Dear Friends,
I have today visited our Bishop, who is slowly recovering from his bout of pneumonia. For the next few weeks Bishop Keith will be requiring rest so that he can resume his duties in the New Year.

A big thank you to everyone who has sent messages and who has ministered to Bishop during his time in hospital and since he has been home at the Lodge.

As we journey in heart and mind to Bethlehem this Christmas, let us remember the many places in the world where there is poverty and insecurities and where Christians are persecuted for their faith.

As we sing the traditional carols, let us remember the Christian Community in Bethlehem and the struggles they have in daily life.

Let us also remember those people within our own nation, who have lost homes, livelihoods and indeed lives in the disastrous bush fires. The response of the volunteers and rescue workers is to be commended.

CLERGY AND LAY MINISTERS RETREAT FEBRUARY 3-6, 2020
Calling all Clergy and Lay Ministers - Anglican NQ Ministry Retreat - Feb 3-6, 2020

Dr Robyn Wrigley-Carr, who specialises in spiritual theology, is a well-known writer, lecturer and spiritual retreat director. She will be taking us on a spiritual journey using the prayers and meditations of Evelyn Underhill who addressed an Anglican clergy retreat in in the early 20th century. This is a chance to refresh, renew and draw on the rich theological and spiritual wells of the past, which are so relevant to the present circumstances facing clergy.

The retreat will be held at the air conditioned Catholic Colleges at JCU Townsville. We begin on Monday afternoon and close mid-morning Thursday. The cost will be a total of approximately $310 for the three nights’ accommodation and food. Bed linen is supplied, but please bring your own bath towel and toiletries. Accommodation is in air-conditioned rooms with bathrooms shared between two rooms.

Please email Shelley on bishoppa@anglicannq.org to obtain a registration form, enabling us to determine numbers for catering.

REGISTRY OFFICE CLOSURE
Please be advised that the Registry Office will be closing at 4.00pm on Tuesday 24th December 2019 and re-opening on Monday 6th January 2020. From all the staff in the Registry, we wish you a blessed, relaxed and merry Christmas and a safe New Year. We look forward to catching up with you in 2020. During the closure period of the Registry, any issues relating to Parochial and Diocese matters, should be referred to the Archdeacon on 07 4093 8735, 0449 147 769 or archdeacon@anglicannq.org

POLICY 6
Policy 6 Workplace Health and Safety has been revamped for ease of use within Ministry Units. Please familiarise yourself with the documents on our website, which can be found at the following link https://www.anglicannq.org/governance/whs

SPARE THURIBLE
If anyone has a spare thurible or knows of where one can be obtained, please contact Shelley on bishoppa@anglicannq.org. Our Solomon Island friends in Ayr would like to take one back to their church in the Solomon’s.

2020 CLERGY STIPEND RATES
The Clergy Stipend rates for 2020 are now available on the Diocesan website. Please follow this link https://www.anglicannq.org/governance/diocesan-policies-and-regulations

FROM THE DEAN
Congratulations to both Fr Vic Hall and Dean Emeritus Don Barter. Apart from them both operating (and still making sense at their age) we celebrated with Fr Vic on his anniversary of ordination on the feast of Christ the King (24th November). He is into his third decade of chaplaincy in at least one of our hospitals, including TTH palliative care in more recent years. And as an honorary! Well done!

Fr Don celebrated 50 years as a Deacon on St Andrew’s Day (30 Nov 1969) as well as his 85th birthday. Don graduated from St Francis’ College just two years before I entered the same formation program, and Don was Penny’s parish priest at the Ascension while she was at JCU in the very early 70’s, so we have known them for some years!

I look forward with you to a blessed Christmas and wonderful 2020.
Please keep our Bishop Keith in your prayers.

The Venerable Christopher Wright OAM
Archdeacon of North Queensland

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