Church plant of the month: Assisted by congregation members from St Stephen's, Willoughby, St Basil's, Artarmon recently completed the ten-week evangelistic Alpha program, run on Sunday nights. Attended by up to twenty people, the success of the course has lead to a new, informal Sunday service at 5pm, commencing on January 11.

The NSW Government has listened to the state's religious leaders and agreed to subsidise the salaries of chaplains across major faith groups working in public hospitals.

Isaac Gates is still getting used to the idea of leaving his mum every day, but big sister Olivia is enjoying carrying her navy blue schoolbag and making new friends. The Gates children, from Jamberoo, are like five- and six-year-olds everywhere this February. Both are excited – and a little daunted – at the prospect of that big step called school. And a big step it is, for the siblings have made history as two of the first students of the new $4 million Shellharbour and Wollondilly Anglican Colleges.

He who was rich became poor so that through his poverty those who are poor might become rich. In two ways they wonderfully capture the meaning of Christmas: 1. They remind us to ‘know the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ.' 2. They encourage us to imitate ‘the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Anglicare researchers have found that 35 per cent of young parents are involved in organisations connected with their child’s school, giving churches an important insight into how to reach this particularly busy section of our community.

Vince Williamson, CEO of Kingsley Enterprises, a manufacturer of 4WD accessories, understands the mentality of the average unchurched Australian dad, stretched thin between work and family commitments.