Fresh Expressions at Ginninderry

From Rev Aimee Kent and Rev Karyl Davison
Ministers - Kippax Uniting Church
 
Many members of our Presbytery will know that it has long been hoped that the UCA could establish a presence in the housing development now known as Ginninderry.   The congregation at Kippax have voiced the same hope in several vision planning sessions over the past 5 years.  That hope has become an emerging reality.
 
Building on the relationship initially forged between UnitingCare Kippax and Riverview Developments, the Kippax congregation and it’s Fresh Ways team, has begun practical engagement with the Ginninderry community.   
 
In 2020 the congregation, guided by the timeline developed by the Fresh Expression movement begun in the UK, began a journey of listening and experimenting with new ways of gathering as church which would both build on existing partnerships and experiment with new ones with other congregations and community groups.
 

Over the last two years or so, a variety of new expressions of church have emerged and flourished. In addition to our regular Sunday worship, which since early 2020 has been offered both in-person, and on Zoom, the following new expressions of church have been started:
 
- Walking Church, held in conjunction with Gungahlin UC every 2 weeks. This has been an excellent opportunity to engage people from across the age spectrum. It’s also an easy entry point for people not already part of the Kippax community;
- B.I.L.T. is an intergenerational, interactive and multi-dimensional style of worship held once a month;
- Daisy Way emerged as a result of Covid restrictions. It is similar to B.I.L.T. in style but is restricted to a smaller number of family groups who meet in a family home;
- Space for God is a contemplative style of worship held once a month;
- Years and Years Watch Party and Discussion Group;
- The Good Place Explored Watch Party and Discussion Group;
- Theological Book Club;
- Craft Church (with a view to morph this group into leadership of Sustainable Sundays out at Ginninderry;)
- and provision of ‘at home’ worship resources throughout the pandemic.
 
Kippax is fortunate that for the last 3 1/2  years we have a Ministry Team comprised of two Ministers who each have unique experience working within the church planting and fresh expressions movement.
 
Whilst UnitingCare Kippax has been engaged with Ginninderry around education, employment and empowerment, the congregation has also been actively involved in community development and exploring fresh ways of being church in the area.