HOLIDAY – reflections from across Australia

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HOLIDAY – reflections from across Australia

Mar 12, 2026

Australian Anglicans from across the country are leaning into Lent with ABM’s latest mission Bible study – HOLIDAY.

HOLIDAY re-tells seven Gospel stories from the Baptism of Jesus to his Resurrection. The Rev’d Canon Stephen Daugtry’s captivating stories are accompanied by the enchanting illustrations by his wife, Vanessa Daughtry. This is what just a few people are saying about how HOLIDAY is reaching into their hearts and minds:

St Francis Theological College are hosting a lunchtime Lenten study group using HOLIDAY.

St Francis Theological College are hosting a lunchtime Lenten study group using HOLIDAY.

Thought you might like to know how well received Holiday has been by our study group at St Luke’s Mosman, and we haven’t even started studying it yet! We have a small group of about ten people who started meeting last year reading Caravan, who have stuck together since then. Many have already read the first few chapters of Holiday and are so eager to start next week, full of praise.

St Luke’s Mosman, Sydney Diocese

At St Francis College we have a Tuesday lunchtime group listening to the stories from the ABM resource called HOLIDAY. [In the first week] while we were reflecting on the role of the cockatoo in the story one perched on a rooftop and screeched loudly causing us to look out the window and up at it.
St Francis College, Brisbane Diocese

Our discussion group at All Saints Bull Creek-Leeming is starting to discuss ‘Holiday’ tomorrow morning! I’ve read the first two stories and found them very engaging. I will be interested to hear what aspects of the Baptism story impacted the other members of our group! Many thanks for engaging in these Bible stories with your creative imagination and storytelling skill! And please thank Vanessa on our behalf for her evocative artwork!

All Saints Bull Creem-Leeming, Perth Diocese

The small community of St Celia’s Anglican church in Chinchilla started their Lenten study group with 16 folk who each brought a copy of “Holiday”. Our first study reflected on Jesus’ Baptism and it didn’t take long before everyone present reflected on their own journey into faith and ongoing journey with God. Everyone left with a sense of deepening understanding of their faith and a closer relationship with others present. The second study last week reflected how each of us had been aware of God’s guidance in times of trials of life “…and the Angels came and ministered to Him..”
St Celia’s Parish Chinchilla, Brisbane Diocese

60+ people of our congregation are enjoying [the] imaginative, creative writing about Lent. Many have even asked for a copy of [ABM’s] book ‘Caravan’ as well.
[While] doing ‘Mad Boy’ in a group … one of the participants commented on the beautiful phrases Stephen uses and how they evoke such a rich impression of the scene.
Kingsley-Woodvale Parish, Perth Diocese

I am wrapped in your latest book. Thank you! Keep writing!
St Ann’s Aldinga, Murray Diocese

Are you part of a HOLIDAY Lenten study group? We’d love to gather more stories from across Australia to share in the next On a Mission e-news. Please send your reflections and/or photo to info@abmission.org.au.