Sentence
Like living stones, let yourselves be built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 2:5
Collect
Bountiful God, to whose glory we celebrate the anniversary of the dedication of this house of prayer: we praise you for the many blessings you have given to those who worship here, and we pray that all who seek you in this place may find you, and being filled with the Holy Spirit may become a living temple acceptable to you, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Readings
This week:
- Genesis 15:1-6
- Psalm 91
- Colossians 3:12-17
- Luke 12:35-40
- Next week:
- 2 Samuel 7:1-14a
- Psalm 89:21-38
- Ephesians 2:11-22
- Mark 6:30-34, 53-56
A Thought to Ponder
Greenwood Anglican Church History
In 1973 Greenwood Forrest was a small new northern suburb, jokingly referred to as “South Geraldton” or the “10 mile” because of its isolation. Wanneroo Road was a choked two-lane traffic horror, and the closest shops were at Warwick and Duncraig.
On 1 February 1974 the Parish of Wanneroo-Greenwood, serving an area from Yanchep to Warwick was formed, when the Reverend Llewellyn Jones and his family came from South Africa to Wanneroo. Previous services had been held in the Wanneroo Shire Hall celebrated by a worker priest, the Reverend Richard Pether.
The first Anglican services was held at the Greenwood kindergarten on 31 March1974 with 17 people attending, there were 8 communicants and the offertory on the day was a grand total of $5.80. The Celebrant was the Reverend Llewellyn Jones. The first baptisms were administered on Sunday, 21 April 1974. Numbers increased dramatically, and the need for a Sunday School was appreciated by committed members who taught the children after the 9am worship-eucharist, with Sunday School commencing at 10am on 15 September 1974.
Within the first 12 months of Wanneroo-Greenwood parish life, Greenwood became the fastest growing area in WA and Archbishop Sambell saw the need for a priest in this area. A rectory identical with that at Wanneroo was built on diocesan land in Calectasia Street, Greenwood and the Reverend Jones moved there. The Reverend Christopher Albany who had served as Curate of the parish, funded by St John’s Church, Fremantle, became Assistant Priest residing at Wanneroo.
On 1st February 1977, Greenwood became a Parochial District, with the Parish of Greenwood-Warwick being formed. The Reverend Jones was commissioned as Rector of the new parish on 6th February by Bishop Alfred Holland. The remaining large area became the Parish of Wanneroo-Yanchep.
The Greenwood Parish grew at a steady rate, both in the numbers of parishioners worshipping at St John’s, and in population as Kingsley and Woodvale rapidly developed.
We had grown so much that as a parish we agreed to employ a part-time secretary to relieve the overburdened Rector of some office tasks. The secretary commenced in July 1988 on a two half days per week basis. This was increased to three half days per week, with the duties significantly widened from purely secretarial to parish administrative assistant.
On 14th June 1988, on request from Parish Council, a Parish Development Working Party was formed, to make recommendations as to the future development of the parish. A comprehensive and detailed report was presented to Parish Council. And the recommendations were presented to, discussed, and agreed to, by the parish at a Special Parish Meeting in November 1988. There were 11 recommendations in regard to practices and organisational structures within the parish, and 6 recommendations relating to boundary, staff, and physical facilities in the parish.
The main framework was a two-priest regional parish and focus on establishing a presence in the northern part of the parish, with an emphasis on catering for youth through construction of a large hall. The plan identified a number of options from which to select, at a future time, the long-term direction of development.
Following acceptance by the Parish of the 1988 plan, considerable energy was expended in 1989-1990 in search of a suitable site in north Kingsley or south Woodvale for construction of a large hall and later a church. An excellent site was purchased by the Diocese in 1991 on high ground in Forest Hill Drive, Kingsley, overlooking Whitfords Avenue, enabling a very visible presence to be established there in the future.
Also in 1990, when it appeared that a suitable northern site may not be available, a close examination was made of the Greenwood Parish Centre site in order to determine its potential for expansion. The detailed and costed plans drawn up showed that it is feasible to add a modest size hall, expand the foyer area to make a more welcoming and functional entry, include a creche with glass wall to the worship area, add more office space, double the size of the kitchen, and double the size of the worship area.
A comprehensive Parish Review was conducted over the weekend 4– 5th August 1990, involving all parishioners. This review confirmed the main thrusts of the 1988 plan and made 13 recommendations for near term action. Most recommendations were acted upon quite quickly, although it took time for the most significant one to be actioned. Construction of a large hall in Kingsley to serve all elements of the parish but particularly ministry to young people in the community was a few years off. Similarly suitable accommodation for the Sunday Club was not resolved. The potential for expansion at Greenwood was noted but action deferred as the main thrust of the Review was towards establishing the Forest Hill Drive, Kingsley site.
The Reverend Dominic Spinosi arrived in the parish in 1989 and soon after received Permission to Officiate in the Diocese of Perth. He was Associate Priest of Greenwood until June 1990, when he became Rector of Bullcreek. The Reverend Peter Manuel served as Assistant Priest in 1989 and 1990.
In December 1989, at the request of Anglicare, a committee was formed to take responsibility for the Emergency House in Girrawheen. This committee arranged general maintenance of the house and gave general support to the occupant.
To provide an immediate presence in the northern part of the parish a 10am service was held in the Woodvale Primary School throughout 1990. A number of families committed themselves to supporting this service for 12 months as a seed congregation. However, it was discontinued at the end of 1990 when it became apparent the parish would not have an Assistant Priest in 1991.
The Reverend Mark McCracken commenced as Curate in January 1991 and was ordained Priest in November 1991, enabling planning for recommencement of services in the northern part of the parish, in proximity to the Forest Hill Drive site, in 1992.
Cell Groups were formed in 1991 on a geographical basis, to ensure communication with, nurture of, and assistance of pastoral care for all parishioners.
Several uncertainties, in regard to Diocesan thinking on the future development of the parish led to a meeting of parishioners with our area Bishop on 12th September 1991. Bishop Kyme informed us that the two-priest large regional parish concept would not proceed, and the parish would be divided into two separate one priest parishes during 1992. The northern one would be considered one of the 40 new parishes in the Decade of Evangelism. A suitable boundary was subsequently agreed to be across central Kingsley, formal confirmation of this boundary, together with a choice of names for the new parish took a while to be decided.
Parish life was enhanced by the Reverend Peter Copeland who began assisting the Rector, as honorary Assistant Priest, at services on 2nd February 1975.
Increasing attendances at services and a flourishing Sunday School necessitated moving to the Greenwood High School. The first service at the High School was held on 13th February 1977. Sunday School could now be held concurrently with the 9am Holy Communion service. Baptismal services were numerous, and to cope with numbers a special service was held monthly at 10am.
In 1978 the Reverend Murray Brown came to share in our parish life as part of his training as Deacon.
Late in July 1978 the Rector suffered a heart attack and the Reverend Bernard West became locum of the parish. For health reasons Father Jones resigned and then accepted the Parish of City Beach.
On 5th December 1978 the Reverend Jeffrey Jarvis was commissioned at Wollaston College, by Archbishop Geoffrey Sambell, as the second Rector of Greenwood-Warwick. He and his family had come from England to work with us. After 12 months in the parish the Jarvis family moved to Christ Church Grammar School where Father Jarvis became assistant chaplain.
On 30th January 1980 the Reverend Robert Burn became the third Rector, after being commissioned by Bishop Vernon Cornish. Services were moved to the Drama Room at the High School where the carpeted floor made kneeling easier and services quieter, although access was difficult with stairs to climb, or an oval to cross. As the numbers of parishioners increased with the building of homes in Kingsley we realised the need for our own building.
Due to the work of Father Burn, the Parish Council, our parishioners and the Diocese, our Parish Centre was constructed. On 14th July 1984 it was Dedicated and Consecrated by Bishop Michael Challen, whose untiring support for Greenwood did not go unnoticed by the people of Greenwood.
As the Reverend Robert Burn said at the time, “As the years roll on, the measure of witness will not be this splendid building in Calectasia Street, Greenwood; but in the Spirit filled lives of God’s people, sharing love, mercy, and justice under the power and guidance of God our Father. 1984 will be seen as the beginning of a new era in the Church in Greenwood. Whilst bricks and mortar have been raised to house God’s people; let us become living stones, having as our foundation Jesus Christ, the source and the end of all things; who gave his life for us, that we might share his risen life with others.”
In December the same year the parish boundaries were redrawn, with Warwick going to the Balcatta-Hamersley Parish. The Parish of Greenwood would now be serving Greenwood, Kingsley and Woodvale.
Father Burn accepted an invitation to the Parish of Floreat Park in April 1985, following which the Reverend Andrew Donald served as Locum. During this time our parish joined in the Anglican Roman Catholic International Commission studies, building bridges of friendship with parishioners from All Saints, Warwick and the wider church through conversations at St Dennis, Joondanna.
The search for a new Rector was long and difficult. Parish prayers were answered, and on 11th February 1986 the Reverend Graeme Manolas was commissioned as Rector.
In 1986 CEGs and CEBs groups were reformed after some years absence.
It was with great joy that one of our church family, Michael Mateljan, accepted God’s call to the priesthood and was permitted to serve at St John’s during 1986 as part of his theological training.
Soon after arriving in the parish Father Manolas commenced mid-week services, and later monthly healing services.
In 1987, a second student Tony Rose was assigned to the parish to do his theological field education.
Following the “Partners in Mission” programme from February to April 1987, committees, reporting to Parish Council, were set up to accept responsibility for specific ministries, namely: Liturgy, Pastoral, Children & Youth, Education, Fellowship, and Maintenance. This successful arrangement continued for many years enabling more people to actively share in the life of the parish as more was accomplished.
Pastoral Assistants were first commissioned in the parish in 1987. Christian Life Groups were developed in the parish in 1988. As a result of these, “Open House”, a social support group for the lonely and elderly, was formed. Responding to a request by the Wanneroo City Council the parish also accepted responsibility for a support group for the visually impaired.
In July 1987 the Greenwood Branch of Mothers’ Union was formed, and in August 1988 a Caritas Group was started.
The major concern for Greenwood Parish became how to make the new arrangements work. Considerable preparation for both parishes took place.
Father Graeme Manolas resigned as Rector on 29th December 1991, to take up an appointment with ABM. Father Mark McCracken assumed responsibility in Greenwood Parish during January 1992, and the Reverend Howard MacCallum, became Locum on 1st February 1992.
During 1992 Father Mark McCracken became Curate-in-Charge of the new parish serving north Kingsley and Woodvale. While the search for a Rector for the parish serving Greenwood and south Kingsley commenced.
In 1992 the Reverend Harry Wheeler became our fifth Rector. He introduced the parish to Seder meals during Holy Week, where a retelling of the story of the liberation of the Israelites from slavery in ancient Egypt was recalled. The Reverend Harry resigned in 1999.
In 1999 the Reverend Tina Morrison was appointed as our sixth Rector. Tina was our first part-time appointment, she remained in the parish until 2005.
The Reverend David Battrick became the seventh Rector in 2006. He arrived with a young family, heaps of energy and ideas. In the 11 months he was in the parish he changed many things before leaving to take up a placement in the Diocese of Newcastle in 2006.
On 6th October 2006 our eighth Rector the Reverend Josie Steytler was appointed as half-time Priest-in-Charge at Greenwood, with a joint half-time placement in Kingsley. In April 2013 Josie left Kingsley to focus on Greenwood. Since then, many activities and groups have been implemented to enable us to connect with people outside of our parish community – Kids Plus+, Messy Church, Mainly Music, Caring Memories Café, Community Dinners, Friendship Group, Games Group, Golf Group, Prayer Chain, Social Activities, Street Pantry, Website and Facebook page, Woodlake Retirement. In 2021 we were blessed to have a number of members join us from the Uniting Church.
50 years on Greenwood Parish is still a loving, vibrant, welcoming, Spirit filled and led community who are always seeking new ways to reach out and share the gospel message of Christ’s love and grace with those around us.
2024 Office Bearers
Priest-in-Charge: Reverend Josie Steytler
Church Wardens: Philip Goulding and Judith Smith
Parish Council: Bobbie Donaldson (Treasurer), Elizabeth Hides (Secretary), Carol McLaughlin, Elaine Summers, Nancy Seckington-Baker, Lesley Hill, Nick Lovi, Nola Hall, Scott Tanoai
Sermon
You can read the Pew Sheet here
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