Home again…still learning from being away…

13 Jan Home again…still learning from being away…

13 January 2026

I mentioned Sunday that over the course of this year you’re likely to hear stories from the CMS (Church Missionary Society) Summer School that the Guilfoyles & Lieschkes were privileged to attend. It was a privilege in every sense; even the climb from the bus stop way up to the Auditorium where we were packed in cheek by jowl with 4000 other attendees. We heard some great teaching from Dan Wu on the book of Proverbs & Derek Brotherson on parts of Luke’s gospel. We met & heard stories from missionaries from every corner of the planet. I got to hear from the woman Living Water supports. We prayed with & for their ministries & their safety. I shook hands with & had a pleasant but brief conversation with the Archbishop of the Anglican Church in Sydney, Kanishka Raffel. It’s been a long time since I was anywhere near a Bishop of any sort that I really wanted to hang out with. He’s a real leader among saints!

More than anything…I was encouraged to see the church doing what I reckon we ought to be doing. Listening to God’s Word for the mandate to take that word & the promise of life in Christ to an unbelieving world…wherever we are in that world. Most often that means among our own friends & family. One thing the Archbishop said that really floored me…remember we’re at a conference dedicated to global mission & he reminded us that there are dozens of suburbs all around us that are as cross-cultural as any foreign country. He’s right! There are hundreds of non-native-English speakers in our schools & neighbourhoods right here in Wagga. Dozens of non-English languages are spoken in homes, businesses, & schools all around us & a vast majority of those speakers have not heard clearly the saving message of Christ. But you & I know we sat around our Christmas lunches with many not-yet-Christians who we call our children, grandchildren, cousins…and so on.

If I left Katoomba any wiser, it’s that my dedication to equipping you to reach the unreached people you know is even stronger. We’re going to figure out how to speak the language the next generations speak so they hear Jesus calling them home to his love & the Father’s embrace. It’s going to be a good year together…our 13^th!

Now…this week:

1. Sunday 18^th January – Morning Tea!!! and we continue asking “Where’s Jesus…at the Party?” When people gather, where does Jesus stand among the crowd? With whom does Jesus choose to eat & drink & celebrate?
2. The table in the Hall is filled with Bible reading resources for you for the year & the CMS Prayer Diaries for you to use to support Christ’s work around the world.
3. Speaking of prayers…Saturday 31^st January – Living Water Fellowship Prayer Morning @ our house, 7 Gidgee Place – 10:00 – 11:00 a.m.
4. Advanced Notice:
   1. Ash Wednesday Worship – 18^th February @ 7:00 p.m.
   1. Maundy Thursday – 2^nd April @ 7:00 p.m.
   1. Good Friday – 3^rd April @ 9:00 a.m.
   1. Easter Sunday – 5^th April @ 10:00 a.m.
5. A reminder…We are operating still at a bare bones budget having made some decisions to reduce our staff hours this year. All I can say is keep being faithful in your giving & consider even greater generosity in response to all we’ve been given in Christ.

God bless you in the week & year ahead!

John