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DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20260630T190000
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DTSTAMP:20260604T071728
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SUMMARY:The Narrow Bridge
DESCRIPTION:The Narrow Bridge \nFree Film screening and Discussion \nA story of loss\, courage and human connection \n  \nWhen: Tuesday 30 June\, 7 pm – 9 pm \nWhere: Essendon North Uniting Church\, 132 Keilor Road\, Essendon North \n  \n“The Narrow Bridge” follows four individuals whose lives have been shattered by conflict in the Middle East – yet who respond not with a desire for revenge\, but with courage and compassion. \n  \nRami\, Bassan\, Bushra\, and Maytal have each lost a child or parent. In the face of unimaginable grief\, they choose to transform their pain into a bridge towards understanding and peace. \n  \nHow do we live after a devastating loss? \nHow do we resist being defined by hatred? \nHow do we hold onto our humanity in the face of violence? \n  \nAfter the film there will be a facilitated conversation exploring themes of reconciliation\, shared humanity and connection across faiths. \n  \nEndorsed by: \n·         Essendon North Uniting Church \n·         Uniting Church in Australia\, Synod of Victoria and Tasmania \n·         Moonee Valley Interfaith Network \n·         Council of Christians and Jews Victoria \n  \n  \nTo register\, click here
URL:https://victas.uca.org.au/event/the-narrow-bridge/
LOCATION:North Essendon Uniting Church\, 132 Keilor Road\, Essendon North\, Victoria\, 3041\, Australia
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ORGANIZER;CN="Mark Zirnsak":MAILTO:mark.zirnsak@victas.uca.org.au
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DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20260721T193000
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SUMMARY:Live reading of Mark's Gospel
DESCRIPTION:In a candle lit church\, gather with others to hear the whole of Mark’s Gospel read aloud in one evening. There will be mulled wine\, space for reflection\, and gentle silence. Whether you are spiritual-not-religious\, part of a faith community\, or simply curious to hear this ancient text come alive\,  you are welcome. \n  \nWhere: Brunswick Uniting Church \nWhen: 7.30pm Tuesday 21st July \nCost: Free \n  \nTo register\, click here
URL:https://victas.uca.org.au/event/live-reading-of-marks-gospel/
LOCATION:Brunswick Uniting Church\, 214 Sydney Road\, Brunswick\, Victoria\, Australia
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ORGANIZER;CN="Sally Douglas":MAILTO:sally.douglas@pilgrim.edu.au
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DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20260725T093000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20260725T170000
DTSTAMP:20260604T071728
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SUMMARY:2026 JIM Convention
DESCRIPTION:Blessed are the Peacemakers – Building a Peace Church \nJustice and International Mission Convention 2026 \nWhere: Centre for Theology & Ministry\, 29 College Crescent\, Parkville \nWhen: Saturday 25 July 2026\, 9:30 am – 4:45 pm \nCost: $50 for metropolitan participants/$25 concession and non-metropolitan Melbourne participants \n  \nThe 1982 National Assembly affirmed the Uniting Church in Australia to be a peacemaking body and encouraging alternatives to war. However\, the resolution did not rule out the use of “Just War” in exceptional circumstances. With a number of serious armed conflicts around the world\, and increased polarisation across communities\, the following statement from the World Council of Churches is highly relevant: \nWe are convinced: A clear witness to peace and nonviolence grounded in justice is what the world needs today from all the churches together…As Christians\, we are motivated and encouraged by the Gospel message of the peace of Christ and the rich Biblical tradition of peace and justice…We want to engage in constructive efforts to build a culture of peace. \n  \nTrue peace-building must seek to create socially just outcomes\, not simply aim for the absence of violence. Without addressing underlying injustices\, the chance for lasting peace fall to near zero. \n  \nAn assessment of civil resistance movements between 2010 and 2019 found 34% of non-violent struggles succeeded compared to 9% of violent campaigns. Thus\, in practice\, non-violent campaigns are four times more likely to be successful than violent ones. \n  \nThe focus of the 2026 Justice and International Mission Convention will be to explore how Uniting Church members can build greater engagement on non-violent peacebuilding. \n  \nKeynote speakers \n  \nDr. Nida Shoughry \nCo-Director\, Center for Women\, Peace and Security\, Itach-Ma’aki \n  \nDr Shoughry is a scholar-practitioner working at the intersection of feminist peacebuilding\, conflict transformation\, and women’s political participation. She has co-trained and accompanied over 100 Palestinian and Israeli women leaders in preparation for peace negotiations. She has collected more than 2\,000 online accounts of Palestinian women documenting survival\, resistance\, and visions for peace. \n  \nDr. Tsameret Levy-Daphny \nStrategic Advisor and Lecturer; Fellow\, Forum for Regional Thinking \n  \nDr Levy-Daphny is an expert on Turkey and the Middle East\, and a lecturer and strategic advisor with over 25 years of experience in Israeli academia and civic initiatives. She previously headed the Turkey Forum at the Van Leer Jerusalem Institute\, where she led research programs and regional collaborations. \n  \nDr. Matt Anslow \nMatthew is a biblical scholar and theologian\, activist\, author\, and preacher. \n  \nMatthew’s first book\, Fulfilling the Law and the Prophets\, was published in 2022 and he has published numerous academic and popular articles on subjects such as peacemaking\, nonviolent activism\, agriculture\, biblical studies\, preaching\, and philosophy. \nProgram \n9:30 am – 9:45 am Acknowledgement of Country and Opening Worship \n  \n9:45 am – 10:45 am Plenary Session \nTheological reflections on peace building – Matthew Anslow \n  \n10:45 am – 11:15 am Morning Tea \n  \n11:15 am – 12:30 pm \nHalf the Story\, None of the Power: Women\, Exclusion\, and the Failure of Israeli-Palestinian Peace – Nida Shoughry and Tsameret Levy-Daphny \n  \n12:30 pm – 1:30 pm Lunch \n  \n1:30 pm – 2:15 pm Workshop Session 1 \n  \n2:20 pm – 3:05 pm Workshop Session 2 \n  \n3:05 pm – 3:30 pm Afternoon tea \n  \n3:30 pm – 4:30 pm Plenary Session – How to build support for non-violent peacebuilding and the direction of the JIM Cluster \n  \n4:30 pm – 4:45 pm Closing worship \nThe Workshops \n\nSwords into ploughshares – Campaigning against the arms trade\, including autonomous weapons and biological weapons\n\nFacilitator: Mark Zirnsak \n  \n\nNon-Violent Strategies versus Armed Conflict – How do we assess the alternatives?\n\nFacilitator: Mark Zirnsak \n  \n\nMove the Money Campaign – Increasing funding for peacebuilding\n\nFacilitator: Heather Clarke\, Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom \n  \n\nEcumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel – Practical non-violent involvement in conflict zones\n\nFacilitators: John Wardlaw (who recently returned from a placement in the West Bank) and Rev Sandy Boyce\, Executive Officer\, Victorian Council of Churches \n  \n\nPeacebuilding in Myanmar\n\nFacilitator: Myanmar Campaign Network \n  \n\nSolidarity with peacebuilders in Palestine and Israel\n\nFacilitator: Friends of Standing Together Melbourne \n  \n\nCorrecting the historical injustice of the colonial conquest of Australia\n\nFacilitator: Tim Molineux\, Synod Social Justice Officer \n  \n\nAddressing family\, domestic and sexual violence\n\nFacilitator: Mark Zirnsak \n  \n\nSettings relationships right: practicing peace in congregations\n\nFacilitator: Rev Michael Wood\, author of “Practicing Peace: Theology\, Contemplation\, and Action” \n  \n\nWhat does peace-building look like in real communities today? The experience of UnitingWorld’s partner in Maluku\, Indonesia\n\nFacilitator: Antony McMullen\, Church Engagement Manager at UnitingWorld \n  \n\nPeace-building in the Philippines\n\n  \n  \nDietary Requirements \nAll catering will be vegetarian to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions associated with the catering. \n  \nIf you have a special dietary requirement please let us know when you register. \n  \nTo register\, click here \n 
URL:https://victas.uca.org.au/event/2026-jim-convention/
LOCATION:Centre for Theology & Ministry\, 29 College Crescent\, Parkville\, Victoria\, 3052\, Australia
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