Uniting Church in Australia - Act2 reflects back, Walk for 'Yes', Intergen vision launch, Meet David Jackson + more in National Update 13-19 Sep

13-19 September 2023 National Update Your weekly snapshot of the Uniting Church in Australia

Our Featured Story A reflection from the Act2 Project: "So, what are we hearing?" In July, the Act2 Project released its latest report, Act2: In Response to God’s Call, drawing upon a deep well of insight gathered across the Church. Since then, the Act2 team has been connecting with councils, boards, committees and communities across Australia, listening and assisting communities to engage with the report. Today Act2 Project Lead Andrew Johnson reflects back on what they have been hearing across the UCA.  He writes, "People feel the picture that is painted of the Church in the report is honest, at times confronting, but is true to their own experience. People say they feel heard. That we have genuinely tried to listen and reflect that lived experience to the Church." In regard to the Options for governance and resourcing, Andrew writes "we find people exploring implications, pulling apart options, offering variations, alternatives and implications." As we move towards a moment of decision, Andrew encourages everyone across the church to read and, importantly, to respond to the report.   "We want and need to hear from across the Church, so that the work we do can be the work of Church, discerning our response to God's call to enter more fully into mission." Read the reflection UNITING FOR THE VOICE Join the Walk for Yes! This weekend thousands of supporters for a ‘yes’ vote in the referendum will “Walk for Yes” in events across the country, joining together to show there is deep and wide support for a First Nations Voice. Uniting Church members are encouraged to join a Walk for Yes close to them, with UCA contingents organised for the walks in Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide.  Let us know if you can organise a meeting spot in your city. Thanks to all those who took part in the National Weekend of Prayer, Reflection and Meditation last weekend. You can see photos from events in Perth, Adelaide and Sydney on our Facebook page where Uniting Church leaders joined other faiths in praying for healing and hope.  INTERGENERATIONAL "A resource for the whole of the Uniting Church." Get a sneak preview of this new Assembly resource to be launched next week from Assembly Intergenerational Ministry Consultant Chris Barnett in this video. Chris says the resource "articulates a vision of being an Intergenerational Church where every generation is engaged together in active discipleship, growing and sharing faith in Jesus." Join us for the official online launch next Thursday, 21 September. Register now to be part of this exciting moment in the life of the Uniting Church and sign up to receive the resource once its launched. HUMANS OF THE UNITING CHURCH Meet Rev David Jackson This week in our Humans of the Uniting Church series, we head to Mid-West WA where Rev David Jackson is the Disaster Recovery Bush Chaplain with Frontier Services. In this Q&A, David describes how his faith is enlivened by ministering amongst the "unchurched and marginalised" and shares what he has learned from the resilience and hopefulness of people in the bush. WHAT THE VOICE MEANS TO ME "I encourage us all to say Yes on October 14." People across the Uniting Church have been sharing what the Voice means to them. This week, we hear from past President and former Assembly Covenanting Consultant Stuart McMillan on why he whole-heartedly endorses constitutional recognition through a Voice as a step toward a more just, harmonious and mature nation. We also add a poignant message from Raúl Sugunananthan, Assembly Policy and Advocacy Officer, who calls to mind his Appama (grandmother) who fought for the self-determination of her people in Sri Lanka and reflects on what she would say about the Voice today. Send us your message of support.  INTERFAITH Uniting Church pays tribute to Jeremy Jones The Uniting Church has expressed its deep sympathy for the loss of longstanding Jewish dialogue partner and interfaith champion Jeremy Jones AM. Jeremy was the co-chair of the Dialogue between the UCA and the Executive Council of Australian Jewry (ECAJ). Read tributes from the Uniting Church for Jeremy, described by one former Co-Chair of the dialogue as "an institution of interfaith dialogue in Australia". RESOURCES Preaching from the Heart The Creative Ministries Network Congregation, connected to the Presbytery of Port Phillip East in Victoria, has compiled a fantastic anthology of sermons in light of the upcoming referendum. In it you will hear preachers from around the country grapple with what it means to accept the invitation of the Uluru Statement from the Heart and walk alongside First Peoples towards justice. Keep checking back to our webpage uniting.church/voice for more resources.

UnitingCare Australia Joint support for Voice UnitingCare Australia joined other major Church providers of social services at Parliament House in Canberra last week (Anglicare Australia, Catholic Social Services Australia, St Vincent de Paul Society, The Salvation Army) in jointly calling on all Australians to support an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice. Go to their statement

UnitingWorld A letter from Maluku Reverend Jeny Mahupale is the Project Manager of the livelihoods and peacebuilding project supported by UnitingWorld in partnership with the Protestant Church of Maluku (GPM). She wrote this letter to partners in Australia about her team’s work to help families across six villages be able to start their own gardens and build local food security Read the letter

Positions Marketing and Administration Officer The Synod of Victoria and Tasmania has a great opportunity for a recent marketing graduate, or someone early in their marketing career.   Lecturer in Theology and Church History, University of Divinity, SA A full-time role based at Uniting College for Leadership and Theology in the Synod of South Australia. Upcoming Dates 1 September - 4 October: Season of Creation begins (worship resource now available) 14-17 September: Synod of NSW/ACT Meeting 19 September: UnitingCare Australia Leaders Forum, Adelaide 1 October: Uniting Church Older Persons Sunday 22 October: Anniversary - National Apology to Survivors of Institutional Child Sexual Abuse (resource coming) Check out more dates across the year Join us in prayer for Communities across the globe struck by natural disasters, including the deadly earthquake in Morocco and extreme flooding in Libya. We pray for all those mourning loved ones and for rescue efforts on the ground. The NSW/ACT Synod as it gathers this weekend and for Rev Mata Havea Hiliau who will be installed tomorrow night as the first Tongan woman to lead the NSW/ACT Synod as Moderator.  The faithful service of our Frontier Services Bush Chaplains. May God continue to be with them as they travel far and wide to be a support to others.  Ghana and Nigeria as part of the WCC Ecumenical Prayer Cycle. What is your 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