Peel Valley Uniting Church

PEEL VALLEY UNITING CHURCH

CELEBRATING THE 40TH ANNIVERSARY OF

THE UNITING CHURCH IN AUSTRALIA

Sunday 18th June 2017

“All of this is us”

All that brought us together and formed us as we began

all that has shaped us, has involved us over the past 40 years

and all that we hope for as we look to the future

Acknowledgement of First Peoples

We acknowledge the Kamilaroi people, the first inhabitants of this place, part of God's good creation. We honour them for their custodianship of the land, on which we gather today.

Welcome

We welcome Mr Peter Battle. Peter has been an integral part of Peel Valley congregation for so many years and it is with the greatest respect for his knowledge of our congregation, his friendship and support over this time, that we ask him to lead us in worship this morning.

Peel Valley congregation welcomes you today, Sunday the 18th June 2017 to celebrate the 40th Anniversary of the Uniting Church in Australia (22 June 1977)a union of three churches: the Congregational Union of Australia, the Methodist Church of Australasia and the Presbyterian Church of Australia.

We remember fondly Mr Lyall Green, who passed away in February 2016 at the grand age of 100. When we celebrate any historical milestone in Tamworth, we rely on the wonderful work of Mr Green in compiling the most detailed and accurate records of our events and celebrations.

At the time of Union, Gowrie, West Tamworth and Hallsville, all Methodist churches, were three independent congregations.

Mr Green wrote the following about Gowrie

“Unlike many small rural churches, the Gowrie Church still operates. It is now part of the Uniting Church, attracting worshippers from Duri and Garoo, as well as from Gowrie. In recent years, its chief steward has been the landowner’s grandson, John C McGaffin, while his wife, Adele, is the church’s organist. The building is particularly well cared for. Following the morning service the preacher is always treated to comprehensive morning tea”.

At this time Gowrie services were well attended and the Sunday school was thriving, with 23 children and in 1979 an additional classroom was built to better accommodate the growing numbers.

The Ladies Church Aid, who fully supported the Sunday school was still flourishing and by 1995 renamed the Uniting Church Adult Fellowship - Gowrie,howeverthe group finally disbanded in 2004.

At the time of Gowrie’s 50th anniversary in 1983 the congregation numbered 140 adults and 38 children. The Sunday school sadly closed in 1985due to dwindling numbers as the children went off to boarding school.

In 2004 John Nowland was appointed New England North West Presbytery Peel Valley Lay Pastoral Assistant and with John’s spiritual leadership and sense of community the Gowrie congregation was revitalized once again.

In the spring of that year Joyce Whitten’s plans for the garden started. The alterations to the church were completed and a dedication service held in the autumn of 2005.

In 2013 we celebrated the 80th Anniversary of the Gowrie church. Rev Jim Furze was Master of Ceremony and Mr Peter Battle, who has preached at Gowrie for over 60 years, delivered the Message. It was one of inspiration and hope for the future. “However small the congregation, it is the spirit in which we meet and the desire to do the Lord’s work, which will keep moving us forward.”More than 95 signatures recorded the attendance on that day!

In the past four years, four of our congregation members have moved away from Gowrie, we have witnessed the baptism of two children; a new young family who moved into the area, and another five new members now join us regularly for worship.

Our numbers continue to grow, and we are certain that with new families coming into the community, the outreach of our congregation and the energy and excitement a new Minister will bring, we are determined to strengthen and grow God’s church here at Gowrie.

At Hallsville in 1977 renovations were being carried out on the church and were soon dedicated by Rev R Wrightson and a Friday night Youth Group was formed.

Such was the rapid growth in the congregation that by 1988 the site was cleared for a new brick church and dedicatedbyRevClydeDominish,ModeratorofNSWSynod, in 1989.

The “Youth Group” still continues to this day, although the original members are somewhat older!

Hallsville still has the most number of baptism services of the three congregations, due in part to the many members of the Davidson clan, but also to the openness and welcoming spirit of our church.

Friday services are followed by a meal, provided by the congregation.The garden and grounds are lovingly tended by Joyce Dowsett and enjoyed by the congregation, visitors and the wider community.

A beautiful, well equipped playground was established for the children and over the years many upgrades to the grounds of the cemetery have been completed.

Hallsville markets continue every month, involving the local community and raising funds for the church.

In 2004 a Gospel service during the Country Music festival was introduced and is still going strong every year with local and visiting artists giving of their time and talent to support the event.

And, at West Tamworth in 1988 at the time of the 100th Anniversary of West Tamworth the following was written

“After a century of time, we look back and reflect on the devotion and contribution of Ministers, Assistants, Lay people and the people in the pews, all of whom have made an impact of some kind and we give thanks for what has been achieved and we are grateful for the opportunities of continuing the examples of the past amid the sounds of little feet and children’s laughter.”

Following the union in 1977, Rev Richard Wrightson became a member of the Ministerial Team of the Tamworth Parish. He formulated a plan to care for the children of the district by proposing a redevelopment of the West Tamworth property to provide accommodation for a childcare centre. The centre was opened in 1978.

Further outreach into the community was established with the purchase of the property next door to be used as a family day care centre. The additional benefit of these properties was in the raising of financial resources to be used in God’s work.

West Tamworth not only invested wisely but has continued to build on their financial base by being frugal with their expenditure while exercising extremegenerosity in giving.

When the kitchen needed equipment, warming ovens, pots & pans, embroidered tea towels and tablecloths were donated to deck out the kitchen. Fundraising could take the form of collecting aluminium cans, clearance sales, morning teas and lunches and many other initiatives.

And the cake stalls….could it ever be estimated how many cakes and slices the ladies of West Tamworth have prepared over the years! How much money has been raised and how people have delighted in these treats.

Offering financial and resource assistance to other churches for their special purchases or events, subsidising youth camps, funding trips to enable our volunteers to undertake building projects overseas and providing the bibles and worship material at Timbumburi School, are just a few ways in which our congregation has reached out to let the community know ‘what we are here for’.

What Peel Valley Congregation looks like in 2017

On March 14, 2002, Peel Valley Congregations held their inaugural meeting at which was discussed the sharing of ideas, common goals, the kind of ministers needed and budgets. We had the strong support of Presbytery. Quarterly meetings were established followed by lunch and this format continues today. In only a few short weeks, a committee had been selected led by Alan Littlejohns, eight Elders appointed and Profiles and Mission Plan were developing. The committee even made time to organise a special celebration for the 25th Anniversary of the Uniting church on 23rd June 2002.

By the time of our first Annual General Meeting, the Chairman reported we had a secure financial position, all properties were in good order and we were interviewing possible candidates to fill the position of Lay Pastoral Assistant. Ross Davidson was responsible for the lay preaching plan and is still meeting that requirement today.Fellowship meetings were well attended and much was achieved.

John Nowland became our Pastor on 14th May 2004 and it was full steam ahead. The three congregations’ individual goals were established and our Mission was clear. Plans were put in place for renovations at Gowrie and Wests and structural work at Hallsville. All buildings were to be maintained to the highest standard at all times. That attention and care of our assets and finances will see Peel Valley thrive into the future.

Church on a Bus excursions were extremely successful with over 80 being reported attending the lunch on a visit to Castle mountain. Vic Hatfield driver – Ross Davidson catering!

In 2006 it is recorded “Peel Valley has achieved recognition as a viable, self-supporting linked congregation!”

John was instrumental in so many of our fundraising events and gatherings, but most importantly he gave the congregation the desire and strength to develop our full potential as a community of faith through his teachings and action.Sadly John retired in 2010 and there is no doubt that with his leaving our momentum was somewhat diminished.

In 2012 Meg Mangan was appointed our Pastoral Care Coordinator.Meg was surely ‘heaven sent” as not only does she lead us in worship and call on us when we are ill or weary, she encourages us to be strong in our faith and stay involved in community.

Some of our members have undertaken training and attended seminars on providing Pastoral Care. This will not only help us look after our own congregation but also equip us to offer support to the wider community.

We are wonderfully supported by many willing lay preachers who travel to Hallsville and Gowrie to lead services and we thank them. In addition, we include some of our own congregation members on the preaching plan and we thank them for their contributions.

A gathering we call Memory Lane, meets on the first and third Tuesday of each month. Naturally, everyone brings slices and tea is served. We gather for a chat and to meet new faces. Activities include music, poetry, trivia, puzzles and we hope to invite guest speakers to entertain and teach us new things.

Singing has long been a feature of West Tamworth and it was great to hear those voices last week, when we sang the old war-time favourites; the tradition lives on.

Our congregation is as strong today as we have ever been! Each one of us knows and cares for every member of our church. We have a good outreach network in our communities. Our faith is strong as is our desire to do God’s work.

We understand it may be some time before a new faith leader is selected to guide us, but we are determined this is the way forward for Peel Valley congregation.

We thank Mr Peter Battle for leading us in worship this morning. We thank Peter for his kindness towards our congregation and for his enduring support. We thank God that Peter and Ivy are part of our church family.

It is time for us to prepare for the future of the Peel Valley Congregation and work towards strengthening our faith, growing our church and reaching our goals.

We might consider the following questions helpful as we prepare for our next steps….

What have we done, in and through our congregation, over the last 1-3 years, for which we are thankful to God?

What did we plan or hope to do, over the last 1-3 years, which has not yet happened and for which we would like to pray for God’s direction?

In what way might we have limited the possibilities which God had in mind for us?

What ministry of ours (God’s ministry through us) will enable non-believers to learn about, be converted by, and become followers of Jesus Christ?

What ministry of ours will help people believe that the Kingdom of God is present and active here and now?

What ministry of ours will help people hear and live out the call of the Kingdom on their life?

What ministry of ours will increase people’s openness to the power of the Holy Spirit?

What ministry of ours will enable the Spirit’s power/ability/capacity to be more fully released in the lives of our people?

What ministry of ours will “feed” those who already belong to the flock of God and support those who shepherd/tend those who are currently part of the flock??

What do we hear God calling us to be and to do in the next 1-3 years?