For my birthday last year, Casey bought me a French Easel, a basic set of acrylic paints, various sized brushes, a couple of mediums (painting – not to be confused with the TV Drama) and three blank canvases. You see, for many years I had been threatening to take up abstract painting, but had never actually taken the plunge. Now, before all you artists get enthusiastic – I am very (and I cannot over emphasis this too much) amateur – but I am excited about the possibilities. For example, my very first 'painting' if we can call it that, which sits now in my lounge room on the easel was me exploring what colour the paints were, by creating odd shapes. Comments on the piece so far include, "hmmmm" and "That's [pause] interesting." However despite all that, there is still something mysteriously spiritual about preparing, setting up, laying out the tools and staring at a blank canvas that is bursting with creative potential. I guess you could say the same thing about where we all find ourselves this month. Staring, as it were at a canvas full of potential. By no means a blank canvas, because as a Church you have been painting your story into the local community for over 20 years.

In Luke’s Gospel, the artist’s canvas of Christ’s journey had begun with divine inspiration of epic proportions; exploring the highs and the lows of existence with Songs, Shepherds and Angels. By the time Jesus gets back home to Nazareth, he had his inspiration for the rest of his masterpiece. In Luke 4:18-19 Jesus is pretty much charcoaling in the design for the rest of his work. After unrolling the scroll of the prophet Isaiah in his local synagogue, Jesus reads:

¹⁸‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, ¹⁹to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.’

The Canvas of Jesus’ ministry was spread out before the people, ‘This is what the masterpiece is all about, and now be witness to the creative genius of God.’ The rest of Luke’s Gospel gives us an insight into how this artistic genius fulfilled the words of the prophet Isaiah by creating a masterpiece of such impact that is continues to change and inspire the world today.

Now, I do not know what the canvas has in store for the community of the Mount Barker Church of Christ; however, Casey and I are really excited to be joining you and exploring this together. I look forward to getting to know everyone, hearing all your stories, sharing in your journey and experience of life and adding the next phase to the canvas of the Mount Barker Church of Christ as it seeks to share the Good News of Jesus Christ in this hills community.

Shalom – Simon Clemow.