Hymn sing-a-long strikes right note

The Hymn Morning at St George’s Bluff Point is a highlight for older folk who live in local residential aged care.

Lay Assistant Minister Kate Gibson said they love the outing to the church once a term to sing familiar hymns, meet old friends and praise God. The morning features 10 hymns, a gospel message and a prayer.

Kate started the initiative because of her own love for hymns that was nurtured as a child. Having worked as a chaplain in aged care facilities, she has also seen the joyful impact on the residents of singing hymns from their childhood or younger years.
 
“Hymns hold so much scripture and they’re not scared to talk about the lows in the Christian life, which they address by pointing to Christ’s love.”

Pray walk brings hope

North West Anglicans are bringing prayer to the streets of Kununurra each Saturday night.

A small group of Christians, including St James Kununurra member Darcy de Vries, walk the town centre offering prayers and sharing the hope of Jesus with locals.

Darcy was eager to be involved. “I could see a massive need in the community for this and it was a simple thing really to put aside a few hours once a week."

Most people they approach are Aboriginal and are happy to be prayed for. 

“Oftentimes, after praying, we then ask them about their knowledge of prayer and the Christian faith and this leads to us explaining the gospel.

“Sometimes we have a 20 or 30 minute discussion that includes general questions about the Bible, what it means to be a Christian, and how to live as a Christian.”

"i trust that God will use every conversation we have in some way."

Food gifts for clergy

The Christmas Appeal for our link diocese in Karamoja, Uganda, raised more than $10,000 to support the gospel and clergy families in this poor region. 

Recently, all the clergy and lay readers each received a box of rice, sugar and soap to help survive in the aftermath of the drought. Karamoja Bishop Michael Chorey said the Diocese purchased these essential items using funds received in 2024.   

Bishop Michael said he was grateful he was also able to buy fuel to distribute the parcels and encourage clergy with a pastoral visit. 

We thank God for supporters of Karamoja who help enable the Diocese of Karamoja to guard the gospel and oversee faithful ministry throughout the region.  

Raising up Aborignal leaders

Training leaders

Rev Chris Webb travels the Kimberley helping to train Aboriginal Christian leaders.

Broome People’s Church is helping equip Christian leaders in remote Aboriginal communities in the Kimberley.

Rev Chris Webb, a CMS worker based at Broome, was recently invited by a local elder to visit Yakanarrra, near Fitzroy Crossing, and run Bible teaching and leadership training.

The initiative is a partnership with the Kimberley Christian Fellowship which runs an annual weekend training workshop in each of four communities, including at Noonkanbah, Yiyili and Wangkatjungka.

Overall, the aim is for people to attend all four workshops as an integrated training program. However, distance and cultural commitments make this difficult so Chris delivers stand-alone foundational training to those who come along.

At Yakanarra, Chris and pastor Jamie Short from Kununurra People’s Church led a small group study of Titus 1, looking at the aim of ministry and qualities of a leader.

“We also want to support the local Christians to share the gospel with their community, so we had a BBQ evening and church service that were open to all,” Chris said.

Christians in each community are keen for others to hear the gospel and want to have a church set up. However, they face many challenges, including isolation and a population that moves around a lot.  

“In most of the places, opportunities for face-to-face Christian encouragement are few and far between and we are yet to see a strong church take root and grow.

“But, the men who are coming to the training weekends, have grown in maturity and understanding of what being a Christian is all about and under God we trust that spiritual growth is happening.

“Our prayer for them is that they will be able to begin small but regular gathering of Christians – that they would feel confident and take the initiative to start a Bible study, prayer meeting or a sing along.”

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

Cart (0)