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MINISTRY TEAM REPORT October 2021

Neil’s Report

I continue to be thankful for the whole team that put the live stream worship out each Sunday. I appreciate their dedication and commitment to this ministry. I also value Alanee’s attempts to bring a creative and generationally inclusive edge to our worship.

There continues to be some significant pastoral care matters at the moment and some of our members are going through very challenging times.

The ministry team continues to meet on zoom weekly. I have had several Presbytery gatherings on zoom and a Presbytery and Synod committee meeting on zoom. Where would we be without zoom?

I hope that church council will endorse a Covid safe walkathon this year to be held Saturday 13th November from 8 am. I plan to not have the usual support team. I will invite anyone who wishes to walk to walk one or two laps, they need to book in as I can only have 4 each lap before I need to check everyone’s vaccination status. Di Paterson and I will lead groups off every 15 mins for a 30 minute walk to minimize overlap. I plan to raise funds for GWUC 2021 and for funding the children and families worker position for 2022.

Neil

Di’s Report

This lock down has certainly dragged on but there is a chance of some easing in the not-too-distant future. Not that this will make a great difference to going back to Church for some of us. Black Rock is not able to cope with the numbers to go back but we hope that we can aim for Christmas.

I guess that one of the challenges for the future of Worship in the Church, is the need to have those employed and those who volunteer to be double Vaxed. I have been double vaxed so there is no problem, but I am aware that there are a variety of opinions regarding whether to vax or not.

I continue to ring a number of people for birthdays and just say Hi. I have attended ZOOM planning meetings and ZOOM get to togethers in place of face-to-face meetings. I have also attended meetings of GOWER and GOMER on ZOOM on Monday mornings, a great way to catch up with people “Face to Face”.

I have been doing some Pastoral care Training, “Pastoral Care as We Ride the Waves of the Pandemic.” I have done the final 2 trainings and have found theses trainings really helpful.

I was delighted be able to record a reflection for Thursday evening and my thanks, again, go to Joanne and Matthew for their help in recording this reflection on Zoom.

I attended the Mission and Discipleship Committee of Presbytery for a second meeting.

I was approached and have accepted an appointment to the World Day of Prayer Committee as a representative for the Uniting Church.

As we continue through this lockdown time it is good to be able to meet on ZOOM and, at the moment to discuss some of the next steps. Leading Worship on ZOOM is an interesting challenge but it is good to able to use this platform to connect with the congregation of Black Rock and Cheltenham/ Mentone as we share in Worship. I have had supervision.

Di Paterson
Pastoral Care.