Help us reverse the effects of human depletion of natural resources and preserve our environment through combating climate change by:

1. Switch to green power today. Check out our list of accredited Green Power providers and make the switch to clean energy today. By switching to accredited Green Power you are not only helping the environment, you are supporting the growth the renewable energy market in Australia.
2. Only heat the rooms you need. You can save a huge amount of power by only heating the rooms you are using. Also set your heating thermostat a little lower.
3. Insulate your home to prevent heat escaping. By improving insulation around the home you can reduce the need for that heater in the winter months. Make sure you shut windows and blinds to keep heat in and the cold out!
4. Buy a carpet snake (of the door-stop variety – not an actual python!). Another way to reduce heat loss is to seal draft-prone areas such as the spaces under external doors.
5. Put on a jumper. Don’t walk around in a t-shirt with the heater turned on when you could just slip on a pair of woolly socks and your favourite cardigan.

For additional tips and to calculate your footprint, visit the WWF-Australia Footprint Calculator.

The St. David’s Uniting church had cause to celebrate yesterday as the Wednesday community luncheon turned 15.

The luncheon has been running every Wednesday between February and December for the past 15 years, aimed at being a place of gathering and community for local residents. Good and cheap food, entertainment, and a place of belonging are all features of the weekly gathering at 154 Drummond St., Oakleigh.

The community lunch costs a mere $3 and all are welcome to come and enjoy. Lunch begins at 12:30 pm every Wednesday, and there is also an invitation to come early for a brief service of worship in the church beginning at noon.

In the lead up to world youth day, an inter-faith peace ceremony will be held in Federation Sqaure on 10th July at 10am.

The ceremony is a very simple way for young people to share the beauty and treasures of their faith in its promotion of peace. Highlights of the Ceremony include:

• Aboriginal Welcome to Land and Dance Troupe
• Personal Witness from young people of the Hindu, Buddhist, Jewish, Islamic, Sikh and Christian faiths
• Presentation of a Peace Pole to the City of Melbourne
• Launch of the Peace by Piece Ribbon Campaign
• Gifts of Olive trees to a representative of each Religious Tradition
• Expression of the “Sounds of Faith”
• Opportunity to meet and offer witness to the world
• 2007 Australian Idol Winner Natalie Gauci to perform live

Peace by Piece seeks to bring together the youth of all faiths in a witness to the world that Religious Traditions are an avenue for Peace and not an obstacle to it. We believe that this will be the first Interfaith Peace Ceremony for Youth ever held in Federation Square and as there will be approx 20,000 Pilgrims in Melbourne in preparation for World Youth Day, we believe that this will present a very positive message to the people of Melbourne.

Should you require further information, please contact either
Fr Michael on 0410606405 or mtwigg@mazenod.vic.edu.au or
Ms Loretta Brinkman 97955077 or lbrinkman@oblates.com.au Peace by piece advertisement (pdf)
 

Federal Environment Minister Peter Garrett will today launch a project to make church and non-government organisations more greenhouse-friendly and water-efficient.

The Greening Communities program will start with environmental audits to assess how anything from a church hall to a school can become more efficient.

Father Michael Kelly from the Catholic Church charitable trust Church Resources says the buying power of about 18,000 church and non-government organisations is then leveraged to make the technologies more affordable.

Read more>>

Father Bob Maguire has been a tireless worker for social justice in Melbourne for many years, as Minister in the Catholic Parish of St. Peter and St. Paul in South Melbourne.

More recently, he has gained a degree of notoriety for his contributions to several projects by Melbourne comedian John Safran, notably the series “Speaking in Tongues”, as well as their regular slot on JJJ FM.

The people at ‘Edgespace’, an outreach ministries project of the Uniting Church caught up with Father Bob recently. You can catch him on video here.

The Uniting Church in Australia has many blog sites with lots of interesting content. One site is titled the Alternative Worship Project, and is run by Cheryl Lawrie, and funded by the Commissin for Mission.

If you wish to join in the blog community, you may register and post comments in response to Cheryl’s blog entries.

St Andrew’s Cathedral has launched a new topical discussion show and Your.sydneyanglicans.net is the place to catch it.

The Chat Room features Dean of Sydney Phillip Jensen and broadcaster and author Kel Richards tackling current issues in contemporary culture such as multiculturalism, pornography, gambling and abortion and has been made available for download at Your.sydneyanglicans.net

Read more>> 

A PORT Macquarie church wants to help tackle the issue of binge-drinking in the town’s CBD. Police have welcomed the initiative, saying any support that helps young people stay out of trouble is worthwhile. 

Ignite Church, the youth arm of Grace Church on the Oxley Hwy, will use a bus to transport drunk or sick people home on a Friday night. Youth pastor Todd Murray raised funds to buy the bus, which already transports about 40 people to Ignite Church on a Wednesday night. 

The $10,000 bus will park near the corner of Horton and Clarence streets from about 8pm until midnight every Friday from April 4. Mr Murray said there would be a team of up to 10 people, including trained counsellors, handing out coffee and biscuits, as well as providing a lift home for those in need. 

“This is a community project aimed at reducing crime and helping teens learn that there is hope in life,” the pastor, 30, said. 

Read more>> 

The Armidale diocese of the Catholic Church says it is expecting about 1,000 pilgrims from overseas to visit the region in the lead up to World Youth Day.

World Youth Day (WYD) is the largest youth event in the world and will be held in Sydney from Tuesday 15 to Sunday 20 July 2008.

Organised by the Catholic Church, WYD brings together young people from around the globe to celebrate and learn about their faith on a more regular basis.

Read more>>

I have today advised Jon Stanhope, ACT Chief Minister and host of the Australian Olympic Torch Relay, that I am withdrawing from the relay.

This has been a very difficult decision that I have not taken quickly or lightly.

While I remain an enthusiastic supporter of the Olympics, as a leader within the Uniting Church in Australia and the Australian Council of Social Service (ACOSS), the decision not to run is the right one for me.

My decision not to participate reflects the changed symbolism of the Olympic Torch Relay. These issues are complex and multifaceted.

The Uniting Church and ACOSS have proud histories of standing with those who suffer violence and injustice and of working for a world in which the dignity of every person is valued and human rights are upheld.

I have made the decision not to run because my personal commitment to standing with those who are vulnerable and marginalised and the leadership positions I hold in the Uniting Church and ACOSS make it important to ensure that my actions do not leave any doubt about our commitment to human rights.

I support Australia’s continuing engagement in the Olympics and have nothing but admiration for our athletes, and athletes around the world, who have dedicated so much of their lives to reach the pinnacle of their sports. I wish them well.

Lin Hatfield Dodds
National Director, UnitingCare Australia
President, Australian Council of Social Service
ACT Australian of the Year
21 April 2008