MARCH 2011 1
fellow workersnews from around the presbyterian church of victoria
Editor Chiara Bilyj [email protected] www.fellowworkers.pcvic.org.au Vol. 8 No.1 March 2011
VICTORIAN FLOODS IMPACT OUR CHURCHES
Continued on page 2
Deadline for next
FW edition: 1 May 2011
Foreword from our ModeratorAfteraprolonged,harshdrought,withferventprayersofferedtoGod,wehavereceivedawateringofourlandthathasbeendescribedasa‘onceinahundredyearflood!’Thishascausedhardshipandlossformanyonascalehardtoreckon.ThefollowingisacompilationIhavecollectedoftheexperiencesof
manyofourruralfolk.Ithankthemforsharingtheirstories.Rt. Rev Andrew Bray
ThenewRochesterManseon15thJanuary.Thegaragesoonflooded,butnotthehouse!
PYV: captured
by the gospel Page 4
Kilnoorat Preaching
SeminarPage 5
A vacant parish?Mt Evelyn
Page 6
Thechurchproperties,whilstthreatened(seeabovepicture),weresafe.Ourserviceon16thJanuarywascancelledbecausetherewasnoroadaccesstoRochesterononehandnorcouldanyonereachthechurchwithoutswimming.Aboutsixhomesbe-longingtoparishionershadwaterflowingthroughthem.Othershad
shedsandsomewaterdamagetohomes.Thereareperhapsthreefamiliesstilldislocatedandtheywillbeforsometime.Manyhelpedwithcleanup,re-
movalofcarpetsandsoon.Shorttermneedshavebeenprovided,longertermneedsdependoninsuranceoutcomes.Farmerslosthay,withonefarmerhavinghiswholepropertyinundatedexceptforthehomeanddairy.WelooktotheLORDforour
comfort.‘ButthemercyofLORDisfromeverlastingtoeverlasting.’Psalm103:17
Ian and Heather Brown Minister Emeritus and wife
Carisbrook Therewasnotimeforpreparation.Thewatercamequicklyandwentquickly.Eighty-threepercentofthetownwasflooded;onlythoseonthehillweredry.Mosthadthreefeetofwaterthroughtheirhousesandsheds.Thechurch,manseandhallhadwateruptothreefeetdeep,whichmeantthatcarpets,fridges,heaters–anythingunderthewater-line–hadtobetossedout,includingsomerecordsandbooks.Assoonaspeoplewereallowed
backintothetown,ElderShirleyTurpinandherdaughter,Heather,
Rochester Watereverywhere–andnonethatcanbeused!Itmakesastarkcontrasttothelast15yearsofdrought.Afteraweekofsteadyandcontinuousrain(10/1-16/1)acrossmuchofthecountryonecouldnotexpectanythingbutfloods.Eightypercentofthetownflooded.
NewFW
website launch!
Back page
St George’s 150th
Page 5
FELLOW WORKERS
startedthecleanup,astheywantedtogetbackto‘normal’assoonaspossible.IttookeverydaywithmanywillinghandstogettheChurchupandrunningbythenextSundayweek.Ashortservicewasheld(veryemotional)andthenacuppainthehallsothatallcouldtalk,notonlytoeachotherbuttothePastor.Thepeopleneedprayerin
theshortandlongterm.Ithasbroughtmanypeopletogether,butithasalsodestroyedsomefamilies.Noweveryonewaitsonreceivinginsurancepayments.Thedayshavebeenlongandhard,listeningtopeople.Thephonehasbeengoingfromearlymorninguntillateatnight.
John and Rosalie Gething Home Missionary and wife
Horsham Horshamanddistrictsufferedrelativelymildly.Theriverflowedatafairlyfuriousrate,butwhenitoverfloweditsbanksitdidnotdestroyeverythinginitspath.Thecommunityhadseveraldayswarning.Atitspeak–aboutmidday,Tuesday18thFebruary–lessthan50houseswerereport-edtohavesuffered.Someareaswereevacuatedasaprecaution-arymeasure,butmostwereabletoreturntotheirhomesthenextdayorthedayafter.Severalfarm-ers’propertieswerewater-logged,resultingindamagetocrops.ThePresbyterianChurchprop-
ertywasnotindanger,andalltheparishioners’homesalsoescapedharm.Threeparishioners’homes(includingthemanse)werecutoffbywaterfloodingthestreet,butonlyone–anelderlygentle-man–wasevacuated,andhetoowasabletoreturntwodayslater,findinghishomesecure.Afterthepeak,Ispentfour
sessionsatthe‘recoverycentre’whererepresentativesoftheCouncil,Centrelink,andtheSalvationArmywerehelpingfloodvictims,andtheHorsham
ministersweretakingshifts,be-ingavailabletocounselanyonetraumatizedbythesituation.Veryfewwere‘traumatized’–mostjustcameforachatandtoseeiftheymightqualifyforthegovernment’soffersoffinancialassistance.Onegoodoutcomefromthe
floodsisthatcommunitiespulledtogetherandhelpedeachother–sand-baggingandthelike.Iheardfrommanythattheyhadreallygottoknowneighbourswithwhomtheyhadpreviouslyonlyhad‘anoddingacquaintance’.Godhasagainbeengraciousto
theHorshamcommunity–afactwhichwaspubliclyacknowledgedinaworshipserviceorganisedandconductedbymembersoftheMinistersAssociationattheSoundShellinSawyerParkonSunday23rdFebruary.
Willem and Pam Vandenberg Minister and wife
Kaniva and Nhill Nopropertydamagehasoc-curredintheKanivaandNhillcommunities,buttheeffectoftoomuchrainhasbeensignificant.Localfarmershavebeenunabletoharvestthe‘abundantcrop’ofgrainandlegumes,andcontinualrainperiodshavedown-gradedthegrainquality.Thisdashingofgreathopeshasledtodepressionandfinancialstressthat,insomecases,hasbecomeunbearableafteraprolongeddrought.Thefarmersareresilientand
areoftenheardtocomment,‘Whatcanyoudoaboutit?’Nonethe-lessthereishurtandhardshipnoteasilyrecognisedwhencomparedtothefloodselsewhere.WecelebrateGod’sgoodnessthroughallthisandthecallHehasgiventhoseonthelandtohelpfeedtheworld!
Ian and Janet Smith Home Missionary and wife
Kerang Therewasadequateadvancewarningoftheslow floodon
Kerangandsurroundingdistricts,somuchpreparationwasdoneinadvance.Therearekilometresofleveebankswhichhelpedthetownsfolk,butthefarmingproper-tiesweremostlyallunderwater.Thechurchpropertieswere
unaffected–thanksbetoGod!AllmainroadsaccessingKeranghavebeenandarestillcut.Waterisstartingtoslowlyrecedebutthesituationcouldeasilyescalatewithanyfurtherheavyrainfall.
Keith & Fay Stanyer – Elder and wife
TherewasplentyofadvancewarningofwatersapproachingKerang.However,wefiguredthewaterwouldn’tgettousbecauseweweresome25kilometresfrom
Kerangandnotinthepathofthewater.Wealsobelievedwewereprotectedbylevees.Wewerewrong!Thewaterkept
creepingtowardsusandbecausetheleveesnextdoorarenotwellmaintained,thewaterliterallycoveredourfarm.Thecattlewereinitiallytrappedbut,withhelp,wetransportedthemtoBarham,NSW.OnFridaymorning,weweregiven20minutestoevacuate.WearenowstayingatKoondrook.Kerangroadswerecompletelycut-offinalldirections.Someroadsarestillimpassable.Allthepastureandcropsareatotalwipe-offandnowturningintosmellyandrottingvegetation.Thenext12to18monthswillbetough,butweareresolvedtogeteverythingbackinorder.
John & Barbara Pascoe Session Clerk and wife
Skipton OnThursday13thJanIfoundoutthatEmuCreekmightpeakonSaturday,sowestarteddoingsomesandbagging.Everyone
continued from page 1
VICTORIAN FLOODS IMPACT OUR CHURCHES
‘Webelievedthewatercouldn’tgettous.Wewerewrong!Thewaterliterallycoveredour
farm.’
Background picture: Street in Skipton, courtesy of Hui Lim
MARCH 2011 3
wasquitehopefulthatthetownwouldn’tbefloodedagain,be-causewewereactingearlierandquicker.TherewasnoofficialfloodwarningaboutSkipton.Thesituationsoonchanged,andmorevolunteerscametohelpoutsand-baggingaroundthehouses,shopsandcreek.Wenowexpectedabigflood.Friday14thJan.Skiptonwas
alreadyfloodedinthemorning.Alloureffortsfromthedaybeforeseemedfutile–thewaterwashigherthanthesandbagwalls.Ninehomesandelevenbusi-nesseswentunderwater.Atsomepoints,thewaterlevelwasmorethan1.8metresinthehouse.Sunday16thJan.Waterre-
cededandtheroadre-opened.IwasabletodrivetoLismoreforour9amservice.Skiptonchurch,manseandmembersarenotaffectedbythefloods,andwearethankfultoGodforit.Ihavebeengoingaroundandhelpingoutinthecleanup.Ithasbeenagreatopportunitytoworkalongwithpeoplewhodon’tcometochurch.Iamstillvisitingpeopleaffectedbythefloods.Manyofourchurchmembers
haveworkedreallyhardinhelp-ingpeopleaffectedbythefloods.OneofourelderswasdoingtrafficcontrolwiththeCFA,andcouldn’tgohomeonFridaynightbecausetheroadbacktohishousewasflooded.Hestayedatthemanse.Pleaseprayforwisdomandthe
rightwordstosayasIminglewiththoseaffectedbythefloods.ItwasgreatbeingaregisteredCommu-nityChaplain;Iwasabletointro-ducemyselffreelytothePolice,ReliefCentreandotheragencies.TheShirerangmetofollowupontwofamiliesandIamkeepingintouchwiththem.IcommendourHealth&CommunityChaplaincyCommitteefortheirwisdominrunningtheaccreditationforCom-munityChaplaincylastyear.
Hui and So Young Lim–Minister and wife
Swan Hill ThetownshipofSwanHilles-capedtheinundationthatwasexpected,butthesurroundingcountrywasasheetofwater.Therewillbeatotallossofpasture
andcrops.Thechurchpropertyandmansewerenotthreatened.
Keith and Fay Stanyer – Elder and wife
Pyramid Hill OnSaturdayJanuary15th,avastinlandsea,reportedtobe90kmswide,wasmovingnorthandPyra-midHillwasinitspath.BySundayJanuary16thlocalknowledgeestimateditwouldfloodPyramidHilltownshiptoadepthofthreefeet.Localsand
strangersbroughtintheirheavyexcavatorsandwillingvolunteersappearedfromnowhereandtoiledtofillsand-bags.OurchurchhadalreadyinformedourMinisterthattheroadswereimpassableandweplannedtoconductourownservicebutthishadtobecancelled.At1amTuesday,thetown’sfire
sirensoundedandweheardarushofheavymachineryandve-hiclesgoingpast.Achannelbankhadburstandatorrentofwaterwassurgingtowardsthecentreoftown,floodingouryardonitsway.InthedarkofnighttheSESdrovebytellingustoevacuateimmedi-atelytotheMemorialHallandvol-unteersranfromhousetohousehelpingpeopletoleavehome.Ourmobilephonealsodeliveredamessagetoevacuate.Weloadedourbags,alreadypacked,anddrovetofamilyoutoftown.Manyruralpropertiessuffered
severedamage.Cropsreadyforharvestweredestroyedandstoredgrainwasdamaged.Pastures
wereruinedandfencessmashed.Sheepdrowned.Dairycowsinfullmilkhadtobeshiftedthroughdeepwaterandtransportedmilesaway,ahorrifictaskforthoseinvolved.Ourson-in-law,daughter,grand-
sonandhiswife(faithfulmembersofourchurch)arefacingterriblelossduetocropsnotharvested.Justwhenthingswerelooking
bleakestforthosewhosufferedloss,theDepartmentofHumanServices,Centrelink,RedCross
andothersarrivedtohelp.TownsfolkweredelightedtoreceiveaflyingvisitfromourPremierofVictoria,MrTedBaillieu,whomovedaroundandchattedtothose
campingintheHall.BythegraceofGodtheleveebankshadheld.Skilledpeoplewiththeirmightymachinesandotherselflessvolunteershadsavedthetownfromdestruction.PeoplestartedreturningandPyramidHillbegantocleanup.Afterthepeakhadpassed,FireBrigadesarrivedinfromelsewhere,cleanedoutthelocalswimmingpoolandwashedoutfarmhouseswhichhadbeenflooded.Itisreportedthateven“Elvis”,thebushfirehelicopter,carriedhayandfoddertostrandedanimals.Mostofusintownhavefamiliesforsupportbutourfarmerswhohavelostmostwillbethelasttomaketheirdifficultiesknown.WepraiseGodfromwhomall
blessingsflowthatnoliveswerelostandweearnestlypraythatHewillcomfortandrestorethosewhohavesustaineddamageandloss.
Linton and Val Mills Elder and wife
‘Thefiresirensounded.Atorrentofwaterwassurgingtowardtown,floodingouryardonits
way.’
Continue to uphold God’s people and the people of the af-fected communities in prayer, for it will take time to get their lives back in order. Please also pray for our Ministers, Home Missionaries, and church leaders as they seek to alleviate the physical, mental and spiritual issues of those to whom God has called them to minister.
Notwithstanding the devastation, there have been many testimonies of God’s goodness from those I have spoken with – praise be to our great God.
‘Our help is in the name of the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.’ Psa.124:8
Rt. Rev. Andrew Bray, PCV Moderator
FELLOW WORKERS
ItwasaprivilegetowitnessGodatworkonSummerCampinDecem-ber.Bothcampersandleaders
learntandgrewspirituallythroughtheengagingandchallengingmessagesthatAndyMaybroughttousfromEphesianseachday.ItwaswonderfulforthestudygroupstoexplorethedepthsofGod’sgrace,andtoconsiderwhatitmeanstobetruly‘captured’bythe‘mystery’ofthegospelintheireverydaylives.Eachsessionbroughtgloryto
God;itwasinspiringtoseesomanymusical,technical,creative,organisationaland‘publicspeak-ing’giftsusedinhisservice,andcoordinatedsoeffectivelybyTiaWishart.
PraiseGod,acamperdedicatedherlifetoChristduringthe‘HowdoIgettoheaven?’workshop!ItwasatestimonytothepresenceofGodthatmanycamperschosetousesomeoftheirfreetimeonNewYearsEvetogotoanotherworkshop(orre-attendonethey’d
alreadybeento)!PraiseGodforJoeDunningwhodidsuchanexpertjobofarrangingthework-shops.Theclassic‘roundrobin’of
outdooractivitieswasmetwithenthusiasmandgreatteamwork.OnNewYearsEve,alltheper-formancesintheStarWarsFilmChallengemadeforamemorable(andhilarious)eveningwheresomeamazingtalentand‘OutofthisWorld’creativitywasdisplayedbycampersandleaders!AnotherhighlightofNYEwastoheareve-ryonepassion-atelyprayingintheirgroupsjustaftermidnight.PraiseGodforansweringour
prayersandthankyoutothosewhoprayedforcamp:162camp-ersand51leadersattended.Thefifteentrainees(formerly
knownas‘interns’)wereinexcel-lenthandswithNelloBarbieriandDeanCarroll,andbyallreportsexperiencedgreatteaching,fellow-shipandgrowth.PraiseGodthataschildrenof
God,weareoneinChrist,andthatSummerCampwasatestimonytothatfact.MassivethankstoallthosewhogaveoftheirtimeandenergytoserveGodonthiscamp.
Nic BilyjSummer Camp Convenor
Young people: captured by the gospel PYV Summer Camp
ThreeweeksonfromthePYVSummerCamp,mostofushavereturnedtoourregularroutines.Thememoriesthatweremadewillnotbequicklyforgotten.Willwecarrymemoriesofthemes-sagesandstudiesweheard?Itwasamessagethatwas‘outofthisworld’andamessageofgracethatcantransformlifeasweknowit.Recentlyourcountryhasbeen
hitbysomeoftheworstnaturaldisastersinAustraliaʼshistory.FromNorthernQueenslanddowntoTasmania,evenacrosstoWesternAustralia,peoplehavebeenhitbyfloodsandbushfires.Peoplehavelosthomes,posses-sions,andevenlovedones.Thesepeopleneedshelter,food,clothing,andfinancestorebuildtheirlives,butthereissomethingmorethesepeopleneed:thegospel—thatis,thegraceoftheLordJesusChrist.Iʼvebeencapturedbythis
gospel,IʼvebeencapturedbythegraceofmyLordJesusChrist.IdonʼthaveawholelotofmoneyorstuffthatIcangivepeoplewhohavelosteverything.ButIhavegoodhealthwithtwohandsandtwofeet.Ihavethetimeandfreedomtobeabletogoandhelpcleanuptheirhomes.Whoknows,indoingthat,ImightgetthechancetotellthemwhyIʼmtheretohelp—becauseIʼvebeencapturedbythegospel,thatGodlovedmesomuchHesentHisOneandOnlySontodieforme.ForthemonthofFebruary,IamofferingmytimeandhelptothoseinneedinQueensland.Ihavenoideawhatadventuresareahead!ButGodhaspreparedthisinad-vance,soIguessIshouldnʼtworry(butIdo)!
19 Jan 2011Peter Luu
Youth WorkerBurwood Community Presbyterian Church
What’shappenedtoPetersinceJan?Findoutathttp://qldflood.chromatix.com.au
YouthworkergoesfromcamptoQLDfloodzone
CamperTimFriestriestoescapewiththeprizedlightsaber!
MARCH 2011 5
St George’s Presbyterian Church in Geelong celebrates 150 years and the Reformation
The150thAnniversaryofworshipwithinourchurchwascelebratedonJuly4th,2010.WewerejoinedbythecongregationofScots,Gee-longWest,adaughterchurchofSt.George’s.Ourseniorminister,theVeryRev.Dr.AllanHarman,ledtheworshipandwewelcomedourpreacher,theModeratorofthePresbyterianChurchofAustralia,theRev.RobertBennandhiswifeLaurel.AppropriatelyhespokeofourresponsibilitytoobeythewordsofJesusandcontinuetoproclaimHisname.
Fortheoccasion,Drs.AllanandMairiHarmanwroteProclaim-ing the Faith,afinehistoryofSt.George’s1860–2010.Allpresentreceivedacomplimentarycopy.Oursecondlargefunctionlast
yearwasonewehostannually,theReformationService.Itwasappropriatelyheldonthe450thanniversaryofLuther’snailingofhis95ThesestothedoorofWittenbergCathedral.ThechurchwaspackedbypeoplefromthereformedchurchesofGeelongtoheartheRev.ProfessorDouglasMilne,PrincipalofthePresbyterianTheologicalCollege,preachonthesignificanceoftheReformationtoChristianfaith.Itwashearteningtomeet
togetherforworshipandameal,particularlyasthereweresomanyyoungpeopleandchildrenpresent.Thesetwofunctionsindi-
catedthatwithinthePresbyterianChurchinGeelongisavibrantChristianityasworshippersofourLordandSaviourseektotakeHismessageofsalvationtoagrowingcity.
Mrs Dorothy McNair
OnSaturday29thJanuary,twenty-onemenmetinthePresbyterianChurchHallstocompleteaonedayseminaronApplication in PreachingpresentedbyDrMurrayCapill.DrCapillisthePrincipaloftheReformedTheologicalCol-legeinGeelongandhelecturesinPastoralandPracticaltheology.DrCapillhasjustfinishedwritingabookentitledPreaching with Spiritual Vigourandiscurrentlyseekingapublisher.DrCapillalertedusasexposi-
torypreacherstothedangerofbeinglazywhenitcomestoappli-cation.Heexhortedusto‘holisticapplication’inpreaching:preach-ingthemessageasawhole,forthepersonasawhole,forlifeasawhole.Wewereencouragedtolookatthetextthroughfourlenses:1.Thefunctionoftheword•Whatisthewordaskingusto
do?2.Thefacultiesoftheheart•Truthshouldcometotheheart
throughthemind.Itshouldaffecttheconscienceandwillevenpenetratethedeeppassions.3.Theconditionsofthesoul•Thesoulsofourlistenersare
invariousconditions.LikethePuritans,weshouldbemindfulofallthese.4.Thereservoirofthepreacher•Thetextiscommunicatedto
othersthroughthereservoirofyourownexperiences.Liveanenrichedlife.Keeplisteningandlearning.Thedaywasatremendousen-
couragementtolayandordainedpreachersalike.TheWarrnamboolChurchhoststhreedayseminarsonpreachingayear.Thenexttwofor2011areShaping an Exposi-tory SermonandthenListening and learning from sermons–apracticalseminar.
Ben JohnsonMinister
Warrnambool Presbyterian Church
Preaching Seminar for Kilnoorat Presbytery
102year-oldMissJeanRentoulcuttheAnniversary Cake with the assistance of 3year-oldIsabellaHenry
December10thwasajoyousoccasionforthefolksatBallaratNorthParishbecausetheyhaveanewPastortoshepherdthem.PastorRonWilliamsonwas
Rejoice!CommissioningatBallaratNorthandInductionatSomerville
commissionedbythePresbyteryasPastoroftheAppointmentPar-ishofBallarat.MayGodcontinuetoblessRonandJeanandthecongregationsatBallaratNorthfortheextensionofHisKingdominBallaratandbeyond.TheRev.A.KenBrownwas
inductedintothepastoralchargeofSomervilleataserviceheldatSomervilleon11thFebruary,amidrejoicing(thatcontinuedlateintotheevening!)bythoseatSomer-villeandthesurroundingchurches.MayKenandGiannaBrownandtheSomervillecongregationberichlyblessedwithwisdom,graceandjoyastheyseektoloveandserveGodandeachother.
Various contributors
FELLOW WORKERS
MtEvelynPresbyterianwas‘vacant’fortwoyearsandoverthistime,lessonsoffaith(orofGod’sfaithfulness)werelearnt.Iwouldliketosharesomereflectionsthatwillhopefullyencouragebelieversinchurchesthatarecontemplat-ingbeingwithoutapastororhavebeenvacantforsometime.MtEvelynisachurchof40-
50peoplewiththreeelders.MarkCrabb,wifeLindaandtheirchildren,hadbeenatMtEvelynfor10yearsasanappointment.HisministrywasgospelfocusedwithaclearanddistinctivecalltobethepeopleofGod,livinginthelifegift-edtousbytheGodofgraceandmercy,anddefinitelynottorelyonwhatwedo,(thatiseventhegoodworkswearecalledtodo)toearnorkeepfavourwitharighteousandholyGod.Mark’sdetermina-tionwastopreachnothingbutChristcrucified;thepowerofGod.Isharethesethingsbecauseitisthispreciseemphasisthathasprovidedasolidfoundationforallthatweasachurchdoorattempttodo.Inotherwords,thechurchdidnothavetodoorbeanythingotherthanthepeopleofGodweek
A ‘vacant’ parish?
inandweekout:afellowshipofforgivenpeople,acommunityofthoselivinginthegoodnessandgreatnessoftheFatherwhodoesallthingswell,andacommunityprayingtotheFatherforallthingsaccordingtoHiswill.Iwouldliketosharesomedefin-
ingmoments,bothpersonalandfromourcongregationfromthe
pasttwoyears.Asanelder,itishumblingtoleadandshepherdagroupofpeoplewhoknowtheGodofgraceandwhatHehasdoneforHispeopleinHisSonandinthepowerofHisSpirit.Iwasnotsurewhattheresponseofthecongre-gationwouldbewhenIannouncedthenewsthatMarkwasleavingMtEvelyn.Markandhisfamilywereverymuchlovedbythecongrega-tionandtogetherwehadenduredhardshipforthesakeofthegospelthroughoutthechurch’srecenthis-torywithsomeverydestabilisingissues.Buttomyrelief,whileMark
wouldbegreatlymissed,therewasasensethatMark’sleavingwouldmeanthatotherswouldnowhavetheopportunitytobebuiltupandstrengthenedinthegospel,aparticulardelightasthechurchthatMarkwasgoingtohadbeenvacantformanyyears.TheothercommentmadeatthetimewasthatifitwasGod’swillthatMarkbeledsomewhereelse,thenwhoarewetostandintheway?AtthispointIwasstruckbythegeneros-ityandmaturityofthecongrega-tiontoletMarkgoandnotclingasonewouldexpectmighthappeninthissortofsituation.Havingsaidthis,ittookafew
monthsforthechurchtoexperi-encethatGodsustainshispeople,feedsthem,answersprayerandprovidespreacherseachweek.Wealsosawthattheelderscouldlead,guideandgrowwhilethechurchwas‘vacant’.Meetingto-getherbecameevermoreajoyaswelookedtotheLordtoprovideforusandfoundthathedid.Ifthiswastheonlyareaofgrowthoverthetwoyears–thatis,tofindthatGodistheall-sufficientone–thenthiswouldbemorethanenough.
NewlyordainedandinductedTravisMoronyandfamilywiththecongregationatMtEvelyn
‘WelookedtotheLordtoprovideforusandfoundthathedid.’
MARCH 2011 7
AnotherdefiningmomentformewaswhenIhadopportunitytoworkfewerhoursinmypaidemployment.Ihadbeenwonder-ingwhatelseIcoulddobutfelttheinnerconvictiontonotoverlookthelocalchurchforotherChristianintereststhatmightbemoreexcit-ing.IfelttheLordimpressingonmeHisloveforHischurch‘asitis’:arelativelysmallandinsignificantchurchbysomestandards.Theworkwastolookafterandtakecareofthelocalbelievers,thoseforwhomChristhaddiedandlovedsodearly.Leading,nurtur-ing,guiding,andspendingtimeservingthelocalchurchseemedtobeacleardirectionformewiththetimelyprovisionofbeingabletoreducemyhoursatwork.Atthetime,Ifoundmyselfwonderingwhatthechurchisto‘be’undertheheadshipandLordshipofChrist,andparticularlyhowtothinkaboutthechurchwithoutapastor.Wasthechurchtomerelymaintainitselforwasittogrow?WasItomaintainmyself–justgolimpingoninmaintenancemodehopingforapastortoreplaceMark–orwasItostepupandstepouttodowhatwasneeded?Withrenewedstrength(even
intheusualtirednessoflife)wegotonwithbeingthechurchinthistimeandplace,ratherthanputtingthingsonholdandwaiting.Letmesharesomeofthethingsthatstuckoutforme.Therewasaneedtostarta
newstudygroupsoItookthison,notfeelingnecessarilygifted,butwithasensethatGodwouldopenupHiswordtoHispeopleandfeedthem,andboy,didheever.Despitemylackofenergyandpreparation,thatsmallgrouphadsomewonderfultruthsbroughthomeonasubjectnotoftentackledindepth:deathanddying.AnothereldercontinuedonwiththeoversightofprovidingmusicthatreflectedtheimportanceofChrist’sworkforus,andsomade
surewewouldbeencouragedinwhatwesang.Althoughthiswastiringforhim,hestayedcommit-tedtomaintainingtheintegrityofwhatthepeopleofGodatMtEvelynweretosing.ThiswasoftremendousencouragementaswemettogetherandGodblessedandbuiltusupthroughthisministry.
WhenMarkleftwewerecon-sideringelectingnewelders.Afterawhile,wewentthroughtoelectonenewelder,asignificanteventinthelifeofanychurch.Thiselderwaskeentopreach,anaddedbonusinthetaskoffillingthepulpiteveryweek.Overthecourseofthetwoyearswehadtwosubstantialperiodsofparttimepastoralministrythankstocontactsfromourinterimmodera-tor(MattJames).BothwereparttimelecturersatBCVinLilydale,bothweretherightmenforthejobandbothbecamemuchlovedandappreciatedbythecongregation.Wehadfourfuneralsoverthis
timewhichthechurchhadtorespondto,caringforthosewhoweremourning,andpresentingagospelwitnesstofamilymembers.There-alitiesofdeath,resurrectionandeternityhadtobelivedoutbeforeawatchingworld.Whilewedidn’thave
manychildren,wehadenoughtore-startaSundayschoolthatcouldrespondtotheneedsofchildrenwhenandiftheycame.Atthesuggestionofsomegrand-parentswhobroughtalongtheirgrandchildrenandwiththeoversightofourthirdelder,westartedsomethingthatwasflexibleandnottooburdensomeonthefewSundayschoolteachers.Wewantedtousethe
resourceofourvacantmansefortheKingdomofGodandprayedtothisend.Themansewasusedfor6monthsbyaninterstatepastorwhowasonasabbatical;MtEve-lynwasjusttherightplaceforhimandhisyoungfamily.Itwaslaterusedbyanewlyweddedcoupleforsomemonths.Thecallingofanewpastorwas
undertakenandafteralengthyprocess,TravisMoroneywasordainedandinductedon30thJanuary2011.Andsowhatnext?TheLordknows.Canachurchreallybevacant?
Notwhenthereisagroupofbelieverswhogathertogetherandbearwitnesstothegospel–thegoodnewsofsinsforgivenintheCrossofChrist.Notwhenwecon-siderChrist,whoisthebridegroomandheadofthechurch,whoholdseverythingtogetherforthechurch,inwhomallthefullnessofGoddwellsandwhohasgivenhisfull-nesstoHisbody.ConsiderColos-sians1and2.Thechurchcanneverbevacant,orlacking.PraisetheLordforhisfaithfulness.
Peter FairbanksElder, Mt Evelyn Presbyterian Church
‘WouldIstepuptodowhatwasneeded?’
Reflections from Mt Evelyn elder Peter Fairbanks
FELLOW WORKERS
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Mayfield Presbyterian celebrates 150 years
Mayfield Presbyterian Church, Mernda, will be celebrating 150 years of
worship in this district. There will be a special celebration service on
27th March 2011 at 2.00 pm with afternoon tea to follow. Guest speaker
is Rev. Andrew Bray. Past ministers, members and friends are warmly
invited to attend and bring memorabilia and photos if you have any.
Enquiries - Bev Hawke (03) 9716 2255.
(Rev) Evan PrenticeMinister Whittlesea-Mernda Pres.
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