Uniting Church in Australia - 📢UAICC leadership announcement, A reflection on PEACE in Advent#2 🕯️, on-campus faith, meet 2 humans of the UCA + more

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

Our Featured Story UAICC national leadership announcement The Uniting Aboriginal and Islander Christian Congress (UAICC) has elected Rev Mark Kickett as its National Chair. Rev Kickett has led Congress as the Interim Chair for the past three years and prior to this was serving with UAICC in South Australia. Rev Kickett said he was looking forward to the journey ahead for Congress and the UCA. He said, “I am looking forward to consolidating a new journey for the whole of Congress and to strengthening our ongoing relationship and commitment as part of who we are in the Uniting Church.” Welcoming the news, Uniting Church President Rev Sharon Hollis said she looked forward to continuing to work alongside Rev Kickett in the ways we live out our covenant relationship - a call to justice, reconciliation and healing.  We pray for God's blessing on Rev Kickett's leadership and for all who belong to UAICC.  Read more ADVENT SERIES Peace that transcends all understanding In this second reflection in our Advent series, Assembly National Consultant Rev Kath Behan looks at the theme of Peace. Drawing on the words of the prophet Isaiah, Kath explores the experiences of the Hebrew people who found peace in God’s faithfulness and enduring presence, not despite but amid chaos and exile. For us too in a conflicted and weary world, peace is not mere positivity or denial but an abiding sense of God's love when all else is stripped away. The reflection includes a prayer, which is included in the PowerPoint below.  THIS IS MY UNITING CHURCH An on-campus ministry for all On the campuses of five major universities in New South Wales, there is a vibrant and welcoming Uniting Church presence in Christian Students Uniting. In this week's This Is My Uniting Church profile, we learn more about this enduring tertiary ministry from Hannah Roux, CSU President at the University of Sydney, and CSU Mission Worker Gabi Cadenhead. Do you know a community with a great story to tell? Email us to nominate them! UNITING CHURCH STUDIES An academic journal for and about the UCA Did you know that the Uniting Church has its own academic journal? Printed twice a year for almost 30 years, Uniting Church Studies has had contributions from every corner of the country offering rich reflection and scholarship on every major issue which has shaped the Uniting Church’s life and beyond. Read about the enduring value of the journal, get a taster of the content and learn how to submit or receive it yourself in this article written by journal editor Rev Dr Geoff Thompson. PRAYER Prayer Vigil for peace in the Holy Land As the ceasefire between Israel and Palestine ends, we are again confronted by the unthinkable violence that is taking place. Aid has ceased entering Gaza, hostages continue to be held and bombing has resumed. Recognising that the Holy Land is gripped by trauma this Advent, the Working for Justice Circle is hosting an online prayer vigil on Wednesday 13 December, 7.30-8pm AEDT. Register now. PRESIDENT'S CHRISTMAS MESSAGE Sign up to get the Christmas Message first The Christmas message from President Rev Sharon Hollis will be available for communities to download by next Wednesday 13 December. Make sure you don't miss it by signing up to receive the link straight to your inbox as soon as it's available. HUMANS OF THE UNITING CHURCH A double Humans of the Uniting Church This week we've got a double edition of our Humans of the Uniting Church series for you! Come along as we meet Penni Ives in Launceston, Tasmania, and Michael Ramaidama in Sydney's inner-west. They each share their Uniting Church story, what enlivens their faith in Jesus, what they love telling people about the Uniting Church and what the rest of the Church can pray for in their context. JUSTICE Emerging leaders "speak truth to power" In this great relfection, Assembly Policy and Advocacy Officer Raúl Sugunananthan gives a first-hand account of the Pacific Australian Emerging Leaders Summit (PAELS) which has met for the second time. Co-ordinated by Micah Australia, the gathering brings together young people with a passion for justice from the Pacific Islands, Pacific diaspora, First Nations communities and wider Australian communities. Raúl reports, "across the span of six days we built community, deepened faith and advocated to some of the most powerful decision-makers in the region about issues close to our hearts." CIRCLES New Advocate for Being a Multicultural Church The Assembly is pleased to announce that Rev Dr Paul Goh is stepping in as interim Advocate for the Being a Multicultural Church Circle until the 17th Assembly. Paul brings a deep passion for and extensive experience in multicultural and cross-cultural ministry.  At the same time, we give our deep thanks for the faithful service and rich insights of Rev Dr Matagi Vilitama as the inaugural Advocate for Being a Multicultural Church. We pray for Matagi's ongoing ministry as he returns to his home island Niue.  PODCAST Dwelling with Rev Andrew Gunton The third interview in the Dwelling podcast series with ex-Moderators is with Rev Andrew Gunton who recently finished as Moderator of the Queensland Synod. President Rev Sharon Hollis speaks to Andrew about his journey into the Uniting Church, the unique perspective of a Moderator on the depth of ministry across the Uniting Church, the strengthening of the Regional Council of Congress in QLD and Andrew's other highlights of being a Moderator.

Assembly Farewelling Colleen Geyer Last Friday 1 December the Assembly formally thanked and farewelled outgoing General Secretary Colleen Geyer, gathering people from across the Church for a closure of ministry service. Those present paid tribute to Colleen's faithful, wise and courageous leadership over the past eight years. See photos of the event on our Facebook page. See the photos Theology Pacific theology on Soul Search Last week's ABC Soul Search episode featured two Pasifika theologians at the forefront of fresh Christian thought about mission, ecology and indigenous knowledge: Rev Dr Sef Carroll, Fiji-born Rotuman Uniting Church minister and lecturer at United Theological College in Sydney, and Rev Dr Cliff Bird, Pacific theologian and minister in the United Church of the Solomon Islands. Listen in as they chat with host Meredith Lake. Listen now Nuclear Weapons Treaty Report from the UN Read this summary from ICAN Australia on the Second Meeting of States Parties to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) held in New York last week. Representing affected communities, second-generation nuclear test survivor and Yankunytjatjara-Anangu woman Karina Lester presented to a panel on the ongoing impacts of radiation fallout. The Uniting Church supports the call for Australia to make joining the TPNW an urgent priority. Read more Frontier Services 2023 Christmas Appeal People all over Australia need the practical support of Frontier Services, whether it's Outback Links volunteers showing up to help rebuild or the vital pastoral support of Bush Chaplains. This Christmas, you're invited to give generously to support Australians in rural and remote Australia recover from disaster and build resilience for the future. Donate now Resources IdPwD 2023 Last Sunday 3 December we marked the International Day of People with Disability. If your community would like to be resourced in growing understanding and inclusion, check out this video series from the Synod of South Australia which draws on lived experience and includes an introduction, Royal Commission explainers, theological foundations and guides to access and language. Assembly resources are available here. Get the resources Events UCAF National Gathering There's still time to register for the Uniting Chruch Adult Fellowship (UCAF) National Gathering to be held at Nunyara Conference Centre in South Australia from 22-26 January 2024. Highlights of the gathering include Bible Study led by Mark Schultz, speakers from UnitingWorld and Frontier Services, electives, National Committee business and plenty of fun, food and fellowship. Download the registration form here and register by 22 December 2023. More information

Positions Presbytery Officer - Uniting Church Presbytery of WA The Presbytery Officer supports the Presbytery Standing Committee and oversees the leadership and management of the staff team. Chaplain - The Wesley Hospital, Auchenflower, QLD UnitingCare seeks a Chaplain to deliver spiritual and pastoral care to staff, patients and families at The Wesley Hospital outside of Brisbane. Upcoming Dates 25 November - 10 December: 16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence 6-7 December: Act2 National Gathering on Theological Education (Melbourne) 3-24 December: Advent 25 December: Christmas Day (President's Christmas Message coming) Check out more dates across the year Join us in prayer for The leadership of Congress National Chair Rev Mark Kickett. May God walk with him and with all who belong to the UAICC as we work together for justice and reconciliation. All those involved in Christian Students Uniting, creating places of welcome and enquiry and being a faithful presence on university campuses. The Act2 Project as it begins to work through responses from across the country about future directions for the Uniting Church; may the recommendations discerned be faithful to the will of the Church and to the Spirit's call. Myanmar, Thailand 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. Share Tweet Forward