Category: Stories & Feature Articles

Cool Burn: Camp with a difference

Post author By revivewa
Post date April 23, 2014

Inter-cultural Camp 2014 brochure Cool Burn, an intercultural camp for young people will be held from Saturday 17–Sunday 18 May. For young people aged 13 and up, the camp will be an opportunity to learn about intercultural issues and to get to know other Uniting Church young people from a diverse range of backgrounds.

Rev Tony Floyd, national director of Multicultural and Cross-cultural Ministry with the Uniting Church in Australia will be leading a session as will local leaders such as Rev Tony Keva, Paul Montague, Milton Wynne, Judy Sanderson and Rev David Kriel. An activity of Multicultural Ministry and First Third Ministry, Cool Burn will be full of new friendships, leadership opportunities, inspiration, activities, surprises, fun and food. You will also be able to connect to a network of other young people passionate about faith and intercultural activities.

Tags Camp, Intercultural, Multicultural, Youth

Stories & Feature Articles

Discovery of self

Post author By revivewa
Post date April 22, 2014

‘Who am I?’ The issue of identity is a vexing one, complex and simple at the same time. Over the last century and a half, psychologists have grappled with the notion of identity and human behaviour, previously the domain of philosophers and theologians. The Psychoanalytic approach suggested that who we are is determined by unconscious conflicts that exist within us, most of which we are not even aware. Behaviourists reject this approach, focussing only on human behaviour that can be observed. ‘Who we are’ is explained by what we have learnt.

Behaviours continue if rewarded but decrease if punished. The Cognitive approach says that how we think about the world and ourselves determines who we are. Errors in cognition (thinking) are to blame for many of the troubles we face. The Humanistic approach has an overwhelmingly positive view of human beings, suggesting that by and large, all things being equal, we will strive for self-actualisation, to better ourselves and will search for meaning in our lives. I have struggled to find among these psychological theories a satisfactory answer to the question

Tags Theology and Spiritual Reflections

Stories & Feature Articles

Experience the wonder

Post author By revivewa
Post date April 20, 2014

A new batch of enthusiastic Godly Play storytellers have recently been trained up, at the Godly Play Training held over the long weekend, Saturday 1–Monday 3 March. Godly Play is a form of storytelling which invites the listener into the story, to wonder about the story in their own way and to interact and respond with it. There are no Bible verses to memorise or forced interpretations of the story onto the child, rather they are encouraged to listen in a quiet reflective space and interpret it in their own way.

After the telling of the story, in which the storyteller uses no eye contact so as to keep listeners focussed on the story and its props, the children are then encouraged to respond in any way they want to, perhaps using craft supplies provided.

Tags Godly Play, Youth

Stories & Feature Articles

Making Sense of Sex: Attitudes towards sexuality in Early Jewish and Christian literature, by William Loader

Post author By revivewa
Post date April 15, 2014

I was recently sitting in a trendy cafe, reading my review copy of Making Sense of Sex. It was a somewhat embarrassing moment, sat in public view reading a book about sex and early Jewish and Christian literature. I was convinced that those around me were thinking ‘what a lunatic’ as everyone knows the Christian position on sex; that is: somewhere between vehemently and slightly opposed. For many of us within the Christian tradition, this opposition sits in direct contrast to our understanding and experience of the God of life.

There is very little reliable information about how the early Jewish and Christian communities understood sexuality. The debates that have raged in our churches have been ideologically driven; using scripture to prove our point, whichever side of the debate we are on. William embarked on a five-year research project with the aim of listening to the early Jewish and Christian communities understanding of sexuality.

Tags Books, Films, Art, Awards and Recipes

Stories & Feature Articles

A message of peace on Perth’s streets

Post author By revivewa
Post date April 13, 2014

Churches, organisations and individuals will be calling for humane policies for asylum seekers and refugees in Australia this Palm Sunday 13 April. Palm Sunday has been known as a day when churches march for peace as it is the day Jesus is recognised as the King of Peace. A Walk for Justice for Refugees will take place on the streets of Perth, organised by the Justice4Refugees WA network. They are calling for compassion, not punishment; an end to offshore processing and an end to mandatory detention.

Tags Palm Sunday, Refugees and Asylum Seekers

Stories & Feature Articles

Celebrate the Harvest

Post author By revivewa
Post date April 12, 2014

Kids’ Camp Out (KCO) was all about celebrating the harvest this year, with children from all over WA coming together to spend time with their congregations and get to know people from others. In a relaxed atmosphere, campers, junior leaders and leaders enjoyed a weekend of craft, games, Godly Play storytelling, worship and singing. The Feast, held on the Saturday night with an extended welcome to people of all ages, was a vibrant celebration made all the more fun by the Byford Footprints Band who entertained dancing guests into the evening.

Tags KCO, Kids' Camp Out, Youth

Stories & Feature Articles

The gift of being UnitingWorld national director

Post author By revivewa
Post date April 11, 2014

In April, I conclude seven years as National Director of UnitingWorld to take up congregational ministry. As I look towards that role, one of my first thoughts concerns how I will enable the congregation to engage globally.

How will I support children and adults who have been baptised to meet, at least in their imagination, their brothers and sisters in faith across the globe? How I will I help those coming for confirmation to have a deep sense of being bound to people beyond their locality? How will I help nourish disciples to act with the people suffering injustice not reported in popular media? How will I guide the congregation in experiencing God beyond the constraints of Western culture?

Tags UnitingWorld

Stories & Feature Articles

So all may see a destiny together

Post author By revivewa
Post date April 8, 2014

The invitation to travel to Canberra to attend a vigil on the lawns of Parliament House on 18 March 2014 was extended to Uniting Church people throughout Australia. I was on long service leave pending retirement at the time, so I was free to travel to this national event. My husband Robin and I travelled to Canberra as representatives of the WA Synod.

The vigil was part of ‘A Destiny Together: A Week of Prayer and Fasting for Justice for First Peoples. It was planned by the Uniting Church Assembly in response to the stories of suffering from Indigenous people affected by the government Intervention in the Northern Territory and the subsequent Stronger Futures legislation.

Tags First Peoples, UAICC

Stories & Feature Articles

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