Some of our Holy Cross kids have got together and planned a kids’ church Christmas party for the last Sunday before Christmas! If you have kids in the neighbourhood who would like to have fun, share gifts, enjoy games and Christmas treats and share in the story of Jesus, please have them come along.
We are inviting all kids to dress Christmassy and bring a small gift ($10 limit) for another child around their age if they’d like to take part in our Secret Santa.
Please register here so we know who will be joining us:
ACT Attorney General and Minister for Water, Energy and Emissions Reduction Shane Rattenbury will discuss the ACT’s progress toward 100% renewable electricity, the future of gas and environmental sustainability issues one year on from the 2020 ACT election.
He will be quizzed by young people in his electorate.
The event, part of the Sustaining Our Future Festival 2021 which is this year online, is hosted by the Social Justice and Environment Group, Holy Cross Anglican and St Margaret’s Uniting in Hackett, Canberra.
Jamie Isbister, Australia’s Ambassador for the Environment heads to Glasgow in late October as part of the Australian delegation to the United Nations conference. COP26 will bring parties together to accelerate action towards the goals of the Paris Agreement and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. Isbister will outline the goals and challenges of the meeting as Australia comes under increased pressure to do more.
The event, part of a Sustainability Festival which is this year online, is hosted by the Social Justice and Environment Group Holy Cross Anglican and St Margaret’s Uniting in Hackett, Canberra.
The North Canberra Nativity Festival is back for a second year running! Holy Cross is proud to co-host an exhibition of over 200 nativity displays and Community Carols by Candlelight with our friends at St Margaret’s and Holy Rosary.
Thursday 10th-Sunday 13th December Exhibition 10am-5pm every day
Sunday 13th December 6.30pm Community BBQ 7.30pm Carols by Candlelight
In a spirit of community building and healing, the faith communities of Holy Cross Anglican and St Margaret’s Uniting in Hackett in Canberra’s inner north recently hosted a festival focussed on sustainability.
The ‘Sustaining Our Future’ Festival on the weekend of September 19-20 brought together local groups and speakers to offer information on climate change and inspiration on how to reduce one’s individual or household waste and carbon footprint.
“During these pandemic times, it’s even more important we find ways to get together safely and discuss common concerns, be inspired and make a difference,” said Reverend Chris Lockley of St Margaret’s.
People were able to test ride electric bikes and learn about composting. There was also a concert in the church featuring singer-songwriter Lucy Sugerman and local youth bands, a visual arts exhibition, and an ecumenical ‘Celebration of Creation’ worship service.
The program included an ACT election candidates forum moderated by Dickson College students.
“It was a great opportunity for our young people, who have a lot invested in a low-carbon future, to quiz local candidates about their sustainability policies ahead of the October poll,” said Reverend Tim Watson of Holy Cross.
This event, the first of its kind in Hackett, demonstrated the potential of the venue for more community events in the future where people can gather for spiritual and personal resourcing, community development, and to encourage each other in working for the Common Good.”
The Festival was organised as part of Holy Cross/St Margaret’s joint Carbon Action Project, launched earlier this year. Both churches have committed to make their operations carbon neutral within two years, and to help church members and the local community take climate change seriously through local action and engagement.
The once-fixed pews in the ecumenical Hackett church were recently removed to allow for more dynamic and mixed uses of the interior worship space.
“The event was joyful and inclusive, and it put our mandate to evangelise as followers of Jesus into practice in so many different ways. It was a real celebration of beauty (art, music, God’s creation), truth (political debate, scientific and practical learning) and goodness (community, social and environmental action)”, said Reverend Watson.
“It also resonated with Bishop Mark’s encouraging comment about enabling people to return to church after lockdown: ‘re-integrating people to community through community, and helping us think about how we could implement similar steps with people who’ve never been part of our gathered worship’,” Rev. Watson added.
The two ministers also thanked volunteers who worked hard to make it happen.
“So many people made the event work. There were many hours served planning it and then during – to ensure it was safe and kept the festival moving along,” said Rev. Lockley.
Canberra’s inner north will this weekend host a Sustaining Our Future Festival that seeks to reduce our carbon footprint and build resilient communities.
The churches of Holy Cross Anglican and St Margaret’s Uniting in Hackett have put together an afternoon of talks, demonstrations and tips for action.
“If you want to do something about climate change but aren’t sure where to start, the festival can help identify simple ways to reduce your carbon footprint, tell you how much CO2 you would save and inspire ideas for the future,” said Reverend Chris Lockley of St Margaret’s.
“During these pandemic times, it’s even more important we find ways to get together safely and discuss common concerns and to ways to make a difference.”
The program includes an ACT election candidates forum moderated by college students.
“We think it’s great and appropriate that our young people, who have a lot invested in a low-carbon future, will have this opportunity to quiz local candidates about their sustainability policy ahead of the October poll,” said Reverend Tim Watson of Holy Cross.
Also speaking will be Australia’s Ambassador for the Environment, Jamie Isbister.
The full program is as follows:
Saturday 19 September
12.00 noon – 12.20 pm Welcome to Country by Aunty Vi Sheridan
12.25 – 1.00 pm Australia’s Ambassador for the Environment and head climate negotiator, Jamie Isbister in conversation with author, Toni Hassan
1.05 pm – 1.35 pm Brook Clinton from Capital Scraps Composting on “The science of composting”
2.05 pm – 2.45 pm Mia Swainson from Zero Waste on “How to halve your household waste”
3- 4 pm ACT Candidates’ Forum run by students from Dickson College, with Kurrajong candidates including Elizabeth Lee and Shane Rattenbury. To book https://www.trybooking.com/book/event?eid=659164
4.30 – 6 pm Free concert with Lucy Sugerman (The Voice / National Folk Festival Youth Ambassador 2020) pluslocal bands including Northbourne Flats and Pig Dog To book: https://www.trybooking.com/654789
All afternoon – stalls by Society, Environment and Economy (SEE) Change, Canberra Seed Savers, Switched on cycling, ENJO & Women’s Climate Congress, photography on display, art for kids and food/coffee cart
Sunday 20 September
* 9.30am Ecumenical “Celebration of Creation” outdoor worship service
On 19-20 September, Holy Cross Anglican Church and St Margaret’s Uniting Church, Hackett, are running a community sustainability festival, as part of our joint churches Carbon Action Project. This is a COVIDSafe event, and is open to all.
Saturday
12.00 noon to 12.20 pm. Welcome to Country by Aunty Vi Sheridan
12.25 to 1.00 pm. Australia’s Ambassador for the Environment and head climate negotiator, Jamie Isbister in conversation with local writer and journalist, Toni Hassan
1.05 pm to 1.35 pm. Brook Clinton from Capital Scraps Composting on “The science of composting”
2.05 pm to 2.45 pm. Mia Swainson from Zero Waste on “How to halve your household waste”
3pm to 4pm. ACT Candidates’ Forum run by students from Dickson College, with candidates for Kurrajong, including Elizabeth Lee and Shane Rattenbury. To book for this event please go to: https://www.trybooking.com/book/event?eid=659164
Stalls by Society, Environment and Economy (SEE) Change, Canberra Seed Savers, Switched on cycling, ENJO & Women’s Climate Congress.
12 noon to 4 pm. Photography exhibition with photos from lockdown
4.30 pm to 6 pm. Concert with Lucy Sugerman (The Voice / National Folk Festival Youth Ambassador 2020) and local bands including Northbourne Flats and Pig Dog. To book for this free concert go to: https://www.trybooking.com/654789
Sunday
9.30am: Ecumenical Creation Service outdoors under our flowering cherry tree