Dear friends, wherever in the world you are, away from you, we miss you...we often talk about you, we pray for many of you almost every day, and others as the Holy Spirit prompts one way or another ... through good old Facebook, just thinking of you,or some other stimulus! We are so aware of the importance of true friends, the sort you just pick up with when you see one another, as if you have never been separated by distance or circumstances or time. We've experienced that a little this year, as we so enjoyed having different ones visit for a week,a couple of days or an afternoon or evening, but HOW we soaked up the joy of being together.

Friendship shows us something so wonderful of the love of God. Who is our dearest Friend? Abba, Jesus, Holy Spirit,God Who is Love, from Whom all our loving relationships flow, because of the way we are made. Thankyou beautiful God for Your friendship, and all these wonderful people who reflect you to us...

To round off on the subject of friendship, we are so sorry we are not better at more regularly keeping in touch. We just don't seem able to do much better at the moment, even with all the wonders of the web, Facebook etc. and we won't begin to make excuses. Thankyou for loving us despite our tardiness ...

This year has been very full, on the work and calling front,here in Battery Point and in the Midlands, with beloved local family and friends,with buying, moving, and working on THE HOUSE, with choral music at St George's, and in the Tasmanian Chorale! One of the joys recently in the Midlands part of our life has been our Alpha course, such good stimulus to really share with others (a very small group) about our Lord Jesus and the Gospel, and to see the Holy Spirit stirring us up in questions, understanding and experience. Shoots of new life are springing up, and in Battery Point, numerical growth and growth in the fruit of the Spirit are beautifully evident among us as we share in worship and fellowship in all its various forms. We have been, like many in the Body of Christ, caught up in the joys and busyness of carol services and children's nativity plays, and it is a delightful time of reaching out to the community. As we have letter-boxed the area there has been a very warm response, praise God, eg a group of 30 people sang carols walking around the community on Christmas Eve, despite threatening rain ... they were all SO enthusiastic about the experience, and most were not from St George's.!

Roslyn:

You'll all be glad to know I am doing really well healthwise, just a bit creaky in the right leg joints because of bursitis. I haven't given a recital this year,but am playing Bach and Schubert, and at the right time will share with others! I am passionate about choral music, love conducting my own group at St George's, and love singing in and getting to assist occasionally with conducting the Tasmanian Chorale. Thinking about possibilities for next year.

John:

The life of a pastor is rich and full, and in my chaplaincy work with other pastors there is a significant mutual blessing as we share and pray together about personal and ministry issues and finding God's perspective. The parish work (particularly the people interaction part) is life giving for me, the other unavoidable aspects (admin, meetings etc) I am not so good at but we get through, though I think I would not without my assistants Paul and Luke who with their wives contribute so much to the life of the church here. As mentioned above we have moved the house and you can see the story in pictures here. The restoration will be a long term project (nothing will happen quickly on less than one day a week! Though amazing things happen when I am joined by friends from church or Roslyn's brother Ray or my brother David – what a blessing these guys are! I am also enjoying producing cards from some of my photography in time off when not working on the house.

Family:

We are very thankful for the closeness of Ruth, Moz and our gorgeous grand children, (Jessica now 16, and Caleb 13) and the times we share together. Jessica and Moz went to Korea and China on a school trip this year, had a WONDERFUL time. What a great thing for them to share, along with all who participated. Both Jess and Caleb are doing extremely well in study, in dance, (for Jess that is like breathing!) and Caleb is enjoying piano. They are very involved in the life of St Clements Anglican Church, as are Ruth and Moz, who have significant responsibilities in the fellowship. Ruth is continuing her post doc. research at ANU and Sydney universities requiring quite a bit of travel and is also teaching at Tas Uni. Moz is loving teaching at Calvin Christian school (high school level).

Although we miss physical proximity with Catherine and Anthony, we are SO grateful for skpe (especially when it works!!!).We have some lovely chats with Catherine, and are so excited for Catherine, as her musical giftings in the area of composition are flowering, and she is being affirmed by commissions, and performances of her works ... and then there is her composing for films, and her involvement in the whole film production area. You can catch up with Catherine here. So there is LOTS to talk about when we skype.

Anthony continues to be flat out busy with his work as associate professor and head of international relations at Flinders University in Adelaide,and the various extracurricular responsibilities that are part of that position,writing articles on various aspects of human rights, conferences,meetings, but his love of music does provide a balance, and he participates in at least one of Adelaide's choirs! We miss him, and we won't see him or Catherine this Christmas...so praise be for skype!!!

As we flick through our diaries, (John's of course is on his mobile phone,along with so much information!!!) the impact of the speed of time passing is almost scary...Events that seem to be recent,turn out to be months ago, some I thought happened this year were actually last year...extraordinary!”Our times are in His Hands”, and we will rest in that.

So whenever we get to see you, it will be soon, one way or another! You each are so dear to us, thankyou for what you mean because of your love and your prayers.

God bless, in the Beloved,

John and Roslyn