The Three S’s of Mission? Synods, Soup and Stamps
ABM supporters in Australia are a committed and passionate group of people, and it is a pleasure for ABM staff to spend time with them, whether it be eating Soup at a 175th Anniversary Celebration in Tasmania, attending Synods or receiving a lifetime collection of stamps.
SOUP
On a cold foggy Friday in June, 50 ABM supporters gathered for the latest 175th Anniversary celebration. Hosted by the ABM Tasmania Committee at Longford Parish, Tasmania, Meagan Schwarz was the guest speaker. Hot soup was most welcome as the first course.
During the lunch, Coaldrake Awards were presented to ABM supporters Tim and Ann Swifte and posthumously to Barbara Briggs for their faithful service to God’s mission through the ABM Auxiliary. Barbara’s daughter, Jenny Archer, herself a member of the Tasmania Committee, received the award on her late mother’s behalf. ABM congratulates the Tasmania ABM Committee for their ongoing hard work and commitment to promoting ABM across their Diocese.
SYNODS
In June, six Dioceses of the Anglican Church of Australia held their Synods. ABM was represented by Meagan at Synods in Tasmania, The Murray and Newcastle, The Rt Rev’d Sarah Plowman represented ABM in Brisbane and the Rev’d Andrew Sempell, Chair of the ABM and AID Boards, represented ABM at Grafton Synod.
Synods are a wonderful opportunity to meet with many supporters in one location. It’s also the occasion for many parishes to bring in the stamps they have collected to give to ABM as one of our fundraisers.
STAMPS
Stamps are still one way ABM raised funds for God’s mission. While ABM collects stamps off envelopes for sorting and selling, we also accept full albums and collections. An Adelaide based stamp collector has recently donated his entire collection to ABM. Mr John May has collected stamps since he was a young man. He also has part of the collection his father in-law, Mr John Bing, collected, some of which date back to pre-WWII. Mr Bing was from Kiribati and lived in Fiji where he raised his family, including daughter Susan. John met and married Susan in Fiji, and worked there for many years. Most of the stamps are from Pacific countries but also include collections John has bought over the years from collectors in Europe and the UK.
John’s favourite stamps are from the Tin Can Mail in Tonga. Large ships couldn’t get past the coral reef, so the mail was lowered off the ship in a tin can, and collected by men in canoes, who transported the mail to shore. Other interesting stamps are also from Tonga, which issued metallic stamps.
The idea to donate his collection to ABM came to John after he heard Meagan speak at his parish, St Peter’s Glenelg last year. When he and Susan decided to down-size he decided to donate his entire collection to ABM for God’s mission. He is delighted that his lifelong passion for stamps will continue the work of God’s mission through ABM.
Attending your Diocesan Synod later this year, look for the ABM display and go say hello.
Is your parish already planning or interested in hosting a mission fundraiser later this year (soup optional!)? ABM can support your efforts with resources and promotion. And we’d love to share what you’ve done to encourage others, so please send us photos and a brief story.
Do you, or someone you know, have stamp albums you’re not sure what to do with? Contact us to discuss donating it to ABM.
Please contact us on info@abmission.org.au or 1300 302 663 so we can resource you for God’s mission.
The Rev’d Andrew Sempell (far R) with the Rt Rev’d Murray Harvey, Bishop of the Diocese of Grafton (far L) with the ABM Diocesan Representatives in Grafton, Janice Peate. © Diocese of Grafton.
Meagan Schwarz ABM (far R) and the Rev’d Warwick Cuthbertson, Chair of ABM Tasmania Committee (2nd form the left) with Coaldrake Awards recipients, Ann and Tim Swifte (2nd and 3rd from the R). Jenny Archer (far L) accepted the award for her late mother, Barbara Briggs.. © ABM/Meagan Schwarz.
These stamps and postmarks from John May’s collection are from the Tongan Tin Can Mail, when mail was delivered from ships to waiting canoes in tin cans.
John May’s collection – Stamp close-up 1.
