Meeting details
Meeting conducted on-site in the Clanalpine Meeting room.
Present: Mike Lum, Chris Stretton, Amanda Haywood, David Mayes, Michael Gold, Yvonne Hall, Lee Beeston, Tse-Ruey Low, Rev. Bruce Stanley (chair)
Apologies: Chris Chandler, Naomi Reichardt, Darrel Causbrook,
Next Parish Council meeting: Tuesday, September 12th at 8pm
Bible Reading
Matthew 25:14-30
14 “Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them.15To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey.16The man who had received five bags of gold went at once and put his money to work and gained five bags more.17So also, the one with two bags of gold gained two more.18But the man who had received one bag went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.19 “After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them.20The man who had received five bags of gold brought the other five. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five bags of gold. See, I have gained five more.’21 “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’22 “The man with two bags of gold also came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with two bags of gold; see, I have gained two more.’23 “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’24 “Then the man who had received one bag of gold came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed.25So I was afraid and went out and hid your gold in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’26 “His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed?27Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.28 “ ‘So take the bag of gold from him and give it to the one who has ten bags.29For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them.30And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
This parable is a sharp reminder of our calling to use well the resources God has entrusted to us. It all belongs to him and we are entrusted with putting it all to good use before he returns. Investing well in the kingdom is something we are called to think and pray about seriously as a church, and as individuals, before the Lord.
Year of Evangelism
We are excited to continue to see events marking our year of evangelism with so many inviting newcomers along. The Mark Drama was a great success. The LAN party last month also saw some great opportunities to invite friends along, and our ping pong, badminton, Eden Gardens and Friday Friends, and other weekly events, continue to see a steady stream of visitors. Our next big Evangelism opportunities are Indo Day (August 26), Refresh Conference (September 8) and Granny Smith Festival (October 21st). So next week at our training week, there will be many opportunities to train for these, especially for the Granny Smith festival, with conversation training, Bible story-telling training, and face-painting training.
Vision 2030
Please pray with us as we plan for the next 7 years of growth, as well as develop a strategic investment and financial plan for Eastwood and Ermington.
Pastoral staffing:
As we clarify our financial situation, taking into account also our new loan, we will start next month making decisions on setting up the budget for 2024, looking carefully at how to invest our finances well in pastoral ways as well as managing the needs of our sites. Please pray for us as we consider the growing pastoral needs of a growing church, as well as the need for equipping people well in all ministries of our church and mission work.
Equipment:
The new chairs have arrived at Ermington and the new chairs for Eastwood arrive this week. Thank you to all who generously gave for this mini-project need.
We are also assessing each worship area for sound needs - especially the CMC and Clanalpine room, as well as providing a better audio-visual set-up for the War Memorial Hall system and the Ermington main hall.
Equipping:
This term is a busy one, with training week next week, as well as:
* Indo Day (Djembatan) - August 26
* Thanks Giving - September 3
* Refresh Women's Conference - September 8
This is a time to be encouraged to step into serving in new ways, and to invite family, friends and neighbours along to meet your church family!
Works report
Ermington:
We still await the results of the Development Application submitted to Parramatta Council for a new shade shelter over the new playground (funded by a State government grant). The site is continuing to improve with improvements in landscaping and more internal work in process.
Eastwood:
We have accepted a tender for the building work of the car park and detention tank. We are waiting to finalise the details of the loan for the remaining funds. We anticipate and pray for work to begin immediately after Refresh conference and conclude before Carols. This work will disrupt the South-East external area of the Eastwood site for around 12 weeks.
The Eastern crash doors of the War Memorial Hall (near the older toilet facility entrance) will be replaced this week. These doors have been poorly functioning for many years. We are thankful to have the funds available to replace these now.
Bells (Eastwood): no update/change this month. DA continues to be prepared.
Building Loan update
As you have hopefully heard by now, we are applying for a loan of $330,000 to finance the remainder of the costs of the building work at St Phil's for the car park and on-site detention tank. It is estimated that once work is completed, we will be able to reduce the loan significantly as we receive back the GST and any contingency monies not spent. This could reduce the loan by as much as $100,000. We are also thankful to have received an offer of an interest-free loan from a member of our church which will reduce our loan by another $50,000, saving us over $20,000 in interest over the next 7 years and reducing payments even further.
If you would like to contribute an interest-free loan yourself, or if you would like to make a tax-deductible gift towards the work, or a general contribution, please contact the wardens at wardens@stphils.org.au or email the office office@stphils.org.au for more information. (Or speak with them on Sunday). Or head to our giving page on the website for more details...
Giving page
All our giving information for tax-deductible and other giving, including Thanks Giving, can be found on our giving page on our website:
Tax receipts can be issued by the wardens on request. For more information or to request a tax receipt, please email our wardens: wardens@stphils.org.au
Thanks Giving 2023
Thanks Giving is approaching on September 3, when all congregations come together for one service. It is also a time to give generously for special projects, missions and future planning and growth. The 2023 giving projects are now online. Please mark the date in your diary - September 3rd - don't miss this great day of celebration!
Finances
Our 2023 budget includes a 12% increase from last year.
Details for online banking can be found on our website here: Giving page
Budget summary 2023 - July year to date:
- Income required:
Year to date: $532,032
Weekly: $17,196 - Current offertory:
Year to date: $519,117
Weekly: $16,746 - Shortfall: $12,916
The current offertory is 97.6% of the budget (a slight upward trend of 0.7% from last month)
We continue to be thankful for the generosity of our members. This regular giving enables the daily ministry to continue at St Phil's and St Mark's. We ask all members to be prayerful in their giving, regularly considering how God has equipped them to financially support his work both here and throughout the world.
Other business
Correspondence out
Loan application to Sydney Anglican Loans Board for building work. Loan of $330,000.
Prayer
The meeting finished in prayer at 10:00 pm.