10 ways to connect with the 16th Assembly
In just a week and a half, from 6-9 May, members of the 16th Assembly will gather for the reconvened meeting on Gubbi Gubbi Country on the Sunshine Coast.
The first meeting of 16th Assembly members in July last year was held online for the first time in our history. We were able to gather and make decisions as a digital community. We're excited for the upcoming reconvened meeting to be held in person, but we've kept as many opportunities as possible for the wider Uniting Church to connect into the work of the meeting in real-time.
Whether it’s the meeting livestream, the social media conversation, or decisions and celebrations, here are 10 ways to connect with the Assembly as it happens.
Join members for worship online
A Welcome to Country and worship service will begin the meeting on Friday 6 May and will be livestreamed via the Assembly website and Facebook page. Join at 7.30pm AEST (QLD, NSW, ACT, VIC, and TAS), 7pm ACST (SA and NT) and 5.30pm AWST (WA).
Worship on Saturday and Sunday will also be livestreamed onto Facebook and will include Bible Reflections from Nungalinya College. Closing worship on Monday will also be shared.
Read the Covenanting Statement
Worship on Friday night will also include a renewal of the Covenant between the Uniting Church and the Uniting Aboriginal and Islander Christian Congress which first came into being in 1994. As we prepare for this next significant moment in our journey of walking together as First and Second Peoples you may like to read or re-read the Covenanting Statement which was read by 7th President Dr Jill Tabart almost 30 years ago.
Tune into the livestream through the weekend
Every session will be publicly live-streamed through the weekend, with access through the 16th Assembly webpage. Key moments will also be streamed to the Assembly Facebook page, including the Welcome to Country and worship on the Friday night, and morning worship each day. Make sure you’re following us on Facebook.
Make sure you're subscribed to National Update
We’ll be sending a wrap of each day to the national Church by email, so make sure you’re on the list! We’ll report on key moments, share significant decisions, and social media highlights from our members. Subscribe here.
Join the #GodInEveryAct photo challenge
Ahead of the meeting we’re running a new challenge that invites you to snap and share photos that tell a story about how God is with you in every moment. What does God look like through your lens? Read our story for inspiration and to see the photos so far, then post yours using #godineveryact.
Use the meeting hashtags
Updates from the Assembly will be posted under the official hashtags, #uca2022 #dwellinginlove #godineveryact. Make sure you add these to your posts about the Assembly too so others can see and contribute to the conversation. We’ll share some of the social media highlights each day.
Watch the Examen to close your day in prayer and reflection
To close the day Assembly members will share in a reflective practice of prayer prepared and guided by Rev Dr Sally Douglas. The Examen is a prayerful discernment on the events of the day, making us alert to God's presence and the leading of the Spirit. A guided Examen and an explanation of the practice are available to watch here.
Read about the work of the National Church over the last three years
The reports to the Assembly from Agencies, various task groups and committees, and Synods, are publicly available. Find them here.
Pray for the meeting
Please pray for the leaders and members of the meeting; for wisdom, discernment, safety, community and the guidance of the Spirit. Please also pray for volunteers and staff who will work behind the scenes.