Category: Stories & Feature Articles

Christmas Bowl: A light of hope in the darkness

Post author By revivewa
Post date November 26, 2020

Although Christmas may be different for many of us in this year of pandemic, churches across Australia are joining together once more to share God’s love with our brothers and sisters in need around the world through the Christmas Bowl.

“This year, the coronavirus has changed life for all of us but for vulnerable communities who are already struggling as a result of conflict and disaster, the effects of this crisis are catastrophic,” said said Hannah Montgomery, from Act for Peace, the international aid agency of the National Council of Churches in Australia.

Tags Christmas, feature

Stories & Feature Articles

Review: Metanoia

Post author By revivewa
Post date October 25, 2020

A Memoir of a body, born again, by Anna McGahan, Bible Society Australia, 2019

Anna McGahan’s book, Metanoia, is a gift to Australia and the Australian church.

The first recorded words of Jesus’ ministry included the command to ‘turn’, ‘change’ or ‘repent’. The Greek noun for this is ‘metanoia’. In her book, Anna tells of her own metanioa – a transformative change of heart. Her story is raw, engaging, exciting, true and above all, real.

Anna tells us how she arrived at “the safest place” and “the most dangerous place” she has ever been. She tells not only of the pain of sickness, loneliness, alienation, relationship breakdowns, missteps and of the right and wrong choices in her life, but also of her story of commitment, empathy, love, and her yearning for, and finding, ‘something more’.

Anna tells of how she eventually heard and responded to the Spirit’s gentle call. Anna learned to trust Jesus, and was, like all of us, loved into the discovery of the peace, joy and hope for which she was made.

Tags Books, Films, Art, Awards and Recipes

Stories & Feature Articles

Hearty minestrone soup

Post author By revivewa
Post date October 20, 2020

Marie Yuncken, from All Saint’s Floreat Uniting Church, shares her warm and hearty minestrone soup recipe, which she enjoyed with friends as COVID-19 restrictions eased.

Tags Books, Films, Art, Awards and Recipes

Stories & Feature Articles

5 minutes with… Rev Dr Christine Sorensen

Post author By revivewa
Post date October 16, 2020

Rev Dr Christine Sorensen began as the Uniting Church WA Presbytery Minister (Formation and Discipleship) back in February this year. This edition she shares some of her passions for theological education with us.

Tags Our People and Agencies, Training

Stories & Feature Articles

Christian community and Pacific holiday joy

Post author By revivewa
Post date October 7, 2020

Dreaming of an island getaway? Add this one to your bucket list.

Before all the restrictions of COVID-19 became a reality, back in July last year, Rev Dennis Doust, retired Uniting Church WA Minister, spent two weeks in a remote village on Ghizo Island in the South Pacific. He shares his experience with Revive.

Tags feature, International

Stories & Feature Articles

Congregations invited to journey with the Covenant

Post author By revivewa
Post date October 2, 2020

Uniting Church WA congregations are encouraged to explore how they can walk on the covenanting journey with the Uniting Aboriginal and Islander Christian Congress (UAICC).

In 1994, the Uniting Church in Australia entered a covenant with the UAICC, agreeing that together they will work towards justice and forgiveness. Mount Pleasant Uniting Church and Maaman “O” Miya Uniting Church, in Coolbellup, have had a covenantal relationship for more than 20 years, which began with a friendship between the late Rev Dr Les Brockway and the late Rev Garlett. The congregations worship together sometimes, share each other’s spaces, and do activities together.

Tags feature, First Peoples

Stories & Feature Articles

COVID-19 Prayer Wall for others

Post author By revivewa
Post date September 24, 2020

The onset and rapid escalation of the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia, and around the world, led to widespread changes and restrictions for workplaces, industry, social gatherings, recreation and households. For many, this unprecedented and changeable situation led to a heightened sense of worry, fear, isolation, anxiety and panic.

Tags COVID, Schools

Stories & Feature Articles

Celebrating the life of Barry Preece: a wise and generous servant

Post author By revivewa
Post date September 23, 2020

Barry Lewis Preece, 1939 – 2020

Barry Preece was born in Cottesloe and baptised at Hardey Memorial Methodist Church in 1939. He was a boy soprano, began playing the organ for worship aged just 11, and was confirmed there in his teens.

He enjoyed Christian Endeavour, eisteddfods, and Sunday School anniversaries. At 19, Barry sailed to Sydney, returning to Perth after a year’s piano study, work and church experience there.