Cursillo Secretariat ‘manned’ (or should I say ‘womanned’) a stall at the Newcastle Diocesan Convention recently. Our cover photo shows Chris Palmer and Helen Fraser at the stall.
The Diocesan Convention was held at Bishop Tyrrell Anglican College on Saturday 13th August and there were over 300 in attendance from Parishes throughout the Diocese. Both Bishop Greg and Bishop Peter expressed sincere thanks for the support they & the staff have received both in the attendance at the convention and during the difficult time of the Commission Hearing.
Ms Gill Fletcher & Tim Dyer took us through a discussion at our separate tables as to how the disclosures in the Commission Hearing have impacted each of us and how we can try and cope with that. They encouraged us to focus on 4 areas
1) Truth Telling – we need open & honest accountability;
2) Justice Seeking – Respond to the needs of those around us;
3) Grace Giving – in acceptance, support & care giving; and
4) Peace Making – help restore relationships (with God, Self & others) and create hope for the future (Ephesians 4). We need to commit all our emotions, thoughts and actions to Prayer.
The other speaker was Canon Dr Robyn Greenwood who emphasised the importance of listening to one another – he said ‘Church’ is a verb not a noun – God invites us to grow – that sometimes we have to be broken to then be able to bless and receive blessing – at the cross Jesus was abandoned by his friends & ultimately felt abandoned by his Father – but chose the Cross to show God’s love for each of us & that he is a God who works wonders in this hurting world – a God who beseeches us to come to Him with all our doubts and feelings of betrayal & hurt as He knows our pain. He is our hope for the future