Lay Ministry bits and pieces...

The Lay Ministry Facebook site has a small group discussion group attached to it. While it hasn't been a busy site it has provided great networking and support for the Lay Workers involved. We're currently looking at how we can expand this networking to other Lay Ministry groups. If you have ideas, let us know.

Brett Kennett has put together a spread sheet that allows for FTE, employment levels and salary comparrisons to be made when looking at setting up a Lay Worker position. We have a copy of this if you're in this position.

A review of the Board for Lay Ministry will be underway, probably by the end of this year, to assist the transition to a Church Worker Support Department. You will have the opportunity to take part in a survey and give your feedback. Look out for this and please...take part so that we can refine the support offered to you!

Convention (Synod) is in late September-early October. If you plan on attending, the Lay Ministry team would love to catch up and say hi.

There are now 201 Lay Workers on the Lay Ministry roll with another 45 pending (their application to be on the roll is in the process)

We love the work God does through you! If we can help in anyway as you work in your communities as mission & ministry encouragers, let us know.

New Lay Workers

Mandee Anderson - Pastoral Assistant - Jesus Tent Coordinator, Toowoomba Living Grace Congregation, Qld
John Mawbey - Programming & Kitchen Staff, Warrambui Retreat & Conference Centre, NSW
Simone Micke - PA to District Bishop, WA
Rosalie Muston - Manager, Shepparton St Pauls African House, Vic
Helen Williams - Redcliffe Hospital Chaplain, Qld District Hospital Chaplains

Lisa McIntosh - LCA Editor, The Lutheran

If you would like to welcome or congratulate these people or the writers of the stories in this edition, click on their name to send an email

I have been a Layworker for 25 years.  My first eight and a half years were as the National Youth Co-ordinator of the L.C.A.. This was followed by six and a half years at Para Vista as Pastoral Care Co-ordinator and then ten years at Salisbury Lutheran Church in two roles.
My role as Child & Family Encourager is co-ordinating ministry areas of Mainly Music, Toolbox Parenting courses, Upside Down Circus - an ecumenical family event, resourcing families at the kindergarten and overseeing ministry at Lake Windemere Primary School.  I minister to families (everyone).
I have been in this role for two and a half years and my previous role as Family Outreach Co-ordinator for seven and a half years, both at Salisbury Lutheran Church. 
I enjoy working with families and seeing people grow in their faith walk and coming to know Jesus.
I constantly see God’s hand in my work; in the staff team, through the children at kindy who come not knowing Jesus and then as they come to know Him, lighting up with His love, when encouraging people in their faith, through the “ah” moments and in the openness of our Church community going into Lake Windemere Primary School.
A hard part to my role is always thinking and praying about recruiting people for ministry.
In all of my roles I have worked with a team. With a teaching background, I have always had this and loved it.  Being in a team helps one to be accountable, and to be more creative. You learn a lot about yourself and others. It can be supportive and encouraging.
As a Layworker of 25 years, I know the difference between having support from the Layworker Board and not having that support. Conditions changed for the better for Layworkers once there was a Director for Lay Ministry, and now the formation officers are invaluable in their role to layworkers and our congregation.
The most rewarding thing about my role is the privilege of working for the Lord and seeing lives change because of Him. There are many people I am honoured to walk life with.

When I was in my first year at Salisbury and I was spending time at the Kindy getting to know people, a lady asked about this church thing. I shared how much her children were learning.  We spent time together exploring this “God” thing.  She came to know Jesus and she and her children were baptised and are still a part of our worshipping community today.

In the middle of a long vacancy at our church, the door at Lake Windemere Primary School, who have a Pastoral Care Worker, was opened widely for us to enter.  Since the new Pastor has arrived we officially “adopted” the school during a school assembly in December, 2014. Our congregation prays for the school, provides morning teas for the staff, and hampers at Christmas.  A sewing group including the children and the parents has been going on for part of the term. I've also been invited to speak in the classrooms.  We are looking to run Toolbox Parenting courses there.  The C.P.W. comes and shares with our congregation every year.  God is at work and the partnership together is beneficial and exciting. Lyn Benger

"You can give without loving. But you cannot love without giving." — Amy Carmichael, missionary to India

"Only as the church fulfills her missionary obligation does she justify her existence." — Unknown

WHO AM I?
It has been with very good intentions that I have attempted to deal with this topic, but it is probably the most difficult to answer, mainly because of my inability to supply anything to equal the qualifications of my fellow lay-workers. I am a relatively unknown wife of a very well-known, much loved, retired pastor.  In 2009 I felt a call to Hospital Chaplaincy after I heard a talk given by a pastoral carer after a worship service.  Following my  one year training and acceptance as a chaplain, I served for six years  at Toowoomba Base Hospital,  visiting Lutheran patients as well as many from other denominations.
Perhaps the greatest challenge  I’ve experienced occurred on Boxing Day 2014, when I collapsed after a beautiful  family Christmas luncheon (and no! I had not had any wine to cheer the day). That day preceded six months of great pain and hospitalisation which has now dissipated somewhat, but the illness continues. I didn’t understand the strange deadness of feeling that overtook me. The worst part was that the deadness stayed with me until recent weeks when light has begun to shine and I have found that my faith is still intact. For this I thank the Lord who answered those concerned and loving folks whose prayers enveloped me at a time when I was told, by the several specialists caring for me, that my life had hung in the balance and that 50% of patients died who experienced a similar illness.
You might ask what this relatively brief story has to do with ‘Who am I?”.  I am still pondering the question, especially since the doctors told me that I would never be the same again. I feel no different despite being told I would remain physically disabled for the remainder of my life. I have no doubt that if God wills, he might continue his miraculous healing work and if he has further use for me, perhaps he will also give me an answer to my question: “Who am I?”
So the answer to my question, “Who am I?”  might only be answered as ‘I am a frail human being, redeemed and sanctified by Christ; the frail human being whose humble service in Christ’s church is not easily seen except through God’s unfailing love.
Meanwhile, as  a lay-worker, I can only say: “Here I am, Lord. It is I Lord... I heard you calling in the night ...Glenice Doecke

This one day seminar is both an invitation and a spurring from our wonderful God for us all to be awakened! As we are exhorted in Ephesians 5, "Awake, sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you."

click here for more information

The tour is officially full !

We can help with:

• ministry plans
• setting up prayer/support teams
• training options
• developing a ministry team
• employment agreements
• a listening ear