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MINISTRY TEAM REPORT JANUARY 2019

Neil’s Report

I am writing this report in early January before I go on leave. December is always a very active month in the life of our congregation as it is for many congregations. A lot of people put in extra effort and time in December, planning, preparing and doing. The ministry team also has to put in extra effort in December. Each member of the team brings their particular contribution to our shared ministry. Alanee and Di both have great gifts for ministry and I am very thankful for the current team dynamic.

December 2nd was a big day with a 10 am service in the morning which launched our theme “making room this Christmas”. The Indonesian celebration was a wonderful night and the dance tableaux was both stunning and moving. I want to acknowledge the creative work of Faye Wagon and Jo Boldiston along with Alanee in relation to the sanctuary and the church. The creative team and the ministry team worked very intentionally to make our theme work. The use of church decorations, video clips, business cards, Christmas flyers, the opening of doors all worked to enhance our theme. The Living Nativity service on December 23rd was one highlight and very well received. Christmas Eve and Christmas Day services were also well received. At 5.30 Christmas Eve, Grinch tried to stop Christmas which created the opportunity to tell the real story of Christmas.

Uniting Voices did very well leading a service of 9 Readings and Carols. That afternoon there was a Senior’s Carols service with Free Spirit. The Remembrance Service was well received and well attended by 80 people. Thanks Faye and Jo for a lovely supper and setting the mood. Also Judith Greenwood and her team did a great job with the stable scene, photos, colouring books and cards.

I conducted two baptisms and a wedding with a translator which was a first for me.

There were many break ups and parties to attend. These included the Playgroup Christmas party, the Chinese Dad’s playgroup last session, UCAF Christmas service, AGM and lunch, Leisure Time Christmas party, The Hub morning tea, Adult Group break up, the Youth Group break up, Glennallen School thank you morning tea, Free Spirit break up, Uniting Voices dinner and the afternoon tea ladies Christmas feast.

I was pleased to meet with a few of the Wesley College student leaders, their chaplain, Rev Graham Bartley, and 2 staff who brought three car loads of food and Christmas presents for our local welfare work and in support of UnitingCare Broadmeadows. A week or so later a generous financial donation was received from students, staff and parents to support our local welfare work and the Christmas Bowl.

Preparing for worship, team meetings and some pastoral work were also part of December.

After receiving two prompts, I eventually decided to hold a New Year’s Eve service at 11 pm with supper at 10.30 pm. I had hoped 20 might come but I realized this was completely unknown and new. I was greatly encouraged and stunned when 54 people attended and participated very well in the service. Faye Wagon looked after supper and Lynn Peters agreed to play the keyboard. I felt like I only knew about half the congregation. This seems to be a strategic service cross-culturally.

Neil Peters


Alanee's report

Youth group

Had a lovely end of year dinner to finish up a great 2018. We have a wonderful group of young people and leaders, as I would like to acknowledge the leaders for their enthusiasm and care of our young people.

We will have began planning term one & I am sure we will have out nights for your approval.

C & F

The children & families ministries also had lovely events to end the year, with 4.30pmheading out to the Karoly's and Mice, Kats & Dogs having a nice break up too. The Christmas programs went well, their are some great paintings & crafts.

We decided to gift families story stones each containing the nativity characters, these were another reminder of the true Christmas meaning and have been well received.

We have began contacting all our leaders of c & f to see if they are happy to continue etc and hope to hear back soon.

We will need to look at how we support the 4.30pm gathering as Susan has indicated that she won't be continuing. Susan has been an amazing blessing to them and we can't thank her enough for her support over the last three years.

I have also meet with Kerryn and have started working on term one's program & the Easter and lent activities.

Lunar new year

The lunar new year event on Kingsway is on Sunday 17 February. We have had a meeting with the team and are well underway on our planning for this year of the pig celebrations and look forward to our outreach into the community.

Christmas

We hope that the Christmas theme went well and that people experienced it from a slightly different angle. The creative parts came together with Faye and Jo putting together a wonderful and engaging visual imagery and David building a fantastic manger and we had some great performances by Yan & John Jemma & Nicole all things we hope added to our worship, not to forget our amazing musicians & choirs & bands.

The hub kids Christmas event

Went well but our attendance was small again this year. We believe the kids really interacted with the activities and had a good time. We have struggled when the school term goes almost up to Christmas and hope we can build this up for next year.

Future

After the non stop advent Christmas season I've had some time to reflect on the coming year while going through and packing away last years paperwork. I'm hoping to gather a group together to look at implementing some of the youth c & f ideas that keep being put aside simply due to time constraints and things popping up. ( c & f bible studies, mentoring, social justice for youth & kids activities that can be done together, families take home faith packs, outreach adventures, craft a noons, social media faith input etc)

Prayers and anticipation for the years ahead, Alanee


Di's report

January is an interesting time as we reflect on the joys and celebrations of Christmas and begin to plan for the coming year. Christmas was wonderful time of celebration with the many activities at Glen Waverley and at Black Rock. The breakups and the joys of the many achievements during 2018 was part of the celebrations for me.

I delivered flyers that advertised our many Christmas activities and also attended the HUB Christmas Morning Tea. Helping with HUB Kids was great fun and attending and leading a time of devotion for the Leisure Time breakup was a joy. The annual Remembrance Service was a moving time of thanksgiving and remembrance. The Christmas Eve Services were great, I enjoyed playing the Grinch at the 5:30 service and enjoyed the amazing 11:30 service, thanks to Alanee and the youth group for a reflective and interactive service.

I have presided at and attended a number of funerals in the lead up to Christmas.

I enjoyed a couple of days break at Ocean Grove, it was good to unwind after a busy year. I attended GOMER, to catch up with people and to hear how people are travelling, this often leads to a pastoral visit to someone who is unwell or struggling.

We have a number of people who have moved into care, are about to have or have had surgery and a few who are just not travelling well. I have prayed with people about to have surgery and have visited quite a number of other people in hospital, care or at their homes.

I attended a pre-ordination retreat for an exit student who will commence at Mt Martha in February. I also attended the induction of the new minister at Cranbourne. Black Rock Uniting Church Council had a letter from Presbytery Standing Committee giving the Property Committee the go ahead to work with us as we move to the next stage of our property proposal, this will make 2019 a busy time for us all at Black Rock.

I have met with Ken Coutts to look at the costing etc for the next 2 years as I continue to share with you all at Glen Waverley. I would like to thank Ken for the large amount of work he has done to navigate this next stage and to thank you all for your ongoing encouragement and your faith in asking me to stay on in the Ministry Team at Glen Waverley.

Di Paterson – Pastoral Care Worker.


MinistryTeamReport201901 (last edited 2019-01-29 02:23:12 by DavidMorgan)