Uniting Church Logo
17th ASSEMBLY
Donate

lament in lent: on country, with country, for country

Aunty Alison Overeem and Rev Alex Sangster invite the Uniting Church community to show solidarity with creation through the lament in lent vigil, being held on country in Tasmania

March 18, 2025

This Lent, come and stand with mob on Country to support our ancient forests!

Proud Palawa woman Aunty Alison Overeem and Rev Alex Sangster invite you to join them on Country for this ‘lament in lent’, as they hold vigil amongst the Giant Styx - the ancient trees of Tasmania.

The Styx forests are centuries old tall eucalyptus forests with hollow bearing trunks and branches, upon which many species of animals and birds depend. They are under existential threat from logging.

Join us for this vigil as we stand in solidarity with our native forests and with creation, in partnership with the Bob Brown Foundation and the 'I Stand with Uncle Jim' movement. Uncle Jim Everett is a loved and respected Elder leading the fight for Tasmania's forests. He has been arrested on numerous occasions across a lifetime of unapologetic activism for Country.

"Used for export woodchips, the logging of these world heritage value forests is wasteful vandalism and it is wrong," said Erik Hayward, Campaigner for the Bob Brown Foundation. "Today, the logger’s machines must be evicted, not the citizens who are defending the remaining forests that can still be saved."

"Rainforests gullies with ancient sassafras, forests that are full of wildlife and buffers from bushfires, the remaining forests in this Styx logging coupe and all remaining native forests must be protected to avoid dangerous climate change and wildlife extinctions."

When: Thursday 3 April from 10.30am-2.30pm AEDT

Where: Approx. 1.5 hours west of Hobart (exact location on request)

Contact: Rev Alexandra Sangster – 0411292273 (Some financial assistance is available to help First Nations peoples in Tasmania attend. Contact Alex for information.)

The vigil will be filmed and made available to the Uniting Church community following the event.

Click below to download the flyer.

If you want to get the latest news from the Uniting Church in Australia then subscribe to our weekly newsletter delivered to your inbox.

Photo Campaign #IStandWithUncJim

In the lead up to the event, express your support for Uncle Jim and the movement to protect Country by snapping a photo in front of a tree holding a sign: 'I stand with Uncle Jim'.

Post them to your socials using the hashtag #IStandWithUncJim or send them to us: comms@nat.uca.org.au.

More news from the Assembly

'Resilience is no longer enough': Pacific churches issue powerful call for climate justice

Pacific Church leaders have issued an urgent and deeply faith-filled call for climate justice, declaring that communities on the frontline of climate change need more than praise for their resilience. They need justice and decisive action. Gathering in Nadi, Fiji, for an Ecumenical Service marking the beginning of Pre-COP31, Pacific faith leaders brought the lived…

700 Fijian voices unite for climate justice in Fremantle

More than 700 members of the Uniting Church’s Fijian National Conference have joined their voices in a powerful call for climate justice from Fremantle. At the conclusion of the four-day conference, delegates unfurled a huge“Climate Justice Now” banner, standing in solidarity with Pacific churches and communities and calling on Australia to listen to Pacific leadership…

Faith, culture and hope fill Fremantle with the Fijian National Conference

Fijian communities from across the Uniting Church gathered in Fremantle/Walyalup for the 2026 Uniting Church in Australia Fijian National Conference, celebrating faith, culture, fellowship and hope. The Conference opened on Thursday evening with a Welcome to Country from Rev Mitchell Garlett of UAICC WA, followed by worship led by Rev William Lucas. Rev Dr Paul…

Waves of Hope: weaving new stories across Oceania

President Rev Charissa Suli has joined theologians, church leaders and practitioners from across Oceania in Fiji for the Association of Practical Theology in Oceania (APTO) Conference last week. Gathered around the theme “Waves of Hope: Storied Theology for the Whole of Life,” the Presidnet delivered an international keynote, “Building Community; Creating a New Story in…

Held Together begins with listening

Held Together begins with listening    President Rev Charissa Suli and leaders of the Uniting Aboriginal and Islander Christian Congress gathered on Ngarrindjeri Country to commission an artwork that will speak to the heart of the upcoming conference.“May it be a blessing. May it tell a story. May it build relationship. And may it help…

Call for nominations for President-elect and 18th Assembly representatives

The Uniting Church in Australia is beginning an important process of discernment to identify the next President-elect of the Assembly. Ahead of the 18th Assembly, the Uniting Aboriginal and Islander Christian Congress (UAICC), Presbyteries and Synods have the privilege and opportunity to identify people who may be nominated for election as President-elect (Reg. 3.6.4.1). Nominations…

Celebrations and stories of healing in Alice Springs

Stories of Healing: Alice Springs marks 100 years of Adelaide House and 70 years of the John Flynn Memorial ChurchIn the red centre of Australia, members of the Uniting Church community gathered on 12–13 September to honour two milestones of faith, care and resilience: the centenary of Adelaide House and 70 years of the John…

Pacific women call for climate action that begins with their communities

Pacific women call for climate action that begins with their communities From Tuvalu, Pacific women are calling on world leaders to listen deeply, strengthen community leadership and pursue climate action grounded in local experience and wisdom.For the women who gathered in Tuvalu this September, climate justice reaches into the everyday work of keeping communities safe.…