Local Church News

IN A BOLD ecological move that sounds like a bad pun Living Waters Uniting Church congregation in Brisbane’s outer south-western suburbs has installed a 200,000 litre rainwater tank on their church property. Church Council Chairperson Mr Mike Kolln said the tank will help alleviate Brisbane’s water crisis by using rainwater in the toilets of their short term emergency accommodation building, ...

Two long-sworn enemies sat down together last week and promised to work together. To see Ian Paisley and Gerry Adams sitting just a metre apart, and agreeing they could together form a joint government in Northern Ireland, was to witness a near-miracle. It’s nine years since the Good Friday agreement was signed by the warring parties of Northern Ireland and ...

The relaxed seaside setting of Margate was the scene for the recent 2007 Partners in Ministry Camp.  Twenty-five campers (including our youngest camper, nine-month old Bethany) spent the weekend indulging in coffee, cake, massage and good company. The Moderator of the Queensland Synod Rev Dr David Pitman led the gathering in study and quiet reflection, initiating “open and honest sharing”. Everyone ...

WITH SUPPORT from AFL Queensland, Shalom Christian College has officially launched its Academy of Sport program. The academy will develop the skills of young Indigenous sportspeople and build students’ self-esteem and competence in literacy and numeracy. Shalom Christian College principal Chris Shirley said having natural sporting ability was not enough and students would be expected to demonstrate improvement in their ...

LOCAL UNITING Church members provided key support for the first National Interfaith Festival held at Maleny in March. Billed the most comprehensive interfaith event to be held in Australia an impressive display of religious life, arts and culture were showcased at the showgrounds of one of Queensland’s most beautiful hinterland villages. Musicians artist, priests and imams shared rituals, explained customs ...

Warwick people were excited about Herman and Millie Stoeckert celebrating their 70th Wedding Anniversary on Sunday 11th March at Warwick with family and friends at a lunch in the Warwick Golf Club. Herman and Millie were married in the Dorrego Anglican Church on 17th March 1937. They attended the Methodist Church and Uniting Churches throughout their married life. They have ...

At a time when Aussies are becoming more and more interested in spirituality, the Church must make sure the central message of Easter does not go missing from the national consciousness. That is the message coming from Australian Church leaders who are backing the Awakening movement as it continues to build on the foundation laid through the 1990’s. National Coordinator ...

When Laura Moore of Deception Bay Uniting Church signed up for a Global Walking program she knew she wasn’t going on a Christian Contiki tour. Ms Moore participated in a Short Term Exposure Trip to Manilla for three weeks just after Christmas last year. Global Walking is a program designed to be a transforming experience for the traveller. It makes ...

The Uniting Church Adult Fellowship national celebration will be held in Caloundra from 19-23 September, 2007. The theme, ‘Let the Son shine through’, reflects the Queensland experience. Keynote speaker and Bible study leader will be Theologian and author Dr Val Webb who is also an adjunct faculty member at Augsburg College, Minnesota, USA; Whitley College Melbourne and United Theological College ...

Imagine, as a family, having to feed 700 people at one sitting. It happened recently in the family of Moggill minister, Rev Deva Sugirtharaj. But when the story is told, the occasion is understandable. Because the event was about the death of an extraordinary servant of Christ in India, Deva’s mother, Sarojini. Deva was unable to make it for the ...