Features

By Mandy Smith – Pastor, St Lucia Uniting Church We all love the idea of renewal—hope restored to hearts, congregations restored to health. So we work really hard to figure out how to get that renewal. Surely if we work hard enough, think of new ideas, do what has worked elsewhere, we’ll see things renewed? But every way that I have ...

By Andrew McKaysmith, Synod Writer and Content Creator. Mossman Uniting Church is assisting the community in its clean-up efforts following the significant damage caused by the severe Tropical Cyclone Jasper. A strong and enduring storm, Jasper, brought heavy rainfall to Far North Queensland and made landfall as a Category 2 cyclone near Wujal Wujal on December 13, 2023. Reverend Nadia ...

Book review: Anatomy of a Revived Church: Seven Findings about How Congregations Avoided Death by Rev. Wayne McHugh.    I’ve heard that said enough times to be somewhat resistant to it, but Thom Rainer’s repeated use of this doesn’t present “change” as a silver bullet to save your church – indeed one of his chapters is dedicated to the important ...

By Doug Foster, Synod Ministry Agent Coordinator Renewing God, you are the one who invites us on a journey of renewal – the one who sees beyond, the one who calls us forward, the one who endeavours to constantly refresh our lives. But we are not meant to simply rush into each new day, each precious moment. Instead, caring God, ...

By Scott Guyatt, Synod Project Officer In this new year, as we look forward with faith for a new season, we remain energised by the possibilities of Renewal.  We seek a deep and powerful renewal that encompasses reflection, recognition and restoration, one that challenges us to resurrection and re-affirmation, that may ask us to repent or to reconcile, and that ...

By the Moderator, Rev Bruce Moore.  Have you ever been in a place where you have jumped with great joy at hearing unexpected news? I imagine Mary’s surprise discovery that she was pregnant would have brought mixed emotions.  In context, this would have been scandalous, making very interesting headlines on the local social feeds. In our day this might simply ...

By Rev Anneli Sinkko When I was a little child (growing up in Finland) Christmas was always a time of cold and darkness. I remember looking through the double-glazed windows into the night – all I could see was snowflakes that covered the land like a shroud. And between the windows, my mother had put white cotton wool and on ...

By Andrew McKaysmith, Synod Writer and Content Creator The Mt. Louisa Community Church secured a grant to fund the implementation of LED lighting, enhancing its aesthetic appeal while lowering its energy costs. Hiring out the church premises is a crucial element in maintaining the financial stability of the church, according to Ian Jessup, who serves as the Treasurer of the ...

By Andrew McKaysmith, Synod Writer and Content Creator UnitingCare Queensland has recently secured funding exceeding $5,000 for a project in support of Child Protection Week. This achievement and many others were made possible through collaborative efforts across Uniting Church organisations. Maria Fletcher is Trusts & Foundations Manager, Business, Finance and Strategy at UnitingCare Queensland. She started in the broader philanthropy ...

By Andrew McKaysmith, Synod Writer and Content Creator Wesley Mission has secured funding that will significantly contribute to ensuring that many families in Queensland do not go without this Christmas. The Brisbane Relief Hub will offer both good tidings and meals, and the headspace Redlands branch is ready to distribute over a hundred grocery cards to young people and families ...