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ability challenge
Want to make MOVING look good? Be part of the MOVEability challenge this May and raise funds to help support people living with a disability. It’s easy to enter, simply: 1. 2. 3. 4.
Choose a healthy activity Set a target to achieve during May Ask you family and friends to sponsor you Take on your challenge and make a difference
1 to 31 May 2014 Register now! www.moveability.org.au
Welcome from the Moderator Expanding our perspective on Easter
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t is said of some people that they die as they live. If this is true of Jesus, we should understand his death in the context of his life and teaching, and not the other way around. In so doing, I believe that we can embrace a more expansive perception of the transforming work of Christ beyond the (albeit deeply reassuring) saving of our individual souls for life in heaven after we die. Jesus taught and demonstrated that eternal life starts when we entrust our lives to him, and is lived in the ‘here and now’.
Rev. Dr Brian Brown Moderator
The Moderator is elected to give general and pastoral leadership to the Synod, assisting and encouraging expression and fulfilment of faith, and the witness of the Church.
Similarly, Jesus’ life demonstrated a deeply warm, embracing relationship between Father and Son, and his teaching is of a father who loves and forgives without requiring that someone else pay a penalty (as in Luke 15:11-32). Legalistic understandings about Jesus work on the Cross, such as the 12th century Substitutionary theory, are just one way of trying to express ultimately unfathomable truth, and limit our understanding of Atonement in a way that the Book of Hebrews, for example, does not. Another expansive perspective of the person and work of Christ is given in the inspired, cosmic expression of God’s plan “…For the fullness of time, to gather up all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth…” (Ephesians 1:10). Jesus’ death, understood from within the context of his teaching, healing and empowering, invites concern for the present and future vitality of all creation. If our engaging with Easter does not move us to empathy with refugees, concern for the large and growing gap between rich and poor, and global warming, among other major Common Good issues, then I suspect that our perception of God is too small.
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More generous understandings of the meaning of Easter also enhance our ability to be united with those of other Faiths and embrace those who are ‘not of our group’. Whatever else ‘at-one-ment’ means, it must surely work to unite us, not keep us apart! The way Jesus died was a radical, powerful authentication of the way he lived. By refusing to perform for Herod or plead with Pilate, he endorsed and sanctified the moral imperative — you can’t bargain with the truth. When the ‘powers that be’ tried to entomb him in their cramped and dominating world-view, he filled the space with an expansive, righteous spiritual power that burst the gates of hell and liberated his followers to go and fill the moral vacuum. Jesus’ death was a radical act of trust in the sovereignty of God, and the courage and faith of those he had trained to follow in his footsteps. It was also an acted parable of his core message that those who would save their lives must lose them. Retreat Director Margaret Silf poses this critical question in her book The Other Side of Chaos — Will you save your life or spend it? She says “…we are invited to follow a man who, every moment and in every way, spends himself for others and for truth and justice, a man who invites us also to become life spenders … to become a people on a quest not for rescue but for transformation. We are called beyond Exodus to Easter.” How will you spend Easter? May God’s blessing enrich you at this most special time.
You can follow the Moderator on Twitter @BrianBrownUCA Insights April 2014 3
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Contents
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24 14 Cover story
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Parramatta Mission has for many years committed itself to addressing human suffering and unmet need in Western Sydney. Our staff act as change agents in the life of many who come into our services. We are a community of people transforming lives. We uphold the values of grace, dignity, inclusion, faith and hope.
Regulars 3 from the Moderator 5 letters 7 news
32 fellowship news 34 updates from the General Secretary
Editor Adrian Drayton SUB-EDITING/PRoduction/ DESIGN Belle&Co Editorial/advertising/ PRODUCTION inquiries Phone 02 8267 4304 Fax 02 9264 4487 ADDRESS Insights, PO Box A2178, Sydney South, NSW, 1235 email insights@nsw.uca.org.au web www.insights.uca.org.au
Insights is published by the Uniting Church in Australia, Synod of New South Wales and the ACT. Articles and advertising content do not necessarily reflect the views of the Editor or of the Uniting Church. Subscriptions: Australia $38.50 (incl. GST); overseas $50. © 2014. Contents copyright. No material from this publication
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35 belief matters 37 culture watch 38 entertain me
may be copied, photocopied or transmitted by any means without the permission of the Editor. Circulation: 18,000. ISSN: 1036-7322 Commonwealth of Australia 2014
30 The Uniting Church in Australia is one of this country’s largest denominations. Our vision is to be a fellowship of reconciliation, living God’s love, following Jesus Christ and acting for the common good to build a just and compassionate community of faith.
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Your Say locking up children indefinitely on Nauru, in conditions which have been condemned by Amnesty International and the United Nations. Generosity of spirit and the offering of freedom would not insist that people seeking asylum must join a mythical, world-wide queue for protection, which is anywhere other than here.
An open letter to Scott Morrison MP Dear Mr Morrison, I have read on several occasions that you identify William Wilberforce as one of your heroes. Wilberforce is also one of my heroes. Not least among the reasons for this, is his persistence in letter writing to government officials, to call for the humane treatment of people who were oppressed. He wrote letters for twenty years before slavery was abolished in England. I have been writing to you regarding your cruel and inhumane asylum seeker policies and operations for almost five months now. I hope you are prepared for the next nineteen-and-a-half years of letters you will receive from me, should you remain in office that long. I have appealed to you on matters of language, international law, and human rights. And so I now appeal to you on matters of personal values and of faith. I read the transcript of your maiden speech to Parliament with great interest. In this speech, you declared your values and principles are derived from your Christian faith and Scripture, and you quoted Jeremiah 9:24. You went on to talk about your vision for Australia being a nation grounded in generosity of spirit. You echoed the words of Abraham Lincoln and John F. Kennedy when you said, “As global citizens, we must also recognise that our freedom will always be diminished by the denial of those same freedoms elsewhere, whether in Australia or overseas.” Generosity of spirit and the offering of freedom would not translate into insights.uca.org.au
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You have said that, for you, “faith is personal, but the implications are social.” I can see no evidence of the implications of faith in Jesus in the cruel, harsh and inhumane asylum seeker policies you have put in place. Your speech mentioned that Lincoln said, “Our task is not to claim whether God is on our side, but to pray earnestly that we are on His.” While you might be able to avoid the questions in my letters, it is not so easy to avoid God’s questions. I sincerely hope you have thought through your answers. Yours faithfully, Linda Cusworth This is an extract from Linda Cusworth’s letter to the Minister for Immigration and Border Protection, Scott Morrison MP. You can read the full letter at www.insights.uca.org.au
Responding to your comments on divestment Since the NSW/ACT Synod of the Uniting Church’s decision in April 2013 to divest from corporations engaged in the extraction of fossil fuels, letters of support and objections to divestment have appeared in the letters pages of Insights. As the original movers of the divestment proposal, we have prepared responses to a number of the issues that were raised. You can review these responses at http://www. unitingearthweb.org.au/explore/ divestment-objections Miriam Pepper, South Sydney Uniting Church and Justin Whelan, Paddington Uniting Church
Congratulations for excellent work I felt disappointed last year when publication of the former Insights was
discontinued, but this feeling has completely gone as a result of the impressive new Insights that comes each month. Congratulations and many thanks for your excellent work. I appreciate the way that the magazine profiles women and men involved in significant areas of service and also highlights issues that directly concern our Church. This morning at worship I received the special issue on property. Another very impressive piece of work, especially the comprehensive, thoughtful way in which it presents this important topic for congregations to study and discuss. Keep up the great work, and blessings on you. Rev. Dr Peter Swain
Thanks and keep up the great work! I have been enjoying the new content of Insights and find I read almost all the magazine. I am a long term member of the Uniting Church and have worked for the church for six years. So I consider myself relatively well informed about the Uniting Church. However, there is still much to learn. Since the new format of Insights I have discovered many interesting articles about people and organisations within the Church that I did not know. Cindy James, Wagga
Dear Moderator YYour passion for the UC is commendable. But the mission on page 12 by the General Secretary, says as it’s first goal, “Bringing people to God’s Love”. Surely the first passion for any church leader should be just that. It is what makes a Christian organisation (church or denomination) distinctive. Other non Christian organisations get just as passionate as you about the things you listed on page 3, in “Wecome from the Moderator”. How about a definitive statement in “Welcome from the Moderator”, by the Moderator, about the passion of the UC to bringing “people into a relationship with God’s Love”. Unless this happens, one person at a time, there will be no Insights April 2014 5
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News Light the dark Members of the Uniting Church joined over 15,000 Australians from across the nation for GetUp!’s #lightupthenight, Vigil for Asylum seekers in March. NSW and ACT Moderator Rev. Brian Brown addressed the crowd gathered at Sydney’s Town Hall to express the Church’s sorrow over the tragic loss of life on Manus Island. “We stand shoulder to shoulder, in expressing our grief over the death of an Iranian detainee at the Manus Island Detention Centre, and the death of hope for so many who have left places of extreme danger and persecution to seek welcome and a new life in Australia,” said Rev. Brown. “I commit our church to stay alongside you in this cause. Make no mistake; this is not going to be an easy
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or a short road. We will be called to apply consistent courage, compassion and perseverance in order to ultimately bring us to the place where this country to which we belong, this national community that has so much, will once more be a place that welcomes the stranger.” Earlier in the week, Uniting Justice Australia Director, Rev. Elenie Poulous reiterated the Church’s call to end offshore processing. “The Uniting Church has always been opposed to the offshore processing of asylum seekers. We have been increasingly alarmed at the effects of the harsh and punishing conditions on Manus and Nauru. Australia must protect people not place them in situations of harm. “The warehousing of asylum seekers in inadequate facilities in these offshore
centres is entirely unacceptable. It is a breach of our obligations under international law and diminishes us as a nation. Reza Berati was not the first to die in our detention centres, but the manner of his death exposed the policies as brutal and dehumanising. “With candles held high we grieved together for one man who would not have died except for the policies of our Government. “There was anger there too, and the anger is growing around the country, together with feelings of shame for what our Government is doing. But at the heart of the Light the Dark vigils was grief. “And in that grief, together with others, some of whom we knew and many more who were strangers, we understood that something better was possible.”
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News An important update to our Privacy Principles Extensive changes to the existing privacy laws took effect on 12 March 2014. From this date, the Uniting Church must comply with 13 Australian Privacy Principles that govern the collection and handling of personal information. The Synod Privacy Policy www.nsw. uca.org.au/church/privacy.htm has been updated to reflect the new requirements. If your congregation or organisation wants to tailor the privacy policy to reflect its own needs and methods of collection, it is important to make sure any changes do not detract from the minimum requirements set out in the legislation. If unsure, contact the privacy officer by email on privacyofficer@uca.nsw.org.au for assistance in this regard. Repeated or serious failures to comply with the privacy laws may result in a penalty. The Privacy Commissioner also has the ability to initiate an investigation without a complaint being made. To learn more about the changes to the Privacy Principles and to read the “Top 10 tips for congregations and Church organisations”, head to www.insights.uca.org.au/news/ an-important-update-on-ourprivacy-principles
Want to make MOVING look good? Be part of the MOVEability Challenge this May and raise funds for people with a disability at UnitingCare NSW. ACT. All you need to do is: 1. Choose a healthy activity (run, walk, cycle, swim or rollerskate) 2. S et a kilometres target to achieve during the month of May 3. S eek sponsorship from friends and family 4. S tart your activity on 1 May 2014. To find out more or register, visit www.moveability.org.au or call (02) 9376 1411. 8 Insights April 2014
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Parramatta flips pancakes for a cause For the past few years, Parramatta Mission has been flipping pancakes and handing them to busy commuters as part of Shrove Tuesday – the day before Lent in the six weeks leading up to Easter. Apart from spreading good cheer, their goal is to raise money for their community programs. This year, Parramatta Mission decided to take part in a tradition that was started back in 1445 in the village of Olney in Buckinghamshire, England. For hundreds of years, the women of the town run 415 yards (379 metres) carrying a frying pan with a pancake in it and flip the pancake at least three
times during the race. On 4 March, participants ran from Parramatta Town Hall to the front on Parramatta Mission on Macquarie Street to raise money for the Meals Plus Community Kitchen and Outreach Program – part of the many services offered by Parramatta Mission. Meals Plus Community Kitchen serves breakfast and lunch five days a week — that’s 33,000 meals per year. The Mission is one of the largest providers of community mental health services in New South Wales, as well as the largest provider of community services to people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness in Western Sydney. insights.uca.org.au
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Waste Not, Want Not – still going strong A group of volunteers for Hillston’s Waste Not Want Not program hit the road early in early January. They were headed for Tim Watson’s farm to pick watermelons. Despite not being an ‘easy’ job, it proved to be good fun for the group who collected ten crates of melons in an hour and a half! Most of those helping on the day were from the Hillston Men’s Shed, the Principal at Hillston Central School, Lou Revelant the Foodbank Produce Manager based at Griffith, and John Sheridan, who is a member of the committee that oversees the running of Waste Not, Want Not in Hillston. Waste Not, Want Not in Hillston is an active enterprise. Farmers are keen to donate their left over produce rather than see it go to waste. Often the food is collected directly from the field but some farmers arrange for produce to be sent directly to Foodbank. You can find out more about Waste Not, Want Not in Hillston at www.insights.uca.org.au/features/ waste-not-want-not
Workshop - Property for a Pilgrim People – Saturday, 28 June 2014 Following on from the Insights Special Issue Property for a Pilgrim People and the receipt of responses to it, it is proposed to hold a workshop to develop ideas and proposals to be considered by Synod Standing Committee in preparation for presentation to Synod 2014. The venue is yet to be determined. This workshop will be open to anyone who has an interest in discerning who we are called to be and how our property can best serve that calling. This will require people with both practical and theological thinking, common sense and imagination, visionary and grounded perspectives ready to pray and work together for the mission of God. If you are interested in participating in a full day workshop on the 28th insights.uca.org.au
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June, please send expressions of interest to the Rev. Niall Reid – niallr@nsw.uca.org.au
No time is a good time to lose hope Twelve months ago, Beecroft Uniting Church was at a crossroads. They had lost their primary school children’s group, the youth group was declining, and the congregation was ageing. Something had to be done. They held a Christmas craft workshop to encourage primary and infant school children to get involved with the church. Numbers were close to zero. The congregation agreed that kids’ lives were filled with so much activity that church was taking a back seat. Rather than resign to the declining numbers, members of the congregation decided the shake things up. They started the Beecroft Uniting Church Busy Bees. Children who attended after-school care at the
local school were invited to attend (with their parent’s permission of course!) The kids were picked up and returned to school by volunteers from the church. Once started, the numbers soon grew. Today, the church has a successful children’s club run by grey power. While it might be tiring for the volunteer oldies, their reward is a very happy group of young children. The programme each week is firstly food, followed by bible story, craft and games. They still have a way to go, but they’ve made a start. There is a different atmosphere in the church, changed from one of resignation to one of hope and expectation. Prayer, perseverance and hard work can achieve wonders! It is our hope that this story can give inspiration and help to other struggling congregations. Graham Moore, grahmaur@ bigpond.com Insights April 2014 9
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News
Help stop starvation being used as a weapon Yarmouk is a Palestinian refugee camp in southern Damascus, Syria, where more than 20,000 people have been living under a punishing siege and for more than a year have been desperate for food. They have been unable to move because of endless fighting and their plight is increasingly desperate. Residents gather daily, hoping to collect food parcels being given out by aid workers. But as starvation is increasingly being used as a weapon of war, the United Nations Security Council has unanimously adopted a resolution to boost humanitarian aid in Syria. The resolution says both Syrian government and opposition forces must allow aid convoys to reach civilians across the country to alleviate the desperate situation of people caught up in the conflict. Russia and China, which had previously vetoed three resolutions against Syria, voted in favour this time. 10 Insights April 2014
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Act for Peace desperately need your support to provide emergency relief packs to the families fleeing in Syria. They are working hard with Partners in Syria to provide support to displaced refugees both in camps and staying in urban areas. But they cannot keep up with the increasing numbers of refugees. Families are missing out on basic living essentials like clean water, food, shelter, hygiene and health supplies. Let the people of Syria know they are not alone log on to www.actforpeace. org.au/Get-Involved/Our-latestappeals/Syria-Crisis-Appeal for more information
Synod launches its new website In April the Synod launches its new website. The new web presence enables us to equip the Synod of NSW and the ACT, its Congregations and Presbyteries with better resources and up-to-date, important information that is user friendly across a variety of devices, such as smart phones and iPads.
The new website features will include: •A cleaner, fresher look with easy navigation and browsing •A new public Resource Centre that will include toolkits and templates for Congregations, Presbyteries and members •C ongregation and Presbytery microsites that will allow members to add their news and information, podcasts and can also link to their existing websites • T he Synod Directory all in one place with a search function to easily find churches and ministers •A n updated URL which includes the ACT (www.nswact.uca.org.au) to reflect the whole region working together. In the coming months we will be including webinars, videos and other useful information as we continue to develop functionality across the site. We invite your feedback on the website and encourage you to send this to insights@nsw.uca.org.au.
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Meet a member at Wesley Castle Hill When the congregation of Wesley Castle Hill opened their hearts to each other to share stories and experiences, they learned there is more to their members than meets the eye. There are people from all walks of life with rich life histories and tales of wonder. Little known facts about people’s past were revealed. Comments such as, “I played cricket in prison”, caused a momentary gasp until it was revealed the member was only part of the local church cricket team. Stories from 7-year-olds to a 97-yearold were shared. There were stories about growing up in diverse places — from tiny, Australian country towns to sprawling metropolises abroad – and tales of oddities such as eating deepfried tarantulas. There were also a few ordinary stories thrown in that everyone could relate to. “We often think we ‘know’ people; however when we are willing to share our stories, relationships become easier”, said Rhonda White. “I think one of the other benefits for Wesley as
a larger congregation is that it helps people find out where they can fit in the congregation and have a sense of belonging.” For Annette, organiser of the event, it’s a reminder that older members were young once, and did (and are still doing) some pretty amazing things in their lives. “It’s shown me the things people value about our church community and also the wider world in which we live.” If your congregation would like to learn more about the ‘Meet a Member’ concept feel free to contact Wesley Castle Hill by emailing: communications@wesleycastlehill. org.au
Frontier Services: Official charity partner of Sydney to London marathon rally On 12 April, competitors come from across the globe will descend on Sydney Harbour to start the Sydney to Perth legs of the Rally. Teams will cover 7,750 kilometres over 12 days, before embarking on the next stage that will see them tackle 16,000 kilometres of roads in eight countries over 30 days.
Around 40 cars will make the trip. There will also be a show of seminal classic rally cars of the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s: Ford Escorts, Datsun 240Zs, Ford Mustangs, Porsche 911s, and more. National Development Manager Grahame Ryan said, “We are thrilled to be partnering with the Rally. It is an iconic event that is a perfect fit for the mission and work of Frontier Services. The Rally touches the people and the communities that we support all year round.” Keith Morling from the Sydney to London Classic Marathon Rally adds “It was important for us to work with a charity partner that is respected and well known in the outback. Frontier Services has been in remote Australia for over 100 years. Everyone we meet has a story of how they have been part of the Frontier Services journey.” For more information on the Sydney to London Classic Marathon Rally, visit www.frontierservices.org or www.transworldhistoricrally.com
Meet some members of Wesley Castle Hill congregation — Stan Fulker, Annette Smith and Ben Speechly — sharing stories and experiences.
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From the General Secretary’s desk When Is Easter This Year?
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hat were you doing last Easter? Was that exactly a year ago? When was Easter last year?* It’s a question frequently asked around the Church: “Does anyone happen to know when Easter is this year?” From one year to the next, Easter never falls on the same date. It can come as early as March 22 and as late as April 25. “When is Easter this year?” For those of you who didn’t learn this in Sunday school or confirmation class, the date of Easter corresponds to the first Sunday after the first full moon after the vernal equinox. Seriously.
Rev. Dr Andrew Williams General Secretary The General Secretary is appointed by the Synod to provide leadership to the Church by actively engaging in strategic thinking about the life, direction, vision and mission of the Church.
How did this come to be? Here’s the short version of the story: In 325 A.D., Constantine, emperor of the Holy Roman Empire, convened the Council of Nicea. Among the business before the council was to establish a uniform date for Easter. Out of the discussion and debate came the ‘Easter Rule,” setting Easter on the first Sunday after the first full moon after the vernal equinox. As is often the case with church councils, the decision was not unanimous. (Someone had misplaced the orange and blue voting cards!) The Eastern bishops wanted to schedule Easter in conjunction with the Jewish Festival of Passover since Jesus went to Jerusalem, in the first place, to celebrate Passover. The Western bishops preferred a date corresponding with the beginning of spring, because that was the time already established for a lot of pagan celebrations, and they figured to capitalise on the momentum. This is why, to this day, we have such things as the Easter Bunny and coloured eggs associated with Easter.
To this day, we, who are descendants of the Western line of Christendom, use a different calendar than the Eastern Orthodox churches. Sometimes our celebration of Easter falls on the same day, like this year, and sometimes it varies by as much as five weeks. And so it’s a good question: “When will Easter come this year?” It will not come when we gather enough empirical evidence. The empty tomb alone is not proof of the resurrection. And that’s frustrating, because we are, after all, rational men and women open to reason and willing to accept the results of quantifiable data. It will not come when we gather enough testimonials. The faith of our fathers and mothers and neighbours and friends is important, but it’s not enough to transform us into the image of Christ. We need to see and hear and experience the risen Christ for ourselves. Easter will come when the Lord calls your name, and you hear his voice and respond in faith and devotion and love. Which leads me to ask, has God called your name? Have you heard God’s voice? Have you responded in faith? Has Easter come for you? I’m confident that, this Easter, God is calling us once more. The question is, “Are you listening?” And are you willing to embrace the Lord Jesus Christ and grow in the knowledge of his grace and love? If so, there’s a simple answer to the question, “When is Easter?” Easter is now. * [31 March]
On this, and other issues, the church eventually split. 12 Insights April 2014
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Volunteers serving at Meals Plus.
The helpful staff at Wesley Lodge pictured with the CEO of Hospitality Services, Accommodation and Property, Dianne Hart (pictured, far right)
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arramatta Mission has for many years committed itself to addressing human suffering and unmet need in Western Sydney. Our staff act as change agents in the life of many who come into our services. We are a community of people transforming lives. We uphold the values of grace, dignity, inclusion, faith and hope. As we approach Easter, it is an opportunity to reflect on transformation and change — change in our lives, our relationship with ourselves and our relationships with others. It’s a time to think about God, when the story of ultimate sacrifice, suffering and love is at the forefront of our minds. So what of change in the lives of the most vulnerable in our community? How do Parramatta Mission congregations, staff and volunteers who make up this community transform lives? What is transformation? Whose lives are transformed? How does this happen? The Korean–American biblical scholar and author, Dr Yung Suk Kim, developed a theory of transformation based on an anthropological model of three moments of human life. “I am no-one, I am someone and I am one for others”. This concept has great relevance for those working with vulnerable people, but it also has significance to us as a society. At Parramatta Mission we see people in all states. One of our greatest joys is when people who initially came to us for help make the transformation and want to start helping others. That is what our community is about. We are a community of people who value others, “I am one for others”. Parramatta Mission is a safe place for people who have been marginalised and brutalised by words, actions and the behaviour of others. It is a place that provides shelter, it is a place that provides food and a place people can begin a journey that starts by simply being heard. In despair, isolated, frustrated, sometimes homeless and helpless after being traumatised for many years believing in no-one, not even themselves — “I am no-one” — their journey begins. Sometimes it’s hard not to get caught up in crisis and chaos when you work insights.uca.org.au
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in an organisation such as Parramatta Mission. Our services are diverse, providing accommodation and support to single women, men, young people, and women and their children escaping domestic violence. In our Meals Plus facility, forty thousand meals are served every year. There are showers and washing facilities located at our Macquarie street premises. A food recovery program is delivered in partnership with local Coles and Woolworths stores. Parramatta Mission is the parent body of UnitingCare Mental Health, which has seen massive expansion in recent years. Its beginnings were in Lifeline Western Sydney and Parramatta Mission is now a significant provider of mental health programs across the Synod.
Easter is an opportunity to reflect on transformation and change — change in our lives, our relationship with ourselves and our relationships with others Parramatta Mission also has a motel complex and a block of units, Wesley Apartments, which provide accommodation for the families of ill children who are hospitalised in Westmead. The motel, Wesley Lodge, is the commercial part of our organisation, but in essence our entire organisation provides hospitality. Hospitality as documented in the bible: true hospitality offered to strangers, the type of hospitality where nothing is expected in return.
imagine the feeling of insecurity related to not having a roof over your head and food in your stomach. However, we have no difficulty in understanding how experiencing the reality of not being able to meet those basic needs could impact on any individual. When people come to Parramatta Mission for help and hospitality, they are often at one of the worst times of their lives. Our staff encounter anger and despair as people share their pain. But the staff also share in the joy of providing assistance. It is indeed a privilege to see the transformation of someone’s life. As an organisation we cannot ‘transform’ anyone; it would be arrogant to assume we can. Entering our services is not the panacea of transformation. Transformation comes from within and every individual who is open to love, and open to change has the ability to transform their life. Encountering grace, dignity, inclusion, faith and hope can be enablers in that change, especially when the individual has been subjected to the opposite in the course of their life. Many people come to us wary and hardened by the blows that life and other humans have dealt them. Life can be cruel and people can be cruel. Parramatta Mission offers compassion and a safe space to reflect on all that can be good. As an organisation we provide the infrastructure that enables the journey of transformation — housing, support, food — the safety and security that enables an individual to move from “I am no-one” to the place of “I am someone”. It is impossible not to be moved by such encounters. The observation of transformation is profound and deeply nourishing spiritually.
We are a values organisation and imperative to our success is the alignment of our values with our mission: To transform lives by offering some of the things that many of our clients have been denied for many years — grace, dignity, inclusion, faith and hope.
At Parramatta Mission we are a community of people committed to enabling change in individual circumstances. Many of our volunteers and staff have been through enormous change and transformation. Some of them have utilised our services prior to dedicating themselves to the care of others.
We know there is a critical link between homelessness and general well-being. For many of us it is hard to
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stories contained sadness and pain, but they had been led to a place of hope, a place where “I am one for others”. Being an organisation dedicated to transforming lives means living and breathing the values of grace, dignity, inclusion, faith and hope. It is often through an individual experiencing these values that their own personal transformation occurs.
Dedicated to transforming lives means living and breathing the values of grace, dignity, inclusion, faith and hope When you consider so many people who are treated poorly by others become isolated, marginalised, ridiculed and therefore excluded from a sense of community, there is little wonder that organisations such as ours exist.
Transformation, as articulated by Dr Yung Suk Kim, is not just about an individual — their own life and sense of self. It’s about how that transformation and change impacts on community and society more broadly. That’s why Parramatta Mission is so much more than a place that does good things for vulnerable people. It builds a community, a sense of place where all are valued and enabled, and that community impacts society. Being an agent of change is not solely the domain of charitable organisations and their staff. It is a role everyone can play. Being a person who is ‘one for others’ is a choice. At some point everyone comes across a person who is hurt, needs to be listened to and treated with kindness. The way someone reacts to that person’s need could mark the beginning of transformation. Imagine a society where people choose to be “one for others”. Tanya Gadiel, CEO, Community Services, Parramatta Mission
Did you know?
With a history spanning 190 years, Parramatta Mission is one of the largest and most inclusive providers of community services, mental health support and social housing in Western Sydney. It currently runs more than 70 community programs that target the most disadvantaged people in the region – the homeless and those who are at risk of homelessness, people facing crisis, and people who are living with mental illness. In the past year alone Parramatta Mission has: •p rovided shelter for around 300 people each day • s erved over 120,000 meals to those in need •p rovided refuge from domestic violence to 23 women and their children •a nswered over 24,000 calls from distressed persons thanks to the 100 volunteers who offer their time to Lifeline Western Sydney. The Mission’s programs are delivered from multiple sites across Greater Sydney, extending to the Central Coast, beyond the Blue Mountains, Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs and Liverpool.
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Senior Minister / Group CEO, Rev Keith Hamilton with Parramatta Mission Case Workers.
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That our lives may be transformed
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aster is a challenging time in the church. Many of us have spent the forty days (plus Sundays) reflecting about issues of faith and discipleship that we might once again be transformed in our living. As we prepare to hear the stories once again about the death and resurrection of Jesus, here is something to stimulate your thoughts. It is about theology – speaking and thinking about God, and trying to make sense of the mystery that is God and God’s abundant grace and love for us and all people. Here is the rub. Perhaps Jesus didn’t just come to die for our sins. Maybe, Jesus came to live to save us from our sins. I am in no way suggesting that Jesus didn’t die for our sins or that his death and resurrection are not about our redemption and reconciliation with God. However, what I want to suggest is that there is more to redemption than only the cross. Maybe when we speak about Christ giving his life for us, it may literally be the whole of his life and not only giving up
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his life in his death as an act of sacrificial love. The incarnation is the celebration of Jesus as God in the flesh, Immanuel, God with us. This is the ultimate sacrifice. In being human, Jesus takes on the mortality, frailty and the limitations that are a part of our human existence. The immortal becomes mortal. Jesus’ birth is the first step in God’s redemptive act of compassion. It is in living that Jesus has to die, and that end we know occurred on a cross. Yet it is in his living that we get to know the deep nature of God. We get to witness the depth of love, grace, compassion and forgiveness of God in the person of Jesus. In Christ we come to know God better. In Jesus, the Christ, God peels back the ‘otherness’ of transcendence. No longer can we accuse God of not knowing what it is to suffer violence, oppression, injustice, hatred, betrayal, suffering, loss and grief. God knows these things in Christ. God’s compassion
is real and embodied in the life of Jesus. We are truly loved with such deep sacrifice, which opens us to transforming our pain and anger. Nothing can destroy God’s love for us. Forgiveness is offered even before we transgress because in Jesus, even though we sought to remove God from the world, he rises again to drench us in irrepressible grace and love. Easter reminds us that if Christ is for us, then who can be against us? Certainly not God. Jesus lived so that we might be saved and that our lives may be transformed in a discipleship of loving service to God and others, as set before us in the example of his life. Let us enter into that life and follow on that way, that we might learn that truth which leads us into eternity Rev. Jon Humphries is Chaplain at Ravenswood School for Girls and is behind the UnitingChange Facebook avatar, which seeks to stimulate thought about faith and discipleship. insights.uca.org.au
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Centre for Ageing and Pastoral Studies
Steven Sabat
John Swinton
DIVERSITY, CHANGE AND SPIRITUALITY AGEING AND CARE AREN’T WHAT THEY USED TO BE CAPS NATIONAL CONFERENCE 2014 30 September – 2 October 2014
University House, Australian National University, Canberra International speakers: Prof. John Swinton (University of Aberdeen), Prof. Steven Sabat (Georgetown University, Washington DC). Australian speakers include Rev. Dr Dorothy McRae-McMahon, Rt Rev. Prof. Stephen Pickard, Mr Ahmed Youssef and Assoc. Prof. Rosalie Hudson. Meet with practitioners, researchers and pastoral carers. The program includes masterclasses with keynote speakers, academic papers, practical workshops and much more. Go to our website www.centreforageing.org.au/conference.html for full details. PASCOP (Pastoral and Spiritual Care of Older People) is proud to support the CAPS National Conference 2014.
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Hurley House: The Impossible Dream I
n 1992, a member of Campbelltown Uniting Church with an intellectual disability was looking for accommodation in a group home within close proximity to her parents. There was no suitable accommodation available, so the Church decided to build a group home to accommodate five residents who would live there on a permanent basis. Everyone they spoke to told them it was impossible. They simply reinforced the notion that if they were to succeed it had to be God’s work, not theirs. A piece of land with an old dwelling on it was purchased and it took two years to design a six-bedroom purpose-built house. During the early months of 1993, 30 members of the congregation got together to dismantle the old dwelling. Thanks to their hard work and tenacity, this overwhelming task was completed in a single day and by the end of 1993, the new house was completed. Soon after, an advertisement was placed in the newspaper for a Senior Support Worker who would begin working at the residence in February of the following year. There was only one problem: there were no funds to pay staff wages. On Christmas Eve 1993, the team received confirmation that some funding would be made available to pay staff. Success of the team’s endeavours was announced at the Christmas Eve Church service and in February 1994, Hurley House, as it had become known, was officially opened.
Then and now: Celebrating our history It’s been 20 years since Hurley House opened its doors. It celebrates this anniversary along with the many goals that have been achieved during this time, goals which could never have been envisaged 20 years ago. 24 Insights April 2014
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Firstly, the same five residents who moved into the house 20 years ago are still there. These residents are offered individual care in a warm, supportive environment in which they are able to grow and remain as independent as possible. Hurley House has become home to the great relief of parents, who are grateful their children have somewhere to live when they are no longer able to care for them.
House. We were gratefully able to hand over the service to UnitingCare Disability in 2015 and the service has benefitted from the expertise offered by UnitingCare. God always seems to have a plan and when we are prepared to take the first step, the impossible can become a reality. We must empower every individual with a disability to live with dignity in an inclusive society.
God always seems to have a plan and when we are prepared to take the first step, the impossible can become a reality Secondly, two members of staff have been there for 19 years with the average staff member working at Hurley House for over 10 years. This is an indication of the dedication of the staff to the residents. Staff are to be congratulated for their hard work and unselfish dedication to every resident of Hurley House. By working together, all staff continue to be flexible and able to accommodate the changing needs of all the residents. Thirdly, the House has passed every external review with flying colours and we are proud of our achievements. The objective of Hurley House is to assist residents with activities of daily living while developing their positive self image. Residents are assisted and supported to access the widest range of services and community facilities available while maximising their independence. Campbelltown UnitingCare is involved in child protection, homeless youth and literacy programs along with Hurley
Brett Leader’s Story Hurley House provides a home for people living with a disability and supports them to achieve their independence. Brett, along with four other residents, was given the opportunity to become a resident of Hurley House in February 1994 and has continued to enjoy the warm familial setting the residence provides. It gives him an opportunity to live a more independent life in a happy and caring environment. Each Monday to Thursday Brett is gainfully employed at Afford Packaging in Ingleburn and on Tuesday nights Brett is “Chief Chef” preparing dinner for his fellow residents at Hurley House. Brett spends weekends with his family. He has become a great ambassador for the work done at Hurley House as he is able to contribute to the local community in worthwhile and meaningful ways. insights.uca.org.au
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Fighting for the voiceless I
n the jungle region of Thailand’s remote north, some 60 kilometres outside the city of Chiang Mai, you’ll find Elephant Nature Park. This award-winning sanctuary is home to around 40 ‘rescued’ elephants. What makes this place remarkable is the fact that one woman had a vision to rescue, care for and rehabilitate elephants that have endured suffering of the worst kind. And so Elephant Nature Park was formed. Sangduen ‘Lek’ Chailert started the Park in 1996. She’d spent her early childhood deep in the forested mountains in rural Thailand, helping her grandfather with his work; developing a respect and appreciation for her natural environment. It was during this time that her family took in an elephant, and so Lek’s connection with elephants was made. Today, Lek invites people from all over the world to come and experience firsthand what it’s like to care for elephants. From day trips to longer-term stays, the focus is on people working for elephants, not the other way around. When Meera Lodhia, newly appointed Events Manager at The Uniting Church in Australia, Synod of New South Wales and the ACT, first saw the Elephant Nature Park reviewed on Channel 9’s Getaway in the early 2000s, she knew she would visit it one day. In 2012, she made the long trek to Chiang Mai, signing up for a week-long volunteer stay. Meera and her sister were so impacted by the experience, they returned in January this year. “I’ve always had a love for animals and wanted to work with them. I never thought I could be a vet, but I like helping out with these sorts of programs. It makes me feel like I am speaking for the voiceless — animals that nobody seems to stand up for or are willing to care for in a humane way. It’s about caring for God’s creatures and
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doing something for the common good,” said Meera. “I spent a week volunteering with my sister at the park. It is home to around 38 rescued, abandoned and orphaned elephants that come from pretty shocking situations. Many had been used for illegal logging, trekking, circuses or street begging. Some have dislocated legs or hips, some have missing or damaged limbs from landmine explosions, and some have been blinded by slingshots.
Caring for God’s creatures and doing something for the common good “In addition to physical injuries, many have suffered from mental trauma as a result of being ‘domesticated’. This practice involves locking them in a cage, which isn’t big enough for them to move around in, and then beating and stabbing them into submission. They are denied food, water and sleep, and this can last for up to three days. “They also do this to many of the calves born within the family as a way of separating them from their mother. Once the torture is over the calf doesn’t recognise its mother and has therefore been ‘successfully’ trained. The young animal is then sent out to work,” states Meera. Elephants in Thailand are considered livestock and not endangered so there is no punishment for those who are seen to abuse these animals. According the Thai Elephant Conservation Centre, there were around 100,000 domesticated elephants in Thailand in the 1850s. Today there are approximately 2,500 domesticated elephants and between 2,000 – 3,000 wild elephants. “If you’re staying onsite as a volunteer,
your day consists of various tasks. You’re up at 7am and start your first job at around 8am. It could involve washing fruit and vegetables, chopping up food, cutting grass and bamboo, or building and helping around the park with whatever jobs need doing, such as mending fences or planting trees. “There are plenty of breaks throughout the day so you don’t feel like you’re being worked too hard. But the reality is that everyone is happy to do more — they’re just limited by the number of tools and equipment. In the afternoons there is often a talk from a trainer or Lek about caring for the animals and the great work the park is doing. “The highlight for me was the mornings; just lying in bed listening to the elephants wake up, trumpeting to each other. As the sun rises you make your way to breakfast where you see a dozen or so elephants walking past, stretching their legs and having a bit of a play. ‘”People from all walks of life attend. It’s like one big melting pot. You end up with a great group of new friends who are all interested in and passionate about the same thing, which is lovely. “I left there with such a different perspective on how people think it is okay to treat animals in a particular way when really it isn’t. Remembering the people who work there — it makes me smile inside. These people are wonderful and the animals they work with are amazing. Until you experience it for yourself, you cannot truly understand how amazing an experience it is.”
If you would like to follow in Meera’s footsteps into the jungle of Northern Thailand to help care for elephants, you can start your journey at www.elephantnaturepark.org insights.uca.org.au
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A diverse portrait of faith in the city on the hill
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his month, Sydney’s IMAX Cinema plays host to the stunning film, Jerusalem. We sat down with producer and director Daniel Ferguson to find out what prompted him to make a film about one of the world’s most enigmatic cities. “Jerusalem is an intense place — wonderful and stimulating — but there is a lot that is wrong with it as well. Obviously this is not a political film; there is no finger pointing”, said director and producer Daniel Ferguson. Shot in gorgeous 3D, this immersive journey takes audiences through soaring shots of the holy city’s religious landmarks: Christianity’s Church of the Holy Sepulchre; Islam’s Dome of the Rock; and Judaism’s Western Wall of the Temple Mount. But the film is at its most moving, paradoxically, when the camera gets down to street level and gives an intimate portrait of the city, squeezing into a small shop in the walled Old City where two men play backgammon amid claustrophobically over-hung racks of trinkets.
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In addition to being a concise history of the 5,000-year-old city — a tour facilitated by narrator Benedict Cumberbatch — Jerusalem also presents a diverse portrait of a living city. That’s courtesy of three photogenic and personable Jerusalemites who represent the city’s three major faiths: Farah Ammouri, a Muslim; Nadia Tadros, a Christian; and Revital Zacharie, a Jew. They are shown going about their daily lives, more or less side by side. “The three women humanise the cultural differences that co-exist in the microcosm of society. They challenge the audience to see it from these different perspectives,’ says Ferguson. By featuring the family life of these young women, we are given an intimate portrait of their faith and love of the city they call home. Through their eyes, audiences learn what it means to call Jerusalem home, and experience celebrations and events that mark the high points of a year in the life of the city. Destroyed and rebuilt countless times over 5,000 years, Jerusalem’s enduring
appeal remains a mystery. What made it so important to so many different cultures? How did it become the centre of the world for three major religions? Why does it still matter to us? “I think it is fascinating because so much of our culture in the west comes from Jerusalem and the stories that we tell each other about this place. Even if we are not religious, so much of our culture comes from this place. I think the film asks people to confront their assumptions about culture and belief and mythologies and stories,” says Ferguson. “We frame so much of our discussion about Israel, Jerusalem and Palestine through television news and media and it tends to be about conflict and politics. My goal with this film was to look at the roots of the universal attachment, find out how we are all related to this place and look at it in a new context,” says Ferguson. An amazing journey of discovery, Jerusalem is as Benedict Cumberbatch describes it: “A city that binds together the hopes of the world.” insights.uca.org.au
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To mark June 2014 as Multicultural Month in the Synod of NSW and the ACT, the Synod brings you the
Uniting Multicultural Festival Saturday 14 June, Centre for Ministry, 16 Masons Drive, North Parramatta 8.00am - 5.00pm There will be multicultural food stalls, dance and music competitions, and much more. Come and enjoy a day of fun and entertainment. All ages welcome.* Please note: The Festival date falls within Refugee Week so there will be particular emphasis on the ‘Give Hope Campaign’ in solidarity with Refugee and Asylum Seekers.
We celebrate the Uniting Church in Australia Anniversary with a
Multicultural Worship Service of Thanksgiving Sunday 22 June, Sydney Town Hall, George Street, Sydney, 6.30pm
Enquiries: unitingmulticulturalfestival@nsw.uca.org.au * Please note that Uniting Multicultural Festival 2014 has been modified so that we are celebrating with two events over two weekends this year instead of the three weekends previously advertised. We encourage local churches and groups to use every opportunities available to them to observe multicultural month in June and we will have resources available in April-May to help them do this. For further enquiries please contact the above or the Synod Multicultural Consultant directly at katalinat@nsw.uca.org.au.
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Lectionary Reflections Easter
April 6 Ezekial 37:1-14 Many, very dry bones It is a vivid scene: the Lord has led the prophet to a low place. A place of endings, and emptiness, scattered with bones. It is a dry place. All the evidence points to lifelessness and together they wander amongst it. In the midst of circumstances that are seemingly without hope, the Lord brings transformation; a prelude for the Easter journey we are about to take with the Disciples. Walk the journey: Take yourself to a dry and empty place. Stop and wait with God. Share with Him a part of your life or our world where you sense great hopelessness. Let God speak to you of the purposes he has for these places, ideas, people, situations that we have long left for dead. Let the words paint a picture in your mind, to carry with you during the lent season, a picture of both hopelessness and hope.
April 13 Isaiah 50:4-91 Know the word that sustains the weary The abstract imagery of circumstance is brought close in Isaiah, who is speaking about his ears, his cheek, his face. Life has brought its share of pain, discomfort, mocking. 30 Insights April 2014
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Again, at first glance all looks dry and hopeless. Yet, the prophet speaks boldly of a God who sustains him beyond these immediate personal sufferings. A God who turns his ears to teaching that brings life, to a Word that sustains the weary. So life giving is this relationship, Isaiah declares, “the Lord helps me, who then can condemn me?” Walk the journey: Before your day begins, take a moment to stop and listen. What can you hear? What are the thoughts, worries or fears that fill your mind in the morning? Note them down. Spend time asking God to speak to you about how He helps you, about His deeper purposes. Ask God to open your ears. Ask God to bring to your lips the Word that sustains the weary. How can you offer this Word to someone today?
April 20 John 20:1-18 Looking beyond an empty tomb Mary’s eyes tell her the tomb is empty. She reacts, she runs, and she weeps. Yes, the tomb is empty. But it is not a loss; not a robbery. It’s a sign that God has brought to completion the saving work of Jesus. When Jesus appears to Mary and the Disciples, he says, “Don’t cling to me” and points the Disciples to ascension.
Walk the Journey: In a moment of disappointment, frustration or fear this week, bring Mary to your mind. Stop for a moment to remember her journey from weeping to delight. Even in the midst of your emotion, offer a prayer to God and ask Him to reveal you what is really happening in the situation. Take a moment to rest in the Peace that Jesus offers. Ask Him to guide your heart from reacting to expectant hope.
April 27 John 20:19-31 Peace be with you Thomas and Jesus play out our common human story of disbelief, of seeking reassurance, of needing to see. Jesus reaches out to Thomas, even in his doubt. Thomas is not rebuked and Jesus does offer him the truth that those who believe without seeing are blessed. Walk the journey: Thank God for the blessing of this moment of a sensitive and hopeful spirit. Ask God to continue to show you how to live in this mystery. This Easter reflection was prepared by Naomi Nash, who is part of the team at New River Leadrship. insights.uca.org.au
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WE GATHER UNDER NO OTHER NAME. BRIAN & JENN JOHNSON & BETHEL BAND. BILL HYBELS. LOUIE GIGLIO. MATTChampioning REDMAN &the BAND. MADU.everywhere STEVEN FURTICK. cause ROBERT of local churches
Guests: BRIAN & JENN JOHNSON & BETHEL BAND BILL HYBELS LOUIE GIGLIO MATT REDMAN & BAND ROBERT MADU STEVEN FURTICK
JUNE –2014 4TH JULY 30TH JUNE – 30TH 4TH JULY | 2014 ALLPHONES ARENA, SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA ALLPHONES ARENA SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA WWW.HILLSONGCONFERENCE.COM
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The Hillsong Team: BRIAN & BOBBIE HOUSTON JOEL & JULIA A’BELL CHRISTINE CAINE HILLSONG UNITED HILLSONG LIVE HILLSONG YOUNG & FREE & OUR GLOBAL TEAM
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Mission, Evangelism and Apologetics
(THL238/THL438)
Want to discover new ways to share faith in Jesus Christ? Want to learn more about the Church for every context?
“There is so much more...” Guest Lecturer Rev. Dr. Steve Taylor is a renowned missiologist from Adelaide and will be teaching this as an intensive subject in Session 2 from 7 - 11 July 2014.
A1042
This subject explores historical, biblical and theological perspectives with particular focus on the relationship between the gospel and culture, and recent discussion on the missional nature of the Church. It is available as an elective in the Bachelor of Theology and Graduate Diploma of Theology, or through CSU as Single Subject Study.
ENROL NOW FOR SESSION 2, 2014 This subject may be studied as an individually assessed subject, for interest only, or credited towards further study. For more information: Joanne Stokes 02 8838 8967 joannes@nsw.uca.org.au
To register: Renee Kelly 02 8838 8914 studentadmin@nsw.uca.org.au
www.utc.edu.au/courses
UTC is constituted within the Uniting Church in Australia, Synod of NSW and the ACT, and CSU’s School of Theology.
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Updates from the General Secretary Information for individuals and congregations
Welcoming new placements The following placements/positions have been confirmed: • Rev. Fololeni Tafokitau joined Petersham Tongan (50% placement) on 1 March 2014 • Rev. Ockert Meyer joins Canberra Central on 1 May 2014 In loving memory • Mr Peter Tebbutt passed away on 26 February 2014 • Mrs Joan Hubbard, wife of the late Rev. Roy Hubbard, passed away on 27 February 2014 • Rev. Lettie Ellen Abraham, passed away on 7 March 2014 Induction/Commissioning Rev. Fololeni Tafokitau was ordained by Sydney Presbytery as a Minister of the Word, on 2 March 2014 A Prayer for good health Rev. Mark Watt, Rev. Dr Ann Wansbrough
Retiring gracefully Rev. Owen Lukins’ final day will be 30 April 2014 Reception of Ministers • Rev. Martin Levine on 2 February 2014 • Rev. Tony Blake on 4 December 2013 Calling all Methodist crusaders For a day of memories and song join us on Thursday 13 March, 10.30am at Yass U.C. on Cliff St. For details contact Beth Howard on 9804 1093. Everyone is welcomed to join us on Saturday 13 September, 2pm at Leigh Memorial Church, Parramatta for a day of celebration. If you enjoyed a Crusader camp or sang in the Crusader Choir, please come to the 11th and final Hymn Festival.
singing and fellowship. For details call Warwick Roden 9874 7584. School Chaplain/SRE Teacher Applications are invited for these exciting opportunities to provide School Chaplaincy and Religious Education in Belmont High School. • School Chaplain – 2 days/week • SRE Teacher – 2 days/week Contact the secretary for an Application Package on 0447 450 182. Applications close Thursday 7 April, 2014. Position becomes vacant at the end of Term 1. Choir Music available Blaxland Uniting Church has three boxes of good choir music to give away. If interested please phone 4739 1690 or blaxlanduc@bigpond.com
Enjoy an afternoon of great hymn
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Belief matters “Suffered...” U
ntil now, you’d think the creed was describing a perfect world. It has spoken of the God who creates the world and then enters into that world through the womb of a woman. So far there is no hint that anything is wrong. The Apostles’ Creed makes no mention of the fall, or original sin, or the problem of evil. But now we overhear ourselves saying the word “suffered”, and with a painful jolt, we realise that all is not well. When God comes into the world in the person of Jesus, God is met with violent resistance.. “He came unto his own, and his own received him not” (John 1:11). Though the creed offers no theoretical solution to the problem of evil, it reminds us that it is God, most of all, who is affected by the fallenness of our world. God suffers at human hands. There is room in our world for everything else, it seems – except God. Among Christian scholars today, one of the main criticisms of the Apostles’ Creed is that it contains no account of the life and ministry of Jesus. The reading of the Gospel stories has always been central to the life of the Christian community. The creed was never intended as a substitute for the four Gospels, but only as a guide to the faithful reading of the Gospels. Whenever we read the Gospels we are to keep in mind that Jesus was born of a woman; he was a real flesh-and-blood human being. And whenever we read
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the Gospels we are to keep in mind that Jesus wasn’t just another human being, but was the living self-expression of God’s will. The aim of the creed is to provide some general guidelines for the faithful reading of the Gospels, not to include all the details. Still, it’s not quite true that the Apostles’ Creed simply ignores the story of Jesus’ life. In fact, already among Jesus’ earliest followers it had become customary to sum up Jesus’ whole story under one word: ‘suffering’. We can already see this within the Gospels themselves: “Was it not necessary that the Messiah should suffer these things…?” (Luke 24:26).
Christians today might be more tempted by the allure of a triumphalist faith or the promise of a distorted gospel that offers worldly happiness and success. The creed reminds us that we are baptised into the way of a suffering Messiah who lays upon his followers not a crown, but a cross. We are empowered to share in Christ’s glory only to the extent that we also share in his sufferings (Rom 8:17). Ben Myers is Lecturer in Systematic Theology at United Theological College
Luke tells us that Paul summed up Jesus’ life in the same way: “... it was necessary for the Messiah to suffer” (Acts 17:3). By the time of the later New Testament writings, the word ‘suffering’ had become a convenient formula for referring to the whole story of Jesus’ life and death: “He suffered” (Heb 2:18). This abridgement of Jesus’ story is no substitute for the unbroken rhythm of reading and re-reading the testimony of the four Gospels. But it is a tried and true safeguard against certain kinds of misreading. The early Christians were tempted to think of Jesus as a supernatural spirit who was untouched by physical life. For them, it was especially important to be reminded that Jesus is a suffering Lord, one who “Suffered in the flesh” (1 Pet 4:1).
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Culture watch
What is it about chocolate?
O
ver the years the humble cocoa bean has been drawn deeply into our culture of treats, rewards, and indulgence. As you read this today you may be waiting for the end of Lent so you can break your chocolate fast if that is what you gave up for Lent Event. The decision to give something up for a season changes the way we experience our daily lives. It is a small change that reminds us of our potential to change and be changed. Let’s stay with this idea for a minute. Lent itself is a time when we are encouraged to reflect on parts of our lives that God seeks to transform. Of course we can’t carve up our lives because we are ‘whole’ beings and we are called to be transformed in all dimensions of that being. However, you will most likely express or experience this transformation in a specific way; it could occur at a very personal or emotional level, or result in you joining others in some local community action. Your Lent reflection might involve a deepening of a familiar practice, but maybe it’s a surprising and new thing that we are called to do or be. With God the possibilities are endless and our task is to notice and respond! A key part of being renewed and transformed in the sense of Romans 12:
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1-3 is to use our ‘minds’ in service to God. We can open up our understanding of how our lives (that is, our ways of living) affect people in our immediate and our global neighbourhood. I use that description not as a cliché but to remind others and myself that we are brothers and sisters with all who inhabit this God-loved world. If you have heard about Fairtrade and wonder what all the fuss is about, I encourage you to think again, with a mind ready for transformation. When our UCATSA (Uniting Church Tertiary Students Association) group promoted Fairtrade we designed some simple posters with the message ‘Enjoy the taste of justice.’ Chocolate doesn’t just come from a factory. Its journey starts with the fair or unfair labour of a child somewhere on a cocoa plantation. “Next time you bite into your favourite bar consider this: what might have cost you a dollar may well have cost a child working in the cocoa fields of West Africa his or her entire childhood.” (World Vision) That humble and bitter tasting cocoa bean continues to be a bitter experience for some of the youngest and most vulnerable workers in our world. Fairtrade sourcing of cocoa ensures children are fairly paid workers and not
slaves; it means they are cared for in a safe community and provided with food, shelter and schooling. Dismantling decades of entrenched injustice requires sustained effort, and Fairtrade campaigns have faced many challenges along the way. However, economic justice is an important aspect of discipleship. We are called to use our transformed minds in partnership with God, who desires all to have enough! This is not about refraining from chocolate; rather, let’s purchase it and share it with transformed minds. This Easter, I encourage you to enjoy the taste of justice. Kim Baird serves as Pastor with Sugarloaf Community Uniting Church and Pastoral Care Worker with UnitingCare Ageing NSW/ACT. She spent many years as a member of The Hunter Presbytery’s Social Justice Committee and remains a passionate advocate of Fairtrade in congregations and the wider community. For more information https://fairtrade.com.au/farmers/ fairtrade-cocoa https://www.worldvision.com.au/ http://www.oxfamshop.org.au/ Insights April 2014 37
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Entertain me BIG SCREEN press play
read this
The Railway Men (M) This film is a powerful true story. It outlines how trauma can come to define a person’s life.
The Lego Movie (PG) Caveat spectator: The Lego Movie is excellent and exciting, never stooping to lowest-common-denominator shenanigans. It is constantly entertaining all the way through. Maybe the best surprise in The Lego Movie is the way it flips the common convention of “The Chosen One” on its head. It lands staunchly on the same side as The Incredibles, insisting that everyone can be special, but that doesn’t mitigate the how of people’s specialness. The movie proposes that our different roles in the larger story make each of us totally necessary and unique. A relentlessly creative endeavour the film is hilarious in unexpected and subversive ways. It’s the best kind of kids’ movie: while it’s unashamedly for kids, it will entertain accompanying parents as well. The look of the film as as inventive as you would imagine a feature film about Lego to be. The other surprise for this viewer was its message about non-conformity and the power of imagination. Of late, Lego has been known for ‘branded’ and rather unimaginative sets. In our house the sets arrive and shortly after end up in a huge box and become part of our Master Builder’s imaginative games. With enough in-jokes to fill a tub of Lego, this is a film that the whole family can enjoy. 38 Insights April 2014
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Colin Firth and Nicole Kidman’s performances as Eric and Patti Lomax are touching and believable. Jeremy Irvine, playing Lomax as a young man, had a difficult role in the film: to outline his brutal torture at the hands of his captors as a POW. His performance is credible and moving. Firth’s performance is a powerful testament to the man he was honouring and portrays a man wrestling with demons that modern audiences need to experience to understand. This film is a testament to the power of reconciliation and forgiveness.
listen up
2014 Endless Praise, P lanetshakers This live recording builds on the success of PlanetShakers’ critically acclaimed Limitless, delivering 12 new tracks of energetic celebration and passionate praise. From their hometown in Melbourne, PlanetShakers bring vibrant worship to an ever wider international audience with this offering.
The Poppy, Andrew P lant The Poppy is a picture book that tells the story of a counter-attack in the French village of VillersBretonneux in 1918 — far less wellknown than the battles of Gallipoli. This is a little odd, because it was one of Australia’s greatest victories and there is tremendous courage to admire and enormous loss over which to grieve. It is also interesting because of the ongoing relationship between Victoria and Villers-Bretonneux. After World War One, Victorian school children donated their pennies to help rebuild VillersBretonneux’s school, which was then named Victoria School. The words ‘Never Forget Australia’ are in French in every classroom and on the outside of the school building. In 2009, after the bushfires in Victoria, the people of VillersBretonneux raised 13,000 Euros, nearly $21,000 to donate to help rebuild the Strathewen Primary School. Plant’s illustrations are simple but extraordinary. They make the reader feel as if they are observers to the scenes he has created; observers who are very nearby just looking through a window. The text is sombre, simple and heart-felt. Katy Gerner insights.uca.org.au
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