Q&A with Anglicare Time2Connect Project Coordinator, former competitive powerlifter, Guide Dog puppy boarder and procrasti-baker, Sarah Marris
Spotlight Q&A
Meet Sarah Marris and find out about her current Anglicare project, her favourite scripture, secret skill, what she is most looking forward to this Easter, and which two ACSQ priests especially inspire her and why
How long have you been involved in the Anglican Church and in what roles?
I have been working with Anglicare Southern Queensland since September as Project Coordinator for Time2Connect within the Mission, Research and Advocacy Team, which is led by Dr Stephen Harrison.
What does your role involve?
My role is so varied, which I love! A huge part of my role is about making connections and building relationships, with parishes, community members, schools and other ministries and agencies. Sometimes I spend the day in the office meeting with other teams to collaborate, checking in with project partners or dabbling in Canva to create marketing material, and then the next I might be out in community hosting information morning teas or facilitating cooking workshops.
What projects or activities are you currently working on in your role?
My current project is called Time2Connect. It is a free community program that creates friendly connections through local events and sharing skills. One of the ways we are doing this is through small group activities, including baking demos with myself, demonstrating my now famous lemon slice, and another is through the development of a “timebank”. Timebanking is essentially reciprocal volunteering — give an hour, receive an hour. Simple actions such as engaging in conversation, reading aloud, preparing a home-cooked meal, taking a dog for a walk or tending to a garden can make a huge difference to someone’s happiness and overall quality of life.
“My current project is called Time2Connect. It is a free community program that creates friendly connections through local events and sharing skills. One of the ways we are doing this is through small group activities, including baking demos with myself, demonstrating my now famous lemon slice,” (Anglicare’s Sarah Marris in 2024)
How can parishes, schools and ministries get involved?
If your parish, school or ministry would like to be involved in Time2Connect, please reach out — we are always looking for new communities to partner with. More information can be found under the FAQ section on the Time2Connect website or you can email me directly at smarris@anglicaresq.org.au.
What has been one of the highlights of your time in your role so far?
To help people begin to understand what timebanking is, I usually incorporate an activity where we break into groups with some butchers paper and pens for a good old-fashioned brainstorm! Recently we did this with a wonderful group of op shop volunteers from one of the Sunshine Coast parishes. Christians are often reluctant “to toot their own horns”, so to speak, but collectively the group easily identified each other’s talents and gifts and what could be offered in the timebank. It is just so heartwarming to observe the conversations and affirming connections that take place in these initial information sessions.
“Christians are often reluctant ‘to toot their own horns’, so to speak, but collectively the group easily identified each other’s talents and gifts and what could be offered in the timebank,” (Anglicare’s Sarah Marris on the wonderful Parish of Palmwoods op shop volunteers, pictured here brainstorming in 2024)
What are the primary strengths of the Church and what is the best way to make the most of these for the benefit of our communities?
One of the strengths I see of the Church is its ability to be a connector of people from all walks of life. I truly believe that every single person has something of value to teach one another and at the core of this connection is the building of relationships. The Church offers a place where we can build meaningful relationships, both inside the Church and in the wider community.
What person of faith inspires you the most and why?
Since starting in my Anglicare role, I have met The Rev’d Sue Grimmett from Indooroopilly and The Rev’d Deb Bird from the Sunshine Coast. I think it’s fantastic that the Anglican Church Southern Queensland ordains women priests — I wasn’t expecting to ever meet women priests. I was struck by how caring, empathetic and strong they both are.
What is the best piece of advice you have ever received and who gave you this advice?
“Everything is figure-out-able,” is advice from my almost 10-year-old daughter. I just love this so much — it reminds me that sometimes as adults, we really do over complicate things.
“One of my favourite photos with my little lesson bearer, Ruby, from a mother-daughter photoshoot we had a few years ago,” (Anglicare’s Sarah Marris)
What is your favourite scripture and why?
“The Lord is near to the broken-hearted, and saves the crushed in spirit” (Psalm 34.18) because for me it reflects that no matter how broken we are, God is always with us.
Why is it important for Christians to work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples towards Reconciliation?
I think you can only have Reconciliation with acknowledgement and true understanding of what has passed, and in some cases, what continues to take place today — acknowledgement of a horrific history that includes land dispossession, violence, massacres and the forcible removal of children from their families, and associated inter-generational trauma. Part of that acknowledgement is owning the role that the Church played in some of these situations. Reconciliation to me, comes back to relationships. Authentic relationships take time. Authentic relationships lend themselves to genuine conversations and actions. And, genuine conversations and actions drive change.
What is something not many people know about you?
I used to be a competitive powerlifter. I really loved it; there are so many lessons to be learnt from being consistent and disciplined with that style of training over a period leading up to comp days!
“Second attempt in my deadlift at a powerlifting comp in 2018,” (Anglicare’s Sarah Marris)
What do you do in your free time to recharge and relax?
I enjoy taking time to be outside in nature, I spend most weekends bushwalking with my daughter. I also love to spend time baking and have been known to partake in a bit of procrasti-baking when stuck at the crossroads of a decision!
What’s your best childhood memory?
My favourite childhood memories are anything Christmas related. I loved how it was just this fun and beautiful time with family, with all these small traditions that felt so simple, but meant the most. Thankfully my daughter loves Christmas, too, and now we get to recreate some of these memories and traditions together.
What did you love most about Easter as a child or teenager?
I grew up in New Zealand. Every year we used go to a bach (pronounced “batch” — what Kiwis call a holiday house) near Hot Water Beach on the North Island. We would dig holes in the sand and sit in the hot water. There were rabbits everywhere near Hot Water Beach and as kids we used to think that they were the bunnies that delivered our chocolate eggs, so we left lots of carrots out for them on Easter Eve. I’m taking my daughter to Hot Water Beach in May, so she can experience the natural hot springs in the sand and see the bunnies.
Anglicare’s Sarah Marris and daughter Ruby hanging out with Santa in 2023
What makes you nostalgic and why?
Thinking about my daughter growing up makes me nostalgic! All of her “firsts” were also my “firsts” and “lasts” as a mother. She is my greatest lesson and my best teacher.
What is your secret skill?
I’m not sure it’s really a secret skill, but I am very good at reading people and situations.
“Out in community, doing what I love most — facilitating workshops and connecting with people, “(Anglicare’s Sarah Marris in 2024)
If you could only eat one thing for the rest of your life, what would that be?
Lasagne — I am basically Garfield in human form!
What are you most looking forward to this Easter?
This week I’m baking Easter goodies for my Anglicare team and I’m boarding a new Guide Dog puppy that is in training.
Anglicare’s Sarah Marris boards Guide Dog puppies that are in training
What item should you throw out, but can’t bear to part with?
I have my nana’s old button collection, which is completely useless, but I just love it. There are so many random sizes, shapes and colours — it fascinates me as to where they all came from. Some have stories. I can remember sitting on the edge of Nana’s armchair as a child while she showed me the collection and reminisced about where a particular button was from.
Editor’s note: Time2Connect is a wonderful social connection project, led by Anglicare working alongside parishes and other community groups to complement existing programs and further strengthen connections between everyday people, doing everyday things. More information for priests, schools and ministry leaders can be found under the FAQ section on the Time2Connect website or you can email Sarah Marris directly at smarris@anglicaresq.org.au
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