Spiritual Growth

Draw Near

God’s call, our prayer

Call

When Jesus began his ministry, he announced the coming of God:

…the kingdom of God has come near. (Matt. 4:17; Mark 1:15)

God has come near.

The world is called and invited through Christ to turn to God, accepting God’s nearness as the way the world can be renewed, reborn, and recreated through the Holy Spirit. (2 Cor. 5:17-19)

The invitation is new every day. During this season of Lent, we are called to take up God’s invitation in prayer and fasting as a sign of our commitment and love for God.


Prayer

Throughout the centuries, Christians have gathered for worship and asked God to be near. In a service of worship, this is known as the prayer of invocation: asking God to come and be present in which the worship of the people takes place. The church has asked God to come near, not only in worship but in the world – to establish peace and justice, heal the sick, and mend broken hearts.

In the Jewish and Christian tradition, being ‘near God’ is a way of expressing devotion, trust and faithfulness. In Psalm 73 it reads:

             …for me it is good to be near God;

                            I have made the Lord God my refuge,

                            to tell of all your works. (Ps 73:28)

The apostle Paul expressed this ancient Christian prayer in its simplest form when he exclaims, ‘Maranatha,’ which means ‘Our Lord, come!’ (1 Cor. 16:22)

And Jesus taught us to pray:

Your kingdom come… on earth as in heaven. (Matt. 6:10)

When we ask God to come near, or pray for God’s kingdom to come on earth, we are asking for our hearts and lives to be shaped and transformed by the Spirit, so that we align with the heart and mind of God.

This Lent as we respond to God’s call to ‘draw near,’ may our prayer be that our hearts would be God’s home. And more than this: that Southside Uniting Church, our congregation, would be God’s church – empowered by the Spirit, following Jesus, participating in God’s mission: transforming lives.

To ‘draw near’ let’s seek God in prayer.



Spiritual Growth covers key elements of the life of the Christian Church, including discipleship, bible studies, developing spiritual leaders and identifying people who have a calling on their lives for future ministry and mission engagement. As One Congregation in multiple locations, Southside seeks to build our unified identity through our spiritual commitment, by developing ourselves to discipleship we can find out more about our identity in Christ and as members of this unique community in the life of our church.

To find out more about Spiritual Growth in Southside Uniting Church or to express your interest in joining a Small Group, please contact the church office.

Life Is Not Meant to Be Lived Alone

On a weekly or fortnightly basis groups of people meet in homes, over zoom and at our church buildings to encourage each other in their discipelship. When people meet in a small group they study the bible and apply it to their lives, the pray for each other and care deeply. They encourage each other in ministry. They eat, laugh, cry and share life together.

Our small groups are a place to belong, because you matter.

Currently, we have groups that meet on:

Monday morning

Monday afternoon

Monday night

Tuesday night

Thursday afternoon

Sunday night

There's always room for more groups and people.

Using a simple process, together we read the bible and share what it is that God is saying to us personally. We encourage each other in living this out during the week. Thursday mornings 7.30am to 8.15am on Zoom.

Please contact the church office for more information and zoom connection details.

More From 'Ministries'

Children Youth and Families

Each week we release a video for our children and familes to help them start to explore the reading for the coming Sunday. You can see this above. We also send out some faith resources on the Monday to start these conversations. You can find these linked on the left side of the page.

We have a number of activities across Southside for young people. You can find out details about each of them in the tabs at the bottom of the page. Here are some photos to help you see some of these groups.

JAFFA - (grade 1-5)

Girls Brigade - (prep - year 12)

Boys Brigade - (prep - year 12)

Unite Youth Group - (grade 6-12)

Richard Moors works with an amazing team of volunteers to oversee all of the activities we do with young people. If you would like to know any more details he would love to chat with you.

All our volunteers with young people are screened and commit to adhering to the Safe Ministry With Children policy.

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Outreach

Jesus tells us that the church "is the light of the world" (Matthew 5:14).

Southside Uniting Church takes seriously this charge to be active in sharing Christ's love locally, nationally and internationally.

For more information on our Outreach Groups please contact the church office.

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Care

As one church in multiple locations, we are keenly aware of the importance of pastoral care, since caring for each other is intrinsic to authentic Christian community and the heart and character of God. Christ proclaims in John 13:34-35 “I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Networks of care are established in each of our communities, so that we may live out our motto of pastoral care being for everyone, by everyone.

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