Being truly present
As we look forward to a new vicar I wonder whether we are hoping for someone to lead by “doing things for people”. We can readily make ministry divide us into the “doer” and the “receivers”.
I have discovered that to minister means to be “present with” others so that they in turn are present with us. To minister means to care enough for others that you are willing to “be with” them, to pay attention, to listen. Presence comes first in effective ministry. When we are truly present with others we may find there are things to do. However the task of doing is secondary to being present.
Notice how in grief someone’s presence matters much more than any words or actions because there are no words or actions that can answer grief. Ministry with someone allows for ministry to go both ways. For example the visited person may well enrich the visiting person. Ministry “with” implies that its a two way street.
In my experience effective ministry happens when individuals become team - clergy and lay, vestry and parishioner, old and young, female and male, gay and straight. Together we will discover not only the gifts of others but also our own and we will be surprised at how much more we become. It will encourage and bring fulfilment in even the most challenging of tasks.
Together with Love we uncover abundant life.
Have you noticed:
Money Plate
The money in the plate goes towards paying all the bills and wages that a church has. The government or the city council do not pay for parish expenses. Nor is there some money tree in the vicar’s garden. All money of the Anglican Church in New Zealand comes through peoples gifts. Some of those gifts are from people in the past who have set up some trust while most of the money used in the wider church comes from the collections each week.
The church wardens are responsible for all the financial matters and they usually rely on the support and decisions of the vestry and treasurer who of course try their best to represent the local church. To be a resilient parish we need to grow our giving. As we gift money we gift something of ourselves and our hopes.
Parish Officers
Parish Governance
Parish Groups
