Don's Blog
Hi All,
I realise
that a lot of my time is taken up in preparation. I prepare the liturgy and the
‘reflection’. I prepare for meetings, which are often preparing for particular
events in the future. Planning and preparing is a necessary part of most jobs
and occasionally I feel under prepared… but I will keep preparing. This week I
have spent more time than usual preparing for particular events happening in
and around Wesley.
We have been
preparing, very gently at this stage, for the Advent Art Exhibition, which will
happen in the second week of Advent. Catherine Czerw, and I, have been working
on the brief to give to artists. Already it is starting to take shape and
promises to be a worthwhile event. The theme of course, centres on the ‘birth
story’ and I am starting to get just a little excited about how the artists
will interpret this story for us. Watch this space as more details emerge.
I have had
many favourable comments regarding our new Elders line up. It is good that we
are getting a positive sense of the call of God on the lives of these
nominations. I do keep going on about this, but I have to say that in the end,
it is not about us, but about continuing the ministry of Jesus. So having the
right leaders to guide us in this ministry is very important. To remind and ask
you to pray for our nominees, I have included their names again.
The people
nominating are:
David Beasland for 3 years
Leo Blawan for 2 years
Jenny Millar for 5 years
Margaret Murdoch for 2 years
Esther Chow for 3 years
Those
renominating are:
Edwin Hadfield for 5 years,
Janet Carrick for 5 years,
Evadne Scaddan for 1 year,
Lily Tang for 5 years
Alison
McCubbin was elected in 2011 for 5 years
Dawn Coppock
as asked for leave of absence for the time being.
We do have
most but not all profiles ready and they will be made available in worship this
Sunday..
On Sunday 2nd September 2012
we will hold elections on these nominations.
Sunday
evening at St George’s Cathedral remembering the work and ministry of William
Booth was a great occasion. Of course I loved the band. They were just amazing.
I also enjoyed the Songsters gentle choral arrangements. I really appreciated
hearing the story of William Booth’s life and ministry. It made me realise that
he had such a powerful ministry and like our very own John Wesley made a
significant difference in our world. I was keenly interested in William Booth’s
connection and compassion for the poor of his time. He took very seriously the
challenge to care for the poor and the widows. In his day it was very much part
of his daily life and in our day it seems to be more at ‘arms length’ as we get
the professionals to do it. I wonder!!
This morning, those who offer ministry in the
city through our different denominations, met at the Salvation Army
Headquarters Café for breakfast. It was, as usual, an informal gathering and I
appreciate the support that is given to each other in our coming together. It
was a good time of sharing and listening to the happenings in other churches. A
bonus this morning was that we had ‘real coffee’!
This afternoon I am meeting with a small group to
prepare for the visit of Rev. Eric Elnes, Ph.D. which will take place at Wesley
on Tuesday 25th September at lunchtime. Eric is known as a
progressive theological thinker and a comment made for his presentations in
Victoria says:
“Lauded
as an important innovator with respect to how Christian
faith is practiced in contemporary society by John Shelby Spong
in his book “Eternal Life: A New Vision” and by Diana Butler
Bass in her book "Christianity for the Rest of Us: How
the
Neighbourhood
Church is Transforming the Faith".
Although his visit will be
brief I am really looking forward to hearing what he has to say, and I further
quote,
“He is
internationally recognized for creating multi-sensory,
experiential
worship that transcends classification as “traditional”
or
“contemporary.” Eric’s books include, “Igniting Worship: The
Seven Deadly
Sins” (Abingdon, 2004) and “Asphalt Jesus: Finding
a New
Christian Faith Along the Highways of America” (Jossey-
Bass, 2007).
He was the lead author and editor of the Phoenix
Affirmations
– a popular, ecumenically developed set of twelve
principles
that are becoming the important theological backbone
of the
progressive Christian movement in and outside the United
States.”
I hope it will be of interest for many.
I look
forward as always to catching up soon.
Regards
Don
Don Dowling
Minister
Sunday 26th August
8.30am Discussion Group
10.00am Worship – Reflecting again on “Jesus,
the Living Bread.
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