Anglican Church of Australia. From the Bishop s desk # 04/03. 4 December Dear Friends

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1 Anglican Church of Australia The Missionary Diocese of Tasmania From the Bishop s desk # 04/03 Dear Friends 4 December 2003 This is a reminder of the ordination service to be held at the Cathedral this Saturday at 10.00a.m. I would ask you to pray for the ordinands, who are on retreat. Introducing the Ordinands To be ordained as Deacons SHEILA HOLMES Sheila was born in Manchester (UK) and trained as a teacher. It was while teaching in Louth (Lincolnshire) that she met her future husband, Charles. They were married in 1954 and had four children; Ruth, Christina, David and Peter and now have eight grandchildren, two of whom are married. The family came to Tasmania in 1970 to the parish of Claremont/Chigwell, then Lindisfarne, St. James New Town and Longford. After retirement Sheila and Charles lived for three years in Cremorne before returning to Longford where Charles died in Sheila became a Lay Reader in 1996, this was an area in which she felt able to serve the Lord as Sheila says she possesses no secretarial/administrative skills or musical ability apart from a love of hymns. Sheila has been encouraged by a number of clergy including Bishop Owen Dowling, Canon Warwick Letchford, the Reverend Peter Johnson and Geoff Bransgrove but her greatest mentor and encourager was her husband Charles but since his death the Lord has been a very real presence drawing her on and prodding her when she didn t respond. Sheila wouldn t have considered herself worthy or suitable for ordination but when it was suggested to her by Geoff Bransgrove she felt that this is what God has been preparing her for.

2 HELEN PHILLIPS AS A CHILD: Childhood was great! An uncomplicated time growing up in West Hobart with her mum and dad, sister, Judy and two brothers, David and Paul. AT HOME: Helen has the joy of being the mother of two sons, Luke and Joshua and stepmother for Lincoln and Brook. Ray and Helen have the privilege of sharing in the parenting of four fine young men as a stepfamily. Corinne, Kate and Petalynn have recently become very important people in their family as the partners of their three eldest sons. Ray and Joshua are keen sailors. Helen enjoys accompanying them loaded with an armful of books and a camera. GETTING TO KNOW GOD: Seeds of faith were sewn when Helen was a child. A winter season in her early adult life blossomed into spring. Through pain and sadness Helen grew absolutely confident that no matter what, our loving Father, never lets us go. PROFESSIONAL LIFE & CHRISTIAN MINISTRY included Sunday School teaching at fourteen; kids camp cooking at sixteen; Diploma of Teaching at the Tasmanian College of Advanced Education in Early Childhood Education at twenty. Then followed teaching in rural and urban schools, special education classes and music teaching, Welfare Officer at Clarendon and Parish Administrator-Parish of Kingston. Ten years ago God opened a new door with a strong mission focus at Scripture Union as Tasmanian Children and Families Coordinator for Tasmania. Helen is extremely grateful that S U ministry has stretched and grown her in ministry beyond expectations. Four years ago she commenced part time denominational ministry in the Anglican Diocese of Tasmania firstly as Safe Ministry Consultant, then as Children and Families Ministry Development Worker. More recently Helen has had the privilege of sharing in ministry as Mission Support Officer for the Southern Rural Network. Helen is passionate about kids having the opportunity to meet Jesus and equipping and facilitating people in ministry. HELEN THE STUDENT: Education for Ministry was completed many years ago and some subjects of a Diploma of Theology have been attained. There is more to do God hasn t finished with Helen yet! FAVOURITES: Smiley faces, strawberries, teddy bears and angels and Helen got hooked into the final episodes of Australian Idol. To be ordained as Priests SHIRLEY VAN NORDEN Shirley van Norden was born at New Norfolk on 14th May 1951, from a family of eight. Shirley moved to Circular Head in 1967 with her mother and father, brother and sister just after the bush fires in Hobart. She met and married John in 1971 and they have three grown children, two boys and a girl. With their eldest getting married in February. Most of their married life has been spent working on dairy farms. Until eight years ago when they started a Rural Contracting Business employing their two sons Scott and Dean, this has brought them much joy. Most of Shirley's life she attended church but it wasn't until the age of 26 that she began her journey in faith in a living relationship and commitment with Christ. Shirley also received encouragement and support from Rev Rick Cartledge the rector at that time.

3 It was upon studying God's gifts and using of those gifts where she felt a presence of God hard to describe. God knew the time was right to reveal His wider plan and purpose for her life. Shirley answered God s call and stepped out in faith and leading her as to what He wanted her to do. One of Shirley's ministries that God blesses greatly is pastoral care. Shirley is in awe of how far her Lord and herself have travelled, walked and shared together over the past four years, from being a lay reader into collaborative ministry. Shirley became a lay reader in 1999 and was ordinand a Deacon in February 2002 into Locally Ordained Ministry. Shirley holds many volunteering roles within her community, Hospice worker, works with people with disabilities, taking them to appointments, shopping and helping single parents with children. Shirley works as a nursing care assist in the local nursing home. Shirley is mindful of the great responsibility and privilege that Jesus has entrusted into her care. Shirley's hobby is her family there isn t much time for anything else. PETER ADKINS Peter Adkins emigrated from England in he has been in a variety of jobs including working for the New South Wales railways, lift construction and taxi driving. After years in a spiritual wilderness he experienced a profound conversion to Christianity in 1981 and from this emerged a passion to share the good news of new life in Jesus Christ. Peter trained with the Church Army in Australia and was commissioned as a Church Army Evangelist in He and Gwen served as parish based evangelists in the Dioceses of Brisbane, Sydney and from in Edmonton (UK) while Peter completed an MA in Evangelism Studies through Sheffield University. Peter and his family arrived in Tasmania in July 2002 where Peter took up the role of Enabler with the Parishes of Penguin, Circular Head and Sheffield. His passion is to grow healthy churches which make the love of Christ real in word and deed. Peter has been married to Gwen for nearly 19 years and they have three children, Tim, Joshua and Emily. His hobbies include playing guitar and singing, fishing, photography and enjoying the beautiful Tasmanian scenery. HELEN CHICK H... Helen is her Christian name and here's some of her journey, so far, continually being changed by the Holy Spirit... E... Eager to serve God and helping people seek and grow in personal relationship with God through believing and trusting in Jesus. That's Helen being part of this Church's team to work together to realise All Tasmanians committed to Jesus Christ. L... Librarianship has been her profession, primarily in public libraries on the mainland. Longford in northern Tasmania is Helen s new home since moving from Melbourne in August Helen was ordained Deacon on 6 September 2003 at Christ Church, Longford. E... Evandale is one of the communities she ministers to, as well as Longford, Perth, Illawarra, Bishopsbourne and The Nile.

4 N... Nomadic is one way to describe Helen s life. She was born in Brisbane in 1951 and continues to experience the diversities of Australian urban and rural life. C... Chick is Helen s birth name. Caloundra was the family holiday haunt with Mum, Dad and sister Sue. H... Homiletics was one of Helen s theological subjects at Ridley College, Melbourne where she completed a Bachelor of Ministries this year, continuing the learning and preparation for ordained ministry. I... Interests are varied. Include sharing a glass of red with family and friends, walking on the beach or curled up with a good read. C... Christian is another way to describe Helen. Becoming Christian in her teens when God convicted her that He has no grandchildren. Helen committed to her own personal relationship with Jesus and it is quite a journey! Life's an adventure, journeying and relating to Jesus and all those whom God brings into her life. K... Kids, that's four beautiful delightful daughters all living in Victoria: Georgina & fiance Phil, Marina, Susannah & Jennifer. MARGARET LOCK Margaret was born in Gillingham Kent, England in July Margaret moved to Australia in 1949 with her parents and sister and brother and settled in Adelaide. Margaret was confirmed at St. Phillip s Church, Somerton Park in After the death of both her parents Margaret moved to Melbourne in 1973 where she lived and worked until July 1980 when she then moved to Hobart. Margaret met her husband John in 1986 and they married in Margaret has two step-daughters and has since been blessed with five grandchildren. Margaret s personal sense of call became apparent during the six years that she worshipped at St George s Battery Point , where she felt the desire to grow in faith and commitment to the Lord. In 1991 John and Margaret began worshipping at St. Mark s Bellerive, where they both trained, and became Lay Readers in After John s death in 1996 Margaret became involved with Pastoral Care, and has been Pastoral Care co-ordinator and carer since that time. In 1997 Margaret did the Education for Ministry course and completed the four years, going on to complete a unit of C.P.E at the Royal Hobart Hospital and then joining the Chaplaincy team at R.H.H. until March Since August 2000 Margaret has continued in further developing her skills, completing three units with I.T.E. Theology and Pastoral Ministry, and fieldwork within the Parish. Margaret s dedication to her spiritual home, St. Mark s, has been tested over the years. In July 2002 Margaret was ordained Deacon. Margaret describes her journey of faith as most fulfilling, and her commitment to God is foremost in her life, by His Grace she endeavors to carry out her duties, as assistant priest at St. Mark s Bellerive, faithfully serving in His Holy name.

5 MOVES WITHIN THE DIOCESE It is my pleasure to announce that The Reverend Henry Ivey has accepted the appointment as Rector of the Parish of Swansea commencing 29th February This offer comes with the support of the Uniting Church. Please pray for Henry and Jennifer as they finalise their current ministry in the Parish of Sorell and as they move to Swansea in the New Year. Please also remember the Parish of Sorell in your prayers as they commence the process of a Parish consultation and the search for their new Rector. Please also continue to pray for The Reverend David Rogers-Smith and The Reverend Doug Edmonds as they prepare for their moves to the Diocese to commencing their ministry in the New Year. I am also able to announce the retirement of The Reverend Keith Pritchard from the 31st December I take this opportunity to wish Keith well in his retirement and thank him most sincerely for his ministry in the Parish of Franklin/Esperance and in the Diocese of Tasmania. Please remember Keith and Dawn at this time of transition. Yours sincerely in Christ s service Shalom Postal Address: GPO Box 748, Hobart TAS st Floor, Church House 125 Macquarie Street, Hobart TAS 7000 Telephone: Facsimile: bishop@anglicantas.org.au web: