This was my experience attending the Council Chamber and I feel for the Reporter and Editor as they would have had that on 1/2/2024 Regards George Dear Politicians I was glad that I did not go as from this experience I had after allowed to come at the Kiama Council Meeting . And told you can not address the Councillors I was told on 13:12:2023 that it would be Debated on 14/2/2024 But Extraordinary meeting was to be on 1/2/2024Which IS NOW TKO of the advertised motion for DebateBut what a TKO AS it is NOW lost to come by 7to 2 by chairman who May Consider a PETITION in the future and cost more $ to the rate payer ! When ?Sorry for keeping you aware before the Christmas :AUSTRALIA DAY break what the COMMUNITY WAS told will occur !! And answer is in the Bugle 10/2/24If Bugle was not there To report This was to be a TKO By the Councillors who already made up their mind before the Contracts Of DIVERSEMENT were to occur by September 2024 for the NEW Councillor in their term if there is going to be A Kiama Council 2024 to 2027 at the Local Gov Minister of NSW shortly ! By ? 6/52 weeks Regards Dr George Puris  LIFE time member of AMA 

What a wonderful leader in the latest edition of “The Bugle”! Please keep up your fearless reporting, so much of our media is now hobbled by threats of defamation et al it is so good to read an honest and unbiased description of a matter of great community interest. PS. How fortunate for you to have such an exciting meeting to report on in our sleepy little town! Brendon must have thought “Oh yes, thank you”.C Sugar

Having closely followed the proposal by the current Kiama Council to sell the Council owned Blue Haven Bonaira retirement complex I feel it pertinent to make the following observations.Kiama Council has for more than 40 years (prior to 2020)  conducted a very successful retirement  operation known as Blue Haven Aged Care Facility (Nursing Home) and Retirement Village, Terralong Street, with absolute minimum cost to ratepayers.This establishment was the pride of the Community and earned acclaim far and wide. Kiama’s reputation in caring for its community in Community Health and retirement living was such that Emeritus Mayor Sandra McCarthy was invited to speak at various seminars both in Australia and overseas. Over 70% of those who were either living in one of 1 of 5 independent living buildings or  were residents in the nursing home were Kiama Residents.Blue Haven Terralong was managed by key personnel responsible to the Blue Haven Advisory Board which in turn reported to Council. The Board included a number of highly respected local residents.In addition to the above mentioned Council provided a wide range of community services, including Community Transport, Community Nursing, the Community Centre and Community Option advice, all under the same umbrella, making Kiama an ideal place for people to retire.Over the years a Blue Haven Auxiliary (‘Friends of Blue Haven’) worked tirelessly to provide various items for the nursing home not available through other funding channels. This volunteer group, through the Annual Blue Haven Fete and other activities  raised an amount estimated in excess of $200,000 over the years for this purpose.Independent Living establishments, by virtue of the NSW Government Legislation under which they operate and the financial benefit obtained when units are on sold reflecting Real Estate price increases, means the establishment operates in a revenue positive revenue structure.If Council sells Blue Haven Bonaira it should certainly retain Barroul Houseand its curtilage. 15 of 16 speakers at the inquiry to reclassify the land to enable it to be sold spoke against the sale with extremely strong opposition to the sale of Historic Barroul House. The Commonwealth Grant of $1.4m  purpose of restoring Barroul House was explicit in the future use of Barroul House and its curtilage.As taken from a previous letter to Council and the Bugle these included;The Proposal will maximise the public access to Barroul House providing a safe entrance and use, and enhance the community engagement of the project and understanding of Barroul house.The vision for Barroul House precinct is to be arts, cultural and community hub, helping to overcome social isolation in our ageing population and provide opportunities for children and ageing to link together in a community setting.Council will liaise with the Local Wodi Wodi Indigenous people to create a sensory and indigenous garden that tells the story of the local indigenous community in a landscaped and engaging way. It would combine plants, landscaping ie pathways, story boards and opportunities for touch, smell, and taste our Indigenous food.What a wonderful asset this currently is for Kiama.What a pity it is if this is lost.What does the sale of Blue Haven Bonaira really mean.A NSW Government condition included in the sale of the site to Council was that it was to be used for retirement purposes until 2027. This is now only 3 years away! The purchaser of the Blue Haven Bonaira would then be in a position to do as it likes including building several hundred apartments. Council would have no say.What a windfall!Should this occur, Kiama would be left without a nursing home for its predominately ageing residents. Family and friends of those requiring nursing home care would have to travel to Gerringong (if a bed became available) or much further afield to visit their loved ones. 164(?) nursing home beds would be lost in the Illawarra.In summary;Option 1   Council should retain ownership of Blue Haven Bonaira and appoint staff to manage BLUE HAVEN in its entirety.This is currently not a preferred option of Council.Option 2   Council retain ownership of the Independent Living establishment, including Matterson Hall, Barroul House and its curtilage and SELL the Nursing Home to a not for profit registered retirement provider.The issues of access and parking could be accommodated on the Deposited Plan of subdivision.Barroul House ‘coffee shop’ could be leased with a committee appointed to oversee the activities proposed above.This would ensure Council own the major part of the site and would  control the future of the site.Option 2Ensures Council maintains control of the site into the future.Council receives a considerable financial return upfront through the sale of the nursing home and derive a substantial annual income from the remainder.Residents in Independent Living Units at Terralong Street and Bonaira are subject to similar condition, both being in Council ownership. The occupants of Blue Haven Bonaira ILU’s would be comforted knowing their future is secure.       4.    Barroul House and its curtilage meet the purpose of the Government Grant.       5.     Option 2 allays Council’s concerns regarding the management of a nursing home.        6.    Preserves a future Nursing Home facility for Kiama residents in their own town.               7.    Addresses the concerns of the United Services Union re its members employment.I am committed to obtaining the best outcome for Blue Haven Bonaira and I feel the option to retain ownership is the preferred option of the wider community.This is evident by the fact that 15 out of 16 prominent respected individuals spoke strongly against the sale at the inquiry to reclassify the land to enable sale.Noel Edgell, Former 14 year (1987 – 2000) Director of Engineering , Kiama Municipal Council.

It is now 12 years since I came to live in Kiama and to reside in Gainsborough.  One of the joys of living where I do is the generous parks and walkways that make my daily walks so peaceful and enjoyable. That is, until recently. Unmowed grass and flourishing weeds are taking over the parklands through lack of maintenance, making it almost impossible to leave the pathway.  It is not only unsightly but is becoming a hazard should one walk off the beaten track.  On a recent early morning walk I espied a large flock of ducks, not on the Gainsborough Chase grassed area but congregated on the basketball court.  I swear they were debating what to do about their home being turned into a jungle!I understand that Kiama Council is working its way through some financial difficulties that may impact grounds maintenance, however, one only need visit Kiama, just a six minutes’ drive away, to see how discriminatory the Council’s maintenance policy is – picture-book garden beds, manicured lawns, not a rogue blade of grass peeping out anywhere.  This really isn’t good enough. We should not be made to feel second-class citizens, nor should we feel ashamed to take visitors through our once beautiful parklands. I implore Council to review the situation and implement an even-handed approach to the maintenance of all community open spaces.Wendy Macdonald

My biggest concern with Council has been its almost bloody minded unwillingness to engage with the community or to be open and honest about asset sales, monopolistic land ownership, changing height restrictions and scale implications. Many people still remain unaware. The Council built up good will over the years and it wasn’t until post amalgamation that fiscal misrule, and failure to oversee the administration has come home to bite an old guard still present on the Council.We were once a cooperative community, our letters were answered, compromises made and problems resolved! That seems like a long time ago. This is such a shame given the talent and resources within our community. Thank you for doing the responsible and vital job of watching out for our community. We need and have received apolitical local reporting at a high level and we are grateful for it.Many ThanksGail Morgan

Hands down, the GM's response report to Councillor Rice's NoM is the rudest report from a GM at Kiama Council I have ever read. Can you imagine if a Councillor said the GM was “intentionally politically motivated” without any evidence to support that statement? That Councillor (depending who it was of course) would have a Code of Conduct complaint slapped on him/her in a moment. However, it appears the GM can state such a thing without any worries - this says a lot. The GM states the motion is “unlawful” – the report shows that it is only the GM’s opinion as no legal advice is referred to, and allowing the Mayor to make the call transfers the responsibility to him. The NoM has been around since December and it's now February and the current report does not refer to legal advice - interesting, or is something going to be dragged out at the last minute as per usual? The report is a distraction from the issues raised in the Open Letter, ALL of which are substantiated by evidence. The report does not even quote ANY of the issues raised in the Open Letter - it's all very vague and reminds me of previous reports about the reclassification - saying a lot yet saying nothing about the actual issues being raised. And, by virtue of the GM’s accusations of this “political motivation” nonsense, essentially the GM has made it “political” because it effectively encourages people to start reacting “politically” which is what has been happening on Facebook, for example! As such, it would be easy to conclude that the GM is the one that is acting in a “politically motivated” manner rather than anybody else. What a load of nonsense. And, as for all this dumping on the Greens that has been going on: At no time in the history of Greens on Kiama Council have there been more than 2 out of 9 councillors. It is therefore not true to suggest that the Greens by themselves have ever been in a position to dictate policy. In recent times when the Greens may have proposed an alternative direction regarding Blue Haven Bonaira, they have failed in getting enough support to move forward with the proposal. If it happens that a Greens proposal is supported, it is only with the support of three other Councillors and is thus a majority decision of the Council, not just the Greens. Perhaps those posting this sort of criticism can identify a single “Greens” thing that actually progressed past the ideas stage that they find problematic. Details from Council’s meeting minutes would be good proof. And, as for the GM’s consistent statements since the 28 February 2023 Extraordinary Meeting that all Councillors voted "again" to sell Blue Haven Bonaira - that cannot be correct, because: 1. I made enquiries with the CEO as to which point in the resolution of February 2023 indicated that all Councillors voted to sell BH Bonaira “again”. The CEO advised me it was point 2, which stated: “2. Note that the commercial in confidence report substantiates the previous resolution of Council in October 2022 to divest of all aged care assets and operations (residential, aged care, home care, community transport) located on the Blue Haven Bonaira site.” Never in the history of voting at Council meetings, has the word “Note” meant “vote”! And, at the August 2022 Council meeting the CEO confirmed that “Note” was to shift away from “endorse”. This is what was said: Councillor Brown: “My question is, in the Council report ‘we receive and adopt’ whereas in this motion, point 1, we ‘note’. I just want to be clear with the CEO’s advice that because it’s a June statement we don’t have to ‘receive and adopt’ and the word ‘note’ is adequate. I just want to make sure that our motion fulfils whatever statutory requirement…” GM, Jane Stroud: “……So, I am okay if Council does not choose to ‘endorse’ it and instead shifts its wording to ‘note’” How does the GM get away with creating a new meaning for the word "Note" in February 2023, and continue to repeat the creation that “Note” effectively means “vote” or 'endorse'? Because she can, because she did, and nobody is going to do anything about it because there is no accountability in the system. Even other government departments have stated in correspondence that Council resolved to sell again in February 2023, so clearly nobody is paying attention to any actual facts - but some in the community have known that for the last few years.Debra Moore

Sometime ago residential dwellings had to fit into a building envelope which was something like 4.5 metres at the boundary then from there rising at a 45 degree angle to a maximum height of 8 metres. This at least preserved some of the amenity of others having their view blocked by large new dwellings.However any recent walk around our municipality shows many examples of that not now applying. Why? With high land values, amenity is even more important, as is solar access as we will need more solar to charge our growing fleet of E.V.s without burning fossil fuel. Many would agree this is an urgent matter for the above, and other reasons, and I really think Kiama Council needs to supply an explanation ASAP to the Bugle. And this is even before we start on floor space ratios.Bill Jauncey, Gerroa

A shout out to the bloke who for the past two weekends has single handedly mowed (with his own mower) the public park near the kids play equipment at corner Hillview Cct and South Kiama Drive. Legend!

To whom it may concern,It disturbs me to read the anonymous letter in the 28th January edition of The Bugle that takes aim at Kiama Council for 'treating the ocean as a rubbish tip'. Given the amount of rubbish and litter that is left or deposited in bins by locals and visitors to the area, the Council does a remarkable job and needs to be thanked for cleaning up after us. The offenders here are the public who do not dispose of their rubbish as they would in their own home. Keeping our locality clean is as much our responsibility as it is Council's.  By Michael Barbato

To the Editor, The Bugle: This advertising billboard has been anchored opposite the Sebel Hotel since 22 December 2023. It takes up a parking space which should be available for those visiting the hotel or nearby houses, for tradies servicing this area, for emergency crews, for customers at Yves and the Penny Whistler, and for visitors to School Flat and Black Beach—including those who attended the New Year’s Eve fireworks.If every business in Kiama parked its vehicles in public parking areas, their clientele would vanish. The visual blight in question is innocuous enough, but what if such vans were to display liquor or gambling advertisements, or advocacy for Palestinian or Jewish causes, or volatile political positions? After a month at anchor, this anomaly should be declared an abandoned vehicle and towed away, at the owner’s expense. Kiama Council should consider setting time limits on parking along Minnamurra Street, as it has along Terralong, Manning, and Collins Streets. Yours, etc., Bruce Ryan

I took the photograph from my handbag and sat it on my lap as I waited patiently for my turn at the psychic reading. While the others around the table were listening intently to the first reading by Sapphire, the resident psychic, I scanned their faces: a habit I had acquired since I began working with the police. After years of investigation it was now time to wrap up the cold case I had been recently assigned. I already had a plethora of evidence however there was one more step I needed to take in order to secure a definitive conviction. The suspect had to give themselves away. Most of my uniformed colleagues found my methods rather unusual; however I was building up a long list of satisfactory arrests and convictions that many envied. The historic Grand Hotel was the perfect setting for a psychic reading session and it wasn’t the first one I had organised there during the course of an investigation.“Who’s next,” Sapphire announced after abruptly finishing her first reading.I quickly handed her the photograph before anyone else could respond. She ran her hand across the face and held it up for all to see. Then she began:“Ah, a sweet girl with a lot to say from the grave. I see a grisly death. Near water. It seems she wants the truth of it to come out so she can pass over.”I scanned the faces of my suspects sitting unknowingly next to my invitee plants. I was particularly interested in anything revealing from my main suspect Tom Hughes. However, nothing. Yet. I waited patiently.Sapphire looked at the back of the photograph, shut her eyes and continued:“Her name is Sophie.” Addressing the photograph directly she followed with: “Sophie, can you hear me? What do you want us to know? Can you tell us who did it? Who took your life-force away?”With these few words my main suspect Tom Hughes started wriggling in his seat and loosening his collar. His face was beginning to redden. Under the table I could sense his foot tapping on the floor. All signs of rising anxiety. He was also eyeing the exit door.Gotcha! I thought.So, before he had time to make a dash for it, I surreptitiously sent the message with the initials TH to my team. Then, as they stormed into the lounge to arrest him, Sapphire winked at me. She had played her part well . . . once again. I'll definitely use her next time, I thought. It always amazed me how easy it was to lure suspects to a psychic reading session with free tickets they thought they had won. I smiled as they took him away in handcuffs.On the way back to my car I stopped when I heard some of my favorite music coming from the Festival at the Showground in full swing. I smiled and did a little jig.  I've still got it, I mused. The rhythm that is!

Biodiversity loss is what is risked when pristine natural habitats are destroyed. Right now, the Australian government is currently destroying and continuing the planning of destruction of tens of thousands of square kilometres of land and sea that have been designated wildlife habitat and protected sanctuaries for decades. Industrialising the last of our untouched natural environments will not save us from damage created by the industrial revolution. We need to find Earth friendly solutions to our problems. We cannot afford to continue worshipping at the altar of heavy industry and high finance. Our biodiversity and wildlife welfare is threatened by plans to cover tens of thousands of square kilometres with massive monster turbine fields and the required steel, concrete and giant electric cabling and substation infrastructure required to facilitate their domination of Australia's last pristine natural areas of land and sea. The areas under threat add up to the size of many countries, like at least Switzerland or several dozen others! These activities include an outrageous production of CO2 emissions from manufacturing, operations and use of vessels, air and land transport, all of which depend on fossil fuel power. The absurdity of this CO2 production makes a joke of claims these efforts will lead to lower CO2 emissions. The devil is in the details, especially on this topic. Anyone who bothers to look into those details would see a gnarly tangle of special interests and deep pockets leading to ecocide on a grand scale and, ultimately, a widespread biological collapse, as what is left of the natural world is industrialised beyond recognition and the industrialists, who created our current carbon crisis, continue marauding across the face of the Earth.The government of the day has a costly PR team working hard to paint a picture of the opposition as in deep need of psychiatric treatment and the turbine plans and corporations as benign and beneficial. And they are using our own tax dollars to push this narrative as hard as possible, while moving forward with plans behind the scenes that do not include contributions or representation from the communities and wildlife they are destroying.At some point, media other than Sky News, is going to have to start looking at what is happening. Those of us in opposition realise opposition to Labor in general will take advantage of the opposition to wind turbines. However, a large contingent of those in opposition are long-time Labor and Greens voters, horrified to learn what their representatives have chosen to do behind their backs. Where is the fair press on this topic? In hiding it seems!Regards, Jean Walsh

I write in response to the letter from Kate Jackson, representative of Boral on 22/12/23. Ms Jackson correctly points out that Boral’s sand mining activities on the current site in Minnamurra (known as 5B) are legal and were authorised by the NSW Independent Planning Commission. So yes -Boral is within their legal rights to mine this area of enormous ecological, historical and cultural Aboriginal significance. However, Boral can be well-reminded that the actions of companies in 2024 will be judged not solely on whether you can do something but whether you should. Rio Tinto was within their legal rights too when they detonated the 46,000 year old Aboriginal culturally significant Juukan Gorge caves in 2020. The international community and shareholders judged these ‘legal actions’ as falling short of societal expectations with untold reputational damage to Rio Tinto. So Boral, should a historical heritage site, the probable site of the Minnamurra Massacre be destroyed when there are alternatives? Should you ignore the wishes of the local Aboriginal people after you consulted them? History is likely to say no. Come on Boral, do the right thing here and by stepping away the goodwill you engender could return you far more profit. Dr Fiona MackieKiama Resident

During my art exhibitions at Kiama's Old Fire Station I am constantly asked if there is a harbourside designated seafood restaurant nearby, that celebrates the coastal aspect of the town. Sadly apart from the take away outlet, the best located buildings around Black Beach are public toilet blocks. Looking at the convenience block near the courthouse, l think how wonderful it would be to have more than a public loo clogging this quite awesome view.Sadly this quite dated building is very much an example of a 1950's council approach. How about placing the loo facilities lower into the ground with an awesome seaside grill / oyster bar above, to really give the site an ability to celebrate the location.Black Beach and Kiama harbour needs at least one facility to give locals a seven-day chance to actually add a water level restaurant with a huge Wow factor view.Kiama is a very special tourist destination. It should be possible, with vision, to achieve such a dream.Regards,Greg Martin Vale

To the editor,I would like to respond to the letter in the Bugle from Boral regarding Aboriginal Heritage matters at the Boral Dunmore sand mine near the Minnamurra River. Boral’s claims of extensive consultation with Aboriginal people, their questioning of the proximity of the sand mine to the Minnamurra Massacre site, and the downplaying of cultural significance of the area for Aboriginal people really needs to be challenged. They gloss over the fact that traditional Aboriginal custodians Gary Cains and Sharrylin Robertson, supported by Illawarra Land Council, have appealed to the Federal Government to protect the high cultural heritage values of the site from sand mining. Their claims are contradicted by the findings of Dr Corrigan, the independent consultant appointed by the Minister to report on the need to protect these heritage values. In this report Dr Corrigan said: The mine area as of particular significance to Aboriginal People in accordance with their Laws and Customs; The Heritage Management Plan prepared for Dunmore Sand & Soil Pty Ltd is not considered to provide sufficient protection for the potential burials from injury or desecration.There is evidence indicating potential burials being in close proximity to, or overlapping part of, the approximate location of the 1818 Minnamurra Massacre site as set out in a map prepared by Professor Lyndall Ryan, as part of the University of Newcastle’s Frontier Massacre Mapping Project. Dr Corrigan’s report also concluded that to avoid the destruction of Aboriginal heritage values, the entire area should be protected from sand mining. Boral’s claimed consultation doesn’t necessarily equate to listening and we believe that Boral has not heard what Aboriginal people have been telling them. Their selective citing of the IPC finding that the massacre was unlikely to have occurred within the proposed mine area is not supported by the extensive work done by Professor Lyndall Ryan on the Frontier Massacres and which has been acknowledged by Dr Corrigan. Sewing doubt about this history is disrespectful to the living Aboriginal descendants of the massacre, who are genuinely concerned about the desecration of this cultural landscape, it perpetuates notions of invisibility and undermines truth telling. Howard H Jones Secretary, Gerroa Environmental Protection Society PO Box 71 Jamberoo

To the editor,As many in the Kiama community know, Boral has been a strong supporter of the local people and economy since we established a presence in the Illawarra region through sites that have been in continuous operation for more than 100 years.As a major employer of the region we employ directly and indirectly more than 100 people from the region at our Dunmore Quarry, concrete plant, and adjacent Dunmore Sand and Soil operations, supporting families and contributing to a strong local and regional economy. We have supported a number of community groups over the years, including the Shellharbour Field Archers and local Yacht Club, and have supplied machine and labour at no cost to assist the Illawarra Local Aboriginal Land Council prevent unwarranted 4WD access. We have successfully relocated a Scar Tree to Killalea State Park and had a display built for educational purposes and in discussion and negotiations to gift the neighbouring community half of the rehabilitated Dunmore Lakes subdivision. We are committed and pleased to be a part of this community. There has been recent reporting on the objection of our Dunmore Lakes Stage 5 site. While we recognise the right to object to developments, we would like to provide clarity that Boral has undergone a rigorous process from the NSW Independent Planning Commission (IPC) – including reviewing evidence for the site of Aboriginal heritage significance – and received all necessary approvals to operate our expansion. The IPC granted Boral approval in November 2020, after a detailed assessment that included consideration of Aboriginal heritage and consultation with the public and 20 Aboriginal groups who registered an interest in the project and the site, including the Illawarra Local Aboriginal Land Council (ILALC).As part of the findings, the IPC concluded that while a massacre of Aboriginal people is likely to have occurred in the broader geographic area it was ‘unlikely to have occurred within the proposed disturbance area’ (i.e. the area now operated under the Stage 5 project). An extensive Cultural Heritage Management Plan has also been approved and is in place for the site. The plan includes unexpected finds protocols which we have not had to use to date.With the robust process completed, and the approvals granted, the reports that Boral is undertaking destructive activity on significant Aboriginal sites are simply untrue. Specifically, Boral has received the approvals required to continue our sand extraction works from Dunmore, which is critical in State and Federal infrastructure projects, such as the Western Sydney Airport, and our ongoing operations enable us to continue our role as a long-term employer in the region. The sand retrieval works are a key plank in our ability to supply cost-efficient material to support critical infrastructure, construction, affordable housing and building activity in the region, and the greater Sydney metropolitan area.We will continue to work collaboratively, as always, with all levels of government and stakeholders in the local community. This extends to collaborating with the local community on the future of Bombo Quarry in 2024, and exploring how this site can contribute to local housing supply need within the next 5-10 years.Kate JacksonHead of Property, Boral

Hi there, this is Amanda from Kiama Pie Shop on Railway Parade. She deserves to be recognised as the best customer service person. Always smiling, multitasking, everyone in the store agreed. Just wanted to give her a shout out. Thank you!

2023 Christmas Messagesfrom Leaders of Christian Churches in AustraliaWe are soon to celebrate God’s presence with us in the birth of Jesus and we also encounter the reality of our world and the difficulties so many face. There is such a contrast with the beauty and wonder of the Christmas story and the present-day reality of the Holy Lands.The angels sum up the expectation of Jesus’ birth in what they say to the shepherds in the hills around Bethlehem:‘Do not be afraid, for see, I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is the Messiah, the Lord.’Their song was full of hope and joy: ‘Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace, goodwill among people’.They enter Bethlehem and find the baby Jesus and worship. Bethlehem now is within the West Bank of Palestine and is about 70km from Gaza. Not far at all. Tensions in the West Bank are also high and Christmas celebrations in Bethlehem will be muted and Manger Square may be without the usual festive lighting.Our hearts echo the cry of the angels and we with them pray ‘on earth peace and goodwill among people’. Goodwill includes concern for the other, approval and affirmation, and actively expressed care. Much goodwill is needed!When there is heartfelt goodwill it is a sign of peace being made real. Australia’s First People need to experience goodwill from us all. Those overwhelmed by the cost of daily life need to receive goodwill in this special time of year. People in Gaza, Israel and the West Bank need goodwill from and for each other.Our prayer this Christmas could be that all in distress will experience goodwill, love, peace and justice.Reverend John Gilmore, PresidentNational Council of Churches in Australia(NB. In the Western Church, Christmas is celebrated on 25 December2023.Most Orthodox Churches will celebrate the Feast of the Nativity on 7 January 2024.)#16 messages from National Church Leaders follow.For more information, contact the NCCA Secretariat on 9299 2215.Anglican Church of AustraliaWithout being too dramatic, we are living in very difficult times! There is a very real cost of living crisis that is felt by everyone, but especially lower income earners and long-term renters. Our nation has been at each other over the Voice to Parliament. There continues to be significant domestic violence towards women. The effect of global warming seems to be growing exponentially as evidenced by significant weather events including Cyclone Freddie, the longest lasting recorded tropical cyclone in history. There were catastrophic earthquakes in Turkey/Syria, Morocco, and Afghanistan. War continues in Ukraine as well as between Israel and Hamas, civil war in Sudan, Somalia, Yemen and others.As a nation we seem exhausted. As communities and individuals, we are carrying a heavy burden and a weariness. It can appear that there is no hope, and we are left on our own.There can be a very strong desire to switch off, to disconnect, to try to ignore some of the harsh realities of life.But the good news of Christmas is that God did not disconnect but in fact leans into the world with all its challenges.At his birth, Jesus entered into the messiness that was and is human life. And Jesus, now having died and been raised and ascended to heaven, continues to lean into our world. He continues to be faithful to his promise to be with us always. He continues to be there offering hope and peace and rest and love.No matter what we are facing, Jesus coming as one of us, coming into our situation, continues to remind us that God is always there for us: he continues to lean in – no matter how tough the situation.My prayer is that as we are reminded of the events of the first Christmas, we will know the reality of our God who leans into our reality and champions the cause of good and righteousness and peace. May you draw near to God and know his close presence with you.The Most Reverend Geoffrey Smith, Anglican Archbishop of Adelaide, andPrimate, Anglican Church of AustraliaAntiochian Orthodox ArchdioceseChrist is born, Glorify Him!“And I will make my home among them and live with them; I will be their God, and they shall be my people.” (2 Cor. 6:16) God had sent prophets and even angels to call man back to Him, but it was necessary for the Creator himself to stoop to earth to lift man to heaven. The coming of the Saviour was to wipe off the dust from the image of God in man and to restore him to His rightful place as heir of His Father’s kingdom. That’s why Christmas time is the best time to pray to God and seek His love and blessings for the festive occasion and also for the year that is soon to arrive.May Our Lord Jesus Christ, the newborn, shower you with His choicest blessings on Christmas and bless you with a holiday season full of happiness and smiles.I wish you all a happy and blessed Merry Christmas.His Eminence Metropolitan Basilios, ArchbishopAntiochian Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia, New Zealand and the PhilippinesAssyrian Church of the EastThe angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Because today a Saviour has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!” (Luke 2: 8-14)We pray the same glory of God that shone upon the Shepherds on the day of the Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ may enlighten the hearts and minds of all humanity, so that we all live in peace and harmony.And that Christians together may celebrate this feast of Nativity in joy and peace, especially our brothers and sisters in the Middle East, Ukraine and Sudan.We pray that this Holy Day will be filled with blessings, peace, and tranquillity all over our troubled world.O' Lord Jesus Christ lead us to live in the path of your eternal light, You are the light of the world. He who follows You shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.May the blessings of His nativity be with us always.His Beatitude Mar Meelis Zaia AM, MetropolitanAssyrian Church of the East, Diocese of Australia, New Zealand and LebanonCatholic Church in AustraliaDear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,One of our popular Christmas Carols begins with these words: What child is this who, laid to rest on Mary’s lap, is sleeping? Very quickly, the carol moves to an answer: This, this, is Christ the King, the babe, the son of Mary.Each year, as Christmas comes around, we are invited to let this same question - what child is this - arise in our minds and our hearts, and to reflect on the answers which emerge.The question is, hopefully, one which matters to us. It is certainly one which matters to the Lord Jesus. You will recall the time when Jesus asked this very question of His apostles: who do you say that I am?When Simon Peter, the leader of the twelve apostles, responded to Jesus on their behalf, he said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God”. It is an answer which is not so very different from the one given in the Christmas Carol. And it is the same answer which has been, and continues to be, at the heart of the Christian faith. Jesus is God among us as one of us. In His humanity, he is accessible to us, just as we are accessible to each other. We can know Him - and grow in our knowledge of Him - just as we come to know each other. And we can love Him - and grow in our love for Him - just as we can deepen our love for those closest to our hearts.But Jesus occupies a unique place in human history, for His humanity both conceals and reveals His divinity, if only we look and listen with the eyes and ears of faith. In coming to know Him, we come to know God. Jesus said so himself. “To have seen me,” he once said to one of his apostles, “is to have seen the Father”. When, especially in the pages of the gospels, we hear him speak we are hearing the words and voice of God. When we see him bringing hope and healing to people, we are witnesses to the compassion of God in action. In every encounter he has with people, we are being given an insight into who God really is, and what it is that God seeks to do and be in our lives.This is why Jesus can proclaim Himself to be the Way, and the Truth, and the Life: not just one of many ways - but God’s way; not just one truth competing with others - but God’s truth; not just one option for life - but Life itself, the divine life, offered to us as a gift.Our Judaea-Christian tradition rests on a profound belief: that we are made in the image and likeness of God. This truth reaches its highest expression in Jesus Christ who is, quite literally, the perfect living, human image and likeness of God. In Him we see who and what we are created and called to be - and in Him we find a companion on our life’s journey who can, if we let Him, enable us to be who and what we are called to be.This Christmas, like every Christmas, we are invited to hear once again God’s call to us, made real and concrete in Jesus, to come to Him when we are weary and over-burdened and find our rest in Him; to remain among those people who once walked in darkness but who now walk in the light; to allow ourselves to hear deep within us the echo of His voice telling us not to be afraid for He is with us.What child is this who, laid to rest on Mary’s lap, is sleeping?This, this is Christ the Lord - Come let us adore him.May this be a time of deep happiness, of reconciliation and peace, and of joyful hope for the future for you, your families and all those who are dear to you. A happy and holy Christmas to you all.The Most Reverend Timothy Costelloe SDB, Archbishop of PerthPresident, Australian Catholic Bishops ConferenceCatholic Church in AustraliaChinese Methodist Church in AustraliaWho is the main character of Christmas?Before Christmas, people like to prepare gifts for their loved ones. They like to write Christmas cards to wish them well, decorate their homes with lights, and put a bright star on top of their Christmas tree. During all this festivity, who is the main character of Christmas?The best gift of Christmas is Jesus. Isaiah 9:6 says, “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Christmas reminds us that the birth of the Holy Child Jesus is God's finest gift to humankind.The best blessing of Christmas is Jesus. John 10:10 says, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” Christmas is God's blessing of abundant life through the birth of Jesus.The brightest light of Christmas is Jesus. John 8:12 says, “When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.’” The birth of the Lord Jesus brings the light of life that all humankind can find.May Jesus be the best gift you have ever received this Christmas. May Jesus be the most beautiful blessing in your life this Christmas, so that you may live life to the full. May Jesus be the light of your life this Christmas and illuminate your way ahead.Reverend Milton PK Nee, BishopChinese Methodist Church in AustraliaChurches of Christ in AustraliaThe Best Gift of AllImagine opening a gift and then treasuring only the wrapping. Would it not seem ludicrous for a box inside, perhaps containing an expensive pair of shoes or a watch, to then be discarded?The Christmas season, with all its tinsel and trimmings, offers some shiny feelgood wrapping, too, but it is often sadly valued more than the gift it encloses.Christmas surely packages up the best gift of all, the gift of freedom and redemption that comes through faith in Jesus Christ.His arrival two thousand years ago allowed everyone, then and since, to have someone give his life as a substitute. He was perfect and therefore qualified to pay through his death for our every shortcoming, sin, or shame.That paved the way for us to connect with God for eternity. All we need do is receive this gift and open it. It is surely worth more than the Christmas wrapping of this busy festive season.The gift would not have been possible had Jesus failed to come as God in human form. He descended and lived among us on that first Christmas to become, for us, for all time since, the best Christmas gift of all.Reverend Dr. Rob Nyhuis, National ChairChurches of Christ Council in AustraliaCoptic Orthodox ChurchDiocese of Melbourne and Affiliated RegionsWhy the manger?Why did the Lord choose to be born in a manger? The manger is an unclean place that is not fit for any normal mother to give birth. What’s the significance to be born amongst the animals that are mostly set to be slaughtered?We will mention five reasons that perhaps agree with the Lord’s mission and His spirit.Finding that this was the only place available for the King of Kings to be born - resembles the sad state of the world and that Christ just wants to be born in our hearts.It was the nature of the Lord as the true lamb going to the slaughter to be born in a manger - predicting his sacrificial nature.To choose to be born in the poorest of places - to show there is no prejudice with the Lord who treats everyone equally, and gives attention to the vulnerable.To give man the greatest lesson about humility - how humility is the opposite of pride.To start His journey towards the cross in a symbolic way that defines his mission and vision towards our salvation by denying himself of every comfort and worldly pleasure.On behalf of the Coptic Orthodox Church in Australia we wish everyone a wonderful and blessed Feast of Nativity. May the lessons of the manger address all of our spiritual needs towards a joyful Feast of Nativity.Very Rev. Dr. Father Abanoub AttallaCoptic Orthodox Church, Diocese of Melbourne & Affiliated RegionsCoptic Orthodox ChurchDiocese of Sydney and Affiliated RegionsMessage for the Glorious Feast of the Nativity 2023On this great and joyous occasion of the Feast of the Nativity, it is my pleasure to wish you all the blessings of the Mystery of the Incarnation. Our celebration of the Birth of our Lord Jesus Christ is a celebration of the wondrous Mystery of the Incarnation, which reveals God's love for us.He accepted to come to our world and assume complete human nature with a rational soul, as St. John the Theologian wrote, "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth" (John 1:14).The main purpose of the Incarnation is our salvation from the dominion of sin, death and corruption. This is revealed when the Archangel proclaimed that the name of the Child is to be "Jesus", which means "Saviour".In the Annunciation of the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Archangel Gabriel told the Holy Virgin, the Mother of Light, "And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus". Again the Archangel appeared to Joseph and revealed to him the mystery of the Holy Conception; he told him, "Do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is the Holy Spirit. And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins" (Matthew 1:20-21).Thus, God's goal to save us from the dominion of sin, death, and corruption was achieved through the Incarnation.We rejoice because the wondrous Incarnation of God the Word reveals God's love for us. Therefore, we ought to "love Him because He first loved us" (1 John 4:19). Furthermore, God's love for us compels us to love one another in a practical way through our actions. St. John reminds us, "Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another" (1 John 4:11), and "My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth" (1 John 3:18).We celebrate Christmas this year amidst worldwide problems, especially economic hardships. Many families, especially those with limited income, face the burden of rising inflation and increase in the prices of basic necessities and commodities. We pray that God may provide for everyone from His abundant riches and save the world from wars and inflation.However, we also are required to remember our needy brothers and sisters, and actively participate in benevolent works, remembering St. Paul's word, "And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith" (Galatians 6:9-10).Moreover, We pray that Christ the Prince of peace, grant peace tranquillity and harmony to the world particularly in Sudan, the Middle East and Ukraine and other parts of the world.May God bless our country Australia and bestow prosperity and harmony upon its people.In ChristHis Grace, Bishop DanielCoptic Orthodox Church, Diocese of Sydney & Affiliated RegionsDiocese of the Armenian Church of Australia and New Zealand“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace and goodwill among men” (Luke 2:14)Some two thousand years ago, joy and peace were heralded by the angels through the birth of Jesus which was witnessed by the Magi of the East and the shepherds. Though this message of peace and love was embraced by few and has transmitted to our days, humanity today is far from achieving that peace and harmony as one can imagine.Currently the whole world is in turmoil, the war in Ukraine, the war in Gaza, the ethnic cleansing of over one hundred thousand Armenians from Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh), just to mention a few. All these because of the greed of mankind, multinational corporations needing more raw materials to enrich their pockets and in so doing, do not stop against anything. As a result, tens of thousands of people are killed, many more maimed, the poor gets even poorer, and many starve to death while tonnes of food are wasted by the rich throughout the world.The Christians in the Middle East and so the Armenians, are suffering because of wars and conflicts between various groups and powers. Moreover, in Armenia, people experience the aftermath of the disastrous war of 2020 with Azerbaijan. Because the world at large did not react on this unjust war, thousands of people were killed, tens of thousands wounded and many were forced to leave their ancestral homeland. Now Azeris, empowered by this fact, realised their scorch earth policy eliminating ethnic Armenians from Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) and forcefully exiling more than one hundred thousand Armenians from their native land.Whilst here at home, a month before Christmas we see Christmas trees all around, Christmas carols heralding with joy the birth of Christ, many hold “Christmas” parties just to eat, drink, socialise, have a good time and exchange gifts, while the hero of the event, JESUS, is noticeably absent, and his message is not heard.As Christians it is our duty to reintroduce Jesus to our society. “Peace I leave with you; not as the world gives, do I give to you” (John 15: 28). A peace by which one is in harmony with his inner self with God, with the people and the world at large. “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, as I have loved you…by this all will know that you are my disciples” (John 13: 34). As Jesus did so, we through our love to fellow man, must care for the poor, the sick, for the animals, nature, thus helping the wounded world to heal.It is time for humanity to fulfil the vision of Isaiah the Prophet “They shall beat their swords into ploughs and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation shall not lift sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore” (Isaiah 2:4) or “The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, the lion shall eat straw like the ox, and dust shall be the serpent’s food” (Isaiah 65:25).Let us heed and follow the words and the example of the newborn Prince of Peace, let us be the true custodians of this world bringing joy and happiness to all, where people can live in peace and create harmony.Christ is born and revealed, blessed is the revelation of Christ.With Prayers,Archbishop Haigazoun Najarian, PrimateDiocese of the Armenian Church of Australia and New ZealandGreek Orthodox Church of AustraliaProtocol No: 2895"Come, let us rejoice in the Lord, as we tell about this mystery. The middle wall of separation has been broken down; the fiery sword has turned back, the Cherubim permits access to the tree of life; and I partake of the delight of Paradise, from which I was cast out because of disobedience. For the exact Image of the Father, the express Image of his eternity, takes the form of a servant, coming forth from a virgin Mother; and He undergoes no change. He remained what He was, true God; and He took up what he was not, becoming human in His love for humanity. Let us cry out to Him: You who were born from a Virgin, 0 God, have mercy on us."(Troparion, Great Vespers of the Feast of the Nativity)The mystery of the incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ has established "once for all" (Heb. 10:10) a new reality, which not only embraces every human person, and indeed, all created existence, invisible and visible, but allows all to truly participate in the fullness of the salvific and transformative divine grace it boundlessly and abundantly imparts.Out of His infinite love, the Word and Son of God the Father, our Lord Jesus Christ, without ceasing to be "true God from true God", took on the very fullness of what it means to be human, except sin, in order to heal, renew and recreate human nature, not only restoring it to its "original beauty" but raising it to participation in divine life. The mystery of salvation is precisely the refashioning of the human person as truly human by "partaking of the divine nature" (2 Peter 1:4).This mystery of Christ's divine-humanity, which is an ontological reality for Christ, becomes in and through Him an existential reality for each and every person. In order for us however to experience and participate in the mystery of Christ's divine­humanity, that it may truly become a reality in our lives, we must first and foremost strive to make Christ the centre of our heart, indeed the very centre of our existence, with true faith, love and hope in His person. By following Christ, who is the source and fullness of truth, love, and goodness, and fulfilling His life-giving commandments, in repentance and love for each other, we can truly live the fullness of life, who is Christ Himself, here and now and eternally in His heavenly kingdom.May we open our minds and hearts to Christ our Lord and God, so that we may be refashioned and renewed by the mystery of His love.Wishing all a blessed and joyous Christmas, I remain,Prayerfully yours,Archbishop Makarios, PrimateGreek Orthodox Archdiocese of AustraliaLutheran Church of Australia and New Zealand“Yet in thy dark streets shineth the everlasting Light;The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.”Did you realise that words of Joseph are not recorded in the whole of the nativity story. We hear ABOUT him, but we don’t hear FROM him. Joseph disappears from the stories of the New Testament, with the last mention of him being the episode where twelve-year old Jesus remains behind in the temple.Joseph doesn’t speak but he tells us what it means to be held fast by a story that is so much greater than us. We might say his actions speak louder than words, as he teaches us what is means to step into each new day with hope. Joseph discovered that his fiancé, Mary, was pregnant with a child that was not his. In the ancient world at the time, this was a difficult thing for an engaged couple. His society gave Joseph the option to publicly renounce her so she could be punished.But Joseph resolves to quietly break off the engagement. In this decision, our “voiceless” man of this Christmas story teaches us good moral behaviours such as: Be kind to others. Sometimes retreating is a good choice. We can lose for the sake of another. But there is so much more for us in Joseph’s story. In what happens next to Joseph, we are reminded that the heart of this Christmas story is not something that Joseph has done, but some that God does. This is something extraordinary and unexpected, that God does through Joseph, for the world.Just when Joseph thought that he had carefully mapped out how things were going to be resolved, an angel of the Lord appears to him in a dream and tells him, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”The angel’s words alter Joseph’s world forever. He finds himself caught up in God’s plan to reach out in love to the world, to deal with sin and evil at work in us. The angel’s words made it clear to Joseph, that what was happening with his beloved Mary was God’s work. From this revelation, Joseph discovers that he is much more than just a man doing the right thing by his Mary. God calls Joseph to speak something that has been spoken by millions and millions of people since that angel visit in Nazareth centuries ago. With all his seeming silence in the nativity story, Joseph is given the privilege to speak the name of the Lord Jesus. The angel had commanded Joseph, “You are to name him Jesus for he will save his people from their sins.”How do we know that Joseph was changed forever? His actions speak louder than words. As a changed man, he took Mary to be his wife, with no regard for what people might say about him taking on someone else’s baby. As a changed man, he welcomes the privilege of providing fatherly care to the boy who would one day be nailed to a cross for the salvation of the world.The bright hope of the Christmas story is the message that God has broken into our world to change us. God’s calls us to join in this new way that anticipates God at work on the frontiers, in unexpected places as we live a people of hope in the presence of a gracious God. In our contemporary world we are confronted by news of wars and conflicts, at home and far away. We ask God to give us the faithfulness of Joseph, that we would find our place in this hopeful way of the “Prince of Peace-making”, acting in kindness and mercy in the Lord’s name.On behalf of the people of the Lutheran Church of Australia and New Zealand, I pray a hopeful and joyful Christmas for you and for your loved ones.“Yet in thy dark streets shineth the everlasting Light;The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.”Reverend Paul Smith, BishopLutheran Church of Australia and New ZealandReligious Society of Friends in Australia (Quakers)“Peace on Earth, goodwill to all men”Christmas is that time when many of us joyfully celebrate the birth and the life of Jesus of Nazareth and pay particular attention to his example and teaching of peace and love.We ‘spread the love’ with family and Friends and it’s usually a happy time where we eat together and share gifts. Do we also remember those who do not have friends or family and can we find some way to include them in the festival?These last few months have been the antithesis of peace on earth. For the Middle East and the Ukraine and for other conflicts in the world, hatred and mistrust prevail and peace seems a long way away.Quakers and other people of faith know that true peace starts from within, from intimacy with Spirit or the Light, from a deep peace which can guide our life. We all have a role to play in building up the conditions for peace in the world, for rejecting conflict and working for justice.The joy and love that abounds at Christmas time can give us a sense of hope and remind us that‘Though love is weak and hate is strong,Yet hate is short and love is very long’.   (from Naylor Sonnet #3)Bruce Henry, Presiding Clerk,Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) in AustraliaThe Salvation Army AustraliaThere’s a beautiful song that says….Light of the worldYou stepped down into darkness.Opened my eyes, let me see.Humbly you came to the earth you created,All for love’s sake became poor.Here I am to worshipHere I am to bow downHere I am to say that You're my GodLight of the world. Hope of the world. Jesus came. God with skin on his face. Came to show us how to live like him and for him. Saviour, Lord, King.That’s who we worship at this time of year. That’s who we worship at all times of the year. This beautiful Jesus.And it seems the world needs a whole lot of light right nowIsrael and PalestineUkraine and RussiaCost of living crisisHousing crisisShifting valuesA postmodern, post Christian worldA world that sometimes seems unstable.And, still this beautiful Jesus steps down into darkness, and asks his people to do the same.In a very dark room, a lit candle or torchlight changes the darkness.We are called to step into the darkness, and just like Jesus, bring light to our world.Pray for the people of the nations, for aid, for negotiators, for peace.Step into the darkness in our nation. Light comes from...Those who form “real community” and love beautifully.Those who serve day after day.Those who find and provide housing.Those who represent and share Jesus beautifully.Those who live like and for Jesus.Light of the world. Hope of the world.Every day, we have opportunities to be that.I think we all need that this time of the year. Light, hope, loveJust as Jesus came as light to our darkness, I invite you to be light into someone else’s world this Christmas.Matthew 5:14-16 “Here’s another way to put it: You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colours in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I’m putting you on a light stand. Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven.Step in. Step up. Shine! Jesus invites you to. The world needs you to.Have a wonderful Christmas, and may you be the means by which someone else might find the true meaning too.....light, life, hope, peace, joy.Bless you.Commissioner Miriam Gluyas, Territorial CommanderThe Salvation Army, AustraliaUniting Church in AustraliaIn this season of celebration, the mood seems far from celebratory in many places.In Australia many people are struggling to afford food and shelter. Others have watched their homes and livelihoods burnt in fires or destroyed by drought. Violence and war continues in places like West Papua, Congo, Sudan, Ethiopia, Eritrea and Ukraine. Some we notice. Others we don’t.This Christmas we will sing carols which speak of stillness and silence on the night of Jesus birth. At the same time, we watch and read about the violence taking place in these same lands, death and suffering that is almost beyond fathoming.Our hearts cry out as we see hospitals bombed, hostages held, babies dying for lack of basic care and homes crumbling. What does it mean to say the Prince of Peace has been born?The story of Jesus’ birth is not one that occurs in a fairy tale world of stillness and calm. Rather Jesus comes as a vulnerable baby into a precarious world, born into empire, shadowed by violence.Jesus’ birth is the announcement by God that God wills the end of violence and suffering. Jesus is God’s way of standing in solidarity with us, arriving into all our brokenness and beauty. His coming is a herald of God’s joy, hope and peace.Christmas invites us to meet God in all of life, our despair, our suffering, our wonder, our celebration. Let us rejoice in the confidence that God dwells with each of us and the whole world in love, a love that heals our broken heartedness and helps us find peace and joy.Happy Christmas!Reverend Sharon Hollis, PresidentUniting Church in Australia AssemblyAustralian Christian Churches - ACC‘God with us’Christmas is a celebration of God’s response to a lost and lonely human race. He demonstrated His immense love for us through the gift of His Son – Emmanuel – which means ‘God with us’.The Bible tells us that Jesus ‘became flesh and dwelt among us’ (John 1:14). He came to be with us, with the mission to make a way for us to live in relationship with God forever.What a wonderful message for a world that shows the growing effects of loneliness. There is something within us that cries out for a sense of belonging. The shifts in modern society have caused us to be more isolated than ever, despite having so many ways to connect to each other. Loneliness, it seems, is at epidemic proportions.This season gives the Church, and individuals alike, an incredible opportunity to make a difference in the lives of others. As people gather to enjoy the festivities with family and friends, let’s spare a thought for those whose loneliness is amplified at this time of the year.Mother Teresa put it so succinctly: ‘The problem with the world is that we draw our family circle too small’.As we celebrate the wonder of a God’s extravagant love, expressed in Emmanuel, may we seek to enlarge our circles. Let’s be people that look around us with the hope of finding those who are standing alone; and open wide our hearts and doors to those who need to know that they are oved by God and loved by us.Pastor Wayne Alcorn, ACC National PresidentAustralian Christian Churches- ACCAustralian Baptist MinistriesChristmas is not what it used to be. The Christmas in the Bible was less a season and more an occasion.We spend a lot of money; Christ was born into poverty. We consider Christmas a ‘family time’; Mary and Joseph were Internally Displaced Persons (and later refugees). We hang lights and ornaments and decorations; the manger was, at best, lined with clean straw. We give lifeless objects that shine, taste good, or use batteries; God gave a person — His Son Jesus Christ.Everything about the coming of Christ contrasts with the ways in which we ‘celebrate the season.’ We embrace the culture of consumption with little more than a sideways glance at the claims of Christ.I'm no saint in this regard. My own inconsistencies shine like a spotlight amidst the tiny flashlights of other people. But I desire to be different. The first step towards change is acknowledgment. We need to diagnose and name the disease before prescribing surgery.My disease is holy secularism. The symptoms include an honourable mention for Christ, but He is mostly excluded. Look around and you’ll see it at epidemic proportions. Many of us have unintentionally become infectious carriers.The disease drives us to catalogues more than to Christ; it draws us to shopping centres and distracts us with sales. We want presents with a bow, not the presence of God. Give me the latest gadget, not the gospel truth. Sing about Santa, not the Saviour. Open the wallet, but not the home.Of course, we'll join in the carols, listen to the talks, and even add angels to the tree. However, the Christ-event which calls us to simple gratitude and humility, morphs into a season of impulse-spending, binge-buying, and excess. We use sacred terms to justify ourselves ... generosity, thoughtfulness, love, and family. But sometimes we let the marketplace, not the Master, define those terms.I suspect the waiting list for this spiritual surgery might be long. But somewhere deep within us, an authentic light pierces the darkness and compels us to consider why Christ came in the first place. Search ‘Luke 2 Message Bible’ in your browser for a booster shot.Reverend Mark Wilson, National Ministries DirectorAustralian Baptist Ministries The NCCA is 18 Christian Churches, who have embarked on a pilgrimage together. We each bring a widely varied history of place, experience, and theology, but we share a common faith and confession in the Lord Jesus Christ as God and Saviour. We also share a common future as we are convinced that the future of Christians in Australia lies together, not in separation. Key facts:"We are soon to celebrate God’s presence with us in the birth of Jesus. Our prayer this Christmas could be that all in distress will experience goodwill, love, peace and justice." President, National Council of Churches in Australia, Rev John Gilmore.We share messages from the following: Primate, Anglican Church of AustraliaArchbishop, Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia, New Zealand and the PhilippinesMetropolitan, Assyrian Church of the East, Diocese of Australia, New Zealand and LebanonPresident, Australian Catholic Bishops Conference - Catholic Church in AustraliaBishop, Chinese Methodist Church in AustraliaNational Chair, Churches of Christ Council in AustraliaCoptic Orthodox Church, Diocese of Melbourne & Affiliated RegionsBishop, Coptic Orthodox Church, Diocese of Sydney & Affiliated RegionsPrimate, Diocese of the Armenian Church of Australia and New Zealand Primate, Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of AustraliaBishop, Lutheran Church of Australia and New ZealandPresiding Clerk, Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) in AustraliaTerritorial Commander, The Salvation Army, AustraliaPresident, Uniting Church in Australia AssemblyNational President, Australian Christian Churches - ACCNational Ministries Director, Australian Baptist Ministries

Detective Johnson switched on the tape recorder, relaxed into his chair, and placed his notepad on the desk in front of him. He stared directly at the old man sitting opposite and began the interview. “Good morning. I am Detective Johnson. This is Constable Watkins,” he said gesturing to his sidekick. “For the record can you please state your name, address and date of birth”.“Santa Claus. I Christmas Lane, North Pole. Not sure about birth date, late C14th I think.”“So,” Detective Johnson began, “you say you are Santa Claus.”“Yes. That is correct.”Detective Johnson picked up the arrest sheet. “It says here you were arrested last night for Break and Enter after being caught climbing through a window at 4 Boronia Drive, Kiama.”“Yes. But I wasn’t breaking in. I was delivering gifts. Don’t you know what Santa does?”“Hm. Do you have any identification on you?”“What! No, Santa doesn’t need identification,” the old man exclaimed.Detective Johnson jotted a few things down on his notepad then turned to Constable Watkins.  “Did he have anything with him besides the empty sack?” he asked him. The Constable instantly shook his head.“OK,” Detective Johnson said, turning back to the old man. “So why was your sack empty?”“Magic. The sack automatically fills with the right gifts for the children of the house as soon as I am under the Christmas Tree,” the old man explained.“Hm. And why are you not wearing the red outfit Santa is supposed to wear.”“I can explain that too,” the old man replied. “Mrs Claus sent it to the cleaners, and it wasn’t back in time, so I had to make do with this,” he said as he stood and pointed to his dishevelled pants and shirt.” And before you ask about the reindeer and sleigh, they were frightened off by the sirens of the police car. They will come back and get me when I am released.”“Well, I think that is enough for now,” Detective Johnson sighed, turned off the recorder and turned to his Constable again. “Take him back to the cells. We’ll talk to him again a bit later.”“The cells are pretty crowded,” the Constable replied.“So how many more do we have to interview today?”“53…it’s going to be a long day.”Seriously, not another busy Christmas, I’m already over it!” Detective Johnson exclaimed.“Yeah. Me too,” Constable Watkins added as he turned back and escorted the old man out of the Interview Room and back to the cells.