About 100 people attended the Holy Trinity Thanksgiving Service
Has God held a party in heaven for you yet?
This was the challenge from Bishop Gary during the Thanksgiving Service to mark the 125th anniversary of Holy Trinity Roebourne, the oldest church building in North West Australia.
Bishop Gary spoke of the rejoicing that occurs in heaven over each lost sinner who repents and turns to Christ, and he urged all to accept the precious offer of salvation from the Great Shepherd of the Sheep (Luke 15:1-7).
About 100 guests came from all over Western Australia and NSW for the service which followed a five -year painstaking restoration of the beloved church.
Minister-in-charge of West Pilbara, Frank Nicol, said it was a joy to celebrate with local residents, former church members and members of the Friends of Holy Trinity, a key support group. Members of the Pilbara Aboriginal Church came along, including elders who attended Sunday School at Holy Trinity 50 years ago!
A highlight was connecting with people linked to original pioneer families, including seven descendants of Emma and John Withnell, pioneers and faithful foundation members of the church.
The following service at Holy Trinity was a combined meeting of brothers and sisters from the Pilbara Aboriginal Church (PAC) and West Pilbara Anglican churches. PAC Pastor Marshall surname proposed the combined service followed by a community picnic, which was enthusiastically supported by North West Anglicans, to strengthen fellowship and unity and faithfully proclaim the good news of Jesus.
We thank God for gospel ministry that has occurred here over more than a century. We thank God for former Wickham minister Richard Goscombe, Ms Maureen Lissman and Ms Joy Brann AM from Friends of Holy Trinity and builder Dave Baessler, who all helped realise the restoration. We pray for new ministry to flourish so that the light of Christ may again shine brightly from the church on the hill, and gospel proclamation draw many people into God’s kingdom.
Frank Nicol shares God’s good news with children at the combined service with Pilbara Aboriginal Church