Author: revivewa

Building project supports the spirit of giving

Post author By revivewa
Post date March 13, 2015

A generous grant from Lotteries West has helped Pemberton Uniting Church expand their own generous spirit, as they built an extension on their church. The extension will be used to store and pack food parcels for local families doing it tough.

Faye Backhouse, from Pemberton Uniting Church, said that while there is still some minor work to be done, the renovations are a major improvement on what they have been using previously.

“We’ve still got a little bit of painting to do,” she said. “We’ll have a few more busy-bees to finish it off properly.

“All the food is in the new area, it’s out of sight and we’ve got a couple of freezers.”

Tags Church and Community, Remote and rural communities

News & Announcements

President launches National Cyclone Relief Appeal

Post author By revivewa
Post date March 13, 2015

President of the Uniting Church in Australia (UCA), Rev Prof Andrew Dutney has today launched a national appeal to assist communities hit by cyclones.

Cyclone Lam struck Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory on 20 February causing extensive damage to homes and public buildings. Sixty dwellings were left uninhabitable and there was extensive damage to the natural environment.

On the same day Cyclone Marcia battered the Queensland coast from Yeppoon to Rockhampton. Wind damage caused property and crop losses just before annual harvests with flooding affecting areas as far inland as Biloela.

Currently, there are also cyclones of concern in Queensland and northern Western Australia.

“We are very concerned for the communities affected by these disasters. Please join me in praying for the church in these areas too – for their safety and recovery, and for their service and witness to their neighbours in need after the cyclones,” said Andrew.

“I encourage UCA members wherever they are to do what they can to support our brothers and sisters in this time of need.”

Tags A Helping Hand, Remote and rural communities

News & Announcements

Help is on hand for older residents at home

Post author By revivewa
Post date March 11, 2015

Older people in Perth’s north eastern and Hills suburbs can gain access to care and support designed to maintain their independence and quality of life at home.

Juniper, part of WA’s UnitingCare network, delivers a full range of home care services that can be an effective option for older people who want to live independently at home but may need assistance.

Juniper community executive manager, Daymon Joseph, said the organisation’s care packages are for people aged 65 and over, or 50-plus for Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander clients.

“We understand that support in the home may be a new opportunity for some, so our aim is to help people live their life on their terms,” he said.

Tags Ageing and Community

Stories & Feature Articles

How Jesus failed: Truth from the mouths of enemies

Post author By revivewa
Post date March 10, 2015

‘Let’s go back in time and listen to the voices who mocked Jesus. Hard though it is, let’s hear what they said against him and uncover what it actually means.

Political failure

“Are you the King of the Jews?” asked Pontius Pilate. Did he really want to know, or was he hurling out one of those sick jokes that come up among soldiers? He could not see a man with an army. His followers, all disappeared by now, are all ordinary folks and broken people. Is he going to rule the world with that lot?

Pilate thinks a king would gather to himself unanswerable power, but Jesus does not really give him much of an answer. Political failure? Today, the lasting truth is that Pilate is gone and the risen Jesus rules billions of souls.

We broken souls have been the bearers of the news of real enduring glory.

Tags Theology and Spiritual Reflections

Stories & Feature Articles

NYALC: Coming home

Post author By revivewa
Post date March 6, 2015

When I arrived at the National Young Adult Leaders’ Conference (NYALC) I knew one person… vaguely. We’d exchanged one or two tired words on our 5.00am flight from Perth. In total, this was my 2nd Uniting Church event. I didn’t know what to expect and new social situations usually make me feel gross.

I hate ‘icebreakers’, but found myself feeling easier by proxy: there was an atmosphere that really did break the ice. I didn’t want to come with reservations, but I was also excited because of where I’d come from and what I was looking to find. I’m from a different denomination. My mate Richard Telfer, First Third specialist for the Uniting Church in WA, was at a Love Makes a Way action and said I could go in his place. I had to call him and ask what ‘Presbytery’ and ‘Synod’ meant for the application form as they are words we don’t have in my church.

Tags Youth

News & Announcements

UnitingCare Australia responds to the Intergenerational Report

Post author By revivewa
Post date March 5, 2015

“Today’s release of the Intergenerational Report (IGR) provides an opportunity for us to think about the policy decisions we face. It should focus us on ensuring all Australians can participate and contribute,” said Lin Hatfield Dodds, National Director of UnitingCare Australia.

“The forecasts in the report don’t tell us the future, but they do give us a sense of the significant demographic shifts that are likely to occur. The IGR provides an opportunity for us to make plans now, to ensure we have a reliable safety net and can provide opportunities for people in the future.”

“A strong safety net should not be seen as a barrier to a good future, but as a central plank for a good society now and in the years ahead.”

“With government currently spending more than it collects in revenue it is clear that some changes are needed. We should be giving less government assistance to people who don’t need it and more assistance to those who do.”

“Reform to superannuation will also be important to secure the government’s long-term revenue stream and ensure retired Australians can meet the costs of their ageing.”

Tags Ageing and Community

News & Announcements

YouthCARE award for dedicated couple

Post author By revivewa
Post date March 3, 2015

Moderator of the Uniting Church in WA, Rev Steve Francis, and his wife, Kim, recently received a special YouthCARE Award. It was presented by the Shenton Christian Council in recognition of fifteen years involvement in teaching Christian Religious Education (CRE) at Nedlands Primary School.

The CEO of YouthCARE, Stanley Jeyaraj, presented the award, noting the long history of religious education in public schools. In 1893 an Act was passed in the WA Parliament for the administration and delivery of what was then called Special Religious Instruction (SRI), predominately provided in those early years by ministers and priests. By the early 1970’s the Churches Commission on Education (CCE) was established, with the sole purpose of providing Scripture in public schools.

By the 1990s, the CCE included pastoral care in its mission which led to the adoption of ‘YouthCARE’ as its trading name and the beginning of chaplaincy in schools. The huge growth of chaplaincy has perhaps overshadowed the ongoing need to continue the ministry of Christian education in primary schools.

Tags Books, Films, Art, Awards and Recipes

News & Announcements

Ordination celebration for Andrew

Post author By revivewa
Post date February 25, 2015

Rev Andrew Broadbent celebrated his ordination into the role of Deacon on Sunday 22 February at Uniting Church in the City, Wesley Perth.

Andrew committed his life to Jesus at the age of 14. After a career in teaching English and Phys Ed, Andrew worked as a chaplain at City Beach High School, Lake Joondalup Baptist College and Clarkson Community College. During this time he also completed a theology degree through Murdoch University.

Through his role as the WA state co-ordinator of TEAR Australia, Andrew grew his understanding of community development and his call for working with people on the margins. During this time, he completed a Master of Theology at Notre Dame University, with a focus on mission.

Andrew applied to candidate for ministry within the Uniting Church in WA after encouragement from his minister, Rev Dennis Doust, and other members of Beldon Uniting Church, where Andrew was attending with his family.

Tags Our People and Agencies

News & Announcements

Footprints Band: Seven great years

Post author By revivewa
Post date February 25, 2015

In 2007, Claire Maltby (saxophone), Alicja Maltby (flute), Emily Maltby (violin) and I, Doug Burtenshaw (piano), decided to hold a family dance in January 2008. We played at Byford Uniting Church, and thought that dances would help us be better musicians at church and elsewhere, and it would also provide a community service.We were joined by other musicians; particularly school friends from the music programs at Kelmscott and Armadale Senior High Schools.

The fifteen-piece band has played at Family Dances every month for the last seven years. Teaching of instrumental music started in 2009. Over the last five years, seven of us have taught flute, saxophone, violin, guitar and keyboard to 43 students for $5 per lesson. Students were lent instruments for six months and the teachers were not paid.

Tags Youth