User:JRG/St. Luke's Miranda

St Luke's Miranda is an evangelical Anglican church (located on the corner of the Kingsway & Jackson Ave, Miranda) in the Diocese of Sydney, Australia. The church believes the Bible to be God's Word and the foundation of all they believe. In particular, they believe that Jesus Christ is the only way to fix our broken relationship with God, the creator of heaven and earth. Only through Jesus’ death and resurrection are we able to be in right relationship with God and live the way God intended us to live, in the power of the Holy Spirit.

Their vision statement is "Living God's Way". This statement has three components: Looking to God in prayer, Learning through Bible teaching and Loving through nurture and outreach. These components reflect our relationship with God, our relationship with each other as members of his family and our relationship with the world with whom we long to share his love.

St. Luke's Miranda has many programs for youth, infants, babies, 18+, adults and seniors which run throughout the year including youth group, Sunday school, creche, bible studies and church services.

Church History
St. Luke's Miranda was built in 1895 overlooked by Reverend John Wilson. He moved to set up outlying mission churches at Waterfall, Otford, Lilyvale, Cawley and Darkes Forest to the South, and Miranda, Cronulla and Audley to the North. Church meetings before this were usually held in private homes. Miranda Anglicans met in a home on the corner of Wandella Rd and the Kingsway.

Development work continued. Under Rev. Wilson the Miranda Anglicans began a building fund in 1889 with a social. The present site for St. Lukes was obtained on lease from the Holt-Sutherland Land Co. at 1 pound per annum. On 3rd April, 1899 a foundation stone was laid by the Archbishop Saumerez Smith with Rev. Wilson leading the service. A loan of 60 pounds was gained from the Church Loan Building Society for the construction of the new Mission Hall by Mr. J. Paton, cost 92 pounds. The Archbishop again visited for the service of dedication, 4th November, 1899. The offertory was 2 pounds 1/6.

Youth Services
St. Lukes has many services for students from 7-12 which include Jacko's (Years 7 & 8), ATF (Years 9 & 10), Triple 7 (Years 11 & 12) on Thursday and Friday nights and U-Rock and Five O'Clock Church on a Sunday. Five O'Clock Church is a service on a Sunday night which is primarily aimed at youth, it involves skits, a sermon, singing, prayers, a bible reading and various other activities. Afterwards youth from 7-12 break of into cell groups which are broken up by year. After cell group a communal dinner is held where everyone can have a good time and talk about the service and cell group.

The Great Escape
The Great Escape (TGE) is a 4 night long camp that is run by St Lukes Miranda for students from Year 6-12. The camp is run at the Anglican Youthworks Royal National Park Site: Deer Park. The site features a pool, waterslide, ovals, meeting rooms, a kitchen, jetty, cabins, the infamous 'bomb shelters', archery, abseiling, a hall, indoor rockclimbing etc.

During the week the youth and leader participate in many different activities which includes: bible studies, singing, small groups, murder mysteries, dress-up nights, devotionals and games. In 2005, around 200 youth spent the week in Deer Park the biggest number ever.