By Robyn Whitaker
This month, Christians around the world will celebrate Easter, a time of year when we reflect on what it means to find light, hope, and new life in an often dark, difficult, and unjust world.
Next month we launch the Wesley Centre for Theology, Ethics, and Public Policy.
By Rev Jay Robinson, Minister and Chaplain
In the first year of my first placement, I was in conversation with a member of staff at Monash University where I was the chaplain.
We were talking about Easter and just what we were each doing at this time.
The university was closed over the Easter period, which was unusual as the ...
The Easter period, moving from Good Friday to Easter Sunday, takes us through the grand themes of death and resurrection, cross and hope.
Earlier in Lent when we heard the stories of Jesus telling his disciples that he was going to suffer, be rejected, killed, and after three days, rise again, we also heard Peter taking him aside and rebuking ...
Rev Michele Lees, Minister, Echuca Moama Uniting Church
Monday
Monday is my official day off, although today began with a brief phone call from our church treasurer. We needed to sort out a financial issue which we spoke about yesterday. Monday is his day in the church office, so I understand that sometimes these calls are needed.
By Bill Loader
How can I know the loneliness of being without enough food, looking at my malnourished child, knowing it is too late?
How can I imagine the fear of random acts of violence, the bullying, and the violations on people not allowed a voice?
I can see more now than any previous generation. I can video scenes of ...
By Andrew Humphries
Pilgrim Theological College staff and students kicked off the academic year yesterday with a deep question to ponder.
As part of the college’s orientation, Uniting Aboriginal and Islander Christian Congress Chair, Rev Mark Kickett, answered questions from Assembly President, Rev Sharon Hollis, on the subject of ‘doing ministry on stolen land’.
By Andrew Newmarch and Andrew Humphries
Out she came, clothed completely in protective gear: goggles, mask, gloves, and disposable gown, just like during Covid-19.
But this time the enemy was leprosy, and the point of the illustration was that the protective gear was no longer needed.
As Eaglehawk Uniting Church lay preacher Merrill Cole explained traditional fears about leprosy and ...
By Andrew Humphries
In Mount Waverley in Melbourne’s south-east, one Uniting Church congregation continues to faithfully live out the Christian ethos that says to give freely to others is to be blessed in return.
Rev James Douglas has had the privilege of being Minister at St Luke’s for nearly 10 years and sees on a daily basis how this concept ...
By Andrew Humphries
When Uniting Church Minister Will Nicholas and St David’s Geelong congregation members sat down for their pre-Christmas lunch late last year, it was an afternoon of great fun and fellowship and a celebration of what being part of a church community is all about.
It was also an opportunity for Will to share one of his great ...
By Andrew Humphries
When Ramila Chanisheff addressed Uniting Church members during Synod 2023 in November last year, she brought a message of great importance, and support, for the ethnic Uyghur population of East Turkistan.
The Australian-based President of the Australian Uyghur Tangritagh Women’s Association outlined the brutal crackdown by Chinese authorities that has seen many Uyghurs killed, imprisoned and forced ...
By Cathy Withiel
The first thing that strikes you about Tracy Barron is her kindness and honesty – and the joy she feels from reaching out to others.
And the feisty 71-year-old Uniting AgeWell volunteer is happy to tell her life story just like it is, in the hope of encouraging people from all walks of life to accept and ...
By Rev Associate Professor Geoff Thompson
What is Christianity? What is the gospel? What is the church?
Christian people have constantly wrestled with such questions.
Even if they are perennial questions, they are asked with a particular edge in our current context of Christians being a minority in Australia.
Minority status, stripped of all the accrued overlays enjoyed in previous ...