Over the past months, I have been pondering the Old Testament stories of Jacob and the ancient people of Israel. These wonderful stories which originally were passed on in Oral tradition, say much about the engagement of those ancient peoples with Yahweh. They were people on the move, wandering from Oasis to oasis, experiencing the difficulties of a nomadic life. Eventually, those peoples came to know Jerusalem as their spiritual home and built the Temple for worship of God. Of course when that Temple was destroyed, the lives of the people were affected in so many ways. Yet, they remembered that God had been with their forefathers as they journeyed through the deserts and dramas of the years before. They wrote about these beliefs and convictions in the Psalms and passed their stories down in written as well as oral tradition. Their story became their worship as well as their lifestyle, customs and cultures. Such rituals as Passover, became household  patterns for children to live and learn. All this we embrace as Christians.

Over the years, my family and I have been journeying from oasis to oasis - parish to parish. Now it is time to move on once again. It was announced on July 31 that I have accepted the Archbishop's offer of the Parish of Coolangatta - Palm Beach. My final Eucharist at St. Mary's will be at 9.00am on Sunday September 11 (St Mary's Festival), followed by Morning Tea and a BYO barbeque on the lawns of St Mary's. I hope that you will be able to come and say farewell. I will be commissioned at St Peter's Coolangatta at a Eucharist at 7.00pm on Friday 23 September.

I have been privileged to be the Rector of St Mary's over these past eight years. Much has been undertaken and achieved. It has been an honour to engage so many people through the Marriage Ministry, Baptisms, major Festivals and Events, services for the Royal Australian Navy, the Battle of Britain community, the Scout Association, the Arts communities of Brisbane, the Commercial amd Legal communities, Mt. Olivet Hospital (now known as St Vincent's Brisbane) and of course, to work alongside and be a part of the magical music of Christopher Wrench and Emily Cox - St Mary's music ministry - and much, much more.

St Mary's is, in a way, a sort of Temple experience - where people go to for Worship, Rites of Passage, social and deep spiritual encounter. Like the Temple of the Old Testament, it is a building and buildings cost and are always vulnerable. St Mary's demands affection and admiration. Yet it costs vast sums of money and will continue to cost vast sums of money to pay its ongoing weekly costs, operational costs and costs for its completion and renovation. To find a solution to that problem has been a major aspect of my ministry. That solution involves pain and great change. Yet the outcome would provide sufficient funds to empower the ministry and mission of this church well into the furture. Such a plan demands understanding and recognition. To dismiss the immensity of the work done to explore these needs and to find a viable format for a worthy solution, would be folly in the extreme.

However, I have made my contribution to this work and I leave it now with God, the Bishop, the Church and the Community to continue exploring this challenge. I am being called on to another place and different challenges. As one used to this pattern, I am excited by the prospect of life at Coolangatta and working with the church and wider community on the southern Gold Coast.

I hope I will meet up with as many people as possible in the remaining weeks at St Mary's. Wendy and I wish you all every blessing for the future, which ever oasis or watering hole you may venture to.

Yours in Christ,

Stephen Redhead (Rector, 2003-Sept 2011)