About

Haven | Mernda is a safe space, a community in which to explore faith with others, participate in
the way of Jesus and together to extend hope and compassion to those around us.

The word ‘haven’ means ‘a place of safety or refuge or as an inlet providing shelter for ships or boats; a harbour or small port, the safe space to shelter from the storm and repair and refuel.’

Haven is a faith community of people who seek to follow Jesus. It’s a place to rest, to renew, to review, to reconstruct, to reconnect and to respond to the reign of Jesus.

We want to be a community of all ages, orientations and backgrounds, meeting  over a meal, talking about life and about how it connects to the good news about Jesus.

We’re OK if you feel like you don’t have it all together - or if life has been unravelling or if you have questions or doubts about faith-stuff — you will be supported and encouraged fellow travellers, some of whom are probably feeling the same way.

Haven is a place to explore the ancient wisdom of the Christian and Hebrew scriptures for their life changing truths. Haven is a safe community to learn about and taste-test helpful practices of faith; 

Haven is a community committed to dreaming together about what the reign and love of Jesus might look like in bringing God’s ‘shalom’ (wholeness, restoration, peace) to our world.

How would that transform your life (and the life of your children)? How might that fuel you for the rest of your week?

One key question is around what means to be ‘church’ in post-Christendom. At a time when there is a deep suspicion of religion institutions and the traditions that surround them, we want to affirm that ‘church’ is about becoming a spiritually and intellectually satisfying and supportive community of everyday people.

There are many who have been on a journey of questioning or deconstructing their faith. Maybe it’s not really been working for them and they feel uncomfortable with church as they’ve seen They have genuine questions or doubts that  they haven’t felt they can express, as they grapple with understanding how faith and scripture might become meaningful. If that’s you, welcome!

For some, Haven might be their first stop on the way into a life of faith! A community in which they and maybe their children can participate and thrive. For some others, Haven might be their last safe stop on the way out. Our  hope is always, to help people to find a constructive way to re-construct their faith into a life giving lens.