This is my Uniting Church

Could you share a little bit about your church community?

South Perth Uniting Church is a diverse, intergenerational community shaped by worship, hospitality, and a shared desire to follow Jesus faithfully in our local context. We are a congregation with a long history – over 185 years since first Methodist meeting – and one that understands faith as something living, dynamic, and always being renewed.

Our community includes people who have been part of this church for decades, alongside those who have arrived more recently through worship, study, community programs, or friendship. What binds us together is not uniformity, but a shared commitment to walking together with honesty, generosity and hope.

We seek to be a place where faith is nurtured gently, questions are welcomed, and people of all ages and backgrounds can belong, participate and grow.

What does worship look like at your church? Are there any creative or distinctive elements?

Worship at South Perth Uniting is intentionally varied yet held together by a clear theological thread. Our Sunday worship blends traditional and contemporary elements, with strong attention to Scripture, thoughtful preaching, music that serves congregational participation, and regular intergenerational involvement.

Alongside Sunday worship, we have developed two additional worship expression:

• ‘Friday Night Worship’ (transitioning to Saturday Night Live), which offers Spirit-led worship, prayer, testimony, and space for deeper encounter, particularly among young adults.
• ‘Worship on Wednesday’ (WOW!), a quieter mid-week gathering shaped by prayer, familiar hymns, a short homily, and pastoral connection, especially valued by older members.

Across all these settings, worship is creative without being performative, reflective without being distant, and always oriented toward forming people in faith for everyday life.

What is one thing that makes your church unique?

One distinctive aspect of South Perth Uniting is the way intergenerational life is woven naturally into almost everything we do. Rather than siloing age groups, we intentionally create shared spaces where children, young adults, and older members learn from one another, worship together, and serve side by side.

Another defining feature is our commitment to Scripture as a unified story. Through preaching, Bible study, and creative engagement, we help people see how the whole Bible points to God’s ongoing work of renewal – and how their own lives are caught up in that story.

What are some of the things happening that are really exciting for people?

Many people are excited by the sense that something is quietly but genuinely growing. This includes:

• Increasing confidence among members to engage with Scripture and speak about faith.
• Emerging leadership among young adults and youth.
• Strong participation in Bible studies aligned with Sunday worship.
• New expressions of worship and prayer that meet people where they are.
• Community initiatives that continue to draw new people into connection and belonging.

Rather than rapid change, there is a shared sense that God is patiently strengthening foundations and preparing the ground for future fruit.

What energises the faith of this community?

Faith at South Perth Uniting is energised by a few key rhythms: worship, prayer, Scripture, and hospitality. Regular prayer gatherings – both formal and informal – sustain the spiritual life of the community. Bible studies help people engage deeply with Scripture and see how it shapes everyday life.

Just as importantly, faith is energised through shared meals, honest conversation, and practical care. Many people experience God most clearly not in big moments, but in small acts of kindness, listening, and faithful presence.

In late 2025, SPUC conducted an ‘Inspiring Worship Questionnaire’ to listen carefully to how people currently experience worship across our three regular services. A copy of the report is available. An immediate change was to shift our monthly Friday Night Worship service to Saturday Night to better suit the young adult demographic.

How does your church engage with the local community, and what partnerships are you most proud of?

South Perth Uniting seeks to be visibly present in the local community through both practical service and relational connection. This includes initiatives such as:

• English Conversation Classes for people from diverse cultural backgrounds
• Winter Book Sales and Soup & Socks lunches supporting those experiencing hardship
• Partnerships with Good Sammys, Tearfund, Bible Society, Interserve, and YouthCARE chaplaincy in local schools
• Curtin University chaplaincy and engagement with students and staff
• Community events such as democracy sausage sizzles and heritage celebrations

These partnerships reflect our belief that mission is not something done to a community, but with it.

Where do you see God currently at work?

We see God at work in the quiet growth of trust, confidence, and participation across the congregation. This includes people stepping into leadership, young adults finding their place in the church, children growing in faith, and long-standing members welcoming these changes and continuing to serve with generosity.

We also see God at work in the spaces between formal programs — in conversations over coffee, in prayer shared during difficult seasons, and in the steady strengthening of relationships across generations.

How do you include intercultural and intergenerational aspects in the life of your church?

Intergenerational life is a core value at South Perth Uniting. Children regularly participate in worship, music, prayer, and creative expression. Young adults are encouraged to lead, serve, and shape the life of the congregation. Older members offer wisdom, stability, and deep faithfulness.

Intercultural engagement is particularly evident through our English Conversation Classes, community meals, and growing diversity within worship and ministry spaces. We seek to be a community where difference is welcomed as a gift.

Can you share a story that reflects how your congregation has supported people during challenging times?

During recent years marked by uncertainty, illness and isolation, pastoral care has been one of the most faithful and unseen ministries of our church. Members regularly support one another through prayer, meals, visits, and quiet companionship.

Whether during times of grief, health challenges, or personal upheaval, people consistently speak of feeling held by the community – not rushed, not judged, but deeply cared for. This steady presence has been one of the most powerful witnesses of faith among us.

One particular ministry is to provide a weekly meal for a family providing foster care for 4-6 children at a time.

Are there any challenges your church is facing?

Like many congregations, we continue to navigate the challenges of sustaining volunteer leadership, resourcing children and youth ministry, and discerning how best to engage new generations meaningfully.

We also remain attentive to balancing innovation with faithfulness – ensuring that new expressions of ministry grow from deep roots rather than reaction or haste.

What can the rest of the Uniting Church be praying for you and your community?

We invite prayer for wisdom and discernment as we continue to listen for God’s leading; for courage to follow where the Spirit is at work; and for faithfulness as we invest in the next generation.

Prayer for unity, humility, and joy as we serve together would also be deeply appreciated.

If you could share one message with the wider Uniting Church or Australian community, what would it be?

The Church does not need to be louder or more impressive – it needs to be faithful, hospitable and hopeful. When we listen deeply, love generously, and trust God patiently, the Spirit continues to do far more than we can imagine.

- with thanks to Rev Mark Illingworth, Minister South Perth Uniting Church