"Church" is not a building, it is people. Please contact us if you have any questions or we can help in any way.
PETER GHALAYINI
Pastor
It’s been a while since I have updated my profile and yet so much has happened in such a little time over the past 18 months. Sadly our church has experienced almost half of that time in lockdown and all of that time with some sort of restriction. But in all this we have seen such resilience from our members who have continued to support our parish with their spiritual and physical gifts.
I am now approaching my 13th year as Pastor of Ringwood Knox and yet it still seems like I’m just learning things.
In these 18 months we have learnt to livestream our church services and adapt to new demands on churches to operate in a Covid Safe way. These have put heavy demands on us but our love of God and worship has seen us meet those challenges head on.
In those 13 years my life has changed somewhat. My daughter Grace got married in 2017 to Chris, the same year my beloved Richmond Tigers won their first of 3 Grand Finals in almost 40 years.
I continue to enjoy keeping fit but have transitioned from bike riding to walking my dog in the early hours of the morning.
It has also been a blessing to see my wife managing our Retirement Village which means we share a close working relationship alongside our worship and home life.
The coming months are still uncertain with lockdowns easing and the challenge of vaccine passports and continued Covid concerns. But I know that with God’s love and support that we will get through this. At times it seems like Israel wandering through the desert but even after 40 years they finally made it to the Promised Land with God’s help and guidance. I’m sure it won’t take us that long.
Pastor Peter Ghalayini
JUDY BOWMAN
Child Youth and Family Ministry Coordinator
I love being part of my congregation because, as my church family, it provides support, care and sustenance for all facets of my life, but most importantly my spiritual wellbeing. I love the diverse makeup of our congregation and the wonderful people who have become my church family.
I am a Christian because of my parents’ and grandparents’ nurture of my faith throughout my childhood. It has always been a part of who I am and it informs everything that I do. It has been enhanced, grown and nurtured further through amazing Christian role models in all the church communities I have been a part of, and through my engagement and interaction with a wide range of faithful Christian people from many and varied backgrounds.
My interests include all types of craft and sewing, watching sport and spending time with family.
My favourite bible text is Isaiah 43:1: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine".
I connect with my community through:
- my volunteer work as part of the Monash University chaplaincy team
- being a Kid’s Hope mentor at Templeton Primary School in Wantirna
- assisting with our congregation’s Soup & Singing program during the winter months, and
- being a member of the local U3A community where I take Calligraphy classes.
Jenny Burr
Pastoral Care Coordinator
I commenced working in the Pastoral Care role in February, 2018. I have the privilege of connecting with and supporting people as they journey through life. Collaborating with others and developing a shared vision for ministry, our community and pastoral support is an aspect of my work that I enjoy.
I am a Christian because I was blessed with parents who modelled a life of faith and worship.
My favourite bible text is Matthew 7:7 "Ask and it will be given to you: seek and you will find: knock and the door will be open for you."
My interest include regular coffee catch-ups with friends, Pilates, walking, watching movies, reading, AFL (Collingwood is my team) and family get-togethers.
SHARON GHALAYINI
Retirement Village Manager
I connect with my community by being part of and caring for those around me. This is so true of life in our retirement village. We share in each other’s joys and sorrows. Community is family, and family is community. This is where all areas of my life intersect; my church family and the village community supporting one another as God meant it to be.
I was made a child of God through my baptism. I believe that I have been a Lutheran since my ancestors got off the boat in Adelaide in the 1850s!
I love sitting with my extended family soaking up all that God showers on us each Sunday and this carries me through the week to come.
My favourite Bible passage is Jeremiah 29:11-13 “For I know the plans I have for you”, declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart”.
My interests include patchwork and quilting, walking, exercise and gardening.
Brendan Scott
Parish Music Coordinator
My role as Music Coordinator at Ringwood Knox Parish brings together two essential aspects of my life being my background in music and my faith.
There is nothing quite like the sound of a congregation singing in unison in worship. It’s a time when the worry and stress of the world around us can be forgotten as our voices are raised and melodies are played bringing comfort and unity.Psalm 46:10 sums this up for me. ‘Be still and know that I am God;’ As we focus on the songs and hymns that we are playing and singing, we can be assured that God is bringing us together in a meaningful way through music.I feel very blessed to be able to play a part in that.
