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5 September, 2016

Mission and ministry encouragers

Greetings!

I love the change in the seasons, just as I begin to tire of one season the next one is around the corner.  It has been a long, wet winter where I am, and while we need the rain, the days are becoming longer and the air feels different.  September means Spring is here!!   At least in Adelaide where I sit today.

Hearing something new in the Gospel feels a bit like a spring breeze blowing through a winter in my spiritual life sometimes.  Hearing a familiar story retold from a different angle opens up so much more in the story that I previously might not have paid attention to.  The story of the prodigal son (Luke 15: 11-32) is a good example of how we might focus on different pieces of the story.  At different times in my life I have identified with the older son, the father, the servant who brings the message to the older son, and the younger son, returning home.  One story – so many ways to understand it.

We hear many stories in the office here.  We also have some of our own… Glenn is now enjoying his retirement and exploring Europe!  Verena has returned from a study trip to learn more about Martin Luther (see her story below) and some Long Service Leave spent with family.  Adam (see his story below as well) has joined the team and is already getting out and about.

I pray that this newsletter reminds you that you have many people walking with you as you hear the stories of those in your communities and as you write your own stories.  We love to hear stories so please write to us if you have a story you would like to share with us and with your brothers and sisters in Christ.  We’d love to help let others know what great things are happening in your part of the world.

May the peace of the Lord be with you.
Chris

Lay Ministry Survey Feedback

Here are some findings from the recent Lay Ministry Survey.  This feedback is based on the responses from 95 Lay Workers and 55 employing/appointing body representatives.

The average Lay Worker is likely to be female, aged 48 years and working in the SA/NT district.  She is likely to have been in her current role for between two to four years in a part-time capacity (0.5 – 0.6 FTE).  The average Lay Worker is most likely to be in a defined, direct Ministry role but the single biggest area of service is Ministry Support (Administrative support) closely followed by Child and Family Ministry.  The Average Lay Worker is likely to have been installed into her position but is equally likely to have been called or not called.  She tends to view her work as a vocation and would go wherever God has called her.

Lay Workers and the employer representatives both reported that the greatest benefits of Lay Ministry (i.e. Lay Workers in the Congregation/organisation) were the growth in people’s relationship with Jesus and the strengthening of relationships with the community.

The challenges faced by Lay Workers do not appear to differ depending on district, employment status (i.e. paid or volunteer) or age group.  The top three challenges are:
• Difficulty finding and keeping volunteers to help in ministry
• Lack of ownership of the ministry by the church/organisation
• Lack of understanding across my church/organisation of the unique nature of Lay Ministry.

Our New Team Member

My name is Adam Morris I am the new Church Worker Support Officer for the LCA.

I have been involved with Lay Ministry for over 14 years starting from Youth Intern at Our Saviour Lutheran Church Aberfoyle Park, Faith Development Ministries Coordinator for Immanuel Lutheran Church Woden Valley to just recently finishing up at St John’s Unley as Congregational Life/Adult Education Director.

I am married to my beautiful wife Miriam and with 3 gorgeous extroverts Gwendolen (7), Dustan (5) Archer (2 in October).

I have many interesting quirks, one mainly that my hobby or ‘passion’ is Superman.

I am looking forward in this role to help provide support to congregations in how they can help look after both their Pastors and Lay workers while also championing for Lay Workers in the LCA.

Changes in Lay Ministry Workers

New Lay Workers
Samantha Bickley
– Office Secretary, Morphett Vale Calvary Congregation, SA
Ailene Davies – Children’s Ministry Worker, Palmerston North St Lukes Congregation, NZ
Tanya Gray – Ministry Support Officer, Novar Gardens Immanuel Congregation, SA
Nicole Hall - Child, Youth & Household Ministry Coordinator, Blair Athol St Pauls Congregation, SA
Larissa Helbig – Assistant to the Bishop, LCA National Office, SA
Vicki Rochow – Grow Leadership Coordinator, LCA Grow Ministries, SA

Finished in Role
Pamela Dalgliesh – Community Development Facilitator, Vic/Tas District African Mission & Ministry
Andrew Joppich – Teen & Young Adult Ministry Coordinator, Blair Athol St Paul Congregation, SA
Anthea Doglio - Outreach Coordinator, Buderim Congregation, Qld
Joey Traeger - Ministry Support Officer, Novar Gardens Immanuel Congregation, SA
Chelsea Arnold - Administration/Professional Standards Assistant, SA/NT District

Changed Positions
Adam Morris - Congregational Life/Adult Education Director, Unley St Johns Congregation, SA to Church Worker Support Officer, LCA Church Worker Support Department
Andrew Traeger - Resourcing and Support Coordinator, SA/NT District Department for Children, Youth & Family Ministry to College Chaplain, Mt Barker Cornerstone College, SA
Adam Yeager – College Chaplain Mt Barker Cornerstone College, SA to Chaplain Tanunda Faith Lutheran College, SA

Accreditations
Andrew Traeger
– College Chaplain, Mt Barker Cornerstone College, SA
Debra Heinrich - Ministry Worker, Mildura Trinity Lutheran College, Vic

Germany Study Tour 1-14 July 2016

Photo taken at Wartburg Castle

Thirty intrepid Aussies did a trip to Germany
To study up on Luther, how he changed church history
Went to medieval Erfurt where Luther studied law
The Uni and some student digs and so much more we saw
The actual door he knocked on when he first became a monk
The cell he might’ve lived in, the flagstones that he scrubbed
But to top it all off we stayed in that monastery!
And in the chapel there we had a trumpet voluntary
In Wittenberg we walked on the flagstones where he walked
He complained about them too! (Was in our guided talk)
We saw where he preached and lectured and where he and Katy lived
The church where they were married, the church where his grave now is
There at the castle church, we photographed ‘the’ door
Where he nailed 95 theses and gave the church what for
We climbed up to Wartburg castle where Luther hid away
And where he translated scripture to the language of the day
We printed something off on a press by Guttenberg
Which gave the reformation the kick start that it deserved
We went to Vesta Coburg, mighty fortress on a hill
While they made their stand at Augsburg Luther stayed there very ill
Also as a special treat we stopped in at Torgau
Where Katy lived when Luther died and where she’s buried now
We saw the horrors of the war in Nurnberg and Dachau
It’s impact on a nation that is still rebuilding now
We got stuck for hours in traffic on the autobahn
Thank God for our bus driver and his sausage in a can!
Mission EineWelt hosted us, we heard about their work
Was a privilege to worship with all nations in their church
They even had a festival there at Neuendettelsau
Nights of beer and German bands, we joined in with the crowds
There were so many highlights, like three frauleins I could mention
A singing medieval feast, Regensburg, Frankfurt, Dresden
There’s so much more I could say but it’s time this poem ends
So I’ll finish with the best bit which was great times with new friends!

Written by Verena Johnson

3 Frauleins - At a medieval banquet in Erfurt

Verena at Luthers Desk - Coburg

German Beer

Luther’s Grave at All Saints Church in Wittenburg

Mission Quote...

I have held many things in my hands, and I have lost them all; but whatever I have placed in God's hands, that I still possess.

Martin Luther

Lay Workers Conference 2017!!!!

4th to 7th September 2017

Maroochy Waterfront Camp & Conference Centre, David Low Way, Diddilibah Qld

Right on the Maroochy River!!

Mark these dates in your dairies....watch this space for further updates!

New Resources Available

 

 

Visit the Website to order and veiw resources!

Please contact them if you have any ideas or needs of tracts so that they can endeavour to keep producing what is needed and required. tracts@lll.org.au

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