By Andrew Humphries
Six-thousand kilometres separate Kiribati in the Pacific Islands and Ulverstone in Tasmania, but one man is doing his bit to bring residents from both countries together.
As the Synod’s Community Connections Worker in Tasmania, employed through the Justice and International Mission Cluster, Taua Ritiata plays a vital role in helping seasonal workers like those from his home ...
By Andrew Humphries
When Ballarat woman Pippa Lidgett uncovered a rare and historic book belonging to her father Bill last year, she knew there was only one place it could be properly looked after.
The book, published in 1634, is now housed at the Dalton McCaughey Library at the Centre for Theology and Ministry in Parkville, under the watchful eye ...
By Andrew Humphries
It’s 10am on a beautiful Melbourne day in late November and Boroondara Community Outreach in Kew is a hive of activity.
Volunteers are busy in the kitchen cooking meals for distribution, in another room boxes of produce are being sorted into bags for delivery to needy families and individuals while, elsewhere, loaves of donated bread are being ...
By Andrew Humphries
As the countdown begins to Synod 2022, Uniting Church members from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds are being invited to play a major role at the event.
Moderator-elect Rev David Fotheringham says the Church’s CALD members have much to contribute as the meeting discusses ways the Church can plan for the future.
By Denise Liersch
“Blessed are you who are poor. Blessed are you who are hungry, who mourn, who are excluded.”
Here we are at the beginning of a new year, where we think about the past year, and express our hopes for the year to come. A message I’ve heard a lot is, “let’s hope for a better year in ...
By Andrew Humphries
Uniting Vic.Tas CEO Bronwyn Pike’s outstanding contribution to the community in a number of fields has been recognised with Australia Day honours.
Bronwyn was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in this year’s honours list for her “significant service to social welfare and not-for-profit organisations, and to the Parliament of Victoria”.
By Andrew Humphries
Ten days after the South Pacific Island nation of Tonga was devastated by a tsunami, the ripple effects continue to be felt thousands of kilometres away by many of that country’s Synod of Victoria and Tasmania members.
Their thoughts and prayers are now with the people of their home land as Tongans begin the long road to ...
Uniting Church in Australia (UCA) President, Rev Sharon Hollis, and Chair of the Uniting Church’s Tongan National Conference (TNC), Rev Feke Kamitoni, have encouraged people to pray for Tonga after it was hit by a tsunami late on Saturday night.
Communication lines have been down since the tsunami was triggered by the eruption of underwater volcano Hunga Tonga Hunga Ha’apai.
...
With Christmas almost upon us, three Victoria and Tasmania UC members and three Uniting World members from overseas reflect on what the day means to them.
Rev Trang Vo, North Essendon Uniting Church
When asked what Christmas Day represents to me, the first thing that comes to mind is community, because, for me, Christmas is not a one-time experience, it’s ...
By John Evans
When a child is born we have a standard list of questions.
Possibly at the top we want to know that the mother and baby are well, radiant even! However, in rapid fire order, we also want to know what is the baby’s name is; who does the child take after; and apparently, the weight of the child. An odd question I have always thought, but perhaps ...
By Cathy Withiel
Sunsets lost their beauty for David Ross-Smith when they were replaced by sundowners.
Sundowning is the term used to describe agitation and distress experienced in the early evening by those living with dementia. And as David watched his partner, Rev David Hodges AM, call out in confusion, he decided to put on a CD of classical ...
By Andrew Humphries
Almost 30 years ago, John and Jenny Preston met a remarkable woman whose influence would propel them on a journey of discovery and mission which marks its 25th anniversary this year.
That woman was Harriet Sianjibu-Miyato, a human dynamo determined to make a difference in her home country of Zambia.