Around the Diocese

It's been a busy few months 'Around the Diocese'! Submit your photos and stories tonca@graftondiocese.org.au

Ballina's new outdoor sacred space

St Mary's in Ballina has a new outdoor sacred space with a labyrinth, a shady place to sit and a native garden. This space offers us a different way to pray and contemplate in God's presence, and it's also a new way to connect with the wider community. As we were building the labyrinth and planting the garden, lots of passers-by stopped to chat. Our neighbours really 'get' that this is a space for all to use, and that we are inviting them to connect with us and with God. The native garden is part of the Anglican Communion Forest, the worldwide initiative launched at the Lambeth Conference this year.

By Reverend Cathy Ridd

Queen Elizabeth II's Service of Thanksgiving

At 10am on the 17th of September, Christ Church Cathedral held a service of Thanksgiving for the life of Queen Elizabeth II. The service was held according to the protocols of the Church of England upon the death of the Queen. Bishop Murray Harvey presided, and local dignitaries were invited to give thanks for the Queens enormous contribution to the Church, the Commonwealth and the world.

Feast of All Saints at Stuarts Point

On Sunday 30 October we celebrated the Feast of All Saints with a combined Nambucca Valley Anglicans fifth-Sunday service at All Saints Church in Stuarts Point. Over sixty people from around the Parish gathered for some boisterous worship and fabulous fellowship. The first picture shows the welcome and the second picture shows Di who won the ice breaker “bingo”. All in all a wonder-full time and, as promised in the poster, the afternoon tea was truly amazing!

By Revd Peter Shayler-Webb