2

Respect, learning and welcoming

Posted on by in Features, Reflection and tagged , .

When the Uniting Church WA gathers, we often share in a Welcome to Country or an Acknowledgment of Country. Both are significant ways the church can acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the land, but there are some important differences.

A Welcome to Country is only led by Traditional Custodians; whereas an Acknowledgment of Country can be led by anyone, and acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of that place. A Smoking Ceremony is a process of cleansing and healing, which can also take place with a Welcome. Continue Reading

Remembering Past Saints at anniversary celebration

Posted on by in News and tagged .

On December 13, Dongara Uniting Church celebrated 136 years of the church building.

The Methodist congregation of the 1880s had acted to construct the church on land that was donated in the town centre. The building has been maintained, renovated and repaired at regular intervals in that 136 years, however, the basic structure remains intact, and is a cool and welcoming space in which we gather to worship and celebrate.Continue Reading

Deep Listening Festival explores Growing Strong Together

Posted on by in News and tagged .

For the past two years, Margaret River Uniting Church has run an annual Deep Listening Festival. The festival invites people to step outside their normal busy schedule to engage, connect and listen. Through a diverse range of speakers, workshop presenters, musicians and artists, the festival is an opportunity to hear wonderful stories, to inspire and enrich people’s understanding of themselves and the community around them. Continue Reading

New beginnings for Steve at Tranby

Posted on by in News, Uniting Generations and tagged .

Rev Steve Francis, Ex-Moderator of the Uniting Church WA, is the new Chaplain of Tranby College, a Uniting Church school in Baldivis WA. Steve began the role in term 4, 2020, after he completed his role as Moderator in September.

Before serving a double, six-year term as Moderator, Steve served as the Minister of Nedlands Uniting Church, a large multicultural congregation, for twenty-three years. He has previously also worked as the State Youth Director for the Uniting Church WA. Continue Reading

Super Collector Good Sammy creates change for the better

Posted on by in Faith in Action, Features and tagged , .

Containers for Change officially launched in October in WA, and our own Good Sammy Enterprises is playing a huge part. Good Sammy is a Uniting Church WA agency providing employment opportunities for people living with disability.

As a Super Collector, Good Sammy has 16 collection points for all your used, eligible containers. Bring in your containers and get a 10 cent refund for each, or donate your refund to a registered charity – including Good Sammy. Continue Reading

Support a better Christmas for others

Posted on by in Faith in Action and tagged .

Christmas can be a difficult time for many people in our community, especially as many more are confronted by hardship for the first time. For people and families facing financial stress, many will struggle to access daily necessities, such as food, essential items, and even a safe space to live. As the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic continue to be felt, Christmas this year will be especially hard.

The Target Christmas Appeal has proudly supported the UnitingCare Australia network for the past 29 years, giving customers the chance to support a better Christmas for others. Giving to the Appeal will help brighten Christmas Day for thousands of people and families who might otherwise go without. Continue Reading

A little pig goes a long way

Posted on by in Faith in Action, International Focus and tagged .

Cath Taylor, UnitingWorld, shares how gifts from the UnitingWorld Everything in Common catalogue are changing lives.

There are no pigs pictured at the birth of Jesus. Donkeys, yes. Maybe a lamb. Pigs – no. Considered unclean by Jewish people, they’re unlikely to have been among the much romanticised gathering. One fabulous hog, however, has taken centre stage at the birth of a child just to our north, in Bali, Indonesia. The pig is a bit of a symbol for the life changing impact of Jesus’ birth – for everyone. Continue Reading

End of year celebration with intergenerational worship

Posted on by in News and tagged , .

The Commission for Education for Discipleship and Leadership (CEDAL) held their End of Year Celebration last week at South Perth Uniting Church.

Rev Dr Anne Wright, Director of Education and Formation for the Uniting Church WA, said that due to an increase in students and candidates for ministry in the Presbytery of WA, this year’s celebration service was held a little differently to usual, with a café style worship.Continue Reading