NOVEMBER2017 Archives - JourneyOnline

November 2017 Journey now available

QLD Synod Webmaster — Wed, 01 Nov 2017 01:23:22 +0000

Some of you may be familiar with Sergeant Alvin York but a quick recap for those unaware. York was a highly decorated American soldier during WWI and received the Medal of Honour for one particular attack he led which resulted in 25 enemy deaths and 132 captured enemy soldiers. What makes York particularly fascinating and ...

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Faith in video games

QLD Synod Webmaster — Wed, 01 Nov 2017 01:21:53 +0000

They are an integral part of popular culture and a multi-billion dollar industry but video games have largely shied away from religion: from the earlier years of Super Mario, Sonic the Hedgehog and Pac-Man to the current crop of Call of Duty, Pokemon and Grand Theft Auto, Christianity has rarely featured in a substantial or ...

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Why Defence chaplains carry Bibles, not guns

QLD Synod Webmaster — Wed, 01 Nov 2017 01:21:28 +0000

Whether on the front line with Australian troops or working with military personnel and their families, Defence Force chaplains like Uniting Church minister Rev Charles Vesely are a potent reminder that the end state of conflict is always peace. Dianne Jensen reports. In the deep night silence of a forward operating base in Afghanistan, Australian ...

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The dangers of abandoning the Old for New

QLD Synod Webmaster — Wed, 01 Nov 2017 01:19:50 +0000

The Old Testament makes up around 75 per cent of the Bible but is often seen as harsh, confusing and downright problematic in light of current thinking on women, sexuality and violence. Dr Paul Jones explains why embracing the Old is just as vital as the New. Christians affirm the Old Testament as sacred scripture, ...

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When Blackall Range and Cunnamulla church members get together, the dust begins to fly!

QLD Synod Webmaster — Wed, 01 Nov 2017 01:16:47 +0000

A hands-on partnership with Blackall Range Uniting Churches has provided a boost to the ministry of Frontier Services Cunnamulla–Burke and Wills patrol minister Rev Sunil Kadaparambil. Dianne Jensen reports. Rev Catherine Solomon didn’t expect to be called upon to judge the cake and scone section of the Seniors Week cooking competition in Cunnamulla. But like ...

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Checking the Heartbeat of the church

QLD Synod Webmaster — Wed, 01 Nov 2017 01:09:48 +0000

What started as a conference four years ago is now a movement for young people to carry God’s heartbeat into their homes, churches, schools and social environment. Ben Tupou reports on the Heartbeat conference at Newlife Uniting Church in Robina. This year’s conference saw over 210 young people from across Brisbane, Gold Coast and as ...

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Change initiatives to shape the future

QLD Synod Webmaster — Wed, 01 Nov 2017 01:05:55 +0000

As the Queensland Synod continues its focus on the five Priority Directions for the 2016-2020 period, a new suite of Key Change Initiatives (KCIs) has been identified to help shape the work of the Synod and presbyteries as they implement the Priority Directions. Journey reports. Generated by the Synod Standing Committee and the Presbytery Synod ...

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Faith and courage on Mornington Island

QLD Synod Webmaster — Wed, 01 Nov 2017 01:03:19 +0000

At time of writing, I’m sitting on the veranda of the Mornington Island manse with the sound of carpentry tools in the background. The carpentry work is the complete renovation of the Mornington Island church. The renovations are costing approximately $700 000. Most of this comes from funds the Uniting Aboriginal and Islander Christian Congress in ...

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Letters November 2017

QLD Synod Webmaster — Tue, 31 Oct 2017 06:58:55 +0000

Too theological? I refer to the article in October’s issue of Journey, “Reformation and the Uniting Church”. It appeared to me that this article was written for trained theologians. I found it difficult to understand. I had never met the word “apophatic” before. Journey’s aim surely is communication with the person in the pew. I ...

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33rd Synod: Setting the course ahead

QLD Synod Webmaster — Tue, 31 Oct 2017 01:59:14 +0000

Reflecting on the past and discerning how the church faces the future was front and centre of the 33rd Synod meeting (20–24 October). The team from Journey reports. Hundreds of Uniting Church members gathered at the Alexandra Park Conference Centre on the Sunshine Coast as the 33rd Synod in Session kicked off in style with ...

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