In a new column for Journey, Rev Peter Armstrong—UnitingCare Queensland’s Associate Director of Mission—shares the inspirational stories from around the state of community partnerships and how congregations are living out the church’s call to make a positive difference in society. “There are times around here when the only people at a funeral are us and maybe the Police.” [A Bluecare ...

Welcome to Bargara Beach and SurfChurch, where you’ll find the minister in her wet suit leading a paddle-out or preaching barefoot on the sand. Dianne Jensen reports. Once a month the Coral Coast Uniting Church SurfChurch crew and Rev Jennifer Lynn don their T-shirts and head for Bargara Beach. They put up the church flag and set up the sound ...

While the rest of the nation voted, the Queensland Synod was sowing the seeds for the future. Journey recaps the 34th Synod in Session. What legacy will we leave for the next generation? When the 34th Queensland Synod of Australia’s first homegrown church met at Alexandra Park Conference Centre from 17 to 20 May, there was a palpable sense that this ...

Pastor Cain Hartigan describes his first few weeks as the new bush chaplain for the Cunnamulla, Burke and Wills Patrol, run by The Downs Presbytery in partnership with Frontier Services. The patrol covers 450 000 square kilometres in southwest Queensland, with the eastern boundary from Mt Tabor to Bollon, extending west to Bedourie and south to Cameron Corner. The boxes ...

Just had a truly inspiring weekend. Friday night saw the wider church come together at Ipswich Girls’ Grammar School, where the local Christian Religious Instruction Network heard how RI has been expanded to a further 16 schools in the West Moreton district due to the network’s efforts. The dinner raised just over $40 000 for this work in the coming ...

How do we appreciate our world? It matters not whether we can claim Celtic roots or not; it is within all of us to look at the landscape with spiritual and physical eyes and begin to appreciate it for what it is. A growing passion for the beauty of the world in which we work can lead to a renewal ...

National Reconciliation Week is a time to reflect on how we are doing as a church, to follow Jesus’ call to love God and love others, writes Erin Mawhinney.   In our modern Australian context, it sits between the anniversary of the 1967 referendum (27 May), and Mabo Day (3 June). This year’s theme is “Grounded in Truth – Walk together ...

The celebration of ministries worship service at the 34th Synod at Alexandra Park included Memorial Minutes for Uniting Church members who have passed away since the last Synod in Session. The following list provides a precis of each Memorial Minute. Pauline Ann Denning (1954–2018) was trained as a nurse and worked in aged care before commencing work in the Pastoral ...

The final day of the 34 Synod at Alexandra Park Conference Centre signalled the wrap-up of business, the presentations of agency reports and closing worship. Journey reports. Wesley Mission Queensland CEO Geoff Batkin and Rev Dr Peter Hobson Superintendent Minister presented the Wesley Mission Queensland (WMQ) report to Synod. Geoff began by honouring the ministry of former Superintendent Minister Rev Lyn Burden, ...

The third day of Synod in Session provided an opportunity to celebrate new and past ministry, to hear about developments in mission and outreach, and to consider significant proposals before Synod. Journey reports. The report of the Schools and Residential Colleges Commission (SRCC) by Chair Peter Campbell highlighted a number of achievements and challenges since the last Synod. Peter drew attention to ...