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.

Melbourne, Australia (ENI). Rich nations are the real beneficiaries of the “boom industry” of global corruption that is making the world’s poor even poorer. 

That is the central finding of a new report, “From Corruption to Good Governance”, about global bribery and malpractice, by the Uniting Church in Australia. 

The report calls for an all-out attack on tax havens that, it asserts, help wealthy individuals and businesses prosper at the expense of the poor.

Read more>> 

There is a hanging question in the Acts account of the coming of the Holy Spirit:

What does this mean?

One of the striking features of the Acts story is that we can see the Holy Spirit by what is happening. The apostles are released from the locked rooms of their fears and share the good news of God’s love in new and courageous ways.

Sermon May 11th, 2008 (Pentecost) (pdf)
St. David’s Uniting Church, Oakleigh
Rev. Arnie Wierenga

The Oakleigh labyrinth prayer and meditation walk will now change to the

Second Wednesday night of each month.

The change will take effect on June 11th.

The Augustine centre in Hawthorn run labyrinth evenings on the first and third Wednesday of every month. By changing the Oakleigh date, it means suburban Melbourne enthusiasts have more options to walk a labyrinth each month.

The Oakleigh labyrinth is held in the Oakleigh Uniting Church hall, 154 Drummond St. (near the library – see map).
We invite you to come and enjoy the healing and transformational space of the labyrinth.

For more details, click here.

Please invite others who may enjoy the opportunity to slow down and be refreshed through the labyrinth.

As the apostles of the early church prepare themselves for Pentecost, the Scriptures record that they devoted themselves to prayer.  It seems to be the perfect way to prepare a heart, soul and mind for the divine to find a home.

Sermon May 4th, 2008 (pdf)
St. David’s Uniting Church, Oakleigh
Rev. Arnie Wierenga

The labyrinth prayer and meditation walk returns to Oakleigh this coming

Wednesday night, 8pm, May 7th.

The venue is the Oakleigh Uniting Church hall, 154 Drummond St. (near the library – see map).
We invite you to come and enjoy the healing and transformational space of the labyrinth.

For more details, click here.

Please invite others who may enjoy the opportunity to slow down and be refreshed through the labyrinth.

The next labyrinth meditation day at Rye will be on:

Saturday 10th  May, titled “Kingdom within”

• Leaders: Robin & Bronwyn Pryor *
• Location: 60 Bass Meadows Blvd, St Andrews Beach 3941, Melway map 251 J5
• Phone , 5988-5257, 0412-301-450, or email robron@pryor.org.au

Kingdom Within – Labyrinth Day (pdf)

 * Robin and Bronwyn are members of the Uniting Church, and have ministered ecumenically for many years in retreat leadership,  spiritual formation and companioning.  Robin is a member of the Australian Ecumenical Council for Spiritual Direction, and Bronwyn is National Chairperson for Camps Farthest Out Australia, an inter-denominational retreat movement.  For details of Wilderness Retreats, a Womens’ Silent Retreat, and Camps Farthest Out Retreats,  email as above. 

 

Jesus’ farewell discourse to his disciples in John’s gospel has an incredible depth of love at its core. The commandment to love one another as I have loved you seems not so much an order, but a natural response to divine love that we experience. 

Sermon April 27th, 2008 (pdf)
St. David’s Uniting Church, Oakleigh
Rev. Arnie Wierenga 

Reduce global warming & support NCYC at the same time

One of the ways to help reduce CO₂ emissions is to use our cars less. Following the screening of ‘An Inconvenient Truth’, Rev. Arnie is seeking your support to do his pastoral work on his bicycle.

By sponsoring him a few cents per kilometre between June and December, you will:

• Help Rev. Arnie get fitter!
• Help to reduce carbon emissions
• Raise funds to help our young people get to the National Christian Youth Convention – to be held in Melbourne in January 2009.

If 15 people sponsor 5 cents per km, and Arnie cycles 20km per week in his normal ministry duties, it would mean:

• Each person sponsoring would contribute $1 towards NCYC per week for a maximum of 30 weeks.
• This would total $450 of support and encouragement to those going to NCYC.

For more information or to make a donation, email Rev Arnie.

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