Sophia's Spring is an eco-feminist community of the Uniting Church
that meets at CERES Community Environment Park
We also Zoom!
We bring eco-feminist perspectives and inclusive language
to enlarge, deepen and challenge traditional concepts of God/de and the church.
We are an active community of faith,
seeking new ways of understanding spirituality,
and hold sacred the earth and all creation.
Time and Place
Please join us for our Sunday Gathering at 10 at CERES and Online
We are mindful that COVID is still with us and many of us choose to wear a mask as we gather. We have good ventilation and an air purifier.
The 3rd Sunday of each month we meet at 4pm
Other opportunities to gather are:
Centring Prayer every Wednesday at 530 Online
Art Group meets fortnightly on Friday mornings at various locations
Singing for the Health of It happens on the second Sunday of each month
Contact our Secretary for details
St Francis Day Celebration
Join us at 10am on October 6 with your beloved pet to bless and be blessed
Bring your beloved pet (or a photo of them)
Everyone is welcome, hospitality is offered to all and all can explore their ideas and questions about faith and spirituality.
We celebrate friendship, relationship and social commitment.
Sophia’s Spring gatherings are a safe place for all people regardless of creed, age, cultural background or sexual orientation
Dogs/Pets at Sophia’s Spring gatherings:
At Sophia’s Spring we honour all forms of life as beloved creatures. We are surrounded by the life of the Merri Creek and CERES and value, and delight in the presence of birds, frogs, insects, chooks and the reptiles in our surrounds. We also want all participants to feel safe.
If you want to bring your dog/pet with you, please secure your dog/pet at one of our safe, outside locations i.e. on the back or side verandas. Service animals ie Guide Dogs are of course exempt. There are water bowls available if required.
Church Council has affirmed that we will schedule four gatherings per year when pets are welcome. On St Francis' Day (early October) your pets are welcome!

The striking Blue-banded bee has pale opalescent blue stripes on its abdomen. Photo: Chiswick Chap CC BY-SA 4.0; https://www.friendsvic.org/2017/01/03/pollination-pathways-project/
The native blue banded bee is a beautiful and important creature. It is an essential pollinator along the Merri Creek grasslands and it is the sole pollinator of the critically endangered Matted Flax-lily.
The bee is a herald, a harbinger, a messenger of change that we need to be attuned to. It speaks of the health of our local ecosystem. The bee population is declining. This has highlighted how vital bees are to our gardeners and orchardists.
In the ancient world the bee was understood as a messenger from the gods, bringing wisdom and healing from the heavens. The bee was also an early symbol for the Sacred Feminine.
At the Sophia's Spring community we read the biblical texts, the wisdom of other traditions, contemporary mystics and muses. We listen to scientists, artists, poets and wise ones to find meaning for us, here and now, in our place in the world at CERES, on the banks of the Merri Creek.
During Advent, the four weeks leading up to Christmas, we celebrated the Blue Banded Bee, a symbol of peace to the earth and a messenger from heaven to herald the need to tread gently and live wisely.


Money for Mission
The following is a link to the video by Rev Mat Harry promoting Money4Mission. The Video is part of a Synod Vic/Tas’ project to encourage congregations to think creatively and wisely about use of property for the benefit of the whole church and future sustainability.” The video stars: Steve, Di, John, Dee and Jan G talking about the move from Fitzroy; it is a short slice of the history of our move from Fitzroy Uniting Church to CERES.
There are many ways to be involved at Sophia's Spring.
During the period of physical distancing and the shut down of non-essential services due to the Covid19 pandemic, we met virtually.
We are now able to meet again so...
If you would like to join us please email us at sophias-spring@ceres.org.au and we will send you the information you need

We are seeking ways to include those of our community who are unable to attend physically but can participate in our gatherings online
All gatherings held in the CERES Learning Centre, along the path from the Lee Street entrance, CERES Environmental Park in East Brunswick. See google Google Map and the site CERES site map
Parking
Parking can be difficult near CERES and time restrictions often apply.
First try CERES main carpark, corner Roberts and Stewart Streets. If that is full, overflow parking is available at Cretan Brotherhood of Melbourne, corner Stewart and Nicholson Streets.
We'd love to hear from you
Please get in touch to learn more about Sophia's Spring
You can email our secretary Jan G sophias-spring@ceres.org.au or our Ministry Coordinator: Christina 0403 197 352 christinatree@ceres.org.au

Our Facebook Page
Join the Sophia's Spring Facebook Page for updates on events and other news.
https://www.facebook.com/Sophias-Spring-Uniting-Church-1724872790962288/
