Country reign continues at Uniting Church's 30th Qld Synod

Players in the Synod touch football competition

Synod wouldn’t be the same without the city vs country touch football game, named after the mythical (some say legendary) former Trinity Theological College Student Charles Farnsworthy.

Despite the game being used as an example for the whole of synod on voting practices on Friday night, it was uncertain whether country would have enough starters. Thankfully though, country rallied and was able to provide a team to maintain their hold on the trophy and bragging rights.

Former Country player Paul Clarke revelled in being back in the City team (some suggested that country would now be stronger) and rallied teammates Tim Robinson, Lu Senitulli and John Dansie in leading the charge. City opened the game at a fast pace, but were kept in check by referee Linda Hanson (despite being without a whistle). Clarke scored first points of the match, but the celebrations were short lived as Country’s Greg Adsett scored quickly surprising a complacent Senituli.

Country continued their embarrassment of City’s much fitter looking team after a marvellous display of showmanship and footwork from Tim Robinson backfired. A comment from the sideline questioned City’s fitness after asking Deception Bay’s Dansie why he was sweating more and breathing harder than the older guys on his team. He admitted only to running harder.

A confusion of sports almost cost Senitulli his place on the team after a volleyball esque spike almost lost a try, but a quick footed John Ruhle recovered the ball and scored for City. A late substitution on by Greg Rankin was Country’s secret weapon as no sooner was he on the field, he had assisted Brendan “Hoops” Hooper in crossing the line for a second time.

Country led at half time not showing the effects of the warm midday sun, City on the other hand feeling the pressure saw Peter Lockhart flat out on his back bemoaning the youthful exuberance of the country team (and wanting oxygen and Summer Madness Coffee in that order). He quickly recovered though and as the second half began, so too did City’s resolve. They pushed hard against Country forcing mistakes but the on field encouragement from Jim Pearson rallied Country, forcing an out of bounds run from Robinson and a try disallowed by the ref. “Hoops” and Tim Griggs scored in quick succession taking City by surprise again and cementing their narrow lead.

City pause for prayer after the game; perhaps asking for victory next year?

By the end of the game, City had been outclassed once again and Country were able to take home bragging rights and their place on the trophy winning the match 6-4. In post match interviews, Tim Robinson from Logan UC commented that his running was impaired by eating too much of the fine cuisine offered by Alex Park staff, but also admitting that Country were “a much fitter team, the score didn’t reflect the true competiveness of the game…Country beat us far more convincingly than that ”. 

Both City and Country had strong representation from across the Synod, although heads were being scratched at Scott Guyatt’s choice of an Lions AFL guernsey for the game. Spectators were up on previous matches with many intrigued passer bys stopping for to witness the spectacle that is the Charles Farnsworthy Memorial Cup.

Also published in UCA QLD magazine "Journey"

Stepping back in time

Imagine taking a step back in time to the 1800s. Every year on the first weekend in May, that’s exactly what many thousands do.

For the last 37 years, the Woolshed at Jondaryan in South West Queensland, comes back to life in the same way it may have been in the 1890s showcasing the skills and the life of the farm. Whether it be steam driven butter churners, horsedrawn wagons and other long forgotten machinery; they all take pride of place at the annual “Heritage Festival”.

“We find that families and kids absolutely love it” Shana Rogers Business manager of the Jondaryan Woolshed said “It’s things that some of them have never ever seen before and just have no idea that the clothes we wear come from sheep or animals we see out in the yard.”

From a family perspective this day offers something for even the younger kids. A chance to see a massive Clydesdale up close and watch it pulling a wagon, noisy smelly steam engines that chuff along wheezing and whooshing, a flock of sheep being herded in by a kelpie ready to be shorn or good old fashioned billy cart races, sack races or bobbing for apples.



The best part though is that there is wide open space unspoilt by city traffic, plenty of room to run around and the smell of fresh air mixed with the aroma of smoke from old fashioned wood fires and the occasional whiff of horse flesh as the stagecoach comes rolling by.

But there are plenty of other sounds, smells and tastes that bring the woolshed back to life. Fresh damper cooking in the coals, homemade scones baking in a wood stove in a tiny kitchen, served with a generous helping of homemade butter and jam or good old fashioned stews bubbling in a camp kitchen in the back paddock near the shearing shed.

The Old Swaggie pushing his cart

“The whole village is in recreation so we have spinners and weavers here and many of our volunteers dress in (period) costume which is lovely to see” Ms Rogers said “everything, every building that’s on the woolshed site was original from the Jondaryan Station which was around 300 000 acres at its peak in the late 1890s and the history of the place is just incredible”. 

Encountering the gospel or just a lot of noise?

Easter for many of us who class themselves as Christians means a long weekend and an opportunity to engage and reflect on the significance of the sacrifice on the Cross and the power God has over death with the resurrection of Christ which we celebrate on Easter Sunday.

But for some, its also a time of loud music, crowds and a weekend away at Australia's largest Christian festival Easterfest - a festival about Easter at Easter. Or is it?

How well does the message of Easter, break through all the music and hype of the festival and why go at all?

I asked some of the young people from Emmanuel UCA (From the Brisbane Suburb of Enoggera) how they encountered the Easter message at Easterfest.

Members of Emannuel Uniting Church

· Dominic 22 – I really enjoyed Chris Poulsen playing old hymns in one of the churches. It was amazing to have the space to meditate and reflect. Also hearing about all the great work that (Destiny’s Rescue) have been doing in saving lives and rescuing people from sex slavery.

· Mikala 17 – It’s the spirit of everyone coming together. Everyone is here to share this amazing time of year in the Christian calendar. The bands the friends everything...it’s the perfect atmosphere

· Rachel 17 – I really really enjoy hearing worship songs or songs in general. Thousands of people’s voices joining as one. It feels so great to know that there are so many others who believe the same as I do, its really comforting.



What about the leaders? Why do they keep bringing groups back? 3 leaders from within the Uniting Church shared with me their thoughts and reflections.

Rev Harlee Cooper - Associate Minister Emmanuel UCA

Its a dilemma to take the young people away from the church community at what I consider as the highest point in the church calendar. But the kids love it. They come and have a good time and bond and grow in their relationships with one another. They see people they look up to and respect that are proud of their faith and allowing that to do things in their lives.

Rev Josie Nottle - Bremer Brisbane Presbytery youth resource minister.

We had about 80 in our group from Bremer Brisbane (and a few ring ins).

 Most are youth grouped but not necessarily churched, but they love it and its something about the community and the vibe they love. I wasn’t going to do Easterfest this year, but by popular demand I gave in and organized a group. I was reluctant because Easterfest doesn’t really disciple the young people but then as I became open to the idea again I realised that we can disciple them throughout Easterfest if we are intentional. So that’s what I tried to do.

My personal highlight was Jesus Christ Superstar music at the Lutheran church on Sunday afternoon. It was incredible and very very moving.

Some of the UCA campers from 2012

I try to be intentional about how we promote the Easter story, we had daily community time where we walked through the story of Easter which culminated in communion on Sunday. I noticed as we were singing in our tent area people from other groups would come and join us and wanted to sing praise and worship songs with us. It was really beautiful.

There is no doubt that the members of the group wanted to be there too, I made community time optional, but they were all there always, it was quiet special actually.

Phil Smith, Chaplain Unity College Caloundra

(My wife) Kayleen and I have been at the festival since the very first Australian Gospel Music Festival, and we have been engaged as music-lovers, parents, volunteer chaplains, managing the media unit, and now as part of campus ministry at Unity College.

I’m not sure whether Easterfest has evolved or bee shaped, but it has become something of an expo for Christians in recent years. It’s very welcoming and easy to slip into if you speak the language and have grown up in church culture, or if you bring a youth group or church crew with you.
 

Lifeworks Uniting Church on Easter Sunday

It may be worthwhile for the organisers to consider how it functions as outreach.How does it feel for people only beginning to ask about Jesus, or even the idea of ‘god’.

For the second year, four leaders brought a dozen senior high school students – nearly all of them not engaged with a local church.

Last year the highlights of faith formation came with the message preached at the Sunday night open-air service, and walking the stations of the cross around the city. (No, I didn’t see that coming!!!)

Sarah Katherine-King speaks to performer Mitch Barrington

This year it was Easter morning worship at Lifeworks Uniting with Tim Grigg’s folks, and a miraculous encounter with an evangelist from the Sunshine Coast. Sarah Katherine-King has been in a wheel chair most of her 25 years, a pump in her head as result of spina bifida... And she only ever speaks of her worth to Father God and God’s faithfulness!

Our young women heard her story sitting in a circle on the ground and were deeply touched. Dr. Justine Toh’s forum on body image was also powerful.

Sunday Church and around the breakfast table were the times when ‘the Easter story’ were told from the gospel, but I think it was obvious Jesus is alive in the spirit of the event and the lives of thousands of people.

Downers: another youth leader I met was hunting everywhere for a new bible to give to someone who had just come to faith – there was none! We eventually scored a New Testament through Tim’s church and gave that. (No, not an app... This kid wanted to hold that book in his hands.)

I don’t know what keeps me going back. It’s not the music any more. It’s the hope that this type of immersion will touch our students’ spirits beyond an intellectual or emotional experience. I hope to be an interpreter when that’s required, and the Holy Spirit seems to go ahead each year and arrange some ‘chance’ encounters that speak to at least some of our crew.

.... And I enjoy driving the bus.

Cheech Smith