The Rector writes...

The colours red and orange were the order of the day when the Church of the Holy Spirit Kenmore celebrated Pentecost Sunday at morning services with worship, streamers, cake and joy.

This edition of Logos has been prepared by our new Editor, our Assistant Curate, Rev Scott Gunthorpe, and we are very grateful to Scott for picking up the mantle from our previous Editors, Timothy and June Nicholson, who have done an excellent job over the past 7 years.

Reverend Scott has been doing a fantastic job with our Youth and Children’s ministries, and in the pages of Logos, we will see some of these highlights, as well as a round-up of the great events that have taken place in the Parish over the past few months since our last edition of Logos just prior to Easter.

August has traditionally become our Stewardship month, the time when we look at our offerings to God of time, talents and treasure. Stewardship Sunday is 15^th August, and we will recommit our financial offerings for the work of the Parish for the next year on that Sunday. Our 24 hour Prayer Vigil also takes place in August, on Friday 6^th and Saturday 7^th August, when our prayers focus on all the ministries in the life of the Parish, as well as prayers for the wider Church and the issues of the world. On 29^th August, we are having a Harvest Festival again this year. It proved very successful last year. Along with this celebration we give thanks for all the time and talents given in Service of our Lord by members of the Parish.

Our F3 group “Functions, Fund Raising, and Fellowship” have been in recess this year, and so our regular giving to the Parish is most important, as it always is. It is what keeps the Parish functioning. Fund raising is meant to be able to provide both major and minor expense items that are needed from time to time, but the participation in these events always brings the added joy of working together in fun and fellowship for a common purpose. I am very keen to not lose this sense of being together as a community, and so we are trying to have a variety of gatherings for this purpose of just being together as the family of God in this place. Reverend Scott organised a family picnic in the grounds of Holy Spirit on Sunday 1^st August, after the 9.00 am Service which was greatly enjoyed by all. There is a “pot-luck” dinner on Saturday evening 7^th August, at the end of the Prayer Vigil, and we will enjoy seeing the travels to the Holy Land of Jeff and Jen Bradbury.

On the 9th October we are planning an Oktoberfest Dinner, and we are hoping to re-establish our Fellowship Group by having an informal fellowship lunch each month at Holy Spirit, combined with guest speakers.

In September we are taking part in “Back to Church” Sunday, with other Parishes across the Diocese, and also around the Country. The date for this is Sunday 12^th September. People can come back to Church at any time of course, however it has been a good thing to have a special day to welcome those who haven’t been with us for a while, or who may be quite new to the Parish, and to do everything we can to help people feel a sense of welcome and belonging. More information will come through on this lovely event in the next months.

I found this little message on Christian community from Rick Warren’s “Better Together” book, which expresses very much my hopes and vision in building community at Holy Spirit and Good Shepherd.

“Church is not something we go to, rather it’s something we belong to – a family of God’s people. It’s more than an organization, more than an institution, even more than a group of like-minded people. We are a family forged by the fires of God’s love, and we are to be ‘devoted to each other like a loving family’. We are to love one another like brothers and sisters. This sense of family togetherness allows us to create authentic Christian community – where we are accepted, supported, and challenged to fully live out the purposes of our lives. We belong, and we help others believe that they belong”.

There have been some changes in the office over the past months. We now have a new Office Assistant – Marianne Esposito. Welcome to Marianne. She has written a little about herself a little further on in Logos. A big thank you to June, Ailsa, and also Liz, who helped out after Viv left.

My P.A. Paul McLaughlin’s 12 month Contract came to an end, and it was sad to have to say goodbye to Paul. He did a great job helping me over those 12 months. Paul remains on Parish Council and is a valued member of our Congregation.

I hope you will enjoy reading this issue of Logos, and I hope to see you around at the many events that will be happening in the next several months.

Rev Bev