At 9 o’clock last Wednesday, I was arriving at Brisbane Airport after spending two and a half weeks in Thailand. It was an amazing trip, but an awful overnight flight. Wedged into the middle seat for eight and a half hours, unable to sleep, I spent most of the time thinking about how tired I would be once I got off the plane. And to top off all that, I had Parish Council that evening. A voice in the back of my head told me to send my apologies. After all, what’s one missed meeting? 

Well, mostly because it would be quite a bold statement to send my apologies and then write a blog entry about it, it’s clear that I ended up going. 

In the lead up to our Annual General Meeting, our Parish Council meeting delved into topics of church collaboration, finances, partnerships, and opportunities for young people. I came to the realisation through these discussions that the future of our church is in its community. And while the church worships on a Sunday, there’s so much more that happens during the week than I realise. 

Our church has a lot to be thankful for, in particular the hard work of the clergy and staff of this church. I find myself taking for granted that whenever there’s something wrong with the register at the op shop or I can’t remember the lectionary to teach for Sunday school, I can message someone to ask at any time of day. There is so much work that goes into our church behind the scenes, and I am grateful for their work. 

Beyond that, there are countless volunteers who give their time to help others, whether it’s setting up the live stream, singing in the choir/worship band, or making delicious coffee. Even the people that give you a warm smile or a cheery “good morning” make our community so welcoming. It’s these people who help shape the future of the church. 

As we move forward into the year, I want to make a conscious effort to be appreciative of the time and energy people spend shaping the future of our church and engaging with our community. I want to learn more about the different parts of church life that I might not be aware of, and the different ways we help our community. And perhaps most importantly, I want to remind myself how grateful I am to have the opportunity be involved in the future of our church, no matter how tired I feel.