Good Stories

Worship with an Eye to Newcomers by Mark Illingworth

A great night and day was held at Mundaring UCA by over 40 participants from Busselton, Merredin, Kojonup, Mundaring, Nedlands, Mount Pleasant, Billabong, Swan View, Kalamunda, Wanneroo Crossways, Duncraig, Subiaco, and Mount Pleasant.

Check out more detail here!

Upwards of 700 adults and children sailed the Seven “C”s at The Billabong Uniting Church in Canning Vale, on Sunday Sept. 26. It was our 2004 Spring Festival.

Over six hours, in perfect weather, visitors moved through sites on the block depicting Creation, Corruption, Catastrophe, Confusion, Cross, and Christ, finally reaching Checkpoint Café for a welcome cuppa.  

In addition, mothers and daughters clustered around the crafts tent, and dads and sons (and daughters) hammered and nailed at “Kids Carpentry.”  Face painting often crossed the age barrier, and a sizzling science show and the "Get Lost" maze drew at least as many as the bouncy castle.  Many sat in the open watching performances by visiting dancing groups, listening to the Paperbark band, or just gazing across the rippling Billabong – and eating and drinking, of course.  

Spring Festival is all an expression of our motto of “promoting life in our community.”  Some searching conversations occurred between church folk and curious members of the public.  While praying together before packing up, we expressed our thanks to God for a great time and bridges built.

For more information on Open Crowd Festivals click here.

24-7 Prayer by Mark Illingworth

The Billabong UCA ran a 24-7 Prayer Room in the lead up to Easter Sunday. Despite the apprehension that all the time slots wouldn't be filled, once we got going it was fantastic! A very creative week with art and music leading individuals into a living new experience of God!

Recreating Australia Conference by Mark Illingworth

Recreating Australia is a movement seeking ways forward in evangelism for the coming years.

I was involved as a resource person for the sessions on Church Planting. There was a lot of interest and energy to plant new congregations in new housing areas as well as alongside existing congregations.