Sunset Rock Uniting Church | Grant Recipient Story

Sunset Rock Uniting Church: Hospitality in the Hills.

“UC Invest has helped us move towards becoming an ‘all through the week church’, creating opportunities to connect with children, families and caregivers beyond Sunday. We are excited to build on these relationships as we look towards developing intergenerational worship where people of all ages can encounter Jesus and belong.” – Rev Elissa Inglis, Minister, Sunset Rock UC

When Rev Elissa Inglis first joined Sunset Rock Uniting Church as their new minister, she made it a priority to learn as much as she could about her new community.

Sunset Rock sits atop almost six acres of natural bushland in Stirling in the Adelaide Hills. Looking at local demographics, Elissa found that there were a high number of young families living in the area. She spent time visiting nearby cafes and community spaces and noticed a need that the church was uniquely placed to address: “there wasn’t a space where parents could go and let their kids play and feel comfortable about doing that”.

Her vision was to create a welcoming, family-friendly café and play space with a focus on building community.

The church applied for funding through Uniting Foundation’s UC Invest-backed grant program. Their first successful grant application went towards launching the volunteer-run café – the Shared Table – and building a fenced-off nature play area outside.

A second grant financed a year’s salary for a part-time Families Connections Worker. In this role, Jane Finlayson supports the café’s mission by planning and setting up varied play areas and sensory activities. Most importantly, she chats to people. “It’s very easy for me to do,” she says with a smile. “I like to walk around and talk to people, meet other families”. By spending dedicated time in the café each week, Jane has been able to develop lasting connections with regulars – getting to know their names and learning about their lives.

For Jane and Elissa, it’s been rewarding to see relationships forming among the visitors themselves. “There are some wonderful stories,” says Jane. “People coming here with their children on their own who might be feeling lonely, not having anywhere to go … It’s just a beautiful place for people to meet each other … We’ve had people coming from places as far away as Holden Hill”.

As well as being a valuable service to their wider community, the café has transformed the congregation’s sense of mission and purpose. They are no longer “just a Sunday church”, Elissa reflects. “We’re an all-through-the-week church”. Looking ahead, they hope to start running intergenerational worship services that would serve this same demographic of children, families and caregivers.

Elissa’s advice to others looking to transform their approach to ministry is to “really research your area … what is the community already offering and what can you offer that is totally unique?”. She also recommends talking with people who have taken on similar projects or have relevant expertise and learning from them. Finally, when it comes to seeking grant funding, she encourages applicants to “start thinking early … spend two to three months beforehand setting out a business plan and researching it”.

Elissa and her team’s approach to this project has been methodical and considered, with each step made possible by financial support and careful planning. As a result, Sunset Rock are fulfilling their mission “to know Jesus and to make him known through hospitality and community”.