Groups & Pastoral Activities ...
BIBLE STUDY, PRAYER and MEDITATION GROUPS:
Several Bible Study, Prayer and Meditation groups function in the parish, providing a variety of time-slots and settings for contemplation, prayer and study:
Be Still and Know Meditation Group:
o Meets for one hour from 11:00 a.m. each Tuesday during school term in the Seminar Room (which is located in the Church Office Complex) (contact: Michelle Blondel)
o The hour includes some instructive input on prayer, short addresses (about 15 minutes) from the Christian Meditation Network, meditative music and times of silence.
Tuesday Bible Study:
o Bible and Discussion Group. This group meets every 1st, 3rd and 5th Tuesday in the Seminar Room (the 5th being an afternoon tea) from 2pm for approx one hour. All very welcome.
EDUCATION:
Parish Library & Book Stall:
o The Parish Library operates from the Parish Office (contact: Ann Malin).
o The Book Stall operates from a display table in the Memorial Hall after Sunday morning services (contact: Val Woodman or Kay Whittington).
FELLOWSHIP GROUPS:
Extended Family Groups:
o Begun in 1995, by 1999 this operated as two social groups covering about eighty parishioners in thirty households in the parish.
o The two aims of the Extended Family Groups are:
+ pastoral care, through individuals supporting each other within the group.
+ outreach, in particularly welcoming and incorporating newcomers.
o (contact: the Parish Office).
Brunch Plus:
o Brunch Plus is an occasional event for women, held four times a year on a Saturday morning from 10.00 to 11.30am. Over a light, informal breakfast, women of all ages have the opportunity for stimulating conversation with one another, prior to hearing a thought-provoking speaker, often with rich discussion during the time for questions afterwards. Recent speakers have been former children's magistrate Barbara Holborow, Bishop Barbara Darling and the local federal member of parliament, the Hon Maxine McKew.
Women's Nexus:
o Meets in the Lower Hall of St Alban's Anglican Church for coffee and conversations.
o The dates for 2010 are listed here.
Men's Breakfast:
o Men's Breakfast is for a group of men from the parish and their guests, who meet three or four times a year on a Saturday morning for breakfast with a guest speaker.
o The Men meet at St Aidan's West Epping, and the policy is to concluded the agenda by 9am.
o Each breakfast is advertised in the Parish Bulletin 3-4 weeks prior to each function.
Men's BBQ:
o An informal monthly meeting over a barbeque where men who generally attend separate church services (of the four at St Alban's and two at St Aidan's) can meet and create fellowship (contact: Doug Pearson).
Mother's Union:
o Open to all parents - regardless of sex or marital status.
o Meets at 1:30 p.m. on the second Tuesday of each month in the Seminar Room at St Alban's.
o Varied programme at meetings including guest speakers, fund-raising and social visits.
St Aidan's Friendship Group:
o Meets on the first Wednesday of each month for fellowship, including hosting of the Wednesday Club for Christian Community Aid of Eastwood. Everyone welcome.
St Aidan's Open Age Fellowship:
o Meetings held in homes throughout the West Epping area, beginning with a devotional period and ending with a time of good fellowship (contact: Margaret Cummins)
o Meetings include discussions with guest speakers on various topics (including serious international situations) and also informal nights of games and quizzes.
St Alban's English Conversation Group:
o Began in 1993 as an outreach to supply language and living skills to emigrants, this group provides basic and conversational English skills, with many participants going on to study at TAFE and elsewhere.
o Meets at St Alban's from 10:00 a.m. until noon each Tuesday during school term.
o Includes social outings and morning teas for Australian occasions.
St Alban's Women's Guild:
o Meets at 10:00 a.m. on the fourth Wednesday of each month in the Lower Hall at St Alban's.
o A group that likes to be informed and involved, and active in supporting church and community organisations both directly and through fund-raising.
CATERING GROUPS:
Social Committee:
o (Contact: Doug Pearson) - Caters for special events throughout the year, and helps co-ordinate catering and associated needs of various other volunteer groups including the following:
* The Breakfast Group:
o Provides a light breakfast after the 7.00a.m Sunday service at St Albans (contact: Ian and Una Kirkham).
* The Morning Tea Group:
o Provides a morning tea after the 8.00a.m and 10.00a.m Sunday services at St Albans (contact: Amanda and Kim Turner).
* Sue's Kitchen Group:
o Providing a monthly meal in a friendly social setting for all (contact: Sue Close). See under "Pastoral Care Groups" below.
PASTORAL CARE GROUPS:
Pastoral Care Network:
o Provides confidential pastoral support within the community, including hospitals.
Welcomer's Team:
o Coordinator - Beulah Gray
This group is the face of the church to newcomers to our parish and ensures
that visitors and new and/or potential parishioners are made to feel at
home and are invited into the community.
Keeping in Touch / Sick List:
o Coordinator - Ann Malin
The purpose of this role is to keep in touch with those who are ill or
incapacitated so that they know that they are not forgotten and do not feel
neglected.
Missing Persons:
o Coordinator - Helen Cooper
People can opt out of parish life for a variety of reasons and, without
invading their space, we try to ascertain if they require any assistance.
Confidentiality is the keynote of this activity.
Sue's Kitchen:
o Coordinator - Sue Close
Takes placed on the first Monday of the month - a home cooked meal with
congenial company in convivial surroundings.
St Aidan's, West Epping:
o Coordinator - Joan Forsythe
This role oversees the pastoral care needs in our sister church and ensures
that both communities are aware of the needs and issues of the other.
Friends Together :
o Coordinator - Pam Dyball
A group of single people who get together for lunch every second month.
Its main aim is to enable members to have a network into which they can
tap if they want to go to concerts, theatre etc.
Home Visits :
o Coordinator - Margaret Pearson
A service for those who are unable to get to church.
HOW YOU CAN HELP.
+ All of these activities need more people involved….and it takes less hours out of every one’s week – and becomes even more effective - if we have a larger team to call on.
+ Take time out to talk to one or more of the Pastoral Care Team to see how you can contribute.
+ Think about people who are in need – and let the one of the clergy or the Pastoral Care Team know.
# For more information or to offer assistance, please contact the co-ordinator: Jan McIntyre - Telephone: 9438 4940 or Email: janni.mac@bigpond.com
GROUPS ASSISTING at SERVICES:
Welcomers' Team:
o Welcomes newcomers and visitors to the parish, providing contact and information. See under "Pastoral Care Groups" above.
Duty Parishioners:
o Welcomes parishioners and visitors to services, distributing and collecting hymnals and service sheets, assisting with seating.
Lesson Readers:
o Lay readers leading the congregation in the psalms, reading the Epistles and prayers.
Servers' Guild:
o The Servers provide invaluable assistance to Liturgical matters during our services.
WORKING BEES:
St Alban's Flower Guild:
* Create floral arrangements for regular and festive church services, including wedding and memorial arrangements. Also provide flowers for special functions in the church's halls (contact: Jean Poole).
Additional groups include:
* Parish Magazine Distribution Group, Brass Cleaning Group, Dusting Roster and Sanctuary Linen Roster Groups