Uniting Church in Australia - King's Birthday Honours, UCA Anniversary video, the Voice in 2-pages + more: UC National Update 14-20 June

14-20 June 2023 National Update Your weekly snapshot of the Uniting Church in Australia

Our Featured Story Congrats to King's Birthday Honours list Congratulations to almost 30 Uniting Church members honoured for their service to the community in the King's Birthday Honours List this week. The 2023 list of recipients is a testament to the power of people seeking to make a difference locally, with many awarded for service to their communities. Among the Uniting Church recipients are Julie Bertram, an early childhood worker who has co-ordinated a local playgroup for more than a decade, Janelle Dodd who has served as Eastwood Uniting Church's Treasurer for 34 years and Bruce Ind, a long standing community volunteer who has also served on Synod Standing committee in SA and attended six national UCA Assemblies! Read the list of recipients from the Uniting Church, including a number of volunteers and staff members from Uniting Church agencies who were recognised in the honours for their generous and faithful service. Photo: Heather Bieman OAM, awarded for service to music through teaching, shared by Camden Uniting Church on Facebook.  Read the UCA Honours List UNITING CHURCH CELEBRATES 46 YEARS UCA Anniversary message: Watch now! President Rev Sharon Hollis has shared this video message to mark the anniversary of the Uniting Church in Australia on 22 June. Recalling the courageous journey we embarked on 46 years ago, the President invites us to listen anew to the invitation to find ourselves in God's story, asking... Are we willing to courageously answer Christ's call in this time and place?  The video message is available now to download and play in your worship service or to share with your community.  UNITING FOR THE VOICE A voice to Parliament: 2-page explainer A new resource on the Voice to Parliament is now available for congregations to use and share. In two pages, it explains how the referendum is an opportunity to consider a change in our constitution that will recognise First Australians and give Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples a say in matters that affect their lives. It explains why the Uniting Church supports the change, references what the Bible says and provides helpful starting points for a conversation. Download, print and share in your community! ACT2 Tomorrow night! Uniting in Prayer online Tomorrow night Thursday 15 June, the Act2 team along with Assembly leaders will be hosting a national online prayer gathering, open to all across our wonderful and diverse Uniting Church. One week before the 46th Anniversary and the close of Uniting in Prayer, we'll gather in real time and in the company of the Spirit to pray for each other, our Church and our life together. All are invited, all are welcome. Join us live on Zoom THIS Thursday 15 June at 8pm AEST. Register for the Zoom here. INTERCULTURAL Save the date: Intercultural Neighbouring Sunday Save the date now to mark Intercultural Neighbouring Sunday in your congregation on 16 July. Emerging from a decision of the 16th Assembly meeting, it will be the first time Uniting Church communities are invited to mark this date – an opportunity to celebrate the cultural diversity at the heart of our identity and to explore ways to build intercultural relationships in our own neighbourhoods. Start planning now with this list of 10 ways to celebrate Intercultural Neighbouring Sunday. Stay tuned for prayer and liturgy resources to come! PODCAST Dwelling with Katharine Massam The next episode of the President's podcast Dwelling is out today! As part of the new series all about prayer, President Rev Sharon Hollis speaks to Professor Katharine Massam from Pilgrim Theological College, a researcher in prayer and spirituality. Listen now! INNOVATION What does Innovation look like? Read this piece from Assembly Associate General Secretary Rev Lindsay Cullen reflecting on his experience at two recent events: the Tongan National Conference of the Uniting Church held in Katoomba, NSW, and OmegaCon, a gaming convention in Geelong, Victoria. Lindsay shares how these gatherings, while very different, both shared a desire to be innovative and embodied deep hope for the future of their communities.  RESOURCES Marking Refugee Week 2023 This Sunday 18 June begins Refugee Week – an opportunity to honour the strength and resilience of refugees and celebrate the many gifts and rich contributions they make to our communities. This year’s theme is Finding Freedom – an opportunity to reflect on what it means to be truly free. We've collated resources you might like to use to mark Refugee Week in your community.

Events President's Conference Don't miss a great national opportunity to connect, share stories and reflect on God's presence in our Church at the 2023 President's Conference, 26-30 July at Redcliffe Uniting Church in QLD. The first part of the conference is for ministry agents and the final two days for the whole church - with some fantastic speakers across the week. For a discounted rate, apply to be a volunteer! Register Positions Assembly National Consultants Do you have a deep passion for the Uniting Church, love to work collaboratively and have gifts in areas like theology, mission, leadership, intergenerational and intercultural ministry, advocacy and discipleship formation? The Assembly is recruiting for two National Consultants to join the interdisciplinary Assembly Resourcing Unit, focussed on the strategic work of the Assembly. Find out more

Positions National Consultants - Assembly Resourcing Unit The Assembly is recruiting for two National Consultants to join the collaborative and interdisciplinary Assembly Resourcing Unit. Presbytery Committee Support Administrator - Presbytery of Western Australia Join the team at the Presbytery of Western Australia, based at the Uniting Church Centre in East Perth. Upcoming Dates 28 May – 22 June: Uniting in Prayer 18-24 June: Refugee Week 22 June: Uniting Church Anniversary 2-9 July: NAIDOC Week 16 July: Intercultural Neighbouring Sunday (resources to come from the Assembly)  26-30 July: President’s Conference (Brisbane) Check out more dates across the year Join us in prayer for The friends and families of those who died in the horrific bus crash in the Hunter Valley of NSW, those recovering in hospital and for the first responders on the scene. May they know God's abundant love and mercy.  Those recognised in the King's Birthday Honours list. We give thanks for the ways in which people so generously offer their gifts and time to make a difference to others. People who come to Australia seeking asylum and refuge. May they realise their hopes to start a new life, free from danger and fear. Botswana, Zimbabwe 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.  Click 'enable content' to play the video.