Chapel Refurbishments

As a result of a heritage grant, drainage has been improved around the Chapel, gutters re-painted, the eastern gables repaired and downpipes replaced. The last part of this modest refurbishment and repairs is to replace the capstone along the top of the Chapel. All these are small but important ways to preserve the Chapel. The hope is to refurbish the interior of the Chapel in the future.

Congratulations to our graduates

Congratulations to Lauren Martin, Danni Clark, Elizabeth McConnell and Juliana Bate, who were presented with their graduation certificates by Archbishop Phillip at the annual Commencement Evensong at St John’s Cathedral on Sunday 28 February.
The Evensong also included an act of commitment by students and teachers to their studies and the SFC community in which we commended the academic year ahead to God.

New Director AYC&F

Congratulations to Erica Skerman, who is the new Director of Anglican Youth, Children and Families ministry. Erica has been working with AYC&F as ‘camping director’ since 2015 and brings a wide range of skills and experience to her new position.  We hope Erica’s leadership in the years ahead will bear much fruit to Christ’s glory.   Erica’s contact details are  eskerman@ministryeducation.org.au | 35147412 | https://www.aycf.org.au/


Thank you also to Jonathan Kemp, who was the AYCF director for 9 years and 6 days exactly!  Jonathan has now taken up a position as Curate at Kenmore Parish, and we wish him all the best in his new position.

2020- Valedictory Eucharist - What a joyful occasion!

The 2020 St Francis College Valedictory Eucharist was a joyous celebration as we thanked God for the graduating students and for the outgoing academic year. We congratulate Gemma Dashwood, Quinn Humphreys, Elizabeth McConnell, Angela McNeill and Matthew Skelton and look forward to their ordination as deacons. We also congratulate the 2020 Prize Winners:
The Canon Ivor Church Encouragement Bursary for a first or second year student: Lorraine Lynch
The Jessie Worthy Prize for contribution to the community life of St Francis College, presented by Rev’d Helen Paget on behalf of the SFC Alumni: Melissa Conway
The David Hughes Memorial Bursary for a student from, or interested in serving in a rural area: Loretta Tyler-Moss
The John Howard Steer Bursary for a St Francis College student: Gary Tognola
The Archdeacon Reginald Massey Award for contribution to the musical life of St Francis College: Gemma Dashwood
The St Francis College Senior Student Award: Elizabeth McConnell
Melissa Conway was announced Senior Student for 2021 and received the traditional light-sabre from out-going Senior Student Elizabeth McConnell.

St Francis College acknowledges the generous CPE scholarships provided to students by the Mother’s Union Brisbane and for the donation of diocesan stoles for each student who is to be ordained. We also thank the Girl’s Friendly Society for two scholarships awarded to students working in children’s ministry: Liam Carlton-Jones and Steve Parker.

A generous gift from the 2020 valedictorians was presented to St Francis College Principal, Bishop Jonathan Holland by Senior Student Elizabeth McConnell.

Enrol now for Graduate Certificate in Professional Supervision

The Graduate Certificate in Professional Supervision (Pastoral/Clinical) is a Nationally Registered Training Course which will be offered again in Brisbane at SFC in 2021.
The course gives clergy and/or therapists the opportunity to study the theory and practice of professional supervision of other carers. 
Delivered part time over one year, this course will be delivered at St Francis College Milton, and is made up of 8 days of intensive classroom training, online and work based practice and input. Intensive dates are 5-6 March, 16-18 June and 17-18 Sept 2021.
For more information please click here.
To register, please complete the application form online at https://stmarks.edu.au.   
A comprehensive brochure can also be downloaded from this site. For more information Contact Dale Keenan on 3514 7429 or dkeenan@ministryeducation.org.au
Applications close: 15 February 2021

New Garden Beds for Baroona Farms

Recently Baroona Farm was gifted with a significant donation which has enabled construction of 18 more 1m x 1.2m beds, adding to our current 20 beds.  Each bed utilises the sustainable practices of 'wicking' (a reservoir of water underneath the soil which plants can access, reducing evaporation from surface irrigation).  The new beds will be engineered in such a way that a whole row of 6 beds can have their reservoirs filled in one go.  We look forward to favourable growing conditions this spring and summer as we produce quality organic produce for those who are most vulnerable in our community.  
If you would like to donate a bed, they cost $250 to build and set up with a crop. Baroona Farm is also starting to sell some tomato seedlings and eggs, please contact the Reverend Samuel Dow for more information or to make a donation - samuelgdow@gmail.com

New SFC Short Course - Understanding Worship

Understanding Worship is the new short course from St Francis College, the latest in a long line of educational material for individuals or groups. Comprising 33 short 3-5 minute videos grouped under 6 themes with discussion/reflection questions and suggestions for activities too, the course aims to get people grappling with worshipping God. What are we doing when we worship? What makes for good worship? What is crucial in Anglican worship? How can we do it better?
There’s history, reflective moments, vital info and super practical how-tos suitable for liturgical assistants and people in the pews.
Whether you browse the videos yourself or use it with your study group, Understanding Worship is guaranteed to refresh people with an urge to worship God thoughtfully and with passion. And it’s all free!

News from the Baroona Farm

July has seen some wonderful growth at Baroona Farm, particularly since the winter solstice in June and more light is returning to our days.
Two working bees were held following the resuming of our monthly schedule of the first Friday and third Saturday of the month. Those willing to lend a hand and get involved have been increasing and we could always do with more helpers, even if just coming to share in community time around a cuppa!  The dates for next month are: 7 August and 22 August (actually the fourth Saturday this month), both commencing at 9:30am.
Also resuming is our monthly 'campfire' gathering which Baroona Farm is pleased to partner with Community of the Way. As our speaker and reflector around the fire this month we were delighted to have Sandra King OAM with us.  Sandra is an aboriginal leader and Diocesan RAP coordinator. Those in attendance were deeply moved by Sandra's stories she shared and how we all have a responsibility to combat racism as disciples of Jesus.
Campfire occurs on the third Monday of each month at 6pm in Baroona Farm.  The gathering often entails a shared simple meal (subject to COVID restrictions) and conversation around the fire.  Next month we welcome Jen Basham from the Diocesan Social Responsibilites Committee who will be joining us to reflect on climate justice.

In other news from the farm - our oldest chickens, which have reached 17 weeks of age, have started to lay eggs!  We think only one is doing so at this stage but she has been consistent in delivering one medium sized egg each day this week!  We look forward to having all of them lay soon to provide a steady supply of eggs for sale.
 
Our Vision: 'To grow food and community with and for the nutritionally vulnerable'.

Chapel Services have resumed

Are you hearing bells lately? For those studying on campus or visiting, weekday chapel services have resumed, with morning prayer at 8.30 am and evening prayer at 5.15 pm. All are welcome.
 
Since the chapel was closed in March, we have been offering these services online through Facebook Live, from a variety of settings, on and off campus.  That means you can join us from wherever you are if you follow us on Facebook. That also means that sometimes we have participants in chapel while the service is led by someone off site and the sound it broadcast through the speakers.  If you want more information, ask a friendly formation candidate.

Winter Solstice at Baroona Farms

On the evening of June 20, residents of St Francis College joined members of the Baroona Farm ministry around the campfire to share in a short liturgy acknowledging the shortest day of the year. 

The Reverend Samuel Dow, who officiated over the service, says 'this change from darkness to light has been marked and celebrated throughout many cultures over thousands of years, primarily because of the anticipated hope in new and higher crop yields as light increases and as Winter turns to Spring. This is still particularly important to those in agricultural endeavours to this day. In the northern hemisphere the church has also done well over the centuries in coupling this movement theologically to Christmas and the birth of Christ - a light entering the darkness. We in the southern hemisphere have perhaps not overly developed that same rhythm with the church year. 

However, this year in the context of our rapidly changing world with communities cautiously emerging from COVID-19 restrictions, there is a sense of new life and hope emerging where we might pray that our God of resurrection and life send forth new shoots of green within ourselves and the world.'

SFC Short Course - Exploring the Bible

Exploring the Bible is an online interactive short course designed to help you engage with the central text of the Christian Faith. Drawing on experts, Bishops and more, this course will lead you inside this fascinating book, uncovering and inspiring you to delve in yourself.

38 videos with reflection/discussion questions can be used by individuals or groups. The videos are collected under 6 themes to enable easier group or individual use. The videos are brief enough to watch on your bus/train journey or with a quiet cuppa, and the questions will have you pondering the place of this special book in your faith and life. Using the course with a group will enable your participants to grapple with traditional and fresh ideas that will promote learning and grow faith in a thoroughly Anglican way.

Featuring experts such as Archbishop Phillip Aspinall, Major Dr Marie-Louise Craig, Dean Greg Jenks, the Reverend Penny Jones, Bishop Jonathan Holland and more!
 
Click here to watch the trailer for this exciting series.
Check out the SFC website for this and other short courses…

Enrol now for Semester 2 Subjects

Faith seeks understanding.
Are you interested in deepening your faith through greater understanding?
Study online at St Francis College in Semester 2.
Semester 2 2020 subjects available for auditing are listed below.
Please enrol via the individual Eventbrite links.

THL215/407 Jesus the Christ - Lecturer: Dr Peter Kline (Tuesdays 9am - 12pm)
https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/audit-jesus-the-christ-thl215407-tickets-105036063694

THL132/419 European Reformations - Lecturer: Rev Dr Jo Inkpin (Tuesdays 2 - 5pm)  https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/audit-european-reformations-thl132419-tickets-105038739698

THL100 Introduction to Biblical Languages - Lecturer: Dr Marie-Louise Craig (Tuesdays 6 - 9pm)
 https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/audit-introduction-to-biblical-languages-thl100-tickets-105039156946

THL113/461 Being the Church - Lecturer: Dr Peter Kline (Wednesdays 9am - 12pm)
https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/audit-being-the-church-thl113461-tickets-105039361558

THL320 Homiletics – Lecturer: Rev’d Penny Jones (Wednesdays 2 - 5pm)
https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/audit-homiletics-tickets-105039421738

THL106/409 Introduction to New Testament Studies - Lecturer: Assoc. Prof. David Neville (Wednesdays 6 - 9pm)
https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/audit-introduction-to-new-testament-studies-tickets-105039578206

THL120/491 Practical Theology – Lecturer: Wendi Sargeant (Thursdays 9am - 12pm)
https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/audit-practical-theology-thl-120491-tickets-105039708596

THL322 Theology and the Arts – Lecturer: Jonathan Sargeant (Thursdays 6 - 9pm)
https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/audit-theology-and-the-arts-thl322-tickets-105039836980

THL241/457 Hebrew 2 - Lecturer: Dr Marie-Louise Craig (Day and times TBC)
https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/audit-hebrew-2-thl241457-tickets-105041574176

THL315/440 Anglican Foundations – Lecturers: Most Rev’d Dr Phillip Aspinall and Right Rev Dr Jonathan Holland (offered as Intensives 21 Nov 2020, 28 Nov 2020 and 16 Jan 2021)
https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/audit-anglican-foundations-thl-315440-tickets-105041692530

Baroona Farm Official Launch

Baroona Farm opens in style!
What a wonderful celebration at the official launch of the Baroona Urban Farm project. A large crowd gathered for the blessing of the site by Archbishop Philip and informative talks by community and BCC staff. Willing hands will now grow food and community with and for the nutritionally vulnerable.

2020 Commencement Service

The 2020 Academic Commencement Evensong in St John’s Cathedral in late February was a wonderful occasion.  Students who graduated at the end of 2019 were presented with their certificates; student prize winners announced; a student RSCM choir sang beautifully, an excellent sermon from the Archbishop, and a moving commitment by staff and students to the year ahead, ‘God being our helper’. We look forward to this exciting year of studies.

End of an era

Stephen Clarke was farewelled last night at a wonderful function which was attended by over 70 of Stephen’s family, friends and colleagues. Speeches and toasts were made acknowledging the extraordinary contribution that Stephen has made to generations of students, staff and friends of St Francis College. We thank him for his commitment, dedication and friendship over his 15 years of service to the college. He will be sorely missed. We wish Stephen and Lindy our best wishes as they embark on a life of retirement.

Graduate Certificate in Professional Supervision Available in 2020

The Graduate Certificate in Professional Supervision (Pastoral/Clinical) is a Nationally Registered Training Course which will be offered again in Brisbane at SFC in 2020.
The course gives clergy and/or therapists the opportunity to study the theory and practice of professional supervision of other carers. 
Delivered part time over one year, this course will be delivered at St Francis College Milton, and is made up of 8 days of intensive classroom training, online and work based practice and input. 
For more information please click here.
To register, please complete the application form online at https://stmarks.edu.au.   
A comprehensive brochure can also be downloaded from this site. For more information Contact Dale Keenan on 3514 7429 or dkeenan@ministryeducation.org.au
Applications close: 15 February 2020

Ordination Congratulations

Hearty congratulations to these wonderful people on their ordinations to diaconate and priesthood on Saturday!
Danielle Clark, Scott Windred, Susan Barker, Erika Williams, Kate Ross, Richard Gummow, Kathryn Koning, Michael Calder, Juliana Bate, Richard James, Ann Edwards and Jonathan Kemp. Pictured with Dean Peter Catt, Archbishop Phillip Aspinall and the Ven. Mark Carlyon.


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We acknowledge all First Peoples of the land on which live, walk and work. We honour them and their Ancestors for their survival, continued traditions and spiritual connection to and caring of country, land, sky, water and sea. We pay respect to their Elders past and present and will continue to support their right to self-determination. We are committed to Reconciliation and respectfully recognise that sovereignty has never been ceded.