Month: December 2015

Travelling the journey

Post author By revivewa
Post date December 31, 2015

My wife, Kay, and I recently travelled to the Kimberley with our friends, Howard and Carol. Howard, a retired Anglican priest, served with me as an Army Reserve Chaplain. As we each drove around in our Nissan Patrols, we jokingly referred to ourselves as ‘Padres in Patrols.’

My expectation of the trip was that we would enjoy camping and visit the many wonderful sights the Kimberly has to offer. I was surprised, however, by the great conversations we had with people we met on the way.

A major part of our journey included the Gibb River Road, notorious for its roughness and toughness on vehicles. Both of us managed to shred tyres and damage rims. After my first tyre damage experience, and knowing that I was only half way along the road, I was slightly anxious.

Tags Theology and Spiritual Reflections

News & Announcements

Special Meeting of the Synod

Post author By revivewa
Post date December 29, 2015

The Standing Committee of the Uniting Church WA wishes to advise that a special meeting of the Synod of Western Australia will be held on Saturday 6 February 2016 to appoint a new general secretary. From 1 January, Rev John Dunn will act as general secretary. The Standing Committee thanks Rosemary Hudson Miller for her dedicated service in this role. From 1 January, Rosemary will return to her former role as associate general secretary justice and mission, until 31 July.

Tags Uniting Church

Stories & Feature Articles

Sustainability in action

Post author By revivewa
Post date December 28, 2015

Kalamunda Uniting Church’s Sustainability Committee was born out of the congregation’s commitment to the preservation of God’s creation. Dr Libby Mattiske, respected plant ecologist and member of the congregation, chairs the committee.

During its five years of existence, the committee has encouraged the congregation to take part in a range of initiatives such as Sustainable September, the installation of solar panels, a communal herb garden and fruit trees, and regular cycling over motor vehicle use.

Tags Church and Community, Environment

Stories & Feature Articles

The gift of care

Post author By revivewa
Post date December 25, 2015

As we approach Advent and Christmas, I have been reminded of one of the greatest gifts I have received – a gift unexpected and a gift that has informed my life and ministry since that time.

While appointed to the Upper Avon Methodist Circuit in the early 1970s, I was delighted to receive an invitation to join the celebrations for the 50th anniversary for my home church – the Manjimup Methodist (now Uniting) Church.

At a special dinner on the night prior to the service of celebration, I received a remarkable gift in the form of a previously unknown family story.

I was sitting beside the Rev Thomas Burt, a minister to the Manjimup congregation in the 1930’s time of the Great Depression. Before he was ordained, Thomas Burt was a builder and he told me this story.

Tags Theology and Spiritual Reflections

Stories & Feature Articles

Spiritual pilgrimage growing students

Post author By revivewa
Post date December 24, 2015

Three brave Methodist Ladies’ College (MLC) students and a group of teachers embarked on a journey of strength, spirituality and community building in September, as they took part in the Camino alvado Pilgrimage. The pilgrimage begins at St Joseph’s Church in Subiaco and ends in New Norcia, and exists in the spirit of the Camino de Santiago, an ancient pilgrimage through Spain and France.

Rev Hollis Wilson, a Uniting Church chaplain at MLC, with the help of a few teachers, led the pilgrimage, which required participants to walk for 20kms a day before being picked up and taken back to camp at Swanleigh, in the Swan Valley. Each morning they would drive to the starting point of the next 20km section, walking from about 9.30am–3.30pm for five days, before arriving at New Norcia.

The surroundings provided a great space for the students to engage with each other, their teachers and their spirituality.

Tags International, Schools, Theology and Spiritual Reflections, Yputh

Stories & Feature Articles

St Stephen’s School students serve

Post author By revivewa
Post date December 24, 2015

St Stephen’s School Carramar students, Alexandria Reuben, India Graham and Martika Jary spent hours in the kitchen recently baking 120 muffins for the homeless, along with the rest of their homeroom. In total, students donated more than 200 muffins to UnitingCare West’s Tranby Day Centre. Tranby Day Centre provides meals and referrals to people experiencing and at risk of homelessness.

Brett Roberts, head of secondary at St Stephen’s School Carramar, said the School was devoted to help improve the lives of those in need.

Tags Poverty, Schools, Youth

Stories & Feature Articles

Taking time to stop, listen and learn

Post author By revivewa
Post date December 23, 2015

During the course of 2015, Belinda Oxenburgh, Dorothy White and Karen Honeybun, embarked on a journey of discovery.

As a student at St Stephen’s School, a Uniting Church school, Belinda took part in The Rite Journey Program and chose Karen, her youth group leader at Trinity North Uniting Church, as her mentor. Part of the program involves a yearlong project, which Belinda chose to share with Dorothy – a member of the congregation, now in her 90s.

Belinda and Karen met regularly with Dorothy and had the privilege of listening to, and getting to know, a dearly loved member of their congregation. Dorothy’s sweet temperament, attentiveness and kindness struck Belinda in their first conversation.

Tags Ageing and Community, Schools, Youth

Stories & Feature Articles

Moderator’s column: First the call, then where?

Post author By revivewa
Post date December 22, 2015

Walker Percy once wrote, “you can get all straight A’s and still flunk life.”

Somehow we fail at life if we are unable to discover its, and our own, meaning. Deep in our hearts most of us want to find and fulfil a purpose bigger than ourselves. Kierkegaard, a Christian philosopher, put it this way: “the thing is to understand myself, to see what God really wants me to do.”

We live in a time when we have too much to live with and too little to live for. Having lots of possessions and people in our lives still leaves a gap; a longing for something more, a sense of purpose and a sense of call.

Tags Theology and Spiritual Reflections

Stories & Feature Articles

Billabong Centre a community hub

Post author By revivewa
Post date December 17, 2015

The Billabong Community Centre has been a long term project for Billabong Uniting Church. Hard work has finally paid off, as the centre officially opened its doors on Sunday 4 October.

The congregation celebrated with an opening worship service and a Grand Opening Community Festival, a family friendly community event complete with a petting zoo, bouncy castle, face painting and plenty of games for young and old alike.

The Billabong Community Centre has been built with the local community in mind. The centre has purpose built function rooms which can be booked out by various community groups, including a main kitchen, upstairs and downstairs rooms, a meeting room, a resource library and a large outdoor grassed area. There is also a playgroup room which has its own kitchen and outside playground area which is perfect for children’s birthday parties. Kids clubs, exercise classes and conferences have already started taking place at the centre.

Tags Church and Community