Archive for the ‘Pepperings’ Category

Easter season is a wonderful time for the Church. Our celebrations are filled with joy.  We remember the Risen Christ in our midst.

After the ecstasy of Easter Day there is a tendency to relax.  We need to be reminded by the scriptures what a tumultuous time that was for the Disciples of Jesus. Those who had followed him and shared in his ministry. On the day of the Ascension, forty days after the resurrection, we see the disciples worshipping  and praising God in the temple, daily.

There are elders and leaders in our presbytery who lead a prayer shaped life as did those early disciples. They fast and pray regularly. I have already indicated that It is my intention to focus on prayer. It is prayer that keeps us connected to Christ and each other. Prayer is openness to God’s presence. God can find us in surprising ways and places. In the gospel of Mark, Jesus goes out  early in the morning by himself to pray. This is very different from the prayer and praising that the disciples did in the temple. Jesus on another occasion, when they have had no success casting out a demon, tells them that “this kind can only be cast out through prayer”.

The church has rejoiced in this Easter season as we have ordained a young minister, by prayer and the laying on of hands. We will see ordained three young ministers later in the season. The first one is Robin Yang and the Presbytery of Port Phillip East gathered at the Korean Church of Melbourne in East Malvern to celebrate the Ordination. Have a look at the pictures on the Korean Congregation website at http://www.melhans.com/. What is on interesting about this is that Reverend Robin will be ministering to the English speaking Koreans at the Gardiner Uniting Church. You will need have a look at their website http://www.gardiner.unitingchurch.org.au/ .  The other young ministers to be ordained are Mr Martin Wright, he will ordained by the Presbytery of Port Phillip East at Armadale Uniting Church as he was a candidate from PPEP and had a training placement at Armadale. At the same time at Armadale UC, Ms Kylie Crabbe will be ordained by the Presbytery of Port Phillip West and her induction into the congregation of Armadale is something that we as a Presbytery will have to do.  Kylie has been an intern at Armadale for the past year. She and her congregation are working closely with Gardiner in projects aimed at installing renewable power at their Churches. The Rev Dr Ji Zhang has had experience of this already and the installation he brought to fruition in Bentleigh whilst minister there, will be officially turned on by the President of the Uniting Church in Australia, the Rev. Alistair Macrae.

As we approach Pentecost our prayer is of course “Come Holy Spirit, renew the whole creation!”  Are we ready for the radical vision of John the writer of Revelation, a new heaven and a new earth? It is through the Holy Spirit that we will have that unity which Christ prayed for. It will overcome those petty divisions of language and culture. Old congregations will find new ways to be church, it is already happening. The Presbytery is deeply involved in helping congregations to discern their mission and ministry and to be with them as they find hope and possibilities. Yes indeed the Holy spirit is at work here.

Young people finding Christ is something that is a live probability in this Presbytery. In June there is the Somers Camp, a ministry to young people which has been running for fifty years, and if you think it is about to fall over, check their website http://somerscamp.com.au/.  The Holy spirit empowered the first disciples and it still at work with us today. There are exciting Youth ministries at Frankston, St.Leonard’s Brighton Beach, Koornang, Cranbourne, Parkdale, Glen Waverley, Springvale and Dandenong. There are others as well, and no doubt they will write and tell me that they are a vital part of the Church’s ministry today.

Look for the fire of the Holy Spirit to come upon you and your congregation, that you may be on fire for the mission of Christ.

Pentecost Blessings

Rev David Peel

Peppering- March 2010

There has been such a lot going on. We have had the induction of  the Rev Dr Ji Zhang to The Gardiner Congregation and the Rev Peter Whitaker to Leighmoor Congregation. The pictures are of the Leighmoor event.

With its new minister the Congregation is looking to become a prayerful centre of the community and a regional congregations serving in and beyond its immediate neighbourhood.

Gardiner with its new minister is looking forward to an amazing future. They have agreed to share their fabulous facilities with the English speaking Korean Congregation but wait there is more, this new part of Gardiner will have a newly ordained young Minister. Robin Yang  is to be ordained on Sunday May 2. More details later.

We still struggle with need to change and in the light of our vision we see the need have regular meetings of Presbytery in Council but also to have regional meetings to enable neighbouring Congregations to work collaboratively on the mission of the church.

We look forward to a fruitful year with our new Chair, the Reverend Nicole Lourensz who is a Chaplain at Wesley College Mt.Waverley Campus. We pray God's blessing on her ministry among young people.  Whilst on the topic of young people we have seen the great work of Pastor Hannah Dungan in getting a regional Youth Happening happening.

Within our bounds we have a number of Missions, and they are all doing really exciting things. Prahran Mission is currently redeveloping their Chapel St facilities.  Go to their website and have a look. What they really would like from the Presbytery is for congregations to be prayer partners. To pray for members of the staff and some of the people they serve who have particular needs. Please get in touch with the mission if you think your congregation might be able to offer this vital support.

St.Kilda Parish Mission is another place where the most exciting ministry is taking place. They have been working for some time on a project to redevelop their site so that it would include some socially inclusive housing as well as create a wonderful new community centre. We pray that their exciting project will proceed and be a blessing to the St.Kilda Community.

Most of our congregations are deeply immersed in the Lenten Season and preparation for Good Friday and Easter. They have walked the way the Cross and many will engage in public marches of witness. We are blessed to confess Christ Crucified and Risen. The message of peace and hope needs to be heard and seen in the public spaces of our communities. Many will start this with a Palm Sunday March or join in large festival like expressions with Christains and non-Christians alike after all Jesus said that people who were not against his teachings but who lived his vision need to be orked with by his disciples, us.

Have a Blessed Easter.

David

So what about prayer?

The ministry of administration absolutely requires it.

We are after all a pilgrim people at prayer.
This week we are praying for Bentleigh, and Belgrave Heights.

We have one of our larger congregations in Bentleigh and they are praying as they have set out below.

We at Bentleigh are praying for the whole congregation as we look forward to the appointment of a Intentional Interim Minister. We pray at this time of new beginnings with hope for fresh ways of seeing the will of God at work among us and of following Christ and ministering in God's name.

We pray for those who are ill, for those recuperating from surgery, for the bereaved and for those who are lonely. Bring healing, grace, peace and the assurance that God's love enfolds us in our needs.

We pray for our young people as they gather together encouraging, acknowledging and strengthening the love of Christ in their life and socially enjoying and sharing friendship. Bless those who are preparing to attend NCYC2011, inspire them as they raise the necessary funds. Fill them with excitement, expectation and openness to learn, listen and enjoy the company of young Christians from all over Australia.

We thank God for the completion of a Solar Energy System, enabling us to be better stewards of the environment and of our finances.

We pray for the Presbytery of Port Phillip East, for all ministers, office bearers and members, for all congregations, agencies and schools within its bounds. May all that is done be to the glory of God and the building up of His Kingdom.

From Belgrave Heights probably our smallest congregation, they pray God’s continued blessing on their mission and ministry and the work of their Community Minister, Len Lacey and his wife Anne.

This work is vital, that is, life giving. Remember the disciples when faced with a particularly difficult problem of healing were told by Jesus, ‘This kind (of illness/suffering) can come out only through prayer.

We pray that these two communities of faith in our Presbytery can bring healing and hope to the communities in which they are located.

Check the prayer calendar for next week.

Love to you all

David

Pilgrimage

A new journey is planned for us as part of being on the way together!

I sit here in my office on Shrove Tuesday, reflecting on the coming weeks.What!  no pancakes?   The day before Ash Wednesday is variously known as Pancake Day, or Shrove Tuesday. The French know it as Mardi Gras (Greasy Tuesday) It is the day to clear out all the old greasy foods (yummy) and prepare to fast
during the coming Season of Lent.

Looking ahead to the lectionary readings for Ash Wednesday I observed that God doesn’t appear
to be all that interested in our fasting. It seems that the focus is on coming to live righteous lives.
I’m sure that during these coming weeks and months that we can begin to earnestly be a people at
prayerful mission. The Presbytery has set out a prayer calendar and each week invites congregations
within its bound to pray for the congregations listed.

This week we are praying for Beaumaris/Blackrock
They seek prayer for
- the guidance of the Holy Spirit for discernment and wisdom in our mission panning work this year.
- a blessing on our activities through Lent and Easter: our annual Pancake Night, Ash Wednesday service and the various special Lenten worship services and discussion groups, ecumenical Stations of the Cross on Good Friday.
- uphold the regional initiative to hold a monthly youth service among Uniting Churches in the Bayside/Kingston area which our Youth Group is keen to participate in.

and for Narre Warren North.
They seek prayer for
- their Opportunity Shop Project as they explore ways to engage with their community.
-they are building a shed as part of the project and seek the Spirit's guidance
on their increasing their inclusive fellowship.
Both these congregations have wonderful websites which can help you see what
their mission is. As we mature this process of delivering you Peppering we will begin
to see photos and information from the specific congregations.

Check the resources area of this website for the prayer calendar to see
when your congregation is listed and so that you can send information to me for inclusion.

Just last Sunday February14, the Presbytery ordained Julie Ross to Ministry of the Word at High Street Road UC in Mount Waverley. To see the Presbytery in celebratory mode is joyful and solemn. After we ordained then we inducted Julie to Ministry at High Street Rd in which she had carried out her Intern Year. Celebration and promise, joy and hope were strongly present. As it was the Transfiguration of Jesus ( The last Sunday of the Epiphany) a strong theme of ministry as transformational was put forward. The liberation theology of the Exodus and the role of the prophet in announcing God’s call of the people to justice, was seen as being summed up in Jesus.

The Presbytery has been busy in Celebration with other inductions Rev Dr Ji Zhang at Gardiner, and  Rev Peter Whitaker to Leighmoor. There are more on the way and is really exciting to see all the Presbytery together. On the 24^th we will gather as the Presbytery in Council at Serrell St East Malvern. It too will be a celebration as we install the new Chairperson, Rev Nicole Lourensz. We will also want to thank the outgoing Chairperson Rev Dr Graeme Sutton for his splendid leadership into the new Presbytery Structure.

Here at the office ( without pancakes!) I am engaged with a number of matters pertinent to my areas of responsibility. Currently we are collecting the property audits that congregations have done. After completion of the Essential Services Compliance this probably would have been seen as another drag. Given the state of the current Synod budget we need to have a clear picture of our resources and how they are being utilised. I would encourage you to see it as preparation for the Pilgrimage.

Let’s walk in the footsteps of Jesus, together,

Grace and Peace to you,

David Peel

Peppering is the Presbytery’s Good News Letter

In this edition read about “Women in Ministry”

Taste and see that the Lord is good!

Read, Enjoy, Contribute! Write letters to the editor, suggest themes, share what you are doing on your patch.

Great to see some of  our Women in Ministry.

  Pepperings 3 (562.1 KiB, 137 hits)

  Pepperings 2 (910.4 KiB, 174 hits)

  Pepperings 1 (418.1 KiB, 116 hits)