Activities
The Manning Valley Project is a kind of 'umbrella' for various activities and initiatives aimed at connecting people to God; connecting people to people; and connecting people to community.
Worship, prayer, weddings, baptisms and funerals
We're connected to the various Uniting Church communities of faith – and their ministers, pastors and chaplains – in the region.
If you're looking for an inclusive, friendly church to support you, celebrate with you, grieve with you, pray for you – or otherwise help you mark the important moments on your life journey – please be in touch.
For locations of our churches in the region (and links to their web sites)...
Disaster Recovery Chaplaincy
As a member of the NSW Disaster Recovery Chaplaincy Network, Rev. Claire Wright was deployed in the region during the March 2021 floods – while also offering support and assistance on behalf of the Manning Valley Project.
With the generous support of the local churches, the Uniting Church's Disaster Recovery Fund and various community groups, we were able to deliver vouchers, food parcels, emergency supplies and practical assistance – as well as pastoral support and care – across several affected communities.
But recovery from a major disaster is not a short journey. Many in our community are still not 'OK' yet. Traumatic events, the damage and loss they casue, and the feelings they arouse, have an on-going impact on our lives. 'Closure' is often not easty to find, particularly if issues – like insurance claims, access to grants, or simply being heard – remain unresolved. 'Recovery' is possible – and there is potential for communities not just to 'return to normal' but to create a 'new normal' that is even better than the old. But it takes time. And it needs support and nurture.
The Manning Valley Project, with the support of the Uniting Church's Disaster Recovery Fund, has commissioned Rev. Claire to offer on-going chaplaincy in the Manning region, four days per week (Tuesday to Friday).
Chaplains offer:
-
Pastoral support and care
-
A non-judgemental and confidential listening ear
-
Assistance with processing grief and loss
-
Referral to appropriate recovery agencies (including mental health support)
-
Partnering of affected households with charities looking to offer support
-
Support for community-based recovery events, de-briefs, education and resilience-building
-
Help for local faith groups seeking to support their communities
It's OK not to be OK, yet. But we'll get there.
If Rev. Claire can help in any way, please don't hesitate to email and let us know.
Retreat | Centre
Rev. Claire is currently having conversations in the community around developing safe and creative new spaces and experiences for people of all faiths (or none) to explore spirituality.
The life of spirituality and faith should be a journey of discovery and growth, based on peace and love, hope and compassion, human dignity and freedom. For many people, though, 'organised religion' has not offered such a journey – or is no longer the first place most spiritual pilgrims would look...
Rev. Claire is looking to offer a menu of experiences under the banner Retreat|Centre: essentially, 'micro-retreats' intended to help re-set, refresh and restore in the midst of our busy, stressful lives.
Based around the ancient biblical concept of shalom – healing, wholeness and peace – these micro-retreats will offer short 'mind-body-spirit' activities such as mindfulness, story-telling, relaxation and spiritual exercises (from a range of traditions) to help participants re-connect with Spirit – and with themselves.
Retreat|Centre sessions will be one to one-and-and-half hours long and free of charge (or low cost) – making them accessible for people who wouldn't normally have the time or money for
a 'retreat'.
Watch this space!
And if you'd like to join the conversation,
email Rev. Claire.