Don’s Blog

The Easter journey begins today and although the weekend will be busy for some of us, I am glad that I can be part of the story again. The journey begins with a sense of sadness and quietness, but ends with a real sense of joy and hope.

As you realise ‘Stations’ has been in full swing this week and I am pleased to say that from my point of view it has been going extremely well. After being part of a conversation with a couple from Columbia, who related especially to Station 11, Jesus is Crucified; I decided to write record the experience. I then realised it would be good to encourage our volunteers to do the same, so after a quick email inviting them to write, I now notice that we have a number of recorded experiences. I also notice the amazing comments in the ‘Comments Book’. Worth a read if you are in church over the weekend.

Opening Night was a great celebration and I am very grateful for all those who helped. I think it is fair to say that the whole event goes off without any major glitches these days. I really think we do it well.

Part of my week has been spent with Kay attending Uniting Church School functions. On Monday night Kay and I attended the induction of Rev Nalin Perera, who is now the Chaplain at Wesley College.  It was a little strange going back into my old stomping ground and even more interesting being greeted by a staff member, whose marriage I conducted, to find out she now has a 13 year old son. I bit of a reality check! I met other staff who have been there for 17 and 18 years. How time flies.

Last night Kay and I attended the 30^th anniversary of St Stephen’s school. Although Kay was the guest of honour, I had a special connection with St Stephen’s as I was on the very first Council. It was great to see how they have developed and are now, with three campuses, the largest Uniting Church School in the state. As you could imagine, the music, drama and presentations were just magic. It made me long to want to be in an orchestra again. The orchestra and choir especially formed for the occasion, presented everything from classical to jazz. A special honour was paid to Mr Brian Plowman, who has taught there from the beginning, so thirty years of teaching!

We have had some ‘interesting’ visitors to the church over the week, including some of those who suffer mental illness. We have often commented that this is one of the particular ministries of an inner city church. Although we have to be careful with some, I am always humbled and grateful that we are able to provide the space, where people from all walks of life can come and spend time. There are not many places in the city where those who sometimes present as ‘different’ can find a welcome.

In amongst the hurly burly of this week we have had a couple of farewells and this morning I had my last Ministers breakfast. Held at St Johns Lutheran Church in Northbridge, Pastor Greg Preiffer, as the host, said some very warm words about my time with them and my ministry. It was a little sad that it was my last ‘Breakfast’ with them as it has been one of the most enjoyable groups to be part of in the city.

All those present, as you could imagine, are involved in many services over the next few days and it was good to be able to share our journeys together.

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

From your minister

Don

Thursday 28^th March

7.00pm Maundy Thursday and Tenebrae Service – During this service we will conduct the ‘washing of the feet’ ritual, celebrate the ‘last supper’ and have the ‘extinguishing of the candles’ liturgy.

Good Friday 29^th March

10.00am Liturgy of the Stations of the Cross

5.30pm Good Friday Reflection – featuring readings and selected movements from John Stainer’s “The Crucifixion” with the Wesley Chorale.

Sunday 31^st March Dawn service at Sunrise, Roe Gardens, Kings Park Special Guests: the Moderator, Perth Fortress Salvation Army Band and the GKI Indonesian Uniting Church Choir.

10.00am Easter Sunday service. Celebrating Resurrection day with special music from the Brass Quintet.

Sunday 7^th April

8.30am Discussion Group

10.00am Sunday service. Celebrating my last service at Wesley Church.

Don’s Blog.

Exciting news today! My flight and the flight of my ‘film assistant’ are booked for Broome as we head up to Mowunjum to film the centenary of the mission there. Mowunjum was originally set up by the Presbyterian Church but has since been handed back to the community.

Jocelyn Richards, who hails from the Mandurah Uniting Church, and has just completed her Film and TV degree at Curtin University, has been assisting me with a particular film project and I am delighted that she is able to accompany me. We have also just found out that a number of young people from Floreat Uniting Church are going as well. This of course will all take place after I leave Wesley, but I know you will be excited for me, as this is the work that I want to do for the church in my next phase of life.

A weekend after this trip, Kay and I fly to Alice Springs, and join Bruce and Margaret Murdoch for a two week adventure driving back to Perth in their four wheel drive and camper. I have never been out this far into the desert before and my excitement level is rising by the day. This week I purchased a time-lapse control for my camera, which will allow me to take pictures over a long period, from the same place. I am looking forward to taking pictures of the night sky, as I can image the view with no ‘light noise’, will be breath taking.

Bruce and Margaret have been wetting our appetites for this trip for some time and I am already imagining …… sitting around the camp at the end of the day…. Wine glass in hand….. relaxing…..gentle conversation….. a little bit of chocolate…….. Wake up Don!! Sorry I got a little carried away. Now back to things at hand!

Last Saturday the Elders and I met to discuss ‘Priorities for Worship and Mission within the Wesley worshiping community. It was a great occasion to work through what is important us. We are unique in the way we do things and it is good to have those clearly stated. If you would like to see a copy of what we have discussed so far, you can go to; http://www.gtp.com.au/ucic/inewsfiles/16-3-2013_Wesley_Elders_Priorites_-_updated.pdf

Please feel free to write to me or the Elders if you think some things need to be added.

This week began with the funeral of a dear friend, 91 years of age, who used to be a member at Subiaco Uniting Church. It was a sad occasion but also a great celebration of a life well lived. Peg was one of my volunteers at the Warehouse Café and I was glad to be able to honour her commitment and service in this area. Her favourite reading was the Good Samaritan, so it was a pleasure to share that with those who gathered.

Set up for the ‘Stations’ is nearly complete and will all be done in readiness for the training time this afternoon. Seeing the completed works ‘in the flesh’ so to speak is very moving. Yes I do have a favourite, and I challenge you to pick it. But I do love them all. It is so wonderful to see again our story being given back to us with such depth of meaning.

Opening Night is tomorrow night and I am looking forward to catching up with many who have now made this an annual pilgrimage.

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

From your minister

Don

Sunday 24^th March 2013

8.30am    Discussion Group

10.00am   Morning Worship – Celebrating Palm Sunday, Guest Preacher, The Moderator, Synod of WA, Rev Ron Larkin.

Thursday 28^th March

7.00pm Maundy Thursday and Tenebrae Service – During this service we will conduct the ‘washing of the feet’ ritual, celebrate the ‘last supper’ and have the ‘extinguishing of the candles’ liturgy.

Good Friday 29^th March

10.00am Liturgy of the Stations of the Cross

5.30pm Good Friday Reflection – featuring readings and selected movements from John Stainer’s “The Crucifixion” with the Wesley Chorale.

Sunday 31^st March Dawn service at Sunrise, Roe Gardens, Kings Park Special Guests: the Moderator, Perth Fortress Salvation Army Band and the GKI Indonesian Uniting Church Choir.

10.00am Easter Sunday service. Celebrating Resurrection day with special music from the Brass Quintet

Don’s Blog.

We received the sad news this week that Angela’s (our Director of Music) Dad died and she is currently with her family in Scotland. Unfortunatly he died while Angela was in transit, which made it just that little more sadder. We send our love, support and prayers to Angela and her family. We also think of Jim and the boys as they are without Angela’s presence.

You will notice an array of organists over the next week as Judy Muskett and Margaret Murdoch have put in a lot of time and energy to find replacements. As you can imagine, finding organists for Easter has been a challenge. But we are nearly there.

As we head towards our Stations of the Cross exhibition I am mindful of the many events happening during the Easter period.

Can I share some of them with you?

For those involved in volunteering for the exhibition we will have a ‘training tour’ at 3pm on Thursday 21^st March. This will give us our ‘first look’ at the artworks.

The opening of the Art exhibition is at 6pm, Friday 22^nd March with our traditional ‘Bread and Wine Supper’.

On Palm Sunday 24^th March, I have invited the Moderator, Rev Ron Larkin to preach.

At 7pm on Thursday 28^th there will be a Tenebrae and Maundy Thursday service, which includes a washing of the feet ritual, communion and the extinguishing of the candles liturgy.

At 10.00am on Good Friday we will again conduct the ‘Liturgy of the Stations of the Cross and at 5.30pm there will be a presentation of John Stainer’s, ‘the Crucifixion by the Wesley Choral.

On Easter Sunday morning, you are invited to the Dawn Service at Roe Gardens, Kings Park, usually at 6.30, or as the Sun rises. The Moderator will be the guest preacher and the Perth Fortress Salvation Army Band and the GKI (Indonesian Uniting Church) Choir will participate. I love watching the sun rise over the city and hearing the traditional words, Christ is risen, he is risen indeed”.

At 10.00am will be our Easter Sunday Service with the Brass Quintet.

Although Easter is busy, I find it a very sacred and distinctive and it will be one of the special times at Wesley that I will miss.

Tomorrow morning at 9.30am The Warehouse Café in Shenton Park will be officially opened and already they have received a great deal of support.  The opening will be tinged with a little sadness as I have compiled a list of all the original volunteers and many of them are no longer with us, but their vision lives on. On Monday, I conduct the funeral for Peg Oliver, who was one of those unique volunteers.

I seem to be doing ‘last things’ at the moment. My last Baptism, my last Wedding is this Sunday, and my last funeral on Monday. No doubt in the future people will ask me to ‘hatch, match and dispatch’ but they might be slightly different as I wont be a minster in placement. So whilst I am enjoying these last few weeks of full time ministry, I am just a little nostalgic.

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

From your minister

Don

Sunday 17^th March 2013

8.30am    Discussion Group

10.00am   Morning Worship: Our Annual ‘Crossroads Service’

Sunday 24^th March 2013

8.30am    Discussion Group

10.00am   Morning Worship – Guest Preacher, The Moderator, Synod of WA, Rev Ron Larkin.

Don’s Blog

Although Monday was a public holiday some of us were invited to the Warehouse café to be part of the visit of Celebrity Chef Poh, former Master Chef contestant and ABC presenter of ‘Poh’s Kitchen’.

Even though her visit was delayed (Flight delays) she gave us a wonderful presentation, with her usual infectious laugh, pleasant and meaningful thoughts. “Food is a great equaliser” said Poh, which led into her sharing experiences of cooking with people with a disability. On this occasion Poh taught some of our Crossroaders how to make a special Asian Salad Dressing, which will become part of the regular Warehouse Café menu.

I have produced a small video of Poh’s visit and once completed I will let you know how you can view it.

Congratulations Christine and Donald Nicholas, the staff, volunteers and Crossroaders. It was a great event.

Most of the 8.30am Discussion Group met for dinner at Lyn Callahan's place on Monday evening. We were treated to a very special meal, relaxing and celebrating Lyn’s purchase of a great painting, which now has pride of place on one of her walls. It’s a great painting and if you would like to know more I am sure Lyn would love to tell you.

Our invites to the Stations of the Cross went out yesterday which means we are getting very close to the event. I am feeling a little sad that this will be my last ‘Stations’, but also excited to see it all coming together so smoothly. Opening night preparations are well under way, bread, with bread, wine and helpers nearly organised. If you would like to be there, or help on the night, please let the UCIC office know.

We still have a few places for volunteers for our Art exhibition?

If you are interested, and are in church this Sunday, Alison McCubbin will have the draft roster. You will be able to see those times that are available and may suit you.

During the week you can still let the UCIC office know via judym@ucic.org.au or phone 6103 4222 if you would like to be involved. 

Angela Currie has just shared with me that she needs to go to her family in Scotland to say goodbye to her Father. She will be flying out this Friday morning. Some of you know he has not been well and now his condition has deteriorated. Angela and her family will be in our thoughts and prayers as this will be a hard time for them all.

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

From your minister

Don

Sunday 10^th March 2013

8.30am Discussion Group We watch the last video clip of John Dominic Crossan’s DVD series, ‘The Challenge of Jesus’.

10.00am   Morning Worship:

The Baptism of George Wake

Reflecting on Luke 15:1-32. Celebrating “..this fellow welcomes outcasts”

Lent Event: A conversation with Rev John Dunn on this visit to East Timor.

Sunday 17^th March 2013

8.30am    Discussion Group

10.00am   Morning Worship: Our Annual ‘Crossroads Service’