Uniting Seniors in the City

12/06/2026

𝘔𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘬𝘦𝘦𝘱 𝘶𝘱-𝘵𝘰-𝘥𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵'𝘴 𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘜𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘊𝘩𝘶𝘳𝘤𝘩 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘊𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘣𝘦𝘺𝘰𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘬'𝘴 𝘯𝘦𝘸𝘴𝘭𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳.

𝟵𝟵𝘁𝗵 𝗔𝗻𝗻𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗢𝗿𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗥𝗲𝘃 𝗪𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗳𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗞𝗶𝗲𝗸

On 13 June 1927 at the Colonel Light Gardens Congregational Union Church (now Colonel Light Gardens Uniting Church), South Australia, Winifred Kiek was ordained as a minister in the Congregational Union of Australia. The first woman to be ordained by any denomination in Australia.

With the 100th anniversary in 2027, it seems more than appropriate to highlight Winifred and her accomplishments within and outside of the Congregational Church.

Following World War 1, Winifred and her husband Edward Kiek along with their three children, migrated to Adelaide. Winifred studied theology and was awarded a Bachelor of Divinity from the Melbourne College of Divinity in 1929.

After ordination, Rev Kiek continued to serve as Minister at the Colonel Light Gardens Congregational Union Church and then at the Knoxville Congregational Church for seven years.

She served in a wide variety of capacities with the South Australian Women's Christian Temperance Union, National Council of Women, Women’s Non-Party Association (renamed the League of Women Voters) and the Pan-Pacific and Southeast Asia Women's Association, where she was a delegate to women's conferences in New Zealand (1952), Sri Lanka (1955), Iran (1960) and Japan (1966).

The Winifred Kiek Scholarship for theological education of women in leadership, or charitable projects in the Asia-Pacific Region was named in her honour. The inaugural award was made in 1965 and is administered by Australian Church Women Inc.

The Congregational Union of Australia came into union with the Methodist and Presbyterian Churches to form the Uniting Church in Australia on 22 June, 1977.

From 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘙𝘦𝘨𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳 (South Australia), Tuesday, 14 June 1927:
𝙁𝙄𝙍𝙎𝙏 𝙒𝙊𝙈𝘼𝙉 𝙈𝙄𝙉𝙄𝙎𝙏𝙀𝙍
𝙈𝙧𝙨. 𝙒𝙞𝙣𝙞𝙛𝙧𝙚𝙙 𝙆𝙞𝙚𝙠 𝙊𝙧𝙙𝙖𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙙.
𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘊𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘭 𝘓𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘎𝘢𝘳𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘴 𝘊𝘰𝘯𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘨𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘊𝘩𝘶𝘳𝘤𝘩 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘰𝘯 𝘔𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘢𝘺 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘢𝘯 𝘶𝘯𝘶𝘴𝘶𝘢𝘭 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘤𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘺, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘤𝘤𝘢𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘣𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘳𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘴𝘵 𝘸𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘪𝘯 𝘚𝘰𝘶𝘵𝘩 𝘈𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘢. 𝘔𝘳𝘴. 𝘞𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘧𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘒𝘪𝘦𝘬, 𝘉.𝘈. (𝘔𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘈𝘥𝘦𝘭𝘢𝘪𝘥𝘦), 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘉.𝘋. (𝘔𝘦𝘭𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘯𝘦) 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢 𝘺𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘪𝘯 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘨𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘊𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘭 𝘓𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘎𝘢𝘳𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘴 𝘊𝘩𝘶𝘳𝘤𝘩, 𝘴𝘰 𝘢𝘵 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘳𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘶𝘪𝘭𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘧𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘺 𝘢 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘨𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘱𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘢𝘭𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘺 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘵 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘢 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭 𝘧𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘥.

𝘙𝘦𝘷 𝘏𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘴 𝘞𝘪𝘭𝘴𝘰𝘯

On 13 June 1927 at the Colonel Light Gardens Congregational Union Church (now Colonel Light Gardens Uniting Church), South Australia, Winifred Kiek was ordained as a minister in the Congregational Union of Australia. The first woman to be ordained by any denomination in Australia.  With the 100th a...

05/06/2026

𝘔𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘬𝘦𝘦𝘱 𝘶𝘱-𝘵𝘰-𝘥𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵'𝘴 𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘜𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘊𝘩𝘶𝘳𝘤𝘩 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘊𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘣𝘦𝘺𝘰𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘬'𝘴 𝘯𝘦𝘸𝘴𝘭𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳.

𝗔 𝗙𝗼𝗰𝘂𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝗚𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗦𝗮𝗺𝗺𝘆 𝗘𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗽𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗲𝘀

Good Sammy Enterprises is celebrating the creation of 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝟭𝟬𝟬 𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝗲𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗼𝘆𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆, driven by the expansion of its social enterprise operations across Western Australia.

The new roles span over 30 Good Sammy workplaces across metropolitan Perth and regional locations including Geraldton, Albany, Bunbury, Busselton, Lancelin and Jurien Bay, offering valued, supported employment often close to home.

Opportunities are available across a wide range of industries, including retail, logistics, warehousing, recycling, gardening and maintenance, with roles designed for people with disability who face barriers to entering the workforce.

To help connect jobseekers with these opportunities, Good Sammy attended the May Careers Expos at the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre, inviting people with disability, families and support networks to come along, meet the team and learn how Good Sammy can support employment journeys.

𝘞𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘢𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 100,000 𝘞𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘯 𝘈𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘢𝘯𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘢𝘣𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘢𝘨𝘦𝘥 16–65 𝘤𝘶𝘳𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘭𝘺 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘸𝘦’𝘳𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘤𝘶𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘰𝘯 𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭 𝘫𝘰𝘣𝘴, 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭 𝘴𝘬𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭 𝘱𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴. 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘦 𝘳𝘰𝘭𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘦𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘰𝘺𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵, 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺’𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘧𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦, 𝘤𝘢𝘱𝘢𝘣𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨-𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘮 𝘰𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘺, says Kane Blackman, CEO Good Sammy Enterprises.

Good Sammy was established in 1958 here at what was then called the Perth Wesley Mission. Led by Rev Ralph Sutton, Ralph responded to a request from Bernice Moorhouse, who had a significant hearing impairment, seeking employment when she could not find work anywhere else.

2028 will be the 70th anniversary of this vital agency of the Uniting Church in Western Australia.

Thanks be to God.

𝘙𝘦𝘷 𝘏𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘴 𝘞𝘪𝘭𝘴𝘰𝘯

For more information on Good Sammy Enterprises visit https://goodsammy.com.au

A Focus on Good Sammy Enterprises Good Sammy Enterprises is celebrating the creation of more than 100 new employment opportunities for people with disability, driven by the expansion of its social enterprise operations across Western Australia.  The new roles span over 30 Good Sammy workplaces acro...

02/06/2026

Week 7 means that this is the last newsletter of term! Grab a cuppa, sit down and enjoy reading about what is happening at USIC in "From the Office"

29/05/2026

𝘔𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘬𝘦𝘦𝘱 𝘶𝘱-𝘵𝘰-𝘥𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵'𝘴 𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘜𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘊𝘩𝘶𝘳𝘤𝘩 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘊𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘣𝘦𝘺𝘰𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘬'𝘴 𝘯𝘦𝘸𝘴𝘭𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳.

𝗠𝘆 𝗦𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝘁 𝗧𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗡𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗵 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗵𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗵
𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮 𝗯𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗳 𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁

Given the throng that gathered for the HBF Run for a Reason, it was a privilege and a treat to attend the service of worship at Trinity North Uniting Church.

While the Greenwood site is being redeveloped, the service was held in Cousins Hall at St Stephen’s School, Duncraig campus.

Named after Rev Des Cousins, the hall was my classroom for many years when I was a teacher at the school.

With the worship theme of Pentecost, one might have expected the congregation to be festooned in red – but no – the congregation was asked to wear something that represented their culture and heritage. A nice twist on the day.

The fourth Sunday of each month at Trinity North is an intergenerational service. This service had lots of interaction between the worship leaders and the congregation with questions such as:
What does it mean to be included?
What does it mean to be excluded?

All in all, a thought-provoking service with a wonderful group of worshippers.

A chat in the foyer with many friends and acquaintances and that ended my experience of worshipping with another Uniting Church congregation.

My thanks goes to Rev Ivan Clark and the members of Trinity North for their warmth and hospitality. I hope that you had a worship experience that was equally positive and uplifting.

At the 20 May meeting of the Church Council, I submitted my intent to retire from active ministry in February 2027. My last service at UCIC will be on Sunday 7 February (Transfiguration Sunday and Communion) with my last day in the office on Friday 12 February.

It has not been an easy five months and I found it to be very important to discern the way forward. My retirement will enable me to step out into a new season with its own set of challenges, joys and opportunities.

In the meantime, I remain committed to the work of UCIC and Perth Wesley Church and give thanks to God for the five years that I have spent with you and the eight months that lie ahead.

Amen.

𝘙𝘦𝘷 𝘏𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘴 𝘞𝘪𝘭𝘴𝘰𝘯

Given the throng that gathered for the HBF Run for a Reason, it was a privilege and a treat to attend the service of worship at Trinity North Uniting Church.  While the Greenwood site is being redeveloped, the service was held in Cousins Hall at St Stephen’s School, Duncraig campus. Named after R...

22/05/2026

𝘔𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘬𝘦𝘦𝘱 𝘶𝘱-𝘵𝘰-𝘥𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵'𝘴 𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘜𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘊𝘩𝘶𝘳𝘤𝘩 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘊𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘣𝘦𝘺𝘰𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘬'𝘴 𝘯𝘦𝘸𝘴𝘭𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳.

𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗲’𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗵𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸𝘀 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲

Last week’s Wesley at One recital featured the musicians of Scotch College including singers from St Hilda’s Anglican School for Girls. As you can see from the photos in the link, the logistics of bringing students, staff and their musical accoutrement was a herculean effort.

If you missed this recital, take heart, Scotch College will return in November for another Wesley at One, Friday recital.

𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗼𝗻 𝗮 𝗨𝗖𝗜𝗖 𝗠𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗻𝗲𝗿: 𝗥𝗮𝗳𝗶𝗸𝗶 𝘄𝗮 𝗕𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗶

The Uniting Church in the City, through our Mission & Ministry Committee, has provided funds to Rafiki wa Binti. Dedicated to supporting and uplifting communities in Tanzania, the organisation set the 2026 goal of 𝗱𝗼𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝟲𝟬,𝟬𝟬𝟬 𝗽𝗮𝗶𝗿𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝘄𝗮𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗼𝗱 𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘄𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝘁𝗼 𝟭𝟬,𝟬𝟬𝟬 𝗴𝗶𝗿𝗹𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗧𝗮𝗻𝘇𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗮.

Having successfully completed their first rollout of 𝟰,𝟬𝟬𝟬 𝗕𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗶 𝗣𝗮𝗰𝗸𝘀 (24,000 pairs of period underwear to 4,000 girls), along with menstrual education, they have seen first-hand the powerful impact this program is having for girls in Tanzania.

Like in so many parts of the world, when girls experience their monthly period, they are not allowed to attend school stunting their ability to receive a quality education.

The distribution of washable period underwear means that girls are no longer required to stay home for days out of the month. It is not a stretch of the imagination to understand the impact of such an endeavour.

In addition, Rafiki wa Binti has launched the 'Working with Binti' project in Tanzania, which facilitates the supply of menstrual underwear packs to female staff members, and their families and communities.

Rafiki wa Binti is proud to be an official partner of Menstrual Hygiene Day on 𝗠𝗮𝘆 𝟮𝟴! Menstrual Hygiene Day is an annual global awareness day held to highlight the importance of good menstrual hygiene management and break the stigma surrounding menstruation.

For more information about this amazing Australia/Tanzanian partnership, see their website.

As the father of two adult daughters, I give thanks for this incredible initiative that actively supports the education of girls and young women in southeastern Africa.

Thanks be to God. Amen.

𝘙𝘦𝘷 𝘏𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘴 𝘞𝘪𝘭𝘴𝘰𝘯

Last week’s Wesley at One recital featured the musicians of Scotch College including singers from St Hilda’s Anglican School for Girls. As you can see from the photos below, the logistics of bringing students, staff and their musical accoutrement was a herculean effort.  If you missed this reci...

18/05/2026

Week 5 of Term 2 already! It's great to see so many students out and about. As always, the phone lines and inbox are busy. If you can't get through to us, don't stress, you can find lots of information in our newsletter, so make yourself a cuppa, sit back, relax and enjoy the read "From the Office".

Please take the time to familiarise yourself with all the goings on by reading the Uniting Seniors in the City From the Office newsletter. Our fortnightly newsletter is brimming with reminders and important information for members, particularly social events happening throughout the year, so please....

15/05/2026

𝘔𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘬𝘦𝘦𝘱 𝘶𝘱-𝘵𝘰-𝘥𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵'𝘴 𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘜𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘊𝘩𝘶𝘳𝘤𝘩 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘊𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘣𝘦𝘺𝘰𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘬'𝘴 𝘯𝘦𝘸𝘴𝘭𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝗲-𝗶𝗺𝗮𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗥𝗲-𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗳 𝗪𝘆𝗻 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗿 𝗛𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗲, 𝗙𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗹𝗲

What began as the manse for the Fremantle Wesley Mission has become a magnificent transitional housing resource managed by Uniting WA.

Along with UCIC and Uniting WA board members, Alison McCubbin and Alison Xamon, I had the privilege of attending the re-opening of this renovated facility.

Many of you may recall that Wyn Carr House, named after women’s advocate, Winifred Emily Carr, was once a women’s shelter. Unfortunately, after many years of service, the building was no longer fit for purpose, and it subsequently closed.

However, with the need for transitional housing for women over 55 years old, Uniting WA reimagined what Wyn Carr House could become. The result is a refurbished facility that incorporates 12 bedrooms with ensuites, communal indoor and outdoor spaces, open plan living areas, counselling and group therapy rooms, staff facilities, landscaping and car parking.

In addition, there are 4 major goals of the development:

Trauma-informed design
Wyn Carr will provide safe and secure accommodation for vulnerable women to heal and form connections.

𝗪𝗿𝗮𝗽-𝗮𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁
Women residing at Wyn Carr House will receive the tailored, holistic care they need, at every stage of their journey.

𝗦𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗱𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻
The property will feature water-wise gardens, rooftop solar panels, and solar passive design to maximise energy efficiency.

𝗔𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆
Just 600 metres from Fremantle City Centre, Wyn Carr House will offer residents easy access to essential services and public transport.

As members of the Uniting Church, we can all be proud of this superb project that will serve the community for many years to come.

Thanks be to God. Amen.

𝘙𝘦𝘷 𝘏𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘴 𝘞𝘪𝘭𝘴𝘰𝘯

What began as the manse for the Fremantle Wesley Mission has become a magnificent transitional housing resource managed by Uniting WA. Along with UCIC and Uniting WA board members, Alison McCubbin and Alison Xamon, I had the privilege of attending the re-opening of this renovated facility.  Many of...

08/05/2026

𝘔𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘬𝘦𝘦𝘱 𝘶𝘱-𝘵𝘰-𝘥𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵'𝘴 𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘜𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘊𝘩𝘶𝘳𝘤𝘩 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘊𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘣𝘦𝘺𝘰𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘬'𝘴 𝘯𝘦𝘸𝘴𝘭𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗙𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗠𝗼𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿’𝘀 𝗠𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘆 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝘂𝗺

On 28 April, the Moderator, Rev David Jackson, convened a gathering of ministers in placement across the Western Australian Synod. The purpose was simple but important. 𝘛𝘰 𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘢 𝘴𝘢𝘧𝘦, 𝘳𝘦𝘧𝘭𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘴𝘱𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘶𝘳𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘧𝘶𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘥𝘪𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘺 𝘪𝘯 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘗𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘣𝘺𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘚𝘺𝘯𝘰𝘥.

The day was composed of two sessions. First, we took stock of where we are now as Ministers of the Word and Deacons reflecting on our lived experience of ministry across different contexts. Key questions were: What is ministry feeling like right now? What is life-giving and sustainable? Where are the pressures, challenges and strains?

Second, looking ahead with hope, the session explored the possibilities for future ministry. What kinds of ministry are we being drawn toward? What might need to be reimagined, adapted or released to nourish ministry and strengthen congregations for the future?

Overall, I felt that the day, through our facilitator, created a respectful space where every voice could be heard, and where the realities and possibilities of this season can be held with honesty and grace.

As one who has less days in ministry ahead of me than behind, I found the day to be fruitful thanks to the diversity of the attendees. Apart from the Presbytery ministers, nearly all of the ministers were in placement at a Uniting Church congregation.

For us at the Uniting Church in the City (UCIC), it was especially noteworthy that our context is radically different from our sister congregations in the suburbs.

This made me reflect on an article that I was given not long after beginning my ministry at UCIC. Entitled Cathedrals: a forgotten model for church growth (Church Times, July 2021) by Rev Dr Jane Shaw, the piece highlights what I and the Church Council have come to understand (and you’ve probably already noticed):

[𝘊𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘥𝘳𝘢𝘭𝘴] 𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘰 “𝘱𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘳𝘴” …𝘢𝘯𝘥, 𝘭𝘦𝘵’𝘴 𝘧𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘪𝘵, 𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘱𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦𝘴. 𝘞𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘴𝘵 𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘱𝘴 𝘵𝘰𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘥𝘴 𝘧𝘢𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘩𝘶𝘳𝘤𝘩 𝘢𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘢 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘰𝘥 𝘢𝘸𝘢𝘺, 𝘲𝘶𝘪𝘦𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘰𝘯𝘺𝘮𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘣𝘦 𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘢𝘭. 𝘞𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘸𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘪𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘯 𝘰𝘶𝘵, 𝘸𝘦 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘢 𝘴𝘢𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘱𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘣𝘢𝘥𝘨𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘶𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘦 𝘳𝘰𝘵𝘢 𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘰 𝘨𝘰 𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘯 𝘈𝘭𝘱𝘩𝘢 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦… 𝘍𝘶𝘳𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦, 𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘥𝘳𝘢𝘭 𝘮𝘶𝘴𝘪𝘤 𝘪𝘴 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘶𝘴𝘶𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘧𝘶𝘭, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘨𝘺 𝘸𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘥𝘰𝘯𝘦.

𝘊𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘥𝘳𝘢𝘭𝘴 𝘢𝘭𝘴𝘰 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘢 𝘥𝘪𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥, 𝘪𝘯 𝘮𝘺 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦, 𝘴𝘶𝘤𝘤𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘧𝘶𝘭 𝘮𝘰𝘥𝘦𝘭 𝘰𝘧 𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯: 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵’𝘴 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘰𝘰𝘳𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘦𝘭𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘢 𝘸𝘪𝘥𝘦 𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘦𝘴. 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘦𝘯𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘱𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘣𝘺 𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘥𝘪𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘱𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴: 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘴, 𝘱𝘪𝘭𝘨𝘳𝘪𝘮𝘢𝘨𝘦𝘴, 𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘬𝘴 𝘰𝘯 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘶𝘦𝘴, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘶𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩, 𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘪𝘤𝘦, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘰𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘭-𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘴. 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘦 𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘥𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘱 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘳𝘰𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘥𝘳𝘢𝘭 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘺, 𝘢𝘯𝘥, 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮, 𝘢 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘰𝘯’𝘴 𝘤𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘰𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 “𝘤𝘩𝘶𝘳𝘤𝘩” 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘨𝘳𝘰𝘸, 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘥𝘦𝘦𝘱𝘦𝘳 𝘦𝘯𝘨𝘢𝘨𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵.

Obviously, our difference does not absent us from engaging with other ministers and congregations. In fact, I believe that it is particularly important that we engage with others across the Presbytery and Synod in formal and informal settings.

The Moderator has resolved to host other Minister Forums over the life of his 3-year term. I look to what lies ahead.

Thanks be to God. Amen.

𝘙𝘦𝘷 𝘏𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘴 𝘞𝘪𝘭𝘴𝘰𝘯

The First Moderator’s Ministry Forum On 28 April, the Moderator, Rev David Jackson, convened a gathering of ministers in placement across the Western Australian Synod. The purpose was simple but important. To create a safe, reflective, and generative space for honest conversation about the current...

04/05/2026

Week 3 of Term 2 already! It's great to see so many students out and about. As always the phone lines and inbox are busy. If you can't get through to us, don't stress, you can find lots of information in our newsletter, so make yourself a cuppa, sit back, relax and enjoy the read "From the Office" :https://mcusercontent.com/8900d850036cff835e7c7c6a4/files/978a2fc2-3497-5c77-18f8-99e1cf474f93/From_the_Office_Issue_183_4_May_2026.02.pdf

01/05/2026

𝘔𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘬𝘦𝘦𝘱 𝘶𝘱-𝘵𝘰-𝘥𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵'𝘴 𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘜𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘊𝘩𝘶𝘳𝘤𝘩 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘊𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘣𝘦𝘺𝘰𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘬'𝘴 𝘯𝘦𝘸𝘴𝘭𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳.

This article was published in the 20 April 2026 edition of the WA Synod 𝘕𝘦𝘸𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘕𝘰𝘵𝘦𝘴, and it comes courtesy of the NSW and ACT Synod.

Generation Z (or Gen Z) is generally defined as people born between 𝟭𝟵𝟵𝟳 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝟮𝟬𝟭𝟮. As of 2026, this cohort is approximately 𝟭𝟰 𝘁𝗼 𝟮𝟵 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀 𝗼𝗹𝗱. They succeed Millennials and precede Generation Alpha, representing the first generation to grow up entirely in the digital age, often known as "digital natives".


𝘙𝘦𝘷 𝘏𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘴 𝘞𝘪𝘭𝘴𝘰𝘯

𝗚𝗘𝗡 𝗭 𝗜𝗦 𝗖𝗛𝗢𝗢𝗦𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗧𝗢 𝗨𝗡𝗣𝗟𝗨𝗚 — 𝗔 𝗤𝗨𝗜𝗘𝗧 𝗦𝗣𝗜𝗥𝗜𝗧𝗨𝗔𝗟 𝗦𝗛𝗜𝗙𝗧
by Adrian Drayton
𝘐𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 magazine

Gen Z grew up in a world shaped by constant connection. For many, smartphones arrived before independence, and digital life became second nature. But something is changing. A new study from Talker Research suggests that 63% of Gen Z are now intentionally stepping back from their devices, the highest rate of any generation. Millennials follow at 57%, then Gen X at 42%, and baby boomers at 29%.

On the surface, this looks like a lifestyle trend. But beneath it, there is something deeper. It reflects a growing awareness that constant connection does not always lead to real connection.

Most people recognise the feeling. You open an app hoping for distraction or companionship and leave feeling unsettled. The research suggests that around 70% of time spent online leaves Americans feeling disconnected or lonely. Screen use is also linked to feeling overwhelmed, anxious, or irritable. For many, it quietly erodes a sense of contentment.

From a faith perspective, this should not surprise us. Human beings are not simply wired for information or stimulation. We are created for presence. Scripture consistently draws us back to attentiveness. “Be still, and know that I am God” is not just an instruction for prayer. It is an invitation to a different way of living, one that resists noise and hurry.

What Gen Z seems to be discovering is that the pace and texture of digital life can work against that kind of stillness. When every spare moment is filled, there is little room left for reflection, for listening, or for noticing God at work in ordinary life.

The response has been practical. Around half of Americans now deliberately limit their screen time, and many report immediate benefits. They feel more present with others, more focused, and more aware of their surroundings. These are not dramatic transformations, but they point to something important. When we create space, even in small ways, we become more attentive to what matters.

There has also been a return to analogue habits. Writing in notebooks, reading printed books, using paper calendars. These choices are not driven by nostalgia so much as necessity. They create boundaries that digital devices struggle to maintain. They slow us down just enough to be present.

There is a spiritual resonance here. Christian formation has always included embodied practices. Reading Scripture slowly. Gathering in person. Sharing meals. Observing rhythms of rest like Sabbath. These are not efficient practices, but they are formative ones. They shape our attention and, over time, our loves.

The broader cultural shift toward what is being called “slow living” also reflects this longing. Many people are choosing quality over speed, depth over immediacy. They are rediscovering face-to-face conversation, time outdoors, and hands-on activities. In doing so, they are not rejecting technology entirely. They are reordering it.

This is where the church has something meaningful to offer. Not as a critic of technology, but as a community that understands the value of presence. The Christian story reminds us that God does not relate to us at a distance. In Christ, God draws near. The incarnation itself is a declaration that embodied, relational presence matters.

If younger generations are pulling back from screens, even in small ways, it may open space for deeper questions. What does it mean to be known? What does it mean to belong? Where can we find rest that actually restores us?

These are not new questions, but they feel newly urgent.

Technology is not going away. Nor should it. It can serve connection, creativity, and learning in powerful ways. But it is no longer being given unlimited access to our lives. People are beginning to choose when and how they engage with it.

That choice, in itself, is significant. It suggests a hunger for something more grounded, more human, and perhaps, more holy.

In a culture that rarely stops, even the simple act of unplugging can become a kind of quiet resistance. It can also become, if we allow it, an opening to encounter God in the stillness we so often avoid.

This article was published in the 20 April 2026 edition of the WA Synod News and Notes, and it comes courtesy of the NSW and ACT Synod.