AnnualReport2020

Group

Book Club

Purpose, Aim or Mission of the Group:

To select books, read, and amicably discuss content

Current Office Bearers:

Don Reid secretary

Membership numbers:

15

Usual meeting attendance:

15

Meeting times and days:

8pm First Wednesday of month

Locations used by Group:

Members homes

Highlights of the year:

The pandemic caused the closure of the book distribution system, and prevented us, as a group, meeting.
I believe with the social restrictions members enjoyed freedom from many interactions and decided to reduce them. As a result many resigned from the club. I did so because I am now unable cope with the secretarial duties, also the reading requirements.
Regrettably there not enough members to sustain the club (8) and the club must close It was a facility provided by the Church for over 20 years.
I believe it could be revived by arranging for using the Church facilities for an afternoon meeting and kitchen for tea. The pandemic will probably prevent any such movement taking place for some time.

Any needs that Church Council can assist:

Please take note of the service given by the club over many years and if additional facilities are sort give thought to reviving the club by seeking members from the congregation

Group

FISH - Gold

Purpose, Aim or Mission of the Group:

A group of members meeting in homes and sometimes other venues, but this year mainly on Zoom.

Current Office Bearers:

Convened usually by SueMorgan

Membership numbers:

15

Usual meeting attendance:

12

Meeting times and days:

Fortnightly since August

Locations used by Group:

Homes and restaurants till March, then Zoom.

Highlights of the year:

The annual book sale in early March.
Catching up electronically.

Any needs that Church Council can assist:

None.

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
* Librarians: Lise Hales (borrowing) assisted by Marie Gillies plus Robin (for stocktake)
* Music borrowing: Lise Hales assisted by Marie Gillies
* Performance calendar/schedule: John Snare – updates on schedule on wiki
* Roll & performance record: Robin Pope
* Friends of Free Spirit register: Geoff Willis
* Scarves and ties: Joy Allen
* Prayer and care: Joy Allen, Lyn Maslen, Kaye Morgan and Mike Foo act as prayer partners and overseers of each part during zoom rehearsal times because they had more close contact individually with those smaller groups.
* Treasurer: John Snare
* Historian: John Snare
* Supper roster: Lyn Maslen
* Hosting rehearsals: Mirini and Russell Lang
* Stage managing events: Lyn Maslen

Membership numbers:

28

Usual meeting attendance:

There was nothing usual in 2020. The number of people joining zoom meetings was similar to last year – low twenties from Free Spirit and about a dozen from Uniting Voices towards the end of the year.

As usual numbers seemed to be a little lower in winter/July for FS, varying from 19 to 23 (by mid-August). After that we vary from 22 to 25.
Uniting Voices joined us on Sept 9, starting with 13 members and again varying from week to week with a high point of 16, low point 10.

Meeting times and days:

Practice weekly on Wednesday evenings. Prior to the Covid-19 restrictions the intent was as follows.
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:

"Normally, practice is usually in the home of Russell Lang, and sometimes in the Church the week before an occasion when Free Spirit sings.
From March until December, Covid-19 restrictions meant that practices were held on-line using Zoom and contributions to worship and other events were by pre-recorded video.
During the short period in between first and second lockdowns Free Spirit met in parts in separate homes with no more than 5 in each part meeting and some checking-in on zoom."

Highlights of the year:

In March 2020, the Covid-19 pandemic affected Melbourne and physical attendance at worship services and choir performances ceased. Free Spirit became an iso-zoom-choir and continued to meet and practice on-line using zoom video conferences. It was challenging to learn new music, and the Free Spirit repertoire expanded less than usual.
Free Spirit was able to contribute to worship by adding zoom video to the following previously recorded songs.
* Go Tell It On The Mountain
* And Wherever You Go
* He’s Sweet
* Freedom is Coming
* Java Jive
* Rhythm of Life
* Breath of Heaven
Free Spirit was also able to prepare the following zoom-choir recordings where people individually recorded their parts, the parts merged and then a zoom video added.
* Born a Mighty King
* Amazing Grace
* Fall on Your Knees
Free Spirit also zoom-choir recorded two versions of ‘Happy Birthday to You’ that were used when Shirley White turned 100 and Bill Morgan turned 105.
For the latter part of 2020, members of Uniting Voices joined Free Spirit practices.

Any needs that Church Council can assist:

Roll & performance record: Robin Pope
None identified.

Group

GOMER

Purpose, Aim or Mission of the Group:

A fellowship group for retired men

Current Office Bearers:

DavidMorgan Zoom facilitator

Membership numbers:

35

Usual meeting attendance:

10-15 on line

Meeting times and days:

Monday 10a.m. on Zoom

Locations used by Group:

Zoom

Highlights of the year:

GOMER quickly became Virtual GOMER or GoZooMers in March. Not all the usual crowd took to Zoom, but it did allow some with limited mobility or hearing to join in. As restrictions waxed and waned, some members joined the walk in Jells Park.

Any needs that Church Council can assist:

None

Group

UCAF

Purpose, Aim or Mission of the Group:

To enable members to share in Christ's mission, meeting for fellowship service and worship.

Current Office Bearers:

President/Secretary, Margaret Duncan.
Vice Pres. Barbara Thompson
Treasurer Norma Saxton.

Membership numbers:

44

Usual meeting attendance:

Av. 32

Meeting times and days:

First Tuesday of the month at 10 am.

Locations used by Group:

Chapel, fellowship area. Church and hall on special occasions

Highlights of the year:

February: Gavin Blakemore Guest Speaker.
March: Eastern Palliative Care:- “Let's talk Palliative Care”.
Unfortunately for the rest of the year we have had to cancel all our Speakers as we were unable to attend the Church building due to Covid-19.
I have kept in touch through the telephone to all members during the year. All were appreciative of the chance to talk to someone.
Hopefully we will be able to make a start in March once Council can advise our rules to be observed.

Any needs that Church Council can assist:

We will need advice on how to set up for our elderly members and location available.
An updated Membership list will be forwarded once we resume as we feel many may not be well enough to attend.