Marion Uniting Church

04/09/2026

The Season of Creation has begun in churches around the world this week.
We will be celebrating this at Marion UC during our worship service this Sunday.

The Peace of Wild Things:
When despair for the world grows in me and I wake in the night at the least sound in fear of what my life and my children’s lives may be, I go and lie down where the wood drake rests in his beauty on the water, and the great heron feeds.
I come into the peace of wild things who do not tax their lives with forethought of grief.
I come into the presence of still water. And I feel above me the day-blind stars waiting with their light.
For a time I rest in the grace of the world, and am free.

Wendell Berry
(RIP Wendell Berry. He died last week, aged 92.)

28/08/2026

A Pastoral Prayer for the people of Nepal.

𝗔 𝗣𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗣𝗿𝗮𝘆𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗡𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗹

As we hear of the devastating floods in Nepal, we pause in sorrow and solidarity with all those affected. In the face of lives lost, families separated and communities facing profound uncertainty, we turn to God in prayer. We pray for those who grieve, those still waiting for news, and all who are working to bring rescue, care and hope.

God of compassion and mercy,

We hold before you the people of Nepal following the devastating flash floods in the Bhote Koshi River area.

We grieve with those who have lost loved ones. We pray for the many who are still missing, local people and visitors alike, for families waiting anxiously for news, for those who have been injured or displaced, and for communities facing such immense loss.

Draw near, O God.

Where there is grief, bring comfort.
Where there is fear, bring courage.
Where there is exhaustion, bring strength.
And in these difficult hours of searching and waiting, sustain hope.

We pray for all involved in search and rescue, evacuation, medical care and relief. Protect and strengthen them. Give wisdom to those coordinating the response, and may help reach those who need it most.

Jesus Christ, you entered into the suffering of our world and showed us a love that draws near. Draw near now to the people of Nepal in their suffering.

By your Spirit, weave together communities of care and compassion. Strengthen neighbours supporting one another, families holding one another close, and all who are offering shelter, comfort and hope.

God of life, we entrust to your mercy all who have died. Hold those who mourn. Be near to those still waiting for news. Strengthen all whose lives and livelihoods have been devastated by this disaster, and sustain them through the long journey of recovery.

Hold the people of Nepal in your love —
the love of the crucified and risen Christ,
a love that crosses every boundary,
a love that will not let us go.

Amen.

– 𝙒𝙧𝙞𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙣 𝙗𝙮 𝙋𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙞𝙙𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙍𝙚𝙫 𝘾𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙞𝙨𝙨𝙖 𝙎𝙪𝙡𝙞

26/08/2026

Next month, a group of us from Marion Uniting Church are participating in the walk for World Su***de Prevention Day. This is a subject that tragically affects so many folk. Please hold us, and all those who are walking, in your prayers. If you are able to contribute with a donation any amount will be greatly appreciated.

Our team is walking in Out of the Shadows for Lifeline to ensure no one has to face their darkest moments alone.

04/08/2026

Did you know that 1 in 2 people living in Australia experience some form of social disconnection?

Today is the start of Loneliness Awareness Week. This year’s theme is ‘Make Room for Connection’.

As individuals, there are simple steps we can take to make room:
🔹 Sit next to someone new
🔹 Wave and stop to chat to those around you
🔹 Invite someone new into something you already do
🔹 Eat with others
🔹 Try a new activity or start an interest group
🔹 Comment or DM instead of simply ‘liking’ someone’s social media post
🔹 Volunteer with a local organisation.

Visit the official website for more info and resources 👉 https://bit.ly/4pBWMmS

Uniting Communities – one of our community care providers – is also committed to addressing the issue through their Overcoming Loneliness project. Learn more here 👉 https://bit.ly/4vLb59Y

19/07/2026

For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. We came together to worship Jesus in English, Bahasa and Welsh.

16/07/2026

This Sunday come to consider the Uniting Church in our area, being part of a multicultural society & celebrate in song, Scripture, stories & images. Wear something from another culture eg scarf, hat, shirt. See you at 10am.

10/07/2026

NAIDOC Week 2026 (5–12 July) marks 50 years of honouring the voices, cultures and resilience of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. The Uniting Church, together with the Uniting Aboriginal and Islander Christian Congress (UAICC), gives thanks for this significant milestone and celebrates the enduring strength and leadership of First Nations peoples.

UAICC National Co-Chair Rev Will Pickett shared a prayer for this week.

“Creator God, Spirit of the land and Lord of all peoples,

We gather today with hearts full of gratitude as we celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of NAIDOC Week.

For fifty years, this national movement has called Australia to honour and celebrate the history, culture, achievements and enduring strength of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. We give thanks for all who have walked this journey of truth, justice and reconciliation, and for the witness of First Peoples who continue to share their wisdom, faith and hope.

Today we also give thanks for the witness of the Uniting Church in Australia, and especially for the sacred Covenant between the Church and the Uniting Aboriginal and Islander Christian Congress—a Covenant born not simply from words, but from truth-telling, repentance, relationship and hope.

Lord, we remember that before there was a Church in this land, there was Your Spirit moving across Country—through the songlines, the rivers, the mountains and the ancient stories of First Peoples. You were here. Your presence was never absent.

We acknowledge the pain of the past: the wounds of mission, the loss of language, land and culture, the silencing of voices, and the breaking of families. Yet we also honour the resilience of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, their faith, their survival, and their leadership within Your Church.

We thank You for the Covenant—for its call to walk together, to listen deeply, to respect one another, and to seek justice, healing and self-determination. May this Covenant never be reduced to words on paper, but remain a living commitment, calling the Church into truth, humility and right relationship.

As we celebrate this milestone in the life of NAIDOC Week, renew us by Your Holy Spirit. Give courage to the leaders of the Uniting Church in Australia, strength to the leaders of the Uniting Aboriginal and Islander Christian Congress, and wisdom to all who seek to walk this shared journey.

May we continue to grow in justice, deepen our partnerships, seek healing for Country and people, and become a Church—and a nation—that more faithfully reflects the reconciling love of Jesus Christ.

Ground us in Your truth. Lead us in Your grace. Unite us in Your love. And as First Peoples and Second Peoples together, may we continue to walk gently on this land, honouring the Creator, following Christ, and listening to the Spirit.

In the name of Jesus Christ, who makes all things one.

Amen.”

09/07/2026

As we mark NAIDOC Week across our nation’s history, I find myself giving thanks once again for the gift of Covenant.

The Covenant between the Uniting Church in Australia and the UAICC - Uniting Aboriginal and Islander Christian Congress is one of the greatest gifts God has given our Church. It is far more than an agreement between councils. It is a living relationship that continues to shape who we are as the Body of Christ and calls us to deeper discipleship, humility and right relationship with one another.

During my master’s research, I spent considerable time reflecting on our Covenant with Congress. I came to understand more deeply that the Covenant is not simply something we affirm. It is a way of being Church. It shapes how we listen, lead, discern God’s future together, and understand what it means to belong to one another in Christ.

As someone shaped by my Pacific heritage and called to lead a multicultural Church, I have come to appreciate more deeply that Covenant has something to teach each of us. First Peoples are not merely part of our Church. Their wisdom, spirituality and leadership continue to shape who we are becoming together. As we walk together, we come to understand more fully what it means to be the Body of Christ.

Covenant reminds us that we cannot speak of being one Church while walking separate paths. God continually calls us back into relationship with one another because reconciliation is not merely our mission – it is God’s work, revealed in Jesus Christ and entrusted to the Church.

NAIDOC Week is an opportunity to give thanks for the enduring faith, wisdom and leadership of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples. It is also an invitation to renew our commitment to walking together in Covenant – with honesty, humility, courage and hope.

My prayer is that we will continue to learn from one another, deepen our relationships, and bear witness together to Christ’s reconciling love. May God keep weaving us together into the Church we are called to be.

“𝘍𝘰𝘳 𝘊𝘩𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘵 𝘩𝘪𝘮𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧 𝘪𝘴 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘱𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘦… 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘣𝘳𝘰𝘬𝘦𝘯 𝘥𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘺.” (Ephesians 2:14)
𝗔 𝗣𝗿𝗮𝘆𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗡𝗔𝗜𝗗𝗢𝗖 𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸

Creator God,

We give you thanks for the First Peoples of this land, who have cared for Country for countless generations, and whose cultures, languages and wisdom continue to enrich the life of our nation and of your Church.

We thank you for the faithful witness of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Christians, for their courage, resilience and enduring hope, and for how they continue to lead us to a deeper understanding of your love and justice.

As we mark NAIDOC Week, renew us in our Covenant together. Grant us hearts willing to listen, spirits open to learn, and the courage to walk alongside one another with humility and grace.

Strengthen the Elders who carry wisdom, the leaders who guide your people, the young people shaping the future, and the communities who continue to bear witness to your love in every part of this land.

Teach us to honour one another as members of one Body, to receive one another’s gifts with gratitude, and to seek your Kingdom together.

May your Holy Spirit continue to lead the Uniting Church as we walk together in faith, hope, and love. May our life together reflect Christ's reconciling love, so that all people may know they are welcomed, valued, and that they belong.

We pray in the name of Jesus Christ, who calls us to walk together in peace.

Amen.

𝗥𝗲𝘃 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗮 𝗦𝘂𝗹𝗶
𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁, 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗵𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝗶𝗻 𝗔𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗮

21/06/2026

20/06/2026

𝗨𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻 𝗣𝗿𝗮𝘆𝗲𝗿
𝗗𝗮𝘆 𝟮𝟵: 𝗦𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝘂𝘀 𝗮𝘀 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗖𝗵𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗵

In the name of the Triune God,
Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer.

God of the first breath,
God of deep waters, open shores, and the table with room for all,
we come in this season of Pentecost
asking again for the renewal of your Spirit.

We give thanks for the Uniting Church in Australia,
for its journey of courage, covenant, repentance, and hope;
for its calling to seek unity without demanding uniformity;
and for its witness to reconciliation, justice, and love.

On the land now called Australia,
we honour the First Peoples,
the oldest continuing peoples of our Blue Pacific Continent,
custodians of land, waters, story, song, memory, and sacred belonging.
May the Church listen with humility, walk with truth,
and make justice visible in relationship.

We give thanks for the deep bonds
between the Uniting Church,
the Pacific Conference of Churches,
and the wider household of God:
a communion deeper than distance,
held by grace, baptism, bread, Spirit, and shared calling.

Lord Jesus Christ,
you prayed that your disciples may be one:
not the same,
not without wounds,
not without hard conversations,
but one so the world may believe,
one so love may be seen,
one so your household may have many rooms,
space for all, dignity for all, love for all.

Holy Spirit, come again.
Come as wind where we have become still,
as fire where our witness has grown cold,
as breath where we are weary,
as courage where fear has taught us silence.

Send us as one Church
to stand with those pushed to the edge,
to protect children, honour elders, uphold women,
listen to young people,
and care for creation where the ocean rises and the land groans.

God of the mat, the basket, and the sail,
weave us again:
a mat for community,
a basket for abundance, hospitality, and service,
a sail wide enough to catch the Spirit
who blows where it will.
Come, Holy Spirit.
Reweave us in love.
Send us as one Church.
Amen.

𝗥𝗲𝘃 𝗝𝗮𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝗕𝗵𝗮𝗴𝘄𝗮𝗻
𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝗲𝗰𝗿𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘆 - 𝗣𝗮𝗰𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗖𝗵𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗵𝗲𝘀 𝗦𝗲𝗰𝗿𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗮𝘁
𝗠𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗱𝗶𝘀𝘁 𝗖𝗵𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝗶𝗻 𝗙𝗶𝗷𝗶