FAQs

How big is the church?

Our church normally has about 250 people attend across our three services each week.

What time is your Sunday worship service?

9am family/contemporary; 10.30am café; 10.30am classic/traditional

How long are the services?

Each service is about 60-75minutes

Where should we park our car?

There is a lot of car parking off Fisher Street in the Council car-park.  There is also car parking on the church grounds however we try to keep these free for elderly and disabled folk.

As someone new to the church, are there expectations of me?

Please enjoy worshipping God in a peaceful place.  There are no expectations – just come as you are – we do !!.

Do you take up a collection?

Yes each week we have an offering for our folk.  Some folk contribute monthly or electronically.  The offering is needed to run our large and vibrant church.  As a visitor there is absolutely no need to contribute to the offering.

Who goes to your church?

Many people attend our church.  The age varies from babies to those who are quite senior.  Some people travel for quite some distance to attend worship – its worth it!  We have people from a wide diversity of backgrounds, cultures and countries of birth.  Together we form a wonderful tapestry of church.

Do I have to belong to your denomination to attend?

God is not fussed about denomination and nor are we.  Over time people choose to belong but there is no pressure to do so.

What Bible version do you use?

We normally read from the New International Version (NIV).  You do not need to bring your Bible or iPad as we normally put the words on the screen.  There are also Bibles available at the door if you would like one.

Will I be made to stand up, or introduce myself, or be singled out in any way?

Absolutely not.  You are free to come and go as you please.  We will of course offer you a warm welcome and a warm cuppa.  There is never any obligation for you to do anything that you might find uncomfortable.

Do you have to dress up to attend your worship service?

No – please wear clothes that you feel comfortable wearing.

What kind of things do you do in your worship service?

Each week you can expect to hear great preaching of the Gospel, prayer, choir (Classic service), children’s time (9am service), great music, singing and readings from the Bible.

How and when does BCUC celebrate communion?

Each month we celebrate communion.  This is on the third Sunday.  The style of communion varies but you won’t feel uncomfortable.  We share a common loaf of bread and have individual small cups of grape juice.

Can a visitor take communion?

Absolutely.  We welcome all who love Jesus to share in communion.  There is no obligation either way.

What do you offer for children on Sunday morning?

Every week at the 9am service we offer a program for school age children.  The programs run in age groups.  The children come into the service until about 9.20-9.30.  In the early part of the service we offer a special children’s segment.  Parents/grandparents/carers are welcome to join the children as they leave for Junior Church.

What do you offer for babies and toddlers?

Every week at the 9am service we offer a program/crèche for the babies and toddlers.  Parents/grandparents/carers are welcome to join the children.  We offer baby changing facilities and we have a chapel that is also a parenting room.  This allows parents to listen and watch the service through the large glass panel and not have to worries if their child is restless.  There is no obligation to use the parenting room – we love the sounds of children.

Who is teaching my children?

Your children are taught by volunteers who are must have police clearances to do so.  There are always at least two people per class.  Many of the teachers are professional teachers or retired teachers.  Each week they use professionally prepared resources that are also used by many other churches.

Can I stay with my child for the entire class?

Absolutely.  You are most welcome to stay for as long as you like for as many times as you like.  The teachers will warmly welcome you every week.

Does my teenager have to be a member of the Youth Ministry in order to attend?

No.  The Youth program runs each Friday night.  Please feel free to attend any week.  There is a Youth Facebook page that is regularly updated

Where can I go with a new baby? Am I allowed to bring my baby into the worship centre?

Babies are adored by everyone.  We offer baby changing facilities and we have a chapel that is also a parenting room.  This allows parents to listen and watch the service through the large glass panel and not have to worries if their child is restless.  There is no obligation to use the parenting room – we love the sounds of children.

Who is your minister?

Rev Matthew Bond and Rev Linda Driver. Please learn more about them here.

What kind of adult education/spiritual growth opportunities do you offer?

We offer many regular Bible Studies – please ask one of our ministers for one that might best suit you.

What kind of outreach is the church involved in?

We are active in our local community, nationally and in overseas missions. We combine with other local churches and take drama presentations into 6 local Primary Schools at Easter and Christmas. Our Ministers and other members of the church are regularly serving in the Aged Care Facilities in our neighbourhood. One of our ministers serves at the ANZAC Dawn service in Kensington Gardens Reserve each year. Every Christmas we hold a Community Carol Service in the Park early in December. We support Uniting Communities to meet the needs of people of all ages in our local community. Some of our members volunteer with Outback Links where they use their skills as teachers, handymen or cooks to serve in rural communities. We are actively engaged in mission work to support schools, hospitals and evangelistic efforts in Papua New Guinea, Thailand and Burma.

How often do you have baptisms for adults and children?

The Uniting Church recognises the Sacrament of Baptism for children and adults. We will baptise by full immersion anyone who publicly confesses their faith in Jesus Christ and commits their life to God. Babies are baptised by sprinkling. We do this whenever we are asked, about 3 or 4 times a year.

Can I watch or listen to the sermons online?

Our 9:00 am Contemporary Worship sermons are available online.

With whom do I talk if I want to know more?

Please feel free to chat with one of our ministers.  They will be thrilled to chat to you.