macclesfield uniting church

come as you are

Maccy Church

welcome

God has a place and a purpose for every single person. We’d love you to come and join us, as we strive to build a strong community that reflects Jesus. The kettle is on for a cuppa and a chat after every service, and we'd love to meet you. Come as you are - you’re welcome here.

Service Info

Sundays at 10:30am
Flaxley Memorial Hall.
(attached to the tennis courts)
Strathalbyn Rd, Flaxley SA 5153, Australia.
How to get here »
See Facebook for our preaching schedule.

What To Expect

On a typical Sunday morning we start by giving some announcements about things that have happened in the past week or are coming up. We then allow a few moments for people to share anything (good or bad) we can pray for and we follow with a time of prayer followed by singing a few songs. One of our former ministers or a guest speaker then shares a message/sermon. We collect any offerings*, and after a blessing we share a cuppa together.

The first Sunday of each month we observe communion* during the service. This is a short practice of remembering the sacrifice Jesus made on the cross.

It's pretty informal so there's no need to dress up.

* See below for an explanation

Contact Us

For any general inquiries, feel free to email and we will get back to you as soon as possible. If you need a faster response, feel free to call or text Jenni Sarlow . You can also send snail mail to PO Box 168, SA 5153.

got questions? here's some answers

Do I have to give money?
We have no requirement, or expectation for anyone to give money. Running and sustaining our church does have some minimal expenses (like rent), but our collection of money is largely to support many different charities. In 2022 we gave around $20,000 to missions, local, state, national and international. As members, we bring financial gifts as we are able. Outside of money, we also collect grocery items each week to support the Macclesfield Food Pantry, serving those doing it tough in our community.

What if I have kids?
Sometimes we have kids and sometimes we don’t, but we do have a creche area to the back dedicated for the little ones to play during the service. We will have someone to play with them and you’re welcome to stay with them as well if you’re more comfortable with that. For school age children we have resources to engage them during the service, but regular Sunday school is not yet available. We hope that changes in the near future.

How long is church?
While we do enjoy chatting and enjoying each other's company, the formal part of church is usually around 1.5 hours long. The message is generally around 30 minutes. We usually stay for an additional hour or so to share a cuppa. This is where we catch up and build community. We're in no hurry to leave but you're welcome to go as you please.

Do I have to stand up or speak in front of people?
No not at all. People who come out the front to share feel comfortable to do so. If you'd like to have prayer for you or your situation and don't want to share in front of people, you can send us an email and we will add it to the list. You can also just speak from your seat at the sharing time. There is no expectation that anyone needs to say anything. You will most likely be welcomed from the front though, at the start of the service. Occasionally we ask people to greet each other, where people will likely come over to welcome you.

What is communion?
Communion is a Christian practice in which bread and grape juice (some churches use wine) are consumed as reminders or symbols of Jesus’ death, which is the act that paid the cost of our sin. When you participate in this practice, you are acknowledging the sacrifice for you. Here's a short video that explains it nicely.

Why do you sing songs?
We often refer to singing as 'worship' although, singing is only one form of that. We sing for 2 main reasons. 1. A reminder of who God is, His promises to us from the bible. 2. A personal response of praise, repentance, or commitment to following Jesus.

a bit about us

We are a small congregation of Christians who believe that Jesus Christ is God’s Son. That He died so that we can be reunited with God the Father and that through accepting His death and resurrection- lives change. We don’t just believe it, we know it because it is our experience of Him. We believe that the Bible is God’s Word and by reading & studying it we learn more about who God is, and who he designed us to be.

We have a very relaxed, informal approach to Church. We don’t have a formal minister, but we do have 2 retired ministers who attend. We rely on local preachers from all over to come and preach for us. We all have a say in what goes on. We work together as a team and love to give where we are able.

While we are officially called Macclesfield Uniting Church, we meet in the Flaxley Memorial Hall since the overheads are low and the location is more central to our regulars from Strathalbyn, Meadows, Murray Bridge, Littlehampton, Flaxley and Mt Barker.

Our Mission: Macclesfield Uniting Church is not a museum for religious relics. We are a Church reaching out first to our own community, then beyond. With both a spiritual and practical passion, we share Jesus Christ.