Port Macquarie Parish Welcomes Dan Berris

By Ms Olivia Sakamoto

Port Macquarie Parish put itself to prayer to discern a fitting person to take on its historically charismatic and beloved St Thomas church family. The commissioning is an important marker for the entire community to recognise that this is our priest and the new rector to say that this is my parish.

St Thomas’ more recently known as Port Anglican welcomes Daniel Berris and his wife Kerry to the post after they felt the call to Port Macquarie despite leading a successful and loving community in the North Lakes, Mango Hill & Griffin region in North Brisbane. It seems a match of love for the Parish and the new rector who is set to utilise his natural ability to draw community and create spaces that foster relationships, support and places of hope and love for all levels of society.

Dan’s heart for a helping and serving community was carefully cultivated with first-hand experience while growing up with his single mum and two sisters. He shared that he didn’t have a lot of money, however his family received help from the church community, and this gave a good impression of what a loving, serving, and relational community can achieve for those with real needs.

Richard Hurford, former Dean of Grafton and former Bishop of Bathurst Diocese. The Warden of the Guild in Australia is the Revd. Dr. Daniel Dries, Rector of Christ Church St Laurence in Sydney.

Although the organization was mainly Anglican since its founding, the Guild now encourages church musicians across all denominations and contexts.

Robert is an unseen presence behind the organ during services. Following the service, he always plays a further piece. After the last notes have sounded – and only then – the congregation will clap their appreciation. Then his hands will appear above the organ in a little wave: modest, droll. The Honorary Fellowship is richly earned.

The scriptures that speak of looking after the poor, the widow and the outcast encapsulates his desires for a church community. ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

Matthew 25:40

The sacred part of the commissioning that represents the release and blessing from his Lakes family and the receiving and blessing from the new Port Macquarie family is important to Dan as is the receiving of different symbols from different members of the new parish and the washing of feet that recalls the perfect humility and servant heart of his Lord Jesus Christ.

As the local minister he will be looking at opportunities to help build a resilient faith community that is having fun with the wider community, create places of joy, growth, social, educational and gospel impact & a place where individuals want to invest in this faith community.