David Powys finished his two-year ministry as Vicar at St John’s on Boxing Day and there are pictures of his Celebration of Forty Years of Ministry on 28 November 2021, as well as his final serivce in the parish held on Boxing Day 2021 on our News and Community page.
The Revd Gail Bryce, our locum priest
Before a new vicar starts, the parish will be in the care our locum Vicar the Rev’d Gail Bryce. She was last here for an extended period early in 2019. Revd Gail has provided a few paragraphs introducing herself .
I am very much looking forward to being with you at St. John’s as your Locum Priest. Bishop Genieve Blackwell has invited me to be in the parish two weekdays and on Sundays each week. My husband, Ian, and I were born in Brisbane and married there. We moved to country Victoria in 1975 for Ian’s work where he was an executive on the management team in the fruit canning industry.
I was ordained to the Diaconate in Wangaratta Diocese and to the Priesthood in Bendigo Diocese in 2002. I have served in country Victoria in the parishes of Nurmurkah, Shepparton, St. Paul’s Cathedral, Bendigo, Parish of Pyramid Hill, Boort, Bear’s Lagoon and Calivil, returned to Shepparton parish, then Tatura, following which we moved to Melbourne.
We have three adult children, a daughter and two sons and three grandchildren. Our eldest son, David and his wife, Ruth and their two children have served as missionaries in Cambodia for 15 years.
I love serving God and his people, have a heart for grief ministry, for Bible study and prayer groups, for teaching the Christian faith, for Biblical preaching, pastoral care and a passion to grow God’s Church.
Following the Archbishop granting me a Permission to Officiate license for the Diocese of Melbourne in 2014, I have been so privileged to serve as Locum Priest at St Andrew’s Aberfeldie, St Paul’s Kew East, a further period of 18 months at St Andrew’s Aberfeldie, St George’s Ivanhoe East, St Alban’s Coburg West, All Saints Ascot Vale, St Aidans Strathmore, St. John’s Bentleigh (February - July 2019), St. Paul’s, Kew East (further 18 months) and now at St. John’s Bentleigh.
Ian and I look forward to re-acquainting ourselves with parishioners at St John’s and getting to know those who are new to us, and walking with you during this chapter in the life of St John’s, during which I trust we will all grow in faith and trust in our Lord.
Please don’t hesitate to be in touch with me at any time for any reason.
Yours in Christ’s Service,
The Rev’d. Gail Bryce.
Gail can be contacted via the parish office in the first instance on 9557 2226