Uniting Church in Australia - Intergenerational vision released, 30 years of UnitingCare, #Unitingforthe Voice in prayer + more - UC National Update 20-26 Sep

20-26 September 2023 National Update Your weekly snapshot of the Uniting Church in Australia

Our Featured Story Our vision for an Intergenerational Church Today the Assembly releases a new resource that sets out our vision for what it means to live our life and faith as an Intergenerational Church.  Being an Intergenerational Church describes both our commitments and hopes as the Uniting Church and invites people in all parts of the Church to embrace and take action to live out this vision. So what is our vision for an Intergenerational Church? One where every generation is engaged together in growing faith in Jesus, where all ages are welcomed and valued, relationships between generations are intentionally created and deepened and one where all people are invited to use their gifts and leadership.  Read more in the resource now available on the Assembly website! The document flows from the work of the Assembly Resourcing Unit and ministry specialists across the country. Tomorrow, you can join people across the Church for the live launch, hosted by Assembly Associate General Secretary Rev Lindsay Cullen and facilitated by Assembly Intergenerational Consultant Chris Barnett, from 12.30pm AEST, 12pm ACST, 10.30am AWST. Sign up here Go to the resource UNITINGCARE AUSTRALIA Celebrating 30 years of impact UnitingCare Australia is celebrating its 30th anniversary this month, marking three decades of giving voice to the Uniting Church’s commitment to social justice. The UnitingCare Network of community services is now one of the largest in the country, with a significant legacy of impact and influence. A special birthday celebration took place last night at the 2023 Leaders Forum in Adelaide, bringing together leaders, past and present, who have helped shape and support UnitingCare Australia. Make sure you check out the fantastic video reflections created to mark the anniversary.  UNITING FOR THE VOICE 14 days of prayer ahead of the Referendum As referendum day approaches, the Assembly will be organising 14 Days of Prayer, reflecting on the significance and possibility that a national vote on a Voice to Parliament will bring. This will be an opportunity to hold one another in prayer over this time, especially First Nation members of the Church and to be reminded that Christ walks with us on this journey for justice. The prayers will start on 29 September and finish on 13 October with a national Referendum Eve Vigil (more details to come). Sign up to receive the prayers each day on email or follow them on our Facebook page.  You may like to watch this beautiful reflection from Auntry Rev Dr Denise Champion, shared by the Synod of SA, on how the Voice might change the landscape of this nation in a more hopeful way. ACT2 PROJECT "We're asking, 'where is God calling us?'" ICYMI, catch up on this deep dive into the Act2 Project originally published in the Synod of Victoria and Tasmania's Crosslight magazine. Hear directly from some of the people involved in the Project including Bethany Broadstock and Andrew Johnson from the Act2 Project team, Jessica Hateley-Browne from the Act2 Steering Committee and Uniting Church President Rev Sharon Hollis. If you're still a bit unsure what this work is all about, this is the explainer for you! Head to the Act2 website to join us on the journey in this season of future discernment, change and renewal. ECUMENISM The UCA at the CCA 15th General Assembly From 28 September to 4 October, representatives from member churches across Asia will gather in Kerala, India, for the 15th General Assembly of the Christian Conference of Asia (CCA). The Uniting Church is a member of the CCA, a connection that reflects our unity and fellowship with the Asian ecumenical movement. A number of Uniting Church people will be present at the Assembly, including our official delegates. We asked some of these attendees to share what they are looking forward to most!  UNITING FOR THE VOICE "To love by listening..." This week in our series, What the Voice Means to Me, we share a great video from the Queensland Synod of Thaynakwith Elder Aunty Mary Ann Coconut, a spiritual Elder and honoured member of the Uniting Aboriginal and Islander Congress in Queensland. Aunty Mary Ann says the Voice will "open the gate" to freedom for First Nations people. We also have a great message from Abbey Sim, a member of St Matthew's Uniting Church Baulkham Hills, who says that we love by listening to our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander siblings.  EVENTS 2023 Leaders to Go National Conference Leaders to Go is Australia’s premier leadership conference for paid and voluntary leaders-of-leaders of church and school-based children and families ministries.  It was held from 7-10 September at the Collaroy Centre on Sydney’s Northern Beaches. Read this report by Chris Barnett, Assembly Intergenerational Consultant.  Photo: UCA participants - Jess Pinkerton, Courtney Heyden and Melissa Neumann           SEASON OF CREATION Celebrating the Season of Creation We're into Week 3 of the Season of Creation and we'd love to hear how Uniting Church communities are celebrating! Have you used the Assembly's 2023 worship resource to take your worship outside? Have you brought creation indoors? Have you taken actions? As we continue to worship, pray and reflect on our call to care for God's world through this season, email us your stories and photos, and post to your social media with the hashtags #seasonofcreationUCA #justiceandpeaceflow.

Resources Great reads on the Voice Are you looking for good reading on the Voice to Parliament? Do you want to point friends and family who are undecided on their vote to helpful places? With so much in the media space, sometimes it's hard to know where to start. We've put together a list of articles, opinion pieces and resources that cut through the noise, go a little deeper and contribute to the discussion in clear and constructive ways. See the list Events Tending to Stories 'Tending to Stories' is the theme of a conference to be co-hosted by Australian Collaborators in Feminist Theologies and Women and the Australian Church from 13-15 October in Melbourne. Engage with papers and reflections on the theme, take in a specially curated art exhibition and hear excellent keynote speakers including Rev Dr Cathie Lambert who will give the annual Janette Gray RSM Memorial Lecture. Register now UnitingWorld Tune in: ABC Soul Search "There is no dark that cannot be penetrated by people who care for each other. So we have an opportunity to work together, to band together to address this." UnitingWorld National Director Dr Sureka Goringe was interviewed by Dr Meredith Lake on ABC Soul Search last Thursday. Listen in as she speaks about how climate change is impacting faith communities and how faith itself can inspire powerful climate action and hope for the future. Tune in Act2 Project Just landed: three new papers Three new contributions are now here in the growing Act2 series of papers, reflections and provocations about the theological culture of the Uniting Church. This week we hear from Rev Prof Vicky Balabanski, Principal at Uniting College in South Australia, Dr Miriam Oxford, Uniting Church candidate for Ministry of Deacon, and Rev Dr Peter Lockhart, Chaplain at Moreton Bay College in Brisbane. Read the reflections Around the Uniting Church Historic agreement signed The Synod of Victoria and Tasmania signed an historic agreement last week with the Anglican Church Province of Victoria which will foster a greater sense of co-operation between the two Churches. Moderator Rev David Fotheringham and Archbishop Philip Freier put pen to paper on a Memorandum of Understanding which built on the work carried out by the Uniting Church Assembly in 2015. More from Crosslight Events A pilgrimage with Iona The Australian Wellspring Community and the Iona Community in Scotland are co-sponsoring an Australian pilgrimage which offers an opportunity for people to listen to First Nations and Celtic voices. The pilgrimage team is led by Rev Ruth Harvey, Community Leader of the Iona Community, and Brooke Prentis, a Wakka Wakka woman and Aboriginal Christian leader. Join one of more than 20 events being held across the country between late September and late October. More information

Positions North Ringwood Uniting Church - Children's and Youth Ministry  Join the team at North Ringwood Uniting Church in nurturing and leading growing areas of ministry as a Children’s Ministry Resource Worker or Youth Worker. Faith Education Officer (Youth and Young Adult) - Synod of NSW/ACT A full-time role within Uniting Mission and Education, Synod of NSW/ACT, delivering the Pulse Leadership Education suite. Upcoming Dates 1 September - 4 October: Season of Creation begins (worship resource now available) 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 UnitingCare Australia as it celebrates its 30th anniversary. We give thanks for its significant impact over three decades, prophetic voice and faithfulness to a vision for a just and flourishing nation. Our Intergenerational Church, called by God to share life and faith across generations and all those living out our vision and making space for these relationships to grow and flourish. All those attending the General Assembly of the Christian Church of Asia in India next week, and for the faithfulness and witness of our partners in Asia.  Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay 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.