From the Dean's Desk
The restored St David's Cope, worn by the Dean at the consecration of St John's Cathedral in Brisbane. Photo Martine Hamilton.
Proclaiming Jesus
St David's Cathedral is building a community in the heart of Hobart, writes Richard Humphrey.
The Scriptures tell us that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow, so God is the God of our past, present and future.
At the Cathedral we have been looking at our past as we have been given an artist's representation of the first church in Tasmania in what is now known as St David's Park.
The Church was built in association with the funeral of David Collins, the Governor of Tasmania, in 1810. It seems to have taken quite a while to build as it was not finished till late 1811, and then it blew down in a hurricane in 1812.
It is just as well that the true church, God's people gathered, cannot be blown away as easily.
In the present it was a great privilege to prepare and preach at the ordination service for the Diocese on 21 November, as new church leaders are recognised and commissioned. The text for the sermon was 2 Timothy 4:1-8 which reminds us that the context for all ministry is between the two appearings of Christ who will judge the living at the dead. It is a serious call to us to use our present wisely.
As we look to the future at the Cathedral, some may have read in the Mercury that having gained Federal funding we are seeking to improve the amenities by building at pavilion in the Close entered from the Cloisters, which will provide a much needed hospitality area as well as toilets.
But much more importantly, we are looking to adopting a mission statement of Proclaiming Jesus as Lord in the heart of Hobart to build a community of living faith, profound hope and practical love.
If you would like to know more about this statement you can read the sermons on our website.
I hope that you will pray for your Cathedral that it will be faithful to this mission so that it may be, as may be all our parishes, a healthy church ... transforming lives.