Uniting Church in Australia - Paying respects to our UAICC Elders in #NAIDOC Week: this and more in UC National News 5-11 July

5-11 July 2023 National Update Your weekly snapshot of the Uniting Church in Australia

Our Featured Story NAIDOC WEEK Honouring our UAICC Elders  As we mark NAIDOC Week, with the theme For our Elders, we celebrate and give thanks for the Elders within the Uniting Aboriginal and Islander Christian Congress (UAICC) who have and continue to challenge, inspire and guide us in our Covenanting journey.  At the UAICC National Conference in April held on Larrakia land in Darwin, the Assembly comms team had the opportunity to interview some Congress members. Asking, “What do you love about Congress?” and “What do you love about Jesus”, people openly and deeply shared some of their stories, their Congress journey, spoke passionately about their love for Jesus and voiced their hopes for the future. We are delighted to share the first of these interviews during NAIDOC Week, with more to follow. The first interviews are from Aunty Cynthia Webster (UAICC SA, Adnyamathanha), Rev Deacon Maratja Dhamarrandji (Northern Regional Council of Congress, Yolgnu) and Rev Dennis Corowa (UAICC QLD). We encourage you to take the time during NAIDOC Week to listen to some of our Elders share their stories, their faith and hopes. In case you missed it, check out our five ideas for celebrating NAIDOC Week, including prayers from the Walking Together as First and Second Peoples Circle, now with translations in Korean and Chinese. Watch the videos UNITING FOR THE VOICE "An opportunity to dig deep..." In our series of video messages on the Voice to Parliament, this week we hear from Alison Overeem, Palawa woman and Advocate for the Assembly Walking Together as First and Second Peoples Circle, and have a special message of support from Alice Springs Uniting Church. Alison says, "the Voice is a chance for this nation to start listening to the many voices that sit on, around and in Country."  Looking for resources on the Voice to Parliament in your language? Check out this amazing collection of resources in more than 45 languages.  OUR MULTICULTURAL CHURCH Walking 'along the way of life' with KNC The Uniting Church's Korean National Conference has been meeting this week on Wurundjeri Country in Victoria's beautiful Yarra Ranges. The joyful gathering has brought together over 40 people from across the country for worship, prayer, fellowship and reflection, shaped by the theme: 'together we walk along the way of life' (Psalm 16:8-11). See some of the photo highlights on our Facebook page. ACT2 Calling all Uniting Church theologians The Act2 Project is calling for papers and reflections from theologians across the Uniting Church to help us explore our theological culture. But what is 'theological culture'? Read on as Act2 Project Lead Andrew Johnson unpacks this idea, and then consider whether you might like to have your say about those things which you see are shaping our theological life - and how they'll shape us into the future. INTERCULTURAL NEIGHBOURING SUNDAY Going beyond our comfort zone Intercultural Neighbouring Sunday (INS) is less than two weeks away!  As Panel Member with the Being a Multicultural Church Circle Rev Louisa Yu explains in this interview with Journey Online, INS is an opportunity to go beyond our comfort zone to connect and build relationships with our diverse neighbours. Check out the Assembly resources now to plan your celebration. We've added a PowerPoint template for your worship. A video message from President Rev Sharon Hollis will be added soon! UNITINGCARE AUSTRALIA UnitingCare Australia turns 30! UnitingCare Australia is celebrating its 30th Anniversary in September this year - a great opportunity to recognise the past while looking forward to create an even stronger future together. Ahead of the Anniversary, a survey has been released to seek views and ideas about the past, present and future of UnitingCare Australia. Responses to six short questions will be gathered into overall themes and ideas, and then used in a range of 30th Anniversary resources to be released in September. Have your say! INTERGENERATIONAL Being Intergenerational - resource papers Newly re-released by the Assembly, this series of papers is offered as a resource for all those who share the dream of a more intergenerational church – a church comprised of lifelong followers of Jesus, of all ages, caring, praying, celebrating, learning and serving faithfully together. The first four papers are now available, with more to come! UNITINGWORLD UnitingWorld supports Yes!  UnitingWorld has today released a statement expressing its strong support for a First Nations Voice to Parliament. As an agency of the of the UCA, UnitingWorld shares the church’s commitment to walk together with First Nations people in seeking justice and a greater say in decisions that impact their communities. The statement notes the support expressed by Pasifika church leaders through the Pacific Conference of Churches urging its diaspora communities in Australia to get behind the Uluru Statement and the Voice.  UNITINGCARE NETWORK LGBTIQ+ COMMUNITY OF PRACTICE LGBTIQ+ Inclusion workshop Something we value strongly in the Uniting Church and across our agencies is a commitment to inclusion, but what does this look like in practice? A recent workshop hosted by the UnitingCare network’s LGBTIQ+ Community of Practice created an opportunity to think about this more deeply. The workshop was led by the Uniting (NSW/ACT) Pride Network who shared their journey and experience in listening to and elevating the voices of LGBTIQ+ employees.  Photo: Uniting NSW/ACT was the 2022 winner of the Australian HR Institute LGBTIQ+ Inclusion Organisational Award.

Act2 Project Act2 Report: ready to launch The Act2 Project team is excited to announce the release of its new report, Act2: In Response to God's Call. It brings together a summary of what the team has heard, theological reflections and a set of options and directions for the future. Join us on Facebook Live for the official launch at 1pm AEST on 13 July, and then delve deeper with our fortnightly Going Deeper sessions on Zoom. Go to the report Around the Uniting Church A mission-driven approach Logan Central Multicultural Uniting Church in Queensland is a vibrant hub of activity - embracing their diversity, becoming more intergenerational, meeting needs in the community, exploring their mission and dreaming dreams for the future. Read this great interview with one of the congregation's elders and worship leaders, Judy Hunter, originally published in Journey. Read the story Circles Join us as we Yarn for Yes The Working for Justice and Walking Together as First and Second Peoples Circles invite you into some deep dadirri listening on the Voice to Parliament. Join Palawa woman and Advocate of the Walking Together Circle Alison Overeem, comedian Ben Moodie and Aboriginal Pastor Uncle Ray Minniecon as they Yarn for Yes on Zoom, Thursday 13 July at 7:30pm AEST. Register to attend Events National History Conference The Uniting Church National History Society (UCNHS) will soon gather for its fourth national conference from 24-27 August on Larrakia Country in Darwin. The program is now available and is packed with great speakers exploring the legacy of the Uniting Church in northern Australia. Image: Darwin Memorial Uniting Church which celebrates 150 years in August. Check out the program

Positions Resource Worker - Northern Regional Council of Congress The Nothern Regional Council of Congress is calling for a senior experienced leader with knowledge, gifts and insight suitable for the position of Resource Worker. Second Gen Ministry Leader - Tonga Parish, NSW/ACT Synod Develop, support and grow a ministry to young adults and young families through this position within the Tonga Parish. Watch this great video advertisement. Email to get more info or express interest.  Upcoming Dates 2-9 July: NAIDOC Week 13 July: Act2 report launch: live on Facebook 13 July: Yarn for Yes webinar 16 July: Intercultural Neighbouring Sunday (resources out today!)  26-30 July: President’s Conference (Brisbane) 4 August: National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day 24-27 August: Uniting Church National Historical Society National Conference (Darwin) Check out more dates across the year Join us in prayer for Elders and leaders within the Uniting Aboriginal and Islander Christian Congress. May we sit at their feet to receive from their faith, stories, wisdom and strength. Members of the Uniting Church Korean National Conference as they return home from their joyful gathering. The incredible work of UnitingCare Australia as it prepares to celebrate 30 years of social justice advocacy and service to the most vulnerable in our communities. Sudan, South Sudan, Uganda as part of the WCC Ecumenical Prayer Cycle. How are you celebrating NAIDOC Week? Email us! Our weekly PowerPoint with stories, resources and prayer points for use in your weekly worship. Share Tweet Forward