St John the Divine

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News and events

From the Vicar

Each Sunday I am given quite a few verbal messages from parishioners at the church door. I get home after church and try and recall, "now, who said what to me about whom?". It does it make it A LOT easier for me if you write your messages on a piece of paper and hand them to me!

Our next WORKING BEE will be held on Saturday 3rd July, 9am.

Please note that the correct phone number to use for all parish business is 9723 5099.

Remember, if you have any matter of concern to the parish it should be drawn to the attention of a vestry member for discussion at a subsequent vestry meeting. (Next one: 12th May)

10am parishioners! More volunteers needed for Morning Tea after church. Please fill in your names on the list in the narthex.

Don't forget..... all parishioners are welcome at any time to come to Morning Prayer, in the chapel, 9am to 9.20am Monday to Thursday, and to Evening Prayer Saturday 5pm to 5.20pm.

Bike Ride & Family Day - Thank you to all those who helped to make this such a successful day. The weather was perfect for bike riding, for playing games and for just enjoying the day. Congratulations to Michelle’s group for completing the car rally.

Tim Gibson

Annual Clergy Conference

The parish paid for me recently to attend the annual "Eastern Region" clergy conference, held this year in Lorne, from Monday afternoon 10th to Wednesday morning 12th May. My thanks to you all!

On the first night, Bishop Barbara Darling, concerned that the 80 or so present did not necessarily all know each other, lined us all up, in order of our "ordination" dates -- (I was chastened to find out that I was '4th from the top', having been ordained deacon in 1979!) -- and then we were quizzed about who we were, where we had been trained, how long we had been in which parish, and so on. It was a good "getting to know you exercise".

We had some lectures from Jill McGilvray, pastoral care coordinator from a large Sydney parish, about organising that important work in parishes. Much of what she said related to large parishes, but it was all based on principles that can be applied generally.

Also, she spoke on "dealing with grief", not just the grief associated with bereavement, but with other crises and changes which parishioners face in everyday life.

Bible studies were conducted by Dr Lindsay Wilson, of Ridley College, on the subject of "What kind of ministry and ministers?" -- emphasising how the clergy must be: trustees and stewards of the gospel ... heralds and proclaimers of the gospel ... gentle among those with whom we work .....and like a 'parent' to his/her 'children' -- based on the example of St Paul, as described in his writings.

There were workshops to attend, and I went to one (based around a recent book by Bishop John Wilson) all about the relations between Christianity and Islam. On the Tuesday night we were entertained by the Dean of Melbourne, Mark Burton, relating some of his incredible experiences as a naval chaplain.

The conference gave an opportunity for the clergy to be with each other in a relaxed context. Normally, we only meet in the context of local deaneries (once a month), and in small self- organised peer-support groups (monthly) -- and at formal and business occasions such as the annual synod. I had some interesting conversations with clergy I would not normally have much to do with: e.g. one of the Chinese clergy who ministers at Doncaster, and who comes from Hong Kong, but who has relatives in Malaysia and mainland China. He had some enlightening things to say about the growth of materialism and prosperity among Chinese people here, and there, and the special challenges of being a "Chinese Christian".

On the Narthex table or notice board

Newsletters and other material from:

Diary Dates


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