It was pre-lockdown. Social distancing and all the COVID requirements were observed. But as Barry Gillett drew the service to a close, two men from out of town stepped forward holding an official looking document.

It was a certificate bearing recognition of 60 years of service as a lay preacher in the Methodist and later Uniting Church. A lay preacher is a person who is not a minister, but is licensed to lead services and preach.

Barry well remembers the first service he ever led. At age 18, he was in second year at Armidale University and was halfway through a lay preachers' training course.

His minister drew him aside after church one Sunday and said, "I'm not well. I need to go home. Will you take the 2:30 service at Brockley?".

"But I've never taken a service before," protested Barry. The minister replied, "I wouldn't ask you if I didn't think you could do it."

For two short hours Barry's mind was racing to put together a service and a sermon for the occasion. He still chuckles when he thinks back on that day. But God brought him through it, and from then on, he has made himself available to serve wherever he has gone.

In those days the Armidale Methodist youth group used to take services at Guyra and Hillgrove. Barry usually got to do the children's talk. Later he found himself on a roster taking services at Uralla and Arding.

He graduated in 1962 and went to teach social science at Maitland High School. This was a time of huge activity, preaching in many Methodist churches in the Maitland area and sometimes congregational churches.

In 1971, he moved to Bathurst as head teacher and again was leading in many churches including Lithgow and Oberon also helping with Sunday schools and choirs. 1977 saw his final move to Tamworth High School and City Uniting Church.

In those days there were Uniting Churches at Duri, Bendemeer, Bowling Alley Point, Hallsville, Gowrie, Kootingal and more. It was a time for many people to take on various forms of ministry.

Barry was brought up in a Christian family in Grafton. Involvement in church and Sunday School seemed like a natural follow through of what he'd always believed.

But it was in his first year of university that God became particularly real to him, one night at a fellowship meeting. Somehow the devotion had a particular impact on him.

"I can't remember what was said," admits Barry. "But it was clear that Jesus was real and he was calling me. I went into the church and knelt at the communion rail and committed my life to Christ. The lay readers course came as a natural outworking of that."

Right now, City Uniting Church is between ministers, but there is a team of faithful people who keep the wheels rolling. When lockdown prevents physical gatherings, a complete service is emailed or delivered so that each member can hold their own church service at home.

Barry Gillett has no plans for retiring yet because he has a message he wants everybody to hear.

"God is with us. We are part of his world. His love is what holds us together."