Heatherton-Dingley Uniting Church

Caption: Congregation members watch as Geoff Serpell (left) presents the awards to Rev. Deacon Andrea Mayes and Margaret Hause from Heatherton-Dingley Uniting Church.

BARK FOR JOY! CHURCH RECOGNISED FOR CARING FOR ALL GOD’S CREATURES

The Heatherton Dingley Uniting Church has been on the journey to become environmentally friendly for a very long time. We installed a 4kW solar panel system and solar hot water in 2012. In 2021 we installed energy efficient lighting throughout our building. In 2022 we applied for a grant through Sustainability Victoria’s Community Climate Change and Energy Program to replace 4 old gas heaters in the church with two energy efficient split system reverse cycle heaters/air conditioners. These were installed in early 2023. These larger actions have been accompanied by smaller actions such as only having our urn/hot water turned on when we are using it and making sure all appliances are turned off at the wall after use.

Heatherton Dingley Uniting Church is especially focused on ministry to dogs and their owners. For 10 years we have a bi-monthly morning tea called Bark and Chat, which regularly raises money to help other animals through RSPCA. In 2023 we started a bi-monthly Dog Church service, where we think about how dogs can connect us with God and encourage us to care for the broader natural world. 

In our regular Sunday morning services, we have also been enjoying regular eco-worship services over the past year and a half, led by Deacon Andrea Mayes. A highlight was Sunday 30 June 2023, National Tree Day where we invited the broader community to join us for an eco-service followed by planting some trees and morning tea.

On Sunday 8th of October 2023, the Five Leaf Eco-Awards Basic Certificate and Eco Worship Awards were presented to the church on behalf of the program by Geoff Serpell, a member of Leighmoor Uniting Church (who received their Five Leaf Eco-Awards Basic Certificate award in September).