Happy New Year

Our friend Geroge became an Aussie on Australia Day

On Australia Day we realized that this was the second time we had been to the Town Beach breakfast celebrations. We have been in Broome for a year! We are almost locals now, only another 29 years to go. While we have been on a huge learning curve in Lachlan’s first year of full time ministry & it has been very enjoyable. Praise God.

We have had a great school holiday over December - January. The kids broke up on the 8th of December and only returned to School on Jan 31. A long hot holiday. The lead up to Christmas was characteristically busy, however, it was worth it. Lachlan and Tim Mildenhall (our senior minister) were involved in the Combined Churches Christmas Carols - an event that usually draws 2-3,000 people to one of the local beach areas. Not this year. The night before the big event a big storm lashed the stage area and destroyed the set and the sound system. So at the eleventh hour the carols were moved indoors to the Broome Christian Fellowship’s Church. Over 600 people came with many enjoying the concert via a video screen out on the lawn. It was a great night.

Our own Christmas services were less dramatic. The kids performed a nativity play at church in the last week of school. They had a ball and did a great job. We held 3 services at Broome Anglican Church (BAC) for Christmas. 2 on Christmas Eve - a family service and a traditional carols and readings, and then a service on Christmas morning. It was lovely to see many new families come to visit & celebrate the birth of Christ together.

We enjoyed an “orphans” Christmas lunch with our friends the Taylors, the Devereux-Philips and the Petticrews at the Taylor's house. The kids were able to bring out the new Slip and Slide. A great way to spend a steamy hot afternoon. Thankfully the huge rains cool us down a bit.

January sees a change around town. With the heat and humidity people tend to slow down and relax a bit. Many take the opportunity to be elsewhere. The Mildenhalls took a well earned break for the month and Lachlan was able to spend a bit more time meeting with people over a coffee. We also took the opportunity to meet for meals at the beach as often as possible. The kids also enjoyed AUSWIM lessons at the pool. We booked in for 18 days of lessons over 4 weeks. A great excuse for Bec and the kids to swim everyday. Tim is now in level 9 and Emily in level 6.

It is also the time of the year when work contracts are renewed and we are reminded that we live in a very transient population. During December - January we said farewell to 7 of our church families. This has left a big gap. However, we have been encouraged by the locals to remember that God provides and we have already said hello to a couple of new families that have just arrived.

January saw the Church launch into a new sermon series on John. Lachlan has enjoyed being able to prepare sermons on John, however, he will hand over the preaching reins to Tim this Sunday as he takes on a new role for 2007. This year he will focus on children and youth. He will still be doing some preaching and will also be responsible for the 5pm service over the dry season. Lachlan also has a new role in the Diocese as the liaison for Professional Standards. This with training, deputations & other conferences will mean that he will be traveling quite a bit over the next 12 months. We are also looking forward to traveling down the Canning Stock Route in September.

2007 will be BAC’s year of training & equipping which will include using testimonies for outreach; so that we can always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks the reason for the hope that we have (1 Peter 3:15).

Bec has also taken on some new challenges this year. She has been accepted as a distance student at Mooring College to complete her Graduate Diploma in Divinity. Bec is also considering some paid part-time work. We will have to wait and see. This all means that she won’t be able to be as involved with ministries at BAC this year. However, Wednesday morning bible study with the girls, Thursday night bible study with Lach and friends, GLAM (the women’s dinner held each month) & acting as the BAC building and property consultant will definitely be indispensable parts of her schedule..

GLAM Christmas Dinner

Points of Praise

- For the relaxing, even if hot wet season and the isolated showers that bring relief.
- For the growth in our congregations relationship with God (Ephesians 1:17-23).
- For the continued encouragement and support we get from all of you. Thank you for your Christmas correspondence and keeping connected.
- That God has sustained us in our 1st year in full time ministry.

Parishoners picnic at the point

For your prayers

- That new people in our church will feel welcomed and at home.
- For outreach into the community. That we would be outward looking.
- For effective outreach into the aboriginal communities
- For continued and new financial support for the church and both ministers.

Thank you for your continued support,

God Bless