ALL over Australia, people are putting aside their coffees, weekly newspapers and favourite television shows and instead throwing their energy behind efforts to build water tanks in Zimbabwe. No, they're not actually travelling to Africa. It is all part of UnitingWorld's Lent Event. People help overcome poverty by giving up an item from everyday life during the period of Lent ...

THE Queensland Synod’s Uniting Communications is again partnering with congregations to produce high-quality, low-cost resources for Easter outreach in local communities. Easter is love is the theme of the 2012 Easter postcard campaign. The back of the card will say “Share it!” and have a space for congregations to put their Easter service and event times. Communications Manager Mardi Lumsden ...

HOW often do you receive emails with funny photos of church signs? They’re often very witty, clever and laugh-out-loud funny. While browsing Twitter recently, I came across a similar topic (if you’re a Twitter user, search for #churchsigns). Curious, I followed the hashtag and found a whole list of church signs, some of which were mildly amusing, some confusing, and ...

Hidden Springs, New Jersey (2011), RRP $22.95 Reviewed by Bob Warrick. THE Charge (or Word of Mission) at the end of a worship service usually includes an exhortation to not just have listened and thought, but to make a difference in the world. That is one of Mr Rohr’s major thrusts. His concern is with religious attitudes that “create an ...

CHURCHES around the world observed a week of prayer from 18 to 25 January, holding special worship services and gatherings that emphasized what Christians hold in common. This year’s Week of Prayer for Christian Unity centered on the scriptural theme, "We will all be changed by the victory of our Lord Jesus Christ," from the book of Corinthians (15:51-58). Celebrated in ...

Darton, Longman & Todd, 2011 RRP $12.95 Reviewed by Karyl Davison. Ever read the book of Judges? There’s not much call for it in our regular Sunday worship, largely because it is full of stories of murder, genocide, rape, deceit and even infanticide. This little book, part of a new series DLT Books of the Bible, provides the complete book ...

RRP $19.95 2011 Reviewed by Graham Hall. THIS CD is a collection of 15 hymns which would be well known and loved by the older members of the Church. For example, the first four are Praise the Lord, the Almighty, the king of creation, I vow to thee my country, Be thou my vision, and Abide with me. I hoped ...

CHRISTMAS church services in Christchurch, New Zealand were held outdoors after four strong earthquakes struck within three hours on 23 December, injuring 60, and causing further damage to the Anglican and Catholic cathedrals. Christchurch Mayor Bob Parker said the quakes, which included 5.8 and 6.0 magnitude temblors, were distressing at a time when the council is slowly making the city safe ...

TWAS THE night before Synod and all through the house everyone wanted to hear how the consensus model of voting worked. After a fascinating day at Pilgrim Learning Community’s REFUEL: School of theology, at Caloundra Uniting Church, I spent the night with family who have never been part of the Uniting Church. Perplexed by what I was about to embark ...

ON MONDAY 17 October Playgroup Queensland staff visited the Indooroopilly Uniting Church Playgroup to help celebrate their win of the 2011 Playgroup Excellence Award (Community Playgroup) for their two groups. A fun filled morning was had by all and volunteers, Gaylynn Bailey, Erica Henley, Jill and Terry Mudie, Jann and Rex Niven and the parents were thrilled to receive a ...