By Philip and Deanne Gerber, licenced lay ministers, Nyngan Anglican Church)
A cost of living crisis. Housing shortages. Climate change. Drought.
An epidemic of loneliness. Gaza. The Ukraine. The threat of global conflict. Family breakdown. Youth crime. The scourge of domestic violence.
The ravage of sometimes inexplicably incurable diseases, despite the many amazing advances of modern medicine. The challenge of ageing. There is just so much to worry about in 2025. Hope is squeezed out.
Hope25 is a nation-wide event of the Anglican Church of Australia, running from Easter to Pentecost (June 8, 2025). The programme offers to the community an alternative to give individuals hope as an antidote to the many negatives of 2025.
Philip and Deanne Gerber have been the licenced lay ministers at St Mark’s Anglican Church, Nyngan, since February 2025.
They were keen to run Hope25 for Nyngan. They maintain that the Christian message offers a “trifecta of hope”.
Firstly, hope as the past is dealt with, forgiven, forgotten, and put behind you. Secondly, hope as the present is given meaning and purpose through service to God and others. Thirdly, hope for an eternal future with God when this earthly life is over. And a spoiler alert, this “trifecta of Hope” revolves around the person and life of Jesus Christ, aka Emmanuel – God with us.
Philip and Deanne would like to invite everyone to back the trifecta of hope by coming to the three final sessions at St Mark’s Church.
The remaining topics are: “Hope for the Sick”, “Hope for the dying” and “Hope for you?”. They are also offering to re-screen the preceding Hope25 sessions for individuals or groups as a “catch-up”.
Read More: Nyngan