From Pastor Brian Codrington – 11th May

Hi Friends,

It was excellent to see so many last weekend at our prayer workshops. The weekend was a great encouragement to us about being more God dependent.

At the end of our time together there was the opportunity to share suggestions about enhancing our prayer ministry. We are blessed to have a dedicated prayer team already, and many people in the meeting were surprised by the existing prayer ministry that takes place in a range of different ways in the life of our church. Thank you prayer team!

Yet it was great to table other possibilities. And, this weekend during our services, Elaine Abrahams will speak about a new initiative.

Last weekend also saw the launch of our May Appeal. We are privileged as a church to be involved in mission every day in our local community through ministries such as the sports centre, playtime, LTN (Love Thy Neighbour), etc. Yet our May Appeal provides opportunity to engage with other mission endeavours local, national and global.

Our target this year is $40,000. What a great opportunity for us to investment in Galston High, our Indigenous ministries, our Solomon Islands ministry, the work of Mark and Val in South East Asia as well as the excitement of seeing Peter and Jo Ong and the Onglets embark on cross cultural mission in Malawi.

Let’s continue to be encouraged by what is doing in us and through us as we journey through life together.

Brian on behalf of the Pastoral Team

Luke Montgomery – 6th May, 2012

Hi Everyone,

I had the opportunity to serve for the Love Thy Neighbour (LTN) ministry last Sunday afternoon.

I must confess it was the first time we had ventured out to join the dedicated team from LTN. It was a particularly cold  afternoon and as the rain started to fall … we thought we might just get away with an afternoon on the couch.

Instead we spent the afternoon with the Feast and Youth team pulling out weeds. We all worked hard on two houses… and apart from the two battlers (  myself and Mitch Roberts who found themselves bogged in the back car park) it was a very successful afternoon.

LTN is a very valuable ministry of the Church and worthwhile supporting. The team has been able to bless numerous houses and people by just being available. In Galatians 5:6 Paul writes this regarding our freedom in Christ ” The only thing that counts is Faith expressing itself through Love”.

As a community of people of faith we are told that the only thing that counts is our faith and the way that we express that. As a church it is good to celebrate the way in which this team is expressing unconditional love to the community in Dural. A special thanks to Nathan Archer and Emma Chalk for the their leadership in this ministry.
Continued prayer for this ministry would be valued.

If you have any gardening equipment that you would like to donate to the team I know they would appreciate it.

In Christ

Luke

Peter Clarke – 29th April, 2012

Hi Everyone,

Over Easter I was touched a fresh by the power of the death and resurrection of Christ.

I had to ask myself again… do I actually believe in the resurrected power available to us as believers? Since Easter my expectation of what Christ can do has changed incredibly. When we come to worship each week, we should expect to see God move amongst us. We should expect Christ to use us when we are talking to our non Christian friends. We should expect to see people coming to Christ. Without going over the top we worship a God who is alive and He lives in us. These are exciting Days.

This Sunday morning we are going to watch a sermon preached by Pastor Jim Cymbala on prayer. It is a very powerful message and I know God will use it. Cymbala knows the difference firsthand that prayer makes. Thirty – five years ago his own church, the Brooklyn Tabernacle, was a struggling congregation of twenty. Then they began to pray… God began to move… with street hardened lives by the hundreds were changed by the love of Christ.. and today they are more than ten thousand strong.

My hope is that we continue to place prayer as a high priority for this Church.

Peter
on behalf of the pastoral team

From Luke Montgomery – 20th April 2012

I have been reading 1 Peter over the last few days. I have read it probably 15 times in my life and what amazes me is the way in which scripture never grows old or loses its edge.

In the opening chapter Peter describes the way in which we as followers of Jesus will go  through trials and times of testing. It then states ‘These have come so that your faith – of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire – may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honour when Jesus Christ is revealed’.

Jesus never promises following him will be easy, in fact quite the opposite. He asks us to lay down our lives, to seek after peace, to be countercultural, to love and not hate, to have faith in the unseen and to trust him in the valley of darkness. In all of these he promises to carry our burdens and to shape us into the men and women we were created in his image to be.

As a church the same principle applies. We will go through good times and hard times, times of pain and times of excitement. The beauty of the church is that we are a collective of unique believers who share a goal of proclaiming Jesus in this world.

I write this because I want to congratulate the work that is going on in this community. Last week we had a group of young people giving up their week to proclaim the kingdom to the kids who came to the KidsMania holiday program. These leaders did this for no pay and at the end of the day there a million things they could have been doing. That’s something to celebrate.

Throughout this week I have seen so many men working hard to get the men’s shed ready so that the gospel can be proclaimed to our community. These are men that have earned a rest and yet are proclaiming the gospel through their hard work and determination for the kingdom.

There are inspirational people everywhere, in all fields of life. Some inspire to eat better, others to be fitter. Some invoke a passion to be better musicians, or accountants, others might be inspirational in the way they love their families. As a church we have the opportunity to sharpen each other and this is exactly what we are doing when we decide to lay down our lives to serve God’s kingdom. We are raising the bar of what it looks like to follow Jesus and to allow him to dictate what we do with our time, gifts and finances. The more we allow Jesus to dictate our lives the more it influences our church community. The more our church community is influenced by the gospel the more we influence Dural, Sydney, Hall’s Creek, the Solomon’s, Fiji etc.

In life we will go through trials. Both as individuals and as a community. It’s a beautiful thing to realise that these things happen so that our faith may be proved genuine and result in praise, glory and honour as Jesus is revealed.

There are countless things that we can be thankful for as a church. Lose your Life to find it.

Luke

From Nic Cassar – 13th April 2012

I trust you are all relaxed from the super long weekend! I’ve been reminded this week of the impact we are having in our local neighbourhood. Let me just share a number of experiences I’ve been involved in as of late:

#1 – Whilst on my lunch break up at Pirate Pete’s today I was met by lady (not a part of our church) who attended our Good Friday service. She recognised me and had only nice things to say about the service. She then started to ask me if there were any youth programs on for her teenage son and his friends. She also told me that she had been speaking to some of her neighbours whose kids attended KidsMania this week and absolutely loved it.

#2 – I was lucky enough to have a cuppa with Victor (not real name) last week. Vic, (who had no connection with our church) saw the story of our Men’s Shed in the local paper and was excited to get involved. He’s been coming every other day to help the guys since late last week. I recently found out that Victor is dealing with serious ill health.

#3 – Two weeks ago Joey and I dropped off some clothes that needed mending to the local dress maker. She’s a single mother with four kids (I think?) and received one of our Christmas hampers last year. We got talking about it, and she expressed interest in regularly attending our church and getting her teenage kids involved in our youth mission trip to Fiji next year.

#4 – Over the final couple of weeks last term, I’ve had a number of positive in-depth conversations with one of the mothers who sends her 3 kids to the Centre for sport and music tutoring. We’ve chatted about what our church is about and what we believe. I will be seeing her again every week next term when her kids start music tutoring again.

These things may not be miraculous conversions to the faith, but are all steps in the right direction. People are starting to connect the dots with what God is doing through our church community. These are just some of my first hand experiences, and I have heard of a bunch of others from different people in the past weeks.

NONE of this would have been possible without our prayers, service, tithing and general support for God’s church here in Dural. I hope you’re encouraged by this, and I invite you to continue praying for God to reveal Himself to our neighbourhood.

From Brian Codrington – 6th April 2012

There are some Christians who argue against celebrating Easter. Their position is that we should live every day with the knowledge of sins forgiven and victory through Jesus Christ. They are right, we can, and we should live every day like that!

But I love Easter so much!! It draws me back again to the very foundation of my faith and causes me to ask myself again – is this, the death and resurrection of Jesus – the rock on which my faith is built?

This, the power of the cross;
Christ became sin for us.
Took the blame, bore the wrath - 
We stand forgiven at the cross

Oh, to see my name,
Written in the wounds,
For through Your suffering I am free.
Death is crushed to death, 
Life is mine to live,
Won through Your selfless love

This, the power of the cross; 
Son of God – slain for us.
What a love! What a cost!
We stand forgiven at the cross

Please watch this clip   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nwzt9jRUPNg     It is powerful!

NOTE RE GOOD FRIDAY SERVICE

Our Good Friday service will include a drama about the resurrection that may be confronting for some. The crucifixion that Jesus endured and the events leading up to that were not sanitised in real life. They were horrendously ugly and cruel.

This drama is not an attempt to shock or cause offence, but rather to have us more fully aware of our Suffering Saviour and the cost of our salvation.

There may be some parents who wish to take their children out to the play equipment at this time. The drama and bible readings will be about 10-15 minutes.

From Peter Clarke – 30th March 2012

It’s hard to believe that Easter is just around the corner, this Sunday we will be looking at Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem.

John 12:12-13 – The next day the great crowd that had come to the festival heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, shouting, “Hosanna! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord — the King of Israel!” (NRSV)

There is always something wonderful and stirring about Palm Sunday. Many people celebrate by waving palm branches in our churches just the way the people did at the triumphal entry of Christ into Jerusalem. We sing songs with the words “Hosanna” in them, and we get ourselves into a jubilant and expectant mood.

Most of us don’t associate with what the symbols really mean. The word “Hosanna”, when translated from the Greek, means “Save us, we beseech thee.” The palm branches were used to show the sovereignty of a head of state. No wonder the Pharisees were so upset with the people for shouting “Hosanna!” and waving palm branches. The people expected this person entering Jerusalem to deliver them from the cruel oppression of Rome and to reinstate the line of David on the throne of Israel. The Pharisees were afraid of Roman retaliation and maybe even a little afraid for their positions and jobs.

Little did they realize that they were on the right track. The deliverer had come to them, but not in the way they had thought. The King of all kings had come, but not in the way they expected.

Hindsight is so wonderful. Now we can look back and say to ourselves, “How could those people not have realized just who this was, riding into their midst on the back of a donkey?”

So, yes, it is important that we still wave the palm branches and shout hosannas. We need to acknowledge that we have been delivered by the King of kings, that on this special Sunday we are welcoming into our service, into our lives, and into our hearts, the Saviour of the world.

This weekend is our annual prayer weekend.  If you come to the back car park and go up the stairs you will find the building will be open all weekend.  There will be a number of prayer stations to help focus your prayers.  Also throughout the weekend we have a number of special times where you can gather together.  Saturday morning at 8am on the balcony of the cafe for all the men there is a cooked breakfast which will lead into a time of prayer.  Also on Saturday at 6pm there is a corporate time of prayer where the focus will be on those who don’t know Christ.  Then on Sunday at 4.30pm there will be a time for praying for healing.
Can I encourage you all to come and part of this weekend? In the Scriptures God promises if we draw near to him he will draw near to us.

From Luke Montgomery – 23rd March 2012

In James 5v16 we read ‘The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective’.

Throughout the accounts of Jesus’ life one of the key things we read is that he retreated and prayed. Jesus was very in touch with the Father and he knew that prayer was an extremely powerful weapon in the arsenal of the believer. Next weekend we have the privilege as a church of coming together and giving ourselves over to Christ. During this time we will be encouraged to stop and reflect, to intercede and to pray with boldness. It is an amazing thing that the God of this world has given us the ability to have our deepest desires synced with his own. That is the most powerful activity that we could possibly be a part of.

So let’s be active in our prayer lives. Set up reminders around the house of missionaries like the Ongs, set up reminders for your family, for people you work with, etc. Prayer is an amazing gift and as a church it is essential that we get very good at it.

Have a great week.

From Nic Cassar – 16th March 2012

As we change into the season of Autumn I am reminded that the celebration of Easter is just a few weeks away! I’ve often heard people say that Easter is the central story to the Christian faith, but I think I’d go further in saying that the message of Easter IS the Christian faith.

This year we are participating in a number of things in order to celebrate and prepare us for this great season.

Next Sunday the Feast service will be hosting a Passover meal which will involve sharing food together whilst exploring the rich Passover story in light of the Easter message.

The following week our community will be holding our annual prayer weekend, were we will be praying as a community from Friday afternoon until the Sunday night service. There will opportunities to participate in various devotions, prayer stations and fasting.

Then  next week is the Easter weekend with our Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday services. Both of these days capture the broader themes of our faith; brokenness and life – tied together by the cross.

There are some great opportunities to really get the most of what Easter is about this year and perhaps some great opportunities to introduce others to the Christian faith and who we are as a community.

Looking forward to preparing and celebrating with you all this Easter.

From Brian Codrington – 9th March 2012

Lynne and I have just returned from a fantastic week away in Vanuatu.

It was a belated anniversary celebration. Just two years and two months late (not long in the scheme of things) because last time we ventured forth to celebrate married life Lynne’s dad passed away and we were back in the country within days.

But the wait was worth it – the weather fantastic and of course the company superb.

It is interesting that even away there in Vanuatu, enjoying all that country had to offer my mind wandered to what might have been. I had accepted a job in Vanuatu some 32 years ago as a chartered accountant and was all set to go. Visa in hand, bags packed and big tax free salary package and housing on the table. At the last minute I was convicted that I was going for the wrong reason. Vanuatu which had just become independent in 1980 was setting itself up as the tax haven of the Pacific and my motives were based on what I could get, use, keep and enjoy.

So I rang the firm in Vanuatu and pulled out of the job!

So as Lynne and I paddled our kayaks among the luxurious homes of Erakor Lagoon I was pondering what could have been. Which home, yacht, power boat, jet ski etc would I have chosen?

Isn’t it crazy how our minds sometimes work? Because if I had taken that path there would have been no celebration of a great marriage with Lynne, not the children I love so dearly and maybe not a faith as precious and a call on my life so strong.

That is why I am loving the challenge of Growthworks so much. Because, as we arrived home on Wednesday and I had my small group on Thursday I was confronted with the truth of that lesson on “the mind”, and the battle that takes place right there in our minds against our three enemies – the world, the devil and my own sinful nature.

That is the truth of the battle in which we are engaged. It’s a battle that can go on in the most unlikely of places – even as celebrating an anniversary in Vanuatu. It’s a battle that if lost by us takes us along a path that will not produce the fruit that God desires so much for us.

As we journey together as God’s people here at Dural let’s be mindful of the battle we each face, and pray for God’s power and His Spirit to keep giving us the thirst to seek more of Him above all else.

From Luke Montgomery – 2nd March 2012

“Jesus said to him, ‘ You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and foremost commandment’. Matt 22v37-38

There is nothing more refreshing than seeing someone live out the Christian faith. To see someone try and walk in Jesus shadow is the most encouraging thing as followers of Jesus we will ever witness. To see people let go of worldly dreams and put their energy into extending God’s Kingdom is nothing short of beautiful.

Last night I was reading a small biography on a man named Jonathan Edwards. Edwards was a pastor and preacher in America during the 1800s. Edwards was blessed with a brilliant mind and used it to glorify God. As a pastor he played a large part in revivals throughout his area. He wrote several books that are still in use today and preached some incredible sermons. He was used mightily by God, his gifts, talents and convictions were used by God to extend his kingdom. It is fair to say that Jonathan Edwards tried to love the Lord his God with all his heart, soul and mind whilst he had time on this earth. Funnily enough I see ‘living biographies’ all around me.

Everyday I am encouraged by the amount of people I witness who are trying to Love the Lord our God with all their heart, soul and mind. Some of these people are newly married and the way in which they love their wives, support them and lead them in Jesus is nothing short of the Gospel in action. I see people taking their family overseas following their calling of mission and I see people giving up time and energy to tutor the Wunan Kids.

When we love the Lord our God with everything we have the most beautiful things occur. All of a sudden his kingdom grows and where his kingdom grows so does his joy, love, peace, patience, kindness, grace etc… As a community we all have amazingly different callings on the specifics of our lives. Yet we all share one overarching call, to love the Lord with all our heart, soul and mind.

A.W. Tozer writes some questions that might be helpful to think through this week.
“Rules for Self Discovery:

1. What we want most;
2. What we think about most;
3. How we use our money;
4. What we do with our leisure time;
5. The company we enjoy;
6. Who and what we admire;
7. What we laugh at.”

 

From Peter Clarke – 24th February 2012

Lent has begun and Easter is on its way. I often follow Christine Sign Posts and I found this weeks’ one on Lent very challenging so I thought I would share it with you.  It was titled What do we hunger and thirst for?

In a world of multiplicity, including bounteous sources for satisfaction, we can easily miss the truth that appears right in front of us every moment of everyday.  The Lord, our living  God,  is providing us ample food and water in the focused meal of abundance:

‘’ You’re blessed when you’ve worked up a good appetite for God.  His food and drink is the best meal you’ll ever eat.’’ Matthew 5:6 (msg)
But we readily present ourselves before the sizeable and bloating banquets on offer elsewhere and everywhere.  What is characteristic of humanity is we fall into the arms of convenience or give up on the search too easily.

If we hunger and thirst for God – for righteousness in true humility – we will win a meal so handsome, it reveals all other meals as junk food.
What do we hunger and thirst for?   Bread or the righteousness of God?

This weekend 80 of our young adults are heading of together for their annual camp. Let’s uphold them in prayer over the weekend.  Also during our morning service this weekend Peter and Jo Ong will interviewed regarding the adventure God is leading them on.

From Nic Cassar – 17th February, 2012

To all in our community I wish you a happy new year & God’s peace upon you. For many of us, the year has started with a bang & things appear to be happening at a pace unprecedented to last. There’s always stuff to be done & before we know it we’ll be well into the middle of 2012.

So far our Church community has been focusing on spiritual renewal, with the small group Growth Works series starting this month, as well as our Extreme Makeover teaching series on Sunday mornings & the Psalms of ascent series at Feast.

Spiritual renewal often requires a giving of one’s time on a regular basis, whether it be reading the word, meditating in prayer, meeting with people or other practices. In the midst of our often busy lives time is of the essence & dedication to spiritual renewal can be easily viewed as a chore or just another thing to add to the list of tasks that need to be done. I’m pleased to say that this is not God’s intention.

A bi-product of spiritual renewal is spiritual refreshment. Spending genuine time with God enables us to see things through His lens & often as a result our burdens are lightened, we gain a sense of God’s peace, are more able to prioritise & make wiser choices. It is in our best interests to do this & is vital to our spiritual health as individuals & as a church community.

A large number of our community have committed to the Growth Works series, which is really encouraging & I know the leadership team are excited to see people draw near to Him as a result. I have no doubt that there will be times where committing to spiritual growth initiatives like this one will seem like a chore or even mundane, but the benefits far out way the pitfalls.

May you continue to seek God through spiritual disciplines & be refreshed by His peace.

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Mat 11:28-29)

Shalom,

Nic

Brian Codrington – 10th February 2012

What has the start of the New Year been like for you?  Hectic? Disorganised? Or have you adapted seamlessly, simply having it “all together”?

When I reflect on just the last six weeks of church life so much has happened already. We have hosted the Solomon Islands Futsal team; our Sports Centre activities and all our ministries have recommenced; we’ve have been encouraged as Peter has been inducted as Team Leader; small group leaders and other teams have met together …… and the list goes on.

So what will make this year different from any other for us as a church?

Well, our leadership team has resolved to focus our strategies on “Growing and Reaching Together”. We don’t want to simply have a busy church life. Far from it!  Actually many of us are tired of simply being busy.

We want to be, and to lead our church to be, focused on deepening our commitment to Christ (Growing), impacting our world for the cause of the Kingdom (Reaching) and having fun as we live life (Together), “GRT”.

All these aspects will be intertwined throughout church life – rather than separate targets.

How can you be involved? In a wide variety of ways! Right now you could join a small group “GRT group” with just a ten week commitment. These groups are pushing on in their spiritual walk, doing that together and also updated with ways they can together impact our world.

Resolve to be part of a mission trip this year or in the first half of next year. There’s an opportunity for people of all ages to be involved. While these are predominantly “Reach” opportunities, it’s all experienced “Together” and much spiritual “Growth” occurs.

I am excited about what God will do amongst us this year. Yes, we know it will be a year of challenges. But “Growing and Reaching Together” is not just our desire; it is God’s desire for His church. As we diligently seek Him in prayer, I am confident He will provide.

So let’s get on board and enjoy the journey together.

From Peter Clarke – 3rd February 2012

Hi Everyone,

I hope you’re all feeling refreshed and ready for the year ahead.  While on holidays I came across this short devotion and I thought I would share it with you.

Someone has said that mediocrity is just the best of the worst and the worst of the best. Is that what you want this year? If not, you must be willing to leave the safety of where you are, and go where God wants to take you. After fishing all night and catching nothing Jesus told His disciples, ‘Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.’ In other words, leave the safety of the shoreline and be willing to face the fury of the storm, knowing that God is with you. Helen Keller, who overcame incredible challenges, reportedly said, ‘Security is a myth. The reason we don’t experience it is because it doesn’t exist. Avoiding danger or failure is no safer in the long run than out-right risk. Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all.’

Launching out means setting goals, establishing a plan to reach them, and becoming accountable. It requires staying in sync with God’s will, confronting your fears and discovering the rewards that lie on the other side of them. It demands looking in the mirror, and respecting or correcting what you’re becoming. It calls for devoting your life to something greater than yourself, even when others don’t understand. It’s having an ‘I will fear no evil for You are with me’ attitude, and attempting great things for God. As you enter this New Year, stop and recall God’s goodness. Check the price tag on His will for your life against what you’re already paying, and compare the rewards of both. Then, ‘launch out’ and don’t look back!

As a church our mission statement is Seeking to reflect Jesus in our church, community and world.  To Reflect Jesus will mean letting go of a number of a things that we like to control.

This Sunday I am being inducted as the team leader of God’s church here at Dural.  If I’m honest, deep down I can sometimes feel a bit overwhelmed as I launch out in this new role.  However, as I have reflected on Scripture and have spent time in the Word, I do take confidence in the God I worship. In Colossians Chapter 1 verses 15-18 it says this about my God. ’’He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.  For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities: all things were created by him and for him.  He is before all things and in him all things hold together.  And he is the head of the body the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have supremacy.’’

As I take on this role – I know as a leader – Christ must become greater and I must become less.  Sam and I are really looking forward to serving you in the days ahead.  We have a big God who loves this church.

 

 

Please Note: There will be no Get Connected Communication during the month of January, 2012. Communication will recommence in February.

From Peter Clarke – 23rd December, 2011

Dear Church Family,
As I write this email, I realise this is the last Get Connected communication for 2011!

Reflecting back over the year, there have been so many things that have happened throughout our church community in the past twelve months.  I trust that when you too look back, you can see God’s divine guiding hand in what we have done and who we are as a community. I certainly sense this and feel excited as we head into the future.

As we celebrate together this weekend at our Christmas Eve (11.00pm) and Christmas Day (9.30am) services, all donations received from the offerings will be given to our Christmas Appeal.  Our target is $45,000 in which $5,000 will go towards our Compassion Ministry to help people in need in our local community. The balance of $40,000 will go towards the Solomon Island “Community Development” Program and the Baptist World Aid “Beyond Disability” Program in Cambodia.

The Pastors would like to thank everyone who has served in our community during the year.  We appreciate all you’ve done and value your contribution. We hope you have a great and restful Christmas and look forward to serving with you in 2012.

On behalf of the Pastoral Team Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you all!

Peter Clarke

Brian Codrington – 18th December, 2011

We have talked a lot in recent months about GRT. As a church we have said we aim at Growing and Reaching Together. Our individual ministries have been allocated to one of these areas according to whether they are primarily concerned with our Spiritual Growth, Reaching Others with the Good News, or Being Together in Community.

Some events allow us to do all three things at the one time. Our Christmas event last Sunday was a great example. What a great day it was!!

We saw our people using their gifts and being stretched, while at the same time we had the local community engaged, and we enjoyed the camaraderie and fellowship of time together.

Thank you to the many who served faithfully in a multitude of ways. Your servant heart was so much appreciated.

There is something special and uplifting when the Body functions like that for a common cause. I certainly experienced that and I know many others shared that experience.

As we talk of “growing together”, our prayer is a special one for Ella and Caleb as they get married tomorrow. May God richly bless you, and may you grow together as our God continues to use you for the cause of the Kingdom.

Brian on behalf of the Pastoral Team

Nic Cassar – 9th December 2011

A massive thank you to all who have served and celebrated so far this Christmas season around our community; as always there’s a lot happening. It’s so encouraging to see the love of God being demonstrated in so many different ways.

I hear that last Wednesday’s ‘ginger bread making night’ was a real hit, with 150 + people from the neighbourhood and church community participating. This was a great opportunity for people to relax and eat together, as well as hear a testimony from Jo Ong and her family’s plan to be missionaries in Uganda as a result of God’s call on their lives. What a great opportunity for people to experience what’s happening within our church community and be pointed to the hope we have in Christ.

As most of you are aware this Sunday’s Carols night is another opportunity to share and demonstrate the message of Christmas, whether it be through giving praise to our Lord through carols singing, demonstrating God’s service to us through serving others, or reflecting God’s hospitality through celebrating with our neighbours and family.

All these actions are a form of worship, and reflect the attitudes of the Magi and shepherds who visited Jesus during His birth. I encourage us all to make the most of this opportunity on Sunday and the many others that will come this season.

“After they (the Magi) had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshipped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.” Matthew 2:9-12

From Luke Montgomery – 2nd December 2011

 

 

 

God is a redeeming God. Throughout scripture particularly the OT we read the ways in which God takes a broken and hurting Israel and breathes life into them. Time and time again he provides, rescues and loves with the intention of redeeming his people.

In the NT we see the way that Jesus redeems the world through His sacrifice. He loves taking what is broken, fixing it and breathing life into whatever it is that needs redeeming. Amazingly that’s the God we serve.

Throughout this church it is a blessing to see how many things are happening where God’s people are putting their hand up and saying ‘use me’. Through ministries such as the Men’s Shed, LTN, Chicago, tutoring the kids next door, Children’s ministry, being on a search committee for a senior pastor etc we see this redeeming process happening every day.

The point is that it is encouraging when we look around to see the ways in which God is using our church as a body of believers to redeem the people, the church and the land around us.

Romans 11.

From Peter Clarke – 25th November 2011

Hi Everyone,

Over the last month or so I have been challenged with what does obedience to God look like.

D L Moody was one of the greatest men of God of a past generation.  He had an unpleasant voice to listen to and butchered his English, but he was so powerfully used by God as a preacher.   The question I ask is “what enabled someone like him to be so used by God?”  When Moody was in the early days of his ministry, he visited a Bible study.  During the study the leader made the comment, ’’The world has yet to see what God can do through one man totally yielded to Him”.

Moody went out of the Bible study with those words ringing in his heart.  He said “By the grace of God, I will be that man”.   We know from history how God used Moody.  God wants to use each and every one of us.  Will we bold like Moody and say “I will be that person through the grace of God.”

On another note our Christmas event is only a few weeks away (11th of Dec) it has been amazing to see the way God has been working behind the scenes.  Our friends at Laservision have offered to put on a laser show at the end of the Carols which will be amazing.  Nic has put together a choir to lead us in carol singing.  There will be a short talk about the most amazing thing that has ever happened in our world, God entering our world in the person of Jesus Christ.

We still require help with set up and pack up; if you would like to help please contact the office.

From Brian Codrington – 18th November 2011

Over the past couple of years as I have done my early morning bike rides I have listened to the Scripture on iPod. Yes, I know, I was very late to grab hold of that concept!
Just over the last two weeks I have started that time with a couple of songs to prepare my heart to hear God’s word.

Today’s song was Matt Redman’s “Shine”. What a fantastic description of the church impacting the world. Some of the words are as follows:
Well, we have seen the stars and moon,
See how they shine,
They shine for You,
And You’re calling us to do the same.

So we rise up with a song,
And we rise up with a cry,
And we’re giving You our lives.

We will shine like stars in the universe,
Holding out Your truth in the darkest place.
We’ll be living for Your glory,
Jesus, we’ll be living for Your glory

We will burn so bright with Your praise, oh, God.
And declare Your light to this
Broken world.
We’ll be living for Your glory,
Jesus, we’ll be living for Your glory

Like the sun so radiantly
Sending light for all to see,
Let Your holy church arise.
We will shine!

I praise God that His Spirit is stirring our church in this way. Along with the ongoing weekly REACH ministries of our church like Friday night youth, Playtime, School Scripture and the Sports Centre, God is raising up new opportunities for us to “Shine”.

This past week many of our church commenced tutoring activities at “Wunan House”. Last weekend sixteen “non church” people joined us on a “Step Beyond Adventure”. Two weeks ago an ever growing group engaged in our local community through “Love Thy Neighbour”. In just three weeks time we have our big Christmas Event here at the Centre. We all engage each day with others in our places of work, study or play. All are God given opportunities for us to Keep Shining. So be encouraged. Let’s continue do it !!

From Nic Cassar – 11th November 2011

Earlier this week I walked into a book store and was met by the sound of Christmas carols over the stereo. I couldn’t believe it was already ‘that time of year’ again. The music sounded the anticipation of the coming Christmas season, and for me (if I’m honest) it wasn’t a positive feeling.

Memories came back of being overwhelmed by meeting work deadlines, spending more money than I had and eating far too much food.

For many, Christmas is a quiet stressful time of year, apparently it’s a high time for depression, family break ups and even suicide.

What a different message we have in the Christmas story in the Bible. As you know, the coming of the Messiah exclaimed the faithfulness of God and anticipation of the certain hope we have in Him. Some characteristics of this hope are: peace, rest, life and  a generosity that overflows (just to name a few).

Our Church community is involved and committed to seeing this hope realised in individuals and groups across our neighbourhood (and not only at Christmas time!).
Every ministry of our Church points to and is aimed at giving this hope in one way or another. We will be honouring the Christmas season this year in a number of different ways.

On the 11th of December we are having a community BBQ where we will celebrate this hope with not only our church community but the communities from the sports centre and surrounding suburbs.  As well as this the Feast service will be exploring the ‘Advent Conspiracy’ on the 18th November, and we will be holding our traditional midnight mass service on Christmas Eve and our Christmas service on Christmas Day. These will be a great opportunities to for us to share the big hope and peace we have in Him and remind us of the true meaning of Christmas.

From Luke Montgomery – 4th November 2011

 

 

It’s easy to forget the power of the Gospel. The fact that a truth, a simple yet complex truth, able to turn a man or a woman’s life upside down is an extraordinary thing.

Especially considering the amount of history each person has. Whether young or old each person has been told and influenced by many different ideals and ways of thinking. Yet at the end of the day it is the gospel that is the light amongst the confusion.

Lately I have had the privilege of seeing some young guy’s lives turned upside down by the message of Jesus. Young men, who by a worldly understanding shouldn’t make much of their lives, shouldn’t change and certainly shouldn’t have come to know Jesus. God’s word is all powerful and his gospel breaks down strongholds. There should be no greater encouragement to us a church than the grace that we have in the King.

“For I am not ashamed of this good news about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes- the Jew first and also the Gentle. This good news tells us how God made us right in his sight. This is accomplished by start to finish by faith.” Romans 1v16-17

From Brian Codrington – 28th October 2011

There is something very fulfilling about a community of God’s people working together to achieve His mission. We have had a glimpse of that again over these past weeks as our friends from Halls Creek have arrived to take up residence at “Wunan House”.

God provided a vision for us. God provided for us this amazing house that would not be any better had it been purpose built. God provided excellent house parents in Jamie and Tracey, people who are committed to serve God and be used by God amongst their own people. God has raised up many of our own people with a passion to be involved, to live life with our friends and to be used by God. I am excited by what God has done, is doing, and will do.

Thank you, as a church, for being willing to take a “risk” as we launch into the unknown.

I want to take this opportunity to thank those who have been involved to date.

The house has been repainted, repaired, furnished and fully equipped for our friends. Chris Thomas headed that team that worked so hard over these past months. Chris and Noelene were supported particularly by Rob and Joy Edwards and Richard Harris. Thank you so much for your untiring service. That has been an awesome effort!

Thank you too, to the many others that have made a contribution to this ministry. It is truly exciting to see the involvement and expectation of so many.

This is just a foretaste of what God will continue to do for us as we engage together in His mission. I know I have said it before, perhaps too much for some, but there is no greater sense of fulfillment than being used by God to achieve His purpose.

Let’s continue this journey, not just in terms of the Wunan ministry next door, but as God continues to stretch us and use us for the cause of the Kingdom in so many different ways.

From Peter Clarke – 21st October 2011
In my devotional time this week I have been reflecting on 1 Samuel.  Here are a couple of verses that I want to share with you from Chapter 12 verse 20-21, 24.
“Then Samuel said to the people, Do not fear: You have done all this wickedness; yet do not turn aside from following the Lord, but serve the Lord with all your heart.  And do not turn aside, for then you would go after empty things which cannot profit or deliver, for they are nothing … Only fear the Lord, and serve Him in truth with all your heart; for consider what great things He has done for you.

The question I asked myself and I think  it’s a great one for all us all to reflect on is, how many times do we go after empty things which cannot profit and deliver?

Dates for your diary:

Reach
With the Christmas period just around the corner can I ask you to put aside December 11th ? As one of our Reach events we will be holding our community Christmas Carols. This will be a great chance to bring your family and neighbours.  This year we have something very special planned, there will be more details to follow soon, but let me say I am very excited.
Together
It’s coming to that time of the year again when we meet for our Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Sunday 27th of November including fellowship lunch.
We currently are working on a whole range of initiatives under our Grow, Reach, Together (GRT) church goals and will be able to use this opportunity to reflect on what God has done and update you on future plans.

As a pastoral team we would value your prayers for the AGM.

 

From Pastor Nic Cassar – 14th October 2011
As it turns out our Aboriginal brothers and sisters will be arriving this weekend to start living in the ‘Wunan House’ next door. This is a really exciting chapter in what has already been an interesting and sometimes complicated journey. Its been encouraging to see many from our Church community lending a hand where they can to help make this happen.

As I reflect on this I am reminded of how privileged we are to be able to help in this small way, but also the potential opportunities we have to learn from people of a slightly different culture. In recent weeks at ‘Salt & Light’ (our young adults small group night) we have been looking at how the gospel affects different cultures, affirming some things and restoring others. We have seen examples of how ordinary followers of Jesus have brought to life the riches of who He is through unique expressions of their own customs. Cultural richness and diversity is a quality that is often desired in many cities and towns. It’s also biblical. In the book of Revelation we are given a picture of this:

“After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice: “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.”  (7:9-10)

I hope and pray that we will all be encouraged as this new ministry starts to take shape and blossom. Although I’m sure there are many hurdles to come, there will also be glimpses of God’s intention for His people to worship Him through the lens of diverse cultural expressions.

From Pastor Luke Montgomery – 7th October, 2011

“The God of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus sake. For God, who said, let light shine out of darkness, made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ”. 2 Cor 4v4-6

A lot of my reading and thinking of late has been in terms of what is to come. In our day to day lives we have ups and downs, things go really well for us and sometimes life is really difficult. It can become so easy to lose sight of what is at stake. It can become all too easy to forget the passions, the love, the joy that we have in Christ. C S Lewis stated that one of the reasons we have become so ineffective in this life is because we have forgotten about the next.

This world is not all there is. There is something much greater to come. The greatest things in this life are merely a shadow of what the real thing is.

This is an incredible truth.

“There are far, far better things ahead than any we leave behind.”  C S Lewis

Have a great week.

Luke  on behalf of the Pastoral Team

 

Pastor Brian Codrington- 30th September, 2011

What a big weekend of sport!

It will be a weekend when some are “at the game”, others glued to their TV’s, while others simply can’t wait for the weekend to finish and the hype to simply “go away”.  (Perhaps you have someone like that in your house)

Yes it’s a pity that the Tigers are not there (yes, Maureen Ryan, I do know that Benji Marshall is a New Zealander!) but they will be back next year as they say.

Now I love my sport. Yet, I have been pondering more this week about our total obsession as Aussies with it. Our newspapers, TV’s, radios, even this “Get Connected” all bring us the latest.

What does it take for us to be as passionate about our faith as we are with our favourite team?

A group of us pondered that this week and came up with this response. When our eyes are opened to see the might, magnificence, love and grace of our God in the light of our sin and unworthiness. When the Spirit of God works in our life and draws us into the very presence of God, convicting us our sin and God’s provision in Jesus Christ. That is the first step to being a passionate follower of Christ.

While I love my sport, I have found that nothing at all in this life compares with the joy of following Christ, receiving His forgiveness and journeying with Him in Life. I pray that I (and you too!) will never lose that passion for Jesus.

Brian  on behalf of the Pastoral Team

Rev. Peter Clarke – 23rd September, 2011

Hi Everyone,

Last week I spoke on Acts 8:1-8 and I picked up the theme of the church being scattered. I have done some more pondering over that subject this week. When the first century Church faced persecution, God used that for His glory and His purpose to spread the Gospel.  Yes it’s important that we gather together in community, but it is equally important that we go out into the world.

As believers we must embrace a theology of God’s people being both gathered but also being dispersed into the world.

Throughout almost all of its history the church has been composed of two categories of people, those who are ministers and those who are not. Ministry has been defined as what the pastor does and not in terms of all of us being servants of God going about God’s purposes in the market place, the church, the home, the school or professional office.

For many, going into the ‘Lord’s work’ means becoming a pastor or missionary, not being co-workers with God in His creating, sustaining, redeeming and consummating work – in both the church and the world.

Throughout Acts we have seen that every believer is called to be witnesses. We are working with a group of people at the moment to see how we can effectively equip people to be witnesses and ministers wherever you find yourself in life, as we are all ministers and witnesses.

Peter

From Nic Cassar – 16th September 2011

As I sit at my desk this morning my senses are bombarded with the sounds of bulldozers mixed with kids playing at playgroup, the smell of the dust and machinery, and the interesting (and often entertaining) visuals of Ps Brian & Rob Hercus pacing up and down the office corridor as they co-ordinate another busy summer season in the sports centre. These things point to some of the many happenings around our church community; some on their seasonal or weekly rhythm, others as the result of long term prayer and planning.

The extension to the underground car park is well underway, with ‘stage one’ of the process being completed within the coming weeks. This will benefit youth on Friday nights which continues to grow, tie in with the plans for the new men’s shed movement and give much needed relief to the sports centre as the car park will reach its capacity on a number of occasions during the summer.

I have also been informed that our weekly playgroup ministry is continuing to develop as relationships strengthen and people engage with other services in our church community. Also, the Indigenous housing project has finally been given the go-ahead commencing early October for coming school term.

We have so much to praise God for and pray about and I encourage you to do just that! I have also been encouraged as we continue to journey through the book of Acts. Time and time again I am amazed and inspired by the many happenings in this book; however I am starting to be confronted by the main happening – that is God is doing His thing and fulfilling His long term plan to restore and make all things new. As we pray about all the great things in our church, may we also pray and be reminded of this deeper truth

 

From Luke Montgomery – 9th September 2011

In chapter 3 of the book of John we read an interesting dialogue between Jesus and an important member of the Jewish council, Nicodemus. Nicodemus states that he knows that Jesus is from God, a huge statement in itself and then is told that no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.

To be born again is a strange yet beautiful idea. Jesus is saying that if we wish to see the kingdom of God, if we wish to understand him, to know his ways, to be used by him we must be born again. Be made anew.

We are made clean and given a new outlook on life when we allow Jesus to come into our life. Later in the chapter Jesus uses the image of light and states “Light has come into the world but men loved darkness instead of light”. It’s an image that John uses a lot throughout his book.

The application of this passage for us as a church is extremely encouraging. In Jesus we are made anew. He is the light of the world and without him we can’t see. All of a sudden we see things that we never did, we have compassion for those less fortunate, and we have a peace that transcends understanding. As a church we are a light in Dural. We have the opportunity to be this light in a world that is very lost because they can’t see. We are also a light to nations, to Fiji, to the Solomons etc. We have the privilege and responsibility to be used by God in this place at this time.

Have a read of Chapter 3 when you get time this week and allow God’s word to shape your thinking about our mission.

His Grace is very good.

From Peter Clarke – 2nd September 2011

I have been reminded again this week that God is Sovereign. As a church we are continuing to see God at work amongst us.  Last Sunday at the members meeting, Phil Sutherland shared about his recent trip to Brisbane to the Men’s Shed Conference and how God had led him to the right people to talk about the men’s shed here. I would like to say thank you so much to all those who have helped in moving the gear – I know many of you have sacrificed your spare time.

Last week we put some needs that different people had in the newsletter and again a servant from our church was able to help meet those needs.

Last Sunday night a teenager that comes to youth on Friday night came to FEAST for the second time.

Every day we have to make a decision about whether or not we’re going to trust God enough to follow Him. We all need to have the confidence that God is God, that He is at work in our lives, that He is at work in the lives of our neighbours, that He is at work in our work places and families.

There is nothing that can surprise God. My prayer is that we will grow in our confidence of who God is.

From Nic Cassar – 26th August 2011

I just wanted to share with you the encouragement I’ve received from hearing about the Love Thy Neighbour project that’s been happening over the past 8 months. Every six weeks a team of about a dozen people from our church community offer acts of service to houses in the local neighbourhood.

More often than not this involves your everyday backyard chores from mowing the lawn, sweeping, cleaning the gutters & weeding. Every time I chat with the guys after one of these days of serving I hear about how God moved in one way or another, whether it be through conversations with house owners, opportunities to share their faith, or just the general running of the day & working as team. The original idea of this ministry was to build long term relationships with the neighbourhood through acts of service as a demonstration of the unconditional love God has for us.

This seems to be taking shape, as LTN is starting to be known in the immediate community as they are serving the same houses more than once, building rapport with the owners, and are offering specific assistance when needed.  They are now starting to hand out ‘business cards’ identifying what they offer, and who our Church community is. There’s also a growing need for the team to have their own maintenance gear as the ‘work load’ starts to increase.

I am confident that as this ministry continues to go forward God’s kingdom will continue to expand and be revealed to those in our immediate community.

The next LTN date is Sunday 18th of September at 1pm. There are many different ways you can get involved in this ministry; through prayer, door knocking, donating/lending equipment and of course helping on the day. Contact Chris Thomas or Emma Chalk for more details.

I read this quote this morning which I found inspiring.

“People don’t care what you know, until they know you care”

May God’s shalom be with you.

From Brian Codrington – 19th August 2011

It was fantastic to have Jamie Elliott from Halls Creek with us last Sunday morning. His visit was totally unexpected until I received a phone call late Saturday night as he hopped off the plane here in Sydney.

His passion as he spoke on Sunday was so refreshing.  His belief in what the Wunan Education project can deliver was heartfelt. And, his desire to be used by God, to bring the type of lasting change that can really “close the gap”, was inspiring.

Many people have spoken about the inspiration that Jamie provided on that visit. I was so encouraged too, because with the delays in getting the project started over these past weeks, I have needed to refocus on the positives that will be delivered in the future. Jamie’s visit was an encouragement to me.

That little scenario about Jamie last weekend is simply a picture of life. Being encouraged makes such a difference! To receive encouragement as another person comes alongside and speaks into our lives and into the situation can change our perspective and bring hope.

We too can be that person who speaks hope into the life of another. Let’s do that together over this coming week!

And on the matter of the land and Wunan, we continue to wait for the final arrangements that will enable the lease to be signed. I am thankful for our prayer team exhortation to be “patient and trust”. I must confess, I battle much more with the first of those words than the second!  Let’s continue to pray about this matter particularly over these coming days.

From Peter Clarke – 12th August 2011

I have just finished putting together the ministry report for the church meeting at the end of August. It absolutely amazed me at what has happened in the life of the church over these last few months.

Just as Spring brings new life I believe we are entering a new season in the life of the church.

We live in an ever changing world.  People are changing and I am shocked with what I saw happening in the UK this week, especially the young age of some of those involved.

We have also participated in a national census this week because our population changes numerically, ethnically, geographically and economically.

There will be many challenges to face as we head into the future; however, we have a God that cannot be shaken. In Malachi 3:6 it says,’’ For I am the Lord, I do not change”. Is that not a neat thought? Even though everything around us seems to change, even though the very earth shifts in different places at times, God says,” I never change.’’ And the word He used for ’Lord’ in that statement was ‘Jehovah’. I Am Jehovah. I Am God. I Am the One who has all you need. I never change.

If we keep Christ at the core of who we are as church we have an incredible future; and the fruit will come. Christ promised to his disciples that He would build his church.

From Luke Montgomery – 5th August 2011

Turns out we are not that big.

We live in a world with an estimated population of around 7 billion people.
That’s 7,000,000,000.

They have estimated that throughout the world’s history around 100 billion people have called the earth their home.

We are in the year 2011.  For the most experienced and wisest amongst us the last 100 years is the most anyone would have seen and yet the world’s story is thousands and thousands of years old.

To us the world is quite large, you only have to jump on a plane and head to New York to see the grand scale of our world. Yet our world is minute in the grand scheme of the universe. Scientists have worked out that our earth would fit around 1 million times into the sun.  The sun itself has nothing to brag about when comparing itself to the rest of the universe. There are stars in our universe which make the sun look like a tiny dot.

We are living in the middle of God’s handiwork. We are incredible in ourselves, our make up, our personalities, our abilities to create, to love and to think are all signs that there is much more to this world. Yet in our complexity it is important to remember what this is all about. It is so easy to get caught up with the complexities of our lives that we forget the big picture.

As followers of Jesus we are called to restore this broken world all the while pointing to the one in control. We are part of a world that has a long history, our lives are a part of a much bigger story and the big question we need to continually reflect on is how my life is doing this.

The gospel is all that matters.

The fact that God, the creator, the being that is infinitely more powerful than any of us chose out of love a cross so that we could come to relationship with him shows just how much he cares about us.

Romans 8v28-39

From Brian Codrington – 29th July 2011

Hi Friends,

We have a new kitchen at home! The thirty three year old drawers, filled with the particle board that had swollen and broken off, have gone. The old rattly and leaking refrigerator has been replaced. In fact many of our appliances have been replaced. What a difference!

There is a different feel as we walk in and experience life together in that room. The room has been transformed. Our kitchen has a new beginning!
The Book of Acts is filled with new beginnings. A fresh outpouring of the Spirit, miraculous signs and wonders, dramatic conversions, new direction and effectiveness……..the list of new experiences and new beginnings just goes on and on.

I find this book so exciting! It captivates my imagination and my desire to see God reveal His power and New Directions in my everyday life.

At times we see that same power at work in our lives. I see God at work more in the new initiatives of my life. For example on our recent mission trip to Central Australia and the Kimberley our team was praying for many things – a “man of peace” in Papunya; good connection with the people of Halls Creek School and community; an opportunity to share life with the potential kids who will come down to “next door” and a range of other things. We were constant in prayer and expectant that God would provide. And, He did! Our trip was a truly wonderful experience.

Could it be that the reason we so often miss what God wants to do in our “everyday life” is because we lack the expectancy and devotion to prayer that often accompanies a new venture?

I have no doubt that the account we read in Acts is what God intends for His church, each and every day. We are to be a church that allows Him to work in and through us each day. We are to be a church that impacts our world each day in His power.

These things will only happen if we are as prayerful and expectant in “the everyday” as we are in the new ventures of life.

Let’s encourage one another on this exciting journey of faith.

Thank you too, for your prayer for our Mission Trip. As mentioned above God continued to provide and surprise us on our trip. We had an excellent time, and were well received in the places we ministered.

Brian – On behalf of the Pastoral Team

From Luke Montgomery – 22nd July 2011

This life is not about us.

It’s a very simple statement, one that the Christian will generally agree with. Yet at its core this is a revolutionary statement in our culture.

… Then he called the crowd to  Him along with his disciples and said “ If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world and yet forfeit his very soul” Mark 8v34-36

From a young age our culture teaches us that life is very much about us, that we are to focus on our own needs, on our own desires and see wherever life takes us. Following Jesus is a very different playground, here we ask Jesus to take our life and basically do what he wants with it.

This life is not about us, it is about him. Mark Sayers summed it up perfectly when he stated “we are here as part of God’s restoration project”. The purpose of our life is to bring glory to Jesus and the more we do that the more we allow God to use us to restore this broken world.
We see this grace in the church all the time. LTN is a team that goes into random people’s houses and mows lawns, cleans gutters and does whatever they can to bless those in this area.

A week ago we saw a team of young and old have a fun week with kids at Kidsmania. To see 20 year olds running around as lions, pandas, and Willy Wonka characters on their week off encouraged me to no end. To see 50 little kids blessed by the sacrifice of that team brought me great joy.

Youth ministry is becoming more and more a light amongst the youth in Dural. Here we have a team of young people who give up so much time and energy to see young people come to Christ and have a hope that they don’t presently have.  We have parents who give up their Friday nights to come and serve as security and testing their skills on the barbeque.

All throughout this church community we have people giving up their lives, making significant sacrifices so that Gods light is portrayed. There are countless areas that people are serving in and making a significant difference in.  It is a strange thing, especially in our culture to do these things. To give up time, money and energy to serve a greater cause is nothing short of beautiful. It’s an encouragement to see so many people losing their life for the gospel.

Luke – on behalf of the Pastoral Team

From Nic Cassar – 15th July 2011

 

Dear friends,

As most of you know we have started a series on the book of Acts, chapters 1-11. As I prepared and shared the opening five chapters last week I was challenged and confronted by many things described throughout. For example; the fearless character of Peter and John under persecution, the quality of genuine community amongst believers, the supernatural healings and miracles, and of course the startling death of Ananias and Sapphira.

Also there were some common themes that stood out. It was God through the Holy Spirit who initiated everything to fulfill His plan.  A lot of the time the way He acted was ‘out of the box’ for most involved, and the majority of disciples trusted in God and the Spirit, and were used to enable His plan. It seems that the first church did not anticipate what God was going to do through them over this period and they were brought to a place that couldn’t have been possible through mere human effort and planning.

Over witnessing all the great things that are happening and have occurred in our community over the past year, I look back and know that two years ago none of these things would have seemed possible unless God had played the main part in them. So what will the year ahead look like?

Last week I attended one of the spiritual retreats conducted by Murray Bingham & Robyn Lee (they were great!). Basically, we were encouraged to stop, sit and listen to God through the ‘ordinary’ surroundings around us. At first I found this quite hard, but after a time I started to clear my head and be humbled by who God us and what He is doing. I got the impression that no matter what I did or didn’t do, God would continue His plan for everything and He loved me regardless. This both scared and comforted me, knowing that He was in control and not me.

I then felt compelled to take a number of photos of the things around me. I have attached two of these photos. The first one, is of two trees, one contained and small, the other flourishing and large with a seat underneath it. I felt drawn to sit at the seat. The second is of a life sized crucifix (which was in the garden) with a speed sign in front of it, a seemingly ironic setting.

Maybe God is going to do some of things described in the book of Acts amongst our church community, maybe He isn’t. I’m not too sure. However I am encouraged that He does have a specific plan for us, and will possibly do things that we haven’t intended, that are beyond the plans and parameters we have set, and are outside the realms of our control. I guess as I reflect on the events over the past two weeks I am encouraged to trust in Him, give time in waiting on Him and the Spirit, be ready to be challenged and sometimes wrong, and to be comforted and surprised.

God Bless,
Nic

From the desk of Pastor Trevor Wight 8th July, 2011

Dear Friends,
As many of you know Robyne & I have recently returned from an overseas trip. We had a great time away but it was also great to get back & so encouraging to hear what God has been doing here at Dural.

I would like to draw on two experiences from our trip that I think have relevance for the journey God is taking this church on.

Firstly one of the highlights was in Austria & Switzerland visiting some of the cities where you could see snow capped mountains in the background, and a fast running, crystal clear river winding its way through the city. On numerous occasions Robyne & I stood on one of the many bridges, admiring the beauty but also being amazed at how so much water could just keep on flowing day after day, month after month.

It reminds me of God’s abundant grace, love & mercy and of the verses that picture Jesus being the source of “living water” (John 7:37-38, see also Revelation 22)

When Peter Clarke caught me up with all that God had been doing here while we were away, I came across these verses in Luke 7 (Message version) that seem to capture what’s been happening:    “They all realized they were in a place of holy mystery, that God was at work among them. They were quietly worshipful – and then noisily grateful, calling out among themselves, ‘God is back, looking to the needs of his people!’ The news of Jesus spread all through the country.”   Praise God for what his work amongst us.

Our second experience was when I had my wallet stolen. My wallet was in a zipped pocket in my shorts yet someone stole it, without me feeling a thing!! Even though I was being vigilant some crafty person still managed to find a way to take what rightfully belonged to me, which could have easily ruined our holiday. As I reflect on this experience I am reminded of the verses “Be ALERT, your adversary the devil, prowls about like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. BUT RESIST HIM, FIRM IN YOUR FAITH…”  (1 Peter 5:8)

God is at work amongst us but Satan would like nothing better than to destroy what God has started so let’s more than ever PRAY & STAND FIRM – allowing God to change us, renew us & use us in building his Kingdom together.

Trevor

On behalf of the Pastoral Team

Peter Clarke -1st July 2011

Dear Church Family

As I write to you this week I am amazed at the goodness of God; I can honestly say that as a church we are actually experiencing the incomparable riches of His grace!

When Steve was speaking last Sunday morning about the Holy Spirit in the book Acts my spirit was crying out I am in! As a church it is our task to write Chapter 29 of Acts; we have the same commission as the early church to be His witnesses in Dural, Sydney – and to the ends of the earth.  As we step out in faith, that’s where we will see the Spirit at work.

Here are some of the ways we, as a Church, have seen Christ lavish His goodness on us in this last week.

Firstly, we have seen someone come to Christ from the services last Sunday.

Secondly, a door is opening up at Galston High for Luke to be involved with Joel Bennett on a Friday at lunch time.

Thirdly, this coming Monday when Brian and the team arrive at Halls Creek, Brian has been asked by Ian Trust to speak on the project next door to many CEOs – including the CEO of Westpac Bank.

Also we have been given tools and machinery to start up a Men’s Shed by someone in the broader community and we already have a group of men committed to see this as an outreach ministry.  There will be more information about this in the coming weeks.

Finally, we have exceeded our encouragement offering.  As a pastoral team we are blown away at your generosity.  During our service this week we will be allowing time for prayers of thanksgiving.

This is a great Church and God’s hand is upon it. My prayer is that we will keep seeing his Kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven.

Luke Montgomery – 24th June 2011

Hello Everyone

Steve Frost finished his talk on Grace and Power looking at 2 Corinthians 3:17.

“Where the spirit of the Lord is there is freedom. And all of us, with unveiled faces, seeing the glory of the Lord as though reflected in a mirror are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another, for this comes from the Lord, the spirit”.

It is so easy to forget what following Jesus looks like. I’ve been encouraged by Steve’s continual reminder that we are not saved by works, by religion, but by grace. It is in this grace that we are free. So often in our attempt to follow the one who calls we forget exactly what we are to be doing.

Sometimes following Jesus doesn’t feel easy.

And yet he states “take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light” Matt 11:28

Following Jesus all comes back to grace. Its what liberates us and allows us to live lives that are free. That is, we face the fact that we are weak and sinful. It is a great reminder that as we allow the spirit into our lives we are allowing freedom from the burdens of this life to consume us. It is a process but the more we give up ourselves to follow Jesus the more we are transformed into his image.

As Dietrich Bonhoeffer states “Lose your self to find it”. This is where freedom is found.

Luke – on behalf of the Pastoral Team

From Nic Cassar – 17th June 2011

Hi Friends,

Over the past number of weeks I have been both excited about the many things God is doing through & with our community & also refreshed by the reality of God’s grace and love for us.

It has been a great privilege to have Steve Frost share with us during the AM worship services in delivering his grace series, unpacking what grace means for us as followers. It seems that this message couldn’t have come at a greater time in the life of this church, as ministry activity & community outreach initiatives are starting to take shape, such as the Wunan House project next door, Kidsmania holiday programme, Men’s trade ministry, & a growing youth ministry, just to name a few.

These and others are great things in the work of the His Kingdom, however the message of God’s grace challenges and reminds us of the motivation & focus for doing them in the first place. When God’s grace & gospel move from the centre of ‘why we do what we do’, our own motivations become the centre, and our good deeds become more about us than Him, rendering a faith based on works rather than the grace of God. This is something we all know and deal with on a daily basis, and further reiterates the need to be a gospel centred community, constantly reminding each other of the unmerited grace & love God has for us.

It is this grace, that motivates us to be a community which attempts to genuinely love others both in and out side the church walls; it challenges us to give away our goods, services & finances for the sake of others; and it’s this grace that motivates us care for the poor, marginalised and lost in our community & abroad.

May you blessed, challenged & stirred up by the reminder of God’s grace and love. A grace that is available & accessible to all, regardless of merit, moral living or good works.

Pastor Brian Codrington – 1oth June 2011

Hi Friends,

I am excited about the way God continues to challenge us to use our “everyday ordinary gifts” to impact our world for Him.

On Wednesday I returned from the Solomon Islands. On that trip Tom Ford and Murray Bingham joined me as we push on as a church to impact that nation.

Tom used his skills as an audio engineer, and his workdays at Hope 103.2, to impact the lives of the skilful musicians of the Solomon Islands. They had been donated equipment, but were just missing the vital expertise to get it working properly. Tom provided that expertise, liberating them to use the equipment to great advantage.

Murray Bingham used his group facilitation skills, and also used his workdays in a variety of locations, to facilitate the workshops we did on leadership and the adoption of a personal mission statement for the 40 participants who joined us over the four day workshop.

We had a great time together.

Indeed, the “everyday ordinary gifts” given to each of us by our God, are an excellent means of impacting our church, community and world. We can make such a difference!

Let’s encourage one another to use our gifts as we engage in the work of the Kingdom.

Last week Peter attached a link regarding the impact the Solomon Islands Futsal team had on the nation as they qualified for world cup next year.

Attached today is a link that aired on Solomon National TV last Saturday evening. It pays tribute to the way we, as a church, have been able to play a part in that development. I recommend it to you.

Brian (on behalf of the Pastoral Team)

Rev Peter Clarke – 3rd June 2011

Hi Everyone,

It’s hard to believe we are half way through the year.  During this week I have been doing a lot of preparation on the series on Acts which we are going to start in July as a church. My heart was so moved; one thing I noticed in Acts is that prayer is crucial.  When the Christians prayed, the Spirit came, prison doors were opened, the place of worship was shaken, and the believers spoke with boldness.  The first Gentile mission was born of prayer, and we read in Acts of prayer in the home, prayer in the prison, prayer on the beach, prayer in the temple.   Luke was saying to us he is convinced of the power of prayer.

I, too, believe in prayer, but I admit I do not pray like that all of the time.  During this month of June every Sunday before our morning service there is a chance for us to pray together as a church.  Starting this week from 8.30am -9am in meeting rooms 3 and 4 you are all welcome to join in.  Let’s be expectant of what God is going to do through us as a church as we come before him.

Peter – on behalf of the Pastoral Team

Luke Montgomery – 27th May 2011

Light – For light to have any effect there must be darkness, it is not in the middle of a sunny day that one scrambles around the house desperately searching for a torch. It is in the darkness that light is so necessary. Jesus states in John 8v12 “I am the light of the world, whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life”. Here Jesus is saying ever so simply that he is the only one that is able to see. The image is that without Jesus we are lost, we stumble around unable to see what is actually in front of us. Jesus is the light and as such is able to see everything, obviously when you’re walking in the dark you naturally want to follow the one with the torch.

 

This verse not only states that Jesus is the light but that whoever follows him will have the light of life. When you follow Jesus you are able to see. If Jesus is the light and was able to see clearly then it is interesting to look at how Jesus lived his life. We are doing a series on reflecting Jesus at Feast. Throughout this series it has been very evident to me the Love that Jesus had for the poor, the hurting, the needy and the lost. Here is Jesus the light of the world, the one who is able to see clearly and he is spending his time spitting in the dirt, creating mud and allowing the blind to see.

 

We have been extremely blessed to have seen large numbers of young people come and become part of our youth ministry here at Dural. So many of these young people are being told lies about how they should live. They are told that alcohol, clothes, music and sex will make them happy and give them purpose. We have a culture of young people who are desperately trying to find their identity and who are struggling with this idea of being able to see.

 

As a church I want to encourage you in the work that you are doing. We have many ministries that are on the front line taking light into dark places. I want to use this time to encourage the 25 leaders who give up so much time and energy to invest into the young people God has blessed us with. When we follow Jesus we begin to see the hurting, the lost, the broken all around us. He opens our eyes and as a church you should feel extremely encouraged and proud that you have been a big part in the development of so many incredible young people who are now using their energy to show this light to our young people.

Luke (on behalf of the Pastoral Team)

From the desk of Nic Cassar

20th May, 2011

Greetings Friends,

Over the past month I have been inspired by the stories of others and excited about what’s around the corner for our Church community here at Dural.

I was encouraged last Sunday night as I heard the stories from some of our young adults in their journey of following God and engaging with a broken world.  I’ve had a number of great conversations with some ‘wiser ones’ who are passionate about people’s growth in Christ and have committed to starting a new initiative.

I was both sad & hopeful as I attended Laurie’s farewell in the morning service two weeks ago, which was accompanied by great food, music and genuine conversation.  I’m anticipating the prospect of the Indigenous Housing Project next door, listing to the murmurs of those who are eager to lend a hand.

There seems to be an apparent sense of ‘momentum’ in the air as we transition into a new phase of our Church life, as we are heading into an unknown future that is only known by the One we follow

I once heard someone say that “the future lies in the hands of God and His people”…a prospect that can be both scary and exciting.

This Thursday night we aim to explore this very idea as we hold our first GRT Dinner. It will be a time where we can share, discover and reaffirm what passions and ideas God has given us both as individuals and as a church community. As a Pastoral Team we are excited about the potential a night like this could bring and are expectant that God will both move and refresh us.

As many of us have been inspired by the stories told and lived out by others, may we also be eager to realise the stories that are about to happen….

Nic.
On behalf of the Pastoral Team

11th May, 2011

Hello Everyone

First let me start by thanking those who have given words of encouragement to me in my new position.  I am very excited at what God is going to do and is doing here at Dural.

I was woken up during the early hours today and God placed the text Exodus 14:11-31 on my mind.  I’d like to share with you what I felt God is saying to me.  Firstly, I was reminded that it was God who went before them (the Israelites), it was God who did the fighting for the people of Israel, and it was God who delivered them.  Secondly, all Moses and the people of Israel had to do was to be obedient.

I have a real sense that God is calling us forward as a church; yes there will be challenges similar to the Israelites as they faced the Red Sea but if we stay obedient to the voice of God He will lead us forward and He will fight the challenges that come our way.

I would like to take this opportunity to invite you to a special night we have planned on Thursday the 26th of May.  Our First GRT Dinner which stands for Growing and Reaching Together.  This night is open to anyone who would like to come; we do need your RSVP as we will be catering for the night.

Peter

On behalf of the Pastoral Team

 

8th May 2011

Welcome to the final Get Connected email from me. I finish this Sunday and move on to other tasks and churches. I want to take the opportunity to thank you for your love and prayerful concern for me and the process of transition we have been through together. I especially want to thank those who I have worked closest to. To the staff both pastoral and administrative, the transition team and the church council. They have all gone the extra mile to help me in my task.

I feel happy leaving knowing that the church is in better health and a more positive frame of mind than I found it to be when I arrived. The Lord has been active amongst us and for that I am grateful.

My prayer for you is that the Lord will renew your strength like the eagle and that the years the locust has eaten might be restored to you. I believe that the Lord has not yet finished with you.

Let me commend Peter Clarke to you as he assumes the role of acting Senior Pastor. It is my conviction that if you support him as you have done me, then he will be God’s man for this interim period.

Your brother in the Lord … Laurie

From the desk of Pastor Brian Codrington

29th April, 2011

Dear Friends,

What a wedding!  Well I haven’t seen it yet – so more particularly what a lead up to the wedding!

Radio and TV stations have been broadcasting all week from location. The accommodation in London, and travel to and from London, is fully booked. The city is abuzz with excitement.

Many in our world are captivated by such an event. What is it that attracts that level of attention? Is it the romance? Is it the commoner to Princess journey? Is it the infatuation of many with “royalty”?

Whatever it is – it is clear that that the wedding is a “great attraction” for many. After tomorrow all will soon be forgotten. Our newspapers, TVs and radios will be hoping for something else to come along and provide a focus of attention.

As a community we have a range of things coming up. We are not aiming for our church to be “attracted” to them. Rather we are praying for participation. Participation in life together as we “seek to reflect Jesus in our church, community and world”.

There are a host of opportunities for us to be engaged. In addition to our weekly ministries, tomorrow sees us hosting the “Fair Trade Fair”. Come and participate with Pete Myers and the team.

May is our Mission Month – another opportunity for us to be engaged through prayer and finance. We have a mission team heading out late June.

We continue to make plans with our Indigenous friends for the ministry on the land next door.

Next week Peter will be announcing another exciting opportunity for us to be engaged together in community.

Life is to be lived and experienced. For a church that life comes in community life together. While an “attraction” like the wedding is good for a season, our lasting satisfaction comes from engagement. I am so grateful for the fulfillment that comes as we engage together in all that God has for us at Dural.

Brian

On behalf of the Pastoral Team

21st April 2011

Hello Everyone

How good was our last weekend of prayer? So many people accessing the inspiring & creative prayer stations which helped facilitate some very meaningful conversations with God.  Thank you to all those who made the prayer weekend possible & to those who ensured that our two Sunday services were so inspirational. I think that one of the things that made the prayer weekend so positive was that it encouraged us to take time out from our busy schedules & to intentionally draw close to God. As we now move towards Easter & reflect on Jesus’ great sacrifice & victory over sin & death; why not intentionally set aside some time over the public holidays to spend some extra time just connecting with God. This doesn’t need to be in a room, you might be inspired by just taking time out by going for a bush walk or walk along a beach where you can just quietly connect with God.

Last weekend’s forum was also a positive opportunity to affirm together the arrangement with Indigenous Land Council & Wunan Foundation for using our property next door. There was great enthusiasm for the proposal to house indigenous teenagers while they benefit from attending local schools & the specialized input they will receive there. Also, as we link with them by encouraging their engagement with our ministries e.g. Friday night youth & look for other opportunities to assist/connect e.g. tutoring.

Lets continue to celebrate together not only what God is doing in our midst but also look forward expectantly to the many more ways he can use us to grow His Kingdom.

From the desk of Rev. Peter Clarke

15th April, 2011

Hi Everyone,

We are in the season of Lent.  Lent is a 40 day observance (not counting Sundays) leading up to Resurrection Sunday.   It is marked by fasting, prayer, and self–denial, so that a more intentional focus may be given to the person and work of Jesus Christ and to personal Christian growth.  Lent is a season set apart for the purpose of identifying with Christ’s suffering and a renewing of personal faith in his finished work on the cross as well as a time of renewing personal devotion to Him.

My prayer has been this Easter may we be renewed as the people of God.

Tonight starts the beginning of our prayer weekend; feel free to come down over the weekend at anytime and pray as a church.  Come to the second car park (Activity Centre).

There is so much happening in the next little while.  We need to pray for the Forum on Sunday with regard to the proposal for the land. Another prayer point is the transition from Laurie to myself in leadership roles.  We have a number of call committees operating at the moment also.

God has already gone before us in all things as a community; we need now to walk in His guidance.   It’s a time to be praying the prayer that Jesus prayed “Not our will be do done but yours be done”.

Peter

On behalf of the Pastoral Team

Hello Everyone,

The Transition Team is winding up. The profile of the new Snr Pastor has been developed and the profile of the church is in the process of being finalised. The church owes this group a great deal. They have worked for the church without much recognition and have led the way to much of the recovery which we have experienced in recent months.

The negotiations with the Indigenous Land Council about the lease on the land are moving forward. A forum to discuss this will be held on the 17th April. Please be in prayer about this, that the Lord’s will may be done.

The New Council is settling in and there is a unity of purpose that has developed between the council and the pastoral team. At a recent Saturday retreat five major needs of the church were decided on and these are being given priority. These include the financial situation, which involves the land next door and the need for building up the community of faith here at the church. The strategic plan is breathing new life and direction into the church’s ministries.

As we approach Easter, may our minds and hearts be fixed on the person of the Lord Jesus and His loving sacrifice for us and so move us to serve Him with all our heart, mind and soul.

Your brother in the Lord,

Laurie

On behalf of the Pastoral Team

 

1st April, 2011

Hello Everyone,

On the weekend of the 15th-17th April we are having a prayer weekend here at church.  Can I encourage you to join in?  The building will be open around the clock.  There will be creative stations plus times where we will come together in prayer.  Next Sunday you will receive a guide for the weekend, so you know what’s happening.

The reason we have chosen to have a combined service at 5.30pm is because that’s the time we will bring the weekend to a close.  **There will still be a morning service at 9.30am 17th April.

This Sunday there will be a sign-up sheet to put your name down and we would love to see that every hour is covered.  If you are part of a small group, encourage your small group to come and pray together.  This is going to be a great and powerful weekend as we seek the mind of Christ together.

Peter
On behalf of the Pastoral Team

25h March, 2011

Hi everyone!

If you are anything like me when it comes to the recent tragic disasters & political turmoil in many North African countries, there’s a desire to keep abreast of developments but a growing ‘heaviness’ with seeing all those pictures of utter devastation & desperation.  I am sure there are times of feeling completely overwhelmed, not only because of the degree of devastation but also the frequency of these types of events, can impact our sense of security & increase anxiety about the future.
Our feelings are very real, but how do we sustain ourselves in the face of such tragedy?  Peter’s get connected comments last week helped us to understand where suffering fits into the Christian story.

Prayer is obviously another very helpful response because it reminds us that our God is not unmoved by these tragedies & he is all knowing, ever present & all powerful & so can work in and through impossible situations.

A related response is to remind ourselves that our hope & security is not in the relative safety, stability and predictability of our current circumstances but in God. He is our hope & our future. The more we know God, the more confidence we have in who He is & what he has done/is doing the more we are empowered to cope with any circumstance of life. At the mid week series last night, Mark Stevens reminded us that the context of Philippians 4:13- “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” is that Paul is saying ‘I am content in all circumstances because God is my faithful guide & provider through life.’
A quote we heard on Sunday morning is a good way to end:

God is most glorified in me when I am most satisfied in Him

Trevor,

on behalf of the Pastoral Team

18th March, 2011

Hello Everyone,

As a church we have been blessed by so many good things.

There have been eight baptisms so far this year. We praise the Lord for each and everyone of them. The church services both morning and evening are going strong and there seems to be a good spirit in them.

The new council is moving forward and is starting to address some of the organisational issues. Rev. Peter Clarke has been asked to act as Senior Pastor after my departure, and a search committee is being formed to look for the new Senior Pastor. There are also review committees being formed to look at and advise the church about the roles and suitability of both Nic Cassar and Luke Montgomery.
At the church meeting last Sunday the church adopted a new Mission Statement and set of Goals. This will allow the strategic plan to officially start.
Continue to pray that the Lord will bless our church as we seek to do His will. Praise Him for all the good things He has poured down on us.
Your brother in the Lord,

Laurie

11th March, 2011

I am sure all of us have seen the TV coverage of the Christchurch Earthquake with significant loss of life and the devastation of the Central Business District.

I was touched by one man’s interview while he was waiting for news of a trapped family member. He was very realistic about the gravity of the situation but said something like “if you are someone that prays then please pray for us because prayer is powerful and we need your prayers”.

Lets continue our prayers for the people of Christchurch  and New Zealand.

On the theme that prayer is powerful, Micah Challenge has nominated this week  -   20-27 February  2011  -   as a time to pray against poverty and  injustice. They say the following:

In all our activity, in all our work for change, we are committed to one action that comes before, follows after, and runs as a thread through, all that we do – the ACT of PRAYER.

(For more details follow this link: http://www.micahchallenge.org.au/prayers)

What a powerful challenging call for us to be involved in active prayer for our community and world.

(On that note please also be praying for the situation in Libya)

This Sunday we will be highlighting in the AM service a call for prayer by Open Doors Youth to pray for persecuted Christians around the world.

See link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AErz0uWc-e0

We also ask that you cover our young adult’s camp in prayer as around 70 gather together this weekend in Springwood to grow in their relationship with God  and one another.

So much to pray for.  A suggestion;  why not take one time slot over the next week when you would normally be watching TV or catching up on the internet and use that time to pray specifically for some of these situations.

Trevor

On behalf of the Pastoral Team

4th March, 2011

Hi All,

This weekend, in both morning and evening services, we will hear testimonies of four people who have been transformed by Jesus.  Amanda Moody will be baptised in the morning and Amy Henderson, Jess Drever and Dan Munro will be baptised in the evening.

God is good.

We have also had a good response to our young adults camp and so far we have around 60- 70 young adults register for the weekend.

Nic Cassar and Jarrod Myers have been working hard on the content for the weekend. The purpose of the camp is that young adults would grow deeper in their faith together.  Please pray for our young adults that as they prepare to go away next weekend, that they would have a life changing experience.

I am enthusiastic about my involvement in Small Groups, which is a new area of ministry for me. I have been blessed with a group of volunteers who form the ministry team. We are currently working on resourcing and encouraging our small groups to be effective followers of Jesus. I have been very encouraged by the way that God has been working in this area of ministry with new groups commencing. A new men’s group starts on Wednesday 23rd February at 10am to 11am with the topic being “Why do evil men prosper.” For more information regarding this men’s group contact Ross Waddington.

Also we would like to extend a Church wide invitation…

Our Dural Warriors have had an excellent season in the elite NSW Premier Futsal League. GRAND FINALS will be held at our own Dural Sport and Leisure Centre this coming Saturday 19th February and three of our teams will be playing at the following times:

2.00pm          12 Girls                  v’s               Mascot Vipers

7pm               Youth (under 19’s) v’s               Mascot Vipers

9.00pm           Men                       v’s               Sydney City Eagles

We encourage you to come along and be part of this special day and support our home teams!

Peter Clarke

On behalf of the Pastoral Team

February, 2011

Hi Friends,

I trust you have survived the transition from a relaxing January ( for those who had a relaxing January!) to the frenetic pace of a new year.

There is no doubt that February marks a time of anticipation for the year ahead. That is as true personally as it is for us as a church.

As a pastoral team we have been fine tuning our church’s strategic plan.  Our Transition Team and Church Council continue to discuss our way forward, and we believe there is a new sense of anticipation about what this year holds for us.

I would encourage you to be a part of the discussions regarding our structure and take the opportunity to ask any questions that you might have.

Of course, any structure is only as good as the relationships of those involved.  So let’s do all we can to preserve our unity and to encourage one another with what the Lord has planned for us in this coming year.

Brian

(On behalf of the pastoral team)

Our Pastors will recommence weekly “Connecting” correspondence in the 2nd week of February, 2011.

23rd December, 2010

Hi All,

This will be the last Get Connected until February 2011.  This weekend we celebrate the greatest gift that the world has received; I pray that as you reflect on God being with us again this Christmas that it will strengthen and encourage you.  Over the last couple of weeks it has been great to hear stories of the way in which God is using different people to show His love. The Christmas BBQ was another way we showed God’s love to the people who play sport in our centre and it was great to see families of the centre coming and enjoying themselves.

If you’re not going away for Christmas our Christmas services will be a great way to celebrate the birth of our King. The Christmas Eve service at 11pm (yes I have to stay up late again) will be a great night as Andrew Bollom has again put together another Drama. On Christmas Day at 9.30am our service will be a great Celebration.

On behalf of the Pastoral Team I would like to thank all our volunteers for the way you have served throughout the year. We pray that you will be refreshed for the new year for the things God has in store for us as a church.

Peter

On behalf of the pastoral team

17th December, 2010

Hi Friends,

This connect won’t be a long one because you probably won’t have time to read it!  Yes, there is still so much to do.

But in all the busyness of this season don’t forget to come to our big Christmas BBQ on Sunday afternoon. Nic Cassar and the team have been working hard on arrangements. From 4pm through to about 7pm there is plenty for all the family to enjoy.

Come prepared to speak to those from our community and patrons of our sports centre. This is a wonderful way for the wider church family to connect with the community.

For those of our church community travelling soon and spending Christmas away, we wish you God’s blessing on safe travel and a relaxing time. Have a truly blessed Christmas.

Brian

On behalf of the Pastoral Team

9th December, 2010

John 14:12 can be a confronting word to our Christian experience when Jesus says very directly “anyone who believes in me will do the same works that I have done, and even greater works.”  The question is -  are we prepared to put God to the test on this or do we dismiss this truth by saying it must be talking about someone other than me!

A church that has been seeking to live out the truth of this statement for many years is Bethel Church in Redding USA  (some of you may have heard of Bill Johnson who is the Senior Pastor there and is one of the speakers that Dayspring Church here in Castle Hill invite out annually). Bethel Church has been on a journey of taking God at his word and seeking to grow in their trust and experience of God doing the impossible.

Their healing rooms attract people from all around the world and God has answered so many prayers that even non Christian staff in some of the big motels in Redding are ‘able to pick those who have come for prayer’ and expect that they will come back healed!

We have a great opportunity to hear first hand some of the Bethel experience so that we might be challenged and encouraged to pray more boldly and expectantly that John 14:12 will be both our individual and corporate experience in an increasing measure.

Don’t miss this unique opportunity to come and hear Joaquin Evans who is the Director of Bethel Church’s healing rooms on Wednesday 22nd 10am-12noon here at Dural Baptist.

Joaquin will share stories of the power of God at work both through the healing rooms that Bethel operates plus some of the mission trips they have done in other countries. Judy Satchell’s daughter Renee who is a student at Bethel’s School of Supernatural Ministry will also share the journey of discovery that she has been on and the amazing things she has seen God do. Some time will also be allocated for any who would like to be prayed over.

Don’t miss this opportunity to be inspired!

Trevor

26th November, 2010

Hi All,

What a weekend coming up, the church office has been a hive of energy this week.  Luke and his team have been getting ready for the annual youth camp which will be held at the Youthworks camp site at Port Hacking.  Please pray over the weekend for safety and for Luke as he presents the Gospel.

Also this Sunday we have our annual AGM. Can I encourage you to come along?  At this meeting we will be voting for our church council and we will be looking at some future directions for the church.  I know AGM’s can be boring but we have tried this year to make it engaging.  If you have children there will be something for them – so don’t stress!
Something to keep in mind is to ask your friends and neighbours to our special Christmas event on Sunday the 19th.  It will start at 4pm and will go through to 6.30pm. There will be rides for the kids, Christmas carols, a fantastic drama and lots more.

Peter

19th November, 2010

Hi Friends,

I have just returned from a conference in Orlando, Florida. It was a conference that involved about 180 people from 50 different nations. The focus was on evangelism and discipleship that flows from the local church through its community to the uttermost parts of the globe. There was overwhelming evidence of God moving in powerful ways!

It was another time of challenge, encouragement and praise for what God is doing in the most unlikely of places.

I have been going to these conferences since 1996 and yet the same message keeps coming loud and clear. That message is – that God is at work, His Spirit moves in powerful and exciting ways, and His call on us, is to get on board with what He is doing, rather than asking Him to bless our works.

So what’s all this got to do with us at Dural? Glad you asked!

Our transition process has entered the stage of strategic planning and direction, goal setting and dreams for the future. These are exciting times.

As we engage in that process let’s all be seeking the mind of Christ. Let’s come before Him diligently, praying for His wisdom, discernment and direction. As we plan for the future we need the clear direction of our God, because it’s only then that will we have the privilege of seeing many lives impacted and our church grow again.

Brian

12th November, 2010

Hello Everyone,

As many of you would be aware the weekly lunch for men who are unemployed came to an end in September after 7 years of operation. It was important to make sure this ministry finished on a high note so we endeavored to invite all those who had been part of this group to a final celebration dinner on Monday 1st November.  Although well over 50 guys have been impacted by this ministry (most were not from our church and at least a third of that group had no church connection), we could only contact around 35.

Anyway on Monday before last 18 guys gathered to share a meal and acknowledge the value they had received from being part of this support group. On the night I was also able to read out numerous emails from other guys who were interstate and could not attend but still wanted to contribute to the evening. It was an enormous privilege to listen as man after man shared not only how helpful this group had been to them during a tough time in their life, but to also talk about the relationships that had developed from this group. For some this included either a new connection or a deepening connection with God.

Let me share two written comments which I am sure will be an encouragement – the first written to the guys in the group and the second following the celebration dinner.

“Firstly, thank you for thinking of me when you sent out the invitations. I feel honored to have been a member, be it for a short time, of this family of brothers that gathered on Tuesdays … I praise God for this ministry, for what it offered me and my brothers at a time of need. My heart was broken, then mended, on a repeat basis, as we gathered to both share, and restore one another, through the power of God’s grace and peace.”

“Thank you for organising the celebration dinner … What a wonderful idea to encourage the telling of stories from so many who had been touched by this ministry.”

On another note:

Please pray for 24 of our leaders as we meet this Friday night and Saturday for strategic planning. Also pray for our family service on Sunday morning as the children share some of their learning with us. Keep praying for the council elections and AGM on the 28th November.

Trevor

On behalf of the Pastoral Team

5th November, 2010

Hello everyone.
We are at an exciting time in the life of the church.

We have been looking at the “Kingdom of God’ in a series over the past few weeks. The Kingdom of God was the main topic that Jesus spoke about in His earthly mission. What does it mean to be part of His kingdom etc being the subject of our series. It continues this week and into the following weeks.

This Sunday there are baptisms both morning and evening. I would encourage you to come and be part of this celebration of obedience to the King of Kings.

Next week it will be our Family Service and it will be followed with fellowship and activities, such as the jumping castle etc. after the service. Come along and bring your friends and neighbours.

The AGM will be different this year. The tone will be celebratory. We will be holding the meeting over a meal and there will be audio visual presentations and times for table discussions. It will be a friendly and engaging new approach to meetings. Don’t forget to vote for the new council when the voting forms come out in a week or so.

Please pray for the development of a new strategic plan for the church. A workshop for the leadership will be held next weekend and the outcome will be shared with the church over the following weeks and months.

May the Lord bless and keep you.
Your brother in the Lord,

Laurie

29th October, 2010

Hi Everyone,

We are currently half way through a series on the Kingdom of God.  While preparing the sermons, I have spent time afresh in the gospels and I have been challenged personally to put some of the practices of the Kingdom into practice in my life. We are so lucky to hear sermons every week but here are some things we could launch or experiment with in our small groups as we go through this series.

-          ‘Turning the other cheek’ for a week. Responding to mistreatment with neither retaliation nor retreat but rather with creative exposure and transcendence

-          Praying for and blessing people who mistreat you

-          Using simple, plain speech; not making vows, speaking with sensitive yet unvarnished honesty , letting your Yes be Yes and No, No (Matt 5:37)

-          Doing to others as you would have them do to you

-          Not judging anyone or calling anyone stupid or foolish

-          Forgiving people so that your holding of a grudge becomes more serious to you than whatever the grudge is about

-          Caring for the ‘’least of these’’ by seeing and serving needy and vulnerable people (the sick, children, the elderly, the disabled, those racially or otherwise different from you, or any type of person you normally struggle to love) as if they were Christ himself

You wouldn’t be trying to follow Jesus’ teaching to earn anything (as if you were God’s employee rather than God’s accepted and loved child) or to avoid anything (as if they were laws and you were trying to avoid a fine or jail time), or to win anything (as if you were playing a game). Instead, you would simply be experimenting to see if the way of life taught by Jesus really proves, in your experience, to be good and worthwhile and whether it increases your confidence in Jesus as teacher or not. As you experiment, you might want to keep Jesus’ words in mind. ‘Anyone who chooses to do the will of God will find out whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own.’

Peter

On Behalf of the Pastoral Team

22nd October, 2010

Hi Friends,
It has been a tough week for some in our community. On Thursday three church families were involved in funerals – Shields, Robertson and Giovenali.  On Friday the Duncum family held the funeral for Ian’s dad. These tough times in life are opportunities for us to truly “share one anothers burdens”. Let’s continue to pray for these families.
As I sat in one of those services this week I heard the stories and reflections of a life well lived, a life that impacted those around. I heard stories of thanks given to God for the experiences of life together. I was challenged by a life that was shared so generously.
I found myself asking those deeper questions about leaving a legacy. Maybe it’s just my age!  Yet they are questions that need to be asked. What kind of impact am I having, on my family, on my community, on my world?
As tough as these times often are – they are times that bring us to the very basic issues of life in terms of impacting our world for the sake of the Kingdom.
Brian

15th October, 2010

Hello Everyone,

Do you ever feel discouraged and wonder what God is up to or feel there is nowhere to turn but God and then wonder, will He come ‘through for you’?

I share this story with you as an encouragement and reminder to us all, that God can do amazing things.

We have a group in our congregation who take turns in leading the church service at Waldock/Yallambi, a Baptist Nursing home in Carlingford. Leading up to the service there was a problem in that both the normal and reserve piano player was not available. Steve Pringle (ministry leader) from our congregation was able to track someone down who was a possible replacement and went to the service looking out for “Ruth” (we’ll call her that for this note), found the person who he thought was “Ruth” and invited her to play the piano … she agreed BUT guess what, Steve discovered that “Ruth” was actually Esther!!! Esther had come to the Hayfield Village to take her aged mother to the church service there, only to discover it had been canceled and that is where Steve found her and mistook her for “Ruth”.

If this is not amazing enough, later that day Steve received an email from Esther saying that she had felt so welcomed by the team and amazed at what God had done that she wanted to sign up to be a permanent member of the Dural team!!!

God indeed you are JEHOVAH JIRAH – our Provider.

In the newsletter this week you will find some additional information on:a request for some additional volunteers for the Waldock/Yallambi services in 2011 an invitation to join in prayer over 4 Thursday nights beginning on 21st October. The first of these nights will focus on praying for family/relatives who don’t know Christ and or need a fresh reminder of God’s provision how you can participate in the Council of Church Members nomination process. Nominations need to be received by 20th October.

Regards
Trevor

8th October, 2010

Firstly let me thank all of you who have been praying for me over the past few weeks. I have come through the operation well and now have to face the training section, which will start on the 18th of this month.
The transition team is down to the final draft of their report on the History of the church. This will be handed to the Council of Church Members in the next few weeks. They have already started work on the next task, that of developing a new structure and strategic plan for the ministry of the church. They will be hosting a workshop on strategic planning over the weekend of the 12-13th of November. Twenty five of the church leadership will be involved in this. Their results will be offered to the church for consideration and discussion. All will have an opportunity to share in the decisions that will flow out of this process.
Council Of Church Members nominations are upon us. Over the next few weeks you will be encouraged to recommend people as members of the Council.

We would value your prayerfulness about all of these things. Pray that the Lord’s will, will be done. The Kingdom of God is the rule of Jesus as King. It exists where ever His will be done, here at Dural as in Heaven.
Your brother in the Lord Laurie

1st October, 2010

Hi all,

I hope you have had a good week. Over the last 5 weeks we have had the privilege of having Mark Stephens unpacking the book of Revelation. I have enjoyed the way in which Mark has approached this book. For those who haven’t been able to come, he has argued that Revelations calls us to grow in Christ.  This week we were challenged with the question “where does our identity truly lie – is it with Rome (or our culture) or with the New Jerusalem (God’s Kingdom)?”  Because Letter of Revelation was addressed to Christians it is obvious many Christians were compromising their faith with Rome. I was left to ponder where am I compromising my faith with the contemporary culture.

Over the next 8 weeks we will be starting two new series. The morning service will be looking at The Secret Message Of Jesus and the evening service will be looking at Isaiah 40-55. If you get a chance over the long weekend have a read of the gospels to see what Jesus had to say about his kingdom because it has the ability to turn your world upside down.

I want to leave you with these words; I came across them while doing some reading this week. “People don’t change because a new program has been developed. They don’t change because they read a book or sat in a training class. People change because they have been loved enough by God and others to see an alternative way of living and then they move into it.”

Peter

17th September, 2010

Dear Friends,

In the Rugby codes and AFL the month of September is known as the “business end of the season”.  It’s the time of finals. It’s a time of excitement. Intensity of games increases. Supporters become more passionate. There is simply more energy.

In our own Sports Centre too, September is also known as the business end of the season. Yet it is the start of competitions. Busy registration deadlines, the compilation of draws, the allocations of referees and the welcoming of faces, old and new, into our Centre really set the place alight with passion and excitement.

With numbers of players well up on the last few years we again have our community “camped in our own facility”. Please pray for every aspect of this wonderful outreach. For safety of games, for the smoothness of administration and above all for the Christian witness that occurs in several ways.

Conversations with Christian Centre staff, the LOFT initiative, our Dural Warriors representative teams and our own people taking friendships with their friends to a deeper spiritual level through a coffee at the cafe, or interaction in a sports team are all great ways of being part of someone’s spiritual journey.

For those who are involved in life in the Centre we will be praying for you and the impact of your ministry and witness for the cause of the Kingdom. For those playing we pray that your friendship with teammates will produce fruit. For those wanting to know how to connect, why not simply come down on Saturday, this one or next, as our Dural Warriors teams do battle in the elite NSW Premier League.

Let’s make the most of this great resource God has blessed us with

Keep Smiling …

Brian

10th September 2010

3rd September,2010

Hi Everyone

Isn’t it great to feel the warm weather approaching?  I was very encouraged to see 89 people show up on Wednesday night to study the book of Revelation.  Mark did a great job and has the ability to bring the Scriptures alive.  It’s still not too late to come and be a part of this course.  If you are coming next week it would be helpful to listen to the first lecture which introduced the series.  It is available on podcast on the church website.  We are very encouraged and plan to have more of these short courses in the future.
Next week sees the start of our major summer competitions in the sports centre.  Please pray for Rob and his team as this season gets under way.  Also, we start our drop-in centre next week in an attempt to build bridges with the community who come into our building each week.

Peter

on behalf of the Pastoral Team

27th August, 2010

Dear Friends,

Times of transition are interesting places to be!  Transitioning from winter to spring (why is it taking so long!). Transitioning from one government to another, or not transitioning from one government to another (how long does it take to count votes?). Transitioning as a church (what does the future hold for us?)

As impatient as I am, I always want to jump from one phase to the next. Yet God keeps teaching me that in these phases of transition I have so much to learn.

In these times there is still so much happening. Rob Hercus and the staff of the Centre are gearing up for the busy time, now just a week away. Our representative Futsal teams, the Warriors, kick off next weekend with the first trial game with the competition just a few weeks away. As I write this our youth leaders are setting up for what will be a great night of “Roller Boogie”.

These three ministries alone over the next week will touch the lives of hundreds of people who still need to understand God’s love and plan. There is no better place to be!  Please pray particularly for the impact of these outreach initiatives.

Yes, in the time of transition we can still grab hold of what God wants us to do, and simply do it and trust him for the future.
Brian
On behalf of the Pastoral Team

20th August, 2010

This week the church received a letter from Woolloomooloo Baptist Fellowship thanking those within our church who have been serving once a month at the Woolloomooloo Street Breakfast. (To find out more talk to either the Collers (Bruce& Helen) or the Thomas’s (Clive & Jenni).

This last Sunday we also had a group serving at a Baptist Hostel/ Nursing Home (Waldock & Yallambi) conducting two church services, which the group does with great compassion & enthusiasm once every six weeks or so.(We share the roster with other Baptist churches.)

It reminded me that ministry & mission just doesn’t happen on this site – it happens in many places, in many ways. But it is also good to remind one another that we are all ambassadors for Christ, and ministry and mission just doesn’t happen in the formal ‘ministry’ situations but in ordinary, everyday life events. So serving in the school canteen, helping out a neighbour, being a person who is reliable and faithful in the workplace, walking the dog, playing sport, all of these things can be ministry if we are following Jesus’ lead, listening to the Spirit’s promptings, and utilizing His power.

This should not in any sense be a hardship, or something that we feel we ‘have to do’ but rather an exciting challenge to intentionally be available for God to use us in the everyday experiences of life.

Talking about God using us, don’t miss being part of our family service this Sunday where we will see the fruit of our Sunday School and Kidszone Leaders as they have invested in these young lives. Also what a privilege to be ministered to by a gifted Christian leader in God’s Kingdom- Darlene Zschech, as she shares with us on Sunday night.

Trevor

On behalf of the Pastoral Team

13th August, 2010

God is, I believe, graciously renewing our church. There is much we need to thank Him for in all of this.

The transition team continues to work on the history component of the self study. They are meeting with individuals and small groups of people who have been impacted by our recent history.

The church meeting on the 29th is of special importance with several changes being recommended. As I have previously shared specifics with our church family, I commend them to you so as a church we can continue to operate more effectively and move forward to our next stage.

May the Lord bless you and your service for Him.

Your brother in the Lord

Laurie

5th August, 2010

Last week we commenced a new series in the evenings where we are looking at Money, Power and Sex. To contemporary people the word idolatry conjures up pictures of primitive people bowing down before statues. The biblical book of Acts in the New Testament contains vivid descriptions of the cultures of the ancient Greco-Roman world. Each city worshipped its favourite deities and built shines around their images for worship. When Paul wrote to Athens he saw that it was literally filled with images of these divinities (Acts 17:16). The Parthenon of Athena overshadowed everything, but other deities were represented in every public space. There was Aphrodite, the goddess of beauty, Ares, the god of war, Artemis, the goddess of fertility and wealth, Hephaestus, the god of craftsmanship.

Our contemporary society is not fundamentally different from these ancient ones. Each culture is dominated by its own set of idols. We may not physically kneel before the statue of Aphrodite, but many young women today are driven into depression and eating disorders by an obsessive concern over their body image. We may not burn incense to Artemis, but when money and career are raised to cosmic proportions, we perform a kind of child sacrifice, neglecting family and community to achieve a higher place in business and gain more wealth and prestige.

So how does a follower of Jesus not get caught up in the idols of our culture? Come to FEAST and find out more….

Finally I’d like to draw your attention to two things.  Firstly, the Revelation lectures will be fantastic, if you were to do this at a bible college it would cost somewhere between $500-$1000. Mark is a great lecturer and if you want to hear Mark before coming to the Revelation lectures, he will be speaking at FEAST on the topic of Heaven on the 29th of August.

Peter

On behalf of the Pastoral Team

30th July, 2010

Hi Friends

Thank you for your prayers for our team during our recent Mission Trip to Central Australia. They were so much appreciated!! We had an excellent time and some of our team will have the opportunity to share some of their experiences at church next week.

Looking forward there are some other great opportunities for us to reach out. Our representative Futsal teams “Dural Warriors” play in the elite NSW Premier League. This year we have seven home games and we are planning to really energise our “home game atmosphere” and provide greater opportunity for us as church family to form friendships with our Dural Futsal Family.

Next Sunday 8th August, at our morning tea time we will briefly outline opportunities for you to be involved. We want people to simply come along and be involved as spectators, ground announcers, cafe hands, musicians, general volunteers in a variety of ways. Our desire is for our Futsal players to meet more of our Church family and become more aware of who we are and what we offer.

See you then …

Brian

On behalf of the Pastoral Team

23rd July, 2010

I visited the senior pastor from our neighbouring Baptist Church today (Community Life Church) to talk about their prayer ministry and life centre. One of the things that we shared was the number of conversions we had seen in both our churches in the last few months and we were both able to identify 3 that we each knew of. It was exciting to be talking about conversions and not just programs/ ministries, as important as these are. It was also encouraging to pray into this together and to ask God that each of our churches could see more fruit like this.

It certainly is something we need to be praying a lot about as the recent research report released by NSW & ACT Baptist Churches contains this sobering statistic in the executive summary: “Our denomination has seen 22% negative growth in conversions since 2001.”

We trust that this series on the Holy Spirit is a catalyst for us both as individuals and a congregation together to grow in being empowered by God’s Spirit in doing the works that Jesus did which includes bearing fruit in his name.

Don’t miss the opportunity to hear testimonies in both services this Sunday from the 12 people who are getting baptised. Two of these people will share their story of how they became Christians in the last two months and others will share just as powerful testimonies about God’s transforming work in their lives. There will also be an invitation for anyone who has been moved by the Spirit during the service to join the others getting baptised. Please be in prayer for this Sunday and join us at 8am Sunday morning in meeting rooms 3&4 for more prayer.

Finally don’t forget the ‘Discovering your Spiritual Gifts’ course on Saturday the 31st and also available on the resource table or electronically is Australian Prayer Network challenge for Christians around Australia to pray over and for the Federal election.

Trevor Wight

16th July, 2010

There have been a lot of things happening in the past week or so.  We have been saddened by the death of Pam Sheaves.  Sad for us but this has been mixed with thankfulness for the glory of her new life in the presence of the King.  Please continue to pray for Paul and the family at this time of their loss.

This past week has seen the holiday activity program happening at the church.  It has been a blessed sight to see how many people have worked to bring this about.  Some children have made commitments, but eternity alone will tell the full story of the Gospel’s work in young lives.  Thanks to all those who ministered this week at the centre.  A special thanks goes to Ella Smith, who as our children’s worker has headed up the program.

Over the next few weeks you will be advised and consulted about a change to the constitution.  There is, I believe, a genuine need to make these changes if we are to run effectively as a church.  There may be other changes down the track as the Transition Team continues its work, but this current change is needed now.  I commend it to you.

May the Lord bless and keep you, Your brother in the Lord …

Laurie

2nd July, 2010

We have had some exciting AM worship services over the past few weeks.  To move with what we perceive to be the Spirit’s doing in the church we have decided to run a mini-series on the Holy Spirit.  We realize that this is a short course and will not cover the whole area.  It will, we pray, give an introduction to the third person of the God head, with specific focus on us and our relationship to Him.

The fourth sermon will be on the relationship between believer’s baptism (water) and the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Sunday (25th July) will be a Baptism Sunday.  There will be baptisms at the morning & evening services and we hope that there will also be some in the morning.  Maybe the Spirit is prompting some of you to consider taking this step of obedience.

There has been some good feedback on the history survey being conducted by the Transition Team.  Your responses will be held in strict confidence and the results will be acted on, where appropriate.

Continue to pray for the church and the pastors as they seek to lead the church forward into the new beginning He has in store for us.

Your brother in the Lord …Laurie

25th June, 2010

Hi Everyone

It’s hard to believe we are half way through the year.  Wasn’t the family service great last week?  Well done, Ella and her team.  What really excites me is the number of young leaders we have as a church – God has great plans for this church!
As I opened up a letter received this week, I was very encouraged that Emma Chalk one of your young adults has started up a ministry called Love Thy Neighbour once a term.  Emma and a team of people from our evening service simply go and clean up people’s yards around Round Corner.
Jane who lives in Jaffa Road wrote to us –

All these young people came to my house in Jaffa Road and offered their help in the garden.  They were brilliant.  They raked up every leaf in the garden and filled 10 large bags.  It was a great blessing to me as I am over 80 and have recurring back problems.  I offered a small donation but they would not take it.  I have kept a photo of those young people on my computer as they were a real blessing to me.

Sometimes it’s not so much what we say but our actions that say a lot.  We are proud of you Emma and team in being Christ’s hands and feet in our local community.

18th June, 2010

Hi All,

The morning and evening congregations have just finished a series in Ephesians -what a great series it has been.

Paul starts Ephesians by reminding us of who we are in Christ – our secure foundation in Christ. We “are assured of every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we belong to Christ”. Paul finishes Ephesians reminding us that our struggle (battle) is not just in the natural realm (flesh & blood) but there are evil forces in spiritual realms that are pitted against us. On our own we have no power to ward off these spiritual adversaries but In Christ it’s a different story – “Be strong with the Lord’s mighty power. Put on all of God’s armour so that you will be able to stand firm against all the tricks and strategies of the Devil.”

Sometimes life circumstances, be that long term illness, long term unemployment; death of a loved one; family breakdown, or even lack of clarity about our future direction, can seem to so cloud the horizon that our problems seem too big, and if we are honest, the forces against us seem TOO strong.

How do we access God’s mighty power that is within each of us thorough the Holy Spirit?

I came across this verse this week “As we know Jesus better, his divine power gives us everything we need for living a Godly life…and by that same mighty power he has given us his rich and wonderful promises…so make every effort to apply the benefits of these promises to your life.” (2 Peter 1:3-5 NLT)

So I have made a conscious effort this week to appropriate God’s Promise of:

‘His peace that passes human understanding’ (John 14:27); ‘His peace that guards my heart and mind’ (Phil 4:7) and learning to ‘give all my worries and cares to God because he cares about what happens to you/me’. (1 Peter 5:6)

So could I encourage us all to find a promise or promises that speak specifically into our situation and as we lean into God see Him fulfill the truth of that promise in our lives.

Please be in prayer for our family service this Sunday morning; for those going on the central Australia Mission trip to Indigenousness communities and for the school holiday program in July and the many kids that may hear the gospel for the first time.

Please also pray for Laurie who is unwell – he has gone home to Canberra.

Trevor

On behalf of the Pastoral Team

11th June, 2010

Hi All,

Last week we had almost enough water to keep the most ardent Baptist happy. God has blessed the land with rain and us with showers of blessing. It is time to recount these blessings and difficulties also, in the history task the Transition Team is leading us through.

Last Sunday a timeline was put up in the church. It will stay there for some weeks. Along with this timeline there are a number of sheets which ask questions about your impressions and memories of Church life here at Dural. Please fill them in and return them anonymously to the box. These will be used by the transition team to determine the issues that should be celebrated or responded to. There are small cut out figures that you can add your name to and record significant events for you at Dural, eg baptism, joining, getting married, etc and then attach to the display.

We are finishing up the series on Ephesians this weekend.  Many of you have said that you enjoyed the Bible studies. We have been encouraged to make some personal commitments (BELLS). I know of one small group who check up with each other each week as to how they are travelling with the BELLS programme. There are check lists in the bulletin and at the resource table for those who want them.

May the Lord bless you…
Your brother in the Lord, Laurie

4th June, 2010

Hi Friends

The excitement is in the air!  Football World Cup, the State of Origin, our Mission trip to Central Australia are things that are occupying our attention over the coming weeks – the first two events capturing the thoughts of many millions, the Central Australia trip a much smaller number.

As I pondered over these fast approaching events I was again reminded that even in these everyday and exciting aspects of life we as Christians have the opportunity to build bridges of friendship and share the love of Jesus Christ. Yes, in the everyday affairs of life!

We had the first big screen event on Wednesday last week when over 60 people showed up for the first Origin game. While it was not the result most of us wanted (and especially given the Cane Toad Peter Clarke’s broadening smile as the game went on) we had a few people not associated with our church there for all the action. They were invited by friends!

With another five big screen events coming up on June 14th, 16th, 19th, 24th and July 7th plan to be a part of all the action – and bring a friend with you.

Our final Central Australia preparation meeting takes place on Sunday. Over the coming weeks our team will be progressively leaving, all planning to meet in Alice Springs on June 27th before “heading bush” into the Outback communities together.

We would value your prayers for a very enjoyable, safe and impactful trip. Thank you so much.
Brian

On behalf of the team

27th May, 2010

Hi All,

I hope you’ve all had a good week even though the Blues were disappointing on Wednesday Night. I just want to keep you updated on what’s coming up in regards to the younger end of the church.

In the second week of the school holidays we will be running a Holiday Program aimed at the children of our community. There are a number of ways you can get involved.  First we can all pray – wouldn’t it be great to see children coming to faith during this week? Secondly, if you talk to Ella there are a number of practical things you can do (eg helping provide morning tea) – we have been very encouraged by the response of people wanting to help out. Thirdly, you can invite children to come, the registration form is now on the website and we will be advertising in the local schools and local news papers as well. Let’s be expectant as a church.

At FEAST this week we again have another guest speaker from New Zealand – Darryl Gardiner.  Daryl has been involved a number of different things throughout his life; he ran a home for teenage boys and has been the director of Youth for Christ in New Zealand.  At present Daryl speaks in different countries  and we are looking forward to hosting him here at FEAST this week.

On the 6th of June we are having a special service for FEAST. We are going to celebrate what God has been doing in this service. Murray Bingham will be part of the night and will share about its beginnings. It will be a great night, it will be a little different, and it will be held in the Activity Centre where it first began.

Thank you all who pray for the children and youth and young adults of our church.

Peter

on behalf of the Pastoral Team

13th MAY, 2010

Dear Friends,

We have started a study of Ephesians in the morning service and it has been running for some time in the evenings at FEAST.

I pray that we might take some time to consider what God is saying to us individually and as a church about our relationships with each other as the church. There will be a series of personal challenges, one each week.

Sunday 16th will see a Property Meeting after church. It will be in the form of a Forum (no decisions will be made). This is vital and needs to be prayed about. It is the start of a process that will eventually end in a decision that may effect the ministry of the church. Please pray and attend.

The Transition Team is well and truly at work. They will start engaging the church in the next few weeks with the History of the church. If you have any information that will help them piece together the history, (old bulletins, reports, photos, magazines, etc) they would appreciate having them.

May the Lord bless you as you serve Him. Try to Bless at least one person each day, and Eat with at least three people, who you don’t live with, each week.

Your brother in the Lord,
Laurie

7th MAY, 2010

Hi Friends,

Over the last months our newspapers and televisions have highlighted the many changes of policy that respective governments have issued. These changes, by both government and opposition parties, have been based on “popular public opinion” and no doubt a fair bit of political expediency.

Priorities are constantly changed in the political arena. So much so it’s hard to keep up sometimes!

As a church our priorities are firmly set. They are the priorities of the Kingdom.

And, we need to be constantly alert to make sure our priories are just that – in line with the ministry of Jesus Christ. As we continue to proclaim the Good News in Word, Sign and Deed our Mission team over the next few months has some exciting initiatives as we continue to encourage our church in Kingdom ministry.
·        We are working to host a few “big screen” outreach events around the Football World Cup and the Rugby League State of Origin.
·        Over twenty of our people are preparing for the upcoming mission trip in June/July to Indigenous Communities if Central Australia.
·        Julie Davidson has started as a Mission intern with involvement in the Sports Centre and “beyond Dural” opportunities.
·        Our May Appeal provides opportunity for us to contribute financially to ministries that preach Christ.

As we focus on these opportunities can I encourage you to be faithful in prayer, praying that God will draw many to Himself.

Brian on behalf of the Pastoral Team

28th APRIL

Hello everyone,

Have you ever been to something where you couldn’t see fully what was going on?

Earlier this year I went to my first 20-20 game with some young adults at Sydney Cricket Ground where I ended up missing the first 10 overs due to traffic. Sydney traffic!  When we finally made it into the ground and were walking to our seats, you could hear the crowd when something exciting was happening but I missed out on seeing what had happened.

Sometimes in life we cannot always see what God is up to. This week I went to visit Pam Sheaves in hospital. As we were sitting talking she was telling me of how God had used her to encourage a nurse in her faith.

Also as I was talking to another person this week, she told me how on Sunday night she was able to encourage someone in their faith.  With these two examples I was reminded that even though I couldn’t fully see what God was doing, He is behind the scenes – moving in people lives.

May God take you by surprise by what he is up to (as he did me) this week!

Pastor Peter

23rd APRIL

Hello everyone,

What a great and wonderful God we serve. He has promised to restore the years the locusts have eaten. With that in mind, the transition team has been selected and have commenced meeting. God has started, I believe, the process of restoration. The team – Jess Abbott, Narelle Bowen, Andrew Dawkins, Joanne Duncum, Kerri Hercus, Ed Long, Erik Maasepp, and Jon Williams – will need your prayers as they work through the five developmental tasks.

The first one is encountering History. They will lead the church into a self study of the church’s history and help the church decide how to respond to it in a Godly and Biblical way.  Everyone in the church will have an opportunity to share in this process. Keep watching out for this, I doubt that you will miss it.

The team will be presented to the church on Sunday.

I would like to extend a warm welcome to our newest members of staff, Nic Cassar and Luke Montgomery.

Your brother in the Lord,

Laurie

16th APRIL,

Hi Friends,

We are in the thick of celebrations at the moment. We have had two engagement parties (one for my daughter and one for a niece) with some 21st celebrations for my 2nd daughter, Alissa, this week and her and Ben’s engagement party on the Anzac weekend.

It’s easy to take for granted the importance of celebrations but I was reminded of this truth some years back when we had a farewell afternoon tea for Phil who had been working for Dural Counselling Service and was leaving. There was only about 20 people that showed up (it was during work hours) so it didn’t seem to be that big a deal to me but he couldn’t stop thanking me for arranging it and kept on saying how much he had enjoyed it. When I enquired further I discovered that his birth family had never celebrated his birthday (or indeed any of his sibling’s birthdays) and he could not remember the last time there had been a special celebration for him. That ‘blew me away’ realising how easy it was to take celebrations for granted.

That leads me to a further point about the importance of celebration in the context of Christian community. Many times we miss the chance to celebrate what God is doing amongst us. Peter Clarke announced last week that Nic Cassar & Luke Montgomery are joining the youth/young adults team (2 days per week) as assistants. Nic will be primarily involved in coordinating the worship components of the evening service and Luke in coordinating Friday night youth. (We will be interviewing Nic in the morning service this week and Luke later in May).  The point that we need to celebrate is that both these young adults have been part of this church prior to taking up these roles. They are both ‘home grown’ although Luke more by association as he started coming here when he was dating Amy Stevens and they were later married and moved to a church in Hornsby. For Nic this has been his only church experience since becoming a Christian. What a privilege to be part of these young men’s Christian growth experience and seeing the ‘fruits’ of this labour being sown back into this congregation.

Another point of celebration is that the position we have advertised over the last couple of months for assistance with our finance team has been filled and Mary Keenan began work this week as the accountant assisting Anne Webb. Not only is it right to be praising God that this need has been filled but again it is important to CELEBRATE that God has gifted someone within our congregation to take up this role. Praise God for what he is doing amongst us.

David returned home to bless his family. Michal, Saul’s daughter, came out to greet him: “How wonderfully the king has distinguished himself today—exposing himself to the eyes of the servants’ maids like some burlesque street dancer!” David replied to Michal, “In God’s presence I’ll dance all I want! He chose me over your father and the rest of our family and made me prince over God’s people, over Israel. Oh yes, I’ll dance to God’s glory—more recklessly even than this.
2 Samuel 6: 20-22

Trevor

On behalf of the Pastoral Team

9TH APRIL

Hi Friends,

As you read this email I am, God willing, in the Solomon Islands. Elliot who is well known to us at Dural is returning home, and I have taken the opportunity to go back with him and meet with “our Dural team” again.

As I thought about the things I will be doing with the team there, the aspect of “partnership” kept coming to mind. We have been partnering with our friends in the Solomon Islands now for almost 10 years. That’s a long time! Great things have been accomplished because we have been able to work together.

The Apostle Paul in Philippians wrote of the importance of partnership when he said –

“I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”

Healthy partnership brings prayers of joy. Shared experiences, the joys, the frustrations, the achievements and all the while knowing that God continues to do His work in and through us, are powerful relationship builders.

The Christian faith is full of, or should be full of, shared experiences that bring joy.

As we continue to pray for each other, in the various relationships we have, may our hearts be filled with joy because of the privilege we have of doing this journey of life together.

Brian

On behalf of the Pastoral TeaM

31ST MARCH

Hello Everyone,

Well this weekend we celebrate all that Christ did that first Easter.  As I think of it so many words come to my mind of what Christ did; words like, Reconcile, Substitute, Sacrifice, Forgiveness, Victory, plus so many others. What are the words that come into your mind when you think of Easter and what Christ did?

Easter is the Central event in the life of the Church. There should be nothing more important to a Christian than the sacrificial death and bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ. Without these events the Christian faith is worthless. As the Apostle Paul tells us, “If Christ has not been raised our preaching is useless and so is our faith” (1 Cor 15:14)

As we gather over the weekend let’s be in prayer for those who have not yet understood the significance of what Christ has done, and may we all experience  afresh the Love of Christ.

Peter

On behalf of the pastoral team

25th MARCH

Hello everyone,

Welcome to my first “Connecting with the Pastors”.  Firstly I want to thank all who have welcomed me so warmly. I already feel loved and accepted, I hope it lasts.

I am in the midst of developing a transition team, and about half the people invited to join have responded. I am still waiting for the rest, you know who you are. The team will meet fortnightly and lead the church through a self study. We will as a church look at our history and how we should respond to the good and the bad from the past. We will look as a church at our governance, our theology and relationship to other churches, our self identity and then develop a profile of the New Senior Pastor.

The council has been working hard, we went away for a whole day, and started the discussion about the constitution and the operating principles. This will take some time but seems to me to be necessary.

The creative team is considering the structure and direction of the morning service. If you have any suggestions about how this might be improved we would welcome the feedback.

Thank you all again for the welcome but most importantly for the faithful service many of you have given the Lord through the church.

Your brother in the Lord,

Laurie

19th MARCH

Hi Everyone!

Last night I had the privilege of doing another session of pre-marriage preparation with a great young couple and this morning I visited one of our playtime groups and even had one of the children give me a picture they had coloured in!

The contrast got me thinking, as one of the things I got the couple to do last night was share with each other what about their partner’s faith journey encouraged them. They did this really well but we recognised together that as adults it is sometimes hard for us to receive the positives that others see in us.

Yet that was not evident in any of the interactions with the playtime children this morning. They were bursting with energy & enthusiasm and were very happy to be acknowledged, to enjoy simple interactions and be praised.

Somehow between childhood and adulthood, we lose some of that innocence, the delight in the simple things, and our receptivity to people’s praise & encouragement.

Jesus reminds us that we can learn much from children and tells us if we want to be his followers we get a chance to start again by being ‘born again’.

All of us have been hurt – had our disappointments but part of enjoying our new life in Christ is being reminded to focus on the good in one another, to look for the gains in others and the blessings in life, not just focusing on the deficits in others and hardships in life.

“Summing it all up, friends, I’d say you’ll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. Put into practice what you learned from me, what you heard and saw and realized. Do that, and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into his most excellent harmonies.”  (Philippians 4:8-9 Message Version)

Trevor
On behalf of the Pastoral Team

14th MARCH

Hi Friends,

The Scriptures are filled with many “one anothers”. (about 38 of them)

Instructions like love one another; honor one another; serve one another; care for one another; bear the burdens of one another; forgive one another; be kind to one another etc.etc

As we diligently carry out that call as disciples of Christ, a powerful Christian community is being built.
While we often find it hard to “see” or “define” community, we can often more easily “feel” the community spirit.

I have no doubt that God uses the “one anothers” of Scripture to help us experience the power of Christian community.

That has been Lynne’s experience, and our families experience in the loss of her dad. We have felt extremely loved and appreciated and so aware of the strength and support of this church community. Christian community is such a powerful thing!   Thank you for you love and support.

Let’s too be encouraged to keep being the hands and feet of Jesus Christ as we live and serve Him together. May our living of life for “one another”, both within our church and wider community, bring glory to our mighty God.

Brian on behalf of the Pastoral Team

5TH MARCH

Hi everyone

I come to an end of another week and think where has this week gone?

Last weekend we had our annual young adults’ camp at the foothills of the blue mountains. It was a great time to put aside to get to know each other better and our speaker over the weekend was Steve Frost. Steve spoke about God’s grace over the weekend. The spirit used his words to remind me of some of foundational things about our faith.   I would just like to share something that I have been reflecting on over the week, because of Christ we need to change the way we see ourselves – we are no longer sinners as the apostle Paul says we are saints. We are no longer defeated; we are living in the power of the resurrection. So many times we beat ourselves up and don’t see ourselves as saints. May we learn to walk in the power of the resurrection.

Peter

On behalf of the pastoral team

26TH FEBRUARY

Hi Friends

In recent weeks I have been on the hunt for cheaper CTP green slips required for registering our cars. I was told I could get a significant reduction if I had no demerit points against my drivers licence.  So I rang the relevant government body and was initially told that I had three demerit points (yes I know pastors aren’t perfect!!)

When I enquired further I was  told that I actually had no demerit points as the penalty period had expired and for some strange reason they leave the notation on the computer for another 3 months even though the demerit points are null and void!!!  I asked “what will the insurance agency be told when they ring up to verify that I have no demerit points – will they be told what you originally told me or what you finally said?” The lady assured me that they would be told I had no demerit points.

You can guess the end of the story – when I went to get the cheaper insurance and they checked my information, I was not eligible for cheaper insurance as I had demerit points!!! Talk about frustrating.

BUT it got me thinking – it’s not only Government departments that have a problem about ‘forgiving’ our failures and restoring our record – this is an area we are tested on every day in our families, our working relationships and even our church. Being prepared to forgive and restore right relationships is a great challenge and something I believe we can only get better at as we draw on the Holy Spirit’s power.

Praise God that he has no such problem. 1 John 1:9 reminds us that if we confess our sin he is faithful and just to forgive us our sin; BUT that’s not all. He PROMISES that he will not hold our sin against us and removes it as far as the east is from the west (Psalm 103:12) and that he chooses to ‘remember our sin no more’ (Hebrews 10:17) and that “there is no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1).

What a precious gift – being free to enter God’s presence in prayer and fellowship knowing that God will not bring up our failings nor hold our sin against us because Jesus has paid the penalty.  PRAISE GOD for his grace & mercy!

Trevor

On behalf of the Pastoral Team

17TH FEBRUARY,
New starts.  How do you cope with them?  We have another young lady from the Solomon Islands who has come to live with us. Her name is Serah Ragomo, sister of Elliot. Serah’s first day at school was today, Friday. When I asked how she felt, the reply was quick – “a little nervous, yet excited” was the response.
That’s often our attitude to change. Particularly change after the going has been a little tough.
Sunday marks another “first day” for us as we welcome Laurie & Lesley Purdy to our church. There will be many who feel a bit the same as Serah. Perhaps even Laurie and Lesley feel that way! That’s a natural reaction.
It is at times like this that I take much confidence in the verse from Philippians 1:6  that says we can be “confident of  this, that he who began a good work in us will carry it on to completion until the day of Jesus Christ”.
That’s  a promise for us as individuals. It is also a promise for us together as the body of Christ.
Let’s rally together, with anticipation and excitement as we embark on another chapter of the journey God has for us.

Brian,  on behalf of the Pastoral Team

PS  Lynne and I have been married for 25 years. No I don’t know how she has put up with me either!  Straight after church on Sunday we are off to celebrate for eight days. Five days in Jakarta watching Josh play with the Australian Futsal team in the Asian Championships, and then over to Singapore for three days of rest and relaxation. We’re excited about that too!

12th February, 2010

Hi everyone!

Well the year is well under way and I hope that if you went away for a break you are feeling refreshed.

This week I have been preparing a message on ‘’Who Am I?’ for our evening service. I came across a passage in Genesis 32:22-27 where Jacob wrestles with a man and the man asks Jacob “What is your name?”   In the Ancient Near East your name was more than just words. Name was identity. Your name was reflective of your character, your substance, I mean the very fibre that made you, you. Your name told who you are.   Eventually Jacob responds with Jacob and then God uses him.

Understanding who we are in Christ is critical for us becoming the people God has called us to be.  It is in Christ that we find acceptance, and our security and our significance. To me this week it was refreshing and freeing to look again at who Christ made me to be. Often we look at other people and things to find our identity but nothing comes close to who Christ made us to be.

Peter
On behalf of the Pastoral Team

Due to the Christmas & New Year Holiday break – there will be no “Get Connected” updates for the month of January.

Our Pastoral Team will be back in touch in February, 2010.

18th December, 2009

Hi Everyone!

As there are only 7 sleeps to Christmas (not counting any ‘nanny naps’ during the day!!!), we continue to hear those Christmas carols that remind us of Jesus- Immanuel = God with us. Christmas is a very strong reminder that God goes to extraordinary lengths to commune with us. He is very intentional about enabling us to be in relationship with Him and to hear his voice.
On Sunday last, we looked at Joseph and I posed the question does God speak to us just as clearly as he did to Joseph?  I then asked people to participate in a 7 day experiment, in which we carry around a little pad with us during the week and write down any word, sentence or picture that we believe God might have given us and then see how God affirms or uses this word in our life. How’s the experiment going?
Let me share two conversations that I have had – one on Sunday after the service and one on Monday.  A gentleman shared with me that he was offered a very large sum of money to sell his business a few weeks ago and he heard God very clearly say- “Don’t sell now”. He had a real peace about this word from God so he said no to the offer and has continued to have real peace about this decision even though he is not really sure why God wanted him to knock back the very generous offer. Praise God for his speaking so clearly and for this gentleman’s responsiveness & obedience to God’s voice.
On Monday another gentlemen rang indicating that he was blown away by the service on Sunday as he had just started reading a book called “How to Hear God’s Voice” by Mark & Patti Virkler and he couldn’t believe the parallels between what he read and then what he heard. God absolutely affirmed for this gentleman that God longs for us to grow in our receptivity & obedience to His voice. I have now bought the book (I have only got to Chapter one so far) but have been encouraged in my belief that God does indeed speak and he delights in us taking those steps towards a growing, dynamic intimacy with him.
I trust that you have been encouraged this week too as you have intentionally opened yourself to His ‘still small voice’. Let me finish with a couple of quotes from this book.
“Prayer is supposed to be powerful, effective and meaningful in our lives. Yet many times it is nothing more than a dutiful recitation of the items on our prayer list. We need to learn (practice) how to make prayer a dynamic dialogue with the Lover of our souls….we must rediscover (and or go deeper in) direct contact with God and once again become open to intuitive, spiritual experiences. We must rediscover our spiritual senses and reinstate them in our lives, allowing the power of the Father, of Jesus Christ and of the Holy Spirit to heal, strengthen and guide us from within.”
Trevor on behalf of the Pastoral Team

11th December, 2009

Dear Friends

It is the season of goodwill and peace to all men! Isn’t it interesting that even in the hustle and bustle of life that in the few weeks leading up to Christmas, even amidst the busyness, there is generally a “good feeling” in the community.

People have commented something like “why can’t this spirit last all year round?”, “why after Christmas passes do we revert to being on edge and impatient with others?” They are interesting questions, aren’t they?

We do have so much to learn about genuine relationship all the year round.

Yet, we can rejoice that throughout the year lives are being impacted. Throughout the year God’s love and mercy is being given to others freely. As a church our people are impacting lives all year round.

Just last week I was handed a letter, written by a family in our community. It’s a family that has been impacted throughout the whole year by one of our church small groups. They wanted the pastoral team and the church to know the impact we have had and to express their sincere thanks.

The man who had been assisted during the year had looked at our website and wrote to the small group as follows “how well you are living out your mission statement in a way which is obviously transforming lives and I say congratulations to you and all your team and to all members of the Dural Baptist Church.   I can’t really say enough “thank yous” for the support you and your team gave us during what was a really tough time for us as a family … you all showed us help and compassion well in excess of that which any of us could or would have expected.”

Let’s thank God for using us to live and give the hope of Christ, all year round. What a privilege!

Brian on behalf of the Pastoral Team

27th November, 2009

Hi Friends

I have just started reading the book of Revelation for my quiet times and was struck by John’s words in verse 10 of Chapter 1. “It was the Lord’s day and I was worshipping in the Spirit.” I have been reflecting on this for over a week and find myself saying/praying- “Lord I want to grow in my capacity to worship you in the Spirit – I want to come to a deeper understanding (and experience) of what that means.”

Last night I was at a meeting here at church and at the beginning of the meeting we spent some time asking for God’s wisdom. Three-quarters into the meeting we were wrestling with some ‘meaty’ issues and one of the group suggested we stop for some silent prayer and reflection, which we did for about five minutes. The result of stopping & listening certainly brought clarity and a clear direction forward.

I am sure we all struggle with the pace of life and how hard it is whether it’s in a meeting or in the midst of a long ‘to do’ list to consciously slow down and quieten our bodies and souls and give God a chance to speak.

Reflecting on this reminded me of an experience when I was working with Wesley Mission. We had a staff spiritual retreat in the Colo Valley and as usual I rushed to that from a number of back-to-back meetings. When I arrived the facilitator of the retreat met me and indicated that everyone had been sent off as individuals for some reflective time. So I went off and found a shaded rock to settle on while I tried to wind down from the hectic pace of the hours prior. As I began to relax and listen I became conscious of two guys talking, it sounded like they were only metres away as I could clearly hear their conversation. I looked and looked and eventually spotted them and they had to have been 100 metres away but because of the location in the back blocks of Colo there was little activity and not the usual buzz of traffic etc so their voices carried clearly.

It was right at this point that God took that scene, using it as an object lesson and spoke straight to my heart with these words: “I am always speaking – I am always present and at work but when you are so busy, rushing here, rushing there, there is too much competing noise that muffles out my voice and you ‘miss’ seeing me at work. Learn to take some time out, be intentional at stopping and just listening and be amazed at how present I am. This is a lesson that I need to keep reminding myself of. How about you? Are you intentional about finding some times just to step aside from all the business and just ‘chill out’ with God and see what he says or does?

So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God.    Romans 12:1. The Message

Trevor

On behalf of the Pastoral Team

23rd November, 2009

Hi Friends,

I have taken an interest recently in the way organizations, both Christian and other, promote their work. Words like “impact”, “transformation”, “life-changing”, “making a difference” are used often.

We all want to be part of something that “impacts our world” – oops there’s another often used phrase.

They are all words that conjure up the feeling of hope. They speak of a future that is assured. The words convey images of transformed lives and transformed communities, of the future being one that is positive.

The greatest aspect of those images for us as Christians is that God has transformed our lives and He equips us with everything we need to bring His hope to our hurting world. Those images are being lived out! I am so privileged to be part of a church that continues to work out our faith together and to minister in a way that brings the hope to so many, both locally and beyond.

As we live life over this Christmas Season let’s ask God for His discernment. It has been a difficult year for many. Might our God give us His insight into those who need a special touch of His grace, mercy and love. Might words like “transformation” and “life change” be a new reality for many people as we continue to minister.

Brian on behalf of the Pastoral Team

14th November, 2009

Hi everyone,

I hope your week has been a good one.

This week I have been attending a course at Morling College on what it looks like to be missional in today’s world.

I had forgotten what it was like being a student sitting in the classroom looking out the window and allowing my mind to drift off.  On Monday, I couldn’t help but think about the baptism service that was held here on Sunday night. It was like a touch of heaven had descended on us. Each of these young people being baptised, sharing their own story of how God had moved in their life… to me there is nothing better than sitting back and listening to how the Spirit of God is working in peoples lives.

I would personally like to thank our church family who usually attend morning service who came to Feast. It was great to see you there and sharing in a very special night!

I would also like to say a special thanks to those of you who volunteered and helped in anyway on the evening. Your servant hearts are very much appreciated.

Blessings,
Pete
On behalf of the Pastoral Team.

7th November, 2009

Hi Everyone,
I have been reading through Hebrews lately and one of the themes coming through is how Paul kept on reminding them of the HOPE of Jesus’ second coming. I was left wondering- Why doesn’t Jesus’ second coming hold a more important place in my thinking? It’s not that I don’t think about it but it certainly doesn’t hold the same value or have the same impact as it did for them. Why is that? I am still pondering this!
Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.
Hebrews 10:23-25

What’s interesting is that the Hebrews were under pressure to give up their faith as they were under persecution and drew strength from one another by reminding each other Gods faithful promises including the HOPE of Jesus’ second  coming.

I was speaking with a member of our congregation this week who said they had been through much suffering in the workplace and the only way they survived was by drawing close to God and the support of family, friends and their small group. God had been faithful but she had also drawn strength from her church family.

We were not meant to do life alone and God meant for us to be an encouragement and support to one another but also that this be done in the context of recognising that whatever our trials or tribulations God is not only present but is also coming back again to bring us in to a place of no more sin, pain or suffering. WOW what a hope. So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord. Remember the great reward it brings you!  Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that he has promised. Hebrews 10:34-36

Trevor

On behalf of the Pastoral Team

30th October, 2009

Hi Friends!

I was sitting in church last Sunday thinking “it doesn’t get much better than this!”

Our team of young people along with our Young Adults Pastor Peter Clarke and Team Leader Donna Williams were giving us a great picture of their adventure of faith in Fiji. There were great accounts of God at work, in the lives of our team, in the lives of those they met, and in the most unexpected places like the prisons. Then Peter shared from the Word of God with a passion based on that experience.

We were witnessing God at work. It was such an encouragement to be there together celebrating the fact that our God is alive, that God continues to ask us to stretch ourselves, to commit ourselves more fully to Him, and to appreciate again, that when we do that, our God is able to do immeasurably more than we could dare to dream, ask or imagine.

As I write this I am in the departure lounge of the airport bound for a mission conference in the USA where about 250 people from 140 different nations will gather. If this is similar to past experiences there will be a lot of celebration and tears as we hear stories of God at work in the most diverse places. Places of oppression and dictatorship, places of war and strife, places of dysfunction and despair. Yet in the midst of all that, such clear evidence that God is at work bringing hope, healing and restoration. His work is carried out by ordinary people, people stretching out beyond themselves in a spirit of compassion, adventure, obedience and God-dependence.

Let’s be encouraged amidst all the other thoughts, emotions and battles we face in everyday day life to continue to look for the places that God is working and engage with Him in the journey. Whether that journey is with our neighbours, work colleagues, team mates or in overseas communities we have the privilege of truly bringing the hope of God’s Kingdom to our world. That’s our mission. That’s our privilege, and “it doesn’t get any better than that!”

Brian

On behalf of the Pastoral Team

12th October, 2009

Hi Friends!

As our Pacific rim continues to bubble away beneath the ocean and unleash earthquakes and a tsunami, our media has provided a wide rang of coverage in the reporting. Some stories have been on the scientific front, with all the seismological data and projected possibilities for the future, including possible effects on Australia. Other stories have looked closely at the cost in terms of human life, infrastructure and tourism.

Yet, the one story that captured my heart was the coverage of deeply committed Christians in Samoa. Their faith in God was such a powerful witness. They spoke of their faith, and the assurance they have that their loved ones are now in the very presence of Jesus. The lady interviewed said “we simply put our faith in God …. He is the only healer … we put everything in God’s hands … He will deal with it”

It was an attitude and a powerful witness that obviously spoke to the interviewer and his team.

Yet it is this truth that as “we put everything in God’s hands … He will deal with it” that is the foundational aspect of our faith in God.

Let’s be encouraged by those who live out that faith so boldly day by day and let’s be challenged to develop those deeper levels of trust in our own lives.

Let’s too continue to pray for the relief efforts in Samoa and Indonesia. Pray too for our own young people in Fiji, for their protection and growth in the final week of their mission trip.

Brian

On behalf of the Pastoral Team

4th October, 2009

Hi Friends!

“Life is difficult” are the opening words from Scott Peck’s famous book “The Road Less Travelled”.

He goes on to say “This is a great truth, one of the greatest truths. It is a great truth because once we truly see this truth, we transcend it. Once we truly know that life is difficult – once we truly understand and accept it – then life is no longer difficult. Because once it is accepted, the fact that life is difficult no longer matters.”

One of our past Prime Ministers said a similar thing “Life wasn’t meant to be easy”.  That’s true about life, and it’s so true about the Christian life.

But  we can rejoice, because even in the midst of chaos, confusion and sadness Christ is present. Our God simply wants to walk with us through those hard experiences of life we encounter from time to time. That’s the character of our God.

Yet out of difficult circumstances God has revealed again His presence. God is drawing us to greater dependence on Him. Some of our church family were engaged in prayer together on Wednesday evening. What a great time of prayer that was, as we sought God’s direction and committed ourselves to follow.

God will use a variety of circumstances in life to get our attention back on Him.  Let’s praise God for that!  But let’s commit ourselves to be a church that truly lives that value of “God dependence”. Let’s together continue our emphasis on prayer at all times.

Why? Simply our future together depends on it and our world needs us, and Christians like us, moving ahead in unity, providing healing and hope. It’s been a sad week for our world with the earthquakes in Samoa and Indonesia, massive flooding in parts of Vietnam, Laos, Thailand and Cambodia, and an impending typhoon in the Philippines, not to mention the many families in our own district that have their own “disasters” in many different forms.

We have the hope that Jesus offers. We have that treasure, albeit in jars of clay, and we have the amazing privilege to impact our world with the hope of Christ. In doing so let’s seek God diligently, work  together, and obediently step out into a world desperately seeking hope. Yes doing those things is the “road less travelled”, but if we do them together it will be a great journey and even more than that – it’s what God has called us to.

Let’s pray too for Peter, Donna, and our 10 young people as they take that hope into the villages, prison and other places in Fiji. May the Lord grant them protection, wisdom, boldness and a capacity to hear what He wants to teach them over the next two weeks.

Brian

On behalf of the Pastoral Team

25th September, 2009

Hi Everyone!

I hope you survived the dust storm on Wednesday. It reminded me of the plagues God sent on Egypt to release his people.  I couldn’t help but think how powerful our God is.  Last Sunday night as David Nix preached on Mark 3 and asked people “who do you say Jesus is?” it was great to see people respond to Christ. As a result there has been three people come to Christ for the first time. This is something to rejoice in!

This Sunday Mike Frost will be speaking at the morning service.  Mike has become a world renowned speaker in the west with his messages on the urgency of the missional challenge we face – you will not want to miss this.  I am sure that we will be confronted afresh by the Jesus of the gospels.
On another note, ten of our teens will leave for Fiji next Saturday for a 2 week missional experience.  If you could pray that their lives will be transformed over this time that would be great.

Pastor Peter

On behalf of the Pastoral Team

18th September 2009

Hi Everyone!

We “mark off time” by significant events don’t we?  From the day we are born we celebrate birthdays, anniversaries, first day of school, graduation, parenthood, significant dates in our journey of faith and so on.

I remember as a young adult thinking “if only I could finish my schooling”, “if only I could finish my degree” often looking forward to those milestones as if to simply tick them off.

Yet as I have matured (just a little!) I have realised it’s not just the things we mark off that are the important things; its how we grow in the journey that’s also most important. In other words, it’s the process not just the destination.

And how true that is in the walk of faith!

It’s this mindset that helps us see God in the everyday, in the struggles of life and to appreciate God’s desire to mature us in the process.

I rejoice too in the lessons we are learning individually and as a church in the knowledge that our God is “making all things new”.

Our leadership team has itself been encouraged by the words of encouragement from our church members about what God is doing amongst us. Just this week another verse from Isaiah was used to encourage us on the journey

“Thus says the Lord…I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.”

Yes, we are enjoying the challenge of the process – but let’s praise God together that our faithful God continues to be about His business of making us new, and we continue to seek Him.

Brian on behalf of the Pastoral Team

11th September 2009

Hi Everyone!

As we journey through Mark’s Gospel as a church I started reflecting on the message that was brought to us last week from chapter one.  The whole thing of leaving and following Jesus really spoke to me. I’m sure those first disciples really didn’t fully understand that they were entering a new day, a new Kingdom. As they left and followed Jesus there were many risks and fears yet there was something about this man by the lakeside that captured their hearts and they were forever changed into followers.

We have all had time to reflect on this passage individually but I started to wonder what this leaving and following means for us as the body of Christ here at Dural? Yes there will be pain and risk, however without this we can’t enter that new day.

That same statement Jesus put to ordinary people, ‘’Come follow me’’ is the same challenge he is calling us to as a church. What an ADVENTURE!

Pastor Peter
On behalf of the Pastoral Team

4th September 2009

Hi Everyone,

I have been doing some preparations for our new series starting Sunday by reading through Mark’s Gospel. The series is entitled- ‘Jesus- Lord, Liar or Lunatic’ after the famous question that C. S. Lewis proposed.

As you read Mark (or indeed any of the gospels) you are left with a recurring question. Who is this Jesus? Mark makes it clear right up front that Jesus is the Messiah, the SON of GOD and then goes on to outline all the things that Jesus DID. This leads to another question- Could anyone else BUT the Son of God speak, act and live with such authority-why even the wind and waves obey him, demons bow in his presence and the sick are healed?

We encourage you to PRAY for this series; and for the opportunities to share what Jesus means to us as we join with other churches in the ‘Jesus, all about life’ campaign. Can we also encourage you to read the relevant chapters of Mark’s gospel before you come on a Sunday? Try reading Mark chapter 1 this week and don’t be surprised if you keep on reading!

Last Friday a group of us at the church office met to discuss what the pressing priorities are for us as a church. We had a very robust but healthy discussion. There was passion and excitement as we tried to clarify what each person was saying and as we began to see key priorities emerging we eventually came to agree on the three top priorities. Prayer and fellowship/hospitality were two of these but the one we kept on coming back to and eventually agreed was the central priority was discipleship (walking with Jesus and helping others to walk with Jesus).

This sounds simple but as we all know being a disciple of Jesus is not an easy path. There are lots of twists and turns and challenges in life; a lot of brokenness in each of us to be healed and character flaws to be refined as we all learn to become more like Jesus.

Sounds a lot like the disciples who walked with Jesus! Maybe there is a thing or two that we can all learn from looking at Jesus’ life through Mark’s eyes- the gospel writer’s eyewitness account of Jesus’ ministry.

Trevor
On behalf of the Pastoral Team

28th August 2009

Hi Everyone,

This week’s email from the pastors comes with encouragement on how God is using people from our own Church – and the way He is at work.

One of our home groups had a remarkable experience this week. They have been taking turns to take a guy to rehab at Mt Wilga hospital after a very serious operation recently. On Wednesday this week the guy, Peter, got talking to a lady also undergoing rehab and they were comparing notes. Peter was saying how he and his wife are being blessed with the help from a group from Dural Baptist Church. This comment then had an amazing effect on the lady as she told Peter how she does some nanny work for a family living near her and this family only last Sunday had been referred to Dural Baptist as “the place they should go”. They then came to Dural church for the very first time last Sunday and were telling this lady of the tremendous welcome and the fantastic message and overall what a great place they had found it to be. So this lady said to Peter “I just have to talk to someone at Dural Baptist”…and Peter said “well one of the guys is collecting me any minute now” … when he arrived, our Dural guy was the one who welcomed that family as the greeter at the front door on Sunday and he was able to tell the lady that he knew about this new family. She was just astonished and couldn’t believe what was happening and asked if she could also come to Dural …. Peter’s response is “well there is no doubt God was directing all this” …. great story…. God is in everything we do …. no matter what it is ….

May this story spur us on!

Pastor Pete
On behalf of the Pastoral Team

August 21, 2009

Hi Everyone,
I shared in my sermon the week before last that God had been working Paul’s prayer for the Colossians into my life. Paul prays “that you will be strengthened with all his glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need. May you be filled with joy” (Col 1:11) Well since that I have certainly been challenged about my endurance, patience & joy!!!

Yesterday I spent some time in the bush at the end of Quarry Road looking for some refreshing from my tiredness and wanting some word of encouragement from God. I thought I would start at Psalm 23, an obvious choice.  “The Lord is my Shepherd… he lets me rest in green pastures…” and my heart goes I long for that Lord, but it seemed God was not making these verses stand out. I kept reading and the verses that really ‘jumped out at me’ which I didn’t much appreciate was a few chapters later in Psalm 27:14 “Wait patiently for the Lord. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the Lord.”  I said to my wife Robyne last night I just want things to be easy, I don’t want to be patient. That was a nice way of saying  “Give me a break Lord I am tired of being patient!!!”

Yet this morning in my quiet time I sensed God saying, “You have been reflecting in recent months about being “more like Jesus”- isn’t enduring and being patient a character trait of Jesus?”   I had to say yes or probably more precisely “you’ve got me there God”. I then went to a prayer time with other pastors from other churches where we prayed for the Hills district, for revival and for the upcoming ‘Jesus All About Life’ campaign.

There was a clear sense of God empowering our prayers and I went away greatly refreshed and so glad for the opportunity to be praying with fellow Christians and to be encouraged in ‘waiting patiently’ for God to do his work in and through us. God was teaching me a deeper lesson. Prayer is essential to my physical and emotional health.

I got these quotes off the Global Prayer network -

“Genuine Revival is always preceded by faith, humility and united prayer.”

“When the prayer-life of the people of God comes to be the dominant feature of Christian experience, the power of God will sweep the earth with the victories of grace.”  Howard Agnew Johnston

My response – Lord teach me to pray; give me a heart for prayer; remind me how critical prayer is to seeing you move not only in my life but in this church and city. I trust that this is your heart too.

Trevor on behalf of the Pastoral Team

August 14, 2009

Hi Friends,

What do you want to be remembered for?

I have been challenged again in the Scriptures this week by the words written by Paul to the Thessalonians. He says “we continually remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labour prompted by love and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ”

A faith, love and hope in God that gives birth to my work, labour and endurance is something I want to keep fostering and developing.

Sure we can work, labor and endure without God, but what’s the point? Where is the focus? And ultimately where is the fulfillment?

God has a plan for each of us and He continues to equip us for the journey of life.

The same is true of us as a church. God has a plan for us in community together to be His people – people of faith and love who demonstrate that in word and deed, and people of hope who rise above the circumstances of life to endure the tough times and bring Christ to a hurting world.

I thank God for the opportunity to be part of this church, a church where people of faith impact our world in a wide variety of ways. Whether at home base within the church community, or within our wider local community or the world at large, God is using us. That’s an awesome privilege!

Let’s continue to spur each other on to love and good deeds that together we might be encouraged in our faith, impact our world and build the type of reputation the church at Thessalonica had.

Brian on behalf of the Pastoral Team

July 31, 2009

Are there times when you just sense God stirring- it seems like a breakthrough is coming- you feel it deep within you and yet a lot of things ‘appear’ to be going wrong?

Peter Clarke, Jarrod Myers and I were having a conversation yesterday where we sensed God’s Spirit was clearly at work- an example of this was just an amazing presence of God’s Spirit at the FEAST service on Sunday evening. Yet we also saw clear evidence this week of Satan trying to undermine and pull down what God is initiating. It’s very easy to get discouraged at times like this.

One of the verses that Jarrod referred to on Sunday night was Paul’s prayer for the Colossians (1:11) that they “will have all the patience and endurance they need and be filled with Joy”

In the series we are doing Sunday morning based on Acts 2 the early church are people of great joy meeting together often  bring praise and worship to their great God. However it doesn’t take too long before the opposition comes. A clear pattern in the bible is that whenever there has been a fresh outpouring of God’s Spirit there very quickly follows a kick back from Satan. God doesn’t promise to protect us from hardship or suffering but he promises to be with us and give us the strength to triumph through the circumstances.

I have been reading a book on prayer and one of the examples given was of a single mother who came to Christ and what followed was numerous tragedies including the death of her mother, sexual assault and the house heating system failing in the middle of a freezing winter with insufficient money to get it fixed. This was her reflection on this time of trial as a new Christian: “The devil wanted me to say, ‘look- I put my faith in Christ, and every time I turned around, something terrible happens. Maybe that wasn’t a good idea after all’ (i.e. to become a Christian). But instead, I learned to cling to the Lord. The more troubles that happened, the tighter I had to hold on. And God was faithful.

The Psalmist on many occasions reminds us to put our hope in God. Ephesians 6 reminds us to ‘put on the full armour of God so that when the day of evil comes (i.e.trials), you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything to stand.
Let’s be people that actively pray and encourage one another to be people of patience, endurance and joy as we see God’s Spirit triumph in and through us.

Trevor on behalf of the Pastoral Team.

July 24, 2009

Hi All,

The news of Michael Jackson’s passing has taken centre stage around the world. As I  have been watching the constant updates in the news I was thinking what kind of legacy has he left behind?  There is no doubt he will be known in history as the King of Pop Music.  But what kind of eternal legacy will be left?

One of the most deflating moments for the United States in the history of the Olympic games occurred in 1988 in Seoul, Korea. The American 4 x100 relay team was poised to break the word record and assume its position as the best in the world.  It had peerless athletes.  There was no thought that this team could lose (albeit like the mighty Maroons). The only question was whether they would crack the world record. Yet as the final leg of the race approached, the unthinkable happened. The Americans dropped the baton.  The handoff was not completed. In an instant, the race was over. The crowd and electrifying atmosphere from only a few moments earlier, was suddenly left in stunned silence.  The American team had arrogantly relied on their inherent speed and failed to sufficiently practice the handoff that was so crucial for the completion of the race.

“Every Christian must see themselves as the link to the next generation,’’ writes William Barcley. We need to practice the handoff. When all else fails, read the directions. It is not that Jesus’ way has been tried and found wanting; it has been largely talked about but not implemented. I have felt the Spirit prompting me back to the small, reproducible, long term relationships where the gospel can be passed on. To me Christ left us with one simple thing to do, “Go and make disciples.’’.

Legacies are not about leaving large sums of money to our children or being immortalized by getting our names etched on a building. When we get to the shore’s edge and know that there is a boat there waiting to takes us to the other side to be with Jesus, all that will truly matter is the names of family, friends and others who are self initiating, reproducing, fully devoted followers of Jesus because we made it the priority of our lives to walk with them toward maturity in Christ.

There is no better eternal investment or legacy to leave behind. As followers of Jesus our legacies will last for eternity.

Last Sunday at Feast four of our teenagers followed the Lord through the waters of baptism. Please continue to pray for Brittany Webb, Stephanie Glasby, Kristyn Glasby and Ali Jenab. It was an awesome service as we celebrated what God has done in these young lives and continued on after the baptisms had taken place having a light snack in the café so everyone could mingle and enjoy each other’s company . If there is one thing that encourages my faith is hearing the stories of what God has done in someone else’s life.

Also please continue to uphold in prayer those that have gone to Central Australia on the mission trip. Pray that God would use these people and that they would grow closer with Christ through this experience.

Pastor Pete on behalf of the Pastoral Team
17th July, 2009

Hi Friends,

I was at Hillsong conference last week and a theme that came through time and time again was being passionate about Jesus. Louie Giglio was one of the speakers at the conference; he’s the one who put together that DVD about creation called Indescribable; anyway what resonated with me was when Louie was interviewed and the interviewer paused about ten minutes into the interview and reflected- “you keep on talking about Jesus – there is obviously a depth of relationship there – you seem to just ooze Jesus”. Everyone in the audience just identified with that comment.

I came away reflecting could that be said of me.

This Sunday morning we are looking at the theme “Living Life everyday like Jesus – Jesus all about Life. How does Jesus make a difference in our life and how do we point people to Jesus – the source of Life? In the evening service four people are getting baptised. Brittany, Stephanie, Kristyn and Ali will give testimony to what difference Jesus has made in their lives. SO – don’t miss the opportunity to be encouraged.  One of those getting baptised only walked into our evening service around two months ago asking if it was okay to come in (where he comes from you don’t just walk into a church uninvited!!!) He has since become a Christian and now wants to be baptised!!! Praise God for prompting Ali to ‘walk in off the street’.

So where are you seeing God at work in the everyday and are you expectant that God can use you? One of the members of our small group shared how every week he visits some of the atheist websites/blogg sites and just shares a few sentences of God’s light. He often gets no response but he is just trusting that the Holy Spirit will water some of that ‘seed’ that has been sown.

Let’s be expectant at seeing God at work in and through each of us.

“We pray that you’ll live well for the Master, making him proud of you as you work hard in his orchard. As you learn more and more how God works, you will learn how to do your work.” Colossians 1:11 (The Message)

Blessings,

Trevor
On behalf of the Pastoral Team

9th July, 2009.

Hi Friends,

As I write this short note  Lynne and I are driving through South Australia on our way to Alice Springs. The vastness and the contrast of this wonderful country is something we love. We live in an amazing land.

We are looking forward to sharing life in the Outback with twenty of our Dural people, plus a few friends from other churches, as we enjoy God’s Creation together. Enjoying these experiences of life together is a privilege. They are special times.

We are also looking forward to sharing life with Indigenous Australians in several different communities. We would value your prayers for wisdom, discernment, listening ears and words of hope and encouragement. Please pray for all our team members listed below.

As Christians we are such privileged people. We have received the forgiveness and grace of Jesus Christ. We have reason to celebrate! We have reason to rejoice! We have too, the mandate from Jesus to speak His words of hope into a world desperately needing the freedom He gives. That’s a great truth to share with each other and a privilege to speak into the lives of those who live without that hope.

So whether over these school holidays you are staying at home base or travelling, let’s encourage one another about the truth of who we are in Christ. Let’s continue to encourage one another on this journey we call “life”. God is with us! God is among us, and God will continue to use us to impact each other and our world.

Have a great weekend and week ahead.

Blessings

Brian on behalf of the Pastoral Team

Northern Territory Mission Team
David, Julianne, Andrew, Chris and Daniel Polkinghorne; Paul, Michele, Jenny and Natalie Tridgell; Martin and Mary Keenan; Leighton Corr; Jarrod Myers; Philip Bell; Ed Searson; Sam Cali; Bruce and Esther Hanbury; Brian, Lynne, Joshua and Daniel Codrington.