Easter in Dongara
Fesh Start at Easter
New Dongara Rector David Thompson published his first message to residents in the ‘Local Rag’ about a fresh start with God through Jesus at Easter.
How good is a fresh start? This year has been a year of new beginnings for myself and my family. In January we moved all the way from rural New South Wales to Dongara so I could become the new Pastor of Dongara Anglican Church.
Moving is an exciting time because of all the new things to explore and experience. Everything feels fresh (like a swim at the beach on a lovely Dongara morning). Yet, moving is also tiring and stressful. The feeling of a fresh start is often only momentary and quickly fades.
Wouldn’t it be amazing if we could experience a lasting fresh start in our lives? It would be great if we could start over and be confident that our future wouldn’t be affected by our past pains, mistakes, failures and regrets. Such a fresh start would surely bring a life filled with freedom, joy and hopefulness. Can you imagine this life, this fresh start?
At Easter time we celebrate Jesus’ death on the cross and his miraculous resurrection. At its heart, the message of Easter is the offer of a fresh start with God. The cross means our past, however messy, can be forgiven, and Jesus’ resurrection secures our future. It is Jesus who says “I am the resurrection and the life”. This means that we can have true hope for the future. The Bible describes this future as one where every tear will be wiped away, where there will be no more death, mourning, crying or pain (Revelation 21:4). It’s a future filled with everlasting joy and real satisfaction, far beyond what we could ever imagine! Isn’t that what we all long for?
Have a safe and happy Easter.
Blessings,
David
Miracle baby home
Karratha Anglican Church is praising God for answered prayer. Baby Ollie, was born with his organs growing outside his body and faced an uncertain future. After hospital care in Perth he has returned healthy. Revd Frank Nicol shares the story of the Bent family so we can join with prayer and praise.
Frank writes: In the Parish of the West Pilbara we farewell many people. July last year was one of the saddest farewells. We rejoiced with the Bent family when they announced early 2023 that Jess was pregnant.
We grieved early on in the pregnancy when she announced that the child-to-be was not forming properly in the womb. His organs were growing outside his body.
We prayed, we were hopeful, we farewelled them. The Bents moved to Perth for the birth and subsequent care of their baby. We cried when we heard at birth that his future was uncertain. Things were worse than expected.
We prayed, and in time we praised God for his graciousness to the Bents and to little Oliver.
Ollie, as we know him, spent 6 weeks in hospital, most of those in intensive care. God worked miraculously and through the hands of the many staff at Perth Children's Hospital. Ollie left hospital.
We don't get to welcome too many people back to church but in January this year we welcomed the Bents back. We still all tear up as we retell the story but we praise God for how he has worked and we'd love you to be praising God with us.
Shining light in the darkness
St James Kununurra is supporting the Kununurra Peoples Church to reach Aboriginal children with the hope of Jesus.
Each Thursday up to 50 children aged 5 to 14 come to Bethel Bible Study, where they enjoy a simple meal followed by Bible study and games.
St James member Jenni De Vries said the weekly gathering shines a light in the darkness for the children, most of whom are not connected to any church. “We pray, sing songs, watch an episode of Superbook and have a short talk.
“The program is only meant to be for primary school kids but some of the older ones have wanted to keep coming! Year 7 and above now have a separate activity with a Bible study and discussion with a couple of leaders."
Jenni said the leaders are considering a more structured discipleship and worldview training group for the older students. "It will require a lot of prayer and planning and we are still seeking God’s direction about this."
Please pray for Bethel Bible Study.
Pipeline for leadership
Nathan Hiscock and Lachlan Edwards
Geraldton student Nathan Hiscock has been appointed the first Ministry Apprentice in the North West Anglican Church, in a major push to raise up homegrown gospel workers.
The position is part of the new 3-stage Ministry Training Pipeline which includes theological studies and a stint as a curate before graduating to lead a church.
Dean of Geraldton, Lachlan Edwards, said Nathan will serve God at the Cathedral for two years discerning his suitability for long-term ministry.
“One of the biggest challenges to ministry here is attracting gospel workers to locations that are isolated, far from family, with extreme weather conditions and highly transient populations,” he said.
“Through the pipeline, we aim to raise up able, godly, and trained workers from our own backyard who are familiar with the particular demands of ministry in our region. We pray that this means they will stay long-term.
“We thank God for Nathan – a faithful, humble, teachable young man who yearns for more people to know Jesus and grow in their relationship with God.”
Nathan’s role will include leading music ministry and playing the organ, co-leading a weekly Bible study with Lachlan, service leadership, pastoral visits as well as opportunities to preach.
First ministry apprentice
The first Ministry Apprentice appointed in the North West is a 26 year-old organist who describes himself as 'gap filler'.
Nathan Hiscock volunteered last year to learn the organ to fill the gap left by the retirement of Geraldton Cathedral organist Marjorie Smith after 40 years. For Nathan, it was the third time he'd picked up an instrument to ensure the Cathedral had a music team. The organ and choir play a key role in the traditional 8am weekly Sunday service.
"I know it's pretty unusual for a young person to play the organ but I appreciate the hymns.
“They are a form of serving God and talking about him. I see a benefit of my playing is to prolong the life of hymns in our church.”
Nathan’s willingness to serve the body of believers prompted the Cathedral Dean Lachlan Edwards to encourage him to begin a ministry apprenticeship and consider full-time ministry.
Nathan said: “It breaks my heart when I see people getting confused about things or misjudging God’s character or deeds.”
“I want to serve and love people and the best way to help them is to help them grow in their knowledge and love of God.
“I genuinely believe that the Bible is sufficient for people to come to salvation through faith in Jesus.”
He explained that the two year apprenticeship will help discern his suitability for full-time gospel ministry.
“We will look at character, conviction and competency. Is my character fit to serve? Is my conviction in God well placed? And finally, am I competent? Am I skilled or capable of developing what is required for ministry?
“These two years are sort of a test run. I get experience and I see what it’s like on the job.”
Nathan started with a bang when he and Lachlan attended the January Ministry Training Strategy (MTS) national training event, CMS Summer School in Katoomba and deputised at churches.
“A highlight was having a session in Sydney with St Andrew’s Cathedral Music Director and organist Ross Cobb. I picked up a few ideas to improve my organ playing and also about ministry in general.”
youth discipleship
North West churches have developed a unique model of discipleship to ensure young people in outback churches mature in their faith despite isolation.
Geraldton Cathedral’s assistant minister Mike Welham meets regularly one to one with teens in Year 12 to help prepare them to launch into life elsewhere.
Four young men are serving in church in new places following Mike’s discipleship.
“Meeting one to one creates a unique opportunity to talk on a much deeper level and to give intentional encouragement,” he said.
“By this I mean, helping them prepare to move onto the next phase of their life and stand strong in the Lord apart from their parents’ influence.”
They look at the Bible’s blueprint for relationships and for those heading to the city, Mike helps link them to a church and Christian groups at university.
Darcy de Vries (19 years) appreciated the sacrifice Mike made to commit to regular catch-ups before he moved to Kununurra in 2022. Motivated by the desire for Kununurra teens to have the same opportunity that he had enjoyed, Darcy started a youth bible study at his new Anglican Church.
“Since Year 7, I had had a bible study to go to with Cathedral youth and I really valued it.
“It’s helpful to meet in a group, to hear other people’s views and learn from others.”
Darcy is now discipled by an older brother in Christ who meets regularly with him over coffee to read the bible together, discuss life and pray.
“It’s encouraging to have someone else I can go to for advice, someone who cares enough about me to make time available,” he said.
Luke Harris (18 years) met weekly with Mike before moving to Perth. He is doing a cadetship at CRU West, which runs camps and bible studies for young people to consider the claims of Christ.
Luke said he was nervous about moving to Perth but Mike helped him think through issues, especially to prioritise his relationship with Jesus and to keep up bible reading and prayer.
Talk about ageing
Hospital chaplain Jeremy Rice
Hospital Chaplain Jeremy Rice urges young and old alike to talk more about ‘ageing’ to help people embrace the enormous challenges that come with this stage of life.
“It’s not all bleak in old age. There are special times, family times, pleasures, memories and things we can keep enjoying.
“But it’s hard for the younger generation to understand the enormity of the journey the elderly face – the most challenging stage of all.
“Thinking about it, talking about it can help younger people to understand a bit what it’s like. And it helps older people to understand more about themselves.”
Jeremy has visited the sick, dying, grief stricken and those who care for them, in hospitals, aged care facilities and in their homes for the past 10 years.
He is compelled by 1 Peter 3:15: Always be ready to give an account to anyone who asks you about the reason for the hope that you have in Jesus, and do so with gentleness and respect.
“I meet and talk with a lot of older people and their family and carers.
“It’s heartbreaking at times. There are people struggling with loss of independence, falls, a catalogue of medical conditions and pain; people living alone, or worried about not being able to live at home.
“There are families worried about elderly parents or grandparents; carers becoming exhausted; loved ones making decisions about nursing homes.”
Jeremy says old age has been touted as the golden age, but it’s not the golden age for everyone.
“It’s also been said that ageing takes courage. To preside over the disintegration of your own body, or to watch the same process taking place in a loved one, requires a kind of heroism.”
One development that Jeremy has observed and regrets, is what he calls the medicalisation of ageing. “One of the most dreaded diagnoses is Alzheimer’s. In a previous era, we might have become old, slower and forgetful. However, now we are more likely to be defined by a checklist of things we can’t do.
“Medical research is important, but so is learning more about holistic approaches to ageing and Alzheimer’s and seeing it as part of what it means to be human – an ageing human.”
Jeremy says that, while old age and dementia in particular can seem as life-minus, relationships remain the meaning of life.
“One thing I’ve noticed several times is that, though a person may be in a world of pain and difficulty, if they reach out graciously to others, with a word of care and interest, it can somehow bring them healing and blessing. They blossom.
“I think that is the way God wired us. It is in giving that we receive.
“Relationships are the meaning of life and the ultimate is relationship with our Creator God. We fall short of his righteousness so he sent his Son. Jesus came and died in our place and rose again.
“If we trust in Him we are forgiven, adopted and He will never let us go.”