Better Together – Mary-Anne Rulfs
A few weeks ago I was in Canberra for the first national Anglican Schools Conference in 4 years. I was so happy to be there! – connecting with people I’ve come to know over the last 10+ years as friends and mentors – leaders in Anglican schools, including principals and chaplains – people whose ministries are helping to shape the lives of more than 170,000 students across Australia, as well as the lives of teachers, support staff and families in 150 Anglican school communities throughout Australia.
That’s a lot of people! What an incredible opportunity and sphere of influence our church has through its school network to proclaim the gospel to Australian families.
These Anglican communities have as their purpose the education of children and young people in our country, and shaping them to be ethical, honest and transparent, to act justly and fairly, treat others with love and kindness, respect the diversity of people in Anglican schools, and stand up for their beliefs. That is, to be people who lives are shaped by Jesus, for the benefit of others.
One of the keynote speakers at the conference was Julia Baird. Her book ‘phosphoresence’ has been one of the most influential in my life over the last 5 years. It explores life and faith and where we find hope in dark times. Julia spoke powerfully about the role of faith in providing meaning and purpose for young people. She highlighted the fact that while the traditional church may no longer be their ‘go to’ place for meaning, people everywhere are finding a renewed inclination to be open to awe and wonder – to language and experience that speaks of the presence of God. Julia encouraged us to consider the ways and words that convey the core elements of faith-filled lives – grace, hope, love, courage, compassion. And I would add, thankfulness. And she challenged us to nurture opportunities in our schools for awe and wonder that foster these things, leading to meaning and purpose and life in all its fullness through Christ.
A lot of what Julia spoke about resonated with another speaker, Professor Donna Cross, who presented her research concerning wellbeing. Donna defined wellbeing this way:
Wellbeing is feeling well, functioning well and being well connected.
There are 5 main contributors to wellbeing:
- Connection – finding ways to do and have connection
- Be active
- Take notice
- Keep learning
- Give generously
Being well connected means having significant positive relationships in your life. and not only one friendship group, a range of people with whom you can hang out and share interests.
Taking notice is paying attention to what’s around you – being present to other people and appreciating awe and wonder in engagement with the natural world.
Interesting that giving generously – one of the ministry gifts of people in the body of Christ that Paul mentions in Romans 12 – is key to our wellbeing.
School and parish communities are challenged to take notice of the influences shaping our culture and the church’s place in it. Our church – based in Robina and with people belonging in many ways and places – offers many fantastic opportunities for these things to people in our community and beyond:
Connection
Ways to be active
Things to notice
Opportunities to learn
and to give generously
Parish Councillor Francisco Estevao reflected recently after the last Parish Council meeting:
One of the things that keeps Jacqui and me coming to church is the strong community spirit we have here. As an example, parishioners Brad and Richard are working together with Parish Council to expand our church gardens by adding an additional rose garden. Thanks guys!
We need that community spirit to expand in the next few months. We are not a wealthy church, and the maintenance of our church property as well as our mission work and general administration is proving to be difficult with our changed dynamics post Covid and depleting funds.
Sometimes fund-raising can be a lot of fun, like our 2023 SPRING DINNER-DANCE with games, lovely food, dancing and multi-cultural entertainment. We would love to share this time with you (family and friends are welcome too!) at our sister church, St Johns Anglican Church, 14 Park Ave, Burleigh Heads, on 13 October from 6-10pm.
Electronic and hard-copy tickets will be released mid September.
If you have any questions or if you can donate time or prizes for games, raffle(s) and competition please contact me on 0434869932, Andrew Capone on +61 407 076 027 or Samuel on 0411 418 179.
Thanks Francisco, Samuel and Andrew for offering this fund-raising opportunity for fun and connection.
Thanks to everybody in our community who is giving and living generously so that our church can continue to be a safe and welcoming community for people to belong and experience the kind of connection that leads to wellbeing – where what we do and say is shaped by grace, hope, love, courage, compassion and thanksgiving. The way of Jesus. For the benefit of others.
Grace and peace,
Mary-Anne