After over 34 years in Parish Ministry it is time for a change. As I indicated I have been suffering the effects of "burn out" and have had some 12 weeks of leave.
I have accepted the appointment as: "General Manager, Parish Partnerships and Community Development" with Anglicare Victoria.
This will be a big change, but I believe a fulfillibng and exciting one. It will allow me to use the experience and gifts I have and it will allow me to follow some of the things I feel passionate about.
I will be able to work in the area of social justice and bring to fruition some of the Gospel precepts about caring for the poor and the outcast. The Anglicare Vic Website will inform you of this area of its work.
I finish in the Parish on Nov 29th and begin with Anglicare on 1/12/09
God Bless you.
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Depressed!
As readers will be aware I am currently on sick leave. The diagnoses is Depression. The form I have, I call "burn out".
The effect is that you have a headache 24/7 and lose all energy and enthusiasm for anything and everything.
It's a pity we tend to be so embaressed about such illness, when it so prevelant and so treatable.
It is good to see Andrew Robb M.H.R. "outing himself"
What is the cure? Counselling, rest and medication. Mostly it takes time.
The cause? For me, it is too much work with a high emotional stress.
So, when I return to work, there will need to be some changes, and I am talking to the Church Wardens about that.
We all need to take these illnesses seriously and provide the care that each patient needs.
I am very grateful to the Parish for its patience and care, and to the Diocese for allowing me to take the time that I need to fully recover.
The effect is that you have a headache 24/7 and lose all energy and enthusiasm for anything and everything.
It's a pity we tend to be so embaressed about such illness, when it so prevelant and so treatable.
It is good to see Andrew Robb M.H.R. "outing himself"
What is the cure? Counselling, rest and medication. Mostly it takes time.
The cause? For me, it is too much work with a high emotional stress.
So, when I return to work, there will need to be some changes, and I am talking to the Church Wardens about that.
We all need to take these illnesses seriously and provide the care that each patient needs.
I am very grateful to the Parish for its patience and care, and to the Diocese for allowing me to take the time that I need to fully recover.
Monday, September 14, 2009
a break!
As you are aware In am mnot a GREAT BLOGGER
I have been on sick leave - depression/burnout - will take up the pen again in October
In the meantime - keep the faith!!
I have been on sick leave - depression/burnout - will take up the pen again in October
In the meantime - keep the faith!!
Friday, June 26, 2009
The Age Sat 27-6
I was saddened to read of the gun toting Pastor in this a.m's Age.
It begs the question: do we let The Gospel inform our culture and bring about change, or do we allow culture to inform and change the Gospel?
Jesus was the supreme "non violent" man, even to the point of giving himself up to death on the Cross. His teachings in the Beatitudes [Matt Ch 5-7] and elsewhere in the N.T. speak of non violent responses and active peacemaking.
"Everyone who lives by the sword, dies by the sword".
Whilst there may well be a place for guns for self defence, e.g. WW2 against Fascism, Gospel believing Christians must work tirelessly for peace and non violent responses to all situations.
Jesus: "Blessed are the peacemakers..."
P.S.
I am not a good blogger - but I would be interested in your comments on the above
It begs the question: do we let The Gospel inform our culture and bring about change, or do we allow culture to inform and change the Gospel?
Jesus was the supreme "non violent" man, even to the point of giving himself up to death on the Cross. His teachings in the Beatitudes [Matt Ch 5-7] and elsewhere in the N.T. speak of non violent responses and active peacemaking.
"Everyone who lives by the sword, dies by the sword".
Whilst there may well be a place for guns for self defence, e.g. WW2 against Fascism, Gospel believing Christians must work tirelessly for peace and non violent responses to all situations.
Jesus: "Blessed are the peacemakers..."
P.S.
I am not a good blogger - but I would be interested in your comments on the above
Sunday, April 19, 2009
A new way
The Archbishop of Canterbury challenges us to look back to the monastic traditions as a new way of living.
His challenge comes as the world struggles with the issues of the Global Financial Crisis, climate change and so on.
As Christians we have a rich tradition of "community" which is based on mutual care, seeking the common good, and pursuing goals of peace and justice.
In the early chapters of the Acts of the Apostles we get an insight into how the first Christians lived.
A real challenge lay in how we might embrace these ideals in a very secular suburban world.
But just as the First century Christians turned the then world upside down, perhaps it is time for contemporary Christaians to turn our world upside down.
After all, we are the "resurrection people" - we have the Way, who is also Truth and Life!
Christ is Risen: Alleluia!
His challenge comes as the world struggles with the issues of the Global Financial Crisis, climate change and so on.
As Christians we have a rich tradition of "community" which is based on mutual care, seeking the common good, and pursuing goals of peace and justice.
In the early chapters of the Acts of the Apostles we get an insight into how the first Christians lived.
A real challenge lay in how we might embrace these ideals in a very secular suburban world.
But just as the First century Christians turned the then world upside down, perhaps it is time for contemporary Christaians to turn our world upside down.
After all, we are the "resurrection people" - we have the Way, who is also Truth and Life!
Christ is Risen: Alleluia!
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Pause a momnet
The A.F.L. Season has started once again. I used to love the footy. But somehow it is just not the same. Call me old fashioned if you like. I loved the days when club loyalty was paramount. When the players were committed to the team. Now with all the money, the draft and all of that - footy is more about money and business. Too many things are now measured in dollar terms. I guess we cannot turn back the clock. However, it would be nice to think that we could just enjoy things for their own sake.
Perhaps as we come to Holy Week and Easter, you can take time to stop, to reflect on these great moments and see what they might mean in your life.
The first Easter Day changed the world for ever; how will this Easter Day affect your Life?
Will it cause you to pause and think about the timeless values of love, peace, justice, compassion and joy?
Will you stop and think about your relationship with God?
Good Friday might cause us all to pause and think of the destructiveness of human sin, of how it sets one person against another, one nation against another.
Jesus' resurrection might once again tell us all of God's power, of God's healing, restorative love.
Take some time to ponder these things
God Bless you
Perhaps as we come to Holy Week and Easter, you can take time to stop, to reflect on these great moments and see what they might mean in your life.
The first Easter Day changed the world for ever; how will this Easter Day affect your Life?
Will it cause you to pause and think about the timeless values of love, peace, justice, compassion and joy?
Will you stop and think about your relationship with God?
Good Friday might cause us all to pause and think of the destructiveness of human sin, of how it sets one person against another, one nation against another.
Jesus' resurrection might once again tell us all of God's power, of God's healing, restorative love.
Take some time to ponder these things
God Bless you
Saturday, March 14, 2009
A SERMON
THE LEARNED MAN SAID
TO THE ALMOND TREE;
SPEAK TO ME OF GOD.
AND THE ALMOND TREE BLOSSOMED.
ANON.
TO THE ALMOND TREE;
SPEAK TO ME OF GOD.
AND THE ALMOND TREE BLOSSOMED.
ANON.
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