WITH ONLY three months until the biennial National Christian Youth Convention (ncyc11) begins on the Gold Coast, leaders from across Australia are warming up some challenging and interactive Bible studies. NSW Synod Youth Unit coordinator Rob Hanks and his team will be leading a “surfing” level Bible study for those just starting out in faith. “We promise to offer an interactive ...

BRISBANE’S ST Andrew’s Uniting Church Sanctuary Choir has been blessed with the talents of conductor Katherine Chan who graduated in June with the degree Master of Music (Choral Conducting) from the University of Washington, in Seattle, USA. Ms Chan was appointed to the conducting position at St Andrew’s in February this year after finishing her coursework at the University of ...

National Church Life Survey (NCLS) research has found that despite considerable differences between key issues facing churches in rural and urban environments, across measures of health and vitality there is little difference between rural church attendees and the national average. Some 42 per cent of churches that took part in the 2006 NCLS were in rural settings (and more than ...

A prominent Sydney clergyman was once quoted as saying: “God cares for people more than sheep. So we need to send gospel workers where there are more people than sheep.” There were plenty of sheep and quite a few people in western Queensland sixty years ago when wool was a pound a pound and the church was a central plank ...

You don’t have to analyse National Church Life Survey (NCLS) data to realise that life in rural communities has different challenges from those of urban centres. In fact, the best way to understand what life is like further than 100km west of the coast is to talk to the members of our churches and agencies. In communities all over the ...

UNITINGWORLD’S 2011 Experience opportunities are now on the UnitingWorld website. More than 100 placements are available in a range of exciting locations for participants to experience a diverse array of cultures in places such as Tonga, Papua New Guinea, India, Zimbabwe and South Korea. There are many new opportunities available for volunteers to spend anything between four weeks and three years ...

CHILDREN ENJOYED getting back to nature at Day Camps held all over the state in the July school holidays. Numerous presbyteries and congregations helped primary school aged children get back to basics and learn about God in Caboolture, Moggill, Oxley, and Samford to name a few. Many of these were hosted through a joint effort from local churches. Cleveland Uniting ...

IN HIS book The Four Big Shifts leading Australian social scientist Mark McCrindle said it is demography, not technology, which shapes the future. Mr McCrindle recently told a group of business, church and ministry leaders on the Gold Coast that they face an enormous challenge engaging staff, volun-teers and members as Australia fast approaches the point of peak labour. Census ...

In his report to the 28th Synod the Moderator Rev Bruce Johnson invited members to think about the nature of “who we are”, particularly as they met over the Pentecost weekend. “I think it is wonderful because it shows the journey we have been on as the UC that many congregations will be celebrating Pentecost," he said. “I’m wondering what God might ...

This week will see millions of Christians around the world celebrating the same date for Easter by attending church and again reflecting upon the meaning of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. What does Easter mean for us in Australia? Is it just another long weekend or is it more than that? For some it may just be ...