12 th January, 2014 First Sunday after the Epiphany Baptism of Our Lord

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1 Bethany 9:00am 86 Raceview Street, Raceview QLD 4305 Grace 10:00am 19 Ipswich Street, Riverview QLD 4303 St Johns 8:00am & 9:30am 32 Roderick Street, Ipswich QLD th January, 2014 First Sunday after the Epiphany Baptism of Our Lord O LORD my God, my Holy One, you who are eternal surely you do not plan to wipe us out? O LORD, our Rock, you have sent these Babylonians to correct us, to punish us for our many sins. Habakkuk 1:12 Ipswich Lutheran House 32 Roderick Street, Ipswich Qld 4305 Telephone: Facsimile: enquiries@ilp.org.au Internet:

2 A Message From Pastor Ben Maybe you ve noticed that there are so many questions in life that are so difficult to answer: How does Mitchell Johnson grow such an awesome moustache, Why do irons have a setting for permanent press? Why does the bread always land butter side down? If you stand at a pedestrian crossing, does pushing the walk button more and more make the lights change any quicker? What happens when you put a cat into a front-loading washing machine? Habakkuk, one of God s prophets who we will be focusing on over the next 3 weeks also had a lot of questions, but his main one was Why doesn t God seem fair? It s a question I think that we all struggle with at times, and is another question that is difficult to answer. I think that to often we think that we need to have an answer for this question, and so we say God won t give you more than you can handle or God still loves you, and while these answers aren t necessarily wrong, if you have ever been on the receiving end it doesn t make your pain go away, it doesn t help you to overcome your issues, and it doesn t make God seem any more fair! The name Habakkuk means to embrace or to wrestle, and over the next few weeks, we are going to embrace or wrestle a chart created by Seth Goden called the dip, because at some point we all end up in a dip, where we are struggling with things with life, and we also reach the point where we ask Why doesn t God seem fair. My prayer is that as your work with and struggle through these things, that you can see it s ok to have more questions than answers, that it s ok to question and talk to God, but that you notice he is still at work, even though we may not see Him. Ben Upcoming Dates for Your Calendar This Week Mon 13/1 7.00pm Faith Chest Ministry Tue 14/ am Parish Office Staff Meeting Wed 15/1 6.45pm Bethany Ministry & Church Council Meeting Coming Up Mon 20/1 7.00pm Faith Chest Ministry Tue 21/ am Parish Office Staff Meeting 7.00pm Bethany Worship Team Meeting Wed 22/1 9.00am Parish Holiday Program (St John s) Thu 23/1 6.30pm Shed Men (Bethany Shed) 2

3 Worship This Week Bethany 9am Service without Holy Communion Children s Ministry Grace 10am Service without Holy Communion Hymns 261 AT, 791 LHS, 118 AT, 748 LHS St Johns 8am Service without Holy Communion LHS page am Hymns 895 LH, 731 LH, 335 LH, 863 LH Contemporary Service with Holy Communion No Sunday School during school holidays St Marks 8.30am Service without Holy Communion 9.30am No Sunday School during school holidays Happenings in our Parish Thank You Layreaders Thank you to Neil Schiller and Trevor Samson for taking the lay reading services at Bethany and Grace today while Pr Milton is on leave. Ipswich Bargain Shop News On behalf of all volunteers working in the Ipswich Lutheran Bargain Centre, I pass on our thanks to everyone in the Parish who supported our shop with donations of saleable items last year. It is with your help, we were able to donate $15,500 back into the community. Ipswich Lutheran Parish Pantry, Ipswich Hospice Care & Kid s Grief Group, Bethany School Student Assistant Fund, Redbank Meals on Wheels, Royal Flying Doctor of Aust [Qld section], Men s Shed, Guide Dogs [training], Angel Flight, Leukaemia Foundation, Redbank & Riverview Schools Chaplaincy Fund, Rural Fire Brigades, Lutheran Youth of Qld, Crossroad Church Support. We have a need in the shop, VOLUNTEERS. One day a week or month would be a great help, even a few hours. Please contact Betty Bork if you can assist phone Parish Playgroup There will be a parish playgroup commencing Wednesday 5 February 9.00am to 11.00am. They will be every Wednesdays during school term. St John's House, 34 Roderick Street. Parking and entrance up the driveway at back of house. Bring morning tea to share and gold coin donation. All parents/carers with preschool children welcome. Enquiries phone Margaret Toft Bulletin Inserts Just a reminder that flyers for bulletin will only be printed one week prior to event. They will be advertised in the Upcoming Events section of the bulletin for a long as you would like them to be. 3

4 Daily Bible Reading Booklets These have now arrived and will be distributed into pigeon holes. There are also a number of booklets at the back of the Churches. If you don t receive one or would like extra booklets to give away, they are available at the parish office Faith Foundations incorporating Head 2 Heart Enrolments Faith Foundations is not just a confirmation course; it is a great opportunity for children (grade six and older) who may be already confirmed or while not feeling ready to affirm their baptismal promises wish to explore what the Christian faith means for them personally. This programme explores how a relationship with Jesus can transform a person s life through both head and heart knowledge in a fun, comfortable and relaxed environment. At the end of the Faith Foundations programme children may affirm their baptismal promises if they so desire. We are also looking at holding a confirmation course for people who have not been confirmed and wish to affirm their faith on a Sunday morning at 10.45am. If this could be for you or you know someone who may be interested please contact Vicki Park (details below) for further information Faith Foundations incorporating H2H will commence on Friday 31 st January with a welcome BBQ and information evening. For further information or to enrol please contact Vicki Park at the Parish Office Thursday & Fridays or via vicki.park@ilp.org.au The Great Escape Feast Enrolments The Great Escape Feast (GEF) is the first communion course offered by the Ipswich Lutheran Parish. GEF encourages parents to learn together with their young person the benefits and significance of the sacrament, especially its connection with the Old Testament story of Moses and the exodus from Egypt. GEF is being offered to children turning ten years old who want to regularly commune in their home congregation. The course will commence on the Ash Wednesday 5 th March and will conclude on Maundy Thursday April 17 th with the children receiving their first communion. For further information or to enrol your child in this first communion course, please contact the Parish Office or via admin@ilp.org.au 4

5 Upcoming Events Ipswich Lutheran Parish Holiday Club Program Wet, Wild & Wonderful, is being held at St John s, on Wednesday 22 January from 9am-3pm. [For further details see inserted flyer] Employment Opportunity Children and Youth Coordinator From January 1 st, 2014 the position of Children and Youth Coordinator for the Ipswich Lutheran Parish will be vacant due to current coordinator, Jo Brown moving into full time work. The Children and Youth Coordinator is for twelve hours a week. The role is responsible for coordinating and overseeing the children and youth ministries of the parish. For a full position description please contact the Ipswich Lutheran Parish Office on (07) or admin@ilp.org.au. Applications close on Friday 31 st January Please supply the names and contact details of two referees together with your resume and application letter. Available from your local Church foyer LLL 2014 Calendar Current LCAQD Newsletter Daily Bible reading booklets for 2014 Last Week Attendance and Offerings Bethany 5/1 9.00am 92 $ (Pigs $75.35) Grace 5/ am 30 $ St John s 5/1 8.00am 52 $ am 57 $686 (Pigs $74.35) 5

6 Prayer Corner Church Prayer Time A time of prayer is held at Bethany every Sunday at 7.30am. Any and all are welcome to join in with these prayer times. Prayer Points for all who have been ordained to the public ministry, that they may use their authority to serve the servants of God for all who have been baptised here in the last year that God would keep his baptised people strong in faith for justice among the nations for those who are physically or mentally handicapped in any way. Care Slip & General Parish Prayer Requests Pray for more enrolments for Bethany School to enrich more families. Thank you for family and friends for people grieving this Christmas that God will give them His peace. that all would surrender to Jesus, our Lord, so that we would trust in Him with all our heart - our Life Services, our whole life. Guide us to commit our time, not just on Sundays, but give our life to Him - we belong to our Lord. for our young people to grow in God's amazing Grace. God is Good. for all in care. Dear Heavenly Father thank You for the gift of Jesus. Prayers for some rain in ALL parts of this land. for the Parish to truly to become a Parish. For those who have been affected by the heat. May you find solace with the cooler days now. Rain will soon bring relief and also God knows when the time is right. Safe travel for all. for peace in our world Please pray for those who feel that they don't have hope because of their individual situations. Pray for encouragement. General Prayers Please continue praying for o the pastors, office staff and leaders of the Parish and congregations. o the upcoming meetings of the parish and congregations (refer to the Coming Up section at the back of this bulletin). o the church services beforehand and as they take place o specific events as they arise i.e. funerals, weddings, baptisms, synod, studies undertaken across the parish 6

7 Next Week Rosters Bethany Grace St Johns St Johns 9am 10am 8am 9.30am Date Sun 19-Jan-14 Sun 19-Jan-14 Sun 19-Jan-14 Sun 19-Jan-14 Title 2nd Sunday after 2nd Sunday after the 2nd Sunday after the 2nd Sunday after the the Epiphany Epiphany Epiphany Epiphany Isaiah 49: 1-7 Isaiah 49: 1-7 Isaiah 49: 1-7 Bible Readings Psalm 34 Psalm 40: 1-11 Psalm 40: 1-11 Psalm 40: 1-11 Habakkuk 2: Corinthians 1: Corinthians 1: Corinthians 1: 1-9 John 1: John 1: John 1: Altar Colour Green Green Green Green Service Time & Details Service Order LHS page 58 HC Contemporary 9.30am w/o HC Bible Readings Reader Thomas / Rachel R Buchanan D Milligan Support Lay Leader Louise M Toft Ushers R Haag Family G Schultz, R Kreis C Sippel J Stewart Welcomers Glenys / Denis HC Assist. Cheryl / John D / Warren G Schultz Prayer Leader Glenys M Prayers Pastor / John S / Paul / Ann Organist / Musicians Carl / Band with Kurt? D Gowell Youth band Children s Ministry / Children's Activity David Kreis PP Operator Matthew G Van den Boog E Kreis Sound Desk David R Nuske Video Operator P Clark Children s Talk/ Offering Counters Eunice J Croft PP Designer Alissa Deb Kreis Deb Kreis Morning Tea E & L Steinhardt / G Podlich D & D Kreis D & D Kreis Cleaning Borchert, Greinke, Borchert, Greinke, Smith Smith Flowers Jenny I Greinke I Greinke Mowing John D / John S D Riggs D Riggs Altar linen: G Steinhardt / Brass clean: Greinke, Sippel, Smith / Care slips/pencils: G Borchert / Children's bags: E Meier / Tract rack: R Zahnow / Funeral clean: S Piotrowski, G Steinhardt / ushers: E Draheim, C Hoffmann, M Oldfield (emergency) / caterers: G Borchert, L Riggs, M Smith, G Steinhardt / Wedding organist: G Fritsch / usher: C Hoffmann St John s Monthly Roster Any changes or corrections with the rosters please contact the congregation s roster coordinator Bethany Ann Little, Grace Errol Freiberg, St John s - 8am Claire Barnett, 9.30am Wayne Kreis 7

8 Want to know more about Jesus? Head to Next Steps on our website: nextsteps.ilp.org.au Or alternatively, speak to one of our pastors. We would love to hear from you and help you if you want to continue in your faith walk, learning more about our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Guests we trust that you have drawn closer to God in worship today. Our church is blessed by your presence today. Please stay and enjoy a cuppa with us after worship and make yourself known to us. We d love to answer any queries you may have. Help Us To Care - if you know of someone who has fallen ill or who is suffering in any way, please let the Pastoral Care Coordinator or one of the Pastors know by contacting the parish office so that appropriate care and follow up can occur. Thinking Of Joining This Church? We would love for you to make that commitment with us, as you make a conscious decision to be part of something bigger than simply yourself. If you have been worshipping here regularly and are not yet a member, the pastors would be happy to talk to you about making our Church home - your Church home. Ipswich Lutheran Parish Contact Details: Parish Office 32 Roderick Street, Ipswich, QLD, 4305 Open Mon - Fri, 9am - 4pm, Phone Fax admin@ilp.org.au Web Parish Staff Lead Pastor Milton Fritsch Associate Pastor Ben Hentschke Crisis Care Co-ordinator Betty Taylor Ministry Support Karen Cotter & Michelle Yarrow Pastoral Care Support Vicki Park Professional Standards Michelle Yarrow Parish Worship Centres & Sunday Worship Times Bethany Grace St Johns 86 Raceview Street 19 Ipswich Street 32 Roderick Street Raceview Riverview Ipswich 9am 10am 8am 9:30am Bulletin notices and inserts deadline: Thursdays 2pm 8