This is my Uniting Church

Share a little bit about your church community.

Devonport Uniting Church has about 40 members many of whom are retired. The congregation consists of people with a variety of backgrounds and faith understandings. We are part of the Cradle Coast Cluster, which also includes Wynyard, Burnie Regional and Penguin Uniting Churches.

Eight years ago the Devonport congregation made the decision to sell their old building as it was draining a lot of people and financial resources, preventing the congregation from being able to be at mission.

We decided to purchase a series of shop fronts and convert three of them into a worship / general-purpose area. The freedom from property issues has allowed us to become a more inclusive community, welcoming people from the LGBTQI+ community, from First Nations, neurodivergent and from other faiths.

We have become more outward-looking and take discipleship more seriously, not just Sunday worship.

Worship has taken on a more varied form. Worship teams lead on a roster which means that the congregation has a variety of worship styles and theologies.

What are some of the things that are really exciting?

Devonport has been able to make contact with the Six Rivers Aboriginal Corporation and had a member of their community share with us in the lead-up to the Referendum. To hear firsthand from this community was helpful in congregational members deciding how to respond.

Devonport decided to set up a food and book box outside the building. Members of the Congregation bring books and food to place in the box. Members of the wider community are invited to take what they need.

The Devonport Congregation agreed to financially support one of the Cradle Coast resource ministers to spend one day a week in ministry alongside the local Pride community. This ministry has brought about a real awareness of the needs of some members of the LGBTQI+ community who are facing injustice, poverty and isolation. Some members of this community have been able to declare the Devonport Congregation their ‘home’.

Worship Teams. Most of our worship is led by one of three worship teams. Each team brings a different understanding of the readings set in the Narrative Lectionary. Drama, activities, and videos have refreshed our worship. We have also introduced the possibility of worshippers colouring in or knitting during worship. This aspect of our worship has proved really supportive for those who find they can concentrate more when undertaking an activity.

Conversation Group. This is an opportunity for people to come together to listen to a TED talk and then spend some time in conversation about the talk. Topics have included: -
The Pope talking about why the only future worth building includes everyone; Radical compassion; Why change is scary; How Christmas lights have helped Guerillas; and the Uluru Statement from the Heart.

Friday Café. An opportunity for people to gather for conversation and games over a cuppa and a scone. No strings attached.

The Men’s Group. An opportunity for men to gather to undertake a variety of activities and to talk!

We have placed a TV screen facing the community with a PowerPoint on a loop. This has enabled us to share with the community what we stand for and the things we are doing. In the lead-up to the Referendum, we were able to show the FAQ responses from the Assembly so people passing by had a better understanding of the reasons for the Referendum. We have also started to include comments about the response to faith that is required according to our faith.

A recently started Justice Group have started to help the congregation talk about justice issues together and keep us informed as to what the justice units at both Assembly and Synod level are challenging us to respond to.

Where do you see God at work in your community?

A couple of years ago, the Devonport community experienced the devastation of having five primary school children killed in a jumping castle incident. We were able to immediately open our church and allow members of the Community to come and have some quiet time, light a candle or to talk with one of our members. This was a humbling experience as we saw first-hand our God moving lovingly and supportively throughout those who gathered there on the days following. We were privileged to have a space which was open, accepting, and safe for people to talk, sit quietly and grieve openly.

Some members were invited to attend the opening of the first Masjid in the North West of Tasmania. To be able to share in faith with people from the Islamic faith in a way that was open to our differences while at the same time acknowledging the similarities has enabled some of us to see God in a bigger way than before.

Many of the studies we have held have opened up new ways of seeing God. The openness in sharing has made this a sacred as well as educational experience.

On our focus table for worship. We have two ceramic hands joined together, one black and the other white. This has come to mean a great deal to members as it seems to symbolise the acceptance of all people before God and a call upon us to act likewise.

What are the challenges?

As a congregation, one of our challenges is to make the scary move beyond the faith we held from Sunday School days to a more theologically diverse worshipping community.

As with all congregations, we are also challenged by the many calls upon our time to keep up to date with regulations at a local, state and national level.

What can the rest of the Church pray for here in Devonport?

We pray that our faith in God will be enriched and that we will continue our pilgrimage of getting to know our God more and more as each day passes.

We are praying that our contact with the First Nations People and members of the LGBTQI+ community may continue to grow as we minister alongside them.

We pray that we can continue to live out God’s mission for the Uniting Church in this part of the world.