Holy Innocents' Anglican Church Belair

27/12/2025

Tomorrow, we remember the Holy Innocents, those children murdered by King Herod. We hold in prayer all children harmed by fear and violence, and all who grieve. God is with us, even here.

18/12/2025

15/12/2025

Probably like many of you, I woke up this morning to the news of last night’s horrific mass shooting at Bondi Beach, which was directed at Jewish community members gathered to celebrate the first evening of Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights.

If you need a quiet place to sit, light a candle, say a prayer, and rest in God’s love, then please be assured you are welcome to come into our church just as you are – no words or explanations needed.

Below is a Prayer for Peace which Bishop Sophie Relf Christopher sent to all Anglican Churches in Adelaide this morning. The prayer is followed by a statement that was issued on behalf of the Anglican Church in South Australia.

Prayer for peace in Australia

Loving and gracious God,
We mourn before you in the wake of acts of terror and hatred in our country.
We pray for the Jewish community in Australia:
for those who are grieving, for the injured, and for everyone who feels afraid.
We pray for emergency workers, healthcare staff, survivors, and all who have been impacted by this senseless violence.
Comfort the broken-hearted, strengthen those who protect the vulnerable,
and transform the hearts of ordinary Australians from fearful to overflowing with compassion.
Turn us all from any prejudice to love, and from any violent impulse to peace.
Hasten that day when your justice and peace will flow like an ocean throughout the world. This week, help us carry your light into every dark corner of our community.
Through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Statement issued on behalf of Anglicans in SA

On behalf of Anglicans in South Australia, we share in our nation's profound grief following last night's terrorist attack at Bondi Beach. To murder faithful Jewish Australians who are celebrating a peaceful religious festival is an almost incomprehensible horror.
We have reached out to Adelaide's Jewish communities to assure them of our prayers and support, and our commitment to work tirelessly until hatred and disregard for any human life are repudiated by every Australian.
Such horror inevitably provokes righteous anger and a desire for a swift, just response on behalf of the victims. However, even amid these terrible events, we are reminded that goodness abides, demonstrated through the bravery of Ahmed al Ahmed, the heroic bystander who tackled and disarmed one of the gunmen with little thought for his own safety.
We honour him, along with the heroic police, ambulance officers, lifesavers, and others who offered help to the victims.
May this generosity of spirit and sense of community be our inspiration rather than the hatred which does so much to diminish us all.
As we extend our deepest condolences to our Jewish sisters and brothers, let us assure them of our solidarity and prayers during this difficult time for all the victims of this attack, their families, and the wider community.
Let us redouble our efforts to keep Jewish Australians – and all Australians – safe.
Especially in this Advent season, as Christians connect again with their loving God, let that love restore hope to our neighbourhoods and communities across Australia.

03/12/2025

Christmas is almost here — the season of carols, candles, and that astonishing story of God’s love arriving in the world as a tiny baby. Come and join us at our Family Christmas Service and share the joy with others.

02/12/2025

Feeling festive? We are!
Drop in after school this week for nativities, craft, and Christmas cookies. (Because why wouldn’t you?)

30/08/2025

The 2025 Season of Creation begins tomorrow!

🌳The Anglican Board of Mission – Australia, is proud and excited to release a new study app just in time for the 2025 Season of Creation (Sep 1st – Oct 4th).

🦇 Weaving a Stronger Spell is written by Celia Kemp, author of ‘Into the Desert’, ‘A Voice in the Wilderness’ and creator of our previous study apps, ‘Into the Desert’, “Deep Calls to Deep’ and ‘Songs from a Strange Land’.

🌱 This new study app is grounded in place, begs us to ‘be’ where our feet are planted, and to see what is actually happening to the world. It is asking us to do the unthinkably difficult, to recognise the rising tide of environmental harm, and to accept our place in the renewal of all things.

💧 Having left the desert and found herself by an urban river, Celia Kemp’s new study app, Weaving a Stronger Spell*, is as complex and beautiful as the source from which it draws life and context. It meanders and rushes, twists and turns, breaking off into distributaries of wonder, being fed by tributaries of both meaning and matter.

🏜 Scripture and theology, harsh and compassionate, are woven into this river of thought and prayer. Celia has never been afraid to rattle the cages of the spiritually complacent, nor has she been afraid of walking in the shoes of the marginalised. But not for her own sake – for the sake of those to whom God would reach to and include. Hers is a prophetic voice, unusual and vivid in the rigid, risk-averse and polite conformity of Australian Christianity.

🏞 Whether you dip your toes or plunge right in, you will be challenged and, possibly, changed by your encounter with this content. Celia’s voice rings true, and she includes the voices of many others who share a concern that we are letting things slide perilously close to the deathly.

🌄 If you take your faith seriously and care for the future of the planet, Weaving a Stronger Spell, will wrap you in its currents and allow you to see things from ground level.

🏊‍♀️I encourage you to get more than your feet wet.

* The name of the app, Weaving a Stronger Spell, comes from a C.S. Lewis quote:
“Do you think I am trying to weave a spell? Perhaps I am; but remember your fairy tales. Spells are used for breaking enchantments as well as for inducing them. And you and I have need of the strongest spell that can be found to wake us from the evil enchantment of worldliness which has been laid upon us for nearly a hundred years.”
C.S. Lewis, The Weight of Glory

Download the app from these links or from the Apple Apps Store or Google Play.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.abm.weavingastrongerspell&hl=en_AU

https://apps.apple.com/au/app/weaving-a-stronger-spell/id6749288941

28/06/2025

Come along to our second (does this mean it's now annual?) Ceilidh (pronounced Kaylee) Dance.

If you are looking for an interesting and different way to warm up and spend the afternoon with the whole family - come and learn some dances, have some fun and get to know others as we celebrate with some beautiful Celtic music. It doesn't matter your age or ability - just come along and give it a go.

Sunday 27th July at 3pm – 6.30pm, followed by a Pasty Dinner.
BYO Drinks, nibbles and sweet treats.

05/06/2025

Last week we welcomed Rev Paula Bullock as she was commissioned as our new Parish Priest. The evening was full of excitement and celebration as we welcomed Paula back into the Belair community, as she promised to guide and care for the congregation and as we all promised to build a "brave space" together, full of inclusion, love and joy.

16/05/2025

After nearly 175 years of working to serve God, serve the community and trying to serve the 'other', we are still aiming to stumble along in the footsteps of Jesus. Until we recognise the 'other' in ourselves, and ourselves in the 'other', the work is unfinished. Until we are one. Thank you for your company on this journey towards Love, Hope and Justice.