As part of the conference “For the Love of God”, held last weekend to support and encourage Anglicans from across Adelaide, parishes were invited to present projects and outreach through which they shared God’s love by working in fellowship with other Christians and supporting people through service in our communities. These are their Parish Pitches
Breakfast@StBede’s Semaphore parish
A community outreach program of love
Presented by Dorothy Thorpe
We provide a free community breakfast in a warm safe friendly environment where no questions are asked, and all are treated with respect and dignity.
Every Tuesday 8.30am -10.00am a free breakfast is served to average 35 men and women.
People in need can eat, take food and other donated items away, enjoy the company of others and make friends. Chair yoga is offered.
For people from residential homes, the program provides a change of food and company, for the homeless and unemployed there is a meal, advice about other services and sometimes a food voucher.
For people on low incomes living alone, it offers companionship as well as food.
A Winterfest and a Christmas party are extravagant treats. This program would not continue without the wonderful volunteers from the community, support from charitable trusts, and parishioner donations. There is also
A supportive structure comprised of Parish Council, the Management Committee, and a paid Co-ordinator.
Funding and community support
- A generous annual donation provided by a private trust fund
- Co-ordinator paid by Susanne Elliott Charitable Trust since June 2023 (annual application)
- Donations from local businesses and organisations
- Support from Anglicare and Bede’s Bazaar op shop
It has had a long history with several manifestations (ecumenical, Anglicare partnership). God always provides!
SCUBA – Seeking Christ through Understanding Believing & Action
Diving in to find out more about Christ
Presented by Sue Harris, St Richards, Lockleys
Electronic Children’s Ministry Home Packages & Youth Connect
Connecting with Christ, the community and each other
During Covid lockdown I developed and began emailing children’s ministry home packages which follow Sunday formats with activities and messages.
I then began emailing youth devotions to maintain connection with our often absent youth. Both have continued and the ministry is broadening to include parents who thirst for spiritual input and are sometimes unable to attend services. Packages are sent weekly during term time and are also shared between families.
Feedback has been phenomenal. As an arts practitioner who often works in social justice, I know creativity is a key component for engagement. I was a member of the synod appointed Children’s and Youth Ministry Unit & have been involved with beach missions; facilitated workshops for Scripture Union and churches from differing denominations; and have worked with children and youth in schools for many years. I am available to assist those wanting to develop their children’s and youth ministry.
SCUBA HOME PACKAGES
- Begun during Covid lockdown as a means of maintaining connection
- Us to children
- Children to church
- and to our Sunday format of learning about Christ
- Not all families attend church every week; the covering email also maintains an adult connection (packages are emailed to adult family members)
- Packages get Bible verses and messages into homes
- They are a fun adjunct to Christian home learning and teaching. A tool for parents to use
- Idiosyncratic to our community with a global perspective.
Some children had bullying and anger management issues & we addressed Protective Behaviours – both in the community and at church. (We are very good at teaching our adults safety; however, we must remind our children that those same rules for personal safety which apply at school, also apply to church – i.e. persistence, networking, saying ‘stop’, etc)
A need has been demonstrated for home packages to continue.
YOUTH CONNECT DEVOTIONS
- Historically many of our youth go off the radar – devotions are a means by which to maintain our hard-fought connection; and encourage their connection to Christ.
- When youth return for a visit, they are at ease due to our on-going, kept-alive friendship. It’s all about relationships.
- Devotions are not generic; issues can be addressed.
- Some youth forward individual points for prayer.
- The style of writing and topics assure them that their voice will be heard.
A need has been demonstrated for devotionals to continue.
PRAYER IS AT THE HEART
By allowing the Holy Spirit to do what the Holy Spirit does way better than us…
- Packages and Devotionals have taken flight and are being emailed on by recipients. Grandparents are sending them into non-church going families for their grandchildren. And although I shouldn’t – I continue to be amazed.
- Both now read by as many, if not more, adults – including clergy. (including clergy also maintains accountability)
- Parents of young children who cannot attend each week, thirst for spiritual nourishment.
- Checking emails is a daily routine – it’s in our DNA – and packages sit there, waiting patiently; and can be partaken in snippets or as a whole; and consumed at readers’ convenience.
- Adults who have demonstrated a reluctance to attend regular Bible studies or Home Fellowship groups have instigated reading packages with their grandchildren and email positive comments back.
COMMENTS from ADULTS
“I’ve been reading all the Easter messages. It really helped me. I’ve never been to all the Easter services before. I came to each one.”
“I’m so worried about not attending church each week. Please keep sending me the devotions.”
“We read it as a family.”
Siya’s Dad was dying and we were all grieving for the family – the package that week had a special message for Siya and a prayer which we could all pray for him. It also gave the children something proactive to do in their grieving for their friend.
“I don’t always understand the sermons, but I love the children’s talks.” – 80+ year old.
“Thanks for the message. (X) gets excited when he hears the printer and is now reading them by himself.”
“I love all your stories. There are so many!”
“It was timely. Just as the grandchildren arrived, so did SCUBA.”
“My son read the birthday message to (X) (grandson) and sang the song.”
Non-church going recipients love that there are messages for their children.
There is always the hope that they will read further.
…And as an arts practitioner who also works in the area of social justice, I can attest that creativity is a key component for engagement.
Advice from my accountant…
“Don’t open your front door without first having your Public Liability Insurance in place.
Advice from me…
“Don’t open your computer without first giving everything over to the Holy Spirit.
Or having your prayer partner(s) in place.
I’m here to help
For years I’ve facilitated children’s ministry workshops for SU; beach missions; and just about every denomination; as well as written for live theatre, electronic and print media –
I would love to help you get going.
And for someone who is IT phobic; I give continual praise for this God-given opportunity to go into people’s homes every week (during term time), consolidating friendships and sharing the love of Christ.
And you can too!
Home Fellowship and Bible Study
Presented by David Phillips, Tea Tree Gully parish
We meet in our home with two families including teenage children. We start with fellowship over a shared meal. Then we have an all-age Bible study, followed by a time of sharing and praying for each other. Our time together provides an opportunity for us share our challenges and grow in our love for God and each other.
•Enjoy fellowship over a shared meal in a home
•Learn more of God’s love through a Bible study
•Share the joys and challenges of our lives
•Support each other in prayer
Below is a video of a Christian YouTube Channel we find helpful for Bible study
Mothers’ Union Quickest Warmth Project
Presented by Betty Edwards, Elizabeth Downs
Mothers’ Union is not just for mothers. Members can be male, female, married, divorced, single, have children or not have children – you only have to have been baptised in the name of the Holy Trinity and agree with the Aims and Objects of the Mother’s Union.
Jesus gave us two main commands – love God and love your neighbour. This makes the church a Mission organisation.
Mothers’ Union is a great inter-active mission organisation within the Anglican Church. From small beginnings in a Vicarage in England, it is now a world wide mission organisation.
We support and encourage loving family relationships.
A small part of our annual membership fee of $35 goes to London where programmes are organised in under-developed countries focusing on helping families to be able to support themselves and also encouraging and funding literacy programmes.
In the Diocese of Adelaide we have financially supported various local charities who work with vulnerable young people getting them into rental accommodation, families in need, re-hab of ex-prisoners, victims of domestic violence and we have a Bishop Short Scholarship with Adelaide University for a young woman from country SA doing a nursing degree, and many other projects. Nationally we support programmes for Indigenous women, and financial support in country Northern Territory for clergy spouses to be able to travel with their spouse to meetings.
In South Australia, one of our main projects is the Quickest Warmth Project initiated by the late Rev’d Prue O’Donovan and her friend Rev’d Gail Hardy. This Project has now been taken up by Anglicare. Mothers’ Union state-wide from Port Lincoln to the South East, provide household goods from dishwashing liquid to bedding, personal hygene items, children’s school necessities and much, much more. The Elizabeth Downs branch support the 2 local primary schools providing Back-packs with items to start the new school year with. Accepting these gifts makes the recipient happy and the proving of these items makes the giver happy, so it is a two way pleasure.
Anglicare have depots where MU members take the items they have made, bought and collected. These items are made up into packages and sent to agencies such as Anglicare’s vulnerable aged care programme, Families SA, Women’s Safety Services, Northern Adelaide Domestic Violence, SA Housing, Aboriginal Health Service at Gawler, and other agencies who request help.
Mothers’ Union is the main supporter of Quickest Warmth but other organisations have taken it to their hearts also such as the Soroptomists, some groups within the Uniting Church, some of the Lions Club members etc etc
The Gawler parish is the main liaison with Anglicare with a sorting and distribution team for Quickest Warmth. They do a fantastic job.
All parishes, either via a Mothers’ Union group or individually, can help the growing number of disadvantaged families and homeless people in Metropolitan Adelaide, Country areas and Indigenous communities. Your nearest MU branch will be able to help and advise, or contact me, Betty Edwards at the Parish of Elizabeth Downs.
Anglican Rainbow Network
Presented by Peter Burke & Jill Huntley
We are a parish-based network meeting monthly in several parishes. Our program includes a shared meal, prayer and reflection and conversation on things that matter to us. We seek to include people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, asexual/aromantic and others who feel they are on the margins of church and community due to sexual identity. We are members of the Anglican Church, together with companions and allies, seeking to build an inclusive and safe community of faith and life for all, as members of the Body of Christ and bearers of the Spirit of God’s Love.
BEGINNINGS
The Anglican Rainbow Network has been meeting for some four years now. It began as a ministry of St Oswald’s Parkside. The incumbent Steven Ogden initiated this as part of a mission action plan. Soon enough, members of other parishes were invited, and in 2019 a pattern of monthly gatherings began. While there was a lapse in 2020 due to the COVID Pandemic, monthly meetings recommenced in 2021.
The network has grown gradually in both numbers and diversity. Promotion up to now has been by word of mouth. We now have about 30 people on our email distribution which is the way we inform members of our monthly gatherings. We are led by several lay facilitators who are active members of Anglican Parishes.
PURPOSE
We see the Mission of God as one of universal and eternal love for all creation and all humankind. We are made in the image and likeness of God, and yet are sometimes treated in church and community as less than fully human. We seek to move from tolerance to affirmation to the celebration of who we are as God’s beloved people.
We seek to include people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, asexual/aromantic, and others yet to be named, who are on the margins of church and community due to gender and sexual identity.
We are members of the Anglican Church, together with companions and allies, seeking to build an inclusive and safe community of faith and life for all, as members of the Body of Christ and bearers of the Spirit of God’s Love.
ACTIVITIES
Hospitality and Inclusion
· Monthly Gatherings welcoming all, especially newcomers
· Sharing food and drink together, freely and generously
· Shared responsibility for set up and cleaning up
· Ensuring time to pray and reflect together at each session
· Other gatherings to be planned as desired
Connecting with Parishes
The ARN meets in various parishes and are considered to be part of the ministry of the parish when we meet there: We seek to:
· Increase the number of parishes where we gather
· Develop informal and formal promotion in parishes and beyond
· Engage with parish leaders and congregations as desired
· Offer speakers to parishes about the network
Sharing our Stories
· Listening to each other’s journeys at monthly gatherings
· Conducting ‘interviews’ to enable story telling
· Encouraging a spirit of mutual listening
· Engaging with people who have different viewpoints who are amenable to mutual listening
Engaging with Companions and Allies
· Valuing the presence and input of those who support and identify with us
· Ensuring companions and allies encourage us to speak for ourselves and with us rather than for us
· Engage with companions and allies in the ‘Equal Voices Network’ and other Christian Churches
Being Informed
· Being updated on new developments globally and locally which benefit rainbow communities
· Sharing news items and articles of interest with each other
· Being informed by the Diocese of Adelaide ‘LGBTIQA+ Apology’
· Being informed by broader campaigns and programs which seek to benefit rainbow communities
Advocacy for Justice
· Explore ways to advocate locally in our parishes, in Diocesan life and beyond
· Encourage those who are Synod members to prepare motions for Synod and to debrief after Synod
· Consider and implement new advocacy platforms to benefit the rainbow community, locally and globally
CONTACT
Our monthly gatherings include informal conversation, a shared meal, prayer and reflection.
From May 2024 we are gathering in various parishes as follows: Tuesday 14 May St Cuthberts Prospect; Tuesday 11 June St Mary Magdalene’s Adelaide; Wednesday 9 July St Theodore’s Toorak Gardens; Tuesday 13 August St Chad’s Fullarton; Tuesday 10 September St Oswald’s Parkside; Tuesday 8 October St Jude’s Brighton; Tuesday 12 November St Cuthbert’s Prospect; Tuesday 10 December St Peter’s Cathedral
If you would like to join the network and find out more about our gatherings, please contact one of our Facilitators for a confidential conversation.
If you would like to join the network and find out more about our gatherings, please contact one of our Facilitators for a confidential conversation.
Meriel 0414 630 726
Jill 0422 745 978
Peter 0411 872 461
Sharon 0412 821 871
Pathways for ministry, discipleship and faith sharing
Presented by Ann Nadge, St Columba’s, Hawthorn
We encourage, support and resource people to use their gifts in ministry and faith sharing in the parish and wider community. Pathways include training for online ministry, leading study groups and morning prayer with resource packs for talking about Jesus, explaining worship, learning to pray and so on.
•into community
•for outreach
•across community, and for deeper engagement
•Create pathways for individual connection, community hospitality, outreach and mission
• Develop resources newcomer packs, talking about Jesus, faith sharing, prayer, FOCUS studies, understanding worship
•Develop leadership opportunities for engaging with liturgy, worship roles, Bible study, prayer group, Parish Ministry Group, online and other ministry roles
Pathways: Online Ministry
Tuesday Message of the Day
Rev. Dr Warren Huffa
Wednesday Evening Prayer
(6 laity trained).
Thursday Reflection, written.
St Columba’s Community Projects
Presented by Julie Ascher-Ellis, St Columba’s, Hawthorn
An innovation at St Columba’s for the past 18 months or so has been the introduction and development of community events on a Sunday morning.
We run these events simultaneously with our 9.30am service so that both the event and church finish at the same time to enable us to rub shoulders with the visitors over morning tea.
It’s a great opportunity for us to show people our community through hospitality and the activity, and then through the interaction while we eat and drink. Running the events on a Sunday morning also means it has been easier to find volunteers to set-up and be involved in the event.
But most important is the interaction over morning tea.
Topics covered have been Sustainable Gardening (several workshops each with a different focus), Tie Dyeing, and Pets Blessing with more topics planned for this year. Topics are decided by our ministry team with feedback from participants.
Embracing Diversity and Unity
A Journey of Ecumenical Cooperation and Multicultural Ministry
Presented by Peter Jin, Salisbury Parish
Every Friday, from 5:30pm to 9:00pm at St. John’s Anglican Church in Salisbury, we offer a free but good quality meal to feed between 60 and 80 people. I collaborate with pastors and team leaders from various denominations. The volunteers number around 20 people who are very committed.
I’m the Parish Priest St John’s in Salisbury. I was trained in Auckland, New Zealand, and moved to Adelaide four years ago. I was mentored by Frank Nelson, the former Dean of St. Peter’s Cathedral. One and a half years ago, I began my very first parish at St. Johns. Today, I’ll share my journey in Multicultural Ministry, Ecumenical Cooperation, and innovative outreach.
Part 1: Embracing Multiculturalism in Salisbury.
This Easter, we joyfully welcomed over 80 people, including 25 children.
Our congregation represents a rich tapestry of diversity, with members from 11 different ethnic backgrounds, has 11 different ethnic backgrounds, including Australian, Bhutanese, Burundian, Chinese, Dutch, Filipino, Indian, Moroccan, Nigerian, South Korean, and Sudanese. Under the new leadership of the Parish Council this year, which includes members from six diverse ethnic backgrounds, we are excited to continue fostering inclusivity and unity within our community.
This year, I’ve encouraged the Parish Council to embark on several dynamic initiatives, including the establishment of a community garden, the restoration of our chapel, and the introduction of a contemporary Sunday afternoon service designed for families with children.
With a commitment to inclusivity, multiculturalism, hospitality and a missional mindset, we strive to cultivate a welcoming community.
Part 2: Ecumenical Cooperation
Since a year ago, I’ve been approached by several Christian pastors in Salisbury from various denominations including Pentecostal, Baptist, and Uniting churches, expressing a desire to collaborate on a new ministry they had prayed for over a few years: a weekly free cooked dinner. They wanted to establish this ministry here due to St Johns primal location.
I shared with them my ecumenical background and expressed that my passion lies in ecumenical cooperation. Despite our doctrinal differences, we centre our focus on Jesus. When one pastor identified himself as a Fundamentalist, I emphasised that while I don’t interpret the Holy Scripture literally because of different genres, our belief wouldn’t prevent us from cooking sausages, sharing laughter, and serving people together. And I humbly admitted to another pastor that while my ability to speak in tongues is rusty, I can still freely lift my arms to praise the Lord.
This Free Dinner ministry has been drawing 60 -100 people every week. We start our dinner with prayer, and during the meal, we feature live Christian music. After the meal, we have healing sessions, prayer, singing and fellowship.
Fr. David Covington-Groth from St Michael’s Mitcham generously donated $2000 and often provided us with plenty of sausages and drinks to support our efforts. Archdeacon Sophie Relf-Christopher from St Jude’s Brighton has been supporting me by sharing her church’s donations with our ministry. Fr. Paul Monash and MeePing Lau, St Augustine’s from Unley donated us bags and bags of bread and cakes.
Our Friday night free meal ministry serves as a tangible symbol of this unity, where individuals from diverse backgrounds come together around the table, not only to share food but also fellowship, fostering connections and spreading love.
Ecumenical cooperation stands as a beautiful testament to the unity and collaboration that Christians from different denominations can achieve. I firmly believe that if inter-denominations can work together effectively, then we Anglicans should also combine resources strategically, collaborating and helping one another.
Part 3: Innovative and Creative in Ministry
Drawing from my 30 years of experience in tennis, including coaching, I’m launching a new ministry—a fun weekly tennis class for students aged 12-18 in Salisbury. Anglicare has graciously agreed to support this innovative endeavour, with a $5000 grant approved a few days. Each session will be 20 minutes long with a maximum of 8 students, totalling 3-4 sessions per week. My goal is to engage with 30 students each week. If it goes well, I am keen to run the program three times a week, reaching up to 100 students. This initiative not only offers physical recreation but also fosters fellowship and mentorship opportunities.
Our aim is to nurture the talents and passions of young people in the Salisbury community through free tennis lessons, followed by a meal. While this program comes with no strings attached, I pray that it sets the stage for future youth ministries.
In conclusion, the journey of St. John’s Anglican Church, Salisbury, is marked by unity in diversity, collaboration, and innovation. As a non-typical Anglican priest, I view myself as an entrepreneur and evangelist. I’m convinced that St Johns Salisbury has great potential to engage hundreds and thousands of people in the next few years. Please pray for us to form a vibrant, inclusive, hospitable, missional, and multicultural Anglican community. Without prayer, we cannot achieve as much.
Chaplaincy to Social Motorcycle Clubs
Presented by Peter Chapman (not parish based but Peter is from Campbelltown parish)
For the Love of God among the Bikers world
Three years ago, I was invited to be a chaplain to a Social Motorcycle club. Most SMCs are under the covering of the Motorcycle Alliance of South Australia. These Clubs ride to raise money for various charities. Each club joins other clubs supporting these charity runs. This creates an amazing network across Adelaide in which the riders call themselves a brotherhood. And their world outreaches to those most in need in our community.
I ride a Harley and wear a biker’s vest with patches given to me to identifying the fact that I am their chaplain. This is a respect I have had to earn and comes by invite. They have given me the tag Chappy, and I am in trouble if I don’t ride wearing my priest’s collar.
But It is a very edgy ministry, yet I stay being my authentic self, representing Jesus. I relate to the person, the soul inside, and they responded with so much respect. This is so important in bring the love of Christ to anyone, to see through any stigma and to see the soul that Jesus loves. It is exactly what Jesus did with his edgy world outside the security of His religion, yet he maintained his righteousness. And so, this has opened doors for me to do funerals, listen to people in trauma, visit others in gaol or hospital, others come to share about their faith in God.
This outreach of God’s love comes with its fair share of knocks but when one breaks through the walls with Christs love, the hugs of appreciation far outweigh the knocks.
One club I support use St Ann’s Hall in Aldinga and have joined with their families with this congregation on the family tea nights.
The Motorcycle Alliance have recently asked me to continue chaplaincy for them. And in the words of the President of MASA, they would like me to keep on blessing them. In 2 Corinthians 2 it says we are the aroma of Christ. That fragrance is experienced in how we show the love of God which witnesses to the God’s Spirit within us and the two must correlate. In short it is God’s Spirit they see in our lives that speaks to them of Christ’s authenticity as we walk with them in whatever situation. This is our distinction.
What is important is that we translate Christ through their language and culture.
For example, I supported a woman who was palliative, she was connected to a Motorcycle club. We talked often on understanding God’s acceptance and love for her. The day she died she requested that I share at her memorial service about the spiritual stuff we talked about.
So, I told 100 bikers, in a pub, that knowing God’s spiritual stuff is like a Harley Davidson, you can know everything about its history and can spell out every part that makes it run, but you will never know about the spiritual stuff unless you get on and ride it. So it is with God, as he invites us to join with him in the ride of life.
My work within the Social Motorcycle world has spread from the Fleurieu to the Barossa and those who encounter the love of God grow hungrier for more. I am soon to take on Campbeltown parish, and a club has already expressed their desire to be engaged with the church there. Another club wants to help in supporting the homeless with St Martins.
If you are interested in knowing more or supporting this outreach in any way, pick up a flyer or have a chat with me.
I’ve written a short prayer for the bikers to say before going on their rides. Some keep it in their vests, Clubs have put it on their walls.
I will conclude this short Prayer.
THE BIKERS Run Prayer
God,
There’s room here for Spirit and Son
So we’re inviting you on this Run.
It’s up to you to do the things you do,
But your will be done to get us through.
We don’t pretend we’ve got things right,
So, help us keep us Brothers tight.
Keep our colours and our club code’
To ride in honour on every road
Help meet the needs of us Brothers,
As we relieve the needs of others
From stands up till down at night
May we remain within your sight
Your colours be our colours too,
Our colours be at one with you
Amen
