News & Articles

I came across the article by Swee Ann entitled Love is the way – Love God and Love Neighbor.  I found it an interesting read.  One part of the article stood out to me.  It was this comment. “One of my laments for the church is that we are becoming increasingly corporate.  In the process, we lose our soul.”  I guess I am uncomfortable with the statement.  But why? I asked myself.  There was a time in my life when…

Maundy Thursday Sally led a Taize style service in the Chapel attended by about 30 people. The service was a lovely quiet meditative service of readings and reflection as a lead in to Easter. Sally led the á capella singing of Taize chants with the congregation enthusiastically joining in. Directions for Using a Towel To be used for:Drying dishes.Wiping eyes.Mopping spilled milk.Coping with sighs.Cleaning stains.Creating scandal.Holding on when it’s too hot to handle. Washing feet.Softening jars.Binding wounds in a world…

At our Spectrum meeting on 5 March we had an excellent attendance to hear Bruce Sullivan talk about the ‘Happy Home Children’s Home’ situated in Nepal. Bruce loves to travel the world, often to very remote parts of our globe, to pursue his interest in trekking and at the same time he uses the opportunity to improve the lot of those with whom he meets. He was indeed an enthusiastic speaker and the interest he takes in the people who…

At Emerging Church on Sunday,17 March, Tony and Zoe elected to tackle the question of how to love your enemies as part of our overall theme of Love God, Love your Neighbour. They said that for most people, including themselves, loving your enemy was extremely hard to do. In fact, it requires a change of mind. Tony set the scene by showing a trailer of the BBC series Earth, alerting us to the fact that mankind had been around for…

Introduction My eldest brother and my second brother were in the timber business together more than 50 years ago in Singapore. They used to import logs into Singapore from neighbouring countries. Unfortunately, the business went pear-shaped. My second brother blames my eldest brother till today. He has not learned to let go of the past. Because of that, there’s no possibility of reconciliation and new life. I feel sad and angry for both of them. Let it Go I like…

This Easter the L&D Portfolio (Learning and Discipleship) also created a Labyrinth in the Auditorium for anyone to journey on. The Labyrinth goes back to Greek mythology and was frequently used as a Spiritual practice and aid to meditation. This is the purpose of our Labyrinth during Holy Week. Some have been grown as part of a garden, but many simpler ones, like ours, are used indoors. This one is several years old and was painted by a group from…

Yesterday at Family@10 we explored the story of Doubting Thomas with an alternate name being posed for him as ‘Doubting Daring Thomas’. With a collection of stations on offer, we were able to engage further by looking at the story through poetry, craft, beads and wordfinds!

On Sunday February 24th, Manningham Uniting Church celebrated it’s 12th Annviersary. While the Uniting Church in Australia has been around for decades, we’re celebrating that Manningham Uniting Church has turned 12! We celebrated with delicious cake for morning tea after the worship service. We were also asked to add a leaf to the tree with our name and all the churches that we have been connected to. On 19 February 2012, the church communities of Doncaster Uniting Church, Wesley Doncaster…

I’d like to explore Love is the Way with reference to the reading from Mark with Jesus calling of the 4 fishermen. Let’s imagine Jesus bare footed at the water’s edge on the Sea of Galilee. Jesus saw the hard working feet and hard working hands of 4 fishermen – Simon, Andrew, James and John. How did Jesus know those calloused rough fishermen’s feet, would carry the type of man Jesus wanted as part of his inner circle? These salt…

What is Love? you ask. Hmm! Not sure about that. I had been in Swan Hill visiting my mother. It was Easter Sunday; we went to church with Mum. After church, Ock, Mums cousin wandered over. A tall man, dressed in an old suit, the tie an ornament on his shirt. Softly spoken, his eyes clear, focused. A farmer, who had purchased my grandfather’s farm next door to his father’s, now his farm in the Mallee, 25 kilometers west of…

Something very special happened to me at Christmas. I came home one afternoon around 4pm and there on my doorstep was a takeaway food container neatly wrapped in Christmas paper. I was very good and popped the parcel near the tree to wait for Santa to deliver it at the appropriate time. I admired and read the accompanying card and hung it on my card tree writing the giver’s name on the still attached envelope. Somehow or other the envelope…

German theologian Karl Rahner has an arresting quote: “The Christian of the future will be a mystic or he will not exist at all.” Considered to be one of the most influential Catholic theologians of the Twentieth Century, this German Jesuit priest has words that invite us, indeed challenge us to explore, as we focus on this year’s theme; ‘The Way of Love’. Wrestling with the notion of what and who is a mystic may be a place to start…

As the descendant of slaves and the son of a civil rights activist, Bishop Michael Curry’s life illustrates massive changes in our times. Much of the world met Bishop Curry when he delivered his sermon on the redemptive power of love at the royal wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at Windsor Castle. Here, he expands on his message of hope in an inspirational road map for living the way of love, illuminated with moving lessons from his own…

IntroductionBy the time you read this, one month of 2024 has become history. Hope you had a good ‘break’ in January. I have enjoyed reflecting on the Book of Ruth during Januray with those who worshipped with us. It’s our Second Summer Series. Last year we focused on Micah 6:8: ‘He has told you, O mortal, what is good, and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice and to love kindness.’ MUC Theme 2024As mentioned in…

At the Together@10 service on the 4 February 2024, the whole chuch community gathered together to honour and celebrate the offerings of all the leaders and volunteers with the community. The service showed the depth and breadth of those who support Manningham Uniting Church. We honoured all who offer their time and skills.

We are supporting our ongoing relationship with Doncaster Secondary students with a Stationery Drive. Your offerings of the following will support the students start their 2024 school year off on the right foot: Donate anytime throughout February at the Manningham Uniting Church office, or drop your donation into the tub in the foyer See below for a non-exhaustive list of options – feel free to purchase from where ever is convenient. Blue Biros For example: https://www.officeworks.com.au/paper-mate-write-bros-ballpoint-pens https://www.officeworks.com.au/j-burrows-ballpoint-pens-blue-10-pack-jbaa1151be https://www.bigw.com.au/bic-cristal-original-pen-12-pack-blue/p/232987 https://www.bigw.com.au/paper-mate-kilometrico-capped-ballpoint-pen Grey…

We gathered as a church community yesterday at Westerfolds Park to reflect on the Uniting Church’s Day of Mourning. Many thanks to those that arranged, organised and provided resources for the service that offered us a moment to reflect on the effects of invasion, colonisation and racism on First Peoples.

Manningham Uniting Church (MUC) is supporting the CareNet Giving Tree and the work of LinC Manningham and would like to invite you to also support these projects by providing a gift for a child between the ages of 0-18yrs. This will help bring relief to families and care givers around the community. Please return your unwrapped gift to the Christmas tree in the foyer at Manningham Uniting Church & Community Centre, 109 Wood St, Templewstowe Some gift suggestions to offer…

Those that attended the latest MUC Presents were treated to an amazing afternoon of Jazz and entertainment by the Steph McCorkelle Band. Comprising of Greg Smith on saxophone, Dan McIlvride on trombone, Cam McAllister on the trumpet and flugelhorn, Erica Wright on piano, Hayden Murtagh on acoustic bass and Bruce McIntyre on drums all being led by Steph McCorkelle. Around 90 people tapped their toes and clapped all afternoon and ended the day with a scrumptious afternoon tea. Profits raised…