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a healthychurch -
transforminglife
Overheard at the launch
'Before this I was a pretty un-involved kind of
Christian. Now I want to get right into it!'
'I am so excited!'
'This opens doors.'
'We've got permission to grow.'
'I can use this with my parish council.'
'Wow! This has been so inspiring!'
What can we do? Here's some examples of mission
initiatives.
- One interstate Anglican Church advertises in the
local paper, offering to replace the batteries in smoke
detectors for senior citizens. When daylight saving times
are about to change older folk can phone the church and
two people will come around with a ladder and a new
battery. The new battery is a gift from the church and
the inevitable cuppa and chat afterwards are welcome
ministry for everyone. One person described it as 'a
grace-filled moment'.
- People entering ministry have a wide range of life
experience which could be shared to mentor others.
Erna Brigg has
been an informal mentor for some time and has now been
encouraged to 'be more intentional in encouraging
others.' Erna and a couple of other like-minded people
plan to meet each week to work through John Mallison's
book Mentoring to develop disciples and leaders. (Erna is
happy to talk about it 6227 8487)
- Australia Day was celebrated in the Parish of
Burnie with a
special Sunday service. Parishioners decorated St
George's church with all sorts of Australiana - flags,
antiques, books, pictures - and even a Drizabone hanging
from the lectern. A Collingwood poster (surreptitiously
'augmented' by someone's Richmond socks) completed the
'Aussie' decorations.
The guest speaker was our local federal representative
the Hon. Sid Sidebottom MHR, who spoke on 'being a
politician in contemporary society'. His address proved
to be more insightful and engaging than the title might
suggest. It was a significant part of a service that was
both a celebration and a reflection.
The morning concluded with refreshments - lamingtons and
meat-pies. (What else?)
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