JOCELYN ROSS OAM
It is Conference time in the Diocese of North West Australia! There was the Pilbara Women’s Conference held in Karratha on 19 August at Karratha. Then the CMS Dinner at Bluff Point Anglican Church in August. Followed by Amplify (Geraldton Anglican Churches Youth Group) who had a great Saturday with Ed Surrey from CRU West as speaker. Then the Mayor’s Breakfast with West Coast Eagles Premiership player Mark Seaby as speaker. In September is the Geraldton Women’s Conference with Amy Stopher’s studies in Ephesians “Walk in the Way of Love”. This is being held at the Bluff Point Anglican Church whose refurbished hall is a great venue! Following is the Men’s Conference a week later.
Our bi-annual clergy family conference comes up in the first week of the school holidays, with funding from Mothers Union Australia and a generous anonymous donor. Always an invaluable time of re-union with the Kimberley, Pilbara and Midwest families, especially the wives and children who love the time together; the wives sharing their lives with like-minded women, and children relating together as clergy children.
Bishop Darrell and Elizabeth ‘popped’ up to Carnarvon recently to take a communion service and have time with the very faithful congregation. He is seen here with warden Jim Williams, and below the Parish Council, then Elizabeth is seen with some of the ladies.
Teenagers were encouraged to meet Jesus during a recent Pilbara Outback Adventure Camp hosted at Exmouth Anglican Church. The Scripture Union camp was the brain-child of former long-term Pilbara residents, Graeme and Sandy White from St Matthew’s, Port Hedland, who could see a real need for North West Young people to have an opportunity to hear the gospel. A busload of young people came from Hedland and Karratha. The camp focused on meeting
Jesus in St Mark’s Gospel with Bus-Church, scripture devotions, and small group studies. There was plenty of time for snorkelling, swimming, hiking, bonfires on the beach, and lots of good food and conversations.
Port Hedland Seafarers’ Chaplain, Garry Hamersley, said seafarers love to receive a hand-knitted beanie when they visit the Centre. “It’s a very practical way to show that we care for them, as well as sharing the hope of eternal life through Jesus”, he said. If you are a beanie knitter and would love to send us beanies for the Seafarers Centres we can work out a way to get them delivered up north!!
FAITH: Forsaking All I Trust Him
Courtesy of Messenger, September 2023, published by the Anglican Church Diocese of Perth