Month: February 2014

Moderator’s column: God’s desire for peace, freedom and equality

Post author By revivewa
Post date February 5, 2014

It is good to be home after our long overseas trip followed by a brief visit to a very successful Yurora NCYC 2014 in Parramatta. Viv and I hope you had a happy Christmas and wish you every blessing for 2014.

Our time in the Holy Land was a particular blessing to us both. We spent ten wonderful days as pilgrims travelling with twelve other pilgrims in what must be the place of pilgrimage for Christians. Even the worst snowfall in Jerusalem for 100 years, freezing temperatures at night and the heating breaking down in the college didn’t prevent us from soaking in the pure wonder of just being there.

Tags Refugees and Asylum Seekers

Stories & Feature Articles

Ongoing care for Perth hills

Post author By revivewa
Post date February 5, 2014

Bushfires in Perth’s hills around Parkerville, Stoneville and Mt Helena this January have devastated the area, with reports that 55 homes have been destroyed.

Rev Ron Larkin, moderator of the Uniting Church in WA has responded, extending prayers and care for those who have been affected and giving thanks for the courage and dedication to people who helped fight the fires and who are caring for those who have lost so much.

Tags A Helping Hand, Disaster Relief, Remote and rural communities

Stories & Feature Articles

What is your Yurora?

Post author By revivewa
Post date February 5, 2014

“Faith is a practical thing,” preached Julian Hamilton, of the Methodist Church of Ireland on the third day of Yuróra, the 2014 National Christian Youth Convention (NCYC).“We must perform the text, and when we do God turns up.”

With a week full of worship, song, dance and social justice, mixed in with a healthy dose of Yuróra, how could we not be performing the word of God? Yuróra was the theme for the 2014 NCYC, a biennial event held by a presbytery or synod of the Uniting Church, and means ‘passion’ in the Dharug language. As over 1000 delegates and volunteers pulled up outside the Centre for Ministry, Parramatta, it was clear their yuróra was calling them.

Tags NCYC, Youth, Yurora

Stories & Feature Articles

Celebrating diversity while learning for life

Post author By revivewa
Post date February 5, 2014

North Balga‘s Devanya Strickland and Makayla White with Scotch College’s Will Lewis and Cooper Van Rooyen. Photo courtesy of The Community Newspaper Group.

As neighbours from across the city, year five students from Scotch College enjoyed a day out last year celebrating with students of North Balga Primary School (NBPS) in their Multicultural Day. North Balga Primary School is a vibrant, multicultural school, with many students speaking English as their second language, from many different cultures.

Students from the school performed a range of dances and displays to celebrate their different cultures with the students from Scotch College, a Uniting Church school in Perth’s Western Suburbs.

Tags Multi-Cultural, Multicultural, Schools, Youth

Stories & Feature Articles

Give it UP for Lent

Post author By revivewa
Post date February 5, 2014

Georgina Garrett, Jemima Taylor and Imogen Senior from Picton Uniting are Giving it UP for Lent in 2014 with new youth resources. — Georgina Garrett, Jemima Taylor and Imogen Senior from Picton Uniting Church are Giving it UP for Lent in 2014 with new youth resources.

UnitingWorld’s Lent Event provides opportunities for people of all ages to – as their motto says – connect, reflect and act. Connect with overseas communities; reflect on your faith and act, by giving up everyday items and donating the money to vital relief and development projects instead.

This year Lent Event includes a new, youth-inspired addition – Give it UP for Lent. Running over one weekend from March 7–9, Give it UP for Lent is the result of collaboration between UnitingWorld and South Australia’s Uniting Young People. It includes a full range of youth group resources, video and bible study materials.

Tags Lent Event, UnitingWorld

Stories & Feature Articles

A tree of hope

Post author By revivewa
Post date February 4, 2014

Helping to strengthen family bonds under pressure, Mount Hawthorn St Peter Emmaus Church recently helped families with a parent in prison celebrate Christmas. Through Angel Tree, incarcerated parents can ask to send a gift to their child along with a hand written card as a way of celebrating Christmas together.

Tags Christmas, Church and Community

News & Announcements

Celebrating a ministy of care

Post author By revivewa
Post date February 4, 2014

Celebrating a ministry of care Rev Isobelle Shortreed organised a retirement service for Rev Tom Wilson last November at Noranda Uniting Church.

After many years in congregational ministry, including as a home missioner, Tom served at the Wasley Centre from 1980 providing counselling and training in the field. However when the centre moved outside the Uniting Church – to the Wasley Institute – his role was no longer officially a church placement. Tom has been of great service to the church throughout his ministry, and his work is appreciated by many.

Tags Church and Community, Our People and Agencies

News & Announcements

Postcards with love from Good Samaritan Industries

Post author By revivewa
Post date February 4, 2014

Good Samaritan Industries (GSI) has teamed up with Postcare, a new mobile phone and device app which allows users to take a photo on their digital device and send it via the post as a good-old postcard.

Launched last year at the Uniting Church in the City Centre, each postcard is processed by staff at GSI, a community service agency of the Uniting Church in WA providing employment for people living with a disability.

Tags Good Sammy's

News & Announcements

Uniting Church mourns passing

Post author By revivewa
Post date February 4, 2014

The Uniting Church in Australia is saddened to announce the death of the late Rev Ian Tanner who passed away Friday 27 December 2013.

Ian was a past President of the Uniting Church in Australia Assembly from 1985 to 1988 and served as the first Moderator of the Synod of South Australia from 1977-1979.

Tags Our People and Agencies

News & Announcements

Betty marks a milestone

Post author By revivewa
Post date February 4, 2014

Rev Betty Matthews, the first person to be ordained as a deacon in the Uniting Church, will be celebrating 60 years since she was ‘set apart’ as a deaconess with the Presbyterian Church in 1954.

Tags Our People and Agencies