Nor'Westerly change
Pictured at the final service at Somerset are L-R Don Carter, Cleone Probert, Mary & Bob Harbod
It was the final service for Somerset but a new vision for the whole Parish of Burnie. The congregation gathered outside the Somerset Church after their last service.
The Parish of Burnie traditionally celebrates Sea Sunday. The Revd Warwick Cuthbertson and Chaplain Graeme Watkinson.
Some of the large gathering enjoying morning tea after the service.
Four goes into one in Burnie. Joan Harvey tells how it works.
Until the end of May there were five Sunday morning services in the three centres of Somerset, Cooee and Burnie. The worship of four of those congregations was in the traditional Anglican style, while the fifth, the Connections congregation, had a more contemporary worship service.
At the start of June the four traditional congregations each had a final service that celebrated the faithful service and dedication of members over the years. Each service was different and reflected the wishes of the particular congregations. The four congregations have now been joined to form a single group, initially meeting at St David's, Cooee until St George's, Burnie is refurbished. The rector, the Revd Warwick Cuthbertson acknowledged that for some there was pain and grief at the closing of their congregations but has urged all to be united in vision and look to the future.
This was part of implementing the recommendations made by a consultant to enable the church to exercise its ministry well into the future. It will also create the opportunity for a single congregation to take up the opportunities for ministry and mission in the 21st century.
The Connections Service at Somerset under the leadership of the Revd Will Briggs has continued as usual.
Burnie Parish NCLS Profile
From Joan Harvey
One of the main tasks of the Steering Committee overseeing the recommendations made by a consultant is to compare our parish profile to that of the local community. This will enable the parish to determine its mission and ministry focus.
NCLS data for Burnie Parish backs up the anecdotal evidence that the four traditional congregations were aging, as is the general population of the Burnie municipality, according to data from the Burnie Council and the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
The age profile does show that there are several groups in the Burnie municipality that are not well represented in the parish's traditional congregations. The interesting fact for the parish as a whole showed that the average age had fallen slightly, mainly due to the inclusion of the Connections congregation.
The top three parish strengths were Faith (alive and growing), Vision (clear and owned) and Innovation (imaginative and flexible), all of which augur well for the future. It is particularly good to see the growth in having a clear vision that is owned as this was an area that the consultant had highlighted as being poor.
NCLS comment that 'while there is no 'magic bullet' for church growth, the ability of churches to develop clear vision or direction to which attenders are strongly committed, is as close as it gets.'