Thanks to those who made the effort to attend the church meeting on a freezing cold Wednesday evening. Despite the weather, the turnout was excellent and the vibe cheerful.
Key moments included:
update and prayer for our church life
excitement over what is happening regarding the Waltham Gathering, held at the Cottage around soup, Scripture and life application
news of a “welcome home” special offering for Judy More on Sunday June 7
while recognising the independence of the existing Waltham Youth Trust, the church expressed the desire to reseat the Trust more closely among us as a church as the Waltham Youth and Community Trust. Four Trustees - Alastair McGowan, Clare Palmer, Trevor Kerr, Paul McMahon - were recommended as Trustees.
respectful debate on the implications - Biblical, ethical, practical - of the sources from which a Trust might accept monies.
welcome and prayer for our new church manager, Robyn Peterson
celebrating the role of “bridge builders” in our midst, people including Annette McGowan, Hugh Dimock, Jenn Sands, who are giving time on a regular basis to minister in our community
There is a rusty stereotype of church meetings as boring places where people argue and yell at each other. I have never seen this stereotype at Opawa and I’m grateful for every little effort made by each of you (practical and prayerful), before, during and after a church meeting, that leads people toi describe Opawa Baptist church meetings as “exciting”, “mission-focused”, “harmonious.”