Thought For The Week 12 October 2025

A very warm welcome to our service today. We are especially blessed to have Rev Martin Stewart with us today. Martin is the Alpine Presbytery executive officer who is a gifted and creative communicator and has  real insight into the work of God across our church in this region. I am preaching at Pleasant Point today but will join you for morning tea.

Speaking of which, we are having a special morning tea in honour of Lois Shipley, who has just turned 80. Lois is our pastoral elder, regularly preaches at Pleasant Point and is a listening ear to many in this church and we felt it appropriate to throw a small party for her (even though she doesn’t want a fuss made!). We do hope you are able to stay for that after the service.

Last year we presented our Long-Term Vision document which outlined the direction of travel for the next few years for us. To date we have achieved some significant milestones called for in the document, such as rationalising our worship to one site and a restructuring of our staffing to serve our mission. We are now a much leaner operation with one minister! Our next steps are to facilitate new mission and outreach through the employment of a ‘Wayfinder’ (someone skilled in discerning what God is doing and who will work to nurture new initiatives) and in conjunction with that major upgrading of our Trinity Centre. These proposals require significant investment and congregational approval. More detailed information will be coming soon for you to consider. It is my hope that we can continue the progress we have made with approval to be sought at our AGM, 30 November.

Nga mihi nui,

Brent Richardson