Link to CouncilAgenda20231016 > CouncilMinutes20231016
Ministry Team Report October 2023
Neil’s Report
Lynn and I enjoyed a six day break visiting Canberra for a family birthday. We have another break in November visiting Sydney for significant family events. This is part of me using up my accrued annual leave.
Exercising ministry continues at a steady and sustainable pace. Someone asked me if I was winding down to retirement. I don’t believe winding down is happening. Let me know if you think it is.
I was pleased to attend the ordination of Rev Chris Waddell. We look forward to welcoming Chris as part of the ministry team next week. I will take the opportunity to introduce Remoun, the newly appointed Welfare Coordinator, to the congregation on 22 October at our 10 am service. This will now be a video recording introduction as Remoun is assisting with a wedding on Sunday morning. I believe Remoun will make a great contribution to our work.
I was pleased to be one of the speakers at the Inter Faith Dialogue on Saturday 23 September at GWUC.
I led the Memorial service for Barbara Craig who contributed to the life of this congregation over past years. She was involved in Leisure Time, musicals, choir, UCAF and was a communion steward at Springvale Road.
The ministry team are about to commence planning for Advent and Christmas. We have waited for Chris to arrive.
I will attend my 30th anniversary Exit Year Reunion in late October. I have also been invited to the Synod Tributes service to mark my coming retirement.
Di’s Report
It has been a while since I have put in a report. Firstly, I would like to say thank you for the time off to go to Canada. It was a joy to meet my grandson Luke and spend time playing with him, he is a cute young man.
I arrived back in September and have hit the ground running so to speak.
Unfortunately, it did take a couple of weeks for my brain to return from floatingaround in the Pacific, somewhere between Hawaii and Australia, but we seem to have finally reconnected.
We have a few people in hospital and it is an honour to be able to visit them. 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.
Strathdon is still going well but I did miss the two services in September due to my holiday.
I got back from Canada just in time to share in a team farewell for Hoon and I was also blessed to be at Hoon’s final service. It has been a blessing to share with Hoon over the last 7 months.
Attended the Inclusive Community meeting. Attended the MLDC meeting.
It was a joy to attend Chris Waddell’s ordination at Ringwood North and I am looking forward to being on team with him. I also attended the Commissioning of the Vicar at St Augustine’s in Mentone.
I attended the funeral of a long-standing friend and it was sad to say goodbye.
I attended a Work Shop on Trauma informed Pastoral Care.
I have met with my ministry support group. I attended a Lay Preacher Training Day at CTM and enjoyed the amazing guest speakers, especially the insight into the Matthew readings towards the end of the Church Year. Distributed flyers to advertise the fete.
DiPaterson
Pastoral Care