Uniting Church in Australia - Join a National Weekend of 🙏, Assembly welcomes new ARU staff + more in UC National Update 23-29 August

23-29 August 2023 National Update Your weekly snapshot of the Uniting Church in Australia

Our Featured Story Making space for unity and hope Save the date now for a National Weekend of Prayer, Reflection and Meditation from 8-10 September!  In the lead-up to the Voice referendum, the Uniting Church has joined with other major religious traditions in setting aside this weekend to celebrate the opportunity for recognition and reconciliation offered by the landmark vote. Communities of faith from all over the country are invited to make time on this weekend to reflect on and pray for unity, respect, reconciliation and hope.  Uniting Church President Rev Sharon Hollis encouraged Uniting Church communities to take part in this national event that will unite people of different faiths and religious traditions. “In the midst of what has been an extremely divisive debate, fuelled by messages of fear and hate, this is an extremely important and timely opportunity to stop and create spaces that make room for hope and unity,” said Rev Hollis.  The weekend’s reflections will commence at 11am on Friday 8 September as representatives from Australia’s Buddhist community embark on a 56-hour meditation, concluding on Sunday at 7pm.  You can register now to participate. More details and resources will follow as we approach the date.   Find out more ASSEMBLY NEWS Assembly welcomes new staff The Uniting Church Assembly is delighted to announce three new staff members joining its Assembly Resourcing Unit (ARU). Beginning this week, Raúl Sugunananthan has been appointed as a Policy and Advocacy Officer. From 1 November, the Assembly will be joined by two new National Consultants - Rev Kath Behan and Rev Dr Sunny Chen. Read more about this exciting announcement.  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. ACT2 PROJECT "Imagine how exciting it could be..." We're excited to release the next two reflections in the Act2 series on the 'theological culture' of the Uniting Church. Uniting Church minister Rev Dr Michelle Cook reflects on what will encourage a culture of disciple-making in our Church, while Anne Muirhead, member at Richmond Uniting Church in Victoria, traces the many rich streams of theological engagement and formation she has experienced as a new member of the UCA. It's not too late to offer your own reflections with the Call for Papers open through September. Read here what we're inviting and what we mean by 'theological culture'. SAFE CHURCH Celebrate Child Safe Sunday on 3 September On Sunday 3 September, the Uniting Church will mark Child Safe Sunday - an opportunity to celebrate our call to be a community of Christ in which all are safe and to recommit to the work required to make that a reality. Follow the Facebook page of the Uniting Church National Safe Church Unit from next week for helpful resources to begin conversations on child safety. Stay tuned for a prayer from Uniting Church President Rev Sharon Hollis in next week's National Update. PODCAST A conversation with Brooke Prentis The latest series of the Dwelling Podcast features interviews recorded live at the President's Conference held at Redcliffe Uniting Church from 26-29 July. First up is this conversation with Wakka Wakka woman and Aboriginal Christian leader Brooke Prentis. The conversation took place in the second part of the conference open to the whole Church with the theme, "All of this is Us". It followed the morning worship in which Brooke preached on the parable of the Good Samaritan and love of neighbour, posing the challenge that we are only ‘all of us’ as First and Second Peoples together. Listen now! UNITING FOR THE VOICE "An invitation to pay attention..." We are delighted this week to add two more messages of support for the Voice from our UCA Moderators in the Synods of NSW/ACT and Queensland. Rev Simon Hansford (NSW/ACT) speaks about the invitation to pay attention to the wisdom and insights of First Nations voices, which are so often not heard. Rev Andrew Gunton (Queensland) speaks about the right of First Nations people to self-determination.  Send us your message of support.

Resources Webinar recording The recording is now available of this online webinar hosted by the Assembly on 16 August. Hear Indigenous leader Noel Pearson and constitutional lawyer Dr Shireen Morris speak about what a Voice to Parliament would mean for Australia. They speak clearly and passionately about the opportunity to change our nation in a way that is both practical and powerfully symbolic. Watch the recording UnitingWorld Inspiring a new generation UnitingWorld is helping to inspire a new generation of mission-minded people! On recent visits to Moreton Bay College and the Presbytery-led Easter Madness youth camp in Queensland, UnitingWorld Donor Relations Manager Mardi Lumsden has shared about their work in partnership with the global church. Read about the great simulation activity that provides deeper insights into overcoming injustice and poverty. Learn more Around the Uniting Church Must watch TV! Lock in the date - this Sunday 27 August 6.30pm - to tune into the ABC for a special episode of Compass as they cover the journey of the incoming Moderator for the Synod of NSW/ACT, Rev Mata Havea Hiliau, who will be inducted next month.  Find out more on Facebook

Act2 Act2 National Forum reflections The Act2 Project has been running a series of public forums about the national life and work of the Uniting Church, complete with impressive panels! In case you've missed them so far, you can now read about the key themes and insights of the first three conversations and watch the Zoom recordings. It's not too late to sign up for the next forum, exploring the mission of our Church (7:30pm, 5 Sep). Read more Frontier Services Learning on a full tummy In a Victorian primary school, kids can now start their day of learning on a full tummy while others have a safe, comfy retreat space. Older kids leaving for high school have a computer to access classwork. And it's all thanks to an extraordinary partnership between Frontier Services supporters, Bush Chaplain Veronica Bradley, local school and community groups and The Flora & Frank Leith Charitable Trust. Read the story Innovation A Mission-Driven Approach Hear from Lay Preacher Jillian Ross about how St Paul’s Uniting Church in the Brisbane suburb of Stafford is reimagining its life to adopt a mission-driven approach with the hope of being more relevant and engaging to its community.  Read more from Journey

Positions Community Development Program Coordinator - Newtown Mission Coordinate Newtown Mission's community hub, partner with local community supporters and support the Ministry Team in developing strategic directions. Youth Pastor - Two Wells Uniting Church The Two Wells congregation in South Australia seeks a Youth Pastor to oversee youth and children's ministry, provide programs and activities and outreach to local schools and organisations. Upcoming Dates 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 Raúl Sugunananthan, Kath Behan and Sunny Chen as they prepare to offer their gifts and skills to the work of the Assembly and the Uniting Church. Those leading and attending the Uniting Church National History Society Conference in Darwin this weekend. Respectful listening and dialogue about the Voice to Parliament as we approach the referendum. May we practice cultural humility and centre First Nations knowledge and perspectives. Liberia, Sierra Leone 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 Add us to your address book We're sending you weekly updates because you opted into news from the Uniting Church in Australia. Not already subscribed?  Sign up here You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.