Month: January 2017

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News & Announcements

Faith amongst pirates

For the last few years, Paul ‘Werzel’ Montague, a candidate for ministry with the Uniting Church WA, and Rev Chris Bedding, rector at Darlington-Bellevue Anglican Church, have been known  around town as Pirate Church. Since the comedy duo was created, many have caught the Pirate Church bug. The show has toured around the country, and in 2015 won Best WA Comedy at the  FringeWorld Awards.

On the back of Yurora NCYC 2017, the Uniting Church in Australia’s National Christian Youth Convention, and in the lead-up to the Perth Fringe Festival, Paul and Chris sat with Heather Dowling, editor of Revive, to chat life, faith, comedy and pirates.

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Stories & Feature Articles

Missio Dei?

When one thinks of mission, how many of us immediately think of these words from Matthew 28; what we’ve come to understand as the Great Commission?

“Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

For many years I believed that ‘going,’ ‘baptising’ and ‘teaching’ were mission instructions from the king and head of the church to all of us. Lately, however, I am beginning to understand these
words as more of an invitation from God to us for the sake of the world.

Let me explain.

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News & Announcements

Disturbing Much, Disturbing Many: Theology provoked by the Basis of Union, by Geoff Thompson

disturbing-much-disturbing-manyThis book contains a collection of recent articles by Rev Dr Geoff Thompson, related in one way or another to the Basis of Union (the foundation document of the Uniting Church in Australia). Dr Thompson teaches at the University of Divinity in Melbourne, and is well-placed to lead us into the bumpy and tempestuous ride of provocation and disturbance.

This book, I am confident, will foster such qualities in the theological imagination and ecclesial commitment of anyone who reads it. Geoff Thompson has grappled with a wide range of topics, and has sought to show how the intention of the authors of the Basis of Union has been worked out in the ongoing discussion amongst Uniting Church people (and the wider church).

If you read this book, or selected chapters from it, you may feel disturbed much. For myself, as should be clear, I have been disturbed a little, and would like to be disturbed more. Or, at least,  would like to see many others sharing more fully in the process of being disturbed by the expression of ‘fresh words and deeds’ as we make our journey as the pilgrim people.

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News & Announcements

Progressive spirituality: new directions

Thirteen members of the Uniting Church WA made the long flight to Brisbane to join with 300 others from around the world for the 4th Common Dreams Conference. Common Dreams aims to  promote study and discussion of progressive religious thoughts.

The conference was formally opened by Rev David Felten, co-author of Living the Questions, who highlighted the significance of the progressive movement and his experience of a co-ordinated attack on Progressive Christianity by his neighbouring evangelical churches. It was followed by a lecture for the late Rev Canon Nigel Leaves, a past Warden of Wollaston College in WA, introduced by his widow Rev Jewlz Leaves and given by theologian Dr Val Webb.

We also heard a most engaging lecture by a Muslim woman, Saara Sabbagh on ‘Living with Faith in a faithless world’. She shared the wisdom of Islam’s Sufi mystical tradition known to many of us from the writings of Rumi. Nine different elective workshops on progressive spirituality led by experts were held throughout the conference, as well as a range of keynote sessions on interesting topics.

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News & Announcements

Investment in a sustainable future

In an effort to become more sustainable, Uniting Church in the City (UCIC) has undertaken a number of projects to increase their environmental sustainability and reduce their ecological impact.

UCIC general manager, Neil Starkie, explained that in July 2015, the church adopted a strategic plan that included new direction on sustainability and design. Since adopting the plan, UCIC have engaged in three initiatives to address their sustainability.

One of these initiatives is the upcoming installation of a 65 cell solar array on the tallest building in the Wesley Quarter. The solar array has been made possible with the help of a small scale technology certificate rebate. The project is expected to reach completion by 31 December. The array will account for 5% of the energy for the largest building in the Quarter.

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News & Announcements

Sit, chat and wander at Campfire

Over the September long weekend, 125 people from Uniting Churches around WA descended on the small, Wheatbelt town of Lake Yealering for Campfire 2016.

Campfire is run by the Pastoral  Network of Evangelicals Uniting in Mission Action (PNEUMA) with the express aim of encouraging and resourcing people for mission. It is also a fantastic weekend of relaxing and hanging out  with friends – old and new.

Andrew Hamilton, part-time retic guy and part-time pastor of Quinns Baptist Church, was guest speaker this year with his three sessions focusing on ‘The practices of sent people,’ ‘Living lives that are different’ and ‘Speaking of Jesus.’ Andrew’s sessions were engaging and practical with plenty of time for discussion.

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News & Announcements

Contemplation on Canvas comes to Perth

Rev Cathie Lambert, minister at Margaret River Uniting Church, will be at Trinity North Uniting Church on Friday 27 and Saturday 28 January guiding participants through an art and spirituality  workshop – Contemplation on Canvas.

Contemplation on Canvas will run on Friday evening, and then all day Saturday. During the retreat, participants will have the opportunity for personal reflection on their own life and spiritual  journey so far. Guidance and inspiration will be given in a large group format, followed by individual reflection time.

At each stage of reflection, participants will begin to create their very own mixed media canvas. Using creative materials, participants will craft an artwork that depicts their life and their hopes for  the future.

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Education & Training

Inspiration to connect

summer-spiritRev Dr John Squires and Rev Elizabeth Raine will be the keynote speakers at next year’s Summer Spirit. John is also the new director of education and formation for the Uniting Church WA, and will take up his role in February 2017.

John and Elizabeth have a passion for doing church in new ways, and have spent much of their recent ministry helping churches creatively connect with their communities. John is currently in a placement with Wauchope and District Uniting Church, NSW, and Elizabeth is serving an Intentional Ministry Placement in Canberra. They have also worked in shared placements, including as Presbytery ministers with the Mid North Coast Presbytery of the Uniting Church NSW/ACT, encouraging others in engaging and new ministry.

With the Summer Spirit theme of ‘Being church in new ways,’ John and Elizabeth will share their knowledge and experience of these ministries, much of which has been spent encouraging congregations to experiment with different ways of connecting with their communities. John said this has happened in various ways, such as community gardens, projects with local schools,  Messy Church, community markets and a nonreligious youth group.

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