Relocation to the City

Our team has now relocated to St Andrew’s House in the city. Our new address is: PO Box Q190, QVB Post Office NSW 1230 and the new telephone number is 9284 1406. The email address stays the same.

Wishing a Joyful 2010

As the new year starts we have a moment to pause and reflect on what the last year has been. Like most years 2009 has had its ups and downs. On the up side David was appointed as Director and has been able to visit many Anglican parishes to talk about our work. On the down side our donations have dropped which means that we are not be able to fund as many activities as we would like. 2010 will be another interesting year full of challenges as well as opportunities. We are pleased that Bettina will be joining us as our Donor Relations Officer and it is likely that we will be moving into St Andrew’s House in the centre of Sydney. All positive!

From the staff (Suzanne, David, Joanna and Bettina) we wish all our supporters a joyful New Year.

Glenquarie Anglican - Break the Cycle No Interest Loan Scheme Inc

The aim of No Interest Loan Scheme (NILS) is to provide people living on low incomes in Macquarie Fields and Glenfield with access to affordable credit to purchase whitegoods, selected health appliances, and other items that are essential to quality of life. Car registration and Greenslips are also assisted within the greater Macarthur area as we are the only NILS in this area with permission to loan for these items.

The main sources of funds for the loans are from the National Australia Bank via accreditation with the Good Shepherd and the National NILS network. These funds are recycled as the loans are repaid.

Glenquarie Anglican - Break the Cycle

Break the Cycle Program is about providing effective assistance to people who are in crisis, need or hardship, irrespective of their ethnicity and religious beliefs or any other distinction, within a caring and supportive environment that fosters a sense of self-reliance and reflects the love of Jesus Christ and the doctrine of the Anglican Church.

Assistance provided includes:

· food hampers, gift vouchers, non-perishable food items and items for personal needs;
· vouchers for meat and pharmacy items;
· assistance with utility bills;
· information and referrals to other Agencies and Services; and
· a place where people will be heard and know that someone cares.

CCDP has been contributing to this program for a number of years.

St Johns Anglican Church, Darlinghurst – Rough Edges Community Assistance and Partnership Program

The program’s objective is to provide a support team for people of the Darlinghurst/Kings Cross community.

Activities being undertaken are:
· providing a place of welcome and safety in the Rough Edges Community Centre during the daytime opening hours;
· sharing and listening to peoples’ stories in a respectful and non-judgmental way;
· noticing people’s gifts, resources and strengths and helping them, whenever possible, to better recognize these themselves;
· offering general counseling and working with people to help them identify their own solutions and move towards these;
· administering the resources available to reduce the pressure for those who are experiencing immediate financial and material need; and
· facilitating projects identified by the community to be of benefit for the community.

A Message from the Archbishop of Sydney

I am taking this step of writing to tell you about an urgent situation facing our churches who are seeking to reach out with the love of Christ to our hardest hit communities.

This year’s Archbishop of Sydney’s Winter Appeal has experienced a major shortfall in funds. As a result, we are launching a special ‘End of Winter Catch-Up Appeal.’

Sadly, as winter comes to an end, so might up to twelve vital Community Care Projects that reach out to people devastated by today’s harsh climate – unless faithful supporters like you can provide urgent support.

I think of ministries such as the “Bread of Life” project where St Michael’s Church Surry Hills provides breakfast for scores of hungry people.

Just last month, the new Director of my Community Care and Development Program (CCDP) that incorporates the Winter Appeal, Rev. David Mansfield, shared in the ministry of “Bread of Life”, serving breakfast and leading a bible discussion for those who accepted an invitation to stay on after breakfast for a simple church service.

This ministry, and many others like it, wonderfully captures the compassion of Jesus for needy people and his commitment to their eternal welfare when he declared:

“I am the bread of life. He who comes to me shall never hunger and he who believes in me shall never thirst (John 6:35).”

This appeal is the lifeblood of twelve Community Care Projects and of our partnership with churches serving some of the most marginalised people in our city.

If you are able to donate, please either phone through your donation on 1800 653 903 or on line at www.abau.org.au.

Yours sincerely
Peter F Jensen
Archbishop of Sydney

Campsie Anglican Church - The Campsie New Settler Project

The aim of this project at St John's the Evangelist at Campsie is to coordinate the migrant support efforts that the church is currently engaged in (ESL classes, migrant support, and outreach into the community). The project seeks to expand and refine those efforts and consequently to strengthen the strategic cross-cultural ministry that this church must focus upon for its future. This future will be that of an international church placed within a multicultural environment.

CCDP has been contributing to this project for many years.