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	November 2004				People of all ages are important in the North West.
		Transforming Life in the North West by Peter Adkins
			The Collaborative Ministry Parishes of Circular Head, Sheffield and Penguin are, in their own ways, seeking to make Jesus known to Tasmanians old and young... Bop with God This time last year the main weekly service at Smithton usually had only one person under 40 who regularly attended worship. A meeting was held with a number of local young familes and new possibilities were discussed. Provided with ideas and lots of encouragement from two of Burnie's 'Rock the Flock' team, and with enthusiastic help from a number of families, a new, monthly all-age worship time called 'Bop with God' began in May this year. Themes are either linked to the church year, biblical stories such as creation, or current events. The theme of 'running the race', was an obvious choice during the Athens Olympics and was complete with bicycles, a hockey team and a real live marathon in the hall! The five Olympic rings were used to illustrate five themes of running the race of the Christian life - the need for an expert coach (Jesus); knowing the race instructions (Bible); getting rid of sin that slows us down; being attentive to the coach and winning the prize. It is exciting and encouraging each month to see several familes now enriching our worship and enthusiastically participating in planning, drama, music/craft, story and prayer that make 'Bop with God' an enriching and transforming experience for young and old, Please pray that 'Bop With God' might continue to reach out to more familes in Circular Head. While Penguin has been in the news for the wrong reasons lately, a quiet, caring ministry goes on unnoticed each month as members of the congregation and ministry team visit the local aged care faculty at Coroneagh Park. A simple communion service including well-known hymns and a relevant gospel story are much appreciated by the residents. Ample help is on hand to turn pages or to offer a kind word to residents. Relationships are formed or strengthened, people are pointed to Jesus through word and sacrament as the body of Christ quietly goes about its ministry in this place. Please pray for elderly folk in Penguin who may be fearful after the recent murders. Pray for investigators that they find the perpetrator. 'I was in prison and...' Ashleigh juvenile detention centre near Deloraine is an imposing sight for those who drive past on the Bass Highway. Those inside are there for many reasons - some have had deep scars inflicted on them - but all are in need of a touch of God's love in whatever form it may reach them. At Kimberley, part of the parish of Collaborative Ministry Parish of Sheffield, a group of women take seriously the biblical injunction from Jesus to care for those in prison. While face to face visits are, for security reasons, hard to arrange, God's people minister to these young offenders in the form of birthday cakes baked for each inmate and delivered to Ashleigh whenever a birthday occurs. One of the ladies mentioned to me that for some of these young people it is the first birthday cake they have ever had! '...you baked me a cake.' Please pray for this ministry as well as all who minister to offenders young and old.