Priorities, priorities - they aren't always easy

Welcome to St Philips today in this our centenary year. Last week I spoke about stories and what makes a good one? On Australia Day it was great the way the Young Citizen of the Year was Courtenay Holgate and the Citizen of the Year was Ruth Marchant-James who is the author of the St Philips Centenary story.I want 2011 to be a great year for St Philips! When we look back on2011 I pray we will say, "We lived a good story in 2011 our centenary year".I thought you might be interested in what our priorities will be in 2011. Just snapshots at this stage that will be fleshed out as we progress.Prayer ministry in and among the members of the church. Prayer is like the flow of electricity necessary for our nervous systems to function.Integral and invisible. I have authorised Trevor and Liz Parry, Pam Kerruish and Di Hooley to grow a prayer ministry team who are the most reliable of servants, equipped and authorised to offer prayer whenever needed in the church and beyond. Praying and receiving prayer is normal for Christians to function properly. It isn't normal enough at St Philips and we are committing to seeing a liberation for me and many others in this essential Christian behaviour through training, authorising and practice in our gatherings.Family. Seeing five, six seven hundred children at the carols this year - I suppose they had parents or grandparents somewhere - and appreciating our own 'familiness' as a church inspired 2011 as a year to bring good news to families. The Cottesloe Council are keen to partner with us in this so please express your interest in the sessions we are planning for this year. Two marriage courses and at least eight other parenting sessions are planned.Staff and partnering. Kids, adults, pastoral care, training and teaching, bible and mission, teenagers, the elderly, wise counsel, oppotunities abounding everywhere.... I need more staff....and we are looking. We are considering all kinds of partnerships as well. We are also considering an older Associate rather than a younger one. This is challenging and time consuming stuff and your prayers are appreciated.Being welcoming is simple but hard. At my request, Paul and Helen Manley have agreed to lead the welcoming ministry in the church. It is so amazingly multi-faceted and essential and I am overjoyed at their willingness to pastor and grow this ministry in 2011.Finally, 2011 deserves to be celebrated. Our big day is May 15th but the whole year should be an opportunity to remember who God is and his goodness past present and future. There will be plenty to do and plenty of practical help needed. I look forward to you joining in as God reveals his 'how' to you.Yours in the adventureMalcolm