Welcome to
Berry Uniting Church
Berry Uniting Church
Our motto:
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Our Mission:
“To preach the good news of Christ and to be a tangible, growing expression of God's acts of love through relationships and partnerships within the congregation and the community.” |
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Upcoming Events
Regretfully, due to the current crisis caused by the Coronavirus COVID19, most of our groups and activities have been suspended until at least the end of April.
This includes the Community Library.
Also, we cannot accept bookings for any of our spaces during this time.
Palm Sunday Rally for refugees will go ahead- online
"Where there is love there is care."
Join the Palm Sunday event live at 11 am here from your home
No matter who we are or where we come from, we are all in this together. As we all make changes to protect ourselves, our families, our neighbours and communities, we will protect each other
There is no better time to uphold the Palm Sunday tradition of calling for justice and peace. Although the Palm Sunday Walk for Justice was cancelled due to COVID-19, the crisis has highlighted how many people seeking asylum and refugees in Australia live in vulnerable conditions, isolation, and like the wider population have ongoing health issues. We are living in extraordinary times and cannot leave anyone behind as we navigate the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The conditions in the detention centres and in the hotels being used as Alternate Places of Detention place people in very high-risk environments. They are kept in crowded conditions with no possibility of practicing recommended physical distancing to protect themselves from the virus. They now face an increased risk of infection. This is a public health issue as much as a humanitarian issue.
This year's Palm Sunday will be very unique, and we invite you to join an online large-scale expression of solidarity for all refugees and people seeking asylum. We call on the government to ensure people seeking asylum and refugees, in detention or in the community, have the support they need to get through this.
How will it work?
Take the following steps this week;
1. Take a picture of yourself holding up a sign you make ( simple as an A4 piece of paper). Include a personal message, and what church or group you identify as being from. Or go further and make a 1min little video of your personal message using your phone. Go to Speak Up for Justice for Refugees for templates and ideas, key slogans being used and background information on the issues.;
2. Post to your Facebook account and share with the Uniting Social Justice Forum facebook page. Or send to ddavidian@uniting.org and I'll post it for you;
3. If you don't want to use facebook, its ok. Just tell your friends and family about the Palm Sunday online event. Good opportunity to give someone a call;
4. Put the sign you made or other pro-refugee material such as posters or banners outside your home to raise public awareness. Take a photo and put it on facebook, or send it to ddavidian@uniting.org;
5. On Sunday at 11 am click on live links for the Virtual Event and for individual speakers
Some Key messages this year;
"Where there is love there is care."
Join the Palm Sunday event live at 11 am here from your home
No matter who we are or where we come from, we are all in this together. As we all make changes to protect ourselves, our families, our neighbours and communities, we will protect each other
There is no better time to uphold the Palm Sunday tradition of calling for justice and peace. Although the Palm Sunday Walk for Justice was cancelled due to COVID-19, the crisis has highlighted how many people seeking asylum and refugees in Australia live in vulnerable conditions, isolation, and like the wider population have ongoing health issues. We are living in extraordinary times and cannot leave anyone behind as we navigate the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The conditions in the detention centres and in the hotels being used as Alternate Places of Detention place people in very high-risk environments. They are kept in crowded conditions with no possibility of practicing recommended physical distancing to protect themselves from the virus. They now face an increased risk of infection. This is a public health issue as much as a humanitarian issue.
This year's Palm Sunday will be very unique, and we invite you to join an online large-scale expression of solidarity for all refugees and people seeking asylum. We call on the government to ensure people seeking asylum and refugees, in detention or in the community, have the support they need to get through this.
How will it work?
Take the following steps this week;
1. Take a picture of yourself holding up a sign you make ( simple as an A4 piece of paper). Include a personal message, and what church or group you identify as being from. Or go further and make a 1min little video of your personal message using your phone. Go to Speak Up for Justice for Refugees for templates and ideas, key slogans being used and background information on the issues.;
2. Post to your Facebook account and share with the Uniting Social Justice Forum facebook page. Or send to ddavidian@uniting.org and I'll post it for you;
3. If you don't want to use facebook, its ok. Just tell your friends and family about the Palm Sunday online event. Good opportunity to give someone a call;
4. Put the sign you made or other pro-refugee material such as posters or banners outside your home to raise public awareness. Take a photo and put it on facebook, or send it to ddavidian@uniting.org;
5. On Sunday at 11 am click on live links for the Virtual Event and for individual speakers
- Tom Ballard, comedian and advocate for refugees
- Nazeem Hussain, comedian, TV personality, writer and activist
- Moz from Manus (Mostafa Azimitabar) now detained in the Mantra Hotel in Preston
- Shamindan Kanapathi, Sri Lankan Tamil refugee detained in PNG
- Faith leaders:
- Bishop Philip Huggins, President of National Council of Churches in Australia;
- Dr Mohamed Mohideen, President of Islamic Council of Victoria;
- Rabbi Ralph Genende;
- Sr Brigid Arthur, founder and Co-ordinator Brigidine Asylum Seeker Project
- Rev Ian Smith, Executive Officer, Victorian Council of Churches
- Roqaya from the refugee-led group Justice for Refugees
- Lucy Honan, founder of Teachers for Refugees
- PALM SUNDAY VIRTUAL EVENT (all speakers) available here from 11am Sunday 5 April.
Some Key messages this year;
- Give Refugees Permanent Protection Visas – #justice4refugees
- End the detention of refugees and people seeking asylum #FreeTheRefugees #justice4refugees
- Medicare and Centrelink for All – #justice4refugees
- Refugees are Welcome – #justice4refugees #WelcomeRefugees
Who we are
We are a congregation of the Uniting Church in Australia. We belong to the Illawarra Presbytery and the NSW/ACT Synod of the Uniting Church.
Worship
Our weekly service is held at 9.30am. The service on the first Sunday of the month is usually a Communion Service.
We have begun to video the sermon each week. Go to the Sermons page and follow the links to the videos on our YouTube Channel or click here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNd8S6UJsfS-vooHzK8WUtQ
Coffee and friends
C & f meets on the 4th Wednesday of the month at 10am for "Great coffee, great conversations and great speakers." We invite local identities to tell us about their lives, careers and passions and we have heard some fascinating talks.
We also have videos of some of the speakers at our monthly gatherings. Go to the "Coffee and friends" tab to find the links.
We are a congregation of the Uniting Church in Australia. We belong to the Illawarra Presbytery and the NSW/ACT Synod of the Uniting Church.
Worship
Our weekly service is held at 9.30am. The service on the first Sunday of the month is usually a Communion Service.
We have begun to video the sermon each week. Go to the Sermons page and follow the links to the videos on our YouTube Channel or click here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNd8S6UJsfS-vooHzK8WUtQ
Coffee and friends
C & f meets on the 4th Wednesday of the month at 10am for "Great coffee, great conversations and great speakers." We invite local identities to tell us about their lives, careers and passions and we have heard some fascinating talks.
We also have videos of some of the speakers at our monthly gatherings. Go to the "Coffee and friends" tab to find the links.
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BERRY COMMUNITY LIBRARY
The Library is located in the "Friendship Room," adjacent to the Main Hall. It is staffed by volunteers and all the books have been donated by the Berry and surrounding community. Opening Hours The Library is open as follows: Monday: 1 to 4pm; Tuesday: 10am to 1pm; Wednesday: 1 to 4pm; Thursday: 10am to 1pm & Friday: 10am to 4pm. For enquiries call: 0425 220 258 |
Our Minister Our Minister is Rev Andrew Watts. Andrew's contact details are: mobile: 0400 059 191 email: andrewwatts@westnet.com.au. |
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BOOKINGS
To book a hall, meeting room or the Church:
book through vennu: www.vennu.com.au/en-AU/berryuniting