We are a diverse community, so let us celebrate and acknowledge who we are and who we can be.
Over year ago the Uniting Church of Australia appointed a new Assembly General Secretary Andrew Johnson. Over the last 12 months he has observed and reflected on how the uniting church acts, worships and is involved with their local communities. He has seen how we come from such diverse communities, from our family history and culture to our ways of thinking.
Some churches have accepted and changed their ways of thinking to be inclusive and accepting while still in line with the principles of the Uniting Church and have grown and flourished within their communities, but others have become outsiders in their communities as they have been left behind and are now struggling.
Which brings me to the article that Andrew Johnson wrote to the uniting Church "Embracing a new future together". In this article Andrew Johnson asks us to look at how we act and ask ourselves "How can we challenge our church to do more". But this challenge isn't referring to another bake sale or prayer session. It is looking at our practices and asking how we can change to be the change we want in our communities. Are we accepting of our multicultural, multiage members or can we do more to involve everyone in our church.
I encourage you to have a look at the article and consider what the words mean to you. Each of us can look at these same words and interpret them differently as we all come from different backgrounds, life experiences, cultures and ages. All of which shape how we think and make us unique and offers so much to our communities when we come together and work together to build a stronger faith based community where everyone is welcome.
Get your calendar ready, we have news for you!
This summer our we have so much going on that we are so excited for!
Our Christmas season will kick off on the 7th of December with the Annual Interchurch Carols at St Mary's.
Then on the 21st of December we will come together at Living Faith for Carols on the Lawn.
Through out January our services will be quieter and less busy as normal as families are spending the holidays catching up and resting. As such the office will be closed from the 4th of January to the 18th, however this does not mean we won't be responding to emails, so don't hesitant to contact us if you need to.
Once school resumes, we will celebrate our year launch on the 1st of February. Where we will find out what will be in store for 2026.
In more practical matters, on the 15th of February we will have our Annual General Meeting including the budget.
Then the following weekend, come along with us as we head up to the beautiful sunny coast for a weekend of music, fellowship, family fun including archery, high ropes, beach cricket and even a dance off.
Finally we invite you to come along to our services in March where we will be looking at Mission for Lent.
More information about our different events will be coming out soon!
Congratulations to everyone who participated or donated!
Living Faith Church has raised a total of $7,343.00 for safe water projects.
Overall Safe Water September has raised a grand total of $200,972 for clean and safe water projects across the globe. This money will help change the lives of so many and make a difference for generations to come. Allowing communities better access to safe water, gives them opportunities for agriculture, education, trade and so much more.
Safe Water September may have finished but now the hard work continues as these funds are used to improve the daily life of so many individuals.
To hear more about the people Safe Water September helps, check out their page at:
https://safewaterseptember.org.au/safe-water-september-2025/posts/working-together-for-safe-water
Thank You to everyone for your support!!
Young Voices (Youth Council) Co-Design Workshop
On the 5th of October, three youth and young adults from LFC as well as others from Yarra Yarra Presbytery attended a Youth Council Codesign workshop at SCOTS in Heidelberg. The workshop was a positive experience where participants enjoyed open sharing of ideas and excitement for a youth council. The opportunity for learning about church structure was valued and there was a keen sense that those involved could make a difference. All the youth who attended wanted to be a part of the council idea which has been renamed to YASC – Yarra/Youth Advisory Strategy Committee. The group enjoyed the possibility that YASC can at once mean:
-Yarra Advisory Strategy Committee
-Youth Advisory Strategy Committee
-Young Adults Strategy Committee
The flexible multi meaning name, YASC, said “why ask”, reflected a common theme and desire of the group to be fluid and adaptable in practical considerations such as capacity, structure and content. For example, participants discussed the benefits of a core group of regular committed committee members but also wanted the YASC to be open to other youth who wished to contribute occasionally when time, topic or location allowed. Similarly, it was agreed that YASC would meet monthly, but that the frequency of meetings although based on a monthly expectation would change depending on content, capacity and consensus. One youth noted, “If it is life giving, we want more meetings!”
The inaugural YASC is scheduled for 30.11.25
Safe Water September POND Cake Pop Stall
Last week POND, held their annual Cake Pop Stall to raise money for Safe Water September.
Safe Water September is a GMP (Global Mission Partners) event where teams from across Australia give up all drinks except water for the entire month of September to raise money for safe water projects in countries that need help accessing clean and safe water.
The POND children had a lot of fun cooking and decorating the cake pops. They made the cake pops flavored after drinks in recognition of what some of them and their parents are giving up this month. There was Hot Chocolate, Orange Juice, Chai and Coffee flavored cake pops.
The clear favorite was Hot Chocolate which sold out.
We are so proud of the children's efforts and they raised a total of $345 for Safe Water September.
If you would like to donate to Safe Water September, there is still time.
Check out our team page via the link on the page.
Living Faith Church Phone Number is no longer in operation.
Please do not try to call the landline.
Living Faith Church has been debating the need to keep our landline in use for some time and today it was decided that the we will no longer maintain the office landline.
We apologies if this is an inconvenience to you and ask that if you would like to contact Living Faith Church, please contact us through our website or via email at admin@livingfaithchurch.org.au
At Living Faith Church, we too affirm our commitment to reconciliation, justice and truth.
"Between 25th May and 18th June this year, thousands of Victorians walked a total of 500km with Travis Lovett. Lovett, the Commissioner of Victoria’s Yoorook Justice Commission, carried the final report along this Walk for Truth and delivered the result of this truth-telling process to Victoria’s Parliament House. There, the result of a four-year process of documenting injustices against Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Loris and Ellen joined the Walk for Truth on its second-last leg from Footscray to Camp Sovereignty at King’s Domain.
The Uniting Church’s Synod of Victoria/Tasmania welcomes the Yoorook Commission’s report and the opportunity to further develop and help implement appropriate local responses to the report and its recommendations. At Living Faith Church, we too affirm our commitment to reconciliation, justice and truth."
On the 12th of June, Reverend David Fotheringham sent a letter out to members of the Uniting Church in Australia, Synod of Victoria and Tasmania about the commission's final report. A PDF copy of this letter is available for you to read if you are interested or we invite you to find out more about the Yoorrook Justice Commission at their website.
Awaken! State Youth Games 2025.
State Youth Games 2025 saw Living Faith Church join a Uniting Church cooperative team made up of five churches from around the state. Supported by UCA’s Vic/Tas Synod and leaders from LFC, Shepparton, Brunswick and Glen Waverley Uniting Churches we formed a warm, inviting and God loving community to play sports and consider Jesus in our lives over 4 days in Warragul. Abundant support from all of our home churches helped create a really great atmosphere with comfy couches, catering, care and consideration of everyone’s needs.
This was such a great event we will be back in 2026!
Here is LFC’s Team and some happy snaps from the event:
A Vision for a Just Australia.
A Uniting Church Resource about the 2025 Election in Australia.
The Uniting Church of Australia have released an updated Vision for a just Australia in the lead up to the 2025 election in Australia. This resource encourages Australians to look at how they are living and how they want to see Australia change and grow as a nation of integrity.
The President of the Uniting Church in Australia Reverend Charissa Suli wrote "This resource is an invitation to engage prayerfully and faithfully with the issues that matter, upholding the values we cherish as a Church. This is not about endorsing political parties but about embodying Christ’s love in the political process—asking hard questions, advocating with compassion, and holding leaders accountable to the values of justice, mercy, and love."
Furthermore the resources are intended to " express our hope for Australia to be a nation that is just, compassionate, inclusive and courageous.
If you would like to know more please check out Uniting church page at :
https://uniting.church/a-vision-for-a-just-australia/