The November meeting of the St Columba's Parish Council provided
an interesting range of topics for prayerful consideration and
consultation. Here are some of the things under discussion.
1. The draft policy on Sustainable Living. Sustainability
is about being able to meet our present needs without impacting
negatively on the ability of future generations to meet theirs. Five
key areas have been identified. They are as follows;
1. Consumption of energy
2. Use of water
3 Green house gasses
4 Ecological footprint
5 Use of chemicals
We recognised that there are areas where, largely with the
wardens' example and leadership, we have improved the use of water,
remembered to turn off unnecessary power points and kept a
responsible eye on fridges and freezers. To take an example, we have
replaced all incandescent light bulbs in the Parish Centre with
compact fluoro light bulbs, which use a fraction of the electricity,
thereby saving us money and reducing green house gasses.
2. We were pleased to see the smile on the Treasurer's face as
she reported that we were in a good financial position this month,
with the Fete achieving just over the sum of $8,000. The
gifts to Bush Church Aid, ABM, CMS, Yuluma Chaplaincy, Sonshine
Radio and other outreach are recorded in the financial statement at
the end of this report.
3 There have been problems with the office computer and
Trevor has been given authority to spend up to $1,000 with the
Discretionary fund contributing $500.
4. Approved fence renewal was expected to commence soon.
Warden John will look into this.
5 A few years ago we were given a "Field Altar" that had
been given to Dean Robert Moore when he, as a young priest,
was about to set off as an army chaplain in the Middle East in the
First World War in 1917. The gift to us was from St John's Fremantle
who suggested that it was appropriate for us to have it because Dean
Moore finished his career by leading the Scarborough Anglicans back
in the late forties and early fifties. [We really didn't know what
to do with it either!] Now with a little research we have been able
to contact an army leader [retired] who is involved in a museum
development and who would be delighted to have such a display piece.
We will keep you posted on this interesting bit of parish history
which we may be able to arrange as feature some time near to Anzac
Day 2008.
5. And now to our latest finances for October
Income $19,214.50
Including Envelope pledges $6,040
Open plate collection $1,329
Special Collection $ 590
Diocesan grant [fence] $1,943
Other donation $ 600
Hall hire $ 540
Annual Fete $8,043
Expenditure $ 6,663
Including Rector's Stipend $3,185
Other allowances rector $ 869
Secretarial costs $1,175
Printing and stationery $ 190
Rectory gas and power $ 358
Rectory repairs $ 220
Church gas and power $ 247
Church water and sewer $ 141
Church kitchen/cleaning $ 100
In addition...
Diocesan Assessment reached $946 this month. This is a proportion
of income every month given to the Diocese for Mission Outreach.
Outreach paid for missions: ABM, CMS, etc $2,900.
Thank you all for your generosity in sharing your money, time and
talents for the service of God in this Parish. I am sure that the
smile is still on the Treasurer's face. Praise God!!