Welcome to Berry Uniting Church
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Our Vision
We aspire to be people walking with Jesus, sharing God's love Our Mission We seek to share good news through welcome, hospitality and service to all Our Goals:
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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. Church Phone No.: 0467 422 046 Worship We offer worship in-person and on Zoom. Join us in church on Sundays at 9.30am or For those worshipping at home, here are the Zoom joining details: Berry UCA Worship Time: Join from 9:00 am Zoom meeting link: https://tinyurl.com/xu6v4hw3 Meeting ID: 916 5034 4362 Phone in no.: 02 8015 6011 Meeting ID: 916 5034 4362 The service on the first Sunday of the month is usually a Communion Service. |
BERRY COMMUNITY LIBRARY
The Community Library opening hours are: Monday & Wednesday 1 to 4pm Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 10am to 1pm. Regular Events
Prayer Group: Saturdays at 8.30am on Zoom Social Craft Group: 1st & 3rd Monday of the month Berry Computers for Seniors: 1st & 3rd Wednesday of the month Third Wednesday Book Group: 3rd Wednesday of the month at 4pm Coffee & Friends: 4th Wednesday of the month at 10am Basics & Beyond Discussion Group: 4th Sunday of the month at 12 noon |
From the Minister’s desk
A Christmas message for 2025
Chanukah or Hanukkah if you don’t know by now is a celebration in the Jewish Calander that overlaps with Christmas and now indelibly etched in our memories. The tragedy that unfolded at Bondi Beach on Sunday December 14th leaves us aghast. Our sense of distance from the troubles of the world has been violated. The land down under had its advantages being a long way from the ethnic and cultural tensions of the world. At least that’s what we thought. As we discovered with Covid 19, viruses can travel as fast as an international aircraft and so can hatred and violence. Let’s not forget our violent history with the aboriginal people still reverberating through Australia today.
The events that shaped the Festival of Hanukkah go back to the time when after the death of Alexander, the Great in 323 BCE his empire was broken up and basically taken over by his generals. Ultimately Judah and Jerusalem were plundered and ruled by a Seleucid, one Antiochus Epiphanes IV a scheming Greco-hegemonic.
Antiochus IV Epiphanes, also known as Antiochus Epimanes (the Mad), was the Seleucid king of the Hellenistic Syrian kingdom who reigned from 175 to 164 BCE. He was best known for his hegemonic encouragement and enforcement of Greek culture and practices.
Because a series of intrigues and betrayals, revenge was taken out against the centre of Jewish culture and religious devotion leading to the looting and desecration of the temple in 168 BCE. After the temple was restored in 164 BCE on the death of Antiochus and a revolt lead by the Maccabee brothers, these and events are celebrated at Hanukkah - the rededication of the Temple. A celebration of resilience. The book of Daniel was written at this time to encourage trust in God to deliever in the midst of war, persecution, deportation and disaster.
Christmas is the story of God once more entering and piercing history with hope and love in a time of strife, conflict and pain. This Christmas is in a period of unease but these were the circumstances of the first Christmas and will continue to be until the message of the Prince of Peace finally and fully subdues the brokenness of all humanity. With very questionable leadership the world is paying the price once more of myopic, evil, self-centred choices. The Christ offers leadership and values that will save humanity thus we celebrate the birth or nativity of our salvation, the Word made flesh.
May you immerse yourself in the knowledge and celebration of the enduring Christmas gift of God’s love!
Chanukah or Hanukkah if you don’t know by now is a celebration in the Jewish Calander that overlaps with Christmas and now indelibly etched in our memories. The tragedy that unfolded at Bondi Beach on Sunday December 14th leaves us aghast. Our sense of distance from the troubles of the world has been violated. The land down under had its advantages being a long way from the ethnic and cultural tensions of the world. At least that’s what we thought. As we discovered with Covid 19, viruses can travel as fast as an international aircraft and so can hatred and violence. Let’s not forget our violent history with the aboriginal people still reverberating through Australia today.
The events that shaped the Festival of Hanukkah go back to the time when after the death of Alexander, the Great in 323 BCE his empire was broken up and basically taken over by his generals. Ultimately Judah and Jerusalem were plundered and ruled by a Seleucid, one Antiochus Epiphanes IV a scheming Greco-hegemonic.
Antiochus IV Epiphanes, also known as Antiochus Epimanes (the Mad), was the Seleucid king of the Hellenistic Syrian kingdom who reigned from 175 to 164 BCE. He was best known for his hegemonic encouragement and enforcement of Greek culture and practices.
Because a series of intrigues and betrayals, revenge was taken out against the centre of Jewish culture and religious devotion leading to the looting and desecration of the temple in 168 BCE. After the temple was restored in 164 BCE on the death of Antiochus and a revolt lead by the Maccabee brothers, these and events are celebrated at Hanukkah - the rededication of the Temple. A celebration of resilience. The book of Daniel was written at this time to encourage trust in God to deliever in the midst of war, persecution, deportation and disaster.
Christmas is the story of God once more entering and piercing history with hope and love in a time of strife, conflict and pain. This Christmas is in a period of unease but these were the circumstances of the first Christmas and will continue to be until the message of the Prince of Peace finally and fully subdues the brokenness of all humanity. With very questionable leadership the world is paying the price once more of myopic, evil, self-centred choices. The Christ offers leadership and values that will save humanity thus we celebrate the birth or nativity of our salvation, the Word made flesh.
May you immerse yourself in the knowledge and celebration of the enduring Christmas gift of God’s love!
Upcoming EventsJanuary
Sunday 25th Uniting Church Day of Mourning Monday 26th Australia/Survival Day February Friday 13th Anniversary of the Apology to Stolen Generations Wednesday 18th Ash Wednesday Wednesday18th Lent begins (until 2 April) NewslettersLatest Coffee & Friends Video |
Acknowledgement of Country
We respectfully acknowledge the Jerrinja community of the Yuin Nation, who are the Traditional Custodians and First People of the land on which we meet, and pay respect to the Elders past, present and future and acknowledges their deep and enduring relationship to their ancestral lands. The Indigenous Mural
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Here are the videos of our most recent services - for more, go to the Services & Sermons page
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Hall Hire Charges
As from 1st July 2025 the rates for room and hall hire will be as follows: Church and Main Hall: $36.00 per hour (Full day $288.00) Wesley Hall, Friendship Room & Meals Room: $25.00 p/h (Full Day $200) To book a hall, meeting room or the Church
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Online Giving
We invite our members and supporters to continue giving your tithes and offerings online. Here are the bank details: Account Name: Berry Uniting Church BSB: 634 634 Account No.: 1000012634 |
Minister.
Our Supply Minister for the next six months is Rev Gordon Bradbery. For pastoral care, wedddings, baptisms and funerals, Gordon may be contacted on 0419 600 589 or at [email protected] 
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