01/09/2026
1/9/2026
To my fellow Christ-followers
and creators of the Sanctuary Way
in this Spring season that invites us into creativity and new life,
Some of the most important moments of church life are the ones we plan for precisely because they interrupt our “usual way” of doing things.
Our recent cosplay costume afternoon was one of those moments: a deliberate choice by Church Council to use a fifth Sunday to step outside our usual 9:30am rhythm and ask what worship looks like when it takes the shape of neighbourliness, and faith the shape of action rather than words.
Around trestle tables and shared plates, in capes and costumes stitched (over 150 hours of work for some!) or borrowed for the day, we watched people who don't usually walk through our doors feel instantly, unmistakably welcome.
That's not a small thing.
It's the whole thing when we seek to make sense of what it means to be Sanctuary Uniting Church, following the teachings and example of Jesus to make an extraordinary difference in our lives and in our world!
Long before I accepted this placement, our vision has named us as a people called to be flourishing, inclusive, and life-affirming; a community where every person, of every background and every way of being in the world, is treated as of limitless value. An afternoon of costumes and character-creation might seem an unlikely place to see that vision made flesh, but that's exactly what happened in and through:
~ the 25 volunteers who cooked, greeted, set-up, cleaned-up, laughed, listened, cheered, and shared,
~ the six unfamiliar faces who brought new names to be learned, stories to be heard, and difference to be celebrated as the very real and precious gifts in our midst,
~ the reflections of Simon, Nancy, and Hannah about the significance of CosPlay to them in terms of expressing their creativity and finding places of authentic connection,
~ the A-HA moment for those who had no clue what CosPlay is but showed up anyway - showing up, according to MJC Principal Darren Twist, is the most important thing that we can do in building a safe and transformational community – and are now saying, “We have to do this again!” and “I just realised I have an outfit I could have worn!”
~ the handful of folk who have so much going on in their own lives right now but still made time to drop off a slice or a salad or to help for an hour,
~ and, of course, the wider church family from Adamstown, New Lambton, and the PCG (post-confirmation group) who joined in with the fun.
And so, perhaps, the invitation is to keep making space for these kinds of moments: to explore and create together what worship, ministry, and mission can look like the Sanctuary Way — flourishing, inclusive, life-affirming, and open to the surprising places where God is already at work.
The coming Season of Creation offers many such opportunities:
~ Open Table gathering at New City Maitland themed “A Theology of Mud” (5th September),
~ a café church featuring some of our own creatives (6th September),
~ a youth and children’s service at New Lambton (20th September),
~ Faith@5 gatherings exploring what God does with dirt (12th September),
~ And, a conversation with Presbytery Mission Consultant and artist Rev Rod Pattenden (4th October).
Each is another chance to step a little beyond the familiar, to welcome one another more deeply, and to discover that when we bring our gifts, curiosity, courage, and willingness to show up,
the Spirit keeps creating community with, among, and through us.
With gratitude for all that we create together,
Yvonne
Images (used with permission):
Nancy, Hannah, and Greg with incredible handmade costumes and props,
our roving poet Peter Oliver who wandered around writing personalised limericks for people,
and David from Adamstown who uses his costume as a conversation about social justice issues - CosPlay as Advocacy!
Thank you to everyone who supported, attended,
and prayed for this day to go well!
