Essential Packing for the Journey

Well, a year seems to have gone quickly.

This time last year we were preparing for the departure of Rev Steve – speculating about what 2008 would bring – hoping for certain things, realising though, that this year was going to be an interesting one for our community.

Part of the process that the leaders went through in the lead up to Steve’s departure was (with Steve’s guidance), to examine the things that we do here at Coatesville, and to identify those things that we wanted to continue, those things that we wanted to ‘park’ and those things that we needed to let go. The exercise was quite interesting.

One thing that became apparent was the extraordinary number of services, groups and activities that we engage in. We have been – and continue to be, an extremely active faith community. For most of you, that won’t be ‘breaking news’. All the same, it doesn’t do any harm to be reminded of the levels of energy that we all put in to doing the things that we do in the name of Christ - and to celebrate!

Approaching the year and realising that we’d experience an inevitable period without a minister, we could easily have gone into a period of hibernation. It may not have been a surprise if some of our areas of ministry faded – in the absence of a minister. It may not have been a great surprise if we had simply stagnated - after all, the wait for a minister has taken longer than we thought!

I realise though that we have been gifted – gifted through the ministry of Steve Terrell who, as a legacy of his ministry, has equipped us a knowledge and an understanding that we are ministry, and a knowledge and a capacity to minister.

A further gift to be celebrated is the gift of ourselves – our community, our families and relationships. We needn’t feel self conscious about celebrating each other and the contribution that we all make to the ongoing life and ministries here in this place.

Celebrate the ministries of Playgroups, Community Care, Gravity Disco, the administrative and functional groups of Coatesville, the study and 3 social groups and the worship groups. Celebrate the pastoral and prayer networks and the Kids Hope and RE programs. Understand and celebrate that in all these things, we are ministry.

Celebrate the Fete! Yes, you heard right - celebrate! Celebrate the upcoming ‘Christmas in the Carpark’ community festival etc, etc, etc… I think you get the message.

The gifts of God are many. We are charged with the responsibility of celebrating them and rejoicing in them as we pass them on.

A year does seem to have gone quickly.

Don’t be afraid of using words like ‘celebrate’ or ‘rejoice’. These words are essential packing for our journey. These words are primary in our reflecting and in our looking forward. These words are gifts in ongoing ministry – in the name of Christ.

Peter Heazlewood (for the leaders)