David Jenkins - Retired Minister
Jean and I value the warmth and fellowship at St John's. I have been happy to continue to help in various small ways during the year with:
I have conducted funerals from the parish from time to time as required and from other areas and parishes as needed.
I enjoy the often hilarious practice nights with the St John's Singers as well as our modest and sometimes surprising contribution on Sunday mornings!
With best wishes and prayers. David.
Kath Harrison - Commissioned Minister
My decision to take 3 months off while Rob was on sabbatical gave me a new perspective- especially on how much I receive personally through involvement at St John's (Sunday morning' team and seeing the 11.30/12/12.30 slots continue to evolve. Feels like we're more confident now to be a small, tight-knit but open group. Sharing bread and wine together, as friends and family in such a relaxed, real and intimate way, is a highlight of my week :-)
Other opportunities to lead (eg. 'late opening', emergency sick cover) have enabled me to feel more confident 'up front'
Life circumstances, and the closure of the Toddlers Group, mean I'm no longer really in touch with young families, except 'late Sunday morning'). We all need to keep them in mind. Louise Moran is an unsung hero here.
I try to keep in touch with the Tuesday Jazz lot- Love how 'open church' and the musicians mutually benefit (thanks George, thanks again Rosemary!)
Music Group is a joy to be part of; hoping to get some of our young people up there making music in the coming months too.
Keen to see us each consolidating a small number of deep prayer- filled friendships, whilst continuing to be one big happy family (- corresponding to an awareness that we can 'spread ourselves too thinly' if we're not careful)!
Overall though, a great sense of being part of a hardworking, committed and supportive team- Thanks! and, Hallelujah! thanks, everyone!)
Caroline Reed - Commissioned Minister
Writing this report is always a bitter sweet experience. I always read through what I waffled on about last year and this year it made me feel sad to hear me sounding so positive and full of energy. This year I am using the last of my energies on a Saturday night just to meet Christine's extended deadline.
I look back on last year with great thanks to Elizabeth for continuing to allow me to drift along in her wake and making the violet avenue experience such a positive one. It is also with great trepidation that I contemplate her leaving and where that leaves me in what I can continue to offer to St John's in my own capacity. Since last November I have undertaken another day's work at the bank so I now work four full days and combined with family and home life I feel not unlike a headless chicken most weeks! Whenever I feel most like giving up any notion of trying to play an active and helpful part in our churches ministry and outreach something always compels me to go on.
I feel we will have many challenges to face as a church in the year ahead and especially when we start work on our planned alterations, I would very much like to play a part in honouring our commitment that the changes are to be shared and enjoyed by the whole of our community.
Sorry to have been such a whinge bag this year! I did have highlights from the past year too, among them such excitements as leading 9.30 songs of praise ( more to come I hope), seeing Rob take a much needed break( not really a highlight I know) but seeing him returned slightly refreshed was!
Writing and performing a couple of drama pieces for 10 o clock and most of all just enjoying the privilege of being part of st Johns. My dream scenario for 2008/09 would be Bishop Pete agreeing to pay me to work full time for st Johns and depriving the banking world of my cashiering expertise!