Christian Reformed Church of Wamberal

Transcription

1 Christian Reformed Church of Wamberal 8 March 2015 Vol 40 #6 Services am and 5pm Pastor Nobin Shunmugam - Ph: nshunmugam@crca.org.au Website: wamberalreformed.com.au Welcome - to all worshipping with us today. If you are a visitor - a special welcome to you - and please, stay and join us for a cuppa in the hall after the morning service. Services Today - Pastor Nobin Next Sunday - Pastor Nobin 9.30am Lent: Jesus our Mediator! Text: 1Timothy 2: 5-6 HC Q&A 18 5 pm Lent: Jesus the Suffering Servant! Text: Isaiah 53:4-5; 10 HC Q&A 37

2 From the Pastor s desk.... We give thanks to the Lord for the privilege of worship and pray that God will minister to our hearts and lives through the preaching of the Word, through the working of the Holy Spirit and through the fellowship of the family of God. We are now in the period of the church year called Lent and we focus on the passion of Christ that encourages love and devotion for our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ who died and rose again to win salvation for us. In some Church traditions Lent is known as the Bright Sadness. Lent is the time we remember what brought about the need for Christ s death and resurrection. Lent is often a time to embrace the sacrificial spirit, to give up some things that cause us to be distant from God, to look at our lives a little more seriously and draw closer to God. May we also be a little more reflective and talk deeply with our God in prayer. It is as we recognize the full depth of our sin, that we recognize the wonder of God s Grace. We acknowledge that in our growth towards spiritual maturity, we need to spend time with God s Word and prayer. We are grateful to God that the Reading the Bible Together (RBT) program is a great opportunity to do so. We would like to encourage everyone in the congregation (Adults & children) to read the Gospel of Luke during this month and work on the suggested questions which will be discussed on 22 March Kindly take the worksheet which is on the table in the foyer. Have a Blessed week, filled with God s grace, mercy and love this week to... Alanah Buddeke - Sun 8 March Jolly Dykstra - Tues 10 March (90th!) Jannie Robertson - Tues 10 March

3 Community FOOD Drive! It is such a simple thing for us to add an extra tin or packet to our shopping list to put in the basket, and it is so much appreciated by those who are doing it tough! Thank you for your continued support. Today booklets... Subscriptions are now due to Agnes please. The price is $10 per year. Hammond Care Volunteers Last Tuesday Senior Bible Study had a visit from the Volunteer Leader of Hammond Care in Woy Woy. Hammond Care is a low care facility for Dementia patients. They related some of the stories of their residents and they would love to get some more volunteers for them - particularly Dutch speaking volunteers. If you are interested in doing this, there is information on the table in the foyer on how to contact them. Reports for synod Synod 2015 will be held from Monday 18th May to Friday 23rd May in Perth at Gosnells CRC. Reports from various committees appointed at the last Synod in 2012 have been received. There is a list of these reports on the table in the foyer. It is anticipated that 2 more reports will be received very shortly. If any member of the congregation would like to have a copy of any of these reports to read, please let me know and I can you a copy. John Robertson VBC Blast off!! VBC kids camp is a great week for boys and girls to enjoy learning about the Christian faith. We teach the children through drama, songs, reading the Bible, small groups, praying and activities. This ministry supports what the children learn at home and church. We are keen for any children in school years 3-7 to come along for the week th April. Please contact Elisa Muilwyk on or elisamuilwyk@hotmail.com for more details. If you are interested in being a leader or junior leader (year 9 & over), please contact me.

4 Please remember in your Prayers.... Let us remember those who need our prayers and may the Lord make us faithful in praying for one another. Pray for those with ongoing health problems, physical, mental and Spiritual, that God may place His healing Hands on them and they may know His peace and special touch. We pray for Ava DeZeeuw, Rita Green, Arie Janssen, Agnes Buddeke, Ineke van Gent, Jim Schokker, Jolly Dykstra, Aart van den Bovenkamp, Wilma Rond, Henk & Maaike Boddendyk, Sherree Simpson, Ella Reitsma. We continue to pray for Syd Green that the Lord will grant him all that he needs in this time of recovery. Pray for Nel Vos, Mien Swaab and Rita Scribante in aged care facilities and for the nursing staff who take care of them. Pray for the parents who have children with special needs, that God may grant them wisdom, strength and above all - patience. Pray for the need to call a part time Youth Worker for 2015 and that the Lord will lead the right person to heed the call and if it is His will to go in this direction. Pray for the various ministries in our Church: The Session; COM; Sunday School; Catechism; Ladies Fellowship; Craft group; Bible Study Groups; Solomon s mission; Scripture teaching; the Green Team (Dad s Army!) the Music team and all the behind the scenes workers. Short Minutes of NSW Classis Meeting 28 February 2015 at the New Life CRC On behalf of the CRC Canberra, Bro. Peter Gadsby read from 2 Corinthians 4: We were reminded that the major element of prayer is thanksgiving. He then led the Classis in prayer. Credentials were checked and there was only one instruction - from the Reformed Church of Canberra. The usual time for Classical questions was omitted from this Classis meeting as the major part of the meeting focussed on the final Exams for Brother Stephen Coleman who was called to the CRC St Mary s as their new Pastor. Stephen Coleman was examined in the following areas: Sermon on Romans 8:31-34; Dogmatics and Ethics and Symbols; New Testament and Old Testament Exegesis; Knowledge of Scripture; Church History and Church Polity. The Classis unanimously sustained the final exams of Stephen Coleman being satisfied that Stephen is sound in doctrine and is able to apply his knowledge in a suitable manner.

5 Classis then took note of the various correspondences received and sent out. Classis noted the make-up of the Moderamen for Synod 2015 as follows: Rev Leo Douma as Chairman; Rev John Zuidema as Vice-Chairman; Elder Herman Westendorp as First Clerk and Elder Tony Deenick as Second Clerk. A request from the CRCA National Children s Worker, Dana de Wilzem to hold a Child Safe Training workshop in NSW was left to the Churches interested to take up the offer. The Preaching Licence of Brother Nathan Asher was renewed for another year. Classis was thankful that New Life CRC was willing to host the Classis Meetings in their church building for the rest of this year. The next Classis meeting is scheduled for the 18 April 2015 where its main task will be to go through all the Synod reports and Overtures. There being no further matters for discussion or questions, the meeting was closed in prayer by Brother Gerald Vanderkolk at 2:05 pm. Laven Shunmugam - Classis Press Reporter Invitation Ordination Service The Christian Reformed Church of St Marys is pleased to invite you to attend a special service for the ordination of Stephen Coleman Who has accepted the call to ministry at CRC St Marys. The service will be conducted by Rev Brian Vaastra. Saturday, 21st March pm 72 Marsden Rd St Marys NSW. There will be an opportunity for some refreshments afterwards.

6 KIDs SPOT... Bible town acrostic The name of Jacob's youngest son. (Genesis 35:18) A stone that told what God had done. (1 Samuel 7:12) A saint who showed great unbelief. (John 20:24) One who to God poured out her grief. (1 Samuel 1:15) A man to save his life who fled. (Genesis 19:18-22) A queen who filled another's stead. (Esther 2:17) A king who had God's witness slain. (Matthew 14:3-11) And a man whose prayers stayed the rain. (1 Kings 17:1) He lived the longest here below. (Genesis 5:25) Initials give a place you know. Who am I? (x 2) 1. I am so fragile that even if anybody says my name I break. 2. I go around the world, but always stay in a corner. Riddle I was a gift to the one but poison to the others I was a favoured sign but also a hated symbol Some say that of many I was not short While others talk of two that were far too long I was stolen and then torn And became something to mourn I am in the Bible - what am I? (HINT: Genesis 37) (Answer to last week s Riddle - One of the stones in David's sling) (Last week s answers: Nazareth, Jeremiah, Stephen, at the brook Cherith, Adam and Eve, Enoch and Elijah, Esther, Jesus, Lot's wife, The Word of God)

7 PRAY FOR THE WORLD - Azerbaijan Population: 35,422,589 (63 % unreached) Largest Religion: Muslim Pop. % Muslim 7,824, Evangelical 18, A Challenge for Prayer The government seeks to regulate and restrict any religious practice, which it evidently sees as a threat. There are now harsh legal restrictions against religious groups who teach children or who produce literature, against the involvement of foreigners for religious purposes and against developing property for worship purposes. The proclamation of the gospel. Orthodox churches have re-established, but there is little known non-orthodox, evangelical witness, despite relative freedom to establish such. Pray for the good news to be made known, and for a renewal within the Orthodox Church, which is so deeply tied to Armenian identity. Kids Club This Friday - from 4pm - 6pm at the church hall. Early Snack - Honnie; afternoon snack - Emily. Food for thought... A young woman once picked up a scholarly book on marriage and family relationships. After reading a few chapters she found it too difficult to get through and put it back on the shelf. That s one of the dullest books I ve read on the subject, she commented. A year or two later she met a man and fell in love. They became engaged and one evening she said to him, You know, it s a funny coincidence - I ve got a book in my library, and it s authored by someone with the exact same name as yours, and she mentioned the name of the book. Her fiancé smiled. That s no coincidence, he said. I wrote that book. She said nothing more, but that night went home and read the book from cover to cover. This time she found it fascinating. Why? She had come to know and love the author, and she read his book now to learn more about him. The same thing happens when people read the Bible. To some it is perplexing and uninteresting. But to those who have found God or who are seeking Him, it is the Book of Lights.

8 ROSTERS: Today 15 Mar 22 Mar 29 Mar 2nd Offering Solomon Is Candidacy Cte Ch Plant T Force Duty Elder Wallie Wallie John John Bible Reader Derk v D Emily Wallie Stephen Singers Lisa/Jeff Nico/Kyle Liz/Angus Jeff/Lisa Musicians John/Angus/ Paul/Stephen John/Paul/ Stephen/Lisa John/Kyle Stephen/Tim John/Paul/ Angus Creche Lisa Angela Audrey Cherylee Sunday School Audrey Vicki Lisa Marie Vergers Jonathan & Marina Jonathan & Marina Jonathan & Marina Jonathan & Marina Coffee J Reitsma R Peet HYC - Rita D de Zeeuw Van Rensburg HYC - Vicki R de Zeeuw Ruan Church Cleaning w/e 14/3 G de Zeeuw w/e 21/3 T de Zeeuw w/e 28/3 R Peet w/e 4 April D de Zeeuw Banking Details: Christian Reformed Church of Wamberal BSB: Acct#: Deacons: Mr Herman de Zeeuw Ph: Mr Tim Simpson Ph: Senior Bible Study Nobin Tues Night Bible Study Nico Ladies Bible Study Emily Prayer Action Team Jonathan Men s Bible Study Rod CHURCH DETAILS: Correspondence: Session Clerk Mrs Marieka Vos PO Box 3326 ERINA 2250 Ph: admin@wamberal.crca.org.au Committee of Management: Secretary - Mrs Emily Peet Ph: repeet777@hotmail.com Treasurer: Mr Jeff Corcoran Ph: treasurer@wamberal.crca.org.au Newsletter Items: (by 6pm Thurs) Mrs Jannie Robertson Ph: crcwnews@yahoo.com.au or: jjrobbo@iinet.net.au CONTACTS: Meets 1st & 3rd Tues at Church hall -10am Meets 2nd & 4th Tues various homes pm Meets fortnightly on Tues at Peet s pm Meets 1st Wed of each month at Crowther s - 3pm Meets fortnightly on Weds at the Peet s at 7:30pm