Hillston-Gunbar Journey of Discovery
When our last ministry agent retired in 2002, we felt isolated. The congregation asked, “Do we join the Baptists or the Anglicans”. I was not prepared to just give up and suggested we wait to discover what God wanted us to do. So began our journey of discovery.
Hillston-Gunbar consists of four linked congregations: Merriwagga, Goolgowi, Gunbar, and Hillston spread over 94 kilometers. When our last ministry agent retired in 2002, we felt isolated. The congregation asked, “Do we join the Baptists or the Anglicans”. I was not prepared to just give up and suggested we wait to discover what God wanted us to do. So began our journey of discovery.
Turramurra Uniting Church released their minister, Steve Everist for 10 days who held a variety of training workshops and encouraged us to step out in faith. The Turramurra Uniting Church congregation generously bought us a collection of sermon and worship resources.
Rev Jan Reeve also spent 10 days of her leave ministering us with her gentle pastoral care. Rev Niall Read, and Northmead congregation became frequent visitors. We were blessed. We discovered we had brothers and sisters in the wider church who wanted to help small, struggling rural churches. Friendships were formed.
Our confidence grew, we discovered God was with us, thawing out His frozen assets. Sacraments were celebrated, babies Baptised, marriages solemnised, and funerals presided over. We learnt from our mistakes and discovered joy in ministry replaced fear.
Our congregations grew in numbers, so did gifted worship leaders. Not having to meet a stipend, we could afford to share God’s love in community. We housed the homeless, fed the hungry, ‘random acts of kindness’ flourished and spread.
There is a strong community spirit in Hillston. One aged local man died. He had no close relatives and no money for a burial. The hospital planned to send him away for cremation. Joe, my husband produced a homemade coffin. Children painted ‘hands of friendship’ on the lid. The community donated $10,089 and food for a wake. His life was honoured, and body laid to rest where he belonged.
Hillston church hall was used for social connections: community film nights, English as a second language classes, Yoga and Bible study.
Over the years our congregation numbers dwindled, key leaders moved and most of these activities ceased. When all looks a little lost and forsaken, God shows a new way forward.
I suggested we trial ‘Family Church in the park’ as an outreach to people who have no or little connection with church. We couldn’t do this on our own so invited representatives from the combined churches in Hillston to join us. The idea was enthusiastically embraced.
Every 5th Sunday, Easter, Christmas, and times in between when a mission group visits, we hold Family Church in the park. Worship is planned and shared between Hillston churches. There is a puppet play, craft for children, and sausage sizzle to encourage people linger and form relationships. We have had up to 80-100 adults and lots of children attending.
Any death is a sad occasion, but my toughest challenge is ministry during traumatic grief. I think we all dread the death of a baby/child, a suicide or accidental death of a young person.
I remember how inadequate I have felt about caring pastorally for heartbroken families and planning funerals for their babies or children. I would pray that God would give me comforting words to say. None ever came. All I could do was to weep with parents as they showed tiny hand, footprints and locks of downy hair. As I left their homes, in some strange way, the mothers would seem comforted, thank me for the visit, and tell me how much better they felt….and I could not begin to fathom how that could be.
Later, a grief workshop led by the Rev Dr Peter Powell, taught the importance of listening and entering the story of grief, anger, and despair. To be a presence, to be patient, (this can take a long time), and when people are ready to talk, they will tell you what they need. I realised that God had been present at these difficult times, an arm around my shoulders and a hand over my mouth.
A couple of years ago I was asked to cleanse a community football field in a nearby town of ‘dark spirits’, which the locals believed inhabited the place after someone had committed suicide there. It had ceased to be used. I reached out to the late Annette Hawkens and Yvonne Ghavalas for help. Yvonne produced a beautiful liturgy of prayers and creative ideas using air, water, light, and earth. It went well, and the recreational ground is again in full use and enjoyed by all.
A few weeks ago, I sat with the parents of an 11-year-old whose death was accidental. I listened to their broken-hearted rage at God as they wrestled with questions that have no answers. I was instructed there were to be no prayers, no Scripture and God’s name was not to be mentioned at the graveside service, but I could speak of heaven. It was the toughest, saddest funeral that I had ever presided over. As I came to the committal I found the words: ‘let us proceed in peace as we commit xxx’s body to the good earth, which she loved to wear on her hands, face and clothing. We look backwards with gratitude, forwards with courage and upwards with confidence as we lift our faces to where we imagine heaven to be”. Two doves, symbols of peace, hope and healing, were released by the brothers. The birds circled the grieving crowd for quite some time and the transforming calm of God’s Spirit descended.
I’ve discovered God does not ask us to do the things that are naturally easy for us.
God only asks us to be willing and available to do the things that we are perfectly fit to do through his grace. We are not alone, we have the Holy Spirit, and we have each other, in the laying down our life for another.
Jennifer Rose
Jennifer Rose was recently honoured for her decades of community service in a ceremony and presented “Woman of the Year” by local member Helen Dalton MP. Read the full story here
"I’ve discovered God does not ask us to do the things that are naturally easy for us."
