The new parish centre recently completed at St John's, Dee Why is just one of the many signs of growth and community connection, with a new assistant minister also appointed.
After a year of building work, which was preceded by six years of planning, St John's rector, the Rev Steven Salmon says the parish has the facilities to meet the present and future needs of the ministry of St John's.
"From the start, we wanted the building to be ministry focused and for the ministry to be gospel focused," Mr Salmon says.
"What we have built, therefore, is a facility that is integrated with the church building to maximize the effective use of the entire site."
The site includes foyer areas which incorporate a garden courtyard that is very welcoming and can used for functions or groups to meet in, there is a large hall which can open into a smaller hall, there is a chapel, which is used for weekday services and the Sunday school program and the upstairs has a youth room equipped with billiard table, foosball and air hockey.
Mr Salmon says almost all the church's ministries have been improved because the facilities in which they are carried out have been specifically designed with the ministries in mind.
"It is the children's, family and youth ministry that has benefitted most. We can now have ministry for children that leaves no age gaps from toddlers and preschoolers with our two Playtime groups, to school age with our after school Kids' Club and a growing Youth Group for High School aged kids," he says.
A ministry called St John's Café has begun twice a week in the foyer and courtyard areas.
"Here people who visit the church, which is always open, can be offered hospitality and speak to someone about the Christian faith or the parish's ministry. Already a Kurdish family has begun to be involved in the parish through this ministry," Mr Salmon says.
Dispelling Sydney’s myths about Anglo-Catholics
As the leader of an Anglo-Catholic parish, Mr Salmon wants to emphasise that St John's is committed to Bible-based teaching and outreach.
"We believe there is no contradiction between gospel ministry and the Catholic tradition of Anglicanism. Most of the services are somewhat formal by Sydney standards and the sacraments are much valued alongside the proclamation of the word," he says. "But we also have some more informal services, especially for families.
An informal monthly service for young families called 4thsunday@four, may become a weekly service, Mr Salmon says.
New assistant minister the Rev Paul West trained for ministry at Westcott House, a Church of England theological college within Cambridge University in the UK. He was ordained a priest in Wangaratta in 2007, serving at St Matthew’s, Albury from 2006 to 2008.
"It was a wonderful place of learning about pastoral care with a particular focus in youth ministry," Mr West says.
Mr West is doing one year of study at Moore College this year.
"I have really valued the opportunity to learn Greek and I have gained a lot from the rigorous approach to Biblical studies I have found at Moore College," he says.
"I have appreciated getting to know the students and teachers at Moore, and even help dispel some myths about Anglo-Catholics."
Mr Salmon says Mr West will have a diverse ministry at St John's.
"I am hoping he will have a particular responsibility for energizing the children's, youth and family ministry. He is a very good preacher and I am looking forward to developing some adult Christian education programs with him next year," he says.
