As Christmas approached there was great excitement in Mallacoota about their Angel Project. It’s strange how society has clung to a belief in angels when they have turned away from nearly everything else to do with God. But as we all know angels were at the forefront of announcing the good news of the birth of Jesus and also had a hand in preparing the way and protecting his family. So it was thought that it would be good to allow angels to prepare the way for Jesus again in the school scripture lessons. We were pleased that the school allowed all the primary school aged children to take part in the “colour an angel” competition. The winning entries were painted onto wooden angels about a metre high and placed on the grounds around church at the Candlelit Carol Service. All other entries were displayed in church. A number of children, who don’t normally take part in Religious Education, also entered. The standard of the entries was incredibly high and, as usual, judging the winners was really difficult. Others in the community got behind us especially the Men’s Shed who provided seven templates well over a metre tall to be painted with the winning designs. The theme of angels pointing beyond themselves to the Lord and longing to look into the grace we can receive and share became a theme for some Carol Services. For a number of days before and after Christmas the angels decorated the church grounds – a sign to people walking by that things are on the move. It has also opened up some discussions within the town.

Our Carols by Candlelight Services were very different to the previous year. It had been raining most of the day and was extremely cold in Cann River so we only had a small group there. In Mallacoota the numbers stayed up at somewhere between 80-100 and it was very windy, as can happen there. We had planned to involve some of the very young children from the school in lighting everybody’s candle but this proved impossible. One slightly older lad from the school came to Graham and suggested that the next song should be ‘Candle in the Wind’ which at least demonstrates that good humour continued through the event! Members of the community choir also sang. So there is a sense in which the barriers between church and the town which we have often spoken of are beginning to crumble.

The biggest encouragement was in Mallacoota on Christmas morning where the building was full with over 70 people, double the number of the year before. Whilst a number were visitors, who we love to bless, there were at least seven locals in church for the first time. It was a great morning of real celebration and we now have some contacts to follow up.

Mallacoota, itself, was bulging at the edges. The Camp Park was fully booked with people everywhere. The size of the town swelled from about 960 to 10,000 in just a couple of days. The bushfires the previous year kept many people away, although we were not directly affected by them, so this January gave the town a real boost. The work of Scripture Union Families Mission got underway as did Theos working with youth and people in their twenties.

We held some activities for visitors over the weekend of 11-14th January. Please pray that the increasing outward focus of the church here will continue, that growth will be sustained and that people will come to know the Lord Jesus Christ or grow significantly in their relationship with him. Pray that our small congregation will be encouraged to get involved and will be blessed by stepping out of their comfort zones to help share the gospel message.

Graham and June Knott

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