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Opinion

Five taboos the church needs to talk about

Suicide Everyone knows someone who struggles with their mental health, but how often do we talk openly and honestly about it? Community groups like A Nouwen Network are working to connect people and break the stigma that surrounds mental health issues, but there’s still a lot of work to be done. Doubt It’s a big, pluralistic world out there. With so ...

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Together on the way

Uniting Church Queensland Synod Moderator Rev Kaye Ronalds

July is a month when lots of sport happens—rugby league, World Cup soccer and the Commonwealth Games. At our house we will be watching the classic three week cycling event, the Tour de France. People draw life lessons from sport and at times it provides some metaphors for life in the church. The apostle Paul wrote about running the race ...

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Six ways to be a welcoming church

Six ways to be a welcoming church banner.

Have you ever visited a church and felt awkward because you didn’t know when to stand or sit or why a smiling stranger was suddenly holding your hand and singing at you? It can be daunting attending a new church. Even if your congregation is small, you have something precious and life-giving to offer. Here are some ways to make ...

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Trust and follow the Spirit

2014 is the year of growing faith

In the lead up to Pentecost, Rev David Won Kim reflects on the power of the Holy Spirit. I am the minister of a very blessed congregation, and we try to follow the Spirit wherever the Spirit leads. Last year a church member named Mrs Ahn was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. In 2009, her family came to Australia to give ...

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Time to change gears

Uniting Church Queensland Synod Moderator Rev Kaye Ronalds

When our daughter was back in Australia for her wedding in February, her new husband offered to do the grocery shopping. Sitting in front of the computer in our home he made his order online and arranged for it to be delivered to their home in London just a few hours after their plane landed. People now have many choices ...

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Love that will not let me go

Mother's Day is 11 May

Throughout an otherwise tumultuous childhood, God’s love could be found in a grandmother’s gentle mothering care, writes Jenny Noble. I am told I started living with Gramma from age three. I can remember being on her farm before that, and I was definitely in her care by my first year of primary school. A dysfunctional marriage coupled with alcohol set ...

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Voices of compassion

Uniting Church Queensland Synod Moderator Rev Kaye Ronalds

I have never spoken at a public rally before, but I was happy to lend my voice and prayers to support asylum seekers and refugees. But not everyone in the Uniting Church agrees with my point of view. I certainly didn’t agree with all the people in the crowd, some of whom were wearing T-shirts with slogans I couldn’t support. ...

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Is that a speck in your eye?

2014 is the year of growing faith

Everyone wants to make a difference but that is easier said than done. “Recovering hypocrite” Rev Dr Schalk Pienaar explains that to change the world we should reform ourselves, not others. “In which area of life have you failed the most?” This challenging question was asked in a fellowship group and everyone had an opportunity to provide an answer. I ...

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Giving hand-to-mouth

2014 is the year of growing faith

It was the generosity of people who had almost nothing which taught Katie Wallis the true meaning of giving. Last year I spent a few months living in a boarding hostel for high-school girls in India. I sang with them, played with them, studied with them, and occasionally found myself brave enough to eat spicy Indian curries with them. I ...

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Hope lives here

Uniting Church Queensland Synod Moderator Rev Kaye Ronalds

Sometimes life is not all it is cracked up to be. Dreams are lost. Disappointments occur. Doubts creep in. That is what it was like for the friends of Jesus. Travelling with Jesus was an exhilarating ride. People were healed and the stories he told gave people hope for a better community. They expected him to overthrow the oppressive Roman ...

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