Flying padre comes to Peninsula

The Uniting Church Flying Padre will be holding a presentation and discussion group at the Umina and Ettalong Uniting Churches on Thursday, October 30.

The Flying Padre, the Reverend John Blair, flies to stations and towns across the far north west of NSW bringing pastoral care to isolated people.

Mr Blair began the Far West Flying Patrol in 2002 after working as a pastor near Boston in the US.

His parish covers more than 161,000 square kilometres and around 500 working stations fall within its borders.

The Flying Padre performs pre-marriage and baptismal conferences, sets up pastoral visits and provides counselling.

Mr Blair has flown more than one million kilometres since commencing his mission in a 35-year-old Cessna.

"As the Royal Flying Doctor Service provides free medical aid in the bush, so the Uniting Church provides faithful, social and emotional support to people who are at risk," Mr Blair said.

"It's very much like a pastoral position.

"Before the flying patrol centre was established, I didn't have one church building to look after.

All of my buildings were out there.

"We may have home church. We may have shed church. We may have pub church.

"It's an opportunity to meet the people where they live."

The Flying Padre will be holding a presentation at the Ettalong Uniting Church Hall on October 30, from 2pm and at Umina Uniting Church from 7.30pm.

"Everyone is most welcome," said publicity officer Ms Annette Strong.

Pamphlet, 24 Oct 2008 Uniting Church Flying Padre Press release, 21 Oct 2008 Annette Strong, Uniting Church