Crosslight

Janet Swash and Ron Camier cut the ribbon to mark the refurbishment of the Zoe Flats. A celebration service last month offered a chance for St Luke’s Uniting Church congregation members in Morwell, and the wider community, to recognise an important milestone. The July 12 service and ribbon cutting celebrated the completion of a major refurbishment of the Zoe Flats, a 50-year-old building with a long connection to the Morwell community and the Uniting Church.

Uniting Vic.Tas emergency relief volunteer Birjees (left), and staff member Ella, stock the Prahran food pantry with Food For Families donations. By Meg Hocking Right now, as you read this, one in five Australians are skipping meals or whole days of eating just to get by. This is what a national food security crisis looks like. With living costs climbing, wages stalled, and housing and energy bills out of control, food is often the first thing to give.

St Paul’s Uniting Church members celebrated its 160th birthday as it continues to be an important part of the Ballan community. Image: Michael Rigby By Marina Williams St Paul’s Uniting Church in Ballan is marking 160 years with a renewed sense of purpose as a place of worship, welcome and community connection. At its April anniversary celebration, the milestone carried more than historical significance.

Sophia’s Spring participants pictured at a Pentecost service in May. By Marina Williams At Sophia’s Spring, the shape of worship reflects the shape of the community. There is no pulpit, raised platform or single voice set apart. Each Sunday at CERES in Brunswick, chairs are arranged in a circle around a central table carrying symbols connected to the gathering’s theme, season and natural world outside.

Rev Associate Professor Robyn Whitaker explores the theme of faith and forgiveness. By Rev Associate Professor Robyn Whitaker My first ministry placement as a newly ordained 24-year-old was in a Victorian rural town. I was one of only two female clergy for quite some distance and something strange started to happen a year or so into that placement. Women started seeking me out, coming to speak to me about things they weren’t comfortable sharing with their male pastors.

Maidie Graham from Uniting Vic.Tas is on the frontline addressing the issue of homelessness. By Marina Williams When winter settles in, a church hall can become more than a place of worship. For someone sleeping rough, it can mean a warm bed, a hot meal, a shower, conversation and a night without having to search for somewhere safe to sleep.

Paola Rojas is making an important contribution to the Uniting Church through her Faithful Futures and schools engagement roles. A week in the life of Paola Rojas Program Officer, Faithful Futures and schools engagement Monday The week begins with an early touch base with the Faithful Futures Project Lead Karen Roberts to review key milestones and finalise preparations for the Secretariat SMO meeting, where Faithful Futures was invited to present a brief update to all the Secretariat team.

Rev Tanya Walker, Chris Barnett and Rev Duncan Macleod are part of the Faithful Futures Steering Committee. The Faithful Futures Project is a collaboration across Victoria and Tasmania’s Synod, presbyteries and congregations to discern priorities, direct resources and ensure the Church is equipped for the challenges and opportunities ahead. The project is guided by five shared goals: Respecting Country, Coordinated Ministries, Intercultural Leadership, All-age Growth and New Communities of Faith.

Brendan Byrne (right) and Tom Grayden are doing important work as chaplains at the University of Melbourne. Initially, Brendan Byrne didn’t think he had what it took to be a university chaplain. But ministering to younger adults in congregations eventually prompted a move toward chaplaincy – and a whole new perspective. “It’s been transformative, reshaping my ministerial identity in ways I never previously imagined,” he says.

Dr Theo Read has published three Earth Science textbooks focusing on Aboriginal culture. By Andrew Humphries St Mark’s Uniting Church (Mornington) member Dr Theo Read fulfilled a long-time dream earlier this year with the publication of three important secondary school Earth Science textbooks. It was a project he began almost 35 years ago and one which faced more than a few setbacks along the way.