Part 1 Who We Are and Our Mission

THE DIOCESE OF BUNBURY “CAREY PARK PARISH PROFILE” Currently in an Interregnum Part 1 – Who we are and our mission

1. Vision Statement

“ We as the body of Christ in the Anglican Parish of Carey Park are committed to honour, praise and love God, and with the help of the Holy Spirit, seek to grow in love and unity and to serve the wider community.”

2. Introduction from Priest and / or Churchwarden

We are a diverse, multicultural people of God whose strength is our acceptance of all those who visit and we pray, by God’s grace, choose to join us. While we may lack in affluence, we willingly give generously to many mission projects and are always there for each other in the happy and the hard times. We are truly a family as we love openly and strive for honesty in our dealings with each other.

3. Brief outline of the Parish Council’s plans for the future

Plans for our future will include an expansion of the ministry to both the young and the elderly of our congregation, a search for ways to encourage men to join our worship, promotion of better communication and the continuing of equipping people to minister effectively in their chosen / gifted areas.

4. Diocesan focus on “Every Member Ministry” and how it is implemented within this Parish

The Mission Statement for the Diocese of Bunbury is:

We are a Diocese Family Growing into the likeness of Jesus All owning the ministry of Christ.

It is the vision of the Diocese to see every Parish transformed into a "Ministering Community in mission": where every member is valued as an important member of the Body of Christ: and is encouraged to identify their God given gifts, and then step out in faith to use their giftedness as part of the ministry and mission of the Church.

Carey Park Parish encourages “every member ministry” and a large proportion of our members take a leading role in the weekly services and in the other activities as listed below.

As a regular worshipping community we endeavour to serve God through a variety of ministries including prayer, healing, internal and outward reaching pastoral care, small home study groups, aged care, and programmes for the young. Morning tea following the Sunday service provides an avenue for fellowship. Outreach has a strong focus through an Opportunity shop, weekly provision of Devonshire teas, pensioner reduced haircuts, pastoral care to the housebound, services to the elderly in three aged care facilities, hospital visiting, an After Lunch Club and craft. Monthly meetings include Mothers’ Union, and interdenominational men’s breakfasts. Many parishioners are also involved in Elijah House ministry and Cursillo.

Every member ministry is greatly encouraged. Most parishioners are involved in the life of our Parish and/ or our outreach. Every ministry is valued whether it be through preparation for Sunday worship, music, healing prayer, hospital visiting, working with children, the leading of a home group, communication etc. Where training is required, it is given. An exciting music programme is continually developing to enhance worship.

5. Brief History of the Parish Many priests have come and gone over the years, each bringing their own style of preaching and teaching. The building which is now our Opportunity Shop was our church when I first came to the parish in 1963. I didn’t realise at the time that it had only been built and opened in 1954. I think Rev. Rodney Williams was the priest in charge then, but I don’t know when he was actually appointed. The first parishioners meeting I attended was when Bishop Hawkins attended and announced that as the parish wasn’t bringing in enough income to pay the stipend of a priest, Rodney could no longer stay. Needless to say, all present were devastated as they worked so hard to get a church and ultimately their own priest. Presumably services were then taken by clergy from the Cathedral, but this wasn’t every Sunday.

In 1962 St Boniface Cathedral opened and St David’s church, which was in Spencer Street, was closed down. Their hall, known as The Duce Memorial Hall, was transported and placed on our land. It was in this building that my son was baptised in 1966 by the Rev. Ray Hodge. This Hall was turned into our church and the original church (now our Op. Shop) was used as a Hall and also accommodated the Op. Shop.

Rev. William Copland was then appointed as our Parish Priest, followed by George Harvey who worked from the Cathedral Parish. Soon after that, Boyd Trott was ordained as a worker priest, taking services on a Sunday but working in his day job at La Porte during the week. He and wife Marjorie had been members of the Church Army. (I always remember their son Basil calling in after school one afternoon to tell me that his dad had been made a bishop!)

After that Rev. John Simpson, with Rev. Colin Holden as assistant, was in charge of the Parish which comprised St Elizabeth’s, St Mark’s, St Patrick’s at Rathmines and St Nicholas’s at Australind. Rev. David Whatley, the chaplain for the Mission to Seafarers, assisted them. That was a time of growth and the Focolare Movement (Word Life) was introduced to the congregation by Fr John Simpson. 2 Rev. Joe Hopkins must have been our next priest. It would have been at this time that the Rectory was built, a huge undertaking, and Joe, Wendy and family were its first residents in 1985. It wasn’t long before Joe saw the need for a Practical Assistance Centre. He was able to get assistance with finance for the project from the Lotteries Commission and Alcoa. Before the building could go ahead, the Duce Memorial Hall (our church) was moved out to Australind to be used as their church and we moved back into the original church. We were able to rent the Uniting Church Hall in Lowe Street so the Opportunity Shop operated from there while the new building was erected. It was during this period that St Patrick’s Church, Rathmines was sold to the Church of Christ (non-denominational) where it still operates from. Needless to say, this was a very upsetting time for many as St Patrick’s had opened in 1908. I was always pleased that it wasn’t demolished and is still a place of worship today

When the new building, the Practical Assistance Centre opened, the Food Barn was located in the area we now know as our Community Centre and a Financial Counsellor (John Kirk) was located in what is now our photocopier room. Prior to that a Financial Counsellor, Mrs Rae Snell, worked from the little room that now stores the Op. Shop books. The Hairdressing was carried out where it is today.

Cooking Classes were conducted on a Monday by Mr Athol Marsh in this same area. This was to teach people how they could prepare cheap, nourishing meals.

The Opportunity Shop was moved into the area which is now our church.

John Meagher must have been our next priest, later joined by his wife Rev. Sue Meagher (Barnes), and in due course this brought big changes. He felt that the place of worship should be in the new building and the Opportunity Shop should be located in the original church building and this is ultimately what took place, as the Food Barn was no longer viable. and closed down. This area was then made our Community Centre. John also started the After Lunch Club for Seniors. It just seemed incredible all the changes that had taken place in such a short time!

Rev. Cliff Parish and his wife Nola were our next carers and then Rev. Carol Morgan and her husband Chris.

Over the years our Parish has helped with the training of a number of people who have become Priests and Deacons. These include Rev. Alan Taylor, Rev. Lance Kershaw (Deacon), Rev. Terry Pickersgill, Rev. Terry Page, Rev. Sue Barnes (now Meagher), Rev Stella Beauchamp, Rev. Gail Donaldson-Stiff (Australind) and Rev. Ann Frost (Deacon).

3 An Opportunity Shop seems to have been part of the Parish from its early days. I seem to remember Mrs Lil Taylor ran this on a Saturday morning from the little room now used to display our crockery etc. in the present Opportunity Shop.

St Elizabeth’s Parish certainly has much to thank God for.

Joan Paisley Parishioner 1963 – 2014

6. List of Parish Leadership

We have been greatly blessed in the last decade to have stable, vibrant leadership which has increased our knowledge and understanding of how we should be God’s people in our Parish and Diocese. It’s always easy to be so involved in “doing” that we forget to take time just to “be”. The encouragement given in our Parish is to keep our actions focused on Jesus and His example of how to live our lives.

Priest’s warden St. Elizabeth’s Vincent Cooney People’s warden Phillip Markham People’s warden St. Mark’s Anne Lee-Steere Deacon Ann Frost Secretary Ann Busch Councillors Sandie Cargill Colleen Hartzer Lynda Howe Annette Ryder Janet Smith

Within this leadership is our deacon, Ann, who among other services, co-ordinates a wonderful pastoral care programme “Love in Action” (LIA). There are those responsible for prayer ministries, aspects of worship, the Parish pew sheet, those who produce a high quality Parish paper, “The Hearth”, those with leadership in the Children and Youth ministry, those with responsibility for Op Shop backup, catering (for Parish events) and maintenance of our buildings.

Our Mission Secretary is dedicated and efficient, leading one of the strongest aspects of our Parish – our mission giving. The development of this ministry over the past years has seen us grow from having a monthly gold coin collection for a nominated mission, to also having an annual focus for a specific mission to provide for such as rickshaws for India, a water well in Africa, support for Anglicare and in 2013, a focus on Anglican Board of Mission, a mission agency of the Anglican Church of Australia.

7. General Information about the Community 4 The City of Bunbury is positioned on the coast of the Indian Ocean, and a gateway to Western Australia’s beautiful south west region, Bunbury is a lovely provincial port city, positioned some 186 Km from Perth, the Capital of Western Australia. The port is busy all year round with exports of mineral sands and wood chips being the predominate export commodity. Our Parish has close ties with the Mission to Seafarers and several of our members are volunteers at the mission. The population of the greater Bunbury area approximates 85,000. The hinterland produces fruit and dairy products including well known world class wines. Other activities are mining for mineral sands and coal. Daily drives are possible to the many wine growing regions, to rich farmlands and a wealth of scenic bush walks and wildflowers.

The City of Bunbury is well provided for with excellent medical and dental facilities including hospitals, which include specialist doctor’s clinics, x-ray center and coronary unit.

There are numerous government and independent primary schools, high schools, and senior colleges. There are further education options at the South West Institute of Technology and Edith Cowen University. There are schools within walking distance of the rectory. The Bunbury Cathedral Grammar School at Gelorup is recognised as one of the top country co-ed boarding schools in Australia.

Bunbury enjoys a regional entertainment complex, art gallery, and extensive sporting facilities and we are less than 2 hours from Perth along a dual highway or one can enjoy relaxed travel by daily bus or train services.

Bunbury is the administration centre for the Diocese with the Cathedral and residence of the Bishop situated near the CBD.

5 8. Map – showing the location of the Parish and Churches

6 9. Information on each of the worship Centres and Parish buildings

We have two worship centres in our Parish. The mother Church of St. Elizabeth of Hungary is in Carey Park, and the historical Church of St. Marks is in Picton.

St Elizabeth’s comprises the Church, a community centre with a well equipped kitchen, several offices and the Opportunity Shop. The rectory, a 4x2 family residence with a separate study/office, and is adjacent to this Church.

St. Mark’s, the second oldest country Church in WA has been preserved and restored over its 170 year history. It is the subject of a Conservation Plan and is a listed Historic Building.

Set in its grounds are an old graveyard for which a conservation plan is currently being prepared, and a memorial rose garden for the interment of ashes. The cost of maintaining the garden is met from the interest on a bequest. There is much potential for outreach through this little Church as an historical precinct which attracts many visitors.

St Marks Church in Wollaston

7 St Elizabeth’s Church and Parish Centre in Carey Park

St Elizabeth’s Op-Shop in Carey Park

8 The Parish Rectory

10. Parish Ministries and Groups

 On Tuesdays at 11.00am there is a Parish prayer time when some of the congregation meet for prayer.  Also on most Tuesdays at 12.00pm, the Bunbury Ministers’ Fellowship meets at St. Elizabeth’s for community prayer for the City of Bunbury and God’s work in our wider community.  Extended Communion services are held alternate Fridays at Bunbury Gardens and Forrest Gardens nursing homes with weekly services at Bethanie Fields aged care facilities.  God@4 is a children’s service and fun time and held on the 4th Sunday of each month. It is a programme incorporating a Holy Communion service and the fun times are based around the biblical theme for the day. In all aspects possible, this service is run by the children. Children from neighboring Gelorup sometimes combine for this service.  Monthly MU Australia services and meetings are held on the 2nd Tuesday.  The men hold a ‘Men’s breakfast’ on the first Saturday of each month. Attendance at this gathering is jointly shared with men from the Uniting and Catholic churches and is based on fellowship over a cooked breakfast. Visiting speakers are sources from many and varied fields of interest. Attendance numbers vary from 15 to 25.

9 Through Cursillo and Happening we have developed a relationship with the Church of St. Francis in the Highveldt of South Africa and donations are given weekly for K.I.C.K, Kids In Christ’s Kingdom, the programme assisting impoverished children in the Highveldt. The generosity of our parishioners has been unbelievable. From a congregation of mainly pensioners, thousands of dollars have been donated for these beautiful children.

Youthcare, the chaplaincy programme in schools, is another major focus for our giving and we are pleased to be able to offer a high level of support locally to this important ministry. One of our parishioners is a chaplain in two of our special needs schools in the area.

Five Home Groups meet regularly and follow programmes determined by the leaders in conjunction with the Parish Priest and incorporating Diocesan studies. These groups are trusting environments with their inner bonds of friendship and caring for each other, providing a strong basis for the fellowship within our Parish.

11. Some Parish Statistics

As with most Parish rolls, the numbers recorded belie the actual numbers of worshipping members. St. Elizabeth’s would average congregations of 50-60 and St. Mark’s an average of 18-20. The population of each is largely middle aged to elderly with children’s numbers hard to generalise.

As not all members attend each Sunday, the numbers shown in the graph indicate attendances for each month. These numbers do not show attendance figures for the mid week services on a Thursday.

The average attendance for a Sunday is 41 with an average of 38 taking communion. Average attendance and communicants for the mid week service is 12 in both cases. It should be noted that some of the peaks are the result of a Sunday service that incorporated a baptism either at St Mark’s or St Elizabeth’s.

Attendance Graph for St Elizabeth’s

A similar graph is shown below for the attendance and communicants at St Mark’s.

Attendance Graph for St Mark’s

St. Mark’s is a Church of choice for brides but even so, there are not a great many marriages celebrated annually. In 2012 there were 11 Baptisms at St Mark’s. Most funerals are held at the crematorium chapel rather than in our Churches.

12 Current Sunday service programme

10 Our weekly services include Sunday Holy Communion at both churches:  St. Mark’s 8.00am and St. Elizabeth’s 9.30am.  Holy Communion is also celebrated on a Thursday at 8.30am, with a Healing Service held at 9.30 am following the Holy Communion. This service has proved to be a wonderful source of comfort, an insight into the workings of the Holy Spirit and shows how God works through prayer, honouring the prayers of persistence, trust and faith. People from other denominations and all walks of life are known to attend these services.  Once a month, on the second Sunday, the 9.30am service is a Children’s Liturgy.

Should you wish further information concerning our Parish please feel free to contact any of the Wardens by phone or email and we would be delighted to have you join us for worship any time and may God’s blessings be upon you and your families.

11 The Parish finances are the responsibility of the Parish wardens in accordance with the Diocesan Statutes. The treasurer is a warden and manages the accounts and financial records with due diligence. Following is the budget for the Year ending 2014.

BUDGET 2014 proposed actual 2013 2014 INCOME Collections $68,000.00 $70,000.00 Rent $4,800.00 Mission $6,700.00 $6,500.00 Opportunity Shop $25,500.00 $24,000.00 Donations $1,000.00 $1,500.00 Rector -share of expenses $2,300.00 Media $650.00 $650.00 T/f ex Gen telenet $2,000.00 T/f ex Garden telenet $1,440.00 T/f ex Diocese Ann St. $3,000.00 Term deposit interest $4,500.00 ATO refunds $2,700.00 $2,000.00 Sundries $900.00 Loan $6,000.00

$104,650.0 $129,490.00 0

12 actual 2013 proposed 2014 EXPENDITURE Stipend $63,000.00 $54,000.00 Deacon $5,250.00 $5,250.00 Assessment $9,650.00 $9,650.00 Mission $8,300.00 $6,500.00 Insurance $4,800.00 $4,800.00 Building - maintenance $1,320.00 $3,000.00 - facilities $430.00 $600.00 Sanctuary $300.00 $400.00 Vehicle - fuel $300.00 - insurance $700.00 $700.00 - RAC $100.00 $100.00 - servicing $300.00 $1,000.00 Rates $2,600.00 $2,600.00 Cleaning $2,400.00 $2,400.00 Power/gas-centres $1,600.00 $1,000.00 Loan repayment $550.00 $600.00 Power/gas-Rector $2,350.00 $2,000.00 Telstra $1,400.00 $1,250.00 Security $400.00 $400.00 Gardens $1,600.00 $100.00 Media $1,100.00 $1,500.00 Copyright $350.00 $350.00 Stationery $800.00 $900.00 Photocopier $200.00 $220.00 Op Shop $1,200.00 $1,200.00 Youth $1,500.00 $1,000.00 Teas $1,100.00 $1,200.00 T/fers - gard telenet $4,500.00 - gen telenet $4,000.00 -purchasing acc $3,000.00 $3,500.00 Sundries $1,600.00 $1,000.00 $126,700.00 Capital Solar panels balance $5,250.00 $5,250.00

$131,950.00 $107,220.00