About this Series
This sermon is not part of a Sermon Series and stands alone.
This Sunday will be Mike McNamara’s final Sunday with St Alfred's, prior to taking up the position as Vicar at St James Anglican Church Ivanhoe. Mike has been on staff at St Alfred's for the past decade and been a wonderful Senior Associate Minister.
Prior to coming to Melbourne Mike had served in a variety of ministry roles including: chaplain at St Nicholas Cathedral, Mwanza, Tanzania; a team vicar in Lancashire; an associate vicar in Essex; rector in Suffolk; a Rural Dean; a Selector for Crosslinks Anglican Mission Agency and a Trustee of the Church Patronage Trust. While serving at St Alfred's Mike also served as a selector for CMS Vic (interviewing prospective missionary candidates) and been on the organizing committee for the Ridley Preaching Conference.
Mike’s friendly, personable nature has endeared him to us. He is warm, gregarious and has an extraordinary memory for people. I am convinced he is either related to, went to school with, or lived in the same village as everyone in England.
We have all benefited from Mike’s focus on Christ, his personal faith in Christ and his desire to see others come to faith in Christ. These Christ-focused characteristics should not be underestimated especially when the world and even the wider church puts so much pressure on ministers to focus on other things.
As Mike and Jo leave us it is appropriate that we thank them and bless them. They have been good and faithful servants. They go to a new ministry challenge in Ivanhoe with our prayers and best wishes.