As Unitarian Universalists, we affirm the inherent worth and dignity of every person, the interdependent web of all existence, and the free and responsible search for truth and meaning. We respect the diversity of religious traditions and spiritual paths that enrich our world, and celebrate the diversity of beliefs and values that enrich our communities.

Let us collectively aspire to foster a sense of community, understanding, and compassion that will bring us closer together, inspire us to embrace diversity, and empower us to make a positive impact in our local and global communities.

Green Chalice Awards: Shining a Light on Climate Action

 In response to the call for action on climate change, ANZUUA introduced the Green Chalice Awards. This initiative aims to recognize and celebrate environmental efforts within member congregations, while also raising awareness in the wider community. The awards serve as a tangible manifestation of the Unitarian commitment to environmental stewardship and climate action.

At the ANZUUA Service on 28th July, we celebrated the award of a Green Chalice to fourteen members from our affiliated congregations. Several people have offered suggestions about further developing the criteria for the Green chalice awards for next year. ANZUUA needs your innovative ideas and proposals to propel the Green Chalice Awards to new heights, and invites interested readers to join a small committee to recommend changes to the criteria. Please contact Ralph Catts ralphunitarian@gmail.com

Theology Course Feedback

 For the 25 people who enrolled in our Unitarian Theology course, it is now time to submit your reflections to our colleagues in Prague, and to provide ANZUUA with your feedback and suggestions about future training and development needs.

We have interest in a further worship studies foundations course to commence in April 2025, and a more advanced worship studies course may follow. We are also considering a short course on Rites of Passage. All congregations, as well as individuals, are invited to submit suggestions by 31 August so that the ANZUUA committee can consider where to next.

Brisbane UU Fellowship Retreat in August 

There is still availability for additional people to attend our retreat at Springbrook in the Gold Coast Hinterland commencing Friday 16th August in the afternoon and going through to Sunday Afternoon 18th August. The cost is $350 per person and we welcome visitors from other UU communities who would like to attend. info@brisbaneuu.org.au.

Our NZ and AUS UU Communities

A listing of the congregations that make up ANZUUA can be found here: https://www.anzuua.org/findingus. We will share news of a selection of UU communities each month. You are encouraged to send any news from your community that you’d like to share in the newsletter to Lynn at lynnjkelly@gmail.com.

Auckland Unitarian Church

 As well as our usual well received Sunday services, July marked the success of the first of a series of monthly Wednesday evening public forums organised by ourselves and Te Ohu Tāmaki (an alliance of Auckland community development groups, unions and churches). Well over 70 people attended. Mid-July 2024 marks the 40-year anniversary of the rise of neoliberalism-Rogernomics in Aotearoa New Zealand, a time that led to considerable economic change and growing inequities.

Future forum topics include Organising Action in Aotearoa, Toitū Te Tiriti (honouring the Treaty of Waitangi), Migrant and Refugee Issues, The Living Wage and Employment, and Housing. In hosting monthly forums alongside Te Ohu Tamaki, we recognise their potential to provide education, outreach and social justice activities for the benefit of the community.  The forum series also has the potential to expand the congregation through relationship building and establish our building as a community hub. 

Melbourne UU Fellowship

Our members are spread throughout Victoria, so our services are run as hybrid in-person and Zoom sessions. During July we were happy to welcome visitors from West Georgia Unitarian Universalist Church in the US who joined us on Zoom. During August we'll be returning to a Zoom-only format for our Service as the nearby University of Melbourne is holding its Open Day, leading to traffic and public transport chaos all round!

In addition, our member Ralph Catts, a qualified facilitator with the Findhorn Foundation in Scotland, will be conducting the Transformation Game on Sunday 25th August at the Kathleen Syme Library.

Sydney Unitarian Church

Our weekly services are run on a rotational basis by our long-standing members, with an average attendance of fifteen or more. The services include candle lighting, joys and concerns, hymns, mediation, and talks. Members of the congregation and invited guests speak throughout the year on topics to broaden and enlighten our knowledge and spirituality.

We also support artists, singers and musicians, and have a musical director who provides accompaniment for our services. We recently had the privilege of hearing singers who are now performing at the Sydney Opera House and in plays at the Ensemble. A recent concert in our chapel of Schubert’s Impromptus was very well attended. One of our congregation members recently made a short film for a competition and we were the first full audience to preview this film.

We have introduced an outreach program with events both in the church and outside, and these events are proving popular. We have excursions to other places of worship such as Gallipoli Mosque where the Iman explained the significance of Islamic practices and beliefs and gave us a tour of the Mosque. Our latest tour was of the Vedanta Centre run by Hindu Nuns who graciously shared their service and also explained their beliefs, symbols, and fed us. Another highlight was a private tour of the White Bay installation by one of the curators who explained the cultural and religious significance of the artworks and gave us insights into the artists, painters and sculptors who have their works displayed.

Our charity work is based on developing human potential through:

• Artists, singers, actors and musicians by both employing them and providing rehearsal space.

• Supporting transformation through groups such as AA and NA by providing them space to meet

• Allowing other groups such as The Gnostic Christians, The Dickens Society, The Builders of The Adytum and the Sufis to use our facilities.

We are an inclusive and diverse group who learn from and support each other.

Report by Nadia Repin & Michael McPhee (on behalf of the Sydney Unitarian Committee)

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