Worship

NBUC offers a variety of worship opportunities:

Sunday morning 10am

Our main service on Sunday morning at 10am is a service that seeks to cater for a wide range of ages and backgrounds in a fairly formal setting. Mostly traditional music is provided by a beautiful pipe organ and choir. Congregational hymns are sung by the congregation, and the psalm is often sung responsively with one of our cantors.

The liturgy is clearly structured, with lay involvement in readings and prayers. Occasionally we experiment with interactive elements in the service, by projecting images or video on a screen, and we let ourselves be challenged by new formats and ideas.

Age-specific elements in every service aim to make worship an experience where young and old can feel at home, worshipping in God’s presence in and through scripture, prayer and music. Story time is enjoyed by all age groups, and related child-specific activities are prepared.

The preaching seeks to listen to the voice of the ancient scriptures of our tradition and to consider what they have to offer us for our lives today. Our theological orientation takes in a breadth of perspectives, ranging from traditional to post-modern and post-progressive Christian.

Devotions as part of Mind Body Spirit

Last Sunday of the month, 7pm

The Mind Body Spirit seminar commences at 5.30pm with a speaker giving a talk or presentation  followed by questions. This is followed by a simple meal of soup and bread rolls, then a short reflective service at 7pm. This Devotional time has a distinct meditative progressive Christian flavour. For about half an hour we reflect on the topic of the seminar through music, song, poetry, prayer and reflections from a variety of sources in a peaceful and prayerful atmosphere.

Afternoon Church

Second Wednesday of the month, 2pm

This short Communion service is held once a month, and is followed by afternoon tea. The service focusses on communion, with a short reflection. Transport for elderly members is available on request (Contact: Marcelle Maisey).

High Feasts

We celebrate Christmas and Easter with a variety of extra services:

Christmas

We prepare for Christmas during Advent, lighting candles in the advent wreath as we proceed towards Christmas. On the Wednesday evening before Christmas Day, a special family worship event is held, including a nativity play, contemporary songs and a picnic. This event is very popular with young families.

Christmas morning starts with a short communion service at 8:00am followed by celebratory worship at 9:30am. The second service is usually packed with extended families meeting in an atmosphere of true Christmas joy.

Easter

Our preparations for Easter start with a short, simple service on Ash Wednesday evening (7pm). During the following weeks, the atmosphere in our services tends to be more reflective and inward-looking than usual, with more of an emphasis on social justice themes.

Palm Sunday is celebrated with a special music service in the morning and special activities for children. On Maundy Thursday evening (7.30pm), we read the story of the passion from one of the gospels in a Tenebrae service of scripture readings and silence. Good Friday morning worship at 10am focusses on the story of Jesus’ suffering and death. The Easter morning service (10am) is started by lighting the Christ candle from an Easter fire in front of the Church, processing the light into the Church with the children. We celebrate with a family communion service and finish with a special morning tea and Easter egg hunt.

Pentecost is celebrated together with other member Churches of the Ecumenical Council of Churches in the area.

Other special Sundays

We organise a special family service that is particularly geared towards children and young families on Mothering Sunday.

The Wesley heritage is celebrated on the Sunday closest to Aldersgate Day, and St. Aidan’s Day is celebrated on the Sunday closest to the Saints Day. Both of these services are followed by a shared lunch.

The anniversary of the Uniting Church is celebrated with a special service followed by a talk and a lunch.