Welcome to Rev Gillian Munro - Pastoral Care Coordinator for the network

We offer a warm welcome to Rev Gillian Munro who has been appointed as Pastoral Care Coordinator for the network. Gillian is already known to many of us, having regularly joined us in worship over the past few weeks.

We all look forward to supporting her in her new role as she moves around the parish, as well as Dunning and Forgandenny and Abernethy.

Gillian introduces herself here

This is an exciting time of change within our church. There are many challenges, but this will allow us to pause and consider how our faith in our Lord Jesus Christ may best be shared within our church and community in this modern society.

Fewer people to provide support and care. Our minister is being stretched in the very large area Allan is now required to cover. We are fortunate in having our Locally Ordained Minister, Ian, to support him. However, members are often elderly and would benefit from pastoral care at a level which is no longer sustainable unless we are all committed to building on the care we already show for each other. And so, our central church offices have funded my post to support the development of a network of care.

How then are we going to provide pastoral care at a level which will reflect the love of our Lord Jesus Christ, his caring, healing hands and words which will bring hope, peace, joy and love to members as they are helped to remember that God holds them in the palm of his hand?

We need to explore and implement the vision of the ministry team, office bearers and members of the congregations. Yes, we all need to be involved in this. So, what role can you play? You may be asked to join in the network of visiting people in their home, you may be asked to make telephone calls, you may be able to keep the ministries team informed of people who would benefit from support, or you may be praying for God’s hand to be seen in all of this. You will never be asked to do anything you are not comfortable with!

Discussions are taking place with people to find out what foundations we have to build on – and there are many. People are sharing ideas, discussing possibilities. I am enjoying getting to know people I haven’t met before as well as working with those known to me for many years.

With the experience I have through pastoral care over the past forty-four years I believe that we can work together to make a difference. It is a great privilege to have been called to serve our network in this way and to work as part of our innovative ministry team, alongside dedicated office bearers and people faithful to the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.                                            Rev Gillian Munro