From the General Secretary

Report on Synod-wide mission implementation strategies

It gives me great pleasure to provide a report on the Synod office’s work in the last year.

This is the second of such reports from the Synod office and can be used to learn about Synod office activities and to track our progress in serving the church as it witnesses to Christ in the world. The report can be found on the Synod website. 

Rev Heather den Houting
General Secretary, Queensland Synod

From the Moderator

We can help you help those doing it tough

Is your local congregation or community struggling during the worst drought crisis to hit Queensland?

Let us know how we can help you by applying for grants of up to $5,000 per congregation. Apply today by completing the disaster relief application form. All grants are from the Queensland Synod Disaster Relief Fund and may be used to assist drought-ravaged communities in your local and surrounding areas.

Alternatively, if you wish to support those in crisis across our state, donate via the Synod website.

Rev David Baker
Moderator, Queensland Synod

Monday morning prayer

Join us for the Monday morning prayer in September:

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God.” Matthew 5:9

Lord, give us courage, tenacity, and wisdom to be peacemakers in our fractured world. Amen

Vale—Rev Bruce Prewer

Rev Bruce Prewer, Uniting Church minister and the author of many books of prayers, poems and reflections passed away in Sunbury on 11 September. Bruce was born in 1931 and ordained in 1955.

His passion for writing contemporary, ecumenical liturgy grounded in the Australian context influenced generations of Christians from the 1970s to the present day. For the young Uniting Church, his distinctive voice helped articulate what it meant to be an Australian church at worship and in prayer.

Works such Australian Prayers, Kakadu Reflections, Australian Psalms and Brief Prayers for Busy People reflected spiritual and cultural themes unique to the Australian experience.

Synod office news

Service of induction: Rev Kathryn Behan

The Queensland Synod is pleased to announce the induction service of Rev Kathryn Behan.

Join us as we celebrate her induction to the role of Director of Mission Engagement. The service will commence at 9:30 am on 20 September  at the Rollie Busch Chapel, Ground Level, 60 Bayliss St Auchenflower and will be followed by refreshments.

Lucille Korponay
Executive Assistant, Queensland Synod

Position vacant

Pastoral Care Chaplain

UnitingCare has a vacancy for a full-time Pastoral Care Chaplain at St Andrews War Memorial Hospital located in Spring Hill, Brisbane.

This stipended placement provides high quality pastoral and spiritual care services to patients, their carers, families and health care staff as an expression of the mission of the church. The position reports to the Pastoral Care Manager. Please contact Kay Bittner for a copy of the position description. Last date for applications: 1 October 2018.

Please submit applications to:
SAWMH JNC
C/- Secretary of Synod Placements Committee
Uniting Church in Australia (QueenslandSynod)
GPO Box 674
Brisbane, QLD, 4001
or email: placements@ucaqld.com.au

Kay Bittner
Chaplaincy Coordinator, UnitingCare

Learning news

Trinity College Queensland: "A Grisly Affair"

The Book of Judges serves as Israel’s equivalent to the BBC’s “Horrible Histories”.

Listen to Principal Dr Leigh Trevaskis give a short talk on one of the more memorable stories: the left-handed Benjamite Ehud’s cunning overthrow of the “very fat man” Eglon.

Subscribe to Trinity College Queensland's podcast. 

Belinda Hoadley
EA to the Principal and Office Manager, Trinity College Queensland

Reaching out and speaking out

Mental Health Week 6–14 October

This year’s theme is "Value mental health". There are six steps: Be active, Keep learning, Give, Connect, Take notice and Care. Resources are available to help you celebrate this important week. Find an event near you. How about organising an event in your congregation? Here’s a kit to help you.

14 October is Mental Health Day of Prayer. The Uniting Church in Queensland encourages all congregations to pray for those experiencing mental health issues, and their families and friends, on that day during their Sunday services. Another idea might be to organise a special service of prayer, reflection and encouragement. Liturgy resources are coming soon for this year.

Help to get #KIDSOFFNAURU

The Refugee Council of Australia (RCOA), of which the Queensland Synod is a member, and the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre recently released a brand new report detailing the horrific conditions on Nauru.

They encourage supporters to tweet the report to Morrison and Ministers Payne, Dutton and Coleman and to sign and share the petition.

Pledge to #CHANGETHERECORD

Common Grace is joining with Change the Record to call the government to address root causes of violence and imprisonment in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, calling on the government to:

• Close the gap in rates of imprisonment by 2040; and
• Cut the disproportionate rates of violence to at least close the gap by 2040 with priority strategies for women and children.

Take the pledge to #CHANGETHERECORD.

Sue Hutchinson
Research and Policy Officer, Queensland Synod