By Andrew Humphries
American statesman Benjamin Franklin is often credited with the line that there is nothing certain in life, except death and taxes.
As time marches on, perhaps there is one more certainty in life we can add to Franklin’s list, and it’s one that has serious implications for religious organisations such as the Uniting Church.
By Donald Moss
Imagine entering Australia as a refugee from Afghanistan more than a decade ago, leaving behind your wife and seven children.
Where would you turn for help? Who would be there to assist you in your darkest moments in this strange and bewildering new country?
In Victoria’s northwest, the answer is the Swan Hill Uniting Church.
By Donald Moss
More than 20 years ago, actors Kevin Spacey, Helen Hunt and Haley Joel Osment starred in a well-received movie called Pay It Forward.
Its simple premise, based on the novel by Catherine Ryan Hyde, was that rather than paying someone back for a favour, the recipient would do a favour for three other people.
By Andrew Humphries
If you happen to bump into Kelly Skilton at a Uniting Church service or function somewhere, she is bound to make an instant impression on you.
Her bright green hair is an immediate attention grabber, but there is much more of substance happening beneath all of that.
By Rev Rachel Kronberger
Rev Alistair Macrae retired on Sunday after 38 years of faithful and transformative ministry in the Uniting Church.
The morning service concluded Alistair’s ministry placement at Wesley Church and a retirement celebration was held at Wesley Place, featuring a ‘this is your (ministry) life’ reflection from each ministry placement.
Interview by Andrew Humphries
Thanks for the opportunity to have a chat, Duncan. Let’s start at the beginning. You were born and raised in New Zealand. Tell me about your childhood.
I’m the seventh of eight children and I spent my early life in rural Southland, on the South Island, on a sheep farm. My dad had acquired the property ...
North-east of Melbourne, the village of Warrandyte is a well-known tourist attraction filled with galleries, art and craft shops, restaurants, coffee shops and historical places of interest.
It’s also now home to a spectacular man-made raingarden, thanks to the efforts of the Warrandyte UC.
And towards the end of last year, the Riverflow Community Raingarden was officially opened, marking the ...
By Alistair Macrae
Have you ever wondered where the Uniting Church’s voice in the “public square” has gone?
When did you last read an opinion piece by a UCA leader in the mainstream media? Why do mainstream church leaders rarely appear on panel shows such as Q&A on the ABC or The Project on Channel 10?
Late last year, I had the privilege of representing the Uniting Church at the annual conference of Te Hahi Weteriana o Aotearoa (the Methodist Church of Aotearoa New Zealand) at which they celebrated their 200th anniversary. It was a joy to join with a partner church to celebrate with them.
Eaglehawk resident Judith Richards’ many years of commitment to the town’s Uniting Church has been recognised with an Australia Day honour.
Judith was one of six Victorians with Uniting Church connections to be awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia yesterday.
Over a period of nearly 60 years with the Methodist and Uniting churches in Eaglehawk, Judith has been ...
By Andrew Humphries
The day I sit down to chat with Heathmont Minister Brendan Byrne on Zoom, I’m quite intrigued by the T-shirt he is wearing.
It carries a short but sharp message which, as I discover during our conversation, says much about Brendan’s values and how they drive much of his attitude to life.
We swear on the Bible that these sentences appeared in church bulletins or were announced at church services.
The Fasting & Prayer Conference includes meals.
The sermon this morning: “Jesus Walks on the Water”. The sermon tonight: “Searching for Jesus”.
Ladies, don’t forget the rummage sale. It’s a chance to get rid of those things not worth keeping around the ...