Parish Profile

St Paul’s Ithaca-Ashgrove

About UsSt Paul’s, Ithaca-Ashgrove’s mission statement is to gather and build a

community committed to the mission and ministry of Christ within the context of faith in God, love for our neighbour, respect, trust, care, integrity and openness.

Our objectives are to:- Equip the people of God to be the people of God. Maintain an alive and attractive worshipping community, where all may

find a welcome (particularly children and those who bring them) and a sense of the presence of God.

Help all to find a place and a sense of belonging in our community as members of the Body of Christ rather than as church visitors.

Provide teaching and encouragement in a spiritual pilgrimage towards the wonder and mystery of God.

Provide pastoral care and counsel to those in need. Encourage meaningful support of the mission and ministry of the church

in this parish and beyond. Promote a program that ensures good stewardship of the resources we

have received and maintains and upgrades the plant and facilities at St Paul’s.

Ashgrove is an inner suburb of Brisbane in Queensland, Australia, located approximately 4 km north-west of the Brisbane CBD. The population is approximately 12,600, with 60% of the population between 18-59 years, 26% under 18 years and 14 % over 60. The suburb’s demographics have changed considerably over the past 10 – 15 years with an increase in young families moving into the area. St Paul’s Church is a relatively recent landmark in the suburb of Ashgrove having celebrated its 60th Anniversary in July 2012.

Parish buildings Parish buildings comprise St Paul’s church, the Parish

House/Rectory and Parish Hall.All buildings are within the one precinct at the intersection of two major arterial roads, Waterworks Road and Jubilee Terrace. The 60 year old brick church dominates the intersection and together with the historically significant Lych Gate, provide great witness opportunities.

The Parish House is presently tenanted as a rental property as our former Rector elected to purchase his own home

The lower hall houses our successful Thrift Shop which is staffed by volunteers on Wednesday and Saturday each week, and the upper hall has an anchor tenant in the Ashgrove Dance Studio which has been a long term user of the facility. The hall is used regularly by the congregation for morning teas and other Parish functions.

The Parish Office is located under the church building, adjacent to the Crypt, with the latter providing a venue for Sunday school, PC meetings etc and a Play School Group on some weekdays.

.St Paul’s has a strong tradition of baptising people into the Community of

Faith. Those who come to St Paul’s for baptism are aware from their very first contact that they will be expected to follow up on their

Baptismal vows and promises. This is also true of those seeking confirmation and marriage, and the congregation is equally committed to encouraging and assisting wherever possible.

Services

In conjunction with a traditional liturgy using AAPB (7.30 am Eucharist, 9 am Sung Eucharist), we embrace a number of worship styles throughout the year.

On the first Sunday of the month a Contemporary Service is designed

to include our young people in the spreading of God’s Word, with an emphasis on encouraging and supporting people in their spiritual quest.

Fifth Sundays add Church in the Park at 9.30 am for families with young children, which is an informal style service following morning tea in one of our local parks. First Friday of every month and each Friday in Lent, a 6 pm Taize style service is included, followed by fish & chips at a local venue.

Friday 10 am Eucharist is currently held on the first Friday of the month in conjunction with the meeting of our Mother’s Union.

Our

Christmas Eve Children’s Service has proven very popular in the local community.

On Maundy Thursday we hold a foot washing and Agape meal designed to accommodate families, before the more traditional service, stripping of the altar and watch.

Music is an important factor in the worship life at St Paul’s. We use the TIS hymn book to the accompaniment of our pipe organ as the basis for our Eucharists and add in other music for the younger members of our congregation. We have a choir which meets regularly for rehearsals, and enhances the liturgy at special celebrations throughout the Liturgical Year.

Fellowship Activities

Here at St Paul’s we like to be able to offer all of the congregation a chance to be part of parish life rather than to just turn up on Sundays. There are a number of small groups in which people can participate, and while not exhaustive, they do offer some realistic and welcoming alternatives to most of our demographically and culturally diverse congregation.

Men’s and Women’s Breakfasts are held about 3 times a year each, in a parishioner’s home, or at the church and are a chance to listen to invited speakers, share pilgrimage stories and discuss current parish issues to name a few topics covered. These continue to be an important time of fellowship and contact.

Young Mum’s Breakfast Club. This group of mainly young mums has met every couple of months for fellowship and support as well as to listen to guest speakers who have addressed wellbeing and personal maintenance in a busy world.

Ecumenical Activities Good Friday at St Finbarr’s Roman Catholic Church celebrated its

10th anniversary in 2011. Participation in the annual World Day of Prayer sponsored by

Mothers Union.

Lent / Easter: Lenten Study / Reflection/ Friday ‘Prayers around the Cross’ during Lent are well supported. Maundy Thursday continues to be a significant celebration of the Easter period.

Book Club: This continues to be one of our parish’s best success stories. About 15 people belong to the group with 8 -12 regularly attending.

Thrift Shop: A band of volunteers keeps the thrift shop open regularly on Wednesdays and Saturdays throughout the year. This has proven to be an important area of ministry to the wider community.

The Book Fest & Thrift Shop Sale. This is currently an annual event, and serves jointly to be a community outreach, as well as a chance to boost fundraising activities for mission and other expenses.

St Paul’s has a committed group of parishioners to drive fundraising activities during the year to pay for extra expenses and special projects, as well as to support our important mission giving.

Mission Giving. The parish contributes to a number of Mission Agencies, and also supports the Goodna Parish Pantry.

St Paul’s is part of an active and supportive North West Brisbane Deanery and parishioners participate in Deanery initiatives such as Quiet Days.

Finances

St Paul’s is a Beneficed parish, is debt free and in a stable and sound financial position and able to meet all its expenses and commitments.

We maintain a generous contribution to Mission beyond the parish.

The following comments have been gleaned from the Parishioners of St Paul’s:

‘The priest to be selected should in some way reflect the qualities needed to help us connect more deeply with Christ and to aid us in serving those not connected to him to find grace, hope and meaning’

‘I love the partnership of the liturgy, the traditional music and the meaningful hymns. The kid’s song at the end is always fun’

‘It is good to feel welcome and be comfortable in Church, especially with our children’

‘I feel more engaged in the life of the church through the Lenten groups, Bible Study groups and Cursillo group reunions’

‘I initially found the attitude to baptism challenging, but now appreciate it is not just a ceremony but a proper welcoming to membership of a community of faith’

‘Sunday School is not regarded as a creche’

‘I prefer a priest who delivers intelligent, thought provoking, succinct sermons which leaves me with food for thought about my faith journey and assists me in dealing with the confronting aspects of life’

‘I’d love to see more encouragement and growth of our youth ministry’

‘The priest needs to be an effective communicator’

‘Currently there is a high degree of fellowship in the parish. I would hate to see initiatives, especially the small groups, disappear as they provide avenues for discussion and awareness-raising of important issues

‘Seeing children involved in the Eucharist and acknowledged at Communion is important to me’

‘The parish functions best with a priest who follows a collaborative model of leadership. It is important that the involvement of parishioners in decision-making and the direction of the parish is maintained into the future’

‘We are all journeying in Christ Jesus and we need someone to mentor, encourage and affirm us in our journey’