Uniting Church in Australia - Joyous faith & community @ Proserpine Whitsunday UC, Praying for the Voice, international ecumical appointment + more in National Update 6-12 Sep

6-12 September 2023 National Update Your weekly snapshot of the Uniting Church in Australia

Our Featured Story THIS IS MY UNITING CHURCH "We really ARE a church family" Next up in our This is my Uniting Church series, we head to Ngaro and Gia Country on the lands surrounding the Whitsunday Islands and Proserpine in north Queensland. Here on a Sunday morning, on an empty corner block in the heart of town, an old Church Hall comes to life with the sounds of hymns, praise and laughter as the community of Proserpine Whitsunday Uniting Church comes together. Rev Susan Sitton and her team describe the scene,  "Our congregation is wide in age, ranging from great-grandparents to a toddler or two and we celebrate them all. All have amazing hearts. The atmosphere is joyous and warm." "We really ARE a church family. Troubles are shared, joys are celebrated together and faith grown in groups." Learn more about their vision for intergenerational community, their dreams for a new church building and their heart for sharing the faith, love and hope of Jesus.   If you know a community with a great story to tell, contact us and nominate them to be featured.  Read the story UNITING FOR THE VOICE Weekend of Prayer, Reflection and Meditation This weekend (8-10 September) Uniting Church communities are invited to join religious groups across Australia in a National Weekend of Prayer, Reflection and Meditation to reflect on and pray for unity, reconciliation and hope in the lead-up to the Voice referendum. Communities who participate can do three things: - take a moment for prayer and reflection, especially holding in prayer First Nations people. - share information about the Voice to Parliament. - take photos and share them on their social media with the hashtag #weekendreflection or email them to us.  There's a Second Peoples Prayer for UAICC and other prayers you might like to share on our website.  If you are passionate about saying 'Yes' to a First Nations Voice and want to join actions with others across the Uniting Church, sign up here, and we'll be in touch.  We're continuing to add resources to our website at uniting.church/voice, so keep checking back there.  INTERGENERATIONAL Our Intergenerational vision Save the date for the online launch of a new document which articulates a national vision for what it means to be an Intergenerational Church. On Thursday, 21 September join others from congregations, presbyteries and synods across the country in exploring this new Assembly resource. Being an Intergenerational Church includes an expression of commitment, a statement of vision, an invitation to act and plenty of resources to explore. Register now to be part of this exciting moment in the life of the Uniting Church! You can also sign up to receive the resource once its launched. ECUMENISM  Rev Tara Curlewis to represent Reformed Churches in Rome Uniting Church minister Rev Tara Curlewis has been appointed to a new dual role based in Rome that will strengthen the presence of the Reformed Churches relating to the Vatican and other ecumenical bodies and provide spiritual leadership to the Church of Scotland’s congregation in the Italian capital. She will serve in two roles: as the new minister of St Andrew’s Church and as the Reformed Ecumenical Officer for the World Communion of Reformed Churches (WCRC). ACT2 PROJECT  Three new reflections on theological culture Today the Act2 project releases three new papers in its series of reflections on the theological culture of the Uniting Church. This week there are new contributions from Rev Dr Sally Douglas, biblical scholar, theologian, author and UCA minister, Rev Prof Glen O’Brien, Research Coordinator at Eva Burrows College within the University of Divinity, and Rev Dr Sean Gilbert, Director of Pastoral Theology & Ministry Practice at Uniting College, SA. Feeling inspired? Contributions are invited until 30 September 2023. PODCAST Panel on a podcast: a snapshot of the Assembly So, what does the Assembly do? Hear about it direct from people engaged in our national work on the latest episode of the Dwelling podcast which features a panel conversation with three amazing Assembly staff. Recorded at the President's Conference in Redcliffe Uniting Church in July, President Sharon Hollis facilitates a conversation with Associate General Secretary Rev Lindsay Cullen, Frontier Services National Director Rob Floyd and UnitingWorld Donor Relations Manager Mardi Lumsden. Listen now! WHAT THE VOICE MEANS TO ME "A chance to grow together..." This week we share two new messages of support for the Voice! Pacific Conference of Churches General Secretary Rev James Bhagwan calls on the Pacific diaspora in Australia to stand alongside First Nations people in their request for a Voice. Advocate of the Growing in Faith Circle Rev Liam Miller says he hopes the Voice is a first step to listen and learn from First Peoples, to reshape the nation and its identity and move us toward treaty and truth.  Send us your message of support.

Resources Season of Creation resource Communities across the world are marking Week 2 of the Season of Creation - an annual invitation to pray and reflect on our shared call to care for the earth. This year the Assembly has shared 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. Email us your pics, or post to your socials with the hashtags #seasonofcreationUCA #justiceandpeaceflow. Go to the resource Act2 Project Join a Focus Group Round 2 of the Act2 Focus Groups begin from next week and the Act2 Project team wants to hear from people in every kind of Uniting Church community. Whether you belong to a small, large or regional congregation, an online community, are in a cluster or are experimenting and church planting, we're running a focus group to hear how the future directions in the Act2 report would make a difference in your context and help your community flourish. Find the focus group that is closest to your home community and register to be a part of this vitally important conversation.  Join a Focus Group

Positions World Methodist Council General Secretary Promote the vision and mission of the World Methodist Council (WMC), as the WMC General Secretary for a five-year term commencing in August 2024. Director of Mission - Wesley Mission Queensland Join the Wesley Mission Queensland Executive Leadership Team, offering particular leadership and development of its Pastoral and Spiritual Care team. Upcoming Dates 1 September - 4 October: Season of Creation begins (worship resource now available) 8-9 September: Synod of WA Meeting 8-10 September: National Weekend of Prayer, Reflection and Meditation 14-17 September: Synod of NSW/ACT Meeting 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 The faith-filled community of Proserpine Whitsunday Uniting Church as they pursue fundraising efforts to rebuild their church. We pray more young people and families are inspired by their joyful faith and deep sense of community to follow in the way of Jesus. Members of the WA Synod who will gather in Perth from Friday for their Synod meeting and for Rev Dr Ian Tozer as he takes up his ministry as Moderator in WA.  Healing and care for First Nations people in the lead-up to the referendum. Inspired by the love of Christ, may we model conversations that are respectful, positive and grounded in a vision for justice, reconciliation and healing.  Benin, Côte d'Ivoire and Togo as part of the WCC Ecumenical Prayer Cycle. What is exciting for people in your Uniting Church? Email us! Our weekly PowerPoint with stories, resources and prayer points for use in your weekly worship. Cleck 'enable content' to play video.