Uniting Church in Australia - Spirit-filled transformation at Retreat Yourself #RY24! + more in our National Update

21-27 February 2024 National Update Your weekly snapshot of the Uniting Church in Australia

Our Featured Story RETREAT YOURSELF The Spirit at work in faith-filled community When 65 young adults from the Uniting Church gathered together for four days earlier this month, a faithful community emerged, filled with a deep trust in and openness to God's transforming Spirit. Led by Pulse, the Youth, Young Adults and Families ministry of the NSW/ACT Synod, Retreat Yourself took place in the beach-side location of Gerrigong, south of Sydney from 1-4 February. Hosted by NSW/ACT Moderator Rev Faaimata Havea Hiliau, it began with a day focused on leadership. Uniting Church President Rev Sharon Hollis and Assembly National Consultant Rev Sunny Chen joined a panel of speakers with the Moderator and Dr Matt Anslow (Educator for Lay Ministry) sharing stories of leadership and encouragement.  Reflecting on the weekend, Rev Hollis spoke of the faithfulness and hope of the young people who gathered.  "I saw the Spirit at work at Retreat Yourself, in young adults taking the call of Jesus seriously, engaging in scripture, learning from each other, asking questions of each other, listening deeply, praying, worshipping and creating life-giving community.” Through workshops, song, prayer, conversation, community time and visits to the beach, the gathering provided a space for the young leaders to stop and reflect on areas of life and ministry where they might see God stepping in, transforming and breathing new hope. Read all about it in this great report published by Insights written by Rev James Aaron, Pulse Young Adult Ministry Facilitator. Go to the story HUMANS OF THE UNITING CHURCH Meet Daryl Pedler This week in our Humans of the Uniting Church series we meet Uniting Church Lay Preacher Daryl Pedler. Daryl shares about formational moments in his journey from a Methodist background through Union in 1977 and into the Uniting Church and the faith challenge which nudged him into Lay Preacher training. He invites us to pray for young people moving through key moments in their lives and the people who accompany them. Do you know a Uniting Church member with a great story to share? Send us an email.  LENT EVENT "We need to be God's instruments" As we move through the Season of Lent, don't miss the invitation of UnitingWorld to take part in prayer and faithful action in this year's Lent Event. Themed on care for God's creation and with a focus on supporting Church partners in combating the climate crisis, this week they share a prayer for courage from George Abraham Walter, Tongan-Australian worship leader at Canterbury Balwyn Rd Uniting Church (included in our weekly PowerPoint below). You can also watch this powerful video from our partner church in Tuvalu on the critical situation for their island home. Sign up for daily and weekly reflections and action ideas.  UNITING IN PRAYER Calling all creatives! Share your prayers Are you a Uniting Church creative? Would you like to use your gifts to help us pray together for our past, present and future? The Act2 team is calling for prayer submissions for the daily prayers which will be shared across the national Uniting in Prayer event from 19 May-22 June 2024. Prayers are invited in a variety of creative styles including poetry, song and art. Use the sign-up form on the Act2 website to let the team know you'd like to contribute. LIVESTREAM EVENT Doing theology and ministry on stolen land Don't miss the opportunity tomorrow to tune into this conversation with Rev Mark Kickett, National Chairperson of the Uniting Aboriginal and Islander Christian Congress (UAICC) and Uniting Church President Rev Sharon Hollis at the 2024 Orientation Ceremony for Pilgrim Theological College. They will explore the topic "doing theology and ministry on stolen land", a key theme for the academic year. It will be live-streamed on the Pilgrim Facebook Page from 4-5.30pm AEDT on Thursday 22nd February. So what is Christianity? What is the Church? Uniting Church theologian Rev Associate Professor Geoff Thompson ponders Christianity's big questions, in this article published by Crosslight. In the context of Christianity's minority status, this thought-provoking piece considers how we might respond anew to the beckoning of the Spirit to discover God's abundant gift in Jesus Christ and foster communities willing to be shaped and re-shaped by our relationships with the voiceless and the different.   Next Friday 1 March is the World Day of Prayer (WDP). The global ecumenical day of prayer is led by Christian women and this year local churches are invited to gather together in prayer for Palestine. An Order of Service has been prepared by Palestinian women with the theme: ‘I Beg You, Bear With One Another in Love” (Eph 4:3). Find the liturgy, a host of resources and service locations on the World Day of Prayer website.  Artwork: by Palestinian visual artist Halima Aziz.

Frontier Services Fresh Frontier News out now The February edition of Frontier News is out now! It's packed with great stories about people working to support communities on the ground, the generosity of Outback Links volunteers and features on our Bush Chaplains. You can also order the 2024 Order of Service to celebrate the work of Frontier Services in your congregation. Image: Outback Links volunteers Ros and Chris are featured in this edition. Get all the news Worship Marion St creative arts project Marion St is a sacred creative arts project from members of Leichhardt Uniting Church in Sydney, creating new worship music with a focus on voices from the margins. Head to this link to follow them on social media, listen online and download the sheet music to use in your own community. If you're in Sydney, you can join others for an evening of music, poetry and art this Friday 23 February to officially launch the project. Connect with Marion St Ecumenical News WCC visits the Holy Land World Council of Churches General Secretary Rev Dr Jerry Pillay has been visiting Palestine and Israel over the last week, seeking to strengthen the WCC's calls for a ceasefire and for all parties to commit to dialogue as a path to a just peace in the region. The busy itinerary has included meetings with the Presidents of Israel and Palestine and with the Patriarchs and Heads of Churches in Jerusalem. See WCC news Pancake Day 2024 Flipping for a great cause Congregations, agencies and schools across the Uniting Church came out flipping for Pancake Day on Shrove Tuesday last week. A leading fundraising event of the UnitingCare network, Pancake Day has raised millions of dollars since the early 2000s in support of some of the most vulnerable and marginalised people in our communities. Check out some happy snaps from around the country now on our Facebook page. See the pics

Positions A reminder that applications close on 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. Find out how to apply.  Office Manager - Newtown Mission Work as the key support person to the Senior Minister in the financial, administrative and property matters of Newtown Mission. Finance & Payroll Officer - UCIC, Perth  This role is key to the office, accounting and payroll functions at Uniting Church in the City in the heart of Perth. Upcoming Dates 1 March: World Day of Prayer 8 March: International Women's Day 24 March: Palm Sunday 29 March – 1 April: Easter weekend  Check out more dates across the year Join us in prayer for Young people in the Uniting Church who are being shaped by and inspiring us with the transforming Spirit of God. Uniting Church Lay Preachers who faithfully share the Gospel. Christians around the world as we continue our journey through Lent, following Jesus on the road to the cross. France, Germany, Monaco as part of the WCC Ecumenical Prayer Cycle. Our weekly PowerPoint with stories, resources and prayer points for use in your weekly worship. What is inspiring faith and hope in your community? Email us! Share Tweet Forward Copyright © 2024 Uniting Church in Australia, All rights reserved.