That's a wrap on #UCA22!

That's a wrap on #UCA22 The final day of the reconvened 16th Assembly began with morning worship where members sang again in the language of the Gubbi Gubbi people and were led in a beautiful liturgy from Dorothy McRae-McMahon. Members were invited to hold with them a piece of red string as a reminder of the warmth and luxury of God’s love. In its final business session, the Assembly passed a proposal that seeks to deepen the Uniting Church’s commitment to living faith and life interculturally in a range of ways including a new annual Sunday of celebration, ‘Intercultural Neighbouring Sunday’. Read the full story below. Chaplains to the President Reuben Edmonds and Rev Radhika Sukumar-White presented a vote of thanks to all who helped the Assembly meeting come to life, offered leadership and pastoral care, led worship, worked behind the scenes, and planned and managed the event. The Synod of Queensland was thanked for hosting the meeting. The meeting moved into a final time of worship before closing with Communion led by President Rev Sharon Hollis. “Take a moment to recall what we’ve done together. The community we have formed. The confession we have made. The recommitment we have given. The pledges we have signalled. Think of a moment when you knew you dwelt in love, and give thanks.” “We have dwelt together in love because the Holy Spirit has dwelt with us, and guided us, and remained with us.” The 17th Assembly will take place in 2024 and will be hosted by the Synod of NSW/ACT. Moving to a truly intercultural Church The Uniting Church will have a new annual day on the calendar to celebrate our multicultural identity and for local communities to connect and build relationships with culturally and linguistically diverse communities in their neighbourhoods. Read a bit more about the new Intercultural Neighbouring Sunday and a range of other measures that have been passed in a resolution that seeks to move the Uniting Church forward in its multicultural identity. #UCA22 Day 4 in photos Check out all the photo highlights from the final day. Make sure you use #uca22 and #godineveryact if you're posting your own. Join us in prayer for Assembly members as they travel back to the lands on which they live. The ongoing work of the whole Church as we continue to discern the future of the Uniting Church in Australia. The many and varied expressions of the Uniting Church in Australia across the country as together we seek to participate in Christ's mission in the world through worship, witness and service. Are you at the Assembly meeting and have a great story to tell? Email Us

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All the highlights from #UCA22 Day 3

Highlights from Day 3 #UCA22 Day 3 of the reconvened Assembly began with members gathering together in song led by the Assembly band, deep reflections and joyful dancing. Students from Nungalinya College again led us in reflecting on the theme Dwelling in Love with a presentation in person and on video reflecting on John 15 where Jesus says, ‘I am the vine, you are the branches’. The Assembly was joined for the day by the National Directors from UnitingWorld, Frontier Services and UnitingCare Australia, as well as the National Director for Strategic Finance and Administration. The National Directors, along with the Assembly Associate General Secretary, were available for people to join in conversation over lunch, and in the following session shared some of the joys of their work with Assembly members. We took the opportunity in the breaks to ask some of the 16th Assembly members to share their hopes for the future of the Uniting Church in Australia. Watch the video below. The 16th Assembly acknowledged all that had been done for the Act2 Project, affirmed its importance and urgency and resolved to continue this work. Looking to the future, it was resolved that the Assembly invite the whole Church including the Synods and UAICC to work together in progressing with further work on Act2 to return to the 17th Assembly. The meeting again closed with the practice of the Examen with members invited to reflect again on the day. One more day to go! Growing in Love: Worship Day 3 Members of the reconvened Assembly began Day 3 by coming together in prayer, worship, Bible Reflection – and joyful dance - as they prepared again to discern the Spirit together. Nungalinya College students shared their particular insights and understandings of what it means when Jesus says, ‘I am the vine, you are the branches’. Assembly welcomes Agency Directors The 16th Assembly heard about the joys of the national work of the Church from the National Directors of the Assembly and its agencies. See the photo highlights from a lunchtime opportunity for Assembly members to meet with the leaders. #UCA22 in photos Check out all the photo highlights from Day 3. Make sure you use #uca22 and #godineveryact when you post your own. What are your hopes for the future of the Uniting Church? As the meeting considers God's will for the Uniting Church, we asked six Assembly members what their hopes are for the future of the UCA. Watch their responses on this video.  Join us in prayer for Members of the 16th Assembly and all those involved in the reconvened meeting as we come to our final day.  For the Wadeye Community in the Northern Territory - for God’s spirit to hover in and throughout this community as they experience a time of conflict. A peaceful and just election in the Philippines which takes place tomorrow amid deep division, uncertainty and pain. Are you at the Assembly meeting and have a great story to tell? Email Us

Copyright © 2022 Uniting Church in Australia, All rights reserved. We're sending you weekly updates because you opted into news from the Uniting Church in Australia. Our mailing address is: Uniting Church in Australia Lvl 4 262 Pitt St Sydney, NSW 2000 Australia