Epping SDA Church Newsletter No: 150: 22 nd October, 2010 Welcome to our weekly Church Newsletter Thank you to everyone who has contributed to this edition with articles, news and photos. If there is any information you would like to share or a photo you would like us to view, please email it to the address below. ajing@eppingsda.org.au. This newsletter can also be downloaded on our website: http://www.eppingsda.org.au This Sabbath @ Epping This week s service will be taken by Pastor Chris Manthey, with Greg the elder in charge. The Offering this week is for Local Budget. Last Sabbath @ Epping Last week s service was taken by Pastor Michael Worker, and was based on Acts 27 The God of the Storm Weather the Storms of Life. The chapter documents Paul sailing for Rome with other Prisoners, and tells of how God saved the Paul and the ship from a ferocious storm. Michael posed the following question to us: What is our storm? Whether they be financial, family concerns, depression, work, relationships - we all have storms. 267 men were delivered from the storm by God - How does god deliver us from our storms Some answers 1. God helps us in the time of storms by putting the right people in the right place at the right time. Julius was the right man at the right time for Paul. 2 other men were put there for Paul: Acts 27- vs 2 - Luke and Aristarchus God puts people in our lives so that we don't have to weather storms alone 2. God also warns us of difficulties ahead - Acts 27: 7-10 God and Paul advised the centurion to not sail, and find safe port.
Proverbs 12:15 tells us that a wise man listens to advice 3. Acts 27:11-13 However the crew ignores advice and the ship suffers a violent battering from the storm so that all unneeded objects were thrown overboard. God uses the storms in our lives in a similar way - to declutter and to reset our priorities so that we can focus on the important issues. 4. Acts 27: 20 - The Crew have given up all hope being saved. This can be a positive thing if the sense of hopelessness drives us to a place that allows us to surrender to God When all hope has gone, God sent an Angel. Vs 23 and 24 Are you ready to weather the storms of life? We can do all our preparations but then we must trust in the Lord.
Vegetarian Cooking Classes: Oct 23-Nov 13 (This Sabbath) Vegetarian Cooking classes will start THIS Sabbath Oct 23 from 2:30pm Church Hall Please remember to pray for our upcoming Vegetarian cooking classes. This is our annual outreach programme to the community and we need your prayer support and also your attendance to befriend the visitors from the community. 9 persons have responded to the letterboxing of pamphlets so far, so please come and support this important outreach.
Operation Christmas Child 2010 Thanks to Jen Woods, Epping Church are involved in Operation Christmas Child. The Pathfinders and Adventurer are supporting this project and all the boxes have now been completed and sent. From Henry: Thanks to so many people, 51 boxes were made up by the Pathfinders and I believe 19 were made by the Adventurers. 70 boxes, isn't that amazing! God has moved so many people's hearts to share some cheer with a child who cannot repay you the favour. You can read about this in Matt 6:1-4 Thanks to Jess for providing these photos of the Pathfinders and Adventurers hard at work packing the boxes:
Pathfinder News CAMPOREE Australian Union Conference Camporee, Jan 4-9, 2011. The place is: Toowoomba, Queensland and it is at 700m elevation. The fee structure is: Early bird $170 (pay before 1 Sep 2010) Regular fee $190 Late fee $220 (pay after 1 Dec 2010)
Other dates for backpacks are 30 Oct and 13 Nov. More Details later. Most probably one will be in Blue Mountains and the other will be Ten Mile Hollow. Overland Trek December 16-21 From Henry: The final number for the group going on the Overland is now 14 and this is now full. The members of the group are: Ings x2, Wongs x2, Wrights x2, Fuentes x1, Elliotts x5 Tungs x2. If someone wants to go in case there is a drop out, that is still possible. I need to know from interested parties to be on the waiting list. Epping Cell Groups Term 4: Revelation Series From Rod: We are recommencing Cell groups for Term 4 on October 29th. (Next Friday) It will be good to continue our Revelation Series. Groups will be studying the central theme chapters of Rev 12, 13 and 14 (3 Angels message) These meetings are held on Friday evenings commencing at 7:30 pm. The dates are: Week 1: Oct 29 Week 2: Nov 5 Week 3: Nov 12 Week 4: Nov 19 The Venues for this series are: 1) Kuo's 2) Go's 3) Tungs 4) Youth - see Josh for timetable
As Seventh Day Adventists we have a very distinctive message including the everlasting gospel to show people and we can learn much from the Book of Revelation in order to prepare a people for Christ's Second Coming. Please pray for the success of this series. Church News 1. Nominating Committee The members of the Nominating Committee are being finalised after last week s vote. Please support the committee in their important work with your prayers and the word Yes. 2. Conference Executive Memberships Rod Kuo has been confirmed as a Lay member of the Greater Sydney Conference Executive for 4 years. John Bagnall has been confirmed as a lay member of the Australian Union Conference Executive for 5 years. Eva Ing has been re-elected as a Director of Seventh-day Adventist Schools (Greater Sydney) Limited, Stephen Baxter has been re-elected to the Conference Constitution Committee, John Bagnall has been re-elected as a Director of Seventh-day Adventist Aged Care (Greater Sydney) Limited. Michael Worker has been elected, re-elected, coerced or is required to be on all Committees. Epping Church is represented on all the key committee's and Boards of the Conference, as it was in the previous Quadrennium.
Epping Mission Project Philippines Update Thanks to Belle for the following update: Here are two recent photos from ICC Philippines They have repainted Phase I to match with Phase II of the School. The second photo shows Zipora, one of the orphans originally from Burma who served as a volunteer at the ICC Philippine Orphanage. She is studying Nursing in Manila and this photo was taken during her Nurses' Capping ceremony. Also in the photo are Jhun and Brennia Mallorca (ICC Administrators) and their children. We will hear more about Zipora's story of courage and other ICC mission stories when David Caukill comes to take the service at Epping Church on November 27.
Prayer Requests: Peter Greenwood Please remember Jeanette's brother in-law Peter Greenwood in your prayers. Peter and his wife Lucy live in Swansea at the Central Coast and they have visited Epping Church on a few occasions. Peter is suffering from cancer and he and his family need your prayer support as he undergoes treatment. Our prayer ministry is one of the foundations of Epping Church, we have seen the wonderful work of the Holy Spirit in both healing and uplifting those in need. Please pray for Peter, Lucy and Jeanette. Let us all support them during this challenging time. Manahan Family Sue Wood Bob and Nerelle McIntyre Ivan Baxter Please keep Ron and his family in your prayers as Ron serves in Sinai Both Ken and Sue appreciate the care and support that you continue to show toward them. Please continue to remember them in your prayers Please remember Bob, Nerelle and Colleen in your prayers. Please keep Ivan in your prayers as he battles illness Luna Hawkins HSC Students Please pray for Luna s health and recovery Please remember our students sitting the HSC, an other end of year exams in your prayers
Dates to Keep in your Diary: October 23 Vegetarian Cooking Classes Commence October 29 Epping Cell Group Revelation Series Term 4 commences October 30 November 13 Overnight camp - Pathfinders Overnight camp Pathfinders Holy Lands Tour Some more photos from the Holy Land Tour by some of our members recently. Thanks to Channing for the pictures Petra
Photos of the Week Thanks to Arthur, Meagan and Belinda for this week s photos: Arthur Belinda
Meagan What s the theme of this week s photos? It s not as obvious as you think. First correct answer a feature in this section next week, as well as a coveted lifelong free subscription to this newsletter. Thought for the Week: I desire to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart. Psalm 40:8