Newsletter. 18th October WELCOME. PATHFINDER INVESTITURE Elder in charge: Rod Kuo Offering: Local Budget. This Sabbath at Epping

Transcription

1 NO. 281 Epping Church 16TH OCTOBER 2014 Newsletter WELCOME Welcome to Epping Church s Newsletter! Keep reading the newsletter for more updates on events and also many upcoming events! The last few Secrets of Prophecy series are happening over the next few Friday nights 7:15-8:30pm at Church for those who are keen! If there is any information or images you would like to share in future editions, please it to Alvin or Stephanie at the addresses below: ajing@eppingsda.org.au. stephcyee@yahoo.com This newsletter can also be downloaded on our website: This Sabbath at Epping 18th October PATHFINDER INVESTITURE Elder in charge: Rod Kuo Offering: Local Budget

2 Last Sabbath at Epping Speaker: Pastor Daniel Przbylko 11th October Sermon Title: From Darkness to Light Key Scripture: Acts 26:16-18 But rise and stand on your feet; for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to make you a minister and a witness both of the things which you have seen and of the things which I will yet reveal to you. I will deliver you from the Jewish people, as well as from the Gentiles, to whom I now send you, to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me. The Apostle Paul's life changed from being a persecutor of Christ to an ambassador for Christ once he responded to a key question from Jesus on the road to Damascus. Transformation begins for us in the very same way, when we meet Jesus and respond to key questions relating to our own lives. After 3 days to think in a blinded state, Paul is baptized. Another 3 years in training by the Holy Spirit and he is ready for mission service. Paul undertook 3 missionary journeys over a period of approximately 25 years. The first trip through Asia-Minor (modern-day Turkey) was with Barnabas; the second with Silas (& later Timothy) covered Asia-Minor and Greece; and the third going back over similar territory was with Timothy - who became a close and trusted friend. Paul planted many churches along his mission journeys and then re-visited some of them to strengthen and encourage the churches as they grew. He encountered MANY challenges and persecution such as riots, being beaten, stoned, shipwrecked, and more (2 Corinthians 11:24-28). What kept him going? Every time he must have looked to Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. That's what we must do also, when the going gets tough in life - although none of us have probably come close to the perils endured by Paul. Wherever Paul went, we see that he took the opportunity to preach Christ. Whether to the common person, to a king or even the Caesar. Whether in public or in someone's private home. Whether to pagans, Jews, or philosophers. Whether on a ship or on a shipwrecked island. Over and over... Paul never gave up on his commission from Christ, "to turn them from darkness to light." (Acts 26:16-18). What an example for us to follow - to look for opportunities to share our faith in any environment! After being captured in Jerusalem by zealous Jews who sought to kill Paul, he is saved from an angry mob by a Roman commander and placed in prison in Caesarea for 2 years. Paul's fourth and final journey was as a prisoner of Rome. From Prison he is again able to witness, meet with friends, and write many letters to churches and individuals. These prison epistles such as Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, Philemon, 1 & 2 Timothy, and Titus, make up a significant section of the New Testament today. After a short release, Paul is again incarcerated, only this time in a significantly different Rome. After the great fire of Rome, Christians were despised by the citizens and thousands had been executed by the Caesar. Paul's final audience before the Caesar must have again seen him bear witness for the Lord. Only this time, he had no friend to (2 Tim 4:16) to assist him. For Paul, everything other than Christ was considered "rubbish" (Phil 3:7-8)

3 As Paul looked back over his life he must have remembered the charge given to him by the Lord. What an abundant life he'd had. And what an inheritance he looked forward to. As he was led out by his executioner along the Appian Way, he must have look up to the heavens and remembered some of the words he had penned over the years: 2 Tim 1:12 "...I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed..." 2 Tim 4:7-8 "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith..." Where would we be today without the wonderful words we have because of Paul's experience? Rom 5:8; 8:28; Eph 2:8; Rom 3:23-24; 2 Cor 5:17; 1 Cor 15:51-52; and finally Rom 5:1 "Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." Friend, would you like to have the confidence, peace, and faith of Paul? Have you accepted Jesus, as Paul so boldly preached? Has the gospel so impacted your life that you would be willing to live or die for Christ? For Paul, everything other than Christ was considered "rubbish" (Phil 3:7-8) When confronted with a life-changing question, Saul who became Paul, changed his course. Paul said he knew in whom he believed. How well do you know Jesus? Won't you determine to put every effort into knowing and following the Lord? May you determine to run the race to the end like Paul, and to help turn others from darkness to light. SECRETS OF PROPHECY SERIES- Friday nights Just a quick reminder that we'll be completing the last few study guides in the Secrets of Prophecy series over the next couple of weeks on Friday nights 7:15-8:30pm, in the church hall. The seminar schedule is as follows: 17th October: The Final Superpower & The Mark of the Beast 24th October: The Judgment & Why so Many Churches? Hope you can plan to be there and get the complete series of lessons. It's a great resource to have at home.

4 UPCOMING EVENTS 1. Bible cell groups Bible Study cell groups have commenced for this term. Please see Rod if you would like to join one of the groups 2. ClubCHIP meeting There will be a ClubCHIP meeting on Wednesday Oct 22 at 7:15pm. Come 6:45pm with some healthy food to share if you d like. All are welcome. The video will be on Alzheimer s Disease. 3. Sabbath School Preliminaries Program On the 25th October, there will be a Sabbath School Preliminaries Program with mission and member focus from 9:30-10am in the church 4. Church Business Meeting There will be a Church Business Meeting will be held at 5pm on Sabbath October 25 in the church hall. All Epping church members are encouraged to attend. Departmental leaders please have your brief reports ready to share. 5.Communion On Sabbath, 1st November there will be a communion service. 6. Epping Annual Church Camp, 6-8 March, 2015 After our successful camp earlier this year we tried to book another weekend in 2015 but we were disappointed to find that Crosslands was booked out a year in advance. Fortunately for us, another group has cancelled so WE ARE GOING TO HAVE EPPING CHURCH CAMP ON MARCH 6-8TH 2015! Get in early and reserve your spot for another fabulous Church Camp, otherwise you might miss out and be very very disappointed. It will be another great camp filled with spiritually uplifting messages, great food, great fellowship and a tonne of fun. Like last year, you can choose to relax and do very little or challenge yourself with abseiling, water sports and of course the giant pool slug obstable course. We will have trophies this year for the quickest participants across the slug. The cost for the weekend including food and accomodation is $85/adult and $45 for kids under 16. If you just want to visit or the day the cost is $40. If you are interested to see what the accomodation is like, visit To secure your booking just visit ADRA Blacktown Food Drive There will continue to be a plastic container placed at the top of the stairs at church labelled "ADRA Blacktown Food Drive". Many people have little knowledge and skill in cooking with fresh vegetables so please provide canned and packaged food. Once a month the food will be collected. Any small items for children like toys and DVD's would also be helpful if you would like to share. There isn t any space for large or heavy items. Thank you everyone for your contributions and support.

5 CHIP For those who are part of the ClubCHIP, Wednesday night, 22nd October there will be a video on Prevention of Alzheimer s Disease. Hope to see you all. Feel free to bring your friends and relatives. They will be grateful you invited them. We'll start the Video at 7:30pm. All are welcome! If you are able to, come early and bring some Healthy Finger Food to share at 6:45pm.

6 ADVENTIST EMPLOYMENT Personal Assistant to the Principal Gold Coast Christian College, Reedy Creek, QLD Exp 07 Oct Registered Nurses - ICU Adventist HealthCare Ltd, Wahroonga, NSW Exp 07 Oct Head of Secondary Seventh-day Adventist Schools (Victoria) Limited, Taylors Hill, VIC Exp 10 Oct Senior Systems Administrator (Information Technology) Seventh-day Adventist Schools (Greater Sydney) Ltd, Epping, NSW Exp 15 Oct Program Director ADRA Thailand, Chiang Mai Exp 15 Oct Program Director ADRA Philippines, Silang Exp 15 Oct Program Director ADRA India, Gurgaon Exp 15 Oct Program Director ADRA Laos, Vientiane Exp 15 Oct Regional Planning & Programs / Emergency Management Director ADRA Asia Regional Office, ADRA Asia Regional Office Exp 15 Oct Country Director ADRA Thailand, ADRA Asia Exp 15 Oct Country Director ADRA Sri Lanka, Colombo with visits to project sites Exp 15 Oct Primary teacher Seventh-day Adventist Schools (NNSW) Ltd, Kempsey Exp 16 Oct Primary teacher Seventh-day Adventist Schools (NNSW) Ltd, Wallsend Exp 16 Oct Teacher Secondary Seventh-day Adventist Schools (NNSW) Ltd, Kempsey Exp 16 Oct Finance Manager Vitality Works, Sydney Exp 17 Oct Teacher Creative Arts Seventh-day Adventist Schools (NNSW) Ltd, Kempsey NSW Exp 18 Oct Principal Seventh-day Adventist Schools (NNSW) Ltd, Taree Exp 22 Oct Principal Adventist Christian Schools (WA) Ltd, Carmel, WA Exp 22 Oct ADRA Australia International Development Intern ADRA overseas country office supported by ADRA Australia, Partner ADRA country office within Asia Exp 26 Oct Business Analyst ADRA Australia, Wahroonga Exp 26 Oct School Secretary Carlisle Adventist Christian College, North Australian Conference, Mackay, Qld Exp 27 Oct Principal Adventist Christian Schools (WA) Ltd, Carmel, WA Exp 30 Oct Executive Care Manager Adventist Aged Care, Head Office Loganholme, Aged Care (South Queensland) Exp 31 Oct Technology Teacher (Workshop & Digital) Christchurch Adventist School, Christchurch, New Zealand Exp 31 Oct IT Systems Administrator (TPUM Focus) South Pacific Division, Wahroonga, NSW Exp 03 Nov Surgical Assistants Adventist HealthCare Limited, Wahroonga, NSW Exp 16 Dec Maintenance Manager Adventist Aviation Services PNG, Goroka, Papua New Guinea Exp 18 Jan Special Prayer Requests Please pray for Michael Worker and his family as he recovers from his recent illness Please pray for Maree s parents as they are suffering from ill health and need our prayer support Please pray for the Lin family. They are mourning the passing of Harold and need our prayers for comfort and peace Please pray for all the Year 12 students sitting their HSC exams this year Please pray for Jon s work colleague s family as they get through this unfortunate tragedy.

7 PHOTO OF THE WEEK Photo by: Kristine Bannerman THOUGHT OF THE WEEK The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away. Blessed be the name of the Lord.!!!!!!!!! -Job 1:21