Reflection of the Week - 16th April 2024
Don’t you wonder sometimes how our covenant Lord who is God – Creator, Master, and Teacher, can and does create from nothing and does not need anything or anyone but is helplessly in love with you?
One God, many friends
Posted in Faith
Ecumenical relationships are becoming increasingly important to the Uniting Church, particularly in rural and regional areas. Some of these communities are facing dwindling numbers and choose to combine or join together; others find ways to draw strength from one another and form new relationships. The latter path is one that Lighthouse (Uniting) Church Port Pirie is familiar with.
In 2015, the Lighthouse Uniting congregation joined with the Port Pirie Roman Catholic Diocese to host an ecumenical dinner. Attended by approximately 80 people, the event provided a friendly environment for people within these communities to liaise with one another.
Following the success of the first event, the two churches joined together for another dinner on Friday 26 August this year. One hundred and ten people gathered for the dinner, which was themed the “Year of Mercy”. In accordance with this theme, tables were decorated with olive sprigs and special scenes that included a handmade wood cross.
Father Michael Trainer and Dr Marelle Harisun, both members of the SA Dialogue Committee of the Roman Catholic and Uniting Churches, were the key speakers at the event. Peter Dick, a member of Lighthouse Port Pirie and a representative for Kairos prison ministry, also addressed the gathering.
The catering and entertainment for the evening were of very high quality, and were provided by members from both churches.
Many people expressed their delight in the ecumenical event. Father Trainer was particularly impressed with this joint initiative, and shared his belief that no other churches in South Australia – perhaps even in Australia – have undertaken an ecumenical dinner quite like this one.
Is your congregation or faith community involved in ecumenical activities, events or community-building? Let us know in the comments below or email Turn on Javascript!
The International Conference on Receptive Ecumenism will be held at the Australian National University in Canberra from Monday 6 to Thursday 9 November. For more information, please contact Geraldine Hawkes (SA Council of Churches) via email at Turn on Javascript!
Title and information for this article provided by Janet Mitchell. The photo on the left, also provided by Janet, is of Father Francis Monero (Catholic Church) and Rev Ernest Sorensen (Uniting Church).
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