Last week Dave and I had the opportunity to join a thousand other ministers at the Reach Australia conference. It is a conference aimed at helping and encouraging each other to keep first things first: the gospel. It was a great opportunity to reflect on our countrys great need for Jesus and how churches like ours are essential to meeting this need.

The week consisted of sitting under good bible teaching, looking at how we might organise ourselves and churches to be more effective at reaching the lost, and hearing how the gospel is bearing fruit in many churches across our country.

Something encouraging that I came away with was a reminder that God works through his church. What gives our ministries the power to bring new life and transformation into the lives of people is the God who is at work to fulfill his mission. God uses his word and his people to make and grow disciples. Jesus is building his kingdom today.

One of the talks given reflected on 1 Corinthians 15:58.

 Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labour in the Lord is not in vain.

Because we know where all things are heading, because we know Jesus is building his church, and because we know that what we do has eternal significance, we can give ourselves fully to the work of the Lord in confidence that what we give is not meaningless or wasted.

As I reflect on these things, I am so thankful to be part of a church filled with gospel centred ministry across many ages and demographics of our parish. But I also see the many thousands amongst us that need forgiveness that only Jesus can give. And we have the words of life where forgiveness is found.

Lets keep first things first, and labour in the Lord together.  

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality. Romans 12:12-13

To those who gave birth this year to their first childwe celebrate with you
To those who lost a child this year we mourn with you
To those who are in the trenches with little ones every day and wear the badge of food stains we appreciate you
To those who experienced loss through miscarriage, failed adoptions, or running awaywe mourn with you
To those who walk the hard path of infertility, fraught with pokes, prods, tears, and disappointment we walk with you. Forgive us when we say foolish things. We dont mean to make this harder than it is.
To those who are foster moms, mentor moms, and spiritual moms we need you
To those who have warm and close relationships with your children we celebrate with you
To those who have disappointment, heart ache, and distance with your children we sit with you
To those who lost their mothers this year we grieve with you
To those who experienced abuse at the hands of your own mother we acknowledge your experience
To those who lived through driving tests, medical tests, and the overall testing of motherhood we are better for having you in our midst
To those who will have emptier nests in the upcoming year we grieve and rejoice with you
And to those who are pregnant with new life, both expected and surprising we anticipate with you
This Mothers Day, we walk with you. Mothering is not for the faint of heart and we have real warriors in our midst. 

We remember you.

Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Romans 12:15

I am really looking forward to Anglicare Sunday this week.  Anglicare are an amazing organisation that partner with us in caring for those who are doing it a bit tough.  They partner with us in 2 ways:

1. They resource us to care for people in our community.

        a. Through expert advice

        b. Training

        c. Practical resources as needed

2.  They share the love of Christ at a professional  level with well trained people.  This is something we could not do without being taken from the gospel work at hand.  They do this through:

        a. Aged care facilities and provisions

        b. Advocacy work look up their website and read some of the research they have done in affordable housing and the impact it has particularly on older women.

        c. Counselling

I love how Anglicare desire to work in partnership with our church and we can only be better for it as share the love of Christ together. 

This Sunday Rev Michael Aitken (partnership development officer for the Northern Region) will be speaking from Isaiah 58:1-14 looking at how our care is, More than Food, but life to the full.

We also have the privilege of having Stephen Kuo (partnership development officer for the Western Region) who will speak to us more on the opportunities we have in our partnership with Anglicare.  I hope you can join us for what will be a very encouraging Sunday.

About 2000 youth and leaders from across NSW and beyond.

1000m elevation in Katoomba.

19 youth from our youth group, WAY.

15 degree days (and much cooler nights!)

11 fantastic volunteers that helped setup and cater. (Thanks Campions, Wellington's and Bates')

5 leaders caring for our youth.

5 young people from WAY who committed or recommitted their lives to following Jesus.

1 great God that moves hearts.

See attachment below for pictures of our great weekend at KYCK23 where we got to Meet Jesus in Mark's gospel.

We are looking forward to our Easter weekend very much.  Thanks to all those who have done a letter box drop and all the work on social media, we have used Easter well to raise awareness. 

Good Friday combined service

Our 9am Good Friday service is a service with a difference.  We want everyone to be involved in the service.  We are aiming to be inclusive of all who come along, including children or new people with us.

We are asking the question, Whats good about Good Friday. 

Easter Sunday services

Easter Sunday will be our normal service times with both services sharing the Lords Supper.  The 10am will have the normal childrens program and this too should be a great time to invite people who are out of the habit of coming to church.

Please join me in praying that God might use this Easter for His glory in the lives of many.