A good number of friends from the church and other community organizations gathered at the Anglican Church Hall on Tuesday 20 August to wish Val Ball a happy and contented life in her new home at Malvern. We enjoyed a very pleasant afternoon tea together and presented Val with a beautiful arrangement of flowers. In the wider community Val is remembered as active in local government as the first female elected to the Strathalbyn Council, as Mayor and as Senior Executive of the Local Government Association. She was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia in the 1998 Australia Day Honours for her service to local government and the community.
Welcome Fr Thomas
The Bishop has asked the Rev’d Thomas Karamakuzhiyil, the Incumbent of Mt Barker to take on the additional role of Priest in Charge of Strathalbyn as the two parishes, together with the Parish of Onkaparinga Valley seek ways in which they can co-operate together as the Hills Mission Partnership.
Fr Thomas will be licensed by the Bishop for his new role on Saturday 26 August at 11.00 am in Christ Church, Strathalbyn and will then be the celebrant at the Eucharist on Sunday 27 August at 10.00 am in Christ Church.
I am sure that all our parishioners will welcome this appointment and look forward to working together in order to forward the Mission of the Church.
Alex.
Combined Service at St George’s, Meadows
In Sunday 30 April the members of the various congregations joined together for their usual fifth Sunday Combined Eucharist and lunch at St George’s, Meadows in order to celebrate that church’s Patronal Festival. On this occasion we were also joined by parishioners from the Onkaparinga Parish who are our partners in the proposed Hills District. The celebrant at the Eucharist was the Rev’d Adrian Stephens and the preacher the Rev’d Rob McEwin. Following the service we shared a wonderful meal together in the community hall at Prospect Hill.
Historic Moment
On Sunday 23 April the Rev’d Margaret Holt, the first woman ordained as a deacon in the Diocese of The Murray performed the liturgical duties of a deacon for the first time at St John’s Langhorne Creek and then at Christ Church Strathalbyn. The celebrant at the Eucharist was the Rev’d Adrian Stephens. The members of the parish are delighted to welcome her in her new role.
Ordination of Margaret Holt
The large contingent of parishioners from the Parish of Strathalbyn who were able to be present at Margaret Holt’s ordination to the Diaconate on Saturday 22 April were delighted to have been the witnesses of such an historic event in the life of the Diocese of The Murray. This is the first time that a woman has been made a Deacon in this Diocese. Margaret is a much loved and valuable member of our parish family.
[metaslider id=1090]Christ is Risen! Hallelujah!
After Holy Week services which culminated in the Good Friday liturgy at St Mary’s and Christ Church we shared in the joyous celebration of the resurrection of our Lord, first at St Mary’s on Easter Eve and then at St George’s and Christ Church on Easter morning.
Pantry Club
We were delig
hted to welcome Paquita Wise to our service at Christ Church last Sunday and to hear about the caring ministry of the Pantry Club which is based at 2 Chapel Street, just across the road from the Church. The Pantry Club supports members of the community who are financially struggling by supplying basic food for a minimal membership fee, which in turn will cut down their expenses. The Pantry Club, by nature, empowers people as it offers its members the opportunity to further help themselves and their families and households, rather than to simply provide a ‘handout’ or ‘quick fix’. The Pantry Club is now being supported by our gifts of food and other necessities which are dedicated before the Eucharist each fourth Sunday of the month. We were also able to make an immediate contribution to the ministry of the Pantry Club as Eileen Smith presented Paquita with a cheque for $300, the proceeds of the Harvest Festival Auction.
Ordination to the Diaconate
As a result of the adoption by the Diocesan Synod of the ORDINATION OF WOMEN TO THE OFFICE OF DEACON CANON 1985 of the General Synod it is now possible after thirty years experience in other Australian dioceses for a woman to be ordained Deacon in this diocese. We are therefore delighted that Margaret Holt has been accepted as a candidate for ordination and will be made Deacon at the Cathedral of St John the Baptist, Murray Bridge on Saturday 22 April.
World Day of Prayer, Milang
The ecumenical World Day of Prayer service in Milang this year was held at St Mary’s on Friday 3 March at 7.30 pm. The service was hosted by the women of the congregation and we were fortunate that Margaret Holt was available to share her experience and insight in the sermon. This year’s focus was on the Philippines and the challenges faced by Filipino women, so we were delighted that some of the members of the local Filipino community were able to share in the service with us. The evening concluded with supper which included some very authentic Filipino dishes.
Pancakes in the Park
We had nearly a hundred people come on Shrove Tuesday to the Memorial Gardens for free pancakes and drinks. Nearly $500 was donated to support the Pantry Club which helps those in need. Thanks to the Inter-Church Council members from all the churches and Lions who helped make the evening a great success.
David Smith