NCCA Newsletters (2357)
Children categories
Safe Church update
Blue Knot Day
24th October 2016
Blue Knot Day is the Blue Knot Foundation's national awareness day celebrated in October every year. On this day, we ask all Australians to unite in support of the 5 million Australian adult survivors of childhood trauma and abuse.
Christmas Bowl 2016
Help plant seeds of hope this Christmas
In a world where too many people are facing pain, suffering and injustice, the Christmas Bowl appeal is still an essential act of compassion, just as it has been since its humble beginnings in 1949.
This year, we’re helping hard working families in Zimbabwe who are struggling to feed their children after suffering the worst drought in 35 years.
This Christmas, one third of families in Zimbabwe will be suffering severe hunger.
Social justice in an ageing society
The Australian Catholic Bishops Conference launced the 2016-17 Social Justice Statement in Sydney on 6 September. 'A Place at the table’ celebrates the value and dignity of older people in Australian life.
The Statement calls for justice for the elderly and recognition of the substantial contribution they make to society which should not be viewed in economic terms only.
We pray with and for the elderly
Common Grace have announced the appointment of their new CEO: Scott Sanders. NCCA is particularly pleased to hear of Scott’s appointment as his role was seed funded by the NCCA Glenburnie Program.
Scott previously worked for Agency and World Vision and brings to the organistation his strong theological credentials, including a degree from Morling College, and a deep passion and love for the Australian Church to live out its call to love, serve and defend the vulnerable and marginalised in our community.
Dear friends
During this past week, I attended the funeral of Jenny Johnston, a woman who lived and breathed ecumenism. I first met her twenty years ago when I attended meetings of the New South Wales Ecumenical Council. Ove more recent years, my contacts with her were few and infrequent. Nevertheless, at the Thanksgiving Service to celebrate her life, as I heard people speak of her life, I knew that my brief experience of Jenny was similar to what many experienced over her thirty years’ involvement in ecumenism.
The National Churches of Pakistan have requested a Pastoral Solidarity visit, through the Christian Conference of Asia.
It is next week in Lahore, city of the terrible Easter Sunday terrorism this year.
I am part of the small delegation, having tried to support the Pakistani Australian Christian community with Church services, CBD rallies, advocacy to Government as regards both their refugees as well as the misuse of “blasphemy" laws and other human rights violations .We have also been supporting some Pakistani Christians who have sought asylum in Sri Lanka and Thailand.
| SEPTEMBER | |
| 1 | World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation |
| 8 | Nativity of the Theotokos |
| 5-13 | National Child Protection Week |
| 11 | Eid-ul Adha (Islam) |
| 13 | Child Protection Sunday |
Bible and Ecology: Reading scripture through ecological eyes
Join this national webinar to engage ecology and biblical theology with scholars from around Australia and the world
Monday 19th September 10:30am to 5:30pm (Australian Eastern Time)
In recent years, in the context of growing ecological awareness, biblical scholars have been working to move beyond human-focused perspectives and read the Bible with a deliberate sympathy for the wider Earth community. In this full-day webinar, we will hear from scholars around the country about reading the Bible through “ecological eyes”, and will practise applying such lenses to scripture.
Anti-Poverty Week is now only a month away.
Poverty and severe hardship affect more than a million Australians.
Around the world, more than a billion people are desperately poor
The 2016 Harmony Walk in Fairfield. Sydney
Join in! Bring your friends and family and help celebrate harmony. Share the spirit of inclusion and diversity.
Harmony Walk seeks to bring together Australians from diverse national, ethnic and religious backgrounds to help build an inclusive society, and to acknowledge and celebrate the enduring principles of fairness, harmony and respect.
More...
Rev Dr Olav Fykse Tveit , General Secretary of the World Council of Churches will visit Australia, 11-17 October.
The official itinerary for his visit has yet to be released but we are happy to share with you the details as we know them at this time.
ANDCMJ
The Australian National Dialogue of Christians Muslims and Jews recently held its 46th meeting. Two of the people present commented to each other on the amount of laughter that was taking place! Who would have thought when this dialogue commenced that we could come together and enjoy each other’s company so much!
Pope Francis will retun to Assisi to celebrate “the spirit of Assisi”, on the thirtieth anniversary of the “interreligious assembly for peace among the peoples.”
More than 400 religious and political leaders and cultural figures will be present; amongst them will be Bartholomew I, Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople and Sergio Mattarella, President of the Italian Republic.
“God has broken down the dividing walls”
This is the theme for 2016’s World Week of Peace in Palestine Israel, a week of advocacy and action in support of an end to the illegal occupation of Palestine and a just peace for all in Palestine and Israel.
Join together with Congregations and individuals around the globe who share the hope of justice shall unite during the week to take peaceful actions, together, to create a common international public witness.
