A sunny break in the rainy month of May provided the perfect afternoon for a celebration in Sydney Square. On the doorstep of St Andrew’s Cathedral, tents were erected and crowds gathered to celebrate the almost two centuries of service that Anglicare has provided in Sydney.

With musical entertainment by retirement village band the Toe-Tappers, a barbecue cooked by Anglicare’s Disaster Relief team, a pop-up op shop and a “Granny Stand” offering life advice from seniors, members of the public explored and experienced for themselves the variety of ways Anglicare walks alongside the community.

Those attending had the opportunity to find out about the different services Anglicare offers, from foster care to financial wellbeing, counselling services to community pantry programs, and hear from people how the services have been a blessing to many.

When Anglicare began as the Church Society in 1856, some parts of Sydney were flourishing, while others were struggling greatly. With courage and boldness, the organisation stepped in to support these struggling communities, and it continues to do this important work today.

The afternoon was completed with a thanksgiving service in the Cathedral. Archbishop Kanishka Raffel, NSW’s Premier, Chris Minns, and Lord Mayor of Sydney Clover Moore were among those in attendance, with CityAlight leading the music. Volunteers and recipients of Anglicare’s services filled the pews to join in prayer and praise for the organisation’s work.

“Our work is all about home with heart, creating places and spaces of belonging, and walking with them side by side when others may not,” Anglicare’s CEO Simon Miller said at the service.

“The same steadfast love that has carried Anglicare for 170 years will guide us for the next 170, God willing. And so we continue to seek new and deeper ways to respond. Holding fast to our calling and working towards our vision to see Jesus Christ honoured, lives enriched and communities strengthened.”

Archbishop Raffel added: “Anglicare’s mission begins with the heart of God and bears witness that the God of justice and mercy, who loves the foreigner, the orphan and the widow, calls on his people to do the same.”

PRAY FOR ANGLICARE’S WORK

Community pantry: People come to us who are vulnerable and struggling financially. It’s not just about food, because we partner with churches, we meet their social needs and spiritual needs as well. Pray that [people] would not only be seeking food for the table, but hopefully the bread of life as well.
Aaron Li, Community Pantry team leader

Foster Care, adoption, family support: We work with families and children right from the early intervention work that we do to keep families and children safe, through to foster care and adoption. Please pray that we would get more foster carers committed to caring for children, and please pray that we would be well engaged with our churches to support foster carers better.
Nicole Martin, head of Foster Care, Adoption and Family Support.

Anglicare op shops: Our shops are for everybody, for people looking for a bargain to people in need, and people that just want to have a nice conversation. We are praying for them to come into our stores and feel appropriately loved and looked after, catered for, so they feel the love of Jesus in our stores.
Jenny Hercus, manager, Anglicare Op Shops

Family life skills education team: We run seminars and courses with parishes, schools and our seniors communities, to help people live through the life stages and, as they age through every stage, to live wisely and well. Pray that we would help inspire and encourage and cheer people on and facilitate workshops as they go through different life seasons.
Jenny Sawyer, seniors life stage educator

Relationships and wellbeing: Our service really is quite broad. We help everyone, from people with young children to the elderly. We help with a number of issues, from relationships, families with domestic violence, mediation through separation, lots of different areas. Most people approaching our services are in need of something [due to] a mental or emotional health issue, or a big life change and they need our support. Pray for us that we can provide the support they need, and for them that they can access what they need when they need it, and take what we offer and be able to use that to help them.
Jo Barrie, Counselling Services