Author: revivewa

State Youth Games: Bring it on!

Post author By revivewa
Post date May 7, 2015

State Youth Games is a weekend of fun, games, sport and friendship for 16–28 year olds, held annually in Bunbury over the long weekend in June. The games provide an opportunity for church teams to come together and compete over the weekend in a range of sports and activities in a friendly and fun environment.

Run by Youth Vision, a project of the Churches of Christ, the games are open to any denomination. Cameron Barnes, State Youth Games co-ordinator, said that the games are structured in a way that is open and welcoming, to give people who aren’t familiar with church an opportunity to hang out with Christians in a casual environment. This also gives young Christians an opportunity to invite their non-church friends along for a weekend of fun.

“I’m constantly hearing stories of people who, by their own admission, would never have set foot in a church building, but were quite happy to come along to a sporting carnival. Through State Youth Games they discovered a community of people they could belong to, and through that community found out about a God who loves them,” Cameron said.

It’s also a way to breakout of the confining structures of youth ministry and day-to-day activities, in preparation for adulthood.

Tags Youth

News & Announcements

Budget should take a long-term view

Post author By revivewa
Post date May 5, 2015

When next week’s Federal Budget is delivered, UnitingCare Australia will be looking for programs and policies that invest in people, to advance Australia’s resilience and productivity.

“The Budget needs to do two things at once. We need to live within our means. And we need to invest wisely to improve future living standards. This means we need to consider increasing government revenue, and ensure that all aspects of the budget recognise the value of upfront investment in people,” said Lin Hatfield Dodds, national director of UnitingCare Australia.

“Tax loopholes need to be closed and investments need to be targeted towards Australians who face barriers to participation in the economy and community life.”

“Adequate payments for recipients of welfare, and provision of access to important services remain key priorities.”

“Funds that support vulnerable people provide a great return on investment. Providing support helps people reach their potential, and yields savings down the track as we prevent social problems from escalating. It also enhances the quality of our collective life, making Australia a better place to live,” said Lin.

Tags Uniting Church

News & Announcements

Emergency Hospitality – WA’s best kept secret

Post author By revivewa
Post date May 4, 2015

One of the best kept secrets of the Uniting Church in Australia is the Emergency Hospitality Project, a program of the WA Uniting Church Adult Fellowship. It started to help country folk coming to the city, faced with fully-booked hotels and huge costs. Willing city hosts provide a bed and breakfast. As ‘kids from the bush’ living close to major hospitals and with good public transport close by, we appreciated this chance to give a helping hand and it has been a gratifying experience.

We have met a wide range of country folk and enjoyed their company greatly. So much so, that we decided to set-up our studio as a granny flat with bathroom and kitchenette, to provide a choice of company or complete privacy. This program is for anyone with an appointment in Perth needing a clean, comfortable bed at a reasonable cost in one of the world’s most expensive cities – not just for medical emergencies.

Disappointingly, this service has not been used as much as expected. For more information call 0447 910 007 or email emergencyhospitality@wa.uca.org.au.

Tags Church and Community

News & Announcements

From the Archives: World War I chaplains

Post author By revivewa
Post date May 1, 2015

Throughout 2015, to mark the centenary year of the ANZAC landing at Gallipoli, Revive will be publishing a series of articles highlighting the men who provided chaplaincy to those who served in WWI.

Rev Arthur Fry was born in South Australia in 1864 and was ordained into the Methodist church in 1887. He transferred to Western Australia in 1894 and was sent to York. After three years in York he served in Coolgardie, Geraldton, Perth and West Perth.

In 1911 he was appointed secretary of the British and Foreign Bible Society, a post he held for 16 Years. On 6 October 1916, at the age of 51, Rev Arthur Stephen Joyce Fry joined the Australian Army as a military chaplain. He sailed to England as a transport chaplain on the HMAT Suffolk.

Tags Archives

News & Announcements

Filling a need in Gingin

Post author By revivewa
Post date April 27, 2015

There are many benefits in living in the country, but at Gingin Uniting Church, we have become aware of a looming major community problem: Alzheimer’s and a lack of services and carer support. After some input from Rev Dr Bill Jenkins at our 5th Sunday combined churches service, we decided to take it further and offer a full-day free seminar run by Alzheimer’s Australia WA, as a community service activity. Bill is a Uniting Church minister and a psychologist who has conducted research into dementia.

There was much interest and thanks before the event, and leading up to it we have discovered several community members who have both training and/or experience with Alzheimer’s care, as well as families already struggling to cope.

Tags Ageing and Community, Church and Community, Remote and rural communities

News & Announcements

KCO: The journey

Post author By revivewa
Post date April 25, 2015

Darren, from GKI Perth Uniting Church (Indonesian), shows off his boat, made at KCO.

This year’s Kids’ Camp Out (KCO) was all about the ‘Journey’. Held over the weekend of 14–15 March at Advent Park in Maida Vale, even the rain couldn’t stop these campers, junior leaders and camp leaders enjoying food, friendship, craft, games, storytelling, music and dancing; all while reflecting on their journey with God.

Tags Youth

News & Announcements

Uniting Church in Australia calls for an immediate moratorium on offshore transfers

Post author By revivewa
Post date April 24, 2015

The Uniting Church in Australia is one of more than 100 Australian organisations calling for an immediate moratorium on transfers to immigration detention facilities on Nauru and Manus Island in Papua New Guinea.

The call by churches, human rights groups, aid agencies, faith-based organisations and others follows the case of a five year-old girl who attempted to commit suicide after an extended period of detention on Nauru.

“The plight of this poor young girl is a tragic example of the damage the Australian Government is doing by sending asylum seekers into such unsafe, harsh environments,” said Rev Elenie Poulos, national director of UnitingJustice Australia.

Tags Refugees and Asylum Seekers

News & Announcements

Juniper reveals future retirement lifestyles in Menora

Post author By revivewa
Post date April 24, 2015

Innovative contemporary living is a hallmark of Juniper’s newest retirement living community which was officially opened in Menora on Thursday 23 April.

Chief Executive Vaughan Harding said the Juniper Elimatta Retirement Living project demonstrates the organisation’s forward thinking response to meeting the needs of older Western Australians.

“Juniper Elimatta Retirement Living successfully promotes apartments for life and ‘ageing in place’ – a concept where housing and community design enable residents to live and enjoy their home for as long as possible,” Vaughan said.

“The project demonstrates the best in retirement housing where residents enjoy independence as well as companionship, wellbeing and security that come from community living.”

Tags Ageing and Community

News & Announcements

Welcome Rev Dr Apwee Ting

Post author By revivewa
Post date April 22, 2015

The Assembly Standing Committee has approved the appointment of Rev Dr Apwee Ting as the new National Director of Multicultural and Cross Cultural Ministry.

Rev Dr Ting is a Minister of the Word at Dandenong Uniting Church in Victoria, in one of Australia’s most culturally diverse and multifaith communities. He is a former Chairperson of the UCA’s Indonesian National Conference, as well as a former Chair (2006-2009) and current member of the Assembly’s National Reference Committee for Multicultural and Cross Cultural Ministry, with the specified role of liaison with the Assembly’s Relations with other Faiths Working Group.

Rev Dr Ting completed his PhD in 2005 at STTIP Jakarta (Sekolah Tinggi Teologi International Philadelphia) with an examination of the topic ‘Cross Cultural Ministry is the fulfilment of missional mandate in the areas of Church Unity and Growth’ from theological and ministerial perspectives.

“I strongly feel the hands of God, friends and communities supporting and encouraging me to take this important role. I feel so grateful and humbled by this opportunity and will give myself as a servant to all,” said Rev Dr Ting.

Tags Multi-Cultural, Multicultural