31 December 2023
As we near to the close of 2023, we took a look back at some of The Melbourne Anglican’s best pictures from the year. Enjoy!
‘God will be there at the centre’: Fifteen new deacons ordained – February
Newly-ordained deacons were encouraged to rely on each other when challenges come their way.
Fifteen ordinands from churches across Melbourne braved the wet weather to be ordained as deacons at St Paul’s Cathedral on 4 February, surrounded by family, friends and fellow parishioners.
Among them was the Reverend Monica Matoc, pictured above. With Tereaza Alfred Audo and Rebecca Adut Mading, she was one of three South Sudanese women ordained.
Community on the curriculum for Anglican teaching academics – July
International Anglican educators explored how to rebuild community in theological colleges and universities post-pandemic at a July Melbourne meeting.
Teaching academics met at the Colleges and Universities of the Anglican Communion 2023 conference last week, hosted by Trinity College and Janet Clarke Hall.
We grabbed this fun snap of them by chance, all waving at a passer-by – they were obviously enjoying their time together as a community.
Church unites to share Jesus’ story with children – July
Dozens of children heard the gospel at an annual school holiday program at St Alfred’s Blackburn North.
St Alfred’s hosted about 200 children at “Going Bananas” in July, where they played games, did craft, and heard and talked about Bible stories.
Here Nathan, Josie, Lucy and Lucy join in the fun.
Wondrous Star – April
Our wondrous star is alive!
Risen in splendour.
He is among us!
Blood has been shed.
The promise fulfilled.
He is risen!!
Thank you to the Reverend Robyn Davis, a Wadi Wadi woman from the Balranald and Swan Hill area, for this beautiful Easter cover.
Easing worry one full tummy at a time – June
Churches in Melbourne’s east have helped support services such as Anglicare Victoria take the first step towards lifting people out of systemic poverty: filling their bellies. It comes as increasing costs of living hit hardest for Victoria’s most vulnerable people.
Here Anglicare Victoria volunteer Denis Long and student Baljeet Kaur unpack some of the bags of goods.
Discovering the road less travelled – January
The next generation getting involved in mission with CMS workers Chris and Grace Adams at CMS Victoria’s Summer Under the Son 2023. Picture: Elspeth Kernebone
Mission supporters gathered in January to learn about the evolving nature of cross cultural outreach at the Church Missionary Society’s Victorian branch annual conference.
Attendees at Summer Under the Son 2023 heard from Sydney-based Richard Shumack, who has a background working in Muslim communities.
Foodbanks struggle to stock shelves – August
All Saints Preston holds a weekly food distribution service as well as a weekly lunch for community members in need of a hot meal.
Every Friday, clients can select the items they most require from a supermarket-like setup. Every Saturday, volunteers organise lunch for between 35 and 40 people, using ingredients largely from Foodbank Victoria.
But sourcing food to be distributed has become harder this year.
Country church papers walls with Statement from the Heart – September
A word-art installation of the Statement from the Heart now circles the walls of St George’s Trentham.
Its aim is to encourage people to be informed of what voters are being asked in the upcoming referendum on the Voice to Parliament.
We loved seeing the creativity of this idea, realised in the still, sunlit interior of a country church.
New equal church leaders’ role for couple – August
A married couple hopes a new model of leadership they’re embarking on will provide a sustainable future for church leadership.
The Reverends Jerome and Vivianne Dias will be commissioned as joint vicars of three parishes in the Dandenong ranges.
Photographer Janine Eastgate captured this image of them ahead of their commissioning.
Sewing change for 20 years: Dream Stitches marks big birthday – August
Each stitch has been small, but over 20 years they have woven a tapestry of change in the lives of dozens of women.
At Dream Stitches, Anglican volunteers have been helping migrant and refugee women learn to sew since 2003.
It’s not only given the women skills as seamstresses, but built their confidence, connected otherwise isolated people, and supported their English language learning.
Photographer Janine Eastgate snapped this photo of Dream Stitches participants Hena and Fariba.
Two new lay ministers just the beginning for Emmanuel Iranian – April
Melbourne’s Iranian Anglican congregation has added two new lay ministers, in what pastor the Reverend Kaveh Hassanzadeh says is a big step for Iranian Christians in Australia.
The two newest lay ministers at Emmanuel Iranian Church in Dandenong are former refugees who fled Iran and converted to Christianity.
For Elham Gharaee Shirazi and Paul Afshar, the journey to lay ministry has been complicated.
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