His Diocese, of which Cootamundra is part, stretches from Holbrook in the South to Wagga Wagga and then Young in the North and across to Bateman’s Bay and down to Eden on the Coast. Last year during Lent (the period leading up to Easter) he walked the streets of the coastal towns and this year he’s chosen to walk those of the country areas including Goulburn, Taralga, Crookwell, Binda, Yass, Murrumburrah/Harden, Temora, Junee and Cootamundra. 

He comes to Cootamundra on Saturday, March 8 and the community is invited to take the opportunity to meet him then. 

Cootamundra’s Reverend Rob Donald said “You might well ask, ‘Why would an important person like a Bishop lower himself to carrying a cross in the streets of our region?’ Well, I’ll be upfront with you, he’s doing this because he considers ‘the Cross of Jesus’ the most important thing in his life and he wants us to know this also.”

“For him, he’s found a new ‘freedom’ (hence the title on the poster) in personally knowing a loving God and he believes ‘the cross’ has made this possible. He wants us too to have a relationship with the living Lord Jesus and so he will speak a short message at Jubilee Park at about 11.30am on how this is possible for all of us,” Reverend Donald continued. 

Anyone can join the festivities. At 11am, the gathering will begin outside ‘Wrapped’ gift store and the Bishop will lead a procession down the western footpath of Parker Street towards Jubilee Park, where there will be a festival type atmosphere with singing led by a combined churches singing group, and dancers from the local Chris Edwards School of Dancing, as well as the all-important food in a ‘sausage-sizzle’ provided by the local Cubs and Scouts. Bring your chairs.

The Bishop would also like to share more of his history (‘His’ in ‘history’ being Jesus in his-story) with the residents (and family welcome too) at the Cootamundra Nursing Home from about 2.30pm, the Retirement Village at about 3.30pm and also from about 5.30pm he will chat over dinner with all those who consider him to be their bishop, at Christ Church Anglican Hall, corner of Bourke and Thompson St. He will also speak at the normal Sunday morning Services at Christ Church (7.30am, 9am, & 11am) where there will also be opportunity for Healing Prayer.  

“We hope you will join us, particularly in the procession and the park festivities,” Reverend Donald said.  

Any enquiries to be directed to Reverend Rob Donald on 6942 2546 or Gail Pinney on 0407 422 272.