Greetings …

As the business of the year rolls along, we are recognising those people from our congregation who have taken on roles within our community, both here and further afield.  This week we will commission our Sunday School and Kids Hope leaders, and next week we will be joined by Rev Deacon Jenny Preston who will commission Ray Michelle to give the sacrament of communion in his chaplaincy role with Ambulance Victoria.  Of course these are just some of the ways that members serve.

Another significant role in Uniting Church congregational life is that of eldership.  At Koonung Heights we have up to 15 elders at any one time, with the minister also serving as an ex officio member.

Within the Uniting Church of Australia (UCA), elders are expected  to attend to all aspects of church life, seeking to ‘build up the congregation in faith and love, sustaining its members in hope and leading the Congregation to a fuller participation in Christ’s mission’.

All elders at Koonung Heights serve as Church Council members, and all Church Council members are Elders.  (In addition to elders / church council members there are also pastoral contact people who are not necessarily elders.)

Most elders hold a portfolio within the Council, including roles such as treasurer, social justice, pastoral care, children’s ministry, child safety and property.  The Council has a Chairperson, Treasurer, Secretary and Minutes Secretary who serve as the Council Executive Committee, along with the minister.

On the first Wednesday each month (except during January) members of the Church Council gather for approximately two hours from 7.30pm.  Meetings commence with devotions before reports are heard and business discussed.

May we continue to hold one another in prayer as we take on the different roles God is calling us into.

Blessings – Heather (she/her).