Sipwell Faith Community

The faith community of Sipwell is made up of people who wish to explore pathways of faith and spirituality outside the usual parameters of the traditional church.

Our gatherings are an open invitation, a place for people to come as they are, with all levels of faith or doubt or wondering. Our intention is to be a ‘free and fearless space” to listen for God, and give room for Spirit to move and speak within and among us.

Each gathering follows a theme and is facilitated by a leader, finishing with a quiet time around the Sipwell bowl and candle where we focus on our gratitude and concerns in silent or spoken prayer.

What’s in the name?

A Sipwell is a hollowed-out rock where water gathers. First Australians hollowed out small rock wells to sip from and quench their thirst as they travelled across the land.

At our monthly gatherings we also pause, rest, reflect on what’s important in our life journey and be refreshed to continue.

Program in 2025

This year in a series of four sessions, we are dipping more deeply into Creation Spirituality - an ancient but lesser-known tradition within Judaism and Christianity that has been written about by Dominican scholar Matthew Fox. Each session draws on perspectives basic to many spiritual paths that seek wisdom from, and connection to nature, earth our home and to the whole creation, which some first nations people refer to as “all our relations”. Each path will be facilitated by Fay White via poetry, song, story, contemplation and our own experiences.  

Another four of our gatherings are Singing Sipwells, where we mark each change of season with an all-in singing session comprising ‘Songs of Life, Songs of Hope, Songs to keep our dreams afloat’.

We meet from 5 until 6.30pm on the third Saturday of each month, with the option to stay afterwards for a shared meal and convivial conversation.

Dates for the second half of 2025

June 21^st - Singing Sipwell – Wintersong with Fay White

July 19^th – Creation Spirituality Path 2

The Via Negativa – Silence, Rest, Depth, Letting go and Letting be

Aug 16^th – Creation Spirituality Path 3

The Via Creativa – Creativity, bringing to birth something new

Sept 20^th – Singing Sipwell – Spring with Fay White

Oct 18^th – Topic to be confirmed

Nov 22^nd – Creation Spirituality – Path 4

The Via Transformative – Justice, Healing, Repair

Dec 20^th - Singing Sipwell – Summer and Chrismas

Sipwell is part of the Castlemaine District Uniting Church Parish and is currently led by Danni Moore, Fay White and/or Rev Sarah Tomilson. Most gatherings are held in the Chapel space at the rear of the main church building at 8-12 Lyttleton St Castlemaine, but sometimes the group gathers in the church hall or outdoors somewhere on country.