Bathurst UCA

Thank you to all who attended the Songs of Praise service for Seniors Festival 2018. We raised the roof, with the help of several very talented musicians – and the support of Bathurst Regional Council.

This year, the repertoire of hymns was drawn mainly from the Billy Graham song book, in memory of a man who had a profound impact for the Kingdom of God.

A brief snippet of one of his televised sermons – on the subject of ‘Faith’ – reminded many of us of the passion and clarity with which he communicated the claims of Christ.

It was wonderful to welcome so many members of other Bathurst churches – and the Bathurst community – to this very special event.

Well done, as ever, to Kaye and Maureen (curators and leaders of the service) and to Judy (organist) and all involved.

You are warmly invited to remember, reflect and rejoice with us this Easter season.

We believe that the life and death and life of Jesus Christ are the climax of the greatest story ever told – and that the events we call ‘Easter’ mark a radical turning point in the history of the world:

a victory of healing over brokenness, Life over death, and Love over all, which continues to ripple down the ages. We think that’s a hope worth celebrating – and sharing.

So please, join us if you can.

The Victorians (that is, the era – not the state) had a reputation for being a bit strait-laced. A bit like the Church.

But like any culture – including that of the Church! – they were great at food, music, fellowship and celebration. And architecture.
In the beautiful 1837 Hall of our Church, on Saturday 3rd March, we enjoyed what could only be described as a ‘slap-up’ High Tea (and it was high: tier upon tier of scones and cakes and fancies and finger sandwiches).

Bathurst Uniting Church will be holding a number of activities during this season of Lent leading up to Easter.

Each Year Target and Uniting Care partner together to help raise money and gifts during the Christmas period for disadvantaged people across Australia. They have collected over 2.1million gifts in the last 25 years, and have raised in excess of $2 million dollars in the last 2 years alone.

For those who headed into a Target store over the Christmas period, you would have noticed a Christmas tree near to the front of the store with gifts under the tree and gift cards attached to the tree. The main aim is to make Christmas more special for the thousands of Australians, who for various reasons are unable to celebrate Christmas.

Advent (from the Latin adventus) means ‘coming’ or ‘coming to’. The season of Advent is designed to help us pause in the midst of our frantic business and end of year exhaustion to remember afresh a timeless truth: God comes to us, and to our world.

This year Bathurst Uniting will be holding a number of services during Advent leading up until Christmas.

We welcome all to come and join in at these services to celebrate this coming Christmas.