Andrew Lubbock

Associate Minister

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
As we approach the end of the year, we’re asking you to consider how you might be involved serving God and His people at St Matthew’s Anglican Church in 2026. We serve one another and share life together in our church family through: regular church service attendance; participating in a St Matt’s Life Group; extending our loving and serving of one another by volunteering in any of the various ministries outlined here.

Serve 2026 is just a first step to help us identify those areas of ministry in which you might serve. At this stage, we are not looking for an absolute commitment, just an expression of your desire to begin to serve or serve in a new role.

We are asking that you would do two things:

Think, pray and discuss with those close to you about how you might serve our
great God and his people–on Sundays and beyond. To help you work out which area might be right for you, we’re including in this booklet a brief description of each of the ministries for which you can volunteer. If you have any questions, please feel free to speak to the ministry team;
Let us know by Sunday 16 November in which area of ministry you would like to begin to serve. Please respond via the electronic form on our church website. Go to https://stmattswanniassa.org.au/serve/

**If you will continue to serve in the same area(s) in 2026, confirm with your team leader. Do not fill out the electronic form.

Later this year, our leaders will be in touch to discuss how you might serve in those areas of ministry in which you have expressed interest. Please note that certain prerequisites are prescribed for all our ministries, and serving in all areas is by appointment only. This is to ensure that our volunteers are cared for, and to protect the integrity of each ministry. For many of our ministries, we will run training events in the first term of next year.

In most cases, we ask that people first of all be regularly committed to attending a

St Matthew’s church service, and Life Group. This is because our priority is the Christian discipleship and growth of each person, in the context of closeknit community at St Matt’s. Serving in a ministry area extends out of this.

In all cases, we ask that all volunteers be committed to practicing safe ministry at our church. Many areas of service will have specific safe ministry requirements. The ACT Government’s Working With Vulnerable People (WWVP) card can be applied for online. Anglican Safe Ministry Training is our denomination’s training in relation to safe ministry and abuse matters, and is offered online and in person. Details of Safe Ministry requirements can be found in the table below.

Brothers and sisters, we rejoice in serving alongside you in Christ’s mission.

Andrew Lubbock (Serve/Ministry Pastor)

andrew.lubbock@stmattswanniassa.org.au

Ministry Descriptions

Sunday Services

Leadership

(Ministry Area Leader – Louisa Walton)

Our Sunday Services are a time when God’s people gather around His Word, to hear from and respond to Him together. We hear his Word read and expounded, teach one another and praise God in song, and pray for God’s will to be done in the church and the world. We share in the sacraments as visible signs of God’s grace. All of this is for the building up of the church to the glory of God, and in preparation for Christ’s return. Each element of the church service contributes to this larger vision. The vision and direction of our Sunday services is set by the Senior Minister.

Service Leaders

Service leaders guide the congregation through each element of the service, helping them to engage well with the liturgy and flow of the service, and modeling genuine joy in Christ and appropriate response to His word as you lead. This involves a mix of Anglican Prayer Book liturgy and your own introductions to certain elements, all seeking to convey emotional warmth and theological depth. Training provided.

Frequency: every 4-6 weeks

Prerequisites: regular St Matt’s church service and St Matt’s Life Group attendance; attend training; Safe Ministry–Category 3 (Standard).

Bible reading

Bible readers are asked to thoughtfully prepare and read for clarity, meaning and toappropriately reflect God’s gracious love and power.

Frequency: every 6-8 weeks

Prerequisites: regular St Matt’s church service and St Matt’s Life Group attendance; attend training; Safe Ministry– Category 4.

Pray-ers

Pray-ers prepare and lead the congregation in a 4-5 minute prayer, praying in response to the Word and for the needs of the church and the world. Training provided.

Frequency: every 4-6 weeks

Prerequisites: regular St Matt’s church service and St Matt’s Life Group attendance; attend training; Safe Ministry–Category 4.

Music Ministry

(Ministry Area Leader – Louisa Walton)

Music ministry

Singers and instrumentalists in late high school and older who want to serve God and the church by being part of one of our Sunday or Tuesday service music teams. Each of our Sunday services is led by one of three or four teams that play on a rotational roster. Players will serve at least every three or four weeks and attend a rehearsal in advance of their service.

For our contemporary style services, we are looking for skilled singers, drummers, bass players, guitarists and keyboard players. For our more traditional style services (including the Tuesday service) we are looking for pianists, singers and acoustic instrumentalists who are comfortable playing in a more hymnic style. Please note that as the needs of the music ministry fluctuate, so do spaces for various instruments.

Prerequisites include: regular attendance at a St Matthew’s service, active participation in a St Matt’s Life or Youth Group, initial audition and serving conversation, attend training; Safe Ministry–Category 4.

Sound desk

Our sound desk operators ensure that all elements of our Sunday and Tuesday services can be clearly heard. They work alongside the music teams and attend rehearsals. This role will suit those who have good hearing, enjoy listening to music and who have some technical ability. Full training is provided.

Prerequisites: regular attendance at a St Matthew’s church service, training (provided); Safe Ministry–Category 4.

Tech Team

(Ministry Area Leader – Tom Christensen)

ProPresenter Volunteers (Sunday)

ProPresenter is our in-Service presentation software. Volunteers ensure slides and video transition in a helpful and non-distracting way. Full training is provided.

Prerequisites:regular St Matthew’s Sunday church attendance, attend training; Safe Ministry–Category 4.

Support

(Ministry Area Leader – Lai Chiu Dawson)

Holy Communion Set Up/Pack Up

Volunteers help set up the Communion Table 30 minutes before service starts, and help pack up after the service. Training and notes are provided.

Prerequisites: regular St Matt’s church service attendance; Safe Ministry–Category 4.

Kids refreshments (10am Sunday Service)

Volunteers provide fruit/biscuits and serve the kids after the service. Training and notes are provided.

Prerequisites:regular St Matt’s church service attendance; Safe Ministry–Category 4.

Refreshments (after Sunday Services 8am, 10am, 4pm)

Volunteers work in teams to set up 20 minutes before the service starts and clean up after the service. The team provides milk and biscuits/cake/slice. In addition: the 10am and 4pm teams help serve Connect Lunch or Dinner once a year. Training and notes are provided.

Prerequisites: regular St Matt’s church service attendance; Safe Ministry–Category 4.

Sunday and Tuesday Services

Welcome Teams

(Ministry Area Leader – Andrew Lubbock)

Check-In

This is the first moment of greeting regular members, and welcoming newcomers. Arrive early, set up the equipment, pray, prepare to greet attendees to the service.

Prerequisites: regular St Matt’s church service and St Matt’s Life or Youth Group attendance; attend training; Safe Ministry–Category 3 (Standard).

Welcome Team

It’s important that everyone, visitor or regular, receives a warm welcome to church. Team members arrive early, pray together, and greet people pre- and post-service.

Prerequisites: regular St Matt’s church service and St Matt’s Life Group attendance; attend training; Safe Ministry–Category 3 (Standard).

Tuesday Services

(Ministry Area Leader – Andrew Lubbock)

Our Tuesday Service is held at 11:30am every fortnight. We seek to glorify God through meeting with Him and each other around His Word, using the structure of the Anglican Prayer Book Morning Prayer and Holy Communion services respectively.

Bible Reading

This is a very important, straightforward act of service that involves thoughtful preparation so that God’s Word is read well, and listeners understand.

Prerequisites: regular St Matt’s church service and St Matt’s Life attendance; attend training; Safe Ministry–Category 4.

Pray-ers

These people lead the family of God in prayer to the Throne of God during our church gatherings. Training provided.

Prerequisites: regular St Matt’s church service and St Matt’s Life attendance; attend training; Safe Ministry–Category 4.

Service Leaders

The vital role of leading God’s people in His presence. Involves thoughtful and prayerful preparation, including conversation with preacher and ministry staff.

Prerequisites: regular St Matt’s church service and St Matt’s Life attendance; attend training; Safe Ministry–Category 3 (Standard).

Music Ministry

Singers and instrumentalists in late high school and older who want to serve God and the church. Music at our fortnightly Tuesday Service is usually led by a singer, and piano accompanist (who plays on a rotational roster).

Prerequisites: regular St Matt’s church service and St Matt’s Life or Youth Group attendance; initial audition and serving conversation, attend training; Safe Ministry–Category 4.

Sound Desk

Our sound desk operators ensure that all elements of our Tuesday Service can be clearly heard. This role will suit those who have good hearing, and enjoy listening to music. Full training is provided.

Prerequisites: regular St Matt’s church service; training (provided); Safe Ministry–Category 4.

Powerpoint Operators

Computer operators ensure that the visual component of our services is presented effectively. Full training is provided

Prerequisites: regular St Matt’s church service; attend training; Safe Ministry–Category 4.

Tuesday Lunch Kitchen Team/Set up

Lunch happens fortnightly after the Tuesday Service. Volunteers share the preparation and cooking of the main course and dessert, serve up the food and clean up after. Help is also needed to set up tables for the sit down lunch by 11am.

Prerequisites: regular St Matt’s church service attendance; Safe Ministry–Category 4.

Holy Communion set up/pack up

Volunteers help set up the Communion Table 30 minutes before service starts and help pack up after the service. Training and notes are provided.

Prerequisites: regular St Matt’s church service attendance; Safe Ministry–Category 4.

Kids and Families

(Ministry Area Leader – Andrew Lubbock/Tim Purser)

All Kids Ministry at and through St Matt’s fits nicely into our Church vision helping move strangers to believers to lovers to warriors. To join one of our specific kids teams you’ll need to be a growing Christian, humble, a team player, attend a D-Team or Life Group and fulfil the necessary Safe Ministry requirements. Please indicate an interest in one of the below and Andrew or Tim will follow you up.

Here are the areas in which you might like to serve:

K@Ch: Variety of opportunities and commitments on Sundays. Eg: once (Variety week leading), twice (2 week Assistant leading) or five times a term (teaching leading);
Kids Spots: Opportunity to use your gifts to communicate a short message during the 10am Sunday Service, sing a song, etc to lead the kids in Church.
Crèche (once every month and each team takes turns serving on the fifth Sunday);
FISH (weekly Friday afternoon kids club and leadership development program);
Schools (Weekly in Wanniassa on Tuesdays or Termly on Mondays in Monash);
Playgroup (weekly on Wednesdays, or as you are available);

Youth Ministry

(Ministry Area Leader – Tim Purser)

Friday Nights

On Friday nights of the school term, a team of faithful, dedicated leaders
weekly serve the youth at St Matt’s and the wider Canberra community by sharing the life-changing good news of Jesus.

Prerequisites: regular church attendance, regular Life Group attendance, regular daily SOAP, commitment to weekly ministry, training nights and one camp; Safe Ministry–Category 3 (Kids).

D (discipleship)–Teams

Throughout the week we have ‘D-Teams’. In these small groups our faithful, dedicated leaders share their lives and God’s Word with the youth. D-Teams meet during Term time.

Prerequisites: regular church attendance, regular Life Group attendance, regular daily SOAP, commitment to weekly ministry, meet with the Youth Pastor 1 to 1 once every 5 weeks; and attend the D-Team Retreat Safe Ministry–Category 3 (Kids).

NB D-Team leadership is distinct from Friday nights, and by appointment only.

Young Adults

(Ministry Area Leader – Josh Sirois)

The leadership team meets once a month following monthly dinners to review previous events, discuss current activity and plan for upcoming events. Members of the team are engaged with the YA community through participation in Sunday services, a St Matt’s Life Group, attendance at YA ministry events and taking part in a 1:1. Team members assist in the organisation and running of events (e.g. advertising, making resources, organising food), support pairs in the 1:1 network, and invest in members of the YA community e.g helping new members make friends, meeting 1:1, pastoral care, assisting members to join a life group. NB Serving on the leadership team is by appointment only, expressions of interest welcome.

Prerequisites: Have a heart to serve the Young Adults community as described above, Regular St Matt’s church service and St Matt’s Life Group attendance: Safe Ministry – Category 4

Seniors Ministry

(Ministry Area Leader – Andrew Lubbock)

Connecting

We want people who would love to bring church to those in our community who can’t make it to a service in person. We would like volunteers who seek to bring the elements of church such as fellowship, edification and encouragement via phone calls and home visits.

Prerequisites: regular St Matt’s church service and St Matt’s Life Group attendance; Safe Ministry–Category 3 (Standard).

Goodwin Services

Church Services are held fortnightly on Wednesday mornings currently at David Harper House. Volunteers help set up the room, welcome and assist residents during the service, connect with the residents outside the service and are involve in running the service (leading, Bible reading, prayer, music, giving a testimony).

Prerequisites: regular St Matt’s church service and St Matt’s Life Group attendance; Safe Ministry–Category 3 (Standard).

Life Groups Ministry

(Ministry Area Leader – Adam Allanson)

Life Group Leader

Our Life Groups are an essential ministry for St Matthew’s. They help people connect with each other and understand God’s word better. We want leaders who are willing to equip other members of St Matthew’s to be able to read, understand and apply God’s word for themselves. Our Life Groups are not just an event for the week, but an ongoing relational network that exists all the time, to help foster fellowship, discipleship and evangelism.

Prerequisites: regular St Matt’s church service and St Matt’s Life Group attendance; agree with doctrine, vision and mission of St Matt’s; Safe Ministry–Category 3 (Standard).

Pastoral Care Ministry

(Ministry Area Leader – Tegan Christensen)

Please note: Tegan Christensen is currently on maternity leave. Please do direct all enquiries and expressions of interest in serving in a Pastoral Care Team by email to tegan.christensen@stmattswanniassa.org.au. Though be aware that Tegan will respond upon returning from maternity leave in April 2026, and so serving would commence after that date

Loving one another out of the overflow of our love for God is one of the privileges and expectations of the church. As Paul writes in Ephesians 4:16 “From him [Christ] the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.” The pastoral care ministry seeks to train and equip the people of St Matt’s for acts of love for one another and coordinate care as needs arise.

Meals Team

The Meals Team cares for members of the St Matt’s family in times of need by providing short-term meal support.

Prerequisites: regular St Matt’s church service attendance; Safe Ministry–Category 4.

Gardening & Handyman Team

The Gardening & Handyman Team provides one-off and short-term assistance to those in our St Matt’s family who find manual labour tasks (ie. gardening and urgent house tasks) impossible and need additional support.

Prerequisites: regular St Matt’s church service and St Matt’s Life Group attendance; Safe Ministry– Category 3 (Standard).

Driving Team

The Driving Team provides assistance with transport as needs and emergencies arise for members of the church family within the Canberra region.

Prerequisites: regular St Matt’s church service and St Matt’s Life Group attendance; Safe Ministry– Category 3 (Standard).

Tuesday Service Drivers

The Tuesday Service Drivers Team provides transport to parishioners wishing to attend the fortnightly Tuesday service.

Prerequisites: regular St Matt’s church service and St Matt’s Life Group attendance; Safe Ministry– Category 3 (Standard).

Care & Connect Team

The Care & Connect Team meet with members of the St Matt’s church family requiring extra support, discuss the needs or challenges being faced, provide or coordinate emotional and practical support, and refer on in cases where the needs are beyond the capacity or expertise of the individual and/or the team.

Prerequisites:regular St Matt’s church service and St Matt’s Life Group attendance, Pastoral Care training; Safe Ministry–Category 3 (Standard).

Communications Ministry

Communication

(Ministry Area Leader – Peter Walton)

Sermon Uploading

Ensure that the church’s weekly sermons are promptly and accurately accessible to the congregation through the church website. This involves downloading the sermons from the Sound Desk USB, minor editing as needed, and uploading them to the designated section of the website. All training provided.

Prerequisites: regular St Matt’s church service attendance; Safe Ministry–Category 4.

Graphic Design

Our clear presentation helps engagement. Make announcement slides, postcards and other graphics as needs arise (occasional–once a month or less).

Prerequisites: Graphic design experience, small portfolio (2 or 3 past works), regular St Matt’s church service attendance; Safe Ministry–Category 4.

Web Design

Create new pages on the St Matt’s website as needs arise (once a term or less).

Prerequisites: regular St Matt’s church service attendance, WordPress and Divi experience preferred but not required; Safe Ministry–Category 4.

Film Production or Editing

Use your video production skills to film or edit short videos such as interviews, announcements etc. Occasionally assist with livestreamed events.

Prerequisites: regular St Matt’s church service attendance, video production; Safe Ministry–Category 4.

Copywriting

Use your writing skills to produce clear, concise words for primarily the website along with other media. You will work closely with staff, Ministry Area Leaders, web and graphic designers to ensure our message is clear.

Prerequisites: Small portfolio (2 or 3 works), regular St Matt’s church service attendance and St Matt’s Life Group attendance; Safe Ministry–Category 4.

Additional Ministry

Friends of Jesus

(Ministry Area Leader – Mary-Ann Kal)

We share the good news of Jesus Christ with people with special needs. FoJ meets from 6-8:30pm fortnightly on a Thursday during school terms. A typical evening comprises games, dinner together, Bible reading and learning from God’s Word, and an activity. Volunteers can help prepare meals, assist in the kitchen, assist with games, Bible devotions, craft, and general social interaction.

Prerequisites:a love for the Lord Jesus and people, regular St Matt’s church service and St Matt’s Life Group attendance; Safe Ministry–Category 3.

Women’s ministry team

(Ministry Area Leader – Andrea Roberts)

Our team aims to run four events a year along with promoting the Canberra Women’s Christian Convention. Our events are intended to encourage, exhort and build up Christian women and to provide a space for wider connections and fellowship within St Matts. We also want to share the good news of abundant life in and with Jesus.

Prerequisites: love Jesus, have a heart to serve and love other women, be a committed member of the St Matthew’s community through regular Church and Life Group attendance; Safe Ministry–Category 4.

Men’s ministry team

(Ministry Area Leader – Craig Bickell)

The Men’s Ministry is responsible for running men’s fellowship activities including the monthly Saturday morning Men’s Breakfast. Our goal is to bring men in to hear about Jesus, to build them up in Him, and send them out to serve and tell of Him. We seek to achieve this through a combination of evangelistic and Bible-based talks (sometimes via the lens of a specific field of the speakers’ experience) and discussions and through other fellowship activities including at Men’s conventions.

Prerequisites: be a steady follower of Jesus Christ, have a heart to serve, be part of St Matt’s church community through regular St Matt’s Church service and St Matt’s Life Group attendance; Safe Ministry–Category 4.

Key Support Ministries

Women on Thursday (WOT) Crèche

(Ministry Area Leader– Lai Chiu Dawson/Robyn Perry)

WOT provides Crèche for pre-schoolers on Thursday mornings during school term. Helpers care for the children from 9:30am-11:30am, freeing parents for Bible study. Remuneration available ($20/hr).

Prerequisites: over 18 y.o.,regular St Matt’s church service and St Matt’s Life Group attendance; Safe Ministry–Category 3 (Kids).

Church Cleaning

(Ministry Area Leader–Norm Barker)

We currently have ten teams and each team does a clean of the church building on a ten week roster. There is always a need to top up the teams for various reasons. The cleaning is to ensure that the building is welcoming, presentable and safe for gatherings of people in the ministry of the Gospel of Jesus. Cleaning is done on Saturdays in a team of 10 people. Instructions and all equipment will be provided.

The teams manage to complete the task in 1.5 hours and enjoy the fellowship and satisfaction of a job well done.

Prerequisites: regular St Matt’s church service attendance; Safe Ministry–Category 4.

Building/Property

(Ministry Area Leader–John Harrison)

The Property team involves caring for our buildings and grounds. In general all volunteers are welcome. We try to have two workings bees each year in Spring and Autumn. Also throughout the year there may be other smaller jobs to do and there is always gardening work throughout the year.

Prerequisites: regular St Matt’s church service attendance; Safe Ministry–Category 4.

Finance

(Ministry Area Leader–Ron Perry)

The Finance Team coordinates all the parish’s financial activities. This involves preparing the annual budget for Parish Council to consider and approve, ensuring invoices and accounts are paid in a timely manner, reporting monthly to Council on the parish’s progress against budget and, as required, providing advice to Council on a range of financial matters. Those currently involved in the team have a range of skills and experience including accounting, financial advice and management, information technology and facilities management and maintenance.

Prerequisites: regular St Matt’s church service attendance, regular St Matt’s Life Group attendance; Safe Ministry– Category 4.

Safe MinistryTeam

(Ministry Area Leader–Glen Steemson)

The Safe Ministry Team coordinates the implementation of the Safe Ministry standards, policies, protocols, procedures, and record keeping for screening and training of volunteers in our church. Under the Safe Ministry Coordinator, the Safe Ministry Team has a safe ministry administrator who is responsible for processing paperwork and record keeping. In addition, other volunteers on the SMT are responsible for checking through the safe ministry records each month and sending reminders to volunteers to complete safe ministry tasks. Volunteers require basic IT skills, a methodical work habit and a love for administration and people.

Prerequisites: regular St Matt’s church service attendance, regular St Matt’s Life Group attendance; Safe Ministry– Category 3 (Leaders).

Safe Ministry Requirements

The Safe Ministry requirements vary according to the role and are set in accordance with the St Matthew’s Safe Ministry Policy. If a volunteer serves in multiple ministry areas, they are required to complete the Safe Ministry requirements for the area that has the highest category rating.

Once completed, the Safe Ministry Training and Safe Ministry Check are valid for 3 years.

Category 3

(Standard)

Category 3

(Kids)

Category 3

(Leaders)

Category 4