meeting on 6 May 2022. Those celebrating Mother's Day this Sunday and those for whom this is a difficult day. We give thanks for all those on the wide and generous spectrum of motherhood. Where there is pain, may there be comfort. India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka 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