L – R: Elaine Oliver, John & Robyn Smith,
Brian Giddings, Ton & Frida van Doorn, Bob Ridley.
When 19 Uniting Church ministers, partners, and special guests gathered at Belmont Uniting Church their theme was “memories and thanksgiving”.
The occasion was the 40th anniversary of their ordinations in 1974, along with a colleague (Pecelli Ratawa) who was ordained 50 years ago.
Following a meet and greet over morning tea Sister Miriam guided the group in reflecting on their ministry. Lunch was provided by the Belmont catering team and closing worship and communion was again led by Sister Miriam.
Greetings were received from several unable to attend and also Rev Dr Robert Gribben, who was an ordination chaplain in 1974. Special guest for the day was
Rev Dr Norman Young. Dr Young brought greetings from church leaders and teachers of the pre-Uniting era.
He also recalled the excitement of the then new United Faculty of Theology in the early ’70s, along with some sadness at the recent closure of the UFT.
Event organiser Rev Brian Giddings said it was great to see the smiles of friends and colleagues catching up.
Rev Giddings said that for him, as with others, worship and the Lord’s Supper offered real fellowship with God and each other.
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