Uniting Church in Australia - Join Noel Pearson TONIGHT, Act2 theology series kicks off with Rev Assoc Prof Geoff Thompson, Rev Seung Jae Yeon on the Voice + more

16-22 August 2023 National Update Your weekly snapshot of the Uniting Church in Australia

Our Featured Story Join our Q&A with Noel Pearson tonight Tonight is your chance to hear direct from Indigenous leader Noel Pearson about what a Voice to Parliament would mean for Australia. UCA President Rev Sharon Hollis will lead the conversation with Noel Pearson, answering some of the big questions about the referendum. In the Meanjin oration delivered on Monday night, Noel Pearson speaks about the long and arduous pathway toward recognition for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples that has led to the referendum. What is needed now is ‘radical hope’, says Mr Pearson. The same radical hope that is expressed within the Uluru Statement for the Heart and the proposal for constitutional recognition through a Voice. Hope for all Australians.  “At the referendum, the question is not about which political tribe you belong to. At the referendum, there’s only one tribe. The Australian tribe,” says Mr Pearson in his address.  In the webinar tonight, we will also hear from constitutional lawyer Dr Shireen Morris who has been an advocate for the Voice amongst multicultural and interfaith communities.  It's not too late to register! Click the button below to register and receive a link to join us from 6pm, AEST, 5.30pm ACST, 4pm AWST.  Join the webinar ACT2 Act2 series on theological culture kicks off As part of the Act2 workstream on theological culture and education, today we launch a new series of reflections from theologians and others across the Uniting Church who have responded to the Act2 Project's ongoing Call for Papers. The series seeks to foster a vibrant and honest conversation about the richness and diversity of our theological life as a Church and reflections will roll out each week. The first, available now, comes from Rev Assoc Professor Geoff Thompson, Coordinator of Studies – Systematic Theology at Pilgrim Theological College in the Synod of Victoria and Tasmania. It is available to read on the Act2 website and to download as a Word or PDF document. UNITING FOR THE VOICE "Your little, tiny voice and support will make a big difference." We continue to share messages of support from Uniting Church people for the Voice to Parliament. Rev Seung Jae Yeon shares this heart-felt message in Korean and English, reflecting on what he has learned from being in relationship and ministry with First Nations Australians. He encourages the Korean community, and all Australians, to say yes, so First Nations people have a say in decisions about their lives and future.  Looking for resources on the Voice in language? We've collated some here.  SEASON OF CREATION Season of Creation: liturgy resource coming! Throughout the month of September Christians across the world will celebrate the Season of Creation under the 2023 theme, ‘Let justice and peace flow.’ This year's symbol is a mighty river, a reference to the cry of the prophet Amos: “But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!” (Amos 5:24). This year the Assembly will be releasing a worship resource which encourages Uniting Church congregations and communities to hold worship outside during the Season of Creation, gathering around the rivers or waterways in our cities, towns and communities. Sign up now to receive it as soon as it's available. UNITING CHURCH ADULT FELLOWSHIP UCAF national gathering in January 2024 Save the date for the Uniting Church Adult Fellowship National Gathering to be held from 22-27 January, 2024 in Adelaide! This new National Gathering brings together parts of the previous National Celebration and the National Consultation. There'll be time for gathering with friends, new and old, guest speakers from different parts of the church and opportunities to explore the Adelaide Hills. Nominations are open for the National Committee office-bearers for the next triennium which will be elected at the National Gathering. Find the nomination form and more information on the Assembly website.  Photo: Commissioning of the National Committee 2021 – 2024.  UNITING FOR THE VOICE Taking action for the Voice If you are looking for ways to make a difference as we move closer toward the referendum, here’s four things you can do right now.

Act2 Your Act2 questions answered Last Thursday 10 August President Rev Sharon Hollis and Act2 Project Lead Andrew Johnson went live on Facebook for a Q&A answering a range of common questions about the Act2 Project - and some questions in real time. Watch the recording of the Live, and head to our growing FAQs page to see them all. If your question is missing, use the button on the page to submit it. Head to the FAQs Our Intercultural Church Warm welcome at Eastwood Eastwood Uniting Church recently extended its arms to embrace young international students living in their community at their weekly Sunday Game Club, reports Insights in this heart-warming story. Recognising the students are a long way from home, the congregation has sought to bridge the gap, extending the gesture with a hot pot dinner welcome, a familiar tradition in the students’ home country of Hong Kong.  Read more from Insights Frontier Services Making guests feel welcome Back home in Vanuatu, Lily and Carol's lives revolved around family and church. But moving to Curtin Springs in the Northern Territory for work, they found themselves isolated from family, missing cultural connections and without a nearby place of worship. Read this story from Frontier Services about the generous welcome, care and spiritual support offered by Bush Chaplain Benj Quilliam. Read it now Interfaith solidarity Faith leaders say yes Faith leaders in Alice Springs are urging Australians to vote Yes in the upcoming referendum. Alice Springs Uniting Church Minister Rev Emily Hayes was quoted in this ABC story on the opportunity contained in the referendum to "right some of the wrongs" of the past. She was joined by Syed Ali, vice president of the Alice Springs Islamic Society, and Lutheran leader Pastor Basil Schild in sharing their support for a Yes vote. Read the story

Positions Content and Communications Manager - Synod of Vic/Tas An exciting opportunity for a communications expert to oversee communication services in the Synod of Victoria and Tasmania including its bi-monthly magazine. Associate General Secretary - Synod of South Australia The Synod of South Australia seeks an Associate General Secretary for a role with a special focus on the Placements and Safe Church responsibilities of the Synod. Upcoming Dates 9 August: Act2 Going Deeper online session (exploring the Options in the report) 10 August: Facebook Live - Act2 Q&A 16 August: Nungalinya College 50th anniversary celebrations 24 August: Act2 Going Deeper online session (exploring the Directions in the report) 24-27 August: Uniting Church National Historical Society Conference (Darwin) 1 September: Season of Creation begins (worship resource coming) 3 September: Child Safe Sunday (prayer coming) Check out more dates across the year   Join us in prayer for The people of Hawaii in the aftermath of wildfires which have killed at least 100 people and left hundreds of others missing or displaced. May there be strength and support in the recovery. The ongoing enlivening of the Uniting Church through the work and wisdom of theology, inviting us to delve deeper into the gospel of Jesus Christ. The work and ministry of Nungalinya College in Darwin as it marks 50 years on 19 August and continues to live out its vision to empower and equip First Nations Christians. Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania, Niger as part of the WCC Ecumenical Prayer Cycle. Know a good Uniting Church story? Email us! Our weekly PowerPoint with stories, resources and prayer points for use in your weekly worship. Cleck 'enable content' to play video.  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