REVEREND Rob Hanks will take solace from the one good thing about his farewell service at Morisset Uniting Church in a couple of weeks.
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"I'm expecting the sort of morning tea that we're legendary for here at funerals," he smiled.
"Other than that, I'm expecting to feel sadness that we've done something special that's coming to an end."
After four-and-a-half years at the Church in the Trees, Reverend Hanks has accepted a placement at Hamilton Uniting Church, in Newcastle.
He leaves the Morisset congregation having overseen several changes.
But it's the ideas for changes that haven't yet come to fruition at Morisset - the sense of unfinished business - that bothers him.
From the moment he started work at Morisset in November, 2015, Reverend Hanks admitted that the church had been "pushed to the fringes of society" so it was time for the church to get more active in "meeting the hurts and hopes" of the community.
He urged the congregation to become more engaged with its neighbours, and the wider community.
"God's mission is in the world," he said.
"We need to join in that, wherever it exists - and not just here in our 'Holy huddle'."
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Reverend Hanks set about leading by example.
He became involved in the Youth Frontiers program and mentored year 9 students at Morisset High School, he lobbied to have a footpath installed at Sunshine, he helped get a Repair Cafe up and running in Morisset, and he became an active member of Southlake Business Chamber and Community Alliance.
The message to the congregation was find ways to be helpful and "bring wholeness to the community" but without the religious agenda.
"I think it's been important to see that the church group is active, has a profile, and is helpful."
He also set about opening the church grounds to more community groups.
When he arrived, the site was already home to Morisset Meals on Wheels, an op shop, and community garden.
But Reverend Hanks could see the makings a real community hub.
He could envision a place for groups to meet, a venue for youth music and entertainment, and who knows what else?
"I remember thinking this is something quite special because it had been built as a community facility, not just a church," he said.
The site now hosts a diverse range of community groups.
The University of the 3rd Age (U3A) and a taekwondo group hold classes there, a card-playing group has games there, a stamp club meets there and, on the last Friday of the month the Adventist Church prepares and serves meals there as part of its Open Kitchen program.
"I feel that the community connection stuff is only just beginning," Reverend Hanks said.
"There's plans to expand the op shop and we need to find a builder, and we're talking about having Friday activity nights here, movie screenings, trivia nights and community barbecues," he said.
Reverend Hanks said at his final worship service he would encourage his congregation to keep on keeping on.
"I hope they will continue to be challenged to connect with the community, and for this space [the church grounds] to be open for that to happen."
A replacement has not been named for Reverend Hanks at Morisset.
Services were likely to be run by any of a number of retired ministers who live in the Morisset congregation, Reverend Hanks said.
Reverend Hanks will present his final worship service at Morisset Uniting Church on Sunday, February 16, at 9.30am.
