JourneyOnline
UNITING CHURCH National Assembly meetings are often accused of being remote from congregational life but this year Assembly and local Uniting Church people will meet together to celebrate being church.
Uniting Church congregations and people in South-East Queensland are invited to worship with the Assembly when it meets to celebrate on Sunday evening, 9 July in City Hall in Brisbane.
Assembly Management Team member and program coordinator Rev Bob Warrick sees the Celebration as an opportunity to bridge the perceived gap and let people see the human face of the Assembly.
“The Assembly Celebration will enable Uniting Church members from Brisbane and surrounds to participate in an exciting event, meet (or at least see) Assembly members, and to be stimulated in terms of music and drama that could be used in their congregation,” he said.
“It also gives an opportunity to ‘showcase’ Queensland Uniting Church talent and gifts to the National church.”
The Celebration will commence at 7.00pm and guest preacher is Rev Mvume Dandala, head of Africa’s leading ecumenical organisation.
Mr Dandala, a celebrated preacher known for his work in conflict resolution during the apartheid era in South Africa, is a past Presiding Bishop of the Methodist Church of Southern Africa.
With a unique ability to work in the church and in the secular world Mr Dandala has a proven record of courage and determination in leading the church in South Africa and all over Africa to address issues of injustice and human need.
Celebration Coordinator Mrs Megan Thomson who also coordinated the Uniting Church 25th Anniversary celebrations in Queensland said there will be a particular emphasis making it a child and family friendly event.
“I envisage it to be a night where people of all ages leave feeling good to be sharing in and contributing to the journey of the Uniting Church, confident that God is in our midst and constantly challenging us to share the Good News,” Megan said.
“The Assembly Celebration will be a mosaic of music, visuals, drama, dance, spoken word, symbols and so much more.
“Participants will come from all corners of the nation with many languages, ethnic backgrounds, abilities and ages. Many styles of music and visual images will be used.
“You might laugh, cry, sing, pray, shout, be educated, enthused, challenged, encouraged but you will leave knowing that God is moving in the Uniting Church in Australia.”
The Assembly Celebration will be held on Sunday evening, 9 July in City Hall from 7pm – 8.45pm.
No bookings necessary but be early for a good seat.
Photo : Assembly Celebration Coorinator Mrs Megan Thomson
