Jain Festival: Paryushana Parvarambha

MahaviraParyushana is the most important annual holy event for Jains and is usually celebrated in August or September in the Indian calendar Month of Bhadrapada. At this time (an 8 or 10 day observance) Jains increase their level of spiritual intensity using fasting and prayer/meditation as aids. It is also a time of reading of scriptures, and seeking forgiveness for sins committed in the past year.
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Earth Overshoot Day for 2020

Earth Overshoot Day

Churches are coming together to toll their bells and hold prayer services to mark Earth Overshoot Day. The tolling bells will warn demise for God’s Creation as we know it on Earth – if we do not repent but instead continue down the destructive path that we have been following.

This year Earth Overshoot Day will fall on 22 August. To maximise publicity about this solemn milestone day, church bells will toll shortly before midday on Friday 21 August to alert people to Earth Overshoot Day the next day.

What is Earth Overshoot Day?

Earth Overshoot Day is the day when humanity’s demands for ecological resources (fresh water, fish, forests, etc), exceeds what the Earth can renew in a year.

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Religion and ceremony: Regional Victoria stage 3

Wedding Ceremony

You cannot attend a religious service – the Victorian Government encourages you to use online services instead to engage people in worship.

Weddings can have a maximum of five people (the couple, two witnesses and the celebrant).

Funerals will be restricted to 10 mourners plus people required to conduct the funeral. You can travel to attend a funeral.

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Birthday of Lord Krishna

Bala Krishna

Janmashtami, birthday of Lord Krishna, is based on calendars followed in India. It is also called Gokulashtami, Krishnashtami, and Sri Krishna Jayanti – all refer to the birthday of Lord Krishna. Sri Krishna Jayanti 2020 date in West, East and Southern parts of India is on August 11. In North India, it is on August 12, 2020. It is observed as Dahi Handi in Maharashtra, the formation of the huge human pyramids to break the pot hung high up.

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World Day of Indigenous Peoples

World Day of Indigenous Peoples

There are an estimated 476 million indigenous peoples in the world living across 90 countries. They make up less than 5 per cent of the world’s population, but account for 15 per cent of the poorest. They speak an overwhelming majority of the world’s estimated 7,000 languages and represent 5,000 different cultures.

Indigenous peoples are inheritors and practitioners of unique cultures and ways of relating to people and the environment. They have retained social, cultural, economic and political characteristics that are distinct from those of the dominant societies in which they live. Despite their cultural differences, indigenous peoples from around the world share common problems related to the protection of their rights as distinct peoples.

In this article, we we look to the Closing the Gap reforms by the Australian Government, the impact of Covid-19 on indigenous peoples and Indigenous spirituality.

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Honouring the World’s Indigenous Peoples

World's Indigenous PeoplesThe World Council of Churches will join many in honouring indigenous communities across the world on 9 August. Designated by the United Nations as “International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples,” this year the day is particularly honouring indigenous people for seeking unique solutions to the COVID-19 pandemic, and for leading the way in sustainable living in a post-COVID-19 era.
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Government assistance for temporary and provisional visa holders – coronavirus (COVID-19)

Live in Melbourne

A range of government assistance is available to temporary and provisional visa holders impacted by coronavirus (COVID-19). For more information please contact the agency responsible or visit the website listed.

The range of assistance available includes,

  • Pandemic Leave Disaster Payment
  • Face masks and coverings
  • Temporary changes to the Seasonal Worker Programme, Pacific Labour Scheme and the Working Holiday Maker visa program
  • Support for job seekers
  • Support for renters
  • Support for International Students
  • Relief payments for temporary visa holders
  • Support for multicultural and multifaith families
  • Relaxation of work hours for international students working in medical and disability sectors
  • Support for public housing and people experiencing homelessness
  • Coronavirus (COVID-19) Health workforce response
  • Hotels for Heroes
  • Support for Businesses

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Interfaith Open Letter to Prime Minister

ICAN logoThe Interfaith Open Letter in support of the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons is sent this day to the Prime Minister of Australia and all Members of Parliament. This letter has been signed by 58 faith organisations in Australia and represents an important initiative towards gaining Peace on Earth.
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Interfaith service for nuclear disarmament

ICAN logo

Thursday the 6th of August marks 75 years since the nuclear attack on Hiroshima in 1945. By the end of that year, Hiroshima and Nagasaki suffered more than 200,000 deaths and countless injuries. The impacts of those two explosions are still felt today, with many survivors requiring ongoing medical care.

Join the Uniting Church in Australia, the Nobel Peace Prize-winning International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons, the Hindu Council of Australia, the Australian Baháʼí Community, the Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney, the Buddhist Council of NSW, the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, the Pacific Conference of Churches and more to commemorate the Hiroshima anniversary. We will come together on Zoom, from our homes, at 6-6:45 on Thursday 6th August.

Prayers from seven faith traditions will be shared.

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Kindness and Love in a Time of Separation – Perspectives from the Three Abrahamic Faiths

JCMA logoJoin us at the Jewish Christian Muslim Association of Australia in a free on line event on the theme, ‘ Kindness & Love in a Time of Separation – Perspectives From The Three Abrahamic Faiths’ on the afternoon of Sunday 9 August 2020. This is an online event, free.
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Hindus halt bill calling Swastika a hate symbol

Swasti - svaasti symbolNew York State just tried and failed to get all swastikas declared hate symbols. The Swastika, a 6000 year old symbol in Hinduism – and some schools of Buddhism and Jainism – was taken by the Third Reich and turned on an angle and used as their symbol of war. It was an experiment that failed miserably. The swastika is a sacred symbol of the Hindu religion, a timeless reminder of the Source of All Creation.
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Tishah B’Av: Mourning the destruction of the Temple

Tisha B'avTishah B’Av, observed on the 9th (tishah) of the Hebrew month of Av, is a day of mourning the destruction of both ancient Temples in Jerusalem. Liberal Judaism never has assigned a central religious role to the ancient Temple, so mourning the destruction of the Temple may not be particularly meaningful to liberal Jews. In modern times, many Jews understand Tishah B’Av as a day to remember many tragedies that have befallen the Jewish people throughout history, and to reflect on the suffering that still occurs in our world.
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Climate Pastoral Care Conference – 2020

Climate Pastoral Care Conference

The unprecedented bushfires experienced around Australia, and particularly in NSW & the ACT, over spring and summer 2019/2020 further emphasized the need for climate pastoral care, and the idea of climate anxiety became newly concrete for many people as they faced the smoke and other impacts of the fires for themselves.

In June 2020, Common Grace and the Five Leaf Eco-Awards joined Uniting Earth as co-sponsors, and the conference was renamed the ‘Climate Pastoral Care Conference: Christian training in Care, Communication & Action’, to welcome greater ecumenical participation.

We are excited to gather online this year, and for the opportunities this offers for church leaders and interested parties from all around Australia and New Zealand to attend.

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