Growth in faith
Understanding changes as we experience our faith in action
Its good to be with you as your Priest in Charge.
Those who already know me will notice I’m not exactly the same as when I was a vicar here sometime last century. I have a few bumps and scrapes that life has generously given me. Hopefully I’m a little wiser. I’m more sure that God’s love gives life in abundance.
To those who don’t know me: don’t believe all the stories about me.
I look forward to sharing with you the ministry that God enables in us. I notice that I have a number of meetings to attend in the parish. I don't want to be either meetings or office bound. I hope to have the opportunity to chat with people.
I’m being paid 75% of a vicar’s stipend. I need to work hard to get up to that sort of speed.
I am most happy to visit with you either in your home or work or in the church. Maybe you want to see me on your own or with another person or with a group of people.
Contact me by phone or you could leave a message with the office.
I thought it good to share with you some of my “Have you noticed” articles.
John Sheaf
Have you noticed: The colour Green (even when summer is turning our lawns brown)
Green is our colour for Pentecost season (the ordinary Sunday's after Pentecost). Its a colour that reminds us of growth in the faith.
Each day, each time of worship invites us to grow in our faith and in our discipleship to Jesus. Our understanding of God change as we experience our faith in action.
My faith as a young person was adequate and helpful for that time. My life's experiences have helped me find a depth to my faith.
So we have green to remind us of our growth in the Christian Faith.
From the Vicar
In the Middle Ages Mary's Song inspired the Feast of Fools celebrated after Christmas usually around New year. This feast was a literal acting out of the Magnificat as a rather strange way of witnessing to God’s kingdom that inverts human power structures and raises up the oppressed to places of honour.
We are to give up our insatiable desire to consume and replace it with the expectation of the coming of Jesus.
Advent is a time of reflection and preparation for when time will end and Jesus will come in power and glory bringing our waiting to completion.
Parish Officers
Parish Governance
The executive team of Vicar, churchwardens and treasurer meet constantly on parish business.
Parish Groups
Worship leaders, lay readers, servers, ushers, greeters, flower arrangers, cleaners, counters, intercessors and cup bearers all join together to support the service.
Beginning the year, with an excerpt of a letter from Corraine Haines, from the City Mission, in regards to the Back To School programme
In the Middle Ages Mary's Song inspired the Feast of Fools celebrated after Christmas usually around New year. This feast was a literal acting out of the Magnificat as a rather strange way of witnessing to God’s kingdom that inverts human power structures and raises up the oppressed to places of honour.
Regular Summer Sunday Services
We are to give up our insatiable desire to consume and replace it with the expectation of the coming of Jesus.
Community Fair bringing affordable toys, books, china, vintage clothes and more from the Opawa - St Martins Parish.