Twenty years ago Katoomba started its Winter Magic Festival, celebrating the winter solstice.

It was a decidedly 'New Age', 'Pagan' event, a counter to Christians. The churches closed their doors. Witches, warlocks, fairies and goblins paraded.

The event has changed somewhat over time and has more of a community focus and inclusion these days. People still dress up and the odd warlock can still be seen. But the pagan symbols have been removed from the promotional material.

Since the Rev Ray Robinson became the senior minister of St Hilda’s Katoomba eight years ago he has made consistent efforts to engage the community. He went to the organising committee of the Winter Magic Festival in his first year. People raised eyebrows. St Hilda’s is in the main street. The parade passes directly in front. Ray wanted to be involved.

The church began running events in the building. Music, bush dancing, refreshments, face painting, balloon sculpting. People came in. Show bags were handed out. Each bag had a copy of one of the Gospels and other Christian material. Every year now, for eight years, St Hilda’s has been doing this. One year they even wrapped the church tower like a present with a big red bow and a card which read, “Our gift to the community.”

This year a new front entrance, with large glass doors, has opened up the building to the street. Anyone walking by can see straight in to what is happening in the building. This brought more of the Winter Magic crowds this year. The show bags ran out early in the afternoon. One thousand one hundred cups of tea and coffee were served. The Bush Dance in the building that night presented a warm welcome of fun and music to anyone walking past.

The church has engaged with its community. Winter Magic no longer divides this community. St Hilda’s has reached out as part of the community. The messages are different. One is pagan, the other Christian. But opening the doors has meant there is now dialogue.
At the end of the bush dance a young man came into the building as Ray was getting ready to go home. He said he really had to find out what this Christianity was all about. Ray sat with him and talked about Jesus.

Here is a church that exists in a hard place, side by side with an overtly pagan, new age community. It has become the Christian voice in this public sphere from which it once retreated.

Feature photo: Michael Sharman