UCA - Port Macquarie

GATHERING We believe that to follow the Lord Jesus Christ is to be part of a new interdependent community that regularly comes together in various ways at various times. GROWING We believe that to go deeper in our relationship with God and with each other it is essential that we get together as we need each other to grow. GOING We believen that we are called to be active in our life of faith, within the church and outside the church. We want to be open to new directions, faithfully in well trodden paths of service and in everything bear witness to Jesus Christ. Going is further expanded in FIVE MARKS OF MISSION 1. TELL: to proclaim the Good News of the Kingdom of God. 2. TEACH: to teach, baptise and nurture believers. 3. TEND: to respond to human need by loving service. 4. TRANSFORM: to seek to transform unjust structures society, to challenge violence of every kind and to pursue peace and reconciliation. 5. TREASURE: to strive to safeguard the integrity of creation and sustaining renew the life of the earth. HISTORICAL PRESERVATION We preserve and maintain an historic Wesleyan Chapel in Horton Street, Port Macquarie that dates from 1846. This Chapel was the meeting place of Wesleyan Methodist worshipers, who became known simply as Methodists in 1902, until it was replaced by a new and larger adjoining building in 1964. Church union in 1977 brought both buildings into the ownership and responsibility of the newly formed Uniting Church of Australia. The newer building was replaced by our current Sherwood Road Worship Centre in 1995 and subsequently sold. At this time services were reinstated in the historic chapel. Currently services are held on the first and third Sunday of each month, excepting January. On a restricted basis the chapel is open for historic tours and for private prayer and reflection during the week. The chapel is also used as a weekly meeting place for local Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous groups. We believe that the chapel is the oldest functioning Uniting Church in New South Wales.