Minister's Report to Parish Council

We note with sadness the death of Margaret Selwood and Agnes Melrose. Agnes' very active membership has left some gaps to be filled. Her courageous attitude to life and death was inspirational. Our prayers and support go out to Molly Checketts with the death of her daughter Pauline, and to Narlene Varghese with the death of her mother back in India.

I am delighted that tomorrow night we will be celebrating the Ordination and Induction of Heather Kennedy. For her it has been a long and determined sense of following a call. I want to acknowledge Heather's support and encouragement as we work together in helping to build God's kingdom here at First.

Thanks to Jenny Grandiek and those who organized the Arts in August weekend and to the Tay Music Trust for working in with that to present a very comprehensive weekend of activity at First.

Heather and I spent a day in Dunedin visiting Maori Hill Presbyterian Church where they have a LOM and NOM working together. The model is different but we gleaned some useful ideas from them.

Rev Lin Baab ran a seminar on working in teams for the Southland Presbytery which Jenny Grandiek and I attended. The usual round of meetings and visits have continued, and I have attended 32 meetings paid 75 visits. I attended a St John Ambulance conference in Dunedin one Saturday and have been made an Area Chaplain for the Order of St John. Presbyterians do not have Apostolic Succession as part of our belief structure, but with Brian, Simon and now me I am beginning to wonder!.

General Assembly is coming up in the first week of October, and we need to keep this event in our prayers. I am looking forward to a break at Peel Forest following that. If anyone is in the vicinity you are most welcome to call in, stay, lend a hand or whatever. If you ask at the local shop you will probably find directions. Denniston Road is the first road on your right before you get to the shop. Thank you to Heather for stepping in in my absence. She and I will keep in close contact over the time I am away, and I know she has your support in her work.

Report to Parish Council, First Church Invercargill, September 2008
From Heather Kennedy, PA/MEE

I wish to start this report with heartfelt thanks to everyone who has supported and encouraged me over the past two months as I have undergone the process of assessment for ministry. The whole process was much easier to undertake knowing that I had all your support sustaining me.

Girls Club continues to have good attendance of girls who enjoy the activities we plan for them. For a few weeks we worked on a Rubbish Bag Fashion project; making costumes, cooking items for supper and putting on a fashion parade for family members and friends. Barbara Cocker has taken the club on occasions when I have been at Presbytery and the girls enjoy her 'Sunday School' type sessions. We have also been swimming at Splash Palace, watched the movie 'Cat in the Hat' and the term ended with an outing to McDonald's.

Youth Group has been very poorly attended this term and it has been decided to not plan any activities for the final term of the year. It is very disheartening to plan a night's programme; to ring around everyone and then have no-one (or only one person) turn up. If the need arises in the future for some youth activities then I am sure there will be leaders who will support that, but it seems that for the time being there is little support for these activities.

Bluff Parish recently met with members of the Southern JRC and shared our thoughts, plans and concerns with them. The four visitors were very impressed with the condition of the buildings and the maintenance priorities outlined - being the upgrade of the kitchen and the instillation of new heaters in the church. They urged the congregation to charge market rates for the use of the hall by community groups and recommended making the hall available to wider usage by groups, to aid the monthly budget. Plans for a Jubilee to celebrate the buildings 50th anniversary in November 2009, were mooted and are to be developed by the Parish Council. Numbers attending worship have risen significantly in recent months with three new families who have moved to Bluff now coming regularly.