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FAITH DEVELOPMENT MG. Report Meeting, 13/11/’13.
Present: Rohan, Sharmini, Helen, Belinda, Alison, Mark, Herb, John D, Colin.
Apologies: Alanee, Jit. John H.. Heather.
Sharmini opened the meeting with prayer. Rohan read a reflection from “The Trivialization of God” by Donald W. McCullough.
Christmas Alight. Belinda reported.
Aim to engage families in the Joy of Christmas. In the past we have not been getting “follow-on”, not quite engaging. We need to spread the message into the homes.
Main aim to build up Children and Family Program.
Decided to run with the Messy Church model. Main reasons;
Broad age appeal…statistically shown to draw people in where it has been used……..Runs on two days, Friday 20th, 12.00 to 4.30 and Sunday 22nd, 5.00 to 6.30(finishing with BBQ)……Goes on to “Carols in Kingsway”….Belinda has contacted 15 schools with positive response.
There will be several “stations”( with station masters), where there will be various activities, craft etc.
Then on to celebration with versions of the Christmas story, with “talk about” activities.
Similar events might be considered Easter, mid-year and/or later.
Roster is up for helpers , training day 15 December.
Services. Alison reported.
Christmas services have been publicized…….”Go out with Joy, be led out with Peace”
Ministry team Advent project will provide 25 Christmas Trees to homes in need….assistance required to deliver these.
The 10 am service on 19 Jan. will be followed by acknowledgement of Interim Ministry Team.
School Holiday Program. Rohan questioned whether we should run such a program during January…..It was suggested that it would be difficult to run due to safety and security issues…We should be careful not to overstretch our resources…it could be put on the agenda for next year….we could join with groups already running such programs, Scripture Union or Fusion…….Rohan to think about this and put some firm ideas forward…..it was felt this should be explored further in the interest of reaching out to other cultures.
Belinda to follow up contacts in this area.
Rohan spoke passionately about the need to maintain engagement during the holiday period.
Friday Morning Group. John spoke about the Friday Group and quoted from the book being studied, “It’s Time”, by Michael Moorewood.
Christmas Gifts. Rohan raised the importance of giving gifts with meaning at Christmas Time, such as giving a gift to someone in greater need than ourselves, such as funding a goat or a cow for a third-world resident. Outreach group are promoting this now. Stressing the importance of encouraging people not to diminish Christmas with wasteful gifts. This idea to be promoted during the services before Christmas.
The meeting thanked John for his hospitality.
Next Meeting, 11th December, again at John ‘s home
Closed 9.35.