Uniting Church in Australia - "Too many innocent civilians have lost their lives": NCCA on Palestine Israel, #ThisIsMyUnitingChurch @ Gawler, Act2🤝Opera House & more

25-31 October 2023 National Update Your weekly snapshot of the Uniting Church in Australia

Our Featured Story "For peace and an end to armed conflict" The National Council of Churches in Australia (NCCA) has released a public statement on behalf of 13 Australian denominations, including the Uniting Church in Australia, addressing the conflict in Palestine and Israel. Released by NCCA President Rev John Gilmore last Friday, the statement calls for peace in Israel, Gaza and the West Bank, and for urgent action to protect vulnerable civilians in the region. “Our prayers are for peace and an end to armed conflict,” said Rev Gilmore. “We reject completely the continuing use of strike weapons that are also impacting vulnerable populations and civilian infrastructure including homes, hospitals and clinics in Israel, Gaza and the West Bank.” “Too many innocent civilians have lost their lives in the past 12 days.” The statement comes as churches in the Middle East urgently appeal for a ceasefire and a humanitarian crisis worsens in Gaza. Uniting Church President Rev Sharon Hollis has urged Uniting Church members to pray for peace in the region. You might like to use this prayer, written by Rose Marie Berger and shared by the NCCA in early October. It includes these words: God of Love, we lift up Palestine and Israel — its people, its land, its creatures. War is a monster that consumes everything in its path. Peace is a gift shared at meals of memory with Christians, Muslims, and Jews. Let us burn incense, not children. Let us break bread, not bodies. Let us plant olive groves, not cemeteries. We beg for love and compassion to prevail on all your holy mountains. Read the statement ACT2 PROJECT "This big, bold experiment called the Uniting Church" "Have we become like the city workers on the Manly ferry, ignoring the wonder before us as we go about our daily grind? Do we value the gift God has given us and continued to renew in us through the past 50 years?" If you've ever wondered what the Assembly's Act2 Project has to do with the 50th anniversary of the Sydney Opera House, look no further than this great reflection from Act2 Project Lead Andrew Johnson on how anniversaries can invite us to see anew. Image: the Sydney Opera House is officially opened on 20 October 1973. THIS IS MY UNITING CHURCH Transforming lives through family ministry This week in our #ThisIsMyUnitingChurch series we head to Gawler Uniting Church, a congregation with over 170 years of history in Adelaide. In honour of Children's Week, we chat to Family Connections Worker Kaitlyn Phillips about how housing growth in the area is driving a need for family-based community and the exciting ways Gawler UC is meeting that need - like running the largest playgroup in the northern suburbs. And what can the rest of the Uniting Church pray for? "That lives will be transformed with the good news of Jesus through our family ministries." Do you know a congregation with a great story to tell? Email us to nominate them! OUR MULTICULTURAL CHURCH Indonesian National Conference gathers Uniting Church President Rev Sharon Hollis had the joy of gathering with the Uniting Church's Indonesian National Conference last weekend at Karama Indonesian Uniting Church (KIUC) on Larrakia land in Darwin. A wonderful time of reflection, sharing, song and fellowship! See a selection of photos in our Facebook post, and some impressive photo galleries on the KIUC Facebook page. UNITINGWORLD Host a UnitingWorld gift stall this Christmas! Everything in Common is UnitingWorld’s gift catalogue, filled with gifts that fight poverty through health, education, leadership and income opportunities. Everything in Common gifts directly support the work of Uniting Church partner churches helping people lead lives of dignity and hope. The 2023 website is coming soon, but in the meantime you can make a difference by becoming an Everything in Common Advocate and hosting a gift stall in your church, school or community group in the lead up to Christmas. Sign up!

Act2 Project New theological culture papers Each week the Act2 Project has been dropping new papers, reflections and provocations from theologians across the country on the theological culture of the Uniting Church. New contributions this week are from Matt Julius, Dr Mark Zirnsak, Carolyn McAllister and Moira Bryant. Keep an eye out - we're coming to the end of this series and will have a bumper drop of papers next week! Read the papers Intergenerational Reading for your intergen church The Assembly's hub of intergenerational resources continues to grow, equipping you and your community to read, share and engage with what it means to be an intergenerational church. Check out two new pages: useful web links for intergenerational reflection and practice, and recommended reading for those looking for a solid foundation in relation to intergenerational ministry. See the resources

Resources Post-referendum resources In case you missed it, the Assembly has released a new worship resource to help Uniting Church communities process and reflect on the result of the referendum. It includes a Foreword from President Rev Sharon Hollis, liturgies and rituals, almost 20 prayers and questions for your community to reflect on together. Contributions have been offered from across the national Uniting Church. Download now Around the global church WCC: protect places of refuge The World Council of Churches has called for places of refuge to be protected after an airstrike hit the grounds of Saint Porphyrius Greek Orthodox Church in Gaza City which was sheltering displaced people. Eighteen people have died including nine children. In making the statement, the WCC stands in solidarity with heads of churches in Jerusalem who have condemned the attacks. Read more

Positions Families Pastor - The Gap Uniting Church, QLD Connect and engage with families in our wider community and help to lead an intergenerational church in this exciting role at The Gap UC. Apply to Rev Rod Fisher by Friday 1 December 2023. Presbytery Minister (Pastoral) - Uniting Church Western Australia This Presbytery of WA seeks a PM-Pastoral who will work to ensure the good pastoral oversight, health and vitality of ministers and congregations. Upcoming Dates 1 November: All Saints Day 1-3 November: Preachfest! 2023 16-21 November: Vic/Tas Synod meeting 25 November: 16 Days of Activism against Gender Based Violence begins 1 December: Beginning of Advent Check out more dates across the year Join us in prayer for Urgent humanitarian action to protect vulnerable civilians in Israel, Gaza and the West Bank. May violence cease and a just, safe peace prevail. May God be with those who mourn. Rev Dr Sunny Chen and Rev Kath Behan as the Assembly welcomes them as Assembly National Consultants from next week. Gawler Uniting Church and its thriving, faithful ministry to children and their families.  The Caribbean as part of the WCC Ecumenical Prayer Cycle. What is your Uniting Church story? Email us! Share Tweet