Welcome to 2012! 

As we all trickle back from the holiday season, I really pray that you and your family had a truly joy-filled Christmas and New Year.  The Clarke family had a brilliant time catching up with both sides of our family.  Watching our children play with their cousins was a vivid reminder of how strong the bonds of family are.

The Clarke family gathered from all parts of the country (and Canada!) for the wedding of one of my cousins.  It was a rich experience to again be reminded of how much this family means to me.  Rich in the sense that we now have sooo much shared experience as a family – in my lifetime we have gathered together for 10 weddings, 3 funerals and countless birthdays, holidays and special occasions.  One of the things that I love about my family is that everyone always makes the effort to get there – it doesn’t matter what else is on, or where you are living, we’ve all been raised to understand that family has priority.  This gathering had unique significance – one of my cousins and her husband had recently adopted their first child – a gorgeous 4 year old Ethiopian boy named… Micah!  To see the way Micah was embraced as the newest member of the clan was really special.  His biological and family history was completely secondary – he was now part of the family and that was that.

The depth of ‘kinship’ the wider Clarke family enjoys inspires and challenges me.  Healthy families set the bar appropriately high regarding our experience of the church – the family of God.  I’m resolved and excited about the opportunity to journey deeper into authentic community here at Barrabool Hills in 2012.  I know we will have plenty of opportunities to welcome new family members, and I trust you’ll join me in embracing them unconditionally – in the same way my new nephew was loved and welcomed.  I’m convinced that the restorative and redeeming power of God – at work in healthy families AND healthy churches – is stronger than any persons’ previous history or experience.   Let’s see it thrive at Barro in 2012.

Ps Graham Clarke

Senior Pastor