The Body of Christ is made of many parts, and people experience their understanding of God in many different ways. On this blog, we'll consider the beliefs and activities of congregations, denominations and different religions.
Wednesday, August 30, 2023
Uniting Church in Australia - 🌻 Season of Creation resource, Prayer for Child Safe Sunday, Voice vote set + more in National Update 30 Aug- 5 Sep
30 August - 5 September 2023
National Update
Your weekly snapshot of the Uniting Church in Australia
From this Friday 1 September until the beginning of October, faith communities around the world will celebrate the Season of Creation.
The Assembly has prepared a worship resource, now available, that invites UCA congregations and communities to hold worship outside in one of the weeks during Season of Creation, gathering - where possible - around the rivers or waterways in our cities, towns and communities.
The invitation reflects the 2023 international theme for the Season of Creation, ‘Let justice and peace flow.’ 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).
In her introduction, Uniting Church President Rev Sharon Hollis speaks about our faithful calling to "be passionate advocates for our broken, beautiful, scarred and glorious creation."
The resource can be adapted as needed and includes suggestions for having the service indoors or in places where water is scarce.
We would love to share photos from your Season of Creation celebrations. Please email us your pics or post to your socials with the hashtags #seasonofcreationUCA #justiceandpeaceflow.
This Sunday, the Uniting Church will mark Child Safe Sunday - an invitation to reflect on our call to be a community of Christ that is safe for all people. Uniting Church President Rev Sharon Hollis has shared this prayer for communities to share on the day or over the coming weeks. The prayer invites us to reflect on how we care for children in our faith communities, our neighbourhood and our wider world.
The Uniting Church today welcomed the announcement of the date for the Voice referendum. All Australians will go to the polls on 14 October. Uniting Aboriginal and Islander Christian Congress National Interim Chair Rev Mark Kickett and Uniting Church President Rev Sharon Hollis today encouraged all Australians to seize this opportunity to come together as a nation and ensure First Nations voices are finally heard. "I encourage all Australians to vote yes to healing and to hope," said Rev Hollis. With just 45 days to go, find out ways you can get involved in actions to support a Yes result.
Over the last few months 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! The final two forums are now locked in. Next up, we'll be exploring the role of the Assembly in promoting the mission of our Church on Tuesday 5 September at 7:30pm AEST. Then, join us on Tuesday 10 October at 7.30pm AEDT to explore our national theological culture. Head to the Act2 website to register for the Zoom link and to see the panelists.
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. This week's conversation is with Pastor Samantha McDonell from UnitingCare Queensland's Connect100 program, an initiative that emerged from a desire for the relationships and shared mission between congregations and agencies to be restored and renewed. Listen now!
This week, Moderator of the Synod of Vic/Tas, Rev David Fotheringham, shares this message on why he will be writing 'yes' on referendum day. He acknowledges the deep and broad consultation that led to the Uluru Statement from the Heart and its call for a First Nations Voice. He says this is a great way for all of Australia to recognise the particular place and history of First Nations people and to give First Peoples a voice that reflects their experiences and issues.
Representatives from Australia’s major religions have formed a powerful multi-faith alliance to celebrate the opportunity for recognition and reconciliation offered by the referendum. As part of this, faith communities across Australia are invited to participate in a National Weekend of Prayer, Reflection and Meditation from 8-10 September. We've begun collecting prayer resources, including a great reflection from Alison Overeem.
UnitingWorld has launched an appeal to support UCA partner churches in Maluku and Timor-Leste who are responding to a food crisis in their communities. Families are being forced to skip meals or to eat only low-nutrition food like plain rice or instant noodles. Our partners have a sustainable, local solution to the crisis: get people gardening! Find out how you can help people grow gardens filled with fresh vegetables, right where they live.
The Act2 Project continues to roll out a fantastic series of reflections on the theological culture of the Uniting Church from a range of gifted contributors. Two new reflections are now live from Rev Nicole Fleming, Candidate Formation Coordinator at United Theological College in Sydney, and Rev Dr Chris Walker, theologian and former Assembly National Consultant: Christian Unity, Doctrine and Worship. It's not too late to contribute.
New worship resources from Intergen are here to help you make your Season of Creation celebrations intergenerational! Written and compiled by Uniting Church minister Rev Dr Michelle Cook, resources are available for the four weeks of the Season of Creation focussed on the themes of Forest, Land, Wilderness and River. Each week includes interactive activities. Available now from Intergen as a free download.
Plan and co-ordinate the education and formation of candidates for ordained ministries and foster a learning culture within the Uniting Church in Western Australia.
Corrimal Uniting seeks a Family and Community Worker to coordinate, resource, support and lead collaboratively in its family, children, youth and young adult ministries.
Children in our church community, our neighbourhood and our world. May we create spaces of safety and welcome where all children can thrive.
The Methodist Church in Fiji which is gathering in Suva this week for its annual conference and for the leadership of newly elected President Rev Dr Semisi Turagavou.
Communities across the Uniting Church who will mark the Season of Creation from this Sunday. May we continue to be hear the call to be careful stewards of God's good creation.
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