Respect Project In 2018 the Justice and Mission committee commissioned an internal progress review of the Olive Way Program. Eventually 9 key recommendations emerged together with an underlying desire to create a “community of respect”. The Olive Arts Collective took up the theme of respect and created some beautiful images to promote this critical value. [...]
One of the outcomes of the 2018 Olive Way Review was the Respect project from which emerged a series of postcards created by the Olive Arts Collective artists. As always with the Sydney Road Street Party the Justice & Mission Committee wanted to invite passersby to interact with our iconic rainbow and so we [...]
After worship on Sunday 9th December we sang Carols against Coal (Cool down the world and We wish you a coal free future) to let Bill Shorten MP and the Australian Labor Party know that it's time to get off the fence and #StopAdani
It was such a privilege to welcome Areej Masoud to speak on the topic ‘Any hope for peace in Palestine now, or ever?’ Areej is a Palestinian Christian born in Bethlehem, who lives with minutes from the birthplace of Jesus. Currently, she works as the Development and Communications Department Coordinator at Bethlehem Bible College. [...]
Contemplative Garden, Sculpture and Mural We want to open up the space in front of our Youth Hall for the community to use as a space to rest or meditate. Our project features a beautifully planned garden with sculpture, seating and a community mural. Vote for our project - it is quick and simple. Voting is [...]
The second of our two major events for the year was the Bush Dance on 21st July. Our congregation is committed to raising $5,000 each year for the Asylum Seeker Welcome Centre for projects not covered by other sources of funding. In the July Olive Branch we reported that the funds raised in 2017 [...]
BUC's Church Council welcomes the decision of the national Assembly to allow ministers to conduct same-gender marriages. In a Pastoral Letter to all Uniting Churches, UCA President Dr Dierdre Palmer explains: To honour the diversity of Christian belief among our members, we will hold two equal and distinct statements of belief on marriage. This decision [...]
What is happening? (Please note this contains distressing content and reference to physical and psychological violence) As you probably know, the situation for the refugees and asylum seekers on Manus Island has become increasingly critical over the last few weeks. For three weeks hundreds of men remained in the closed detention compound without sufficient [...]