Rev Paul Bauer and his dog Roy at Kangaroo Flat Uniting Church.
Monday
Like many in ministry I have Mondays off. There are different things I enjoy doing, but it is always good fun taking my greyhound Roy to the Strathdale dog park or Kennington Reservoir and then having a coffee. They say it’s great socialising for a dog, but it is also fantastic socialising for me as well.
Tuesday
Today was the monthly Standing Committee meeting of the Loddon-Mallee Presbytery, held at the Neale Street Uniting Church in Bendigo. It was a hybrid meeting, with Zoom coming in handy because the steep rise in petrol prices meant two of our Swan Hill members could join in from home.
At this meeting I was voted in as the Deputy Chair of the Presbytery. Being in my fifth placement, I have been feeling a nudge to step up more, and as I had recently given up a significant commitment in the sporting world, now was the time.
Tuesday is the day it seems for my nursing home services, as I visit three places, either taking monthly or quarterly services, and they are all on a Tuesday. Today was my quarterly service at the Uniting AgeWell Strath-Haven home. They get fantastic numbers at the service, around 45. Bigger than most congregations.
After going home and doing mostly admin with emails and the like I attended the weekly 5.30pm community meal at the Kangaroo Flat Rotary clubrooms. A few years ago, a Rotarian invited me to come and have a meal and chat to people. While it is mostly aimed at those in need, anybody is welcome, particularly if they want company. The meals are superb from the Kangaroo Flat Sports Club and it is all over around 6pm, so not a late night.
Wednesday
There is a popular and long-running craft group at the Kangaroo Flat Uniting Church on a Wednesday morning, with both church and non-church people attending. Most weeks I pop in for a coffee and have a chat to people and be there for their show and tell. They love Roy being there too and he says hello to everyone.
Then it was the once-a-month cuppa and chat I initiated about two years ago, where we meet at the bistro at the Bendigo Stadium. It started as a place to meet for coffee, but most of us stay for lunch as well. I then went home and began some preparation for the Sunday service, particularly getting the Order of Service together.
Paul loves building relationships as part of his ministry role.
Thursday
The day began by attending a 7am men’s breakfast at a local café. The leader of the group, Bruce Claridge, is a legend in Bendigo, having started the Victory Church and Victory College, which now has over 1150 students on its campus and they are building another campus. Bruce is also the main go-to person locally for sports chaplaincy, which I interact with.
I had to leave early, as I drove to Ballarat to visit three horse racing stables, an excursion run by OTI Syndications, with around 30 attending, most of them bused from Melbourne. It was a wonderful insight into the operations of a horse racing stable and what they deal with, all the highs and lows. OTI is the leader in thoroughbred welfare, with regards to the care of their horses beyond their racing career.
Then it was home after a nice lunch at the Lake View Hotel in Bendigo. One advantage of being 0.8 is that I can take some other time out to do something special that arises.
I had a siesta when I got home and then went to goal umpires training with the Bendigo Umpires Association. I have been goal umpiring in Australian Rules football since 1994. From 2014 until the end of last year I was coaching the goal umpires as well. It has brought a lot of joy and kept me in touch with people outside of the church, although there are many Christians in the group in Bendigo.
Then to complete a big day, I went to hear the guest speaker, Bishop Philip Huggins, at the Bendigo Interfaith Council annual dinner. My Uniting Church cluster gives $500 towards the speaker, so it was fantastic to hear him.
Friday
On Friday mornings, I go to the emergency relief run at the Kangaroo Flat Uniting Church. It is the major outreach of the congregation, helping those in need with food.
Friday afternoon, I got into the sermon writing for Sunday, as well as other aspects of the service. I have taken up doing the PowerPoint as our much-loved secretary died last year, and many of us had to take up jobs she was doing.
Then late Friday afternoon, I watched a couple of the races at Bendigo. It was their first race meeting for around five months as they had a major track renovation, so I thought I would pop out, as I have had some discussions with the Bendigo Jockey Club to be their voluntary chaplain.
On Friday night I was MC at the awards night for the Marong Cricket Club. A Kangaroo Flat Uniting Church member introduced me to Marong a few years ago, and it is good fun dabbling in the C-grade team.
Paul has been a goal umpire for many years.
Saturday
On Saturday morning I went out to Lockwood, as the community use the church and the grounds to run a monthly mini market. I hadn’t been for over a year, so it was good to take the opportunity to go out there.
I then goal umpired a practice match at Marong, then it was home to watch some sport, and finalise everything for the Sunday services.
Sunday
Apart from one Sunday a month, when I go to Lockwood, I lead worship at two places, Kangaroo Flat at 9.30am and then Chum Street – Golden Square at 11am. Overall, I do notice the declining attendances because of the age demographic.
I got home around 1pm, after which I could relax and, following in the footsteps of Martin Luther, have a Sunday afternoon siesta.
When I accepted the call to come to Bendigo, I was attracted to the groups and the opportunities to join with others and chat to people. Like somebody said recently, that is my A-game, getting alongside others.
