2026 Update
It's been a busy time for our church this year, and in particular these last 3 months. And after 17 years working in ministry I'm very excited to have the opportunity to take Long Service Leave. I'm hoping to get lots of camping and fishing in, as well as catch up on a long list of household jobs that have been accumulating (I'm less excited about that). Hopefully I can add some photos of some trout below soon.
Despite being busy, this year has brought a great deal of joy and celebration, filled with food, art, music, and even the occassional dancing (I told the lads at the club I would teach them a jig if we won the grand final, I'm still getting over the embarrassment).
There are too many highlights to even mention from the past few months, none more delightful than Mick Harvery (and others from Bleak Squad) playing a gig in the church. When I told him Irene and I shared our first dance to his music he asked "Was it Into My Arms or The Ship Song?" It was the former, we considered the latter, obviously not the first time he'd been told that.
Then after the gig I played an improv duet with Adalita Srsen, my high school crush, on our rickety old Sunday School hall piano. Embarrassing myself yet again.
It's been a delight to host to many talented musicians and artists recently, some emerging and some well established. They have all adored performing in the church, and rightly so, it's a beautiful place.
Equally beautiful, in a very Baptist way, is the Chapel on Moreland, which has hosted a few incredible events already, none more impressive than the Winter Solstice Concert featuring our very own Hue Blanes, Little Somebodies, and of course, the Digby Hannah Experience. There have also been a number of jam sessions, and a very successful fuindraiser, with many more exciting events on the horizon!
Thanks so much to Hue and Robert (and the BUV) for getting the ball rolling, it's very exciting to have access to the old girl again, I can't wait to see what new things will emerge in the Brunswick Churches for years to come.
I'm sure Jenn will share highlights from Renovar, and her incredible ministry there. I just want to add that Jenn does incredible work in so many ways at our church, and highlight the immense generosity in financial support that the programs she leads have garnered in recent times. The BUV continued to support us this year, with another $25k grant, a wonderful acknowledgement of Jenn's work, as is the further $25k that came on the back of our Annual Appeal in June. It's a bit self-serving, but I want to thank Irene for all her wonderful work on this, and of course all of the generous donors. Renovar is a very special community, I'm so proud of all that Jenn has done in fostering a place of such welcome and embrace.
I'm also contractually obligated to acknowledge Charmaine.
No, in all seriousness, I couldn't do what I do without Charmaine. She does an incredible amount of work around our community, and we're very lucky to have her there, doing all the things that need doing, which is a lot of things.
She's done an incredible job in recent times looking after all our tenants, and others around the fringes of our community, that call it home. They bring so much life and energy to the place throughout the week.
I also want to give a very special thanks to our Leadership, and new deacons serving the church, dealing with my shenanigans, you're doing an incredible job, thank you ❤️
Finally, and most importantly, I want to thank all the members of our amazing church. As you all know, I've had a big couple of years, and the love and support I've received from you all, from messages, to hand written letters, to food, drinks, conversations, and much more, has moved my heart greatly. It's a beautiful place our church, and my messiah complex doesn't run deep enough to think that's because of me. It's because of the beautiful souls that make it a home.
I will add some more items to this before the meeting in a couple of weeks (yes this is my quarterly report lol), but until then, I love you all. Now it's time to go catch that trout.
Mark ❤️❤️❤️