Although it’s tempting to focus on the doom and gloom in terms of global social progress, there’s much to celebrate even if there’s still far to go. Similarly the church may face a range of challenges in the decades to come but Christ’s power to transform lives around the world for the better continues with inspiring results in Asia, Africa ...

Author Christopher Brown explores faith in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and what might be a “renewed kingdom normal” for these times.  Stirrings People of faith are stirring. It is not that they have suddenly awakened from a nightmare filled with the horrors of a global pandemic. For many have remained fully conscious during this troubled time, seeking creative responses ...

James O’Callaghan reports on the third and final day of the 35th Synod in Session. The third day of the 35th Synod in Session commenced with Bible study and worship led by leaders from the Uniting Aboriginal and Islander Christian Congress. Stories were shared around Ephesians 4:15-16 and the theme of the 35th Synod “grow”. Among those who offered reflections ...

James O’Callaghan reports on the second day of the 35th Synod in Session where reports from multiple governing bodies and agencies were received by members. The first virtual and 35th meeting of the Synod in Session continued for a second day on 24 October 2020. The day was opened with worship and Bible study where leaders from the Uniting Aboriginal ...

James O’Callaghan reports on the first day of the 35th Synod in Session. The 35th Synod in Session of the Uniting Church in Australia, Queensland Synod commenced on 23 October 2020. The session was opened by Rev Andrew Gunton—who was inducted as Moderator of the Queensland Synod on 22 October 2020—before Gaja Kerry, Traditional Owner, Jaggera/Turrubal Lands performed a Welcome ...

Below is the brief summary of the Synod Standing Committee meeting—held on Thursday 1 October—to inform the wider Queensland Synod community of the discussions, deliberations and decisions arising from that meeting. This meeting was held in the Rollie Busch Chapel at the Synod office in a COVID safe manner.   Hearing from presbyteries The Carpentaria and Downs Presbyteries reported on ...

For many Australian seniors the ageing process naturally brings about a loss in memory but a new hand-held audio player, MemoryLink, aims to reconnect church music memories in the elderly to their earlier lives. Ben Rogers reports. Ten years ago the late Dr Fenton Sharpe AM attended a church service and noticed a worshipper, suffering from dementia, still able to ...

Below is the brief summary of the Synod Standing Committee meeting—held on Thursday 3 September 2020—to inform the wider Queensland Synod community of the discussions, deliberations and decisions arising from that meeting. This meeting was held by video conference due to COVID-19 restrictions.  Project Plenty As we approach Synod in Session, the Synod Standing Committee endorsed and recommended the latest ...

The COVID-19 pandemic may have forced churches to radically adjust their standard operating procedures but for Redcliffe Uniting Church there are some things that still require a safe in-person experience. Ben Rogers reports. Most people are used to getting hamburgers or fried chicken from a drive-through but with COVID-19 forcing everyone to innovate and develop creative solutions to meet safety ...

“Smelling your oats” is a phrase I used to hear from my dad. It came from the days when you headed for home on a horse after a day’s work; the horse knew what heading for home meant—oats. So all of a sudden, the pace picked up, new energy was found, and there had to be a bit of reining ...