One of my favourite proverbs has profoundly informed my view of Christian service. It is one that many of you will know (and if you can forgive with necessary cultural adaption).
Give someone a fish, and you feed them for a day.
Teach someone to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime.
The origin of this thought is contested. I have always known this adage as a Chinese proverb. The source is less important than the general principle. Alleviating suffering and poverty by facilitating self-sufficiency has a long history and aligns with the teaching of Jesus in the Hebraic and Christian scriptures. It is meritorious to anticipate charity by preventing poverty, namely, to assist the reduced person, either by a considerable gift or loan of money, or by teaching them a trade, or by putting them in the way of business, so that they may participate in fostering their own dignity and not be forced to holding up their hand for a handout… Having read too much Marx in my younger days, I have always believed that this is true charity, true love of neighbour. Of course, if need be a handout is better than the humiliation of nothing.
As part of seeking to contribute to our community, and hopefully continue to renew ourselves, the formerly named social engagement project has been proceeding with some enthusiasm and expectation. Our progress is due in no small part to the efforts and wisdom of Wendy, Helen, Sharon, Ken, Tricia, Kim & John. They are to be commended for connecting us to past and current MUC social engagement
contributions while embracing a refresh of our contributions. There has been a welcome and generous willingness to look forward and put aside previous scars and look forward with faith and generosity.
As a result I am proud to bring a new name to our social engagement contributions. Henceforth our contributions will be offered under the following umbrella and tagline.
MUC Thrive Program
Connecting Community
The above suggested name and tagline has been facilitated by a marketing friend who has endeavoured to collate and funnel the working party members’ suggestions. We have sought to have no more than four syllables so to minimise turning the name into an acronym. Of course no name is perfect, and dare I say it, no name is that important. I am pleased that MUC Council has accepted the new moniker and tagline. So I commend it to you for your continued support, prayers and ratification.
A threefold shape has developed to help us prioritise our efforts:
Contributions within MUC building: Prioritising and intensifying our efforts in the MUC building as a primary interface for our contributions among the community.
a. Conversations are ongoing in relation to Playgroups and Redgum Café going into 2026.
b. The Youth Project starting with MUCK-In youth group has had its first outing last Sunday. The working group support of Reverend Cinti as youth project worker has allowed an affirmation of a lead with our current MUC young people with scope to test the waters and see what is possible. As well, it keeps to the forefront our ongoing connection with schools and other neighbouring Uniting Church communities. This builds on our wonderful Catch Your Breath program.
c. The City of Manningham Age Well officers have been in partnership with MUC Dementia Group to facilitate a community event 16 September during Dementia Action Week. It is a template for future possibilities and endeavours.
Active users of the space and/or tenants in the MUC building: This will allow us to explore how we may build further collaboration and partnerships with those who are current tenants
Given MUC’s previous involvement in creative arts, music, food security, we can start exploring what are other possibilities of partnership.
a. A new possibility is the City of Manningham Council’s live music project. They propose to access suitable local venues for musicians to offer live music.
b. A meeting with the City of Manningham’s Social Planning and Community Strengthening team had fostered renewed connections with a range of other networks and we are excited about what form of partnership is on offer onsite. The matters we discussed were met with significant enthusiasm and support.
New partnership or ventures beyond the MUC Building: We have been invited onto the City of Manningham food, multicultural and youth services networks. An ambitious possible contribution is in Citizenship education in the City of Manningham among its various multicultural communities. This may lead to wider partnerships and contributions.
The pathway where we can develop and offer services in partnership with City of Manningham to house and deliver a range of services is a no brainer. I am of the view that our MUC infrastructure will be our biggest contribution. On this basis we can confidently undertake conception and planning.
The projects that we are keen to further explore as contributions in 2026 include:
- Live music events
- Financial literacy project
- Youth Wellbeing drop in space
- Contributions in food security that increase folk’s capacity to feed themselves rather than rely on handouts
- Citizenship inductions including into common Australian norms and governance culture.
As we develop these projects through the remainder of 2025 and into 2026, MUC is excited to embark on this new direction of social engagement contributions and look forward to seeing the connections develop and grow.
Rev Dr Con Apokis