Don's Blog

Hi all.

….. and weren’t we impressed with the presence, gifts and abilities of our Penrhos College families last week? Again I received many positive comments after the service, many who are grateful for the connection we have with them. I only had two mothers this year approach me saying that I conducted their weddings!!

On Tuesday morning around 60 people gathered to farewell Mavis Scadden at her funeral service. It had a good feel as we remembered her life, gave thanks and committed her into the hands of God. It is hard to condense 101 years of life into a few minutes but Rev Geoff Blyth gave us a very good picture of her life, loves and faith. We will continue to offer our support and prayers for Laurel and Jill as they readjust to life without their mother. Below are more details regarding a special celebration we will have at Wesley Church.

Every Wednesday a group calling themselves “Perth Prayer” meets in the UCIC Centre. They have been meeting every Wednesday since June last year and on 23^rd June they celebrated their first anniversary. They represent a broad spectrum of Christian denominations having grown slowly to about 30 people with weekly attendance averaging between 10 and 20.

During the 45 minutes they spend together there is a focus on sharing, prayer and a commitment to Christian Love, Unity and Humility. From time to time I am able to attend and I always find warmth and welcome that allows me to feel comfortable to be with them. It is a very gentle group and I always hear the heartfelt compassion and desire from the group that they might be a blessing to other people who work in the city.

This Wednesday a young man shared his story about working in South Africa, where he shared his music with thousands of people listening. He then sang for a song, “Heal this land”. As he sang my mind drifted to the land, the people, the politics, the church and his song became a prayer.

May we always be reminded to offer and participate in healing, as we are able.

Thanks for reading

Don

Don's Blog

Hi all.

The week started like any other normal week, thinking about next Sunday, some planning for future events, etc, etc…… and then the news came that our wonderful Mavis Scaddan had died.
Mavis has been a very faithful member of the congregation for many, many years and although she found it hard to get around, she still managed a smile and was willing to speak with any one who wanted to talk with her.

Some of you may remember that I did a video interview with her on the occasion of her 100th Birthday. I went to her home and we filmed for quite a while with me asking lots of questions and sometimes receiving some very frank answers. I remember asking what she would like now that she reached 100 years of age and as quick as ever she replied. “I would like to die now”. I was a bit taken aback at first but then came to realise she was struggling with feeling that she couldn’t do anything and several of her friends had died many years before.

We will not forget her and we now have a wonderful photograph of her, taken by the West Australian, at last years Good Friday service. We will find a place for it in the Church.

Our prayers and thoughts are with Laurel and Jill as they re-adjust to their Mother not being with them. I know they will appreciate the support that will be given to them at this time.

As many of you know the Funeral is to be held at 10.30am on Tuesday 22nd at the Purslowe Funeral Chapel, 289 Albany Highway, Victoria Park.

We will in the next week think about what we might like to do as a congregation to remember and celebrate Mavis’s life and I will let you know as soon as possible, what that might be.
Life is fragile sometimes and in the midst of it, we again turn to our loving God to support us and guide us, keeping us on that “Walk in the Way of Love.”

Thanks for reading
Don