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Monthly Archives: September 2014

October Journey now available

The October edition of Journey magazine is now available in PDF. You can download this edition and all previous editions back to 2005 on the download page. Unapologetically us My housemate has a moustache. It suits him, but it’s unusual to see someone in their 20s wearing such a style. If you ask him about it he’ll shrug and say “I’ve just got to do me”. ...

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Interfaith support for Australia’s Muslims

Leaders of many faiths gathered at Lakemba Mosque to express support for Australia's Muslims. Here they hold the 'We'll love Muslims 100 years' banner. This photo was supplied by the Uniting Church Assembly.

Uniting Church leaders from across Australia joined interfaith and ecumenical friends on 22 August in a statement of solidarity with Australia’s Muslim community. Uniting Church in Australia President Rev Dr Andrew Dutney is one of more than 150 faith and community leaders who has signed on to a declaration that “We’ll Love Muslims 100 Years”. The statement is a reference ...

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Chaps help kids giddy-up

A young participant experiences horses up close at MacKay Riding for the Disabled. The photo was supplied.

The Iona West Men’s Shed in Mackay is helping a local charity saddle up to overcome disadvantage. Ashley Thompson reports. Iona West Men’s Shed Coordinator Chris McAdam recently handed over one of six horse-shaped saddle racks to the Mackay Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA). The association works to develop ability and enrich the lives of disabled people though relationships ...

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Trust propagates faith

2014 is the year of growing faith

Just as people must trust each other in order to live, trust in God is essential in order to grow in faith, says Rev Noel Kentish. A woman waits on the Darwin hospital verandah, looking across Doctor’s Gully. The baby stirring within her will soon emerge into a hot tropical world. She trusts all will go well for the birth ...

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Beyond Sunday morning

Book cover of Undivided: Closing the faith-life gap by Graham Hooper. Intervarsity Press, 2014. Recommended retail price: $14.99.

The easiest way to tell what anyone believes, what they value, is to look at how they behave and how they spend their time and money. It becomes uncomfortable when, through either our own realisation or by someone else pointing it out, our external behaviours don’t match up with what we say we value. The problem is worse for those ...

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Friendship builds future

Girls singing at St James' Church of North India, Kangra. Photo taken by Frances Guard.

Relationship, not finance, is king in church partnership. Ashley Thompson talks to UnitingWorld and Maleny Uniting Church about their unique relationship with the church behind the Kangra Girls’ Hostel ministry in northern India. “[He said,] ‘We don’t want your money. Please don’t just go back home to Australia after your time here and send money to us’,” Paul Moore of ...

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Let’s not divorce over marriage

A couple's hand over newly signed marriage papers. Photo by Kait Barker.

In the midst of the Uniting Church Assembly’s consultation on marriage, Central Queensland Presbytery Minister Rev Brian Gilbert encourages the Uniting Church to pursue unity in Christ, even amongst differences. My wife Margaret and I have been married for over 36 years. In that time we have always agreed on everything—we live in perfect peace and harmony. Actually, this is ...

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Weipa welcomes cultural return

(L-R) Teddy Barkley (Cultural Advisor), Philemon Mene (Napranum Mayor), Irene and Stuart Scott and more. Photo taken by Brooke Prentis.

The return of irreplaceable artefacts to the Weipa community has been welcomed by the descendants of Old Weipa Mission. Brooke Prentis reports. Four woomeras, a dilly bag and some pieces of lacework taken from Old Weipa Mission have been returned to the Weipa community by grandchildren of the missionaries who worked there almost 100 years ago. On 8 July 2014 ...

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Kids in detention: good first step

Children of all ages are still held on Nauru. This photo is of the facilities. Photo credit to the Department of Immigration and Boarder Protection.

While asylum seeker advocates are celebrating the announcement that some children and their families will be released from detention, they warn that there is still much to do. Dianne Jensen reports. The Uniting Church in Australia has welcomed an announcement by the Minister for Immigration and Border Protection Scott Morrison that some children in detention will be released into the ...

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Give from God’s providence

Uniting Church Queensland Synod Moderator Rev Kaye Ronalds

I had a delightful conversation with a senior student from one of our Uniting Church schools. He is considering spending a gap year to support a community in a developing country. He thinks he would like the challenge of a cross-cultural experience. Together we chatted about options for volunteering with an Indigenous community, UnitingWorld or another community organisation. He explained ...

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