THE first Sunday church service at the Korumburra Baptist Church, on Sunday, July 13, after the verdict the previous Monday, was always likely to attract some media attention.
However, given the 252 journalists and media outlets recorded on the Supreme Court’s email list for the trial, from Australia and overseas, the two cameras and handful of news people who turned up for the 10.30am service was a very modest number by comparison.
And they received a warm welcome from church elders and congregation members, some apologizing for the South Gippsland weather as they arrived with an unrelenting north-westerly blowing in sideways at the front door of the church, or offering no objection to those who wanted to sit in on the service inside.
No photographs, please.
Pastor Ian Wilkinson, who attended almost 40 days of the trial, was a notable absentee from the Sunday service, as too was Simon Patterson, who has a regular role of a Sunday on the computer.
“Simon and Ian won’t be coming today and there’s unlikely to be any comment about the trial,” said one of the church members.
Some visitors took the opportunity of attending the service and joined churchgoers for tea and biscuits afterwards but apart from prayers for those “overcoming hardships and loss” and for Don, Gail and Heather, it was a usual Sunday service.
During the week, the church also posted the following message on its noticeboard out the front:
“We all greatly miss Heather, Don and Gail, whether we were friends for a short time or over 20 years. They were very special people who loved God and loved to bless others.
“It’s been a long journey, and we continue to lovingly support Ian, Simon, and all the Wilkinson and Patterson family through this difficult time.
“We appreciate all the care from our local communities, special support from individuals and from the Baptist Union of Victoria, and the churches and people from all over the world who have been praying for us.
“As our Pastor Ian has said: “Life can be hard, but God is faithful, and He is always with us.”
The Wilkinson and Patterson families have asked that people respect their privacy at this time. Please also respect the privacy of our church family.
Thank you., Korumburra Baptist Church Leadership Team.
