The Parish Council initiated a planning process in 2022 where we set some planning principles. We arranged a day in October 2022 to draw people together and dream about the future for St Philip’s.
We are keen to make sure that everyone who would like to has a chance to dream with us, add your input and ideas and join the thinking.
Please read this planning briefing to learn more.
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December 2017
Parish Council warmly congratulated Rev'd Martin on his first year in the Parish.
The 2018 Annual General Meeting (AGM) will be held at 11.15am on Sunday 25 February. Reports for the AGM should be submitted to Rev’d Martin no later than Sunday 4 February 2018.
Parishioners wishing to, or thinking of, serving on the Parish Council for 2018 should talk to Rev’d Martin well before the AGM.
Good progress has been made on the Rectory roof and on the replacement of the church and kindergarten fascia boards. The work will be completed by this weekend or next week at the latest. ...... A REMINDER to remain careful around those areas while the work continues.
November 2017
David and Elizabeth have advised that they are no longer in a position to tend the front and side gardens which they have transformed magnificently over the last five years. Parish Council and all parishioners are most appreciative of the commitment they have shown - and the results they have achieved!
Parish Council is very appreciative of the offer from Lisa Wood to take over care of those areas of the garden in between working bees.
Work to replace the deteriorated fascia boards on the church and church hall (kindergarten) and to carry out some minor roofing repairs at the Rectory are scheduled to commence 30 November. There will be some restrictions in the car park when the high fascia boards at the back of the church are being worked on and some restrictions in the courtyard at various points. Please keep clear of the work areas. More details will be provided when known.
There will be a Working Bee this Saturday, 18 November 9-11am to ready the church and garden for the Advent season. If you are able to make available even a small amount of time, this would be appreciated and can make a difference in spreading the load.
To get ready for the Festive Season, come along to Pandora’s Festive Fashions event on Saturday 25 November from 10am to 1pm.
We will start the Advent season with the “Thank You” Happy Hour at 5pm on Saturday 2 December and the Advent Dinner in the courtyard at 6.30 pm - followed on Sunday 3 December by the 8am service and the Family Service at 10am.
October 2017
Rev. Martin reported to Parish Council on the Goulburn Synod.
The new Covenant is with the Bishop awaiting his attention.
Dates for forthcoming special services have now been set:
* Celtic Eucharist Sunday 29 October at 8am and 10am
* All Saints All Souls Saturday 4 November at 6.30pm followed by supper
* Christ the King Sunday 26 November at 8am and 10am
The Clergy Honour Board in the foyer is to be updated.
There will be a pre-Advent Working Bee on Saturday 18 November from 9-11am for the church and garden.
September 2017
Parish Council welcomed the feedback from parishioners on the new draft Covenant to be concluded between Rev. Martin, Parish Council and the Bishop. The new Covenant has now been adopted by Parish Council and has been forwarded to the Bishop for his consideration.Special upcoming services: Celtic Eucharist, All Saints, Family Eucharist, Christ the King.
Parish Council expressed its support and appreciation for Pandora’s contributions to Parish mission projects and local charities. Pandora’s has recently contributed $1000 to the ABM Myanmar education mission project; $1000 to the ABM “Youth Engagement across Top End Remote Communities” mission project; and $2000 to Karinya House for mothers and children in crisis. Pandora’s has also contributed $900 towards the cost of new hymn books and $1068 for the cost of the new folding tables for the Lamerton Centre meeting room. They have also contributed approximately $2000 toward the purchase and installation of a new stove for the Rectory.
August 2017
The Diocese requires that there be a Covenant between each Rector, their Parish and the Bishop. Rev. Martin and Parish Council in conjunction with the Archdeacon have been working on a draft Covenant.
A small number of copies of the draft document will be available in the foyer for those without access to email. A copy will be distributed via the Parish email and a copy will also be placed on the noticeboard. Comments from parishioners can be passed to Rev. Martin or any member of the Parish Council or emailed to comeandsee@stphilipsoconnor.org.au. It would be helpful if comments could be provided by the end of August.
The results from St. Philip’s participation in the 2016 National Church Life Survey have been received. Thirty-four forms were returned by St. Philips. A copy of the summary will be placed on the noticeboard. A copy of the summary will also be distributed shortly via the Parish email. Parish Council is considering the results.
Parish Council congratulated Pandora’s on its very successful community event – Christmas in July Vintage Fashions
July 2017
At a Special Parish Meeting on 9 July, Philippa Wicks and Ashton Robinson were elected as Synod representatives. Brian McKinlay was elected as a Synod representative at the AGM in February. In addition Rosemary Knight was elected as a Synod alternate representative.
The results from St. Philips participation in the 2016 National Church Life Survey have been received and Parish Council has begun considering them. The summary report for St. Philips will be made available to parishioners shortly.
Parish Council has been reviewing Parish communication: what we communicate and how we communicate. Council would welcome any input from parishioners which can be passed to any PC member or email comeandsee@stphilipsoconnor.org.au
August will be our national mission Project month. The project endorsed at the AGM is an ABM program “Youth Engagement Across Top End Remote Communities”. This continues our tradition of supporting reconciliation through our mission giving.
June 2017
A ‘first Sunday of the month’ family service will be introduced from 2 July as part of the normal 10am service.
There will be an election for nominees for the remaining Synod vacancies at the end of the 10am service on Sunday 9 July. Under Diocesan requirements, these are representative positions that need to be elected at a parish general meeting.
The first aid kits in the foyer and Lamerton Centre have been updated by St. John’s Ambulance.
The major church maintenance item this year will be the renewal of the fascia boards of the church and church hall with long lasting colourbond. Work is planned to be carried out towards the end of the year.
May 2017
There remain two alternate Synod representative vacancies for this years’ Diocesan Synod, which will be held in Goulburn from 6-8 October. Any parishioner interested in representing the parish at Synod should talk to Rev. Martin. Philippa Wicks and Ashton Robinson have kindly accepted nomination for the second and third Synod positions while Rosemary Knight has agreed to be an alternate representative. Brian McKinlay was elected as a Synod representative at the AGM.
There remains an opportunity for voluntary assistance in the Parish Office. Anyone willing to assist with these duties should speak to Rev. Martin or a Parish Warden.<
The Rectory renovation project is very largely complete with the landscaping works and fences now in place. The Rectory grounds were open for viewing by parishioners on 14 May after the 10am service.
Parish Council is most grateful to Denise Manley for leading the Rectory project team with assistance from Tim Gulliver and Roger Sharp. It was a considerable effort over a period of 19 months.
April 2017
There remains one Synod representative vacancy for this years’ Diocesan Synod which will be held in Goulburn from 6-8 October. Any parishioner interested in representing the parish at Synod should talk to Revd Martin. Ashton Robinson has kindly accepted nomination for the second Synod position. Brian McKinlay was elected as a Synod representative at the AGM.
There remains an opportunity for voluntary assistance in the Parish Office. Anyone willing to assist with these duties should speak to Revd Martin or a Parish Warden.
St Philip's day will be celebrated on Sunday 7 May. After the 10am service a plaque will be dedicated in the courtyard in memory of Carola Parke followed by a special morning tea.
The Rectory renovation project is very largely complete with the landscaping works and fences now in place. The Rectory grounds will be open for viewing by parishioners on 14 May after the 10am service.
Parish Council is most grateful to Denise Manley for leading the Rectory project team with assistance from Tim Gulliver and Roger Sharp. It was a considerable effort over a period of 19 months.
March 2017
The new Council elected Ian Cousins as Chair, Shane Woodburn as Treasurer and Rebecca Palethorpe as Secretary. Points of contact responsibilities have been allocated amongst the new Council members and a revised note will be placed on the Noticeboard.
There is an annual survey of the membership of parish sub-groups - the Liturgy Committee, the St. Philip's Care Management Committee, Pandora's Management Committee, Food @ St Philips and the Children and Youth Ministry Support Group. Parishioners wishing to serve, or to continue to serve, on any of these committees should make their interest known to Revd Martin, a Warden or any other Parish Councillor.
The Parish Council will also survey the valuable roles performed for the Parish by various individuals, such as Youth Group Coordinators, Parish Office, Newsletter/Pewsheet, Website, Parish Calendar, Banking, Rosters Coordinator, Flowers Coordinator and Spring Fling Coordinator. Parishioners wishing to serve, or to continue to serve, in any of these roles should make their interest known to Rev. Martin, a Warden or any other Parish Councillor.
Key issues before the Council this year, in addition to the normal running of the Parish, will be: a new Covenant with Revd Martin, the children’s and youth ministry; support for Revd Robin’s Northbourne Community Centre ministry and completing the rectory renovation project in the near future. On regular maintenance, the building fascia boards and eaves are a priority.
Parish Council has agreed to hire the church and Lamerton Centre meeting room to a local Tongan Uniting Church congregation for use every Sunday from 1pm to about 3pm.
February 2017
At its meeting on 8 February, the Parish Council considered the agenda and papers for the Annual General Meeting (AGM) to be held at 11.15am sharp on Sunday 26 February in the Lamerton Centre.
After the normal business and elections, the AGM will have three general business items:
Rectory Renovation Project
Carola Parke Bequest
2017 Review of Mission Program
The meeting business will be handled as quickly as possible and it is hoped that as many parishioners as possible can remain for the important general business items.
On the storm damage front, the tree has been removed and the stump ground. A new sign is being made – only the bottom notice box was retrievable. The costs will be largely covered by insurance.
Work on the Rectory Renovation Project will resume soon. The principal remaining work is landscaping together with a number of other outdoor items.
The St. Philips Autumn Market will be held on Saturday 1 April from 9am to 1pm.