The Southern Anglican
Dec 2016—Jan 2017
“Renewal Recreation”
Anglican Diocese of Bunbury
PO Box 15 Bunbury WA 6231
Ph 97212100
[email protected]
www.bunburyanglican.org
Changes and New Beginnings at the Diocesan Office
There have been several changes in the
Diocese over the last few weeks and months.
At the beginning of November 2016, Rev. Dr
Lucy Morris joined the Bunbury’s Church
Office team as the new Diocesan Secretary,
taking over the role from Steve Biggar.
Many of you will know Steve Biggar already,
as he has held the position for the last 17
years. As part of the changes, Steve has
moved into a new position as Diocesan Registrar. So the next few weeks will see Lucy and
Steve take on the different areas of responsibility.
The Office itself in 7 Oakley Street has also changed as walls were knocked down and desks
moved to create more space and room for people to work at hot desks when they visit. Bishop
Allan has moved into a different office as a more open plan arrangement has been established.
Lucy joins the team after having worked in the community sector in WA for the last 25 years and
as a CEO for the last 15 years. She and her husband David live in Dunsborough where Lucy is
licensed as an Assistant Priest at St George’s Anglican Church, having been ordained two
years ago in Bunbury Cathedral. Lucy now works in the Bunbury Church Office three or four
days a week or more as needed – and otherwise works from home.
Lucy’s contact details are [email protected] or you will find her on the mobile on
0408916 129 or on the office number 08 9721 2100.
Steve will start to work part-time early next year as he completes the hand-over and is looking
forward to the change in role and more free time to enjoy with Glynis and his family. He will be
providing more support to Bishop Allan in his work along with
his other responsibilities.
In a wonderful service of celebration in the Cathedral on
Saturday 26th November 2016, Steve Biggar was thanked for
his wonderful years of service and commissioned into his new
position and Lucy was installed and commissioned.
Lucy said: “It is an enormous privilege to step into this role. I
am very grateful to Steve for all he has done and the significant
contribution he has made and I am looking forward to being of
service in the Diocese to everyone in the parishes. I am
looking forward to getting to know everyone and helping
where I can.”
Article: Lucy Morris Photos: Cheryl Norman
Header Photo: St Peter’s Church Balingup December 2016 Photographer: Simone Payne
The Southern Anglican
Page 2
A Letter from Bishop Allan
Love I
"Love came down at Christmas, Love all lovely, Love divine",
so wrote Christina Rossetti in a poem published in the 1880s.
Her words are a recognition not just of the birth event, but of
the entire relationship of God with the world through Jesus.
The love of God is to be found in Jesus' birth, childhood,
ministry, death, resurrection and continuing presence. For her
God's love was to be found in every aspect of Jesus'
presence.
In the latter part of the poem Christina Rossetti reflects on
what our response should be to such love, and her answer is
love in response. Love for you and love for me, love to God
and love to neighbours, love as prayer, love as gift and love
as a sign.
It is no accident that the revelation of God's love in Jesus is
signed first by birth within a family. For most of us our first encounter of love takes place
within a family. Unconscious of anything unusual we accept unquestioningly the love of
those around us. Tragically, at times such love is not present, and love and trust is
destroyed, but fortunately this is not the experience of most of us.
Those of us who have attended a Carol service or a Christmas service are unlikely to be
able to remember the first time we were surrounded by the sound of carols or by the
light of candles. What we can be confident about is that when these things first
happened we were in the care of those who loved us and wanted only the best for us.
Love, then, is to be the mark of the celebration of Christmas. In her poem the poet
suggests ways in which our love can be shown. The first is through the mutual exchange
of love - we express this well through presents. Over time I have found that it is never
the financial worth of the gift that matters, the gift of greatest value is the one that shows
that the giver knows me well and has chosen something that acknowledges who I am.
And especially the gift where the giver has put much of themselves into the gift. For
many years I treasured and kept by my bedside a mouse and a dog crudely made by my
young sons.
The giving of love begins in family, and it is there that we begin. The nurturing and
caring of love given and received forms the basis for our later expansion of love. Love is
more than the single event of birth and nurture as a child in family, but - as God shows
us in Jesus - it starts here.
May your Christmas be a time of love encouraged, love given and love received, and
may the love in your family be the basis for a life of giving and love to the world.
+Allan
The Southern Anglican
Committee: Lucy Morris, Norm Flynn, Cheryl Norman
We welcome items for TSA. Ideally in WORD 200 words with a photo. Please send
by post or email to [email protected]. The next edition deadline is 15 .1. 2017.
Thank you to all those who contributed with articles and photographs throughout the
year. Wishing you all the peace and joy that come with the spirit of Christmas and
travel safely.
The Southern Anglican
Page 3
Christmas Celebrations
Northern Harvest Deanery
MANDURAH At Christ's Church
Mandurah
we are having
a
wonderfully busy December with
Community and congregation coming
together. We have enjoyed our own
Variety Show, The Mandurah City
Choral Society and Voices in
Harmony. The photographs how our
Nativity Service performed by our
amazing Sunday School Children.
Article & Photo: Karen Cave
Narrogin We’ve been going for 16 months
now and held our 2nd Messy Christmas
recently. 25 children and 25 adults came and
we did lots of lovely things together including
handing over 4 large shopping bags of
special Christmas food to our local St
Vincent de Paul rep, Ann Coll, who provides
Christmas hampers for Narrogin people in
need.
Article: Lynda Myres Photo: Louise Brown
SECRET HARBOUR Christmas
came early at Secret Harbour this
year blessed by the South
Stirling’s congregation. Thank
you for your pews and sanctuary
furniture. It has made a huge
difference to our church.
Article & Photo: Bill Byleveld
SAFE CHURCH
The Diocese of Bunbury is
committed to ensuring that
the church is a safe place
for young and old.
If you have a complaint or
concern
about
sexual
abuse or inappropriate
behaviour please contact:
Tracie Chambers-Clark
Director of Professional
Standards
Tel (08) 9425 7203 (direct)
0419 935 889
Email
[email protected]
WILLIAMS Sharon Johnstone of Wiliams organises the
Childrens’ Nativity story at Williams annually. The numbers of
children in attendance have grown over time. On this occasion
there were 18 enthusiastic school children and some
preschoolers.
Article & Photo: Kuzie Tuhura
The Southern Anglican
Page 4
Service of Celebration
A wonderful service and celebration was held in the Cathedral on Saturday 26th
November 2016, along with the consecration of the new Archdeacon, Julie Baker and
saying farewell to retiring Archdeacon Fr Joe Hopkins and Canon Carol Morgan. The
day was full of sunshine, colour and a time for honouring and thanking those who have
given service to the church and the Diocese. Clergy, family and friends travelled from all
around the Diocese to participate and share in the celebration. It was a lovely service
provided by Dean Darryl Cotton and Bishop Allan. Steve Biggar was thanked for his
wonderful years of service and commissioned into his new position.
Lucy Morris
As Chaplain for the Scattered People of the Good Shepherd…
As part of our recent Service of Celebration in the Cathedral,
the Bishop also commissioned the new Chapter of the
Scattered People, in effect replacing one person, The Rev’d
Canon Carol Morgan, with a team of seven wonderful Lay
people, with myself appointed as chaplain. The defining of
roles, not surprisingly, is still developing; however, in Carol’s
own words, my main role as chaplain is to be the ‘Community
gatherer’ for both the Chapter and individual members. I see
it mainly as a prayer-full role, with the privilege of caring
pastorally for those who seek to grow in faith primarily
through a shared ‘Rule of Life’ with other members,
unrestricted by distance or time. With the Bishop as our
Guardian, I look forward to serving in this way, walking
closely with my fellow Chapter members trusting that Christ
our Good Shepherd always walks with us.
Lynda Myres
Hello Retirement
Father Joe has over the years assisted many
Parishes and been on numerous committees Mission to Seafarers (MTS) Bunbury, Anglicare and
The Southern Anglican are just a few. I am not sure
of the kilometres he has covered carrying out his
duties, but it must be many thousands.
Father Joe’s service to the Diocese was
acknowledged in the Celebration Service. MTS
Bunbury held a BBQ on November 10th to
acknowledge both the contribution from
Father Joe and also Wendy, who has
provided the catering for many BBQ’s
held at the Mission.
This is Father Joe’s final edition of The
Southern Anglican and the committee
would like to thank Father Joe for his
guidance and wish him well in
retirement. (Father Joe currently has Pastoral
Oversight at Mandurah)
Article: Cheryl Norman
Photos: Barb Lawrence & Ann Busch