Chat rooms for Good News...

There have been a lot of encouraging emails zooming around this week.  Some of these emails are pure celebration, others call us to prayer or activity.Imagine that God is like James Duff. When little Hugh comes down the front, he expects Dad's attention. When Hugh makes something at kids church and runs down and gives it to James, there is shared delight and pleasure. It's not duty, it's delight. I see God responding to what is being shared in this weeks emails this way.The Green Group guys recycled old books last weekend - our rubbish really. They made over $1000 towards a ‘green’ project at St Philips for charity and relocated more books for prison libraries. This is good news. They do it and Dad delights in them.The Parish Council gives of their time to keep the hub of the church healthy. They will be sharing with us soon about some of our needs into the future. At Sunday's meeting they shared some of the remarkable financial milestones we have met together. This achievement - supporting two-and-a-half staff families, giving generously and maintaining our property and representing Christ to our community in ways the community understands - goes right against the trend for small churches. And you did it!It's not blowing our trumpet, its just taking what we have done to Dad and he is delighted. We obviously have much more to do but stop! Just enjoy the delight for a minute.The McKays will be with us again soon. They have been in Africa serving their Dad. He is delighted. Book in for dinner with them on 6th September so we can share in their joy and celebrate reunion with them. Delightful!More email chatter. The Father loves people. He loves the workers and traders who make Cottesloe the village it is. But business is hard and workers are sometimes disaffected and isolated. The Cottesloe Council have given me a grant to bring some good news, to listen and bring people together down there. It's already started. I need a small team, the right team to help be good news. Dad is delighted. Talk to me if you feel prompted to serve.Chatter about serving "the least of the brethren"; men getting together chatter; good news sewing chatter; positive chatter about what discipleship looks like. Chatter amongst young adults about hearing God. Chatter with gathering men and affirming women. Chatter about who is cooking what casserole for whom - the sort of chatter that delights a Dad who loves to listen to the joys and struggles of his children.Do keep chatting your good news.Malcolm