Don's Blog

Hi All,

You may remember my excitement in contemplating my meeting with Sally Morgan, Professor Bill Loader, Rev Geoff Blyth, and Catherine Czerw regarding our Advent Art Exhibition. Well, the meeting did not diminish my excitement, on the contrary I felt even more moved as I listened to the discussion around the group. I could not help but think that this was one of those conversations where everyone was on the same page, engaging with an idea and imagining the possibilities. It was for me a very creative time. In the end we imagined a Christmas Card with all the elements, including, the angels, the shepherds the manger, the Magi and more… We thought about separating each of those elements and giving one part of the story to an artist, to reflect on and offer us an artwork. There is still an ongoing discussion, and so enjoyable. Can’t you tell that I’m like a pig in the preverbal mud?

The Advent Art exhibition will have the same aim as our Stations, as it will be an activity inviting people to look at a significant seasonal event and reflect on its meaning.

As I look out my window this morning I have seen two aspects of the city which still keep me asking the question about our ministry in the city.

One was of a very elderly man, walking down William Street. He would take 3 steps, pause for a minute, and then take 3 more steps. It was excoriating to watch him and as you can imagine it was a slow process. Going for a walk must be a real chore but maybe its better than sitting at home.

The other gentleman I saw was walking very briskly, with a happy smile on his face and talking away, reasonably loudly to himself (no he was not on a mobile phone). From appearances he was in a world of his own, oblivious to people around him, but enjoying what he was doing. The city is a fascinating place and what is noticeable is the people. All shapes and sizes, some in suits, some casual, some with backpacks, some with children. All going somewhere, some of them more quickly than others, some pausing to look in shop windows, some, although I cant see it from my office window, will walk into Wesley.

These images keep me mindful that our ministry is here and includes listening to this scene and seeing, as one of my colleagues in ministry put it, ‘What is God up to in my neighbourhood?’

 You will be pleased to know that I saw the final version of our DVD from the Stations of the Cross 2012. It has been edited and is ready to ‘print’. As soon as I have copies I will invite people to express an interest in seeing it.

Speaking of DVD’s, (I do ‘bang on about this stuff a lot don’t I) I am planning to make a short video clip about Wesley to put up on our website. It will basically say who we are, so that when people visit the Wesley webpage that get a picture of our congregation. Along with footage of the building and maybe our worship and activities, I would love to interview a few people. If you would like to say something about Wesley that that give an image of who we are, could you let me know. This would mean that I would not have to tap people on the shoulder and ask!!

Part of my time and energy this week as been spent writing a paper, which I have titled, ‘Towards a Missional understanding for the Uniting Church in the City. I am asking a few people to look at a draft and it will eventually be presented to Church Council. In due course, and hopefully, we will adopt the principles I am espousing. But more on that later.

This Sunday we will acknowledge the 35^th Anniversary of the Uniting church. The Assembly has produced a small video which tells a little of who we are and what we look like now. I will show this video in church on Sunday and follow it with a small litany giving thanks to God for who we are.

Thanks for reading and I look forward to seeing you soon.

Don Dowling

Minister

Sunday 24^th June 20112

8.30am Discussion Group in the Guild Room

10.00am Worship – “In the storms of life a place of calm” a reflection on, Mark 4: Mark 4: 35 - 41

Also acknowledging the 35^th Anniversary of the Uniting Church in Australia.

Sunday 24^th June at 2.30pm. I understand it is best to book tickets. Go To : http://www.facebook.com/deepblueseafilm for more information.

Don's Blog

Hi All,

From my Blog last week and after I attended the Sony camera launch, some readers asked if I ended up buying a new camera. Sadly the answer at this time is no. One of the items on sale was a Canon lens with a price tag of $10,000. I thought about buying two of those!

However, it was a good event to go to as I learnt a few things and met up with a few wedding videographers I knew. I did also learn about Sony and Canon making a camera that will shoot footage in a format called 4K. The only catch is that they haven’t made the TV sets that will display the image. Technology is wonderful isn’t it!

This morning my much-anticipated meeting with Sally Morgan, Professor Bill Loader, Rev Geoff Blyth, and Catherine Czerw will take place. I am looking forward to the conversation about our Advent Art Exhibition. I hope to tell you more about this next week.

Our Uniting Church in the City Church Council met on Monday with a number of significant developments on the way. There are changes happening at the Trinity School for Seniors with a new management board being organised. The School has become very successful over the last few years, with I think around 600 senior students in attendance. So changes are underway to bring improvements.

We have now reformed the Mission and Mission committee and the Property and Finance committee. If you would like to see the names of those involved please look at the UCIC diary for this week. We congratulate those people who have been appointed and will pray for them as they carry out their new tasks.

An update on the Warehouse Café was received and it looks like we are only 4 or 5 weeks away from the refurbishments being completed and the café reopening again. Christine and Donald have worked extremely hard to see that it all is happening and I am looking forward to my first coffee there. So are many of the Shenton Park community as well

It is now Budget time and Lynda our Finance and Admin Manager has been very hard at work preparing the final documents. It is anticipated that the Budget will be presented at a UCIC congregational meeting in the next month. We will all meet the new Church Council members as well.

If you are interested in hearing more about the plight of Asylum seekers you may like to attend a special film event. The Film “Between the Devil and the deep blue sea is being shown at the Film and Television Institute Fremantle, Western Australia on Sunday 24^th June at 2.30pm. I understand it is best to book tickets. Go To : http://www.facebook.com/deepblueseafilm for more information.

On Monday I conducted the funeral of Bonnie Chandler, whose 100^th birthday party Kay and I are attending this Saturday. Although Bonnie died last week, it was her final wish that the party still went ahead. She had done some preparation for it and didn’t want people to be disappointed. So we will celebrate in her absence. Bonnie was a much-loved member of the Subiaco Congregation, spending much of her faith journey at the Derby Road Methodist Church. However, at the age of 90 she embraced the change that led to the Warehouse Café and contributed a great deal of time and energy as a suppporter. In the last year or so she and some of her Subi friends were attending church at Floreat UC. Our love and prayers go out to her daughter Elaine and Son Graham. She of course had a huge family of grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Tonight Kay and I are heading down to Dunsborough for a day’s rest tand recreation tomorrow. I am looking forward to sitting in front of a warm fire.

Thanks for reading and I look forward to seeing you soon.

Don Dowling

Minister

Sunday 17th June 20112

8.30am Discussion Group in the Guild Room

10.00am Worship – “Keep your eye on the Harvest A reflection on Mark 4:26-34

Don's Blog

Hi All,

Firstly, my huge and grateful thanks go to those who came to be with me for Michael Daly’s funeral yesterday. I have always felt that no matter what a person life has been like, whether the person has been a loner or had a myriad of family and friends, they deserve to be treated with dignity and respect. Yesterday in our small but humble way we gave that to Michael. As I said after the funeral to those who gathered with me, this is why I love the Wesley congregation, because when something needs to be done that matters, we do it. So thank you, it will be something that I will never forget.

Unfortunately, due to illness, one meeting which I was looking forward to this week, had to be cancelled. It was with Sally Morgan, Professor Bill Loader, Rev Geoff Blyth, and Catherine Czerw and we were to begin a conversation regarding the Advent Art Exhibition. However, we have rescheduled and hopefully next week we can begin again. I am particularly looking forward to it, as we will be thinking about the brief we hope to give artists as they think about the Birth stories and their interpretation.

Last Sunday I announced that we would have a small tribute to Joyce Roberts during worship on Sunday 17^th June. As it turns out this is not a suitable date for everyone concerned, so we have changed it to Sunday 1^st July. During the service that day we will hear a little of Joyce’s life, loves and her connection with Wesley.

Next week the UCIC Church Council meets and one of the emerging issues is the need to develop a clearer mission strategy. This is a major task, however it will mean that when we are clear about the direction of our church in the city we will be able to offer each worshiping community clear Mission guidelines. Then any decision made will need to fit within those guidelines so that we can be effective and efficient in what we do. So pray for us as we start the process of becoming a lot clearer about our mission plan.

This afternoon, I am indulging my self a little. Sony is launching on to the market a new video camera. In the camera/video world the development of new technology has made possible equipment that gives extremely high quality pictures, better audio and faster transference of data to editing software. So I am mildly excited to see what Sony has to present. It also gives me a little opportunity to mix with some Tech Heads and hear the sort of work they are up to. It’s all grist for the mill as I hope to offer more video clips, with better quality of course.

Thanks for reading. I look forward to seeing you soon.

Don

Sunday 10th June 20112

8.30am Discussion Group in the Guild Room

10.00am Worship – “Are we Crazy?” A reflection on Mark 3:20-35