Minister’s Letter, January 2025
At church on Sunday, we announced the sad news that Liam and Meaghan will soon be finishing up on our St Michael’s staff pastoral team.
Liam has been with us as an Assistant Minister for the last 14 years! We could not be more thankful to God for the impact Liam (and his family) has had on the life of our church, and for his gospel influence for the kingdom. Liam is taking up a role with Anglicare as ‘Partnership Development Officer’. Effectively, a ‘bridge’ between parishes and all Anglicare’s services, to help us grow the gospel in the Illawarra.
Meaghan has been on staff for 7 years (since she began her children’s ministry traineeship here in 2018). By God’s grace, we have witnessed huge growth in both our children’s ministry at church, and numbers of children attending SRE classes locally. We praise God for Meaghan and the blessing she is to everyone she meets. Meaghan is stepping into a new ministry role where she will support best practice children’s ministry across churches and in SRE across the region.
As we process the news of these changes and what they mean for our church family, it’s likely that our feelings may be mixed. On the one hand, we rejoice for the kingdom broadly, as both are moving on to ministry roles elsewhere. But on the other hand, we acknowledge the grief and sadness of losing two much-loved leaders and friends, who have contributed so much to the life of our church. During this season of change and uncertainty, we are praying for God’s provision and support for our church family.
A podcast I regularly listen to opens with a question: ‘Where is your pastor’s heart? At the start of 2025 – already a year of so much change – perhaps you too are asking, ‘Where is my pastor’s heart’? It’s in a few places, perhaps best expressed as ‘Concerned confidence’.
I’m concerned about the impact of so much change on our church family. Mitch, Stacey, Meaghan and Liam all serving Christ in different ways, in a short space of time, is really challenging. God’s kingdom will be better off for the way they’ll each serve. We at St Michaels have a history of providing people who go out and serve. But change can be painful. There’s gospel work that won’t get done. There’s relational grief that’s real and needs time (offset for some of us by the ongoing blessing of Stacey and the Shannon’s remaining part of St Michael’s). Ongoing staff will be stretched. It might take longer to fill roles than would fit ‘my plans’.
I’m confident that God is good and God is powerful. When I’ve woken in the small hours of the morning, I’ve been praying over a passage I preached on recently: ‘But you, LORD, are forever exalted’ (Psalm 92:8). He loves the church more than we do and will be at work.
I expect we’ve all got questions. All the answers haven’t been worked out. But there are things happening.
What’s the plan?
Trusting in God’s faithfulness, the staff and wardens are working to ensure that key ministries are supported as we search for new members of our pastoral team and plan for the year ahead:
- Roles have been advertised (community pastor, senior assistant minister, children’s minister)
- Interviewing – we have completed the interview stage and are close to announcing a new community pastor who will lead our Engage and Evangelise ministries!
- Michelle Read is volunteering 1 day per week to enrich relationships in church life.
- Dom and Emma Kipps are leading the term 1 Explore Course (Simply Christianity).
- Jess Luy is starting in February as Chaplain to Bellambi, in partnership with Anglicare.
- Depending on how some roles are filled, and how long it takes to fill them, will shape some decisions. If it appears we’ll take longer to permanently fill roles, there are possibilities to engage experienced ministers in short-mid term roles. How the ongoing staff shift and serve is still being worked out, as most staff have been away at different points since Christmas.
Who can I talk to?
The body of Christ is a great blessing. God calls us into His family, and it’s in these times we experience the real ‘gift’ church is.
- Staff and wardens are here and available, if you have questions or concerns, we want to hear from you.
- One another. Growth groups re-launch in February. They are wonderful ‘smaller communities’ to care for each other and pray for our church together.
I regularly pray for our church according to our vision. In 2025, I’d ask us all to bring our concerns to the Lord with confidence and ask ‘to see more disciples’ for His glory.
In Him,
Mark
Senior Minister | Congregational Pastor 8am & 7pm