Diff for "AnnualReport2016"

Group

Adult Group

Purpose, Aim or Mission of the Group:

Fellowship and Social get together once a month including welcome to new members. The group gives to various causes using funds raised. (Monthly gold coin donation and proceeds from Peridot Theatre ticket sales).

Current Office Bearers:

Lindsay and Bev Brown, Jenny and Roger Vass continued from 2015 for a second year (the annually appointed small committee co-ordinates the program).

Membership numbers:

64 on the “roll”

Usual meeting attendance:

25-35 (maximum 45)

Meeting times and days:

First Friday each month except Jan and Dec when special events are held.

Locations used by Group:

Generally Room 1

Highlights of the year:

Highlights of the year:
Adult Group continued with a monthly round of interesting speakers drawn from acquaintances of members plus other activities. The program for 2016 was as follows:
February: BBQ at the Vass, 27 attending, 20 apologies.
March: Poet Extraordinaire Don McQueen.
April: Trees with David and Shirley Williams (31 attending)
May: Migration story with Ken Gosbell (31 attending)
June: Uran Utang project presented by Tiffany Smith (23 attending and 14 apologies
July: Equip for Life with Mathew Shanks (27 attending, 22 apologies)
August: Games night (19 attending, 20 apologies)
September: Comedy Night 31 attending
October: School life with Elida Brereton
November: Life in New Guinea- a look back with Robin Pope (30 members attending)
December: Christmas Break up..organised by Lyn and PamMcDonald and Anne and ArthurDavey
Donations totalling $270 was given to the Share Appeal in support of the Homelessness Program. This donation was made up from $84 donated from sale of Peridot theatre tickets and the remainder made up of members gold coin donations made at the monthly meetings. The end of year balance is $94.15
The Committee for 2017 will be Margaret and AlanLemke and Sandra and AlanBarnard.
AnneDavey will continue as welfare contact. PatVevers will continue as Peridot contact.

Any needs that Church Council can assist:

Members continue to feel the demands of participating in the Fete as age creeps up. We have raised this with the Fete Committee and some thought needs to be given to the future demands on members helping at the fete on the Trash and Treasure stall.

Group

Broadcast Ministry

Purpose, Aim or Mission of the Group:

To provide a broadcast worship services to selected locations. To record and create DVD’s for distribution to GWUC members and other interested parties. To create and support an in home and hospital ministry. To record significant worship and other events.

Current Office Bearers:

Co-leadership. Warren Greenwood is contact point

Membership numbers:

6

Usual meeting attendance:

As & when required, online or at GWUC

Meeting times and days:

As and when required – online or at GWUC

Locations used by Group:

GWUC – Beeac – Kerang, Johnsonville, Boort and as invited

Highlights of the year:

* The special ministry to Beeac, and their support for the outreach work of GWUC.
* Visits to Beeac to share worship and two way broadcasts to GWUC
* Visit to Kerang and Johnsonville who now take our services on a regular basis.
* The ongoing use of our worship by Boort UCA.
* The weekly download and watching of our worship from the church web site.
* The recording support we provide for special events, weddings and funerals.
* 6 (up from 3) DVD’s are produced weekly for home bound members.
* Over 100 people are watching our worship services from 11am in addition to
those physically at GWUC, and around 75 people a month download or watch a
variety of our services.
* The wonderful way the ministry team are inclusive to those churches.
* We welcomed Jesse Lang to the team to learn broadcast and sound management.
* The exciting news that Johnsonville had 20 people at their Christmas service towatch our Seniors Christmas podcast. Their normal numbers are 8 to 10.

Any needs that Church Council can assist:

Ongoing acknowledgement of the Beeac/Kerang/Boort and Johnsonville ministry by
and to GWUC, as well as the home-based ministry.
Ongoing funding to the ministry.
Encouragement.

Group

Communications

Purpose, Aim or Mission of the Group:

The Glen Waverley Uniting Church Council has established a Communications Committee with the following responsibilities:
1. to oversee and coordinate all communications across the congregation ensuring that they are done in a timely and inclusive manner;
2. to introduce new methods of communication as appropriate;
3. to facilitate the production of a church magazine (currently called NewView) in a variety of formats (to bring the congregation together through the use of information and entertainment);
4. to ensure that all church communications are clear, appropriate and that no bias or offensive content is present;
5. to continue to develop our online and web presence as an outreach activity;
6. to maintain all brochures and promotional material used by GWUC;
7. to seek to make best use of community material to publicise events and activities at GWUC;
8. to liaise with Property Committee and make use of, and manage, any external signage;
9. to take advantage of free promotional media wherever possible (i.e. Real Estate boards);
10. to publicise and communicate Presbytery and Synod activities and events; and
to encourage, support and assist all forms of communications in GWUC.

Current Office Bearers:

Coordinator: JohnSnare

Membership numbers:

Five members plus usually a member of the ministry team.

Usual meeting attendance:

Five

Meeting times and days:

First Monday of the month when possible

Locations used by Group:

A meeting room at the church

Highlights of the year:

During 2016:
1. The church brochure was updated to include information in Chinese
2. Frequently asked questions were prepared to help people who are relatively new to our congregation understand how things work.
3. A church postcard was prepared for visitors to our church.
4. The home page of the web site is routinely updated with news and event posters to ensure that it appears active.
For 2017:
1. Refresh the signage inside the car park notice board; and
2. Attempt to assist the congregation become more active using social media.
The Database/IT group plan to upgrade the wiki in 2017.

Any needs that Church Council can assist:

There have been two resignations from the Communications Committee this year, JitTan and LesleyArmstrong. We have very much valued their contributions.
We are seeking at least two new members for the Communications Committee. Preferably at least one would have a passion for using social media as a communications channel.

Group

Free Spirit

Purpose, Aim or Mission of the Group:

Music can warm the soul and bring us closer to the Lord!
Free Spirit is a group of people who aim to enrich worship through music - and sometimes have some fun with other types of music as well. Free Spirit is regularly part of the worship at the Glen Waverley Uniting Church, but also likes to be part of worship with other congregations from time to time.
Free Spirit is self-funding; each member contributes $1 per week, used to buy music and cover other expenses.
Free Spirit operates under a privacy policy in accordance with Glen Waverley Uniting Church guidelines.

Current Office Bearers:

Music director: Deb Leigh
Music selection and purchase: Deb Leigh
Liaison with ministerial team: Deb Leigh
Librarians: Jo Boldiston
Music borrowing: Lise Hales
Calendar/schedule: John Snare
Roll & performance record Robin Pope
Scarves and ties: Marj Snare
Prayer and care: Marj Snare
Treasurer: John Snare
Historian John Snare
Friends of Free Spirit Register Geoff Willis
Supper roster Lyn Maslen

Membership numbers:

28 members

Usual meeting attendance:

25 members

Meeting times and days:

Practice weekly on Wednesday evenings.
Singing at worship or other events in both with Glen Waverley Uniting Church and elsewhere twice a month, including with Glen Waverley Uniting Church worship on the fourth Sunday of each month (except December and January) alternating between 9:15am and 11:00am services.

Locations used by Group:

Practice is usually in the home of Russell Lang, and sometimes in the Church the week before an occasion when Free Spirit sings.

Highlights of the year:

1. Regular contributions of music to worship in Glen Waverley Uniting Church.
2. Organising and participating in the Ecumenical Choral Service hosted in 2016 by the Glen Waverley Uniting Church in May. This was the last of 34 annual Ecumenical Choral Services.
3. Contribution of music to worship at the Berwick Uniting Church (July).
4. Participation in the Glen Waverley Uniting Church combined anniversary choir in June.
5. Fund-raising concerts for the Glen Waverley Uniting Church and Castlemaine Uniting Church in September (proceeds $1,645 and $900 respectively).
6. Sale of a fund-raising CD. The CD was funded by Free Spirit members. Net proceeds to date approximately $4,500.
7. Contribution of music to worship at the Heatherton-Dingley Uniting Church (November).
8. Participating in special Easter and Christmas services at Glen Waverley Uniting Church.

Any needs that Church Council can assist:

Group

GOMER

Purpose, Aim or Mission of the Group:

A group for men to enjoy simple weekly fellowship over coffee in an unstructured atmosphere, as and when they are able. Keener members also do a walk before coffee.

Current Office Bearers:

Group contact: DavidMorgan

Membership numbers:

35

Usual meeting attendance:

25

Meeting times and days:

Monday mornings at 10am.

Locations used by Group:

Madelines restaurant, Jells Park.

Highlights of the year:

Continuing high numbers of regular attenders. Singing happy birthday to Leana.

Any needs that Church Council can assist:

Group

Monday Night Bible Study

Purpose, Aim or Mission of the Group:

To provide members with opportunities to gather regularly for fellowship and through lively conversation on bible passages and through recommended book studies members share their faith journey and encourage one another to be sent to homes and communities doing God's work

Current Office Bearers:

JitTan is the prime mover and others in the group have volunteered to facilitate in sessions

Membership numbers:

15

Usual meeting attendance:

20

Meeting times and days:

2nd and 4th Mondays of the month at 7.30 pm

Locations used by Group:

Room 2

Highlights of the year:

Any needs that Church Council can assist:

Group

Prayer Request

Purpose, Aim or Mission of the Group:

To pray privately for our members needs and for the needs of those outside our church.

Current Office Bearers:

BeverlyMcGlead.

Membership numbers:

Fifteen

Usual meeting attendance:

No meetings convened.

Meeting times and days:

Nil

Locations used by Group:

No group.
People Pray at their own time and wherever they are.

Highlights of the year:

Three private Prayer Requests for 2016.

Any needs that Church Council can assist:

Nil

Group

Property Committee

Purpose, Aim or Mission of the Group:

To maintain, expand and care for the Property/s used by the Glen Waverley Uniting Church for the benefit of all of the congregation and act as a stewardship caretaker for those properties on behalf of the Uniting Church in Australia.
To generate income from the property in a manner that is consistent with the UCA and GWUC philosophies.

Current Office Bearers:

Chairperson = Warren Greenwood

Membership numbers:

11

Usual meeting attendance:

10

Meeting times and days:

1st Monday of each month, 7:30pm

Locations used by Group:

Room 1

Highlights of the year:

* Reduction of Solar Panel loan from $48,000 to $24,500 via rebates and savings and a significantly reduced power bill.
* Rental income again in excess of total property costs which means that all 2016 costs (and more) have been fully covered by rentals.
* Redesign of the Water Harvest System, returning the lawn sprinklers to mains pressure and new garden sprinklers to make more efficient use of the captured water.
* The conversion of the worship centre main lights to LED.
* Careful Kitchen Crew again continues to pass all Monash Council Food Safety inspections and being awarded 5 Star compliance - highest level.
* No major accident injury incidents during 2016
* The completion of reducing the pew sizes giving greater flexibility in worship and ease of moving the pews.
* It was with enormous sadness that we accepted the resignation of Ross Lennon late this year. The contribution Ross has made over 25 years as a member and as Chairperson cannot be underestimated both in monetary terms and devotion and skill. Ross has helped ensure our property remained at its best. A great servant of God and of the congregation.
* The unbelievable dedication of the volunteers who sweep, mow, clean and repair the complex. Every week, rain hail sleet or snow, as they say. It is incredible that we have over 70 people who give generously of their time.
* The dedication of the property team.

Any needs that Church Council can assist:

* We continue to want to encourage more women to join the property committee, but our efforts have been unsuccessful. Now, Vida Foo is no longer a Church Council member we have also lost her.
* With the success of our church mission to reach into the wider community, we see more people from a wide variety of ethnic, social and non-Christian backgrounds who feel at home in our complex, which is wonderful. We are also then faced with greater cleaning and general maintenance costs due to cultural behaviours and understandings. Property would appreciate the understanding of Church Council of these challenges and the continued support in managing the impacts of new and different activities on our buildings and services.