What’s coming up Homelessness Week 6–12 August Homelessness Week is an annual awareness-raising week to highlight the 116,000 Australians who are homeless on any given night. Learn more about homelessness in Australia. Make some noise on social media about this issue. Week in review Youth homelessness on the rise Mission Australia’s new report reveals this hidden problem. The report is ...

Uniting Church member Lyndall Moore reports on the latest visit to Queensland by representatives from the Diocese of Amritsar, North India as part of a growing friendship between the two churches. A bishop, two ministers, a social worker, a development worker and a school principal made up the Diocese of Amritsar group who visited Toowoomba, Brisbane and Maleny in July. ...

What’s coming up United for Palestine fundraiser An auction of art to raise funds for the Occupied West Bank Trauma and Rehabilitation Centre will be held on 4 August between 6.30 pm and 9.30 pm. Items include handmade Palestinian cross-stitch, crochet and embroidery, and photography and paintings. Entry is $40 for adults, $30 for children and includes a meal and ...

The Journey team selects stories that got us talking this week.  Formula 1 champion on life, death and religion  The life of a racing driver is a whirlwind of travel, physical training and commitment, interspersed with whatever can be fitted in to provide relaxation or further motivation. But four-time Formula 1 world champion Lewis Hamilton also finds time for his faith, which is ...

It was recently my privilege to facilitate a number of electives at the Uniting Church Synod-wide youth camp, Easter Madness. My electives were titled, “Big Questions” which created space for groups of adolescents to ask and explore questions relating to life and faith. I was deeply impressed by the depth of questions asked, the maturity of ensuing interaction and the ...

Rev Paul Clark draws upon the survey results of the 2017 Queensland Christian Religious Instruction Network (QCRIN) survey from more than 750 instructors, to offer this fictionalised profile of who is teaching Religious Instruction and why it matters for our youth. Janet enters her local state school every Friday. She’s a retired teacher aide who’s been part of the school ...

Wondering where all the kids went? Read our top tips from local leaders and congregations for creating sustainable ministry with children. 1. Put children’s and family ministry at the centre of your church mission. This means more than just welcoming kids and their parents or carers, but providing opportunities for them to serve and listening to their ideas. It means ...

Uniting Church members from around Australia will come together in prayerful community at Box Hill Town Hall in July for the 15th Assembly meeting. Matt Pulford reports on the issues in focus for the church. On 8 July, members of the 15th Assembly will install Dr Deidre Palmer as president, the second woman in the history of the church to ...

Youth worker, Christian educator, academic, theologian, social worker, counsellor and Moderator: Dr Deidre Palmer has held many roles throughout her life but she will soon add “Uniting Church President” to the list when members of the 15th Assembly meet in July. Matt Pulford profiles our next president. Dr Deidre Palmer chooses her words carefully when asked about her call to ...

The Journey team selects stories that got us talking this week. “Miraculous” praise for escape from blaze The Express reports on a blaze in a Serbian church that left everything destroyed except the faces of Jesus Christ, John the Baptist and Saint Peter on icons. While some were impressed by the apparent miracle there may be a more mundane reason behind the facial ...