Whale’s tooth
This is a tabua (Tam-Boo-wah) from Fiji. Tabua are pierced and braided whales’ teeth, originally taken from the lower jaw of sperm whales and are highly significant and valuable objects in traditional Fijian society. Fijians consider them to be kavakaturanga (chiefly items).
This one was presented by the Methodist Church in Fiji to the Methodist Church in Australia ...
Rev Wes Hartley
I grew up in a strong church family, with my parents, Rev Frank Hartley and Marion, being the greatest influence on my early life.
A returned missionary from India, in 1933 my mother became the first woman in Australia accepted for training by the Presbyterian Church, and this was where my parents met as my father ...
By Devanandan Anandarajan
I joined as a Minister in the Uniting Church in 1997 after having served in Sri Lanka as a Minister for 10 years.
I came as a Minister from another denomination to a placement in the Balkara Parish at Oakleigh as a Minister to the Tamil congregation.
After having served in three congregational placements I was called ...
By Paul Tonson
About the Act 2 Project, I have two viewpoints to share, of which the first is crucial for understanding the second.
I hope these viewpoints can deepen the conversation we have to have.
The first viewpoint is that I love and treasure the UCA for the unique place it occupies among the faith communities in Australia as ...
By Andrew Humphries
Filipino writer and polymath Jose Rizal described youth as “the hope of our future”, Greek philosopher Diogenes suggested the education of youth was “the foundation of every state”, and Indian activist Kailash Satyarthi said “the power of youth is the common wealth for the entire world”.
As denominations everywhere grapple with a decline in numbers, it’s today’s ...
By Meg Hocking
This year, many Australian families are dreading the countdown to Christmas.
Forced to make devastating decisions between feeding their children, affording household bills and purchasing school supplies, Christmas will be a trimmed down affair for many.
For over a decade, Uniting Family Services senior practitioner, Raeleen, has made it her mission to support families teetering on the ...
By Diane Gow
‘To sit with’ is an act of presence, of being with someone in companionable silence.
In my childhood I remember hearing this phrase used by my parents.
We grew up in a village in Norfolk, England on a small farm, my parents being Methodist.
My Dad had a friend Charlie who was dying at home of cancer.
...
Monday
I am up at 5.10am and begin preparing for the day ahead and the journey to Dhurringile Prison in Shepparton.
I also prepare a prison bag (a plastic clear bag which is passed through by security at prisons) with printed items for service and communion at Dhurringile. On the way I stop at Tatura township, and buy two rolls ...
By Andrew Humphries
How a future Uniting Church will look at both a national and state level, the announcement of our next Moderator-elect, and the resolution of some thought-provoking proposals were all part of Synod 2023 in Melbourne last month.
Box Hill Town Hall was the venue in November for four days of deep discernment and discussion around important issues ...
By Andrew Humphries
When Rev Salesi Faupula talks about the benefits of multiculturalism within the Uniting Church, he can back it up through his own life story.
And that story will be an important part of what informs his work as Moderator when he steps into the role in 18 months.
“O that you would tear up the heavens and come down.”
So begins one of the passages from Isaiah that we hear among the Bible readings set between now and Christmas.
I hear in it a plea for God to not be silent, but to come and intervene for the sake of God’s people.
The UCA VicTas Synod has announced two appointments within the equipping Leadership for Mission unit.
Rev Sandy Brodine will join the team as Younger Generations – Education and Strategy Co-ordinator, while Rev David Dong Won Kim will fill the role of Multicultural Ministries Coordinator.
Sandy is currently one of the ministers in placement at the Banyule Network.