Uniting Church in Australia - 40 Days of faithful action - Lent begins! ✝️This and more in UC National Update 14-20 February

14-20 February 2024 National Update Your weekly snapshot of the Uniting Church in Australia

Our Featured Story LENT 40 days for prayer and faithful action On Ash Wednesday today, we enter the holy season of Lent and begin the journey to Easter. It's a time to reflect on how we might be changed by God's great story of love. In the Uniting Church, today also marks the beginning of Lent Event - an invitation from UnitingWorld to spend 40 days engaging in prayer, reflection and faithful action. This year Lent Event has a special focus on care for creation. In the first of a series of weekly videos, Rev Dr Cliff Bird from the United Church Solomon Islands speaks about the power of Lent as a way to reflect on "the renewed relationship of humanity with God, of humanity with each other, and with God’s ‘very good’ creation." There are lots of ways to get involved; sign up for daily reflections and prayers, take up a commitment to action or fundraise for the work our church partners.  All those who sign-up to Lent Event will also receive a weekly update including a prayer shared by a Uniting Church member. Andrea Mayes, Deacon at Heatherton Dingley Uniting Church in Victoria, shares today's prayer for the future of the earth.  "Jesus, help us resist the temptation to continue with life as normal.  May those with the power to make bold decisions to protect our future, do so.  Fill us with love for one another and for your created world." Read the full prayer in our regular weekly PowerPoint, linked below.  Join Lent Event THEOLOGY Raising our Tribal Voice for Justice Read this great recap from Assembly Policy and Advocacy Officer Raúl Sugunananthan on the historic conference Raising our Tribal Voice for Justice: An Indigenous Theological Revolution which took place last week in Melbourne. Held by the Univiersity of Divinity in collaboration with the School of Indigenous Studies, the ecumenical conference provided a platform for Indigenous perspectives on spirituality, colonisation, justice, repatriation, Country, and ecology. Image: University of Divinity Facebook.  PALESTINE-ISRAEL "Our hearts ache and cry out for peace" Uniting Church President Rev Sharon Hollis has expressed deep concern for the unfolding situation in Gaza and reiterated calls for an immediate ceasefire and the protection of innocent civilians, including more than a million Palestinians currently sheltering in Rafah. Today, Uniting Church members joined the Ceasefire Pilgrimage in Melbourne walking the length of the Gaza Strip in solidarity with the thousands of refugees displaced by the war. Find out about other walks taking place and how you can be involved.  Image: Ceasefire pilgrims in Melbourne. Thanks to Rev Alex Sangster  ASSEMBLY CIRCLES Advocates gather in Sydney It was a delight this week to have the Advocates of the Assembly Circles come together in Sydney, pictured here with members of the Assembly Resourcing Unit. Discussions included how the Circles might continue to invite more people to participate in and give input into the national work of the church. Explore Circles.  ECUMENICAL World Day of Prayer - 1 March 2024 The World Day of Prayer is a global ecumenical day of prayer led by Christian women on the first Friday in March. Each year, it is an opportunity for local churches to come together to pray for a particular place in the world. This year, the host country is Palestine. With all that has been unfolding in Gaza, it is a timely opportunity to pray for the Holy Land. Thanks to Helen Richmond for this short introduction and invitation to get involved.  Artwork: This year's featured artwork is by Palestinian visual artist Halima Aziz, representing three Palestinian women praying together in a peaceful place.

Refugees Ecumenical advocacy The Australian Churches Refugee Taskforce (ACRT) met in-person last week to plan its work for 2024. Alongside many other advocacy groups, the ACRT has determined its focus will be on visa permanency. Approximately 10,000 asylum seekers are still facing an uncertain future. Read this report and find out about the immediate ways you can get involved in advocating for refugees.  Read the report Resources More resources for Lent Check out this selection of Lenten resources from different churches and ecumenical initiatives compiled by the National Council of Churches (NCCA). If you are looking for something focused on discipleship for all generations, the Queensland Synod has produced an excellent resource called The Great Restoration Project.  For daily prayers and actions cultivating public discipleship, check out this resource from SA Synod.  See the NCCA list Frontier Services Lending a hand in Walgett Here's an inspiring story! A Frontier Services Outback Links team travelled to Walgett in remote northwest NSW last week to provide some much-needed help to a dedicated farmer. They spent four days at the property assisting with clean-up and repairs. A notable achievement was constructing a chicken coop from scratch! Sounds like something you could do? Find out about Outback Links. See more pics on Facebook Have your say Last chance! Surveys closing Don't miss your chance to have a say in three areas of the Assembly's work!  Tell us what you would like to see in the National Update, our weekly email Help us review the Assembly Circles of Interest Tell us about how you engaged with the Voice Referendum. Complete the surveys by 21 February.  Give your input

Positions Applications are open until 23 February for the Assembly General Secretary. We are seeking someone who is passionate about the national life of the church, a change and governance leader, a theological reflector and someone who thrives on collaboration with diverse groups. The position will be elected by the 17th Assembly in July 2024. Find out more about how to apply.  Children and Family Ministry Worker, Georges River, NSW Join the Georges River Presbytery (GRP) team and support its Mission to Grow Young by building connections and relationships with families. Early Childhood Teacher, Forest Lake, QLD Nurture young minds in a community-driven, values-packed environment with Uniting Early Learning, part of the QLD Synod's mission-based childcare services.  Upcoming Dates 13 February: Anniversary of the National Apology to the Stolen Generations 14 February: Lent begins with Ash Wednesday 1 March: World Day of Prayer 8 March: International Women's Day 29 March – 1 April: Easter weekend  Check out more dates across the year Join us in prayer for All those marking Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Lent. In the days ahead may we journey with the one who forges a trail of new life through the dust. An end to the war in Gaza and an enduring just peace for the people of Palestine and Israel.  Our Covenant as First and Second Peoples. We pray as Second Peoples we are ready to listen and learn from First Nations people and their understandings of God. Austria, Liechtenstein, Switzerland as part of the WCC Ecumenical Prayer Cycle. Our weekly PowerPoint with stories, resources and prayer points for use in your weekly worship. How will you mark Lent? Email us! Share Tweet Forward Copyright © 2024 Uniting Church in Australia, All rights reserved.