Being Together
The DOVES Social Justice Group meets regularly to focus on social justice and environmental issues affecting our families, friends, neighbours and our local community, as well as global issues that have a local impact.
Their intention is to inform our congregations about justice and environmental issues in a way that encourages us all to to weave responsible action into our lives, (without becoming overwhelmed or exhausted). They aim to keep informed about any gaps across our community in addressing needs, and to make changes in our churches’ practices and properties to meet those needs where we can.
They support direct action from time to time by connection with organisations and movements such as Nalderun Education Aboriginal Services (NEAC), Sorry Day, Reconciliation Week, Schools Strike for Climate (SS4C), Australian Religious Response to Climate Change (ARRCC), Five Leaf Eco Awards, Community Lunch, Refugee week and the Wararack Initiatives.
Weekly Prayers
In our Weekly Prayers our members gather for a specifically deeper form of Christian fellowship in which we focus on our relationship to God. Every Tuesday, at 11.00am, Castlemaine Church is open for prayer - for our world, for our church for each other. Anyone who cannot attend may ask one of the leaders to pray on their behalf or say a particular prayer. Contact the minister in the first instance.
The Crafty Ladies
The ladies are a warm, welcoming and informal group who gather together weekly bringing their own craft work to their meegings, or just come for a chat, and who lend a hand on various group projects from time to time.
Anyone is welcome to join and get to know some other people.
Dad's Army is a Castlemaine Church based group of men and women who meet for friendship, fellowship and - sometimes - the maintenance of the church garden. They gather on Wednesday mornings, at Castlemaine, at 10.30. Working bees are also held to help beautify the gardens at both Castlemaine and Harcourt.
Coffee and catch-up. The Newstead Uniting Church closed and was sold in 2022 but its former congregation continues to gather once a month, the second Thursday, at 1.30, at the town's Dig Cafe. The Harcourt congregation meets every Friday morning at at 10.30 at the Harcourt General Store. Both gatherings are attended by the minister. Christian fellowship is one of the most important experiences of being a member of the Parish. Anyone is welcome at these gatherings.