<![CDATA[The Avenue Uniting Church Blackburn - Blog]]>Tue, 14 Apr 2026 19:54:21 -0700Weebly<![CDATA[NAIDOC WEEK]]>Thu, 01 Jul 2021 03:47:39 GMThttps://www.avenueuniting.org/blog/naidoc-weekSunday 4th July marks the beginning of NAIDOC Week, so we thought we'd place the poster and theme here.  the Theme for the week is "Heal Country!" and the image is "Care for Country" by Maggie-Jean Douglas, a Gubbi Gubbi woman from SE Queensland.
                                                                                                                                                 (Image used with permission)
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]]><![CDATA[Treaty]]>Thu, 10 Jun 2021 02:02:09 GMThttps://www.avenueuniting.org/blog/treaty
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This challenging and very important video comes to us from Common Grace, to mark the end of Reconciliation Week 2021.  The Common Grace movement invites you to watch and share the Treaty video, as part of our commitment to being led by our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Christian Leaders in pursuing friendship and Reconciliation in our lifetime.
Watch the video HERE



]]><![CDATA[ANZAC Poppies]]>Thu, 29 Apr 2021 07:00:00 GMThttps://www.avenueuniting.org/blog/anzac-poppiesLast Sunday, in remembrance of our Anzacs and as a prayer for peace, poppies (made during the service) were placed outside on our Easter Crosses
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]]><![CDATA[International Women's Day]]>Thu, 04 Mar 2021 11:09:15 GMThttps://www.avenueuniting.org/blog/international-womens-day
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This reflection comes on the eve of International Women's Day, given by Uniting Church in Australia President, Dr Deirdre Palmer.   Who are the women for whom do YOU give thanks? :)
]]><![CDATA[Angels...]]>Thu, 17 Dec 2020 05:51:09 GMThttps://www.avenueuniting.org/blog/december-16th-2020
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"Angels" mean different things to different people: from divine messengers to 'angelic children'(!) to guardian angels, and all sorts in between!  Our angels are not meant to represent any one understanding, but are there to invite us into thinking about how the mystery we call "GOD" is present and active in the world.  Angels and stars are two of the key - and much loved -  symbols of Christmas, and however we understand them, they speak to us of big news!
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]]><![CDATA[Celebrating NAIDOC Week]]>Thu, 05 Nov 2020 05:00:42 GMThttps://www.avenueuniting.org/blog/celebrating-naidoc-weekPicture
NAIDOC Week celebrations are held across Australia each July (postponed this year due to Covid) to celebrate the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal
and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
NAIDOC is celebrated not only in Indigenous communities, but by Australians from all walks of life.

NAIDOC originally stood for ‘National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee’.  This committee was once responsible for organising national activities during NAIDOC Week and its acronym has since become the name of the week itself.
Find out more about the origins and history of NAIDOC Week at NAIDOC's site



The 2020 National NAIDOC Poster, Shape of Land, was designed by Tyrown Waigana, a Noongar and Saibai Islander man.  Tyrown’s artwork tells the story of how the Rainbow Serpent came out of the Dreamtime to create this land. It is represented by the snake and it forms the shape of Australia, which symbolises how it created our lands. The colour from the Rainbow Serpent is reflected on to the figure to display our connection to the Rainbow Serpent, thus our connection to country. The overlapping colours on the outside is the Dreamtime. The figure inside the shape of Australia is a representation of Indigenous Australians showing that this country - since the dawn of time - Always Was, Always Will Be Aboriginal Land
]]><![CDATA[Out and About... and being prepared!]]>Thu, 05 Nov 2020 04:46:37 GMThttps://www.avenueuniting.org/blog/out-and-about-and-being-preparedWe've had some technical difficulties this end, which means that we've missed a few weeks' worth of "Sunday Morning Kids", sorry about that.  We're up and running again, though, and hopefully it's all go from here! 
Watch the Video here.
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...with Jo and Tony.   Thanks, as always, to Rev Ray McCluskey at Cranbourne Uniting Church
]]><![CDATA[Season of Creation...]]>Wed, 30 Sep 2020 06:35:58 GMThttps://www.avenueuniting.org/blog/season-of-creation
with Jo and Tony :)
]]><![CDATA[Spring Project, and new "abundant life!']]>Sun, 20 Sep 2020 08:25:44 GMThttps://www.avenueuniting.org/blog/spring-project-and-new-abundant-life
"The Spring Project" is the next stage in our focus on 'abundant life'  at The Avenue, during the various stages of Covid 19 isolation this year.  Many people across the congregation have contributed to these projects; a truly intergenerational affair!  It's an affirmation that, while our building may be closed, the church isn't, and neither is GOD's Spirit.  We believe that the world around us gives glory to the creativity, mystery, and sacredness that we understand as GOD.  Thanks to everyone who has joined in the fun and ministry of these projects, and watch this space!

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]]><![CDATA[Creation, Spring, and new life!]]>Sun, 20 Sep 2020 08:19:18 GMThttps://www.avenueuniting.org/blog/creation-spring-and-new-life
with Jo and Tony :)
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