Mission Action Plan

Anglican Parish of Stirling - Parish Priest’s report to Council for 22/7/2010

Vicky and I have started talking with young people (upper secondary) in the parish about a trip to Papunya. This would see us leave Adelaide on September 25 this year and return around October 2. I'm currently trying to make contact with Alison Anderson, and with Vince and Helen Monterola, Roy and Barbara Woodall, the Simons family and anyone else with a diesel four-wheel-drive to see if:
a/ it can happen logistically (from Alison's point of view) and
b/ if transport is possible (from the others’).

Travel each way would take two days so we're considering stopping at Coober Pedy or Roxby Downs, and at the Anglican Church in Alice Springs in each direction. So I'm trying to make contact with them as well. This will give us four days in Papunya. [Map showing location of Papunya]

While we were talking with Katy, we put the question about her travelling there with us so that she might meet the students we might host and get to know their families. She is very open to the idea.

Last Tuesday, I also had my regular meeting with the Nunga ministry support group and they are very excited by what is happening in this parish. They recommended that we contact Anglicare to talk about their partnering us at a logistical and financial level, and also establish a partnership with the Anglican Church in Alice Springs. Bob George is the priest there (formerly Rector of Tea Tree Gully) and somebody who has long held the same educational ideas as Alison Anderson about withdrawing children from aboriginal communities to give them the best possible education. The group recommended that we discuss all this directly with Lynn Arnold at Anglicare.

The other important contact is a school. Alison was in Adelaide recently and opened an exhibition of paintings by indigenous people from the APY Lands. The exhibition was organised by teachers and students from St John's Grammar and St Aloysius Catholic School. The principal of St John's told us at the exhibition that they would have scholarships available for these children. That would mean the aboriginal children would join four of our choir members who already attend St John's.

Blessin’s
Peter

Grant Hay Ministry to the Aboriginal Community of Point Pearce – and beyond

This ministry covers many communities where help is needed, as well as prisons.

Our Parish has sent several loads of furniture and clothing to Point Pearce recently and more furniture is urgently needed. Grant's shed contains clothes for emergencies and for distribution to other indigenous communities, as it is very difficult for these people to get furniture free of charge from other organizations.
Grant has invitations and speaks to other churches but with little response in help.

Along with goods, urgent need is for money to supply other needs including:
Fresh Food - Grant's ministry is linked to Foodbank and has a large freezer for meat from there but buys fresh vegetables to go with parcels to give some nourishing food other than cans.
Fuel Vouchers - for emergencies, funerals and other essential travel.
Utilities - Sometimes help with telephone bills, power and water bills is needed.
Counselling is given for budgeting.

Regular money would be great help for the ministry’s budgeting.
One suggestion is to sponsor a weekly or monthly food parcel.
Every dollar is accounted for and reported on.

Recently a man was telling Grant about his sister in Elizabeth who was now on hard times. Grant visited her and amazed them all by giving her 2 bags of clothing. She was so very thankful and many of her family’s problems lightened.

Grant does everything in the name of God and says you never know who may be led to Jesus by a helping hand.

Betty Argent, Parish Aid Co-ordinator, 21 July 2010

Denis and Vee Noble's visit to Grant Hay's ministry

On Sunday 4 July we went to the service at Point Pearce.

Our first sight of the congregation was of Grant and his off-sider Lutz kicking a football with the kids in the roadway outside. Grant knew we were coming because I'd phoned him, and he said afterwards that it's always wise to do that because the locals can sometimes be a bit miffed if outsiders arrive un-announced.

The service was shall we say, ecumenical; definitely not out of any prayer-book that we know of, but it was sincere and full of meaning.

The congregation was very small; just Grant and Kim and their 3 kids, Lutz and his wife Cheryl and their kids, we two, one person who'd come down from Moonta with the Hays, and "auntie" Eileen, a local woman. Grant said that numbers can vary enormously. He's known up to 200 to 300 to turn up for one of their "outreach" Saturdays, and for a funeral, well, double that.

We asked Grant about a visit there from the Stirling Parish. He was careful to say that anyone would be welcome at any time but please let him know in advance, but that the best time, and his preferred time, would be an Outreach Saturday. The next one will be on October 2nd and it would be great to organise a group to go there on that day.

Grant said that the most urgent need at present is for furniture. Just about anything will do; beds, cupboards, wardrobes, TV's, fridges, tables, chairs, lounge furniture and so on.

Denis Noble