News and events from the Uniting Church WA and beyond
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National Reconciliation Week 2025
National Reconciliation Week runs from 27 May to 3 June every year. These dates commemorate two significant milestones in the reconciliation journey – the successful 1967 referendum, and the High Court Mabo decision.
National Reconciliation Week (NRW) started as the Week of Prayer for Reconciliation in 1993 (the International Year of the World’s Indigenous Peoples) and was supported by Australia’s major faith communities.
The NRW 2025 theme, Bridging Now to Next, reflects the ongoing connection between past, present and future.
You can find local events for NRW 2025 on the Reconciliation WA website, starting with Sorry Day on 26 May.
40th Anniversary Celebration
In 1985 the Uniting Church declared itself a multicultural church, embracing the growing cultural diversity of its membership.
The Presbytery of WA's Intercultural Network is organising a local celebration for the 40th Anniversary of the Assembly’s 1985 declaration, ‘The Uniting Church is a Multicultural Church’. The event will be held on Saturday 7 June from 6.00pm at Kardinya Uniting Church.
The celebration will consist of a program including music and dance from various cultures. It will end with a great time of food and fellowship. You will be able to sample foods from diverse CALD communities. It will be a wonderful time of celebrating the 40th anniversary of the statement and sharing together interculturally.
Renewed vision for a place of healing and hope
“We have a vision for BKI to once again become a place of healing and hope.” (UAICC WA)
This article, first published in the April Revive magazine, reflects on the establishment and vision of Beananging Kwuurt Institute (BKI), and of the historic partnership between BKI, the Uniting Aboriginal and Islander Christian Congress, WA Regional Committee (UAICC WA) and the West Australian Stolen Generations Aboriginal Corporation (WASGAC), trading as Yokai Healing our Spirit, to support initiatives relating to truth, justice and healing at the former site of the Sister Kate’s Children’s home in Queens Park.
Would you like to support this vision? There's an opportunity for some practical covenanting at the Queens Park site on Saturday 24 May with a busy bee taking place from 9.00am. Find out more here.
New Moderator to be electedIn September this year, at the 49th Annual Meeting of the Synod of Western Australia, the Uniting Church WA will elect a new Moderator-elect. To receive an information package containing the nomination form please email Amanda Rigby - amanda.rigby@wa.uca.org.au |
Revive Survey - closing soon!Have you completed the Revive survey? The survey will be closing at the end of May, so if you've been considering providing some feedback please click on the link in the article to do so. This online form takes around 5 minutes and will help us better understand how our community are experiencing Revive magazine in its current format, and assist with future decisions around content and publication style. Anyone can complete the survey, whether you’re a regular reader or an occasional browser. |
The Uniting Church in Australia congratulates the Roman Catholic Church on the election of Pope Leo XIV (UCA)
The Uniting Church in Australia joins with Christians around the world in prayerful thanksgiving and deep reverence as the Roman Catholic Church welcomes a new spiritual leader, Pope Leo XIV. Read Article
WCC urges India and Pakistan to exercise restraint, prioritize peace (WCC)
World Council of Churches general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay, in light of the recent escalation of violence following India’s military strikes on Pakistan, urged both nations to exercise restraint and to prioritize peace over further escalation. Read Article
What happens to the clothing we export — and why it matters (Good Sammy)
Not everything donated to Good Sammy can be sold locally. But that doesn’t mean it goes to waste. Read Article
International Nurses Day puts Juniper staff in the spotlight (Juniper)
Each year, International Nurses Day (IND) recognises the incredible efforts of nurses across the globe and Juniper has a lot to celebrate when it comes to its nursing workforce. Read Article
Sorry Day 2025 - National Sorry Day is recognised each year on May 26, the date in 1997 that the Report of the National Inquiry into the Separation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from their families, the Bringing Them Home Report, was tabled in Federal Parliament. Sorry Day is an annual day of commemoration and remembrance of all those who have been impacted by the government policies of forcible removal that have resulted in the Stolen Generations. Find out more about Sorry Day here. Bringing Them Home WA and Yokai invite you to Sorry Day commemorations on Monday 26 May at the Stolen Generations Memorial, Moort-ak Waardiny, Wellington Square, East Perth. Click on the link for details and to register your attendance.
Uniting Aid Volunteers Needed - Uniting Aid are looking for regular volunteers to work one day per week or once every two weeks. Tuesdays or Fridays from 8.30am-12.00pm at Uniting Aid, Emergency Relief Centre, Nollamara. Assisting in a role suited to the person - such as op shop assistants, sorting room, pantry or front reception person. Any help appreciated. If you are interested please phone Bonnie on 93443840.
Aboriginal Spirituality and Culture Video Series - A new video series Aboriginal Spirituality & Culture featuring Aboriginal theologian Rev Dr Garry Deverell is available. Three short movies and a discussion guide explore Living on Country, The Dreaming, and Country & Colonisation. The resources are inviting, informative and provocative and an excellent series for church groups. Produced by Dr Craig Mitchell for Port Phillip East Presbytery UCA with the support of the former School of Indigenous Studies, University of Divinity. The resources are free to download.
Big Walk for Refugees - The Big Walk is a virtual walk that unites people in local communities all around Australia in one action to show solidarity with refugees and people seeking asylum. You can walk, run, cycle or swim - just register your distances on the App or website as you go between 1 to 30 June 2025. Find out more and register on the website here - https://www.bigwalk4refugees.au/
Heart For The Homeless 2025 - During May, Sonshine FM, together with Uniting WA, St Patrick's Community Support and St Bart’s are collecting items to support people sleeping rough in Perth. You can drop off your items at one of the many collection points listed on the website. They're collecting items such as sleeping bags, backpacks, shampoos, conditioners, body wash, soap, deodorant, tampons and pads, underwear, single-pack toothbrushes, toothpaste, razors, socks and tracksuit pants and tops. They are only accepting brand new items, and cannot collect food or perishable items. Last day of collection is Friday 23rd May 2025.
Retired Ministers Fellowship - The next gathering of the Retired Ministers Fellowship will be on Thursday, 29 May 2025, at Willetton Uniting Church. The gathering will begin at 10.30am with morning tea, which will be provided by members of the host congregation, followed by a guest speaker at 11:00am and a BYO (bring your own) lunch together at 12:30pm. The guest speaker and topic will be – Rev Brian Carey, Belmont Men’s Shed.
May
- Friday 16 May, 1.00pm. Wesley at One: Beyond the Gate at Uniting Church in the City, Wesley Perth.
- Saturday 17 May, 9.00am to 12.00pm. Lay Preachers Gathering at South Perth Uniting Church.
- Saturday 17 May, 1.00pm to 4.00pm. Trek 4 Timor at Mount Pleasant Uniting Church.
- Sunday 18 May, 2.30pm to 4.00pm. The Music of Wagner at Uniting Church in the City, Wesley Perth.
- Saturday 24 May, 9.00am to 2.00pm. Practical Covenanting Busy Bee at Beananging Kwuurt Institute, Queens Park.
- Saturday 24 May, 11.30am to 12.30pm. Community Pets Thanksgiving and BBQ at Rockingham Uniting Church.
- Saturday 24 May, 9.30am to 11.30am. Uniting Generations Network Meeting at All Saints Floreat Uniting Church.
- Monday 26 May, 11.00am to 2.00pm. Sorry Day 2025 at Wellington Square, East Perth.
- Tuesday 27 May to Tuesday 3 June. National Reconciliation Week: From Now to Next.
- Thursday 29 May, 10.30am to 1.00pm. Retired Ministers Fellowship at Willetton Uniting Church.
- Saturday 31 May, 1.00pm. 185 Years of Methodism in South Perth at Coode Street Jetty, South Perth.
June
- Sunday 1 June, 3.00pm. Celebration Service - 195th Anniversary of Methodist Church in Perth at Uniting Church in the City, Wesley Perth.
- Monday 2 June. WA Day Public Holiday. (Uniting Church Centre closed. No News and Notes.)
- Saturday 7 June, 6.00pm. Celebration of 40th Anniversary of Multicultural Church Declaration at Kardinya Uniting Church.
- Saturday 14 June, 9.00am to 12.00pm. Uniting Church Polity and Ethos Workshop at Leeming Uniting Church.
- Saturday 21 June, 9.00am to 4.00pm. Presbytery of WA Annual Meeting at Mount Pleasant Uniting Church.
- Saturday 28 June. Opening and Dedication of Uniting Church in Port Hedland at Hedland Fijian Uniting Church, Port Hedland.
This week we pray for:
Church Law Committee and the Nominating Committee
Standards for Ministries Committee and the Church Polity Reference Committee
Job opportunities in the Uniting Church WA
Administration Officer - Property Services
An exciting opportunity is now available for an experienced Administration Officer (part-time 0.8fte) to join our Perth based Property Services team at the Uniting Church in Australia, Synod of WA. This position will be based at the Uniting Church Centre in East Perth.
Applications close - Friday 16 May 2025
Do you have an event to share with the wider church?
Email Wendy at newsandnotes@wa.uca.org.au
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