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What happened after service at our first Community Lunch Connections. A lively game of charades takes place as Rani gestures the sentence, while an enthralled audience watches with smiles and anticipation. The Baptists congregation didn't come. The minister had told his congregation the date. Scheduling had other ideas. We looked at the empty chairs, looked at each other, and moved on. The chairs were already out. After the morning tea I stood up and said that today we will

I was still dragging tables across the church hall room when someone offered me a drink. That's this group in a nutshell. You haven't even sat down and they're already looking after you. I caught them mid-conversation. Cholesterol levels. Where to go as we get older. Important stuff. I listened for a bit, then decided to derail the whole thing. "I have a question. Is a hotdog a sandwich?" Six heads turned. The silence was magnificent. What followed was a full investigation in

Old records, new life. What started on our shelves now tells a different story. Elvis Presley The door opens before the previous one has fully closed. Someone heads straight to the books. Someone else is already at the racks. Volunteers step around each other with the practiced efficiency of people who have stopped apologising for being in the same small space at the same time. The Wednesday craft table is packed. The Friday crew has arrived. More people to sort, to welcome,

Every Wednesday, something small and joyful takes shape. Not only on the tables, but across the whole room. Hands get busy, and so do the smiles. A simple wooden frame turns into something full of colour. Buttons, flowers, and tiny details find their place. Keely, Margaret, Kim, and Alison were proud of what they created, and you could see that same quiet pride across the whole room. Others held up their pieces, comparing, laughing, and admiring each other’s work. Keely and M

The maple and olive branches stayed right where the children left them. Most Sundays, the children sit still for about three minutes before someone starts wriggling. This Sunday was different. It was Palm Sunday, 29 March. Pastor Andrew Shearer-Cox's very first service at Ballarat South. The church was ready. Flowers on the altar, a purple cloth draped over the lectern, and branches piled at the front waiting for small hands to pick them up. There was just one detail. There w

Some stories stay with you because they feel close to home. People working side by side. Hands busy. Time shared. Purpose found in simple things. That is what you see in the sorting room. Sorting time is on at the Open-Door Op Shop In March, the sorting space shifted. Tables moved. Walkways cleared. And then came the shelves. Proper shelves. Built by one of our own. Manual followed, tools working hard, and not a single “where does this piece go” moment. Now everything has a p

Who would have thought a Tuesday night would fill the church? Around 100 people gathered on 17 March to commission Pastor Andrew Shearer-Cox to serve Ballarat South and Creswick-Clunes. A Service Rooted in Meaning Andrew stood at the front in his navy suit, hands clasped, looking forward. Beside him, Rev Rosemary Carter read the commissioning words while an open Bible rested on the red-draped table between them. Rev Trevor Bassett preached from Ezekiel, Romans, and John. Memb

What happens when you put creative people around a table? Apparently, magic. And sometimes, singing. Every session, our group gathers around the tables like they've been called home, and in a way, they have. Cards get made, frames get painted, and colourful creations take shape in ways that surprise even their makers. Everyone works at their own pace: some quiet and focused, others chatting enough to keep the whole room cheerful. Both are perfectly welcome. And Then Someone M

If you ever want to see a room full of adults suddenly look unsure, just ask them this: “Where in the Bible does it say Mary rode a donkey while she was heavily pregnant…?” The silence was golden. And then the laughter began. That set the tone for our Agape Service & Family Play, warm, curious, and just the right amount of cheeky. Rev. Marcia led us gently into the first Sunday of Advent. Sylvia lit the candle, and for a brief, beautiful moment the room felt still, a quiet br

All weekend a deep, low-pressure system had been pressing inexorably across from the south-east, pushing what slim spring warmth there was upwards, into the chilly ether, until it exploded back to earth in sudden thunder and rain. The weather was not ideal for karaoke, but it did not stop the music at the inaugural Sing for your Dumpling event, held at the Buninyong Uniting Church Community Hall on Sunday, 26 October 2025. Forty determined souls, jittering with pre-performan

I’ve seen things across the span of my nine lives you people couldn’t imagine. Dust motes colliding in a sun beam, shot from high, in the laundry, as I pooped. I have dreamt of the evisceration of birds and purred as you stroked my fur. I have watched the wind from within the living room window for hours, pausing infrequently to lick my paw. But I had never been blessed before. This changed recently when myself and an assortment of other creatures attended the annual blessing

Gathering for a day of gentle movement, reflection, and connection. Sometimes we all need a gentle pause , a chance to stretch, breathe, and remember what makes us feel whole again. That’s exactly what our recent Wellbeing Day at Ballarat South Uniting Church (as part of the Village Church Network) was all about. A chance to stretch The hall was filled with soft music, quiet corners for journaling, meditation spaces, and even the labyrinth to walk slowly and find calm. It wa

At Ballarat South Uniting Church, everyone is welcome, no matter your background, beliefs, age, or stage in life. We celebrate diversity, encourage questions, and build community on respect, care, and kindness. Whether you’re exploring faith, looking for connection, or simply seeking a safe and friendly space to be yourself, you’ll find an open door and a warm smile here. What to Expect on a Sunday When you arrive at Ballarat South Uniting Church, you will be greeted by our f