This is my Uniting Church
Chermside Kedron Community Church
March 5, 2024
"What we can’t do alone we can do together in the community of faithful believers."
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Can you tell us a little bit about your church community?
Chermside Kedron Community Church is a regional congregation located in the suburb of Chermside in Brisbane, within the Moreton Rivers Presbytery. We are an inclusive, diverse, and intergenerational Christian community with the mission of: “Growing an inclusive intergenerational community of disciples practising love and justice.”
What are some of the things happening there that are really exciting for people?
We are trying to live out our discipleship by striving for justice and reconciliation and fostering a strong devotional life based on Scripture, all the while locating our experience of faith firmly in community. What we can’t do alone we can do together in the community of faithful believers.
What energises the faith of this community?
In a world where war and cruelty seem to be common and almost acceptable, where we are bombarded by cynicism and indifference, where we struggle with conflicting demands, expectations, and anxieties, our church is at its best when we are nurturing an expansive and resilient faith and building community that is an open, safe place of peace. We are seeking to become this type of community of faithful believers.
Where do you see God at work at the moment?
The congregation has a high level of volunteering in our worship, witness, and service. In this we are very blessed by people’s sincere and creative contributions. We are seeking to ensure we are discipleship focussed rather than membership focussed.
We are partnering with Uniting Care Qld in the Connect 100 program which has enabled us to employ a Community Chaplain. Over the past year our Chaplain has made meaningful relational and ministry connections. This year we are beginning a community kitchen.
Our Youth and Children’s minister is forming the church to understand and embrace the principals and practice of intergenerational ministry. In many ways we have intuitively become this, but intentionality will guide us to be effective and relevant.
Developing a public expression of our faith is being actively explored and practiced. Next month we are organising a community forum on Homelessness, to help us be proactive in our community engagement around issues such as this.
Are there any challenges you're facing there?
A disciple making culture is challenging to ministry that is concerned about keeping people in church as it risks disappointment and dissatisfaction. Our commitment to ministry is to develop a discipleship culture that is meaningful and transformative to our people.
We have continued to do the work of missional alignment this year to ensure our mission values aligns to our practice of ministry. Missional alignment is when we all clearly understand what we are trying to do, why it needs to be done, and we’re all willing to sacrifice for it. It is not always easy to find agreement on a mission direction.
What can the rest of the Church pray for there?
We continue to be a blessed community in so many ways and we are a generous church in sharing our gifts and blessings with others. Our greatest challenges continue to be how we live out our faith in a way that is meaningful to us and transformative to our community. This year we are focussing on the prayer, “Lord, teach us to pray” as we allow God to form us and align us to the work of the Spirit in our lives.
