Notes from the Office:June 2014 - St Thomas` Church Port Macquarie

The Anglican Parish
of Port Macquarie
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St. Thomas’ and Trinity
Reports on May 2015
The Rector, John West writes………………………….
A massive heart aack has, for me, dominated much of April and May.
Before it I had a teleconference as a member of the Diocesan Presentaon Board and a
planning meeng for Synod, amongst the regular comings and goings of parish life.
The aack occurred in the middle of two weeks annual leave and the whole of the le$
wall of the heart is permanently damaged (without a miracle, which I and others are
praying for). The fact that I am alive is something of a miracle in itself!
I want to thank everyone for the prayers, well-wishes, cards and other demonstraons
of support. Your love and prayers are certainly having their effect and I have been
funconing surprisingly well and easing my way back into work. My GP spoke of gradual
recovery over 12 months but even as I write I have been feeling much beer.
I parcularly want to thank David Blackmore, Allen Charlesworth, and Diana
Charlesworth, who have picked up on the things that I have not been able to do, David
having stepped back up to fullme work unl he and Sue leave for Broken Hill (July
through to November). Also thanks to our rered clergy who are offering to step in
where needed during David’s absence.
Holy Spirit Conference
Congratulaons to John Wyndham, the “Amigos” and all who helped to make the Holy
Spirit Conference a success. It was such an inspiraonal and encouraging weekend with
Bishop Ian Lambert.
Besides the conference and between doctors, nurses and physios I have engaged in
more Synod Eucharist planning, a limited amount of vising, sorng of preaching
rosters, Ministers Associaon, prayer meengs and a variety of other meengs with
people over different issues.
The Synod Eucharist is at St Thomas’ at 6pm on Friday Evening 11th June in St
Thomas’. You are invited.
The Move towards Same-Sex Marriage
This is a maer which has numerous implicaons for churches and is exercising the
minds of many, who are torn in different direcons. I offer the following to the
discussion.
I suspect that there is more underlying opposion to this move in the community than
you would think watching and reading the media, parcularly amongst older people.
However it would seem that many are being won over to the cause.
How might we respond as Chrisans? Parcularly as those who adhere to Scripture as
God’s Word to us?
The debate covers a wide range of complexies and what I write here will be brief by
comparison.
From a biblical standpoint I believe the controlling verses in the debate are
Mahew 19:3-6
Some Pharisees came to him to test him [Jesus]. They asked, “Is it lawful for a man to
divorce his wife for any and every reason?”
4
“Haven’t you read,” he replied, “that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them
male and female,’ v 5 and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother
and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’? 6 So they are no longer
two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.”
Although Jesus gives an answer in the context of divorce, he appeals to the Old
Testament for God’s intenon for marriage and as such the quote has something to say,
not just about homosexual union, but also about divorce, heterosexual marriage,
faithfulness, and heterosexual sex outside of marriage.
If this is God the Creator’s ideal then it would seem to me that acvely promong
something less can only eventually be detrimental to individuals and to the structure of
society.
I gather that homosexuals do not want sympathy but rather recognion and
acceptance. Nevertheless I cannot help but feel sorry for people who engage in a
lifestyle which is contrary both to our human biological makeup and God’s design for
life and social stability.
Although there is no “Gay gene” it seems clear that many (perhaps most) homosexuals
have that inclinaon from early in life. Many factors may be involved in this from
nature to nurture, but an inclinaon towards something does not make it right to give
in to the inclinaon. People of all persuasions can have all sorts of inclinaons to do
things which can be damaging to themselves and to others, but society expects them to
exercise self-control and choose not to give in. Whether it is alcoholism, sexual
addicons, smoking, pornography, psychopathic behaviour, drug or gambling
addicons, we offer help to people to overcome their behavioural paerns. But even
suggest that you might try to help homosexuals in this way and you will be howled
down and branded as hateful and insensive. Some do seek help and are assisted to
manage their lives and live happily.
But there are also those who are verbally abused for even trying.
If I am sounding judgemental at this stage then I am mindful of the Apostle Paul’s
statement in 1 Corinthians 5:12-13
12
What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge
those inside? 13 God will judge those outside.
By “outside the church” I take it to mean those who do not know Jesus Christ as their
Saviour and Lord. In other words, we are to truly welcome all people to come to church
without censure. I do not expect people to understand a biblical posion unless their
minds have been transformed by God’s Spirit (Romans 12:1-2). But for those who
exercise ministry I would expect them to not engage in sexual acvity (heterosexual or
homosexual) contrary to God’s Word.
Apart from the biblical standpoint and as a cizen of Australia I have a number of
concerns about the ramificaons of government legalising same-sex marriages.
1. Legalising something is, in people’s minds, the same as saying, this is acceptable, it
is right, we should promote it. It will be a further step in not just legimising “Gay”
marriage, it will place an official stamp of approval on the whole LGBTQI scene. This
is not just about two same-sex people who love each other deeply and want to
quietly spend the rest of their lives together, it is a significant step in the sexual
revoluon.
2. Of course the sexual revoluon gained momentum back in the nineteen sixes.
Amongst other things “Swingers” experimented with open marriages. Those didn’t
work too well and, interesngly, have declined as a result. But unfaithfulness
increased, de facto arrangements flourished and easy divorce in Australia ensured
further instability for children and society generally. (Incidentally, it is a stascal
fact that people who live in a sexual relaonship before marriage are less likely to
stay together when they do get married than a couple who abstained before
marriage).
3. In the nineteen-sevenes schools used to pracce streaming. The brighter children
went into the A class and were generally much beer behaved and the B class had
the less bright children with more behavioural problems. When I looked at the
family backgrounds there was a clear correlaon between the B classes and the
preponderance of broken marriages. Today there are even more de facto families,
which are more prone to break-up (Please note that these are generalisaons. We
can all point to de facto relaonships which appear to work well). There are now
more single families, where a child is (usually) deprived of a father, and while I am
not cricising single parent families (many single parents do very well) it is
obviously, and generally, less than ideal for society at large. We may think that we
have come to live with this situaon but we o$en struggle with what I perceive to
be the increasing behavioural problems amongst young people in our schools.
Teachers and other students are expected to bear the brunt of it and have to adopt
strategies, which are very different from those employed in my own years as a
teacher.
4. There is potenal here for destabilising society further when we consider that
already same-sex couples raise children through various means. I am sure that a
number of those parents are probably doing a good job of loving and raising them.
The studies here so far seem inconclusive. Both sides of the debate seem to rubbish
the findings of the other. It should raise concerns however that homosexual
parenng denies the child either a father or a mother.
5. It already seems that legimising same-sex marriage opens the door for a further
push towards educang the young, through schools, in homosexual pracces,
under the guise of prevenng bullying. I am not saying that this will persuade
children to become homosexuals, but in this new society there would be nothing
wrong with that if it did, would there? There is a danger here that the rights of
parents in guiding their children will be overridden and it is not too difficult to
imagine, down the line, a situaon where children could be removed from parents
who are teaching their children that the homosexual lifestyle is not God’s ideal.
6. There is already evidence emerging (parcularly in Canada, which sanconed samesex marriage back in 2005) that businesses which have a conscience about
promong/condoning homosexuality or homosexual marriage become targets for
ligaon and abuse. Despite the assurances I have lile doubt that further down
the line churches will come under pressure too. There is growing atheisc militancy
against Chrisanity and we may expect that Chrisans who hold to Scripture will
not just be marginalised but acvely discriminated against (if not fined or
imprisoned). I imagine that Chrisan schools which are reluctant to teach the new
line on homosexuality could have their government funding withdrawn.
The Canadian experience is outlined on the conservave website of The
Witherspoon Instute at
hp://www.thepublicdiscourse.com/2015/04/14899/
7. Already the church in the western world has parally split over the ordinaon of
bishops, priests and deacons who are in same-sex relaonships. Once same-sex
marriage is legalised we can expect that Chrisan denominaons around the
country will be under pressure to reassess their posion on the subject.
Individuals will also be under pressure from family and friends to change their minds
and go with the flow.
This is a call then, to hold to the Scriptures which have been delivered to us. To
genuinely love our neighbours of whatever persuasion, but to beware of
accommodang our faith to the trends of the world. Courage will be required, for if we
abandon the Scriptures we will find ourselves cast adri$ in a sea of opinion, without a
rudder.
I leave you to pray over these things, to pray for wisdom for our parliamentarians, to
pray for people with homosexual inclinaons, to love them and accept them, but also
with a warning from Jude…
17
But, dear friends, remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ foretold.
They said to you, “In the last 4mes there will be scoffers who will follow their own
ungodly desires.” 19 These are the people who divide you, who follow mere natural
ins4ncts and do not have the Spirit.
20
But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in
the Holy Spirit, 21 keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord
Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.
22
Be merciful to those who doubt; 23 save others by snatching them from the fire; to
others show mercy, mixed with fear—ha4ng even the clothing stained by corrupted
flesh. e
24
To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious
presence without fault and with great joy—25 to the only God our Savior be glory,
majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and
forevermore! Amen.
18
John
Assistant Minister, David Blackmore writes………………………….
It’s tremendous to see John back on deck. It’s also tremendous to see that John is
following everyone’s advice (sort of) and taking things easy. I have to say however that
John is certainly moving things along for the parish. I am helping out when and where I
can to try and make things a lile less of a burden for John. Many things John does he
does from his desk at his computer, which is good, as it seems it really is the physical
stuff that drains him.
I am reiniang the Natural Church Development (NCD) process. The implementaon
team will begin meeng to reflect and discuss our survey results. The process has
changed somewhat from when we last conducted a survey and although some things
have changed and are new, the NCD fundamentals are sll the same.
My trip (with Sue) to Broken Hill is drawing closer. Lists are being drawn up, things
being prepared. As the me draws closer so the excitement builds. As the excitement
builds, so does my fear. I am confident that we are doing what God is happy with
because of the way things lined up so well. The idea went from being impossible on
every front to being possible on every front with some amazing lile incidents in ming
and conversaons. Those God calls God equips. The feelings of inadequacy and
inexperience I go through need to be balanced against God’s amazing and mysterious
power to bring life and hope into all our efforts for his kingdom.
I am geOng into the regular paern of doing home communion with a number of
people. Those for whom geOng out to church is, at the moment, not an opon. It is
always a special me to share together in this way.
Parish Council recently agreed to form a sub-commiee to review and asses future
worship opons for church hill. What do we want things to look like in 5 and 10 years
in the future? There is a parcular focus on the hall as a worship centre as the building
itself is looking red. It is somewhere between 50 and 60 years old and was never
designed as a worship space but rather a tradional parish hall. How does what we do
with the hall (if we do anything to it) fit into our overall plan for church hill and
Chrisan worship on the hill? This is the sort of thing the sub-commiee is and will be
looking at.
On a similar front, John has been convening regular meengs with various stake holders
and other interested people about the future shape of our ministry with young families
(mum, dad, and the kids). A number of opons have been discussed around when,
where and what format. Doing some improvements to the hall may well be one
consideraon in the mix for that ministry. Apparently, in a study done in Sydney,
the two most important factors for people deciding to make a commitment to one
parcular church over another came down to, good coffee, and decent toilets. For
us coffee is easy to work with. The hall toilets are a bit more of a challenge.
Last Tuesday’s healing service was a great me. A visitor shared an amazing story
of a friend of his being healed of Leukaemia. Praise be to God. The healing service
presents to all people an opportunity for prayer as well as an opportunity to pray
for others. Time and commitment well spent
I just want to menon this month the tremendous work our deacon Allen
Charlesworth does. From nursing home services to funerals to home communions
and hospital vising. Allen conducts a very worthwhile and helpful ministry and the
parish is blessed to have him.
May God bless you as you serve the risen Lord, and use you for his kingdom and
glory.
Rev’d David.
The Young Families Minister writes………………………….
Bap-sms were spread over two weekends in May, “at ten on the tenth” and at 8am
on May 31st. I preached both Sundays and benefited greatly from what the Bible
was saying each me. I trust that God used the readings to speak to the diverse
group of bapsm families (and you!). Please pray for the families of Koen, Zoe, Rex,
Lewis and Joshua. Bapsm is a beginning, not an ending, and every family needs the
Lord to work in their lives together.
I am connuing to screen and train our Kids Hope mentors. This is trickier than I
expected, but I hope to have the process complete soon. In the meanme, our
school liaison has fallen down a flight of stairs and will be off work injured. Here’s a
good opportunity for us to start loving people in the school: please pray for a swi$
recovery for “Julie”.
Stories Jesus Told is proving lots of fun at PlayTime. We are using this lile book,
which retells the parables of Jesus, to talk to the kids about God at morning tea
me. Gail connues to provide thoughRul cra$s to complement the story. We have had
some good conversaons around maers of faith with some of the parents recently.
Please pray that doors would open.
Joyful Noise in May was about prayer. We suggested that we can all talk about ‘What’s
Up?” to God, and that this reminds us to Worship and Thank God, say Sorry for some
things and Please for others (W,T,S,P = What’s Up). We were glad to see one family in
parcular, for whom Joyful Noise is the only church service that is working, for now.
Planning for Families at Five connues at the very early stages – how can we connect
with young families so that we are blessing them and they want to gather together to
grow in their relaonship with God? We don’t want to just put on a show for people –
we want to be making disciples of Jesus. Whatever program we as a church decide to
run, part of my role as young families minister is to foster those relaonships so that we
love young families well. Please pray for me and my wife as we seek to do this.
Every blessing,
Alan Wood
Trinity Minister, Ken Fenton writes………………
“Get used to being a Chrisan minority”. These were the words
of a recent Chrisan speaker as he reflected on changes in
western society. At Trinity we are currently learning from the
Book of Hebrews: they “endured in a great conflict full of
suffering” Hebrews 10:32.
As we find our Chrisan values in Australia slipping, we begin to approach the Chris-an
normal: a misunderstood
minority. In years to come we
may truly empathise with our
persecuted brethren overseas
because we ourselves will
have reached that posion:
indeed, the Chrisan normal!
The visit of Duncan and Alison
Barlow gave us insights into
Chrisans living in a majority
Muslim country. Trinity
partners Tim and Jeanne
[pronounced Jeanie - see
photo] are living in a majority Buddhist country. They will be back later this year for the
birth of their first baby. Very excing for us, too. A number from Trinity found the St
Thomas Holy Spirit
conference very
helpful. Now, the
FaT weekend, on the
long weekend,
promises to be a
special me at
Trinity. I for one am
looking forward to
refocussing on
seeking the glory of
God.
Links with the
Charles Sturt
University are in their infancy but connue to develop. Ross Chambers of CSU will
address the congregaons in coming weeks and we have now held the second
University games a$ernoon forging links with students. We must prayerfully consider
how we might minister among the Universies next year: what staff me, or new partmer, might be required. How might we resource such a ministry. We connue to pray.
Youth Group on Friday nights is new this year and, praise God, connues well. We
thank the Lord for those who lead.
Dusk connues to develop slowly and there are a good number of people with whom
we have made contact and whom we seek to introduce to Jesus. Such things as drop-in
coffee shop opportunies or drinks at the Black Duck a$er work are part of our efforts
to connect with friends who do not yet know the Lord Jesus.
We thank the Lord for the open doors he has placed before us and connue to pray to
the Lord of the harvest to send more labourers.
Ken Fenton
Office Manager writes:
Well here we are almost at the middle of the year. The past month has brought some
very wet weather. It would be helpful for Bill if cars did not drive on the grass,
especially up and down the hill to the Hall. I watch vehicles drive and have to wonder
about the drivers. They can see how saturated the earth is but sll insist on causing
damage by taking a “short cut”. Leave off roading to Naonal Parks and areas where
permied.
The office connues to be the general hub on the Hill. The printer can get overworked
with funeral order of service (several some weeks), the weekly pew sheets and inserts,
special booklets printed, bapsm cerficates etc. The printer generates enough heat
so we won’t need much electrical heang for my office.
The Wardens have many issues to aend to at their weekly meeng, many dealing with
maintenance items related to the Hill having so many old buildings.
Cheryl Bannerman is always looking for someone to visit her, so if you are out Regis
Manor way, feel free to drop in to visit her.
Diana
WARDENS’ REPORT APRIL 2014…….
1.
A$er considering opons to improve safety of area around northern church door,
a landscaper has been engaged to remove the exisng bitumen and lay grass
turfs .
2. Addional Healing Service banner to be purchased and installed at church sign on
north east corner of grounds.
3. Picket fence in William Street repairs completed with new pickets to replaced
broken ones.
4. Reviewing opons to repair leaking tap and surrounding damaged woodwork in
church vestry.
5. A$er two hall lights were temporarily disconnected a$er fire in one light, all lights
are now back in service a$er replacement of capacitors.
6. Sound absorbing panels installed in hall. The sound consultant has advised that
the acouscs are now much beer than before. The ceiling mounted speakers
have been lted downwards and reports from parishioners are that there is an
improvement. Sound consultant to advise on opons to replace sound desk with a
digital unit. Funds already donated by parishioners should be sufficient to cover
costs.
7. Replacement of worn bricks and mortar in church outer walls well advanced a$er
receipt of addional materials to change colour of mortar to one more closely
matching the exisng.
8. Report received from moisture consultant concerning breakdown of tower lining
and sacrificial render on lower parts of outer brick walls. Quotaons being sought
from plastering contractor.
9. Donaons received from parishioners for replacement of hall south east fixed
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
windows with opening windows. Quotaons to be sought with for work to
be completed before next summer.
Installaon of a roof over the hall veranda: DA approved, awaing
commencement of work.
Construcon of a storage cupboard at end of corridor in chapel robing room
commenced and will be completed when labour available.
A number of improvements to the hall have been idenfied and will be
progressed as resources and funding become available. These include
installaon of two large TV screens to replace the overhead projector,
relocaon of all refrigerators and freezers to one space, construcon of a
chair storage area and toilet renovaons.
Quotaons being sought to improve lighng at hall lectern and church
lectern and pulpit.
New stoppers installed at church north doors.
Soup kitchen oversight being reviewed.
Minor repairs at 10 Glebe Close aended to.
Friends of St Thomas staffing being reviewed to provide sufficient people to
keep church open for inspecon by visitors for two sessions each week day.
Various electrical and plumbing issues being invesgated and aended to as
they arise.
Reviewing opons to improve paved path to office on western side.
Rectory air condioning serviced with temporary repairs made to ducng.
System needs replacement with split system(s) together with insulaon of
ceiling to provide the proper level of cooling and heang, when funds
become available.