The Glen Waverley Uniting Church PSALTERLink to CouncilAgenda20190724 > CouncilMinutes20190724
MINISTRY TEAM REPORT July 2019
Neil’s Report
Since the last meeting of church council I have been involved in regular team meetings, pastoral visits and welfare work, a Presbytery committee meeting and Presbytery in Council, and a number of committee meetings for GWUC. We have had a meeting of the “welcoming” task group and action steps will emerge in August.
I have shared with Rev Clem Dickinson in a service giving thanks for the life of Graham Ward, a long-time member and former elder of this church. I have also begun planning for a memorial service for Graeme Pratt. Graeme was a lay preacher for almost 50 years, sang with Uniting Voices and was a member of the church tennis club and the badminton club.
I was pleased to give DanielSihombing (Indonesian Fellowship) the opportunity to preach at our 9.15 and 11 am service. Daniel has just submitted a request to the Presbytery to begin a Period of Discernment to discern whether he has a call to ordained ministry in the Uniting Church. This is an exciting step.
I attended the Synod meeting over 4 days in July and the opening service which included the installation of the new moderator. The following are some personal reflections on Synod.
There were three highlights for me at the Synod meeting.
- The Bible studies lead by Dr Liz Boase, lecturer from Adelaide who lead studies on being Church.
- Tasmanian Congress report. They have received an award for their program reducing violence against women among the indigenous community. Alison, who spoke with passion said I feel the warmth of our gathering, I feel like I belong here, and 5 years ago I don’t think I could not have said that.
- President Dr Deidre Palmer’s address to Synod. Deidre ended with 7 hopes for the Uniting Church and I only managed to write down 4 of them.
- Culturally appropriate evangelism
- Across all ages growing discipleship and faith
- Nurturing and growing young leaders
- Intergenerational community
Some of the proposals considered included
- endorsing a new disability action plan – inclusion
- Greater inclusion of adults under 50 in church leadership
- Support for the Statement from the Heart (Uluru) topical at present
- A lot of work looking at the Uniting Church’s response to the voluntary assisted dying legislation in Victoria.
Faith affirmations were made around life, death and suffering and how nothing can separate us from the love of God.
There was recognition of the legislation.
We affirmed that palliative key is the primary means through which end of life care is provided.
We affirmed there are a range of faithful Christian responses to the legislation.
That exploring, accessig and conscientiously objecting fall within the range of faithful Christian Responses.
More detail about this will come soon from the Synod.
I will be on annual leave from 16th September to 26th September inclusive.
Di’s Report
It was a joy to be at the opening service of Synod and to celebrate the induction of our new Moderator, Denise Liersch and to share in Communion at this special service. Synod was a busy time, with long days but a great opportunity to work through many of the challenges that the Church faces. We worked in table groups and these were helpful for discussion but we were also assigned to a small group for discussion on some of the bigger issues. I was in a small group ably led by Neil Peters, and we were able to talk through some challenging issues facing the Church.
We have had a number of our people in hospital with various illnesses, breaks and some who have had surgery. I have visited people in nursing homes, hospital, Vic Rehab and McCulloch House Palliative Care, and at home as they have recovered.
I attended UCAF, Men’s group and have been to Gomer a couple of times. Attended the inclusive community meeting and Aqua FISH group gathering at Sandringham.
As a result of our time sharing at “Mount View Hub.” We were invited to attend a “Big Freeze fundraiser organised by one of the students from our Hub Group. It was well organised with teachers dressing up for the occasion and students donated money to their teachers and a name was drawn out of their box to see which student would push the teacher down the slide and into the icy water. It was a great event and “our students” were delighted to see us there.
I was delighted to present “My Life in Guiding” at Leisure time in early July. It was exciting that one of the guests had been a Guide in England and was thrilled to talk to me afterwards about her experience.
It was good to attend the induction of the new minister at Mulgrave/Monash Churches, Karis. Karis came into ministry through the support of Mulgrave Church and it was lovely to celebrate with the people at the Wanda Street Church.
As an ongoing part of the request to help people organise their funeral, I met with family to further sort through their parents wishes. I attended Graham Ward’s funeral and will see Mary before I go to Canada.
I attended Presbytery and we discussed the next part of our future for the Presbytery. It was a busy meeting with a lot of work done and a fair bit still to do.
I will be taking leave from July 30th through to August 19th to go and visit my son in Canada. I am looking forward to being there for his wedding on Vancouver Island in early August. I was surprised and deeply touched to receive a letter of appreciation and encouragement from the Church Council. Thank you for your ongoing encouragement and the trust that you have placed in me to help and support the people of Glen Waverley Uniting.
I have attended a couple of team meetings, had Supervision and Spiritual Direction.
DiPaterson – Pastoral Care Worker.
Alanee's report
Youth group
We have been planning youth group term 3 and are happy with our program. We have two out nights we'd like approved
- Rock climbing at Hard Rock Nunawading 2 August.
- Backpack Challenge. We are very excited to be running a camp with our focus being the backpack challenge ( a newer version of the past 40hr famine) our camp will be September 6-8, we'll be having it locally so sport commitments can still be met etc and will have more details to come.
5.30pm
We have still been following Luke's gospel. Jools Hamilton is back in Australia, last time he came to GWUC & this time he will be at Murrumbeena Uniting at the Sonder collective's 5.30pm service, as they came to us last time... We are going to them on the 4 August, meeting in the church carpark at 5pm to car pool and travel together.
US & Mexico trip
Is being fine tuned, with the proposed dates being 10 January - 26 January. We will be staying and volunteering at the dream centre & the building in Mexico with Amor.
Uthies
We will be planning Uthies term 3 this week.
C & F
I have a meeting this week with some leaders, so may have more to report.
Planning
We have spent a bit of time over the last few weeks, looking at the future, looking at needs, our strengths, weaknesses, where we need resources etc & our strategy document. This has been an exciting and challenging time, I am constantly in awe of how dedicated our congregation is to serve our community & the gifts we have in people & location. It's an exciting and challenging time ahead.