From the General Secretary

Guidelines for congregation changes

Guidelines for congregation changes are now available for all congregations and presbyteries on the Synod website. We encourage all congregations and presbyteries to refer to these in advance of any organisational structure changes being made at a congregational level (e.g. opening, closing).

For more information, please contact Belinda Bones, Governance Secretary.

From the Moderator

Moderator's Musing

In this week's Moderator's Musing, Rev David Baker shares how he has been inspiried by Rev Dr Graham Hill and his art of digital storytelling.

Monday morning prayer

Jesus said, "Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."

Lord, may your Spirit keep calling us to be a sign and foretaste of your coming kingdom. Amen

Moderator's diary

This Friday, Moderator Rev David Baker will be attending the Grasstree Gathering Theological Symposium in Sydney. The symposium will showcase a collection of established and emerging Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander theologians as they present on what the Dreaming and spirituality means to them and to the Australian church.

While in Sydney, David will be preaching on Sunday at the 25th anniversary celebration at Banora Point Uniting Church.

Synod office news

Movie ticket giveaway!

Thanks to Transmission Films and Think Tank Communications, we have two admit-two passes to Mary Magdalene to give away.

To be in the running for the tickets email journey@ucaqld.com.au and tell us in 50 words or less what your favourite article was from the Autumn 2018 edition of Journey magazine. The two best responses as chosen by the Editor will receive the tickets. Entries close 16 March 2018.

Check out the trailer to Mary Magdalene.

Ben Rogers
Digital Producer, Queensland Synod

Photo: Transmission Films

Presbytery and congregation news

Holding an Easter service or activity?

We are encouraging congregations and faith communities to promote details of their Easter services and/or activities on their website or social media platforms.

You can also share your event on our online events calendar by submitting it via the Synod website.

The Communications and Marketing team have also produced a number of resources to help promote your event.

Ben Tupou
Marketing and Communications Officer, Queensland Synod

Share your #TakeHeart story!

Everybody has a story and this Easter we would like to share these stories to spread hope, love and light!

Tell us how you have “taken heart” in life by posting your story on social media (i.e. Facebook, Twitter or Instagram) and using the hashtag #TakeHeart.

Let us know that you’ve posted by tagging us @UCAQld on Twitter and @unitingchurch.queensland on Facebook.

Ben Tupou
Marketing and Communications Officer, Queensland Synod

Position vacant

Uniting Church WA: Deputy General Secretary

The Uniting Church in Western Australia is seeking a visionary and strategically oriented person to work with the General Secretary to provide collaborative leadership in partnership with presbyteries, agencies and schools.

The successful applicant will be a member of the leadership team of the Uniting Church in Western Australia, seeking to support the ministry, mission and planning directions of the whole church. Applications close 28 March.

For more information, visit the careers page on the Synod website.

Monica Pettersen
HR Manager, Synod of Western Australia

Aged Care Project Worker

Merthyr Road Uniting Church is seeking an aged care project worker to focus on the development of ministry with older members of the community in care and outside the facilities in the area. It is envisaged that this role will build relationships with older members of the existing congregation, their families and their friends.

Please email office@mruca.org.au for a copy of the position description.

Debbie Riddell
Assistant, Merthyr Road Uniting Church

Uniting Church WA: VET Education Leader

The Presbytery of Western Australia is seeking to appoint a person to join the newly forming Education Team whose purpose is to achieve “a culture in which formation for discipleship and leadership is prized, appreciated and accessible and seeks to build an informed and integrated learning community directed to the mission of God.”

For more details about the position visit the website or contact Amanda Badenhorst.

Amanda Badenhorst
Pastoral Relations and Placements Administrator, Uniting Church in Western Australia

Learning news

Trinity Unplugged

Have you heard the one about two prophets, a lion and a donkey?

Let’s face it—the Bible contains some pretty weird stories. But where do we begin in making sense of them? Sometimes we are left wondering whether we have really heard what certain passages have to say.

Come and hear Paul Jones, Trinity’s Lecturer in Old Testament and Preaching, as he walks us through one of the strangest stories in the Old Testament—1 Kings 13. Paul will guide us step by step through a process of reading and interpreting difficult texts, using the unusual tale in 1 Kings 13 as a case study.

Join us 7–9 pm, 23 March at Trinity College Campus. #TrinityLife

Tisa Lacey
Marketing and Event Coordinator, Trinity College Queensland

Principal's Hour: Week Two (Dr John Frederick)

We’d like to invite you to listen to our weekly podcast of sermons from Principal’s Hour.

In this week’s Principal Hour sermon titled “The Powerful Work of God at Work in Us” Dr John Frederick, Lecturer in New Testament at Trinity College Queensland explores the relationship between the powerful, resurrecting work of God in Jesus Christ and the communal work of the congregation as they are spiritually empowered to grow together into the image of God.

Listen to Dr John Frederick speak from Ephesians 1:15-23.

Tisa Lacey
Marketing and Event Coordinator, Trinity College Queensland

Youth and young adult news

Elevation training

Are you involved in ministry with children, youth or young adults? Interested in getting involved? Elevation training is for you!

The Uniting Church is partnering with the Anglican and Lutheran churches to deliver a day full of amazing sessions where you can learn  great tips, be inspired and have your thinking challenged by great speakers including Rev Fa Matangi, Rev Monique Coughlin and me!

Held at Good News Lutheran Church, 45 Horizon Drive, Middle Park on 17 March from 8:45 am. If you get in now, only $50! (subsidies available, discounts for students and pensioners).

Full program and more info at www.elevation.org.au

Steve Molkentin
Digital Youth Discipleship Project Officer

Next Gen Arise's first Disciple Makers Gathering

The Disciple Makers Gathering is a new initiative of Next Gen Arise to support youths and young adults to connect with each other, grow in their walk with God and be equipped for disciple-making and leadership. It is focused on creating a communal learning experience and empowering young people to grow as inspired, effective and transformative disciples who positively influence the church and the world.

In the first gathering, we are going to explore the meaning, purpose and importance of discipleship and how it is relevant to our daily life with Simon Gomersall from Trinity College Queensland.

Join us at Trinity College Queensland, Level 1 60 Bayliss St Auchenflower on 24 March from 4 to 6 pm.

Noah Kim
Next Gen Arise Project Officer, Queensland Synod

Reaching out and speaking out

“We share the same backyard”

Halfway between Queensland and Hawaii, 6000 islanders are set to lose their homes. The Marshall Islands is an independent nation of more than 1200 tropical islands which are on average only two metres above sea level.

According to Kathy Jetñil-Kijiner, the Marshall’s main climate change activist, “It isn’t necessarily that our islands will go down, that they’ll disappear, but floodings that are occurring right now will happen so frequently that the islands will become unlivable.” She says that Australia, a huge emitter of carbon, must take some responsibility. Australia “can’t keep opening any more coal mines. That’s disastrous for the rest of the Pacific and we share the same backyard."

Sue Hutchinson
Research and Policy Officer, Queensland Synod

Australia: global deforestation hotspot

This nation is in the middle of a full-blown land-clearing crisis, with estimates that in the two decades to 2030, three million hectares of untouched forest will have been bulldozed in Eastern Australia, threatening Australia’s rich biodiversity.

The crisis has been helped by a failure to introduce restrictions and refusal to apply existing restrictions. Queensland clears more land each year than the rest of Australia put together, and the rate of deforestation is comparable with the infamous deforestation that occurs in the Brazilian Amazon. As of 8 March, the Queensland government now has tree clearing laws, with other states set to follow our lead.

Sue Hutchinson
Research and Policy Officer, Queensland Synod

Agency and service provider news

Induction service for Rev Dr Adam McIntosh

UnitingCare Queensland and the Queensland Synod have the pleasure of inviting you to the induction service for Rev Dr Adam McIntosh as Associate Director of Mission.

The service will be held 22 March, 9 am at UnitingCare training rooms, 5th floor, 192 Ann St, Brisbane. Refreshments to follow.

Please RSVP by 15 March to Patricia.patterson@ucareqld.com.au