We had a great carols night last night.
The weather was beautiful, the band and choir sounded great, the sound was good, the bouncy castle bounced, and the sausages sizzled.

We had over 500 people there, which considering we had very minimal advertising, was a great turnout. They all seemed to have a great time, relaxing, singing and being a community together.

You cannot put on such an event without a group of people around you and resources to make it happen. You cannot impact the community, and bring people together, without a lot of help. A motivated Christian Community who care about the wider community, and sharing the message of Christ with them.

I shared minimally, but the message was in the songs, the love shown, the care given, and the effort taken, with no financial reward in mind.

I must also thank profusely Pastor Craig Lydon from Beaumaris Baptist Church who came along and did the sound for us. We have done it ourselves in the past, but this year Craig came along and did an excellent job.

It feels to me like our continued visible presence in the community will have lasting effects. It is a spiritually enriching experience to stop and reflect on what happened.

You are all welcome, come say hello….

awesome…cannot wait. Read the books when I was 11, cant wait to see the movie!

Love joy peace at Christmas time……..
I am just printing off 300 brochures for our Carols this Friday, after ringing around organing bouncy castles, sausages, buns, sauce and helpers for the same event.

I also am helping organise the sound gear, stage and lighting.

As well as Carols we are having special dinners, break ups and 2 Christmas Services this year.

To say there is a lot on for Pastors at Christmas time is an understatement. But we need to find time to reflect. The one message I am exhorting others too this Christmas is to stop and reflect on Jesus and the amazing story of His intersection with humanity and the story of this world. How can I do this myself amongst the business that a Pastor finds himself in? I must.

Other pastors and busy too, everyone I talk to is stressed out, flat and fatigued. My own team is really pushing themselves at the moment, pushing hard.
My prayer is that in the midst of the business, we will find Christ’s story once again reverberating within us, bringing a sense of hope, peace and joy into our lives,

I was at this game, with my Eagle supporting brother in law….what a day, what a goal by Hase…what coolness from Peter Bell…..what a magnificent feeling as the home team got the win by a whisker…..

I joined this a few weeks back, but Phil Bakers post reminded me of it, that and the sticker I just got in the mail.

Here is their blurb,
“The Junky Car Club is a car club whose members are learning to live with less so we can give more. We’re a bunch of happy drivers that are politely rebelling against consumerism by driving junky cars. We encourage our members to use their dough to support social justice causes instead of making fat car payments. Junky Car Club members sponsor kids who live in poverty through Compassion International and help other great organizations. We believe in environmental stewardship and hangin onto things a little longer. Click on the banner below to join! “

If, like me, your car is a little junky, and you support a sponsor child, you can become an “Elite Lemon Membership”.
I have just submitted my photo, so it should be up there soon!

www.junkycarclub.com

Great day in church today, I have started our new series…and took on the role of prosecutor and defence lawyer asking the question, does God exist. Got a lot of positive response..which is great.

Have you ever tried “Pana da Casa’ bread? Its great, chewy, and yeasty. I have just about finished my Fiori coffee…just opened my new Five Senses PNG blend….smells great.