Agency News

Lifeline Bookfests attract crowds eager for a bargain on their books but there’s a wide array of the weird and wonderful to browse. Journey reports. While the Australian book industry continues to acclimatise to consumer trends favouring digital publishing, lovers of the printed page know Lifeline Bookfests are the must-attend event to celebrate their passion. With a massive volume of ...

A Wesley Hospital chaplaincy initiative is providing Uniting Church congregations with opportunities to support bereaved parents during the darkest of times. Dianne Jensen reports. Chaplain Julie Mackay-Rankin is passionate about the role of the church in supporting people through loss. Working in consultation with the midwives, Julie helps manage the Perinatal Bereavement Program at Brisbane’s Wesley Hospital, and she understands ...

The 2016 National Volunteer Week theme is “Give Happy, Live Happy”, a message that resonates with Uniting Church members who volunteer in the Queensland community. Journey reports. Every year National Volunteer Week is a prominent opportunity to draw attention to the vital work volunteers do across the nation. This year’s theme for the week, from 9–15 May, continues on from ...

The new Uniting Church youth camp Easter Madness was a great success. Journey reports Over 100 young people from across the Uniting Church in Queensland celebrated the Easter weekend together at the inaugural Easter Madness youth camp in March. The Easter Madness Appeal also meant that 13 young people, including two leaders, from rural and remote Queensland were able to ...

Brisbane Taiwanese Uniting Church youth mentor and Trinity College Queensland alumni, Jack Shao is encouraging the next generation of youth to undertake lay education. Ashley Thompson writes. Immigrating with his family to Australia at 14, Jack Shao has been attending the Brisbane Taiwanese congregation for 25 years. A Brisbane Boys’ College old boy, he was baptised at 17 and has ...

Redcliffe Uniting Church’s Conor Kikkert can juggle in one hand while solving a Rubik’s Cube in the other; but it’s not this talent alone that has garnered him national media attention.  Ashley Thompson writes. You may have been surprised last November to find Conor, a conscientious and unassuming 12-year-old, busking at the Redcliffe markets and outside his school, The Lakes ...

UnitingCare Queensland is on the lookout for outstanding volunteers who reflect the UnitingCare Queensland mission. Emily Murray writes. The search is on for nominations for the 2016 Moderator’s Community Service Medal. Successful nominees will have the opportunity to be presented with their medal during the Uniting Church in Queensland’s 32nd Synod meeting at Alexandra Park Conference Centre 20–24 May. UnitingCare ...

One year after opening, Queensland’s newest ministry college continues to grow. Journey explores. Newlife Uniting Church is celebrating the first full year of operations for its new ministry college. Newlife College ran two full semesters last year, and campus coordinator Shahn Dee is looking forward to what 2016 will bring. “We’ve just finished our first year of enrolling and teaching ...

Every Christmas the National Council of Churches’ international aid agency Act for Peace runs the Christmas Bowl Appeal to support people around the world living through conflict and displacement. Journey reports. “Nothing could have prepared me for the shocking reality facing refugees living in Akula camp,” says Delphine Vuagnoux, who coordinates the Christmas Bowl appeal for Act for Peace. “Walking ...

Mareeba Uniting Church and UnitingCare Community have joined forces to deliver neighbourly support to drought-affected families in north Queensland this Christmas. Dianne Jensen reports. The Mareeba Uniting Church congregation is hoping to raise at least $3000 to provide gift vouchers to nearly 70 families served by UnitingCare Community’s North Queensland Remote Area Families Service (RAFS). Burke, Carpentaria, Doomadgee and parts ...