Priest's Report, as presented at Emmanuel Church's 2005 Annual Meeting for the period 2004/2005.
Congratulations to us all for another good year at Emmanuel. We have been a blessing to each other and to the local community.
Sunday Worship
Celebrating Emmanuel's 25th Anniversary on 10th April was wonderful. We were joined by our Dean Stephen Sidebotham who was Dean when Emmanuel began in 1980, and by Archbishop Peter Kwong. A number former members and visitors attended too. The catered brunch after the service in the area outside our service room at West Island was a great success.
Our Sunday Worship is our most important activity, when we come together as the people of God to worship and pray. Other highlights from this year's regular Sunday worship have included:
- family services for Pentecost, Harvest, Remembrance Sunday, Nativity, Candlemas and Mothering Sunday.
- the visit of Ebenezer School Former Students Choir "Cantata" in May.
- the outdoor Christmas Service in the garden of West Island School.
- Palm Sunday with St. Luke's Kennedy Town: starting at Emmanuel, in the school garden, before jumping on coaches to Kennedy Town.
- the baptism of Joshua Vernon by his Grandpa, Revd John Vernon, on Easter Day.
- the Discussion Sermon in September on the topic "inviting people to church". We reflected on what brought us to Emmanuel, how we can share our faith and what we like about Emmanuel. A number of Emmanuel members who've joined in recent years started coming because friends told them about Emmanuel.
In the coming year I hope we can continue to invite people to church, to hold more services in the School Garden and to reflect as a church on our spirituality and Services.
Building Community
This continues to be a priority and we have sort to deepen our friendship and knowing each other.
- we have held Quiz Nights in May and November – that latter was the first in our West Island room and was a great evening.
- in June, Rabbi Lee Diamond of the United Jewish Congregation of Hong Kong spoke at our midweek group. Lee was fascinating on the place of Torah in Judaism, Jewish views of a Messiah, and politics in Israel. One aim of the evening was to build understanding between our faiths and to celebrate the great deal that we have in common.
- we held a number of social gatherings: an evening meal out, a Dim Sum lunch, a hymn sing-along, a "Shrove Monday" pancake party and a Sunday School Epiphany party.
- our Midweek Group continues to meet on Thursdays. During Lent we read "The Power of Small Choices".
In the coming year I hope we can strengthen our Midweek Group. This may include changing the meeting time.
Community Links
Maintaining our links to the Pokfulam community is another priority. This year we:
- welcomed the Ebenezer School Former Students Choir Cantata.
- donated Harvest gifts to Ebenezer School,
- donated proceeds from our Quiz Nights to the Riding School for the Disabled.
- served mulled wine and mince pies at Kennedy School Night Market,
- made sandwiches for the Ebenezer School Fair,
- and sung carols around Pokfulam.
We have also distributed postcards advertising our presence and service details to flats in the area. Our Priest-in-Charge continues to be the Chair of the School Council at West Island School and to visit Kennedy School. He also visits people in Queen Mary Hospital occasionally.
In the coming year I hope we can begin offering a visiting service to English speaking patients in Queen Mary Hospital. This will depend on hospital visiting regulations.
Location
Our room at West Island School continues to be a good home for us, but we continue to look forward to moving to the Béthanie Chapel on Pokfulam Road. At the time of writing, we are waiting for the APA to obtain authority to begin the renovations which we were advised will take about a year. More details will be given in the Béthanie Report at this annual meeting.
Finally
Thank you for all your support and commitment to Emmanuel and to each other. It is a pleasure and a privilege to be your Priest-in-Charge. I'm looking forward to the coming year: to us further developing our activities; growing as God's family; and continuing to provide an English-language Anglican church in Pokfulam.
Reverend Matthew Vernon, Priest-in-Charge.
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