Don's Blog

Hi All,

This week has been a gentle week of preparation for my visit to Adelaide for the Assembly. Already I am hearing that some controversial issues will be discussed, so think of me behind the camera and in editing. My hope is that I can let you know of the interviews as they go up onto the Website. The Web page for the assembly is; http://www.assembly2012.uca.org.au/

After Assembly, Kay and I will have a few days rest at Dunsborough.

By the way, a few people asked about our son Marcus. Marcus had an accident at his workplace (Para Quad Industries) last week. He unfortunately cut off the top of one of his fingers on his left hand. He is a little sore and does have to undergo some physical therapy on his hand, but he is doing ok and looking forward to getting back into activities with Crossroads and going back to work.

Thanks you so much for all those who offered pray and support for Melanie and Sean last week. It was one of those special moments where our Wesley congregation reached out again with love to a family in need. One of the special memories of last Sunday was seeing Petrina give Melanie a beautiful warm and loving hug during the sharing of the Peace. The funeral for their daughter Mylee, who was just over a year old when she died, will be held at Pinnaroo Cemetery on Wednesday 18^th July. Rev John Barendrecht will conduct it. Our thoughts and prayers will be with all the family on that day.

Also on Sunday we held our Inter-Faith service of Lament. Just over 100 hundred people attended and I was slightly anxious at the beginning as up until 5 minutes before the service the Imam had not arrived. But eventually they did, (they had been held up by traffic) and it was a great service. I was a little taken aback when at the end of the service Imam Mukahtar Ahmadi gave me a warm and friendly hug. It was his way of letting me know how much they appreciated our welcome and sharing with them. Thanks go to Geoff Blyth who read the Psalm, to Evadne Scaddan, Janet Lamb, Lee Edwards and others who helped on the day. I especially appreciated our pianist Jangoo Chapkhana and David Bowyer (baritone) whose music was wonderful.

At one point in the service as we, Christians and Muslims stood together, and lit our candles we listened to the music of, “Bridge over Troubled Waters”. It was for me very moving. 

As you can imagine we made the newspapers, namely, “The West Australian”, see: http://l.yimg.com/ea/img/-/120709/080712genservice1_17vk3pr-17vk3ps.jpg

And, “The Australian; see; http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/immigration/faiths-unite-in-prayer-to-mourn-asylum-seekers-lost-at-sea/story-fn9hm1gu-1226420572594

I also did an interview for SBS Radio and this week received news that our service was written about in an Ecumenical newspaper in Switzerland. I really should have gone there to do it live!! Anyway, I can truthfully say that our service was talked about “far and wide”. Quite a few people recognized me from my picture in the paper, not the least being Mohammad, (I now know his name) a Muslim, who runs the convenience store across the road from the church. He was quite impressed by our endeavors.

Last Sunday in Worship I announced that we appointed Angela Currie as our new Director of Music and Organist. Angela originally hales from Scotland and comes with a wealth of experience, working in the Church of Scotland (Presbyterian). She is married to Jim who was also in church on Sunday. If you have been to Sunday morning worship over the last month or so then you would have noticed her at the organ. Angela brings with her a great deal of experience in working with Choirs and an excitement about being involved at Wesley. We feel truly blessed by her appointment with us. You will no doubt see things musical appearing on a very regular basis, for which I am looking forward to.

The DVD that we commissioned for the 2012 Stations of the Cross Art Exhibition is out. If you would like a copy could you email me or let our office staff know and we will get one to you. It is a 12-minute video and gives a good overview of what happened and will help us explain our ‘Stations’ to people who want to know more.

Last Thursday we held our monthly Elders meeting. At this meeting we very reluctantly received the resignations of Donald and Christine Nicholas as Elders. Most of you would know that Donald and Christine served us well in these positions and Donald in particular has contributed enormously in Property and Finance matters. As I have indicated to them both, our prayers and thoughts are with them and we look forward to them serving our congregation in new ways.

At Elders we recognized that we need more Elders. It is position of responsibility and if, as you are reading this, feel God might be encouraging you in this direction, could you please make contact with me. Over the next few weeks we will be calling for nominations.

We also recognized that we need more people to help in being a welcoming steward or at morning tea/coffee. Please let Judy (phone 6103 4222 or email: judym@ucic.org.ua know if you can help. We are noticing that the same people are rostered quite regularly and it would be great to spread the load a bit.

Thanks for reading and I look forward to catching up with you on my return from Monday 30^th July.

Don Dowling

Minister

Sunday 15^th July – Preacher Rev Geoff Blyth

Sunday 22^nd July – Preacher Rev Lee Edwards

Sunday 29^th July - Preacher Rev Viv Larkin

Don's Blog 

Hi All,

Today is one of those hard days of ministry. I, and a colleague visited a family whose little baby girl died last Friday. As you can imagine it is extremely difficult for them at the moment and we hold them in our thoughts and prayers. The family is Sean and Melanie, with son Chase and their daughter is Mylee.

As you would have seen from my special email, sent earlier this week, we will conduct an Inter-Faith service of Lament this coming Sunday. I have received a great deal of support for this service and I am hoping that it will enable more conversations and support between our different faith communities.

We still do need volunteers, both those who can offer a welcome at the door and people to assist with the afternoon tea. If you could contact Judy that would be a great help. Phone; 6103 4222 or by email; judym@ucic.org.au

After this Sunday I have a few days working and then on Saturday 14^th Kay and I are heading to Adelaide for the Assembly. Kay is going as a delegate but I am going to be a cameraman and editor so that we can report the happenings as quickly as possible. If you would like to keep informed the Assembly Website is; http://www.assembly2012.uca.org.au/

After Assembly, Kay and I will have a few days rest at Dunsborough.

This week we conducted interviews for our Director of Music/Organist position. We had two applicants, both who came with a wealth of experience, energy and enthusiasm for the position. I am very grateful to Jangoo Chapkhana (Director of Music/Organist at Trinity) Marg Murdoch and Evadne Scaddan from Wesley. In the end we made a choice and I will make an announcement in the very near future. I will also put it in my blog for next week.

This week we held our inaugural meeting of the Reference Group for the Warehouse Café. We are a small group of people represented by Crossroads, Presbytery, UCIC, A ministry to the Gay and Lesbian community, and a person from the Community of Subiaco and Shenton Park. It was a great meeting with everyone very enthusiastic and looking forward to the reopening, which we hope, will be in early September. Christine and Donald Nicholas have done a great job of getting things moving in this area and I for one cant wait for the first coffee to be poured.

Tonight we have our monthly Elders meeting, part of which will be spent thinking about adding new members to our group. To be an Elders means not only to feel that God is calling you to this position, but also recognizing that you take on a leadership position within the Wesley Worshipping community. If you believe you are experiencing a call to be an Elder please talk to me about it and I can share information with you regarding the duties and responsibilities.

You would have seen that we are advertising the Congregational meeting for Saturday 28^th July to be held at Trinity, in the Hall, as we will share a meal together. At this meeting the UCIC Church Council will present the budget. Then on 5^th August after morning worship services, meetings will be held to take a vote for it’s implementation. Can I encourage all to contribute to these meetings as the decision we make here has a significant affect on our ministry in the city.

Thanks for reading.

Don Dowling

Minister

Sunday 8th July 2012

8.30am Discussion Group in the Guild Room

10.00am Worship – Reflecting on Mark 6:1-13, rejection and sending.

2.00pm Sunday 8^th July 2012 Inter-Faith Service to be held at Wesley

Sunday 15^th July – Preacher Rev Geoff Blyth

Sunday 22^nd July – Preacher Rev Lee Edwards

Sunday 29^th July - Preacher Rev Viv Larkin

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