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Following Christ Nurturing Community
We are the Anglican Church in the Parish of Sorrento and Rye on Victoria's Mornington Peninsula, Australia
We are in a very beautiful yet fragile part of God's earth, and are conscious of our duty to care for it.
We
are committed to building an open, nurturing community, in the
congregation, in our neighbourhood, and in the wider world; to
deepening individual and corporate spirituality; and to developing
shared leadership.
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Where to Find Us
Our Parish has two National Trust churches which provide a variety of worship. We operate as one Parish.




St John’s Church at 3466 Point Nepean Road Sorrento (Left).
Pass the township and see us on the right as you head towards Portsea.
St Andrew’s Church with the Parish Hall and Office at 35 Lyons Street Rye (Right).
Turn off Point Nepean Road at the Post Office and find us opposite the cemetery.

St Hildegard’s House, adjacent to St Andrews, provides a quiet space for counselling, small groups, meditation, and a library. (Right)
We are located at the south eastern tip of Port Philip Bay, about 100minutes drive from Melbourne CBD
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The
Values
Which Guide Us
The image of the Tree
of Life has been our Parish symbol since 2002.
The words express
the values which shape the character of our parish
and speak of who we are. They give direction to all we do in fulfilling
our
core purpose -
Following Christ Nurturing
Community
Hospitality
Reflecting:
- the
welcoming and embracing love of God for all.
- the
abundance of God's generosity.
- the
scriptural imperative to welcome the stranger.
- a foretaste
of God's eternal banquet, symbolised in the Eucharist.
Creativity
Reflecting:
- the
creative action of God - ourselves as
co-creators with God.
- the
creativity of all people in their unique and varied ways - all have
something to contribute.
- our
constantly changing world - nothing is static - always need to
explore new
ways.
Spirituality
Reflecting:
- our
need for relationship with God and to keep
connected through prayer to the one who is the source of our life
and growth.
- something
much broader and deeper than a particular religion or religious
practice.
- people's
need to be in whatever place they are and to explore from there.
- our
connection with people of all faiths and none.
- Jesus'
example of prayer, time apart and knowledge of scripture.
- the
need to
build on the foundations we have in scripture and tradition.
Justice
Reflecting:
- the
mission of Christ expressed in Luke 4 -
"The Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor...to
proclaim release to the captives...recovery of sight to the
blind...to let
the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favour".
As
followers of Jesus this is our mission too.
- God's
particular concern for the poor and marginalised.
- the
equality
of all people.
- the call of
our baptism to serve God's world and be bearers of grace and hope.
Healing
Reflecting:
- our
call to live out and express God's love for
others.
- the Church's
call to be a community of love, support and growth.
- Christ's
ongoing mission of healing.
- God's
reconciling work in the world - ourselves as instruments.
- God's
desire
for all people to grow into wholeness and to taste the abundant
life
offered.
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Our Leadership
While we await the appointment of a new vicar, our acting priest Reverend Dr John Spring leads the staff team. Fr John is supported by Associate Priests, Rev'd John Goldsworthy and Rev'd Ray Kenny; the Peninsula Deacon, Rev'd Christine Barren, (Christine covers several Peninsula Parishes part-time);.and Family and Personal Counsellor, Sue Boggan. Others help with various ministries, projects and administration.
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Priorities
and Directions for 2009-2015
To build up the
parish for its future ministry and
mission
1.
Building Open,
Nurturing Community
2. Deepening
Individual and Corporate Spirituality
3. Developing
Shared Leadership
4. Maintaining
our Heritage - Sustaining our Future
To
see our full Mission Action Plan (in pdf) click
here
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The Anglican Church
We are part of the world wide Anglican Communion, and of the Diocese of Melbourne . The Anglican Church encompasses a broad range of worship styles and faith emphases. We seek to be inclusive and innovative while valuing the heritage given by those who have gone before us.
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