Best wishes and blessings from the Parish Council for 2019.
The new year offers many challenges for the Parish Council, but we feel very positive about the prospects of the Parish. The leaders of each of the Strategic Review groups reported to the Annual General Meeting of their pleasing progress over last year. At the January meeting each looked to the challenges of 2019 and outlined plans for this year. As plans get underway, these will be reported in Snippets.
The Rectory renovations are nearly finished and we are very pleased with the work done. We are very appreciative of the effort made by all on the site. We are planning a wonderful reopening and blessing of the refurbished building on Saturday, 2nd March with a great garden party to which all parishioners will be invited. We are delighted Bishop John will join us and bless the Rectory.
Now that the Ladies’ Guild has ceased to be, the Parish Council has taken on the development of the annual calendar of events. This will be included in the next Snippets. There are a surprising number of events through the year to be organized. The members of the Parish Council will invite you to volunteer your services or ideas to us when the calendar comes to you. We are aware of the need to involve more people in the activities of the Parish. New energy and ideas are great and those who have worked so tirelessly over the years need to feel that that they can take less responsibility for the programme.
Many events are being planned. The imminent activities are as follows:
- Lay Ministry Training Day in Wangaratta on 23rd February
- World Day of Prayer on 1st March at 11am held at St. John’s this year. All members of local churches are invited.
- On 2nd March, the Garden Party will celebrate the refurbishment of the Rectory commencing at 3pm. Volunteers will be needed on the morning of Saturday, 16th February to work on the garden in preparation for this event. If you are available please contact Jim Freemantle (0419 801 582) who will be delighted to see you.
- The Open Garden event is on 7th April at the garden of Pamela Dalgleish and Stuart Gray and this will be a memorable event. Plans are well underway and more information will be available soon.
- The community lunches organized by the parishioners at Christ Church Bonnie Doon commence at the Community Centre in February. These provide a great chance for people to socialize.
The change of time for the Christmas service at St Peter’s in Jamieson was very well received. Instead of Christmas morning, the service took place at 7.30pm on Christmas Eve. More families joined the regular parishioners for the celebration. The beautifully arranged flowers were done by one of the visitors.
Hopefully you are keeping cool,
Trish Gilson
Parish Councillor.