The Glen Waverley Uniting Church PSALTERLink to CouncilAgenda20230717 > CouncilMinutes20230717
Ministry Team Report July 2023
Neil’s Report
This last month has again involved quite a deal of pastoral care offered to members and grieving families. There have been several funerals and some members are facing the challenge of significant sickness. Not all sickness is public within the life of the congregation. I have been very pleased that Hoon has been offering ministry in our midst during this time.
It has been a privilege to lead funeral services for: Peter Stewart, a long- time member and husband to Helen. Peter served as an elder, treasurer, Bible study member and Gomers member: Alan Dunn, another long-time member, a former treasurer and finance committee member, property committee member and communion steward; and Jan Parsons, also a long-time member of this congregation, a member of UCAF, Leisure time, Girls club leader, and cooked and did flowers for the church.
I have started planning for the confirmation group to begin in August and I am looking forward to the sharing and learning that will happen in the little group. My plan is to involve a different female member of the congregation in each session.
I am pleased that my retirement plans have now been confirmed and my annual leave arrangements have been finalized as well. My next annual leave will be Wed 23 August returning Wednesday 30 August. I was keen to take a week of leave while Hoon was still here offering ministry.
Di’s Report
It has been a busy time with funerals both at Glen Waverley and at Black Rock.
The MLDC Committee is working through the loss of Craig Mitchell who was our guiding light, but we are hopefully progressing with our plans to create training sessions to empower lay people to be more involved in leading worship.
I have continued to meet with and walk with the GOWERS at Jells Park and also catch up with the GOMERS at the Church. I have continued to visit people and make heaps of phone calls. I have also visited a number of people in their homes as, for many they are recovering from a time in hospital.
My time at Strathdon has settled this month. After discussions as to times of worship etc, we have gone with the original plan. I had a conversation with Claire Brockett from Synod regarding how things were going at Strathdon.
I have continued to meet with a Lay Preacher Candidate to help her with some of her language problems for her assignments as she has English as a second language.
I am hoping to do some further Lay Preacher Assessment Training so that we are skilled in helping our Lay Preacher candidates
Attended the Inclusive Community meeting.
I have had supervision and have met with a couple of ministry colleagues for mutual support.
On the 9 th July, at our Worship service at Black Rock, we were officially recognised as one Congregation with Cheltenham/Mentone. The celebration was wonderful and we enjoyed fellowship after the service over lunch where the longest serving members of both Churches cut our celebratory cake. We are now Charman Uniting Church and will continue to Worship at Black Rock until the Charman Road building is ready for us all to move to the new site. We are not holding our breath as the protective fencing has not gone up yet.
DiPaterson
Pastoral Care