Welcome to Yarralumla Uniting Church
Welcome to Yarralumla Uniting Church, located in the picturesque suburb of Yarralumla in Canberra, the capital city of Australia and the Australian Capital Territory.
For over 60 years, we have been a welcoming, friendly, and inclusive faith community dedicated to following Jesus to the best of our ability.
We acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land, the Ngunnawal, Ngambri, and Ngarigo peoples, and recognise their ongoing connection to the land, skies, and waters. We are committed to walking together towards justice and reconciliation, fostering mutual respect and understanding.
Theology
Yarralumla Uniting Church is committed to the broad and diverse tapestry of the Uniting Church. When we say all are welcome at Yarralumla, we mean all. We are all followers of Jesus and are also humans committed to lifelong learning. As a community of faith we prioritise warmth and intimate community. If you’d like to find out more about what we believe, we highly recommend the Uniting Church’s Basis of Union and the Statement to the Nation about the vision behind the Uniting Church which we share.
Yarralumla Uniting Church is a community of believers that seeks to have a “faith which seeks understanding”. This is a definition of theology (the way we talk about God) which focusses on not leaving our brains at the door when we come to church but seeking to understand the Bible and Jesus in an intellectually stimulating and accessible way. We do this through our preaching, discussion and bible study groups, and by living out our faith.
Mission & Vision
Our vision is to live out Christ’s calling to love God and to love our neighbour.
Yarralumla Uniting Church (YUC) officially began on 8 August 1960 as part of the Methodist Church of Australasia.
On 22 June 1977, the congregation (along with all Methodist Churches, a majority of Presbyterian Churches, and most Congregationalist Churches) became part of the Uniting Church in Australia.
Over the years, our congregation has fluctuated in size, from bustling with young families and a thriving youth group to smaller numbers.
What has sustained those who have called YUC home over the years is the warmth and friendliness of those who have sought to follow Jesus together.
YUC is seeking new ways to follow Jesus faithfully in an ever-changing Canberra.
We invite you to come and explore with us.
Service times
We gather for worship each Sunday at 9:30am
Extra services are held during special times of the year, such as during Lent (the season leading up to Easter), Holy Week (the week leading up to Easter), and Christmastime. These will be advised on our website, notice board, and Facebook page.
BAPTISMs
Yarralumla Uniting Church welcomes adults, children and babies into the sacrament of baptism. Preparation for baptism is provided for each person (or the parents of babies), so that the central mysteries of Christian faith can be wrestled with and explored before people decide whether to enter this life long commitment. If you would like to explore baptism, please contact our minister.
funerals
Yarralumla Uniting Church welcomes funeral services for those who seek to have a Christian funeral for a loved one. Please contact us at the church office on 02 6281 2750 or email our Secretary or Minister.
weddings
Yarralumla Uniting Church welcomes marriages of couples who wish to have a Christian Marriage ceremony. Please contact our minister at the church office on 02 6281 2750 or email if you would like to make further enquiries about marriage preparation and potential dates for weddings.
Please note that while our Minister is still a student, he cannot carry out the legal sections of the marriage ceremony, however recommends the Rev. Amanda Hay from the Tuggeranong Uniting Church while he is undergoing formation.
Meet the Team
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![James Ellis]()
James Ellis
MINISTER
James is a candidate for Ministry of the Word in the Uniting Church and has served as a Student Minister at the Yarralumla Congregation since February 2023.
James enjoys conversations about life and faith, reading about the world of JRR Tolkien, and always improving his home coffee-making skills.
James lives with his Daughter, Amelia, and their dog and cat.
James loves a chat and a coffee - please reach out if you’d like to discuss anything.
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Lynne Thomson
CHAIRPERSON
Lynne is the Chairperson of the Yarralumla Uniting Church congregation and Church Council.
Lynne brings to the role of the chair a diverse career in the public and private sectors. She is a talented artist and creative and has recently has works of art on display in a local exhibition.
Lynne is also the convenor of the Yarralumla Arts & Crafts Committee, which organises the Arts & Crafts Show each year along with the two craft destash markets.
What to expect at Yarralumla Uniting Church
During the service we pray together, read from the Bible, reflect on its meaning in our lives today, sing, and share Holy Communion.
Children are very welcome, and there is a space inside the church dedicated to children’s activities with an activity sheet based on the theme for the day and numerous craft materials.
During the service, there is often an “all age message” where the minister or person leading the service will lead a conversation aimed at younger people. Sometimes we do church differently, such as café style or “messy style,” where we embrace creativity and mess.
Affiliation
Yarralumla Uniting Church is a congregation of the Uniting Church in Australia under the oversight of the Canberra Region Presbytery, within the Synod of NSW & ACT.
Information about the Uniting Church in Australia can be found at Uniting.Church, our Synod website and about our Presbytery online.