St George’s

Anglican Church Epsom

PARISH PROFILE St George’s Anglican Church 19 Ranfurly Rd Epsom Auckland 1023 www.stgeorgesepsom.org.nz

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St G’s Kidschurch

St G’s

St G’s Youth

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St George’s is…

Centred on Jesus. Our vision, values, message and life together are based on Jesus the Son of God, as revealed in the Scriptures. We seek to be a place where people meet Jesus, in the gathering of the worshipping community and through the shared life of his people. Empowering followers. We recognise that everyone is at a different stage in their journey of faith. We invite people to come as they are and encourage them to grow in their faith through the empowering of the Holy Spirit by means of worship, teaching, prayer, small groups and other ministries of the church. In the world. As followers of Jesus, we are called both to love one another and to serve those beyond the congregaon. We seek to share the gospel message of life, hope and care for all people, recognising that the influence of God’s people can extend well beyond the physical boundaries of the parish. St George’s has a number of contrasng characteriscs that have to be held together in creave tension. For example: Large and small – On average, nearly 500 people aend worship services at St George’s every week, and congregaon sizes range from about 20 to 250. This means that, although St George’s is a large church, many parishioners relate only to the congregaon or small group they generally aend. Inside and outside our four walls – Many at St George’s hold responsible posions in business, law, medical fields and educaon. Their responsibilies at work or in the community mean they oen have limited me to commit to church-based programmes or acvies. On the other hand, many people welcome the opportunity to contribute their me and gis to the life of the church. We encourage people to offer their gis and to grow more into the likeness of Jesus. Diversity – At St George’s we acknowledge that Chrisans are inspired to respond to God in different ways. The worshipping life of St George’s is therefore built around a number of congregaons, each with a unique style. While the ‘Anglican DNA’ is important to us, we celebrate a diversity of Chrisan experiences that enrich our worship and fellowship. In and beyond the parish – Less than 20 percent of those who aend St George’s live within the geographical borders of the parish. Just over 60 percent live in Epsom and neighbouring suburbs, but a significant number come from the four corners of Auckland. This means St George’s is both a local parish church and a city-wide church. We are sll discovering our role within the parish, the diocese, the city, and beyond. St George’s aims to be open and welcoming for all newcomers. We seek to be a safe place for busy professional people, for people with quesons and uncertaines, for hurng people and for those who may be disillusioned from past church experiences. For the last 22 years, St George’s has experienced significant growth in acvies, ministries, and numbers of people at worship. Today we recognise that there are many more people in our community to reach out to, care for and introduce to Jesus. We expect the Lord to lead us into further growth and development in ways we have not yet even imagined.

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Vision and Values “Empowering people to be Christ’s followers in the world.” Biblical Truth We base our vision, values, life and teaching on God’s inspired Scriptures which reveal: • A creang, loving, powerful God. John 1:1-5, 1 John 4:8 • Jesus Christ, the Son of God, fully God and fully human, who through his life, death and resurrecon offers forgiveness, cleansing and new life on earth and eternally. John 14:1-7 • The Holy Spirit, who transforms, guides and empowers the followers of Jesus in every aspect of life. John 14:26 • The Church as God’s people called to worship him, show his care for all, and to share in Christ’s mission of reconciliaon, jusce and transformaon. Luke 4:18-21 • The world-wide all-encompassing nature of Christ’s mission, in every sphere of human life locally as well as overseas. Mahew 28:18-20 • The call for Chrisans to grow in holiness and wholeness, adopng the pracces of prayer, Bible study, worship, gathering with others, and service. Mahew 6:33 These Biblical values are expressed at St George’s through: …worship, prayer and praise We welcome all to our worship gatherings, the central aspect of our corporate church life. Together we express praise, pray, listen to God’s word and receive Holy Communion. We expect to be inspired and transformed as we experience the presence of the Lord, the work of the Holy Spirit and the message of the gospel. …care for all people Our church is made up of people from a variety of cultures, countries, occupaons, experiences, ages and church backgrounds. We welcome all people in God’s name, but sense a special calling to busy people; to the hurt and disillusioned; to the young; to those seeking more of the reality and love of God. …healthy community We seek to grow in relaonships characterised by words like: welcoming, accepng, caring, honest, forgiving and supporve. Our imperfecons can lead to mistakes, misunderstandings and unintenonal hurts, but we seek to openly acknowledge and work through these feelings for the sake of healing, maturity and wholeness. …learning and growing We encourage people to ‘come as they are’, regardless of where they are on their faith journey. Our aim is that each person will meet Jesus Christ, discover his abundant life for themselves, and grow in discipleship as they are guided and empowered by Holy Spirit. To this end, we encourage people to join a small group which is appropriate for them. …serving and leading We believe that every Chrisan is called to minister God’s grace and love to others through their parcular gis, skills, passions, interests and experiences. Some are called to serve the church community; others have a ministry in their workplace or through wider community involvement. All are supported in whatever level of engagement is suitable for them as, together, we live out our role as ‘salt’ and ‘light’ in the world, for Jesus’ sake. …future focus The gospel calls us to reach out and welcome others into the Body of Christ. We seek to be open to the Lord’s leading; to allow for more people to be involved in our worship and acvies; to develop a greater variety of ministries; and to grow in depth as well as numbers.

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St George’s – the story

St George’s church was built in early 1916 through the generosity of a wealthy benefactor and former landowner in the area, Mrs. Emma George. A small group of St Mark’s parishioners had been meeng since 1914 in a converted stable on her property and she felt compelled to provide a more suitable place of worship for them. In the following years the church grew, the buildings were altered and extended and St George’s became a separate parish. The church, hall, offices and three-bedroomed vicarage are now all on one site in Ranfurly Rd. Planning is underway for the church’s centenary in 2015-16. During its early years unl the late 1980’s the church was led by a number of vicars each bringing through their ministries their unique contribuons to the life of the parish. St Georges went through many changes but held closely to Anglican tradion and provided pastoral care to parishioners and other people in the community. A new era of growth began in 1990 under the leadership of the Rev Brian Jenkins, who was also the director of the Church Army in New Zealand. Numbers worshipping at St George’s increased to around 350 per week and there were significant children’s and youth ministries. Aer Brian’s rerement in 2001, growth connued under his successor, Archdeacon Bob Barre with the addion of extra services. When Bob rered, the Rev Iain Gow introduced a restructuring programme to promote further growth but unfortunately, resigned aer only one year. St George’s now averages between 450 and 500 worshippers each week, and the challenge is to connue allowing for growth in all aspects of church life and to structure the staff team, lay ministries and worship mes accordingly. Epsom – the suburb Most of those who aend St George’s live in Epsom, a large, popular, tree-filled residenal suburb of substanal homes, ten minutes by car (depending on the traffic) from the central business district of Auckland city (see map). The church is close to Auckland’s southern motorway and commuter rail line, and two kilometres from the heart of Newmarket’s vast array of shops, cafés, restaurants and cinemas. Epsom is a family-orientated suburb, with a high proporon of professionals and Asians. The esmated populaon in 2010 was 3960 and this is projected to increase to 4430 by the year 2031. In Auckland city as a whole, one -third (34 percent) of its residents will idenfy with an Asian ethnicity by 2021, up from one-quarter (25 percent) in 2006. ¹ St George’s parish is located in what Aucklanders call ‘the Grammar zone’ – the catchment area for two popular and highly respected secondary schools: Auckland Grammar (for boys) and Epsom Girls’ Grammar school. Houses in this zone are highly valued. The area has a number of good primary schools and four independent (private) secondary schools. The University of Auckland Faculty of Educaon campus is also situated at this area. There are also a number of rerement villages, private hospitals and rest homes in the area. Some residents in wheelchairs from the Elizabeth Knox Home and Hospital just over the road from the church regularly aend the 9.00 am and 10.45 am Sunday services. Auckland itself is the largest city in New Zealand, a cosmopolitan South Pacific centre which sprawls over the narrow isthmus between two harbours – hence oen referred to as the ‘City of Sails’. For more about Auckland see www.aucklandnz.com ________________________________________________________________________________________ ¹ Subnaonal ethnic populaon projecons, Stascs New Zealand, www.stats.govt.nz. Note: the boundaries of ‘Epsom Central’ in the census do not correspond with the parish boundaries.

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St George’s Stascs

Worship aendance – the last 22 years

Income since 2005 Year 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

Income in $ 484,179 522,501 607,819 641,174 675,022 671,107

700,000 600,000 2005

500,000

2006

400,000

2007

300,000

2008

200,000

2009

100,000 0

2010 Income

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Worship at St George’s

Sunday We have four regular Sunday congregaons, each with its own disncve style. Each one includes a Biblically-based teaching sermon. Normally the morning preacher covers all three congregaons, with a different preacher and sermon at 7 pm. 7.45 am Tradional liturgical A quiet, shorter more formal and liturgical service with hymns, usually based on the New Zealand Prayer Book. On the fourth Sunday of the month we use the 1928 liturgy. 9.00 am Tradional family This Holy Communion service is based on the New Zealand Prayer Book with a mixture of modern and tradional music. Leaders wear robes and follow the liturgy with flexibility, in a way that provides a sense of life and gives people opportunity to meet the Lord in worship. KidsChurch and youth programmes are provided and healing prayer ministry is available aerwards. The service finishes around 10.15 am, followed by morning tea in the hall on the first and third Sundays of the month. 10.45 am Informal family An informal music-based communion service combining sung worship with brief liturgical elements. Lay parcipaon is encouraged. KidsChurch and youth programmes are offered and morning tea is available at the back of the church aer the service, which finishes a lile aer 12 noon. 7.00 pm Contemporary informal This congregaon is led by young adults, but includes a wide age range. It has an informal, relaonal style and oen includes interviews, prayers, Bible readings and DVD visuals. Communion is offered monthly, and coffee and cake are served aerwards.

Weekday 10.00 am Wednesday Tradional liturgical This is a quiet me of reflecon, prayer and Holy Communion based on the New Zealand Prayer Book. It includes a brief reflecve sermon and opportunity for healing prayer. Morning tea is available aerwards.

Monthly 7.30 pm Thursday ‘The Gathering’ A me of charismac worship, tesmony-styled teaching, prayer and healing ministry, held once a month on Thursdays at 7.30 pm.

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The Staff Team at August 2011

Rev George Stonehouse Priest in Charge (part me spendiary) Passions: For the truth revealed through God’s Word; to see God worshipped in ways He would rejoice in; to glorify Jesus Christ in every aspect of the church, to see people experience more of the Holy Spirit. Ministries: Priest in Charge; leads the staff team. Family: Married to Janet for 48 years, with three daughters and six grandchildren. Experience/ qualificaons: Ordained non-spendiary ministry 1980; Vicar of Blockhouse Bay 1991-2008; involvement in New Wine ministries; Principal Lecturer at Auckland Secondary Teachers College and training graduate teachers for 19 years. ————————–———————————————————————————————————————— Rev Josh Jones Deacon Assistant, Worship and Creave Ministries (full me spendiary) Passions: Through the leading of the Holy Spirit, to enable all elements of a service to be a seamless journey of worship – where each speaks into the other and leads us to a deeper expression of our relaonship with God through Jesus Christ. Ministries: Working closely with the Vicar (Priest in Charge) in the oversight of all worship services, including sermon themes, music, liturgy and service structure; worship coordinator for the 9 am and 10.45 am services; also involved in preaching, leading music worship, training and development. Family: Married to Kim, with two daughters aged 17 and 7 years. Experience/ qualificaons: Full me Director of Worship & Music at St Marn’s in the Bullring, Birmingham City Centre, 2003-2010; licensed Anglican Reader (Lay Priest) in the Church of England since 2006; ordained deacon in NZ 2010; currently training for ordinaon as a priest. ———————————————————————————————————————————————— Rev Stan Thorburn Priest Assistant (non-spendiary) Passions: To deepen the faith of God’s children and enable them to be more effecve through a more confident knowledge of their belief; good quality teaching; prison ministry; social jusce; tramping; boang. Ministries: Assistance at Sunday morning services. Family: Married to Doreen, with two adult children and three grandchildren. Experience/ qualificaons: 18 years experience as a full me District Court Judge, now rered and working part-me; ordained 2006; Chairman of the Pacific Regional Council of Prison Fellowship Internaonal.

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Rev Colin Ruge Priest Assistant (non-spendiary) Passions: To see 75 percent of St George’s people in home groups; preaching; photography; voluntary community work. Ministries: Leads the 10.00 am Wednesday congregaon; assistance at Sunday services, helps with Alpha. Family: Married to Ruth, with three married children and ten grandchildren. Experience/ qualificaons: 34 years’ experience in ordained ministry; chaplain to King’s School, Remuera; Vicar St Mahias’ parish, Vicar St Chad’s parish; examiner for the NZ Speech Board; BA, LTh, Dip Tch, LTCL, ESOL Cerficate. ————————————————————————--———————————————————————— Lorraine Sievers Congregaon and Community Care (part me) Passions: Evangelism; preaching/teaching; facilitang the deepening of spiritual and relaonal growth, integrated with prayer ministry; social jusce; hospitality; music; painng; friends and family. Ministries: Congregaon and community care; home-vising; integraon of newcomers; home groups; bapsm and confirmaon; staff support; pre-marriage, marriage and family counselling. Family: Married to Jeremy with four adult children, three sons-in-law and two grandchildren. Experience/ qualificaons: Music teacher for 20 years; part-me pastoral minister at St Aidan’s Remuera; 12 years in pracce as a family therapist, parenng consultant, programme developer, group facilitator and supervisor; Programme Director for The HEAL Trust; BMin, Dip Fam Therapy, Cert Supervsion, ATCL Tchg Dip. ————————————————————————————————————————————————-Jeremy Sievers Congregaon and Community Care, Operaons and Development (part me) Passions: People; the kingdom of God; theology; (these three being 'worked out' together); seeing Isa 61 become a reality; my wife and family; boat and furniture making. Ministries: Congregaon and community care; integraon of newcomers; home groups; home-vising; bapsms and confirmaon; staff and congregaonal support; 'operaonal' maers around church. Family: Married to Lorraine with four adult children, three sons-in-law and two grandchildren. Experience/ qualificaons: Secondary school teacher, counsellor and senior manager; BSc, Dip Tchg, Dip Grad, MEd in Counselling (Hons).

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Judy Carey Community Pastor (part me voluntary - on leave) Passions: People; pares; preaching; Bible in Schools; taking communion services; entertaining large groups with crazy stories about God. Ministries: Chaplaincy in a number of local rest homes and hospitals; funerals; pastoral vising; community involvement with other Epsom churches; Bible in Schools coordinator; co-leadership of the 9.00am congregaon; helps with mainly music and special needs people. Family: Married to Maurice, four adult children. Qualificaons: BA, BTheol. ————————————————————————--———————————————————————— Leah Williams Youth Coordinator (part me) Passions: Jesus – and the transformaon He can bring to people's lives; seeing young people come into the presence of God and to know their full potenal in Christ and to understand what it means to be free; introducing friends and family to Jesus; singing; running; hanging out with friends. Ministries: Responsible for coordinang the youth and youth leaders of St George’s; providing quality Christ-centred youth ministry at St George’s; relang to and pastorally caring for young people; running programmes and training leaders; leading worship at Sunday services. Family: Married to Josh. Experience/ qualificaons: On St George’s staff since internship 2007; working with youth, Alpha and worship teams; chaplaincy in local secondary schools; singing teacher; BMus, Carey Bapst College papers; Grade 8 singing. ————————————————————————--———————————————————————— Elizabeth Revell Youth Communicator (part-me) Passions: To see the youth of St George’s take ownership of their own faith journeys through their high school years and beyond. Ministries: Assistance with youth programmes, pastoring and communicaons; young adult home group co-leader; Sunday morning leader. Family: Married to Vincent. Experience/ qualificaons: Involvement at St George’s since childhood through KidsChurch, youth group and young adults; BA, Master of Internaonal Communicaon (current student).

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Gayle Thornton Children & Young Families (part me) Passions: Helping children discover a personal relaonship with Jesus; developing St George’s young families as a strong knit community; building relaonships between families within the church and in the wider community. Ministries: Coordinator for KidsChurch (5-11 years), Lile KidsChurch (2-5 years), and Crèche (0-2 years); Playgroup host; Mainly Music leader; social acvies linked with all ministry areas. Family: Married to David, with two children aged 5 and 3 years, and extended family in Australia. Experience/ qualificaons: B.Ed in Early Childhood; ten years’ experience in day care, direcng childcare centres and working with local organisaons to help integrate young refugee families into the community; team member with Anglican Youth in Brisbane, coordinang youth camps and major gatherings across South East Queensland; Sunday School leader since early teens. ————————————————————————--———————————————————————— Nikki Rackham KidsChurch (part me) Passions: To enable children at St George's to learn in a fun way about the awesome love of God and to create a KidsChurch environment in which the children have a strong sense of belonging. Ministries: KidsChurch teacher and coordinator; pastoral care for primary school children aged 5 to 10 years; parent and family liaison. Family: Married to Nigel, with three children, aged 10, 7 and 5 years. Experience/ qualificaons: 15 years teaching KidsChurch and youth programmes in England, Holland and Switzerland; steering commiee member for five years for MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) at an internaonal church in Switzerland; French teacher; BA in French and Business Studies, PGCE Teaching Qualificaon in Modern Languages.

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Malcolm Taylor Operaons and finance (part me) Passions: Serving the people of God; mission and evangelism; the Word of God. Ministries: Parish treasurer; oversight of church administraon and finance; vestry member; missions support; home group leader. Family: Married to Rennae. Experience/ qualificaons: Extensive business interests including imporng/ exporng and manufacturing; treasurer for Internaonal Needs and the Churches Educaon Commission; board member of a number of local and internaonal mission organisaons, including chaplaincy, aid agency and evangelisc groups; voluntary community work. ————————————————————————--———————————————————————— Lisa Greatbatch Vicar’s PA (part-me) Passions: Being part of a team that is listening to the Holy Spirit; bringing people into environments where they can be nourished and inspired by God’s love and spurred outward; encouraging and connecng people; reading with my family; the great outdoors. Ministries: Vicar’s PA; available to encourage, support and inform the vicar primarily, also staff, parishioners and newcomers; communicaons; mainly music support; KidsChurch parent helper; Family: Married to Rowen, with three children aged 10, 13 and 18 years; four adult step-children; large extended family. Experience/ qualificaons: General Manager’s PA; front line receponist, data processing secretary, sales coordinator, maitre d’ in a French provincial restaurant; four years as a widowed mother of three children; various part-me roles; internaonal travel and tourism course 2006; acve parishioner at St Mahias’, Panmure, 19952004; half-me staff member at St George’s since 2007. ————————————————————————————————————————————————-Shami Chand Secretary/ Receponist (full me) Passions: Evangelism; mission team work; using my skills to be an efficient secretary; singing gospel songs in Hindi and English. Ministries: All recepon dues; wedding and hall bookings; Sunday service preparaon; service rosters; newsleers; website; parish database and contact booklet; leaflet design and producon; AGM reports; ordering supplies; general administraon. Family: Parents and three brothers, three nephews and three nieces. Experience/ qualificaons: Nine years’ secretarial, PA and administrave experience in Fiji; five years as secretary/ receponist at St George’s; Diploma in Professional Secretary.

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Chris Chung Verger (part me) Passions: Enabling the members of St. George’s to serve one another so that God will be glorified. Ministries: Wedding service preparaon and coordinaon; caretaking; property and grounds maintenance. Family: Married to Susan, with one son, a daughter and three grandchildren. Experience/ qualificaons: Verger at St George’s since 2004; lecturer at Sabah (Malaysia) Agricultural Department; agricultural officer and then principal of the Agricultural Instute. ————————————————————————--———————————————————————— Rebekah Sewell Assistant Verger (part me) Passions: Working in ministry; developing skills that will enable me to be of best use to the Kingdom of God; singing; acng; doing makeup for weddings. Ministries: Caretaking; helping maintain church buildings and grounds; Mainly Music; KidsChurch on Sunday mornings. Family: Parents, a sister, a niece and a brother-in-law. Experience/qualificaons: Cerficate in Performing Arts; Cerficate in Make-up Arstry; Diploma in Beauty Therapy; currently studying for a counselling degree through Laidlaw College; four years’ experience in beauty therapy and six years’ in make-up arstry; listed with an acng agency; experience as a health care support worker. ————————————————————————————————————————————————-Se Afoa 7.45 am Service Coordinator Passions: Life, faith and family. Ministries: Service leader/ coordinator for the 7.45 am congregaon. Experience/ qualificaons: Fullme ministry with Shiloh Community Church, Mangere, for 13 years; South Pacific Missions Director Shiloh Ministries; board member of South Pacific Evangelical Fellowship; board member of Tear Fund NZ; on staff at St George’s in 2006 and from 2008 to the present (non-spendiary); Post Graduate Business Diploma; currently undergoing Anglican ordinaon training and compleng an Honours degree in Theology.

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Vestry (Elected) 2011

Priest in Charge

Rev George Stonehouse

People’s Warden

Jim Frater

Vicar’s Warden

Fraser Powrie

Synod Reps

Chris Grantham Judy Carey

Vestry Members

Andrea Candy Andrew Parsons Brian Kilonback Chris Fleming Diana Hubbard Fraser Tate Jo Bisse Julie Macdonald Malcolm Taylor Margaret Malcolm Nicola Donald Rosemary Erlam Ruth Ruge Sharon Buxton

Elders 2011

Barbara Murdoch Malcolm Maclean Maureen Peacock Penny Kestle Rose Cooper Warren Brookbanks

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Ministries and Acvies

Worship and Creave Ministries Rev Josh Jones The sole aim of this aspect of St George’s life is to enable us to meet with God so that he can speak into our lives. We want to allow the Holy Spirit to inspire our God-given gis of imaginaon and to infuse freshness to all aspects of worship so that we can be surprised by God. St George’s has a number of creave people and this is one area of the church's ministry that we want to develop further in the coming years.

Prayer Ministries Prayer undergirds all we do at St George’s and is expressed in the following ways: · ministry at the altar rail aer services · Saturday morning prayer meeng · confidenal prayer chain for specific needs · The Gathering – monthly charismac worship and praise meeng · home group prayer – ministering to one another in small groups · prayer for missions · elders – six people chosen by the Priest in Charge to pray for the church and especially its leaders.

Congregaonal and Community Care Lorraine and Jeremy Sievers This ministry has a wide brief, including: · incorporaon – establishing and maintaining contact with newcomers · congregaonal care – meeng the needs of parishioners through prayer ministry, general pastoral care, preparaon for marriage and marriage counselling, parenng support, and crisis response · home vising and communion · bapsm and confirmaon preparaon · pastoral care of staff and church leaders · support of home group leaders – providing resources and developing connecons for people across the congregaons · some coordinaon of parish gatherings.

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Children and Young Families Gayle Thornton and Nikki Rackham About 77 children take part regularly in KidsChurch, Lile KidsChurch and Crèche on Sunday mornings. In the last year we have introduced a strong teaching programme and restructured our me to allow children to return at the end of the service for a blessing during communion. Other features include: · · · · ·

World Vision child sponsorship and fundraising for the Christchurch earthquake appeal encouraging children to pray for one another regular social evenings to which children can invite their friends family events the Light Party (an alternave to Halloween), organised by several local churches

This ministry also includes a Mothers’ Group and Mainly Music, a very popular acvity with 50 families on the roll. Both these groups provide an opportunity to nurture parents and caregivers within and beyond the church. We are constantly looking for new ways to extend this aspect of our ministry.

Youth and Young People Leah Williams and Elizabeth Revell St George’s young people enjoy learning about God through interesng discussions, in-depth teaching, worship mes with good music, and regular social events. The year usually kicks off at Parachute, the country’s biggest Chrisan music fesval, where about 100 adults and young people make up the ‘St George’s Village’. During the school year, different groups meet for ages 11-12 years, 13-14 years, and 15-18 years. Sunday morning teaching takes place at 10.45 am to achieve ‘crical mass’. The juniors (intermediate school age) enjoy fortnightly Friday night acvies in a family home while the seniors (high school age) get together for social events several mes a term. University students and young adults contribute significantly to leading the seniors while parents help lead the juniors. A number of adults support young leaders through mentoring and an oversight team. Some young people are involved in praccal service to others in the community through ‘Backyard Urban Mission’; others form the youth band which contributes occasionally to the 7 pm service.

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Missions Support Group Heather and Peter Millais The missions support group keeps news of mission personnel before the church and maintains regular contact with those who are overseas. The group also talks with people who are interested in missions, helps prepare them to go, and supports them when they return. St George’s currently supports five families or individuals in long-term mission (mostly in Africa) and has been involved in a number of short-term assignments, chiefly to Asia in the past year. Other church members are involved in New Zealand-based mission leadership and support.

Other Acvies include: · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · ·

Alpha – at least once a year Associaon of Anglican Women’s group Bible in Schools – a Chrisan educaon programme in local primary schools ‘Cherish’ marriage preparaon and enrichment courses Cra group – second Tuesday of each month Discipleship through short courses or topical series Healing ministries Home groups – in a variety of styles, ages and interests, including Bible study, discussion, topical focus, fellowship and support Men’s weekends away Movie and discussion evenings – exploring some of the issues society faces Newcomers’ meengs Speakers on topical or social issues, e.g. relaonships, food, money, work, science and faith Special needs – ministry to residents from the IHC Ranfurly Care Home and Elizabeth Knox Home and Hospital in parcular Sports – diocesan youth tournaments, touch rugby, indoor soccer, annual vicar’s vs verger’s cricket match Weddings – St George’s hosts an average of 50 a year Women’s retreat days Kia Ora Friendship Group Working bees for maintenance of the church compound Young adults’ acvies and mentoring.

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Associated ministries and mission partners:

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Parish Consultaons

At recent parish consultaons, people were asked what they liked about St George’s and what they would like to see develop in future. The responses are summarised below. What do you like about St George’s that encourages you to be a parishioner? People appreciate the general ‘style’ of the church – Bible-based, Jesus centred, open to the Holy Spirit, tradionally Anglican but with flexibility in use of the liturgy and with a contemporary flavour. Diversity is valued – each service has its own worship and music style and there are many thriving ministries/ acvies, especially among children and youth. All ages are catered for and there is an acceptance of diverse denominaonal backgrounds. People enjoy the warmth of welcome and fellowship at St George’s, and being able to worship in beauful surroundings. There is encouragement to parcipate, without pressure to do so, and the church has a ‘family feel’ of belonging and caring for each other. Leadership is provided by a skilled and fluid team, but lay ministry is also encouraged and appreciated. The importance of the vicar being consistently visible was menoned. What do you think is missing in the life of the church that could be developed in the future? Top of the list is small groups or home groups, with special menon of Bible study opons. People are aware that opportunies to gather on a smaller scale are vital to mutual care and a sense of ‘belonging’. There is also a strong desire for a greater mission focus and coordinated, creave community outreach. Related to this is the awareness that we are not parcularly representave of Epsom (especially its Asian populaon); that we need a cohesive vision that unifies our various acvies; and that we could develop strategic ministries that meet local needs more effecvely. While appreciang the diversity of congregaons at St George’s, parishioners would like more opportunies to get together as a whole church from me to me. They feel there could be more intenonal inclusion of newcomers and regulars in the life and ministry of the church. Improved communicaon and beer use of the buildings could help with this. Some parishioners expressed a desire for more evidence of the Holy Spirit, through healing, miracles, and prayer, and by helping members discover and use their spiritual gis. Others called for more regular all-age involvement in services (especially by children and young people), opportunies for personal tesmony, and more frequent exercise of the ‘charismac’ gis. Parcular ministries that could be introduced, revived or strengthened are men’s breakfasts, events for the 20s age group, women’s events, ministry to older people and youth, and pastoral care.

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Into the future

St George’s looks forward to the next phase of its life. We hope to build on what we already have, expecng growth through increasing numbers, deeper discipleship, and new structural developments. There are many opportunies and possibilies. We look with ancipaon to see where and how the Lord will lead as we shape the future together with a new vicar. “I love the excellent teaching, sensive worship, strong pastoral care, and welcoming spirit here at St George’s.” “We need to connue to be a beacon of hope for our community and beyond.”

Our next Vicar – is this you? Is the Lord calling you to lead our church? Can you meet some of the criteria on St George’s wish-list? (These things came out of the parish consultaons.) x A servant of Christ who is led by the Holy Spirit and sensive to people x A team leader with experience of leading a team and a growing church x A team builder and enabler who can guide the staff team and encourage lay ministry, training others to idenfy and exercise their gis in service x A big-picture person who can help us discover our calling and mission as a church and inspire us to journey together with courage and compassion x A biblical teacher/preacher with the skill to link scriptural truth to everyday 21 st century realies x A creave and strategic thinker, planner and evaluator with an understanding of management x A self-aware person who is comfortable with his/her own personality and style, with a mature, posive approach to life, ministry, service, stress, conflict, disappointment and challenges x Someone who appreciates and can work with the diversity of Chrisan belief, experience, age and background represented by St George’s people x A person of compassion, strong integrity and wisdom who displays maturity in dealing with people and in the exercise of their own leadership. ____________________________________________________________________________________________ If you would like to know more, see our website www.stgeorgesepsom.org.nz or request a copy of: x Annual report 2011 – including priest in charge, staff and ministry reports x Financial reports 2011 – accounts and budget These documents, as well as copies of this profile, are available from the Bishop’s office: Anglican Diocese of Auckland Neligan House 12 St Stephen’s Avenue Parnell, Auckland 1052 Phone • 09 302 7201 Fax • 09 302 7217

St George’s Parish Profile 21

Central Auckland

St George’s, Ranfurly Rd, Epsom, is marked at ‘A’.

St George’s parish

Parish boundaries are marked with a black line.

St George’s Parish Profile 22

Populaon stascs 2006 census

Epsom Central (%)

Auckland Region (%)

65 years and over

9.3%

9.9%

15 years and under

20.7

22.1

Ethnicity European

41.7

56.5

Maori

2.0

11.1

Pacific

0.9

14.4

Asian

51.8

18.9

Middle Eastern/ Lan American/ African Other

1.2

1.5

7.0

8.1

Born overseas

51.7 (mostly Asia)

37.0

Speak only one language

57.5

70.7

53.2

42.5

11.1

20.3

Professionals

Professionals

44.7

40.9

25.7

21.6

Marriage & family Never married

37.4

35.7

Married

50.9

48.7

Separated, divorced, widowed

11.8

15.6

Never married, live with partner

14.3

25.7

Couples with children

61.5

46.3

Couples without children

22.6

34.8

One parent with children

16.6

18.9

Age

Educaon, occupaon & income Post-school educaon, aged over 15 years No formal qualificaons, aged over 15 years Most common occupaonal group Annual income $20,000 or less, aged over 15 years Annual income $50,000 or more, aged over 15 years

Note: The boundaries of ‘Epsom Central’ in the census do not correspond with St George’s parish boundaries. These stascs do give a snapshot, however, of part of the church’s catchment area.