Thanks for the hard work put in by the organisers!

Synod should set aside money in the budget each year to fund it, or levy parishes each year.

Derek Walter, Hobart

I felt proud to belong to the Anglican Church.

Willis Dawson, Latrobe

The Communion was a wonderful idea and so easily managed.

Willis Dawson, Latrobe

Info bag and bubbles was a novel idea. (somehow mine didn't work properly, but I'm practicing.)

G. Kingham, Burnie

Wobbly Wire Performance was great, as like walking on a wire, many persons are doing this day by day, but if we had watched Peter, he kept his eye on a focal point, to keep his balance, may we all keep our eyes on the main focal point of life.

G. Kingham, Burnie

As Peter (Clown) met people coming into the hall, it amazed me on the reactions - some looked the other way, some showed a kind of pity, others laughed and moved on, while a number shook hands and thanked him for showing them to their seats. Bought to mind if that had been Jesus how would we act?

Home, a few days after, article in the paper and people still talking - what else do we need. Thanks be to God.

Wobbly Wire Performance - Amazing, Tremendous. Hard to imagine how you could find something as good for next time.

Roger Hesketh, Launceston

Fantastic - heart in mouth stuff.

Days later...

The more I think about the Gathering the more excited I get. (Especially Peter Gray's segment)

Chris Maddison, Hobart

Story Towers - Excellent concept... the varied approaches reveal the extent of creativity, i.e. endless. It was good to have a standardised approach to begin with, and clear guidelines.

Chris Maddison, Hobart

I cannot express too strongly how well I thought the day went. Given that we are at a crossroads in the diocese with falling church attendance and with problems of church maintenance in the diocese, we really need to be reacquainted with the concept of the church as LIVING STONES, i.e. people redeemed as scripture tells us, and as lively, vital churches overseas bear witness. Praise God the varied types of worship, churchmanship etc. was not the focus. The gospel truths, the reality of the need to share the Good News, was the focus. Having interview style talks, and the lovely mime artist, the vibrant music, the bubbles, the take home, the "free" lunch - even if it all was expensive, gave a great sense of purposeful joy and hope...so very important to us all, and especially the young. Congratulations and thanks.

Chris Maddison, Hobart

Story towers

Such a clever idea to enable all parishes and organisations to be presented in a small space as a tool for real consideration of what 'church' is about.

Sandra Pitt, Hamilton

Story towers

Great discussion points - no time to see all, let alone study all - so much time fellowshipping!!!! Some excellent towers depicting thought in presentation. Obviously some spent time reflecting on where they were as church, what they'd achieved and where they were going.

Alison Ison, Burnie

Wobbly wire performance

A highlight - Peter Gray known to many of us from his Fusion days has developed wondrously - his interaction with his "volunteers" was truly Christ like.

Elizabeth Smith, Launceston

 

The boxes are a great idea, excellent for display - light, portable, taking little space. The inventiveness displayed by some parishes and organisations was impressive. (But, as brought out by Mike frost later, many parishes (my own included) are not looking beyond their traditional avenues of service). The idea is great, participation good.

Judy Goede, Bellerive

 

Story towers

The towers were a great idea, important, and one worthy of being repeated at future gatherings. They :

• Made those preparing them think about the mission, purpose, strengths and weaknesses of their parish.
• They were a great way to share and exchange ideas and concepts involving the life of the church.
• They were artistic, colourful, innovative and proved wonderful conversation pieces.
• They became a focus, a gathering place. I found it much easier to strike up a conversation with a stranger when examining the same tower, than I did to bowl-up, introduce myself and initiate a conversation all out of the blue.

Rick Giddings, Brighton

Thank you to everybody who participated on the day.

I was delighted with the story towers. Praise our creative God! Thank you for your feedback. It has been overwhelmingly positive. Some constructive criticism and suggestions for improvement are well noted for the future. Thank you! I'm also delighted by the discussion that has emerged around Peter Gray's work. I hope that it continues

Paul Cavanough, Diocesan Mission Enabler