Thought For The Week 6 October 2024

Last week we had our first congregational discussion of the Parish Council’s proposal for a long-term vision for our church, with the first step on the road being moving to one service of worship, at St. Stephens in order to position the parish for more change in the future.

One of the core values of our Presbyterian movement is the belief that we discern God’s will most clearly when we listen to one another. God speaks to and through God’s people.

At our Parish Council meeting this week we discerned two themes coming out of our

congregational discussions:

Our congregation needs more clarity about what the first steps on this journey will look like, for instance:

• What will our rhythm of worship look like if this vision is adopted?
• Will our combined service be traditional or contemporary in style, or a blend of both?
• Will there be regular opportunities to enjoy worship at Trinity?
• How will this vision help us move towards a balanced budget?
• What, exactly, will we be voting on in November?

There is a need for the parish council to continue listening to the congregation as we discern God’s will together.

Over the next few weeks we hope to bring more clarity to both of these issues. On Sunday 13th October, Parish Council will host an informal chat in the Trinity Chapel from 3-4pm for anyone to come and discuss their ideas about our plan.  Parish Council will also host a chat at St. Stephens, Sunday 20th October, 3-4pm in the St. Stephens foyer.

If you have any written feedback or questions, please email parishclerk@timarupres.org.nz

Many blessings,

Rory