Each member’s depth of relationship with God – and with each other – is helping the community at St Stephen’s, Penrith to grow in Christ through good teaching, mutual encouragement and lots of prayer.
PARISH IN FOCUS
Parish: Penrith
Region: Western Region
The St Stephen’s church building is the oldest public building in Penrith. Located on High Street, it has been in constant use since 1839. The north-west corner of its 13 metre tower is Penrith’s trig location. Gothic in style, its stone bricks were cemented over in 1906.
However, of far greater import than its architectural and historic significance, is the ministry that has taken place at St Stephen’s over the past 165 years.
“St Stephen’s is a Bible-teaching and Bible-believing church with a strong evangelical heritage,” says senior minister, the Rev Rick Miller. “Today, St Stephen’s seeks to embrace both traditional and contemporary forms as it works to fulfill its motto of ‘Growing in Christ and making him known’.”
St Stephen’s sets out to appeal to a cross-section of people. Its services range from two traditional prayer book services, to a more informal family service, to a contemporary evening service (with interviews, videos, suppers and ‘post-supper suppers’). Church members include some whose grandparents and parents attended the church, along with others who have joined this year.
Like all churches, St Stephen’s has seen its ups and downs and has its strengths and weaknesses. As with most churches, it runs Sunday school, youth ministry, Bible study groups, and men’s and women’s ministries. Of particular interest is FOSS – Friends of St Stephen’s. It is a monthly mid week service followed by a lunch and a Christian speaker, for the over 50s, which draws about 50 people. St Stephen’s has also recently been involved with a church plant at South Penrith.
Along with the faithful ministry of many long time members, Rick, of late, has been particularly encouraged by the attraction of new people to the evening service and some initiatives in the areas of evangelism, discipleship and training. Each of these initiatives is important if the church is to grow – in depth of relationship with God, in depth of relationship with each other, and in size.
Evangelism
Christianity Explained has taken on a higher profile at the church with regular courses being held in addition to personal presentations. In August, for example, up to ten people in their twenties attended a course run by the Rev Stephen Liggins, assistant minister at St Stephen’s. Some were regular members, others new members, and others friends (or friends of friends).
Discipleship
In the area of discipleship, a new one-on-one program is being initiated. “The aim,” says Stephen, “is to have as many people as possible in Bible study groups and/or meeting regularly in a discipleship pair. We’ve started the one-on-one program with a few people in the evening service, and are currently trying to expand it across other congregations.”
Training
Good teaching, prayer, and mutual encouragement are necessary for a church to grow. Training of lay members of the church in ministry (for example, Bible study leading, leading Christianity Explained, evangelism, discipleship and pastoral care) is also crucial.
“We have just commenced regular training sessions on a Sunday morning,” says Rick, “but things are in their early days. We want to further develop a culture of training and to encourage people to see this as a priority.”
The maintenance team
One of the distinctive and greatly appreciated ministries at the church is carried out by a group of four retired men who form the parish maintenance team. These men have put in a terrific number of hours maintaining the grounds and heritage listed church and hall over the last ten years. Church warden and treasurer, John Sandilands*, sings their praises, “They would save us up to $10,000 each year.”
“They work brilliantly together and achieve a lot,” agrees Rick. “They are undoubtedly the best voluntary church maintenance team in the Diocese.”
165th anniversary
The parish recently celebrated the 165th Anniversary of the consecration of the church building. A number of local dignitaries attended and Bishop Dudley Foord was invited to speak at a special service. It was a great time of celebration and encouragement, said John. He recalled how the Bishop spoke of what the church had achieved in the past and how its members needed to build on it in the future.
*John Sandilands
John was a greatly loved churchwarden, treasurer and member of St Stephen’s for 30 years. He died suddenly not long after being interviewed for this article.
“John was a fine Christian man,” says Rick. “He worked tirelessly for the church, was a real gentleman and had been a great encouragement to me, to the three preceding rectors, and to countless members of the congregation. There is joy in the calling home of a saint like John, but he will be greatly missed by his family and many others.”