Diakonia UCA

(from Queensland Synod minutes, October 2011)
Margaret Mary Henderson was born in Inverell, New South Wales, in 1950. Although Margaret initially wanted to be a policewoman when she left school, she actually obtained work as a bookkeeper for a solicitor, a job which she thoroughly enjoyed.
As a young lady she attended the local Methodist Youth Fellowship in Inverell. Margaret gave her life to Jesus at a Billy Graham Crusade in Inverell. (The crusade was actually in Sydney and relayed by landline to the local town hall.) This decision precipitated a significant involvement in the worshipping life of the local Methodist congregation. In this context she sensed the call of God on her life for some sort of ministry.
In 1971, as a young 20 year old, Margaret set out for Brisbane to commence studies at a college which seemed to her to have a dual purpose. On one hand it was called the Matrimonial Training Centre and Bridal School of which, to quote Margaret, “I was a dismal failure.” On the other hand, it was the Methodist Training College and Bible School at which “I had a bit more success”. She was not a dismal failure at the first college. When she candidated as a deaconess, she believed God’s call meant the single life for her.
Deaconess Margaret Henderson was ordained in 1976 in the Albert Street Methodist (Uniting) Church. Throughout nearly 35 years of ministry, Margaret served in Canberra, Redcliffe, Stafford, Hamilton, Clayfield College, Kedron, Glasshouse Mountains, Childers, Gympie, Mary Valley, Jandowae and Cooroy/Pomona.
Ministry for Margaret was complemented by two passions – reading and rugby league. She came to Queensland as a passionate Blues and Parramatta Eels supporter. Somewhere along the journey allegiances changed to the Maroons and the Broncos.
Ministry for Margaret was tested and refined by illness; in particular, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, which flared up in her life several times over thirty-five years of ministry.    It soon became obvious to everyone that chronic fatigue was unable to restrain Margaret’s love for people and her ability to connect with her people when she shared in worship. Her signature was her famous ‘bag of tricks’, from which she produced all sorts of gadgetry from football magazines to mobile phones and even Cadbury Roses which she freely shared to make her messages come alive and be remembered.
And while everyone was blessed by her ministry in worship, it was her deep compassion for the people she visited and cared for, that will always be remembered most. Margaret had the ability to brighten a room by her presence. She was a wonderful encourager, and a most sympathetic listener – and there was something very genuine in the way Margaret would share her faith, as it was grown from the fertile soil of her own hardships and life experiences. About three years ago Margaret was diagnosed with cancer and died on 14 September 2010. Again her ministry was tested and refined.
During the two year period leading up to her death, she continued to care for her people through phone calls and letters. Even in her final days she maintained a precious ministry with some who were going through very difficult times.
At her funeral service a friend said, “Life for Margaret had gritty, uncomfortable aspects, yet she transformed her circumstances through her outlook, humour and faith”. God used her response to transform lives.
We conclude this memorial minute with the gift of a prayer written by Margaret.
Today, I stood on Holy Ground.
I listened as someone shared their heartache.
Today, I was privileged to be taken into the depths of another human being.
Father, at times there are no answers to give.
Just love in the silence.
The silence where you restore our spirit.
A trickle of light peeps through and again we have hope.
O Father, as I stand on Holy Ground help me to take off my shoes of judgment, criticism, fear, self- centredness and open myself to the abundance and beauty of YOU.