Stepping up to run a business

DAVID SOUTHWELL

When Minerva couldn’t find a suitable source of protein to feed her baby she decided to invent one.

She came up with a spread based on legumes that has no added sugar, preservatives and is allergen-free.

It proved a hit with her daughter and, being a food technologist, Minerva saw market potential.

“I always ...

After the tsunami

UnitingWorld church partners have responded quickly to the devastating earthquake and tsunami that struck Sulawesi in late September, but donations are still needed to support recovery efforts.

More than 2000 people are confirmed dead, 5000 remain missing and an estimated 70,000 are homeless.

The disaster has taken a personal toll on UnitingWorld partners in Indonesia, with ...

Finding Common Ground

Barry Gittins

For two years Mel Jepson has been asked where she saw God that week.

That’s part of the ritual when she meets her friends at Common Ground, an intergenerational faith community that gathers in Heidelberg Scots Church meeting room on 10am Sundays.

The congregation, ranging from a dozen to 30 or ...

My Prayer

If I must use my hands for you, Lord,

Please let my hands be strong;

If I must fight a hard fight for you, Lord,

Please, won’t you come along.

If I must sing a glad song for you, Lord,

Help me to strike the right note;

Help me remember, ...

Synod Snaps – November 2018

Students and staff at Pilgrim Theological College gather in solidarity with refugees on Manus Island and Nauru.

Simon with his loyal canine companion Pepper at the Sophia’s Spring Uniting Church Blessing of the Animals service. Jean Ross (left) led the service.

The Cooperating Parish of Croajingolong enjoyed an outdoor Blessing of the Pets ...

‘Wonder women’ weaving together

JAMES O’CALLAGHAN

With more than 300 women from across Australia in attendance, UnitingWomen 2018 was an opportunity to weave stories of wisdom and wonder.

From the opening words of welcome to the closing communion service, the theme of sharing stories about the interweaving of faith and life ran through the third UnitingWomen conference in Brisbane at ...

Hitting out against slavery

A team of dedicated table tennis players last month rallied against slavery at High Street Road Uniting Church as they took part in the annual Ping-Pong-A-Thon.

For 18 hours, 80 participants showed off their prowess at the Mt Waverley church, raising more than $10,000 towards the national campaign.

The funds raised support nine organisations working to ...

Road toll remembrance

A multi-faith ceremony of healing for those impacted by road trauma will be held at Victoria’s Parliament House this month.

Every year, the Uniting Church organises a Time for Remembering service on the third Sunday of November to commemorate World Day of Remembrance for Road Trauma Victims.

The ceremony is also an opportunity to ...

Abridged history

Review by Nick Mattiske

Book | Blue Lake: Finding Dudley Flats and the West Melbourne Swamp | David Sornig

Dudley Flats was a Depression-era shanty town in West Melbourne, on the site of today’s vast container terminal. Originally a bountiful wetland, as the city grew it became a marginal area of reviled swamp and a tip, ...

Degrees of commitment

Marguerite Marshall

Christians have led many important social movements including the anti-slave trade, anti-Apartheid and African-American equality in the US and now we have a new and urgent challenge.

Last month’s UN special report on global warming says emergency action is needed if we want to maintain a safe climate for our children. If ...

Live cross

Review by Alan Ray

Book | But what if she’d said ‘No’? | Catherine E. Laufer

Are you looking for a Christmas present for a slightly religious relative that they could read without embarrassment on the tram?   

The coquettish cover photo and tantalising title give no hint that this is a collection of creative ...

For the sake of our children

Monica Jyotsna Melanchton

About 20 years ago I came across a book by journalist and activist Pinki Virani called Bitter Chocolate: Child Sex Abuse in India.

She had travelled across India meeting victims, psychologists, social workers, police and others to record incidents and analyse how they had been handled.

It was the first ...