On Sunday just gone, I started as Student Minister at Panania Anglican Church. It was a full-on 14-hour day filled with people and conversations - and, needless to say, thoroughly exhausting. However, it was also exciting to start to get to know people and work out how I would be serving God in his church at Panania.
For those who don't know, my brother did a couple of years of student ministry at Panania Anglican about 7 years ago. In fact, it's where he met his wife! Although the staff team has completely changed in that time, there are still plenty of people there who remember Dave and Steph and were keen to tell me of some of their memories of them. It was actually novel to have one couple say to me, "So, you're Wendy's sister."
This change of church will also mean a shift in focus for the ministries I'm involved with this year. I will be co-leading a Years 7-9 group at the 10am service, spending time with some families over lunch, mentoring of younger women during the afternoons and being involved in the 7pm service.
It dawned on me last week that I had not been regularly involved with an evening church for more than 10 years - and I suddenly felt rather old! However, I have to say that I really enjoyed all of the services on Sunday, including the 7pm, and I am looking forward to getting to know people better.
PS I am, however, missing the great friends I have left behind at Shellharbour City and am looking forward to hearing how they are going.
