Its O Week @ UOW

Its O week at the Uni and theres lots happening: you can check out the unicentre website for all the details. BUT one thing not to be missed is clubs day on Wednesday.

Come by and check out all the great clubs UOW has on offer, and of course please stop by UnitingSpiritually table. We’ll be having a picnic most of the day, so if you want to join us, bring along some food and maybe a rug.

 

Also if you’d like to help hand out sunscreen, ice blocks & drinks – we’d love the help.

See you on the Duckpond lawn 10am-3pm!

A new beginning on a historic day – We’re SORRY

Today we witnessed an amazing shift in the Australian psyche through the public recognition of Australia’s shared history of Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples. Prime Minister of Australia Kevin Rudd unconditionally declared:

to the stolen generations I say the following:

As Prime Minister of Australia, I am sorry.

On behalf of the Government of Australia, I am sorry.

On behalf of the Parliament of Australia, I am sorry.

And I offer you this apology without qualification.

You can check out full audio of Rudd’s apology here: http://mpegmedia.abc.net.au/news/audio/audio/200802/20080213-rudd-apology.mp3

At the beginning of his speech Rudd made this stated:

The time has now come for the nation to turn a new page in Australia’s history by righting the wrongs of the past and so moving forward with confidence to the future.

We apologise for the laws and policies of successive Parliaments and governments that have inflicted profound grief, suffering and loss on these our fellow Australians.

We apologise especially for the removal of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from their families, their communities and their country.

For the pain, suffering and hurt of these Stolen Generations, their descendants and for their families left behind, we say sorry.

To the mothers and the fathers, the brothers and the sisters, for the breaking up of families and communities, we say sorry.

And for the indignity and degradation thus inflicted on a proud people and a proud culture, we say sorry.

here’s video of the opening of his speech: http://www.abc.net.au/reslib/200802/r223417_882357.asx

Lent has begun

Wednesday the 6th Feb marked the beginning of Lent – whats Lent? its the season of 40 days [minus sundays] before Easter which encourages greater simplicity and focus on God. the period invites us to ‘travel’ with Jesus towards Good Friday which marks his execution. Its a time to take stock of our own lives, and enter a spiritual journey of simplicity, discipline and devotion.

UnitingSpiritually has been participating in Lent Event for the past couple of years. this year our Thursday night dinner will participate as a community, both giving up and taking on. Each thursday we’ll collect donations that will be given to Lent Event after easter to go towards projects in developing communities in Zambia, Sth India, Sudan, West Timor, and Papua New Guinea. Check out more about UnitingSpiritually & giving stuff up and of course the Lent Event website

Fair Trade Video

Jesse Newman of UnitingSpiritually has produced a fantistic resource about Fair Trade aimed to promote and eductate. Jesse spent 2007 working with Keiraview Uniting Church to produce such projects… check it out, and of course spread the Fair Trade message! If you’re intested in sourcing fair trade coffee roasted and ground in wollongong, check out State of Bean. Congratulations Jesse!

For those of you who get the NSW Uniting Church Synod Magazine – Insights – a DVD will acompany the subscription. there’s also a feature online at Insights – so check it out