Events

World Day of Prayer Friday 1st March 2013

On the first Friday in March, Christians around Australia will attend church services and join with others in more than 170 countries to celebrate the World Day of Prayer with an annual service prepared by a different country each year. Christian women in France have written this year's service, with the theme “I was a stranger and you welcomed me”. Local service details for your area can be found on the World Day of Prayer website, http://www.worlddayofprayeraustralia.org/locate-a-service.

Will Foreign Investment Alleviate Poverty in Burma? Sydney, Canberra and Melbourne, March 2013

Burma Campaign Australia presents a national speaking tour: Will Foreign Investment Alleviate Poverty in Burma?
Recent reforms have seen resource rich Burma become an investment haven. Despite serious questions about human rights impact of foreign investment projects, Australia's Foreign Minister Bob Carr has declared that foreign investment will alleviate poverty in Burma. But will it?
Hear Naing Htoo (Earthrights International), Seng Maw (Kachin Association Australia) and U Shwe Thein (Land Core Group) answer the question: "Will foreign investment alleviate poverty in Burma?"

Sydney
When: Tuesday March 12, 6:00pm - 7:30pm
Where: Auditorium Trades Hall, 377 - 383 Sussex St, Sydney 2000

Canberra
When: Wednesday March 13, 6:00pm - 7:30pm
Where: Brindabella Room, Canberra Club, Level 1, 45 West Row, Canberra City, 2601

Melbourne
When: Thursday March 14, 6:00pm - 7:30pm
Where: AMWU Building, 251 Queensberry St, Carlton South, 3053

These events are free. No RSVP required.

2012 Christmas Bowl Events

Churches across Australia held events in support of the 2012 Christmas Bowl. Please click here for more information on how you can get involved in the Christmas Bowl and help to rebuild the lives of people from some of the most conflict-affected countries in the world.

Christmas Bowl Launch: Melbourne, Victoria, Wednesday November 14

Act for Peace and the Victorian Council of Churches invite you to the blessing and launch of the 2012 Christmas Bowl.
When: Wednesday November 14, 7.00 – 8.30pm
Where: St Stephen’s Church, 360 Church St, Richmond
Featuring: Trad Jazzers, and Act for Peace Refugee Ambassador Lydia, from Burma/Myanmar, who will share her story
Bring a bowl from your church or home for blessing.
Enquiries: Jeff Wild, Act for Peace Development Officer for Victoria and Tasmania. Phone (03) 9650 6811 or email jwild@actforpeace.org.au
For a flyer you can print and distribute in your church or organisation, please click here.

Act for Peace in Africa presentation: Epping, New South Wales, Wednesday November 14

Sarah and Paul Weaver and Jane Bryant took part earlier this year in Act for Peace's study tour of three African countries, visiting a number of aid projects supported by Act for Peace. With the Christmas Bowl Appeal collection drawing near, they will present an information evening about their trip to Ethiopia, Kenya and Zimbabwe, focussing on projects supported by Act for Peace and the Christmas Bowl. Following their pictorial presentation there will be opportunity for questions and discussion, and further information about Act for Peace will be available.
Supper will follow. Gold coin donations will supplement local collections for the Christmas Bowl. All are invited!
When: Wednesday November 14, 7.30pm
Where: Epping Uniting Church, Oxford and Chester Streets, Epping

Christmas Bowl Launch: Perth, Western Australia, Sunday November 18

When: Sunday November 18, 3.00 – 5.00pm
Where: Wembley Downs Church of Christ, 10 Bournemouth Crescent, Wembley Downs
Enquiries: Graham Nielsen gramarg@nielsen.id.au or Virginia Macaspac, Act for Peace Development Officer for South Australia and Western Australia. Phone (08) 8232 7071 or email vmacaspac@actforpeace.org.au
For more information, please click here.

Christmas Bowl presentation: Forestville, New South Wales, Sunday November 18

Act for Peace Executive Director Alistair Gee will talk about the Christmas Bowl at this Sunday's 9.00am worship at Forestville Uniting Church. All are welcome!
When: Sunday November 18, 9.00am
Where: Forestville Uniting Church, 9 Darley St, Forestville NSW 2087

Roundabout Craft Fair & Exhibition: Blackwood, South Australia, November 23 and 24

Come enjoy a relaxed morning or afternoon at the Roundabout Craft Fair & Exhibition. View art and craft works made by Community Program members and much more.
When: Friday November 23 and Saturday November 24, 9.00am – 4.00pm
Where: Blackwood Uniting Church, 266 Main Rd, Blackwood.
Gold coin entry will go towards the Christmas Bowl. For more information contact Riki Owens-Bennett on 8278 7699 or email comprog@blackwood.unitingchurchsa.org.au, or click here.

Christmas Bowl Launch and Dedication: Forest Lake, Queensland, Sunday November 25

When: Sunday November 25, 9.30am
Where: St John’s Anglican College, Alpine Place, Forest Lake, Queensland

Christmas Bowl Launch: Launceston, Tasmania, Sunday November 25

Act for Peace and the Tasmanian Council of Churches invite you to the blessing and launch of the 2012 Christmas Bowl.
When: Sunday November 25, 6.00 – 8.00pm
Where: Launceston North Uniting Church, 128 - 132 George Town Rd, Newnham, Tasmania 7248
Featuring: Local musicians and a beautifully cooked international meal!
Bring a bowl from your church or home for blessing.
Enquiries: Rev. Amanda Nicholas email: rev.amnic@gmail.com; Jeff Wild, Act for Peace Development Officer for Victoria and Tasmania. Phone (03) 9650 6811 or email jwild@actforpeace.org.au
For a flyer you can print and distribute in your church or organisation, please click here.

Christmas Bowl Launch: Hobart, Tasmania, Sunday November 25

Act for Peace and the Tasmanian Council of Churches invite you to the blessing and launch of the 2012 Christmas Bowl.
When: Sunday November 25
Where: Hobart North Uniting Church
Bring a bowl from your church or home for blessing.
Enquiries: Jeff Wild, Act for Peace Development Officer for Victoria and Tasmania. Phone (03) 9650 6811 or email jwild@actforpeace.org.au

Service of Nine Lessons and Carols: Brisbane, Queensland, Wednesday November 28

Donations collected at Brisbane Grammar School’s annual Service of Nine Lessons and Carols support the Christmas Bowl.
When: Wednesday November 28, 7.00pm
Where: Great Hall, Brisbane Grammar School.
Tickets are limited.

Carols and Christmas Bowl Launch: Coffs Harbour, New South Wales, Friday November 30

A Christmas Bowl service organised by the Coffs Coast Ecumenical Council of Churches.
When: Friday November 30, 7.00pm
Where: Coffs Harbour Uniting Church, 7.00 pm
Where: Cnr Gordon and Vernon Sts, Coffs Harbour, New South Wales
Featuring: Guest speaker Benny Littlejohn, Act for Peace. The Salvation Army Brass Band and Coffs Harbour Choir will provide music and carol singing from 6.30pm.
All are welcome!

Christmas Bowl service and community carols night: Port Broughton, South Australia, Sunday December 2

Full details to come.
When: Sunday December 2, morning Christmas Bowl service and evening community carols
Where: Corner Edmund and Harvey Streets, Port Broughton.

Christmas cantata and carols: Cranbourne, Victoria, Saturday December 8

When: Saturday December 8, 7.00pm
Where: Cranbourne Regional Uniting Church, 41 Lesdon Ave Cranbourne
Featuring: Cranbourne community choir Just Harmony as guest artists. The cantata is the Christmas story, with beautiful music from “Night of Miracles” by Pederson. All prcoeeds to the Christmas Bowl. A donation of $5 per person is encouraged.

A Peaceful Night Before Christmas: Castlemaine, Victoria, Wednesday December 12

When: Wednesday December 12, 7.00 - 8.30pm
Where: Uniting Church hall, Lyttleton Street, Castlemaine.
Hosted by the Peace Choir, but including many voices of the nearby community! All welcome – an exploration of what Christmas means for us in this time and place – story, reflection, candles and singing. Supper provided.

Badge Day: Adelaide, South Australia, Friday December 14

The annual SA Badge Day is an ecumenical event which sees around 150 volunteers from churches across Adelaide and some country areas working together to raise money for the Christmas Bowl.
When and where: Friday December 14, 8.00am – 2.00pm in the city centre, and 9.00am – 5.00pm in selected suburbs and regional areas.
Enquiries: Virginia Macaspac, Act for Peace Development Officer for South Australia and Western Australia. Phone (08) 8232 7071 or email vmacaspac@actforpeace.org.au

Lentils for Lanka Christmas Bowl lunch: Melbourne, Victoria, Saturday December 15

Enjoy guest speakers and a delicious meal that supports the Christmas Bowl
When: Saturday December 15, 2012, from 12.30pm
Where: Lentil as Anything, Abbotsford Convent, 1-3 St Heliers Street, Abbotsford VIC 3067
Featuring: Guest speaker Shanaka Fernando, founder of Lentil as Anything, and other speakers from Sri Lankan ethnic groups
Cost: By donation. Please give generously to support the Christmas Bowl.
Enquiries: Visier Sanyü, Refugee Coordinator, Act for Peace, vsanyu@actforpeace.org.au or phone (03) 9650 6811.
Please click here for a flyer.

Christmas carols: Yandoit, Victoria, Sunday December 16

When: Sunday December 16, 7.00pm
Where: Uniting Church, Yandoit. To get there – go into and through the town of Yandoit, turn left at the end of town and look for the sign saying "Uniting Church". Get there early for a seat!
A carol service in a lovely church on a hill in the bush – plenty of chance to sing as well as listen and contemplate. Please bring a plate of supper to share afterwards if you can.

Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols: Mornington Peninsula, Victoria, Sunday December 16
When: Sunday December 16, 6.30pm
Where: Southern Mornington Peninsula Uniting Church, Murray Anderson Road, Rosebud
Featuring: Southern Peninsula Interchurch Choir
A collection for the Christmas Bowl will be taken.

The Christmas Bowl has been supporting Act for Peace's project partners around the world for more than 60 years. Click here for ideas and resources for getting involved.