Crossroads News The Official Journal of Crossroads Christian Fellowship NSW Inc. Summer 2019 Volume 58, Issue 1 Tamworth Tidings Margaret from Tamworth sent us this report. Christmas has just passed, hopefully you had a lovely time. In Tamworth they celebrated Christmas a bit earlier in the year too! They had Christmas in July, in 2018. It was a great opportunity to have a Nativity Play! Out came the dressing gowns, stripy costumes, angel robes, teatowel head-dresses, crowns, toy lambs, baby doll, gifts, manger and more. Everyone was dressed up as a player in the greatest story ever told. As an introduction to the theme, they first played a game of Pass-the- Parcel using little nativity figures to set up a manger scene on the table. Then on with the play. The four corners of the room were labelled Nazareth, Bethlehem, Jerusalem and Egypt. Two readers narrated the story and everyone joined in to act it out, moving from place to place and repeating lines when the script called for it. No was worried that the Wise Men forgot their gifts or that the Baby Jesus was still a tiny baby when the family fled to Egypt! The Tamworth Crossroaders and their friends enjoyed the evening immensely. Inside this Issue Tamworth Tidings Tamworth photos News from Newcastle Subscriptions for 2019 Shoalhaven Photo Album Hilton Hayes Travel to Darwin A Passion for Poetry Trent's Trivia Note from the Editor The back page... There are lots of lovely photographs too, from the Nativity night - look out for them on page 2. Tamworth is a small group of Crossroaders, meeting monthly at the Baptist Church. They have an equally small but loyal band of helpers. They have plans to visit local churches in 2019 to inform them about Crossroads, to enlist more helpers, and to invite along new Crossroaders. Margaret reports that the Tamworth theme for 2019 will allow for lots of active participation. Acknowledging God as the Great Creator, who created people in His image, we want to recognise and use the creative gifts and abilities which He has given to us. She notes that they are inviting specialists in music and movement, singing, band, dance, drama, art, and more, so that they can have lots of hands-on experiences, and use their God-given creativity to praise Him. For outings they plan to go to a number of live theatre performances by visiting artists. It promises to be an exciting year ahead! Subscriptions Subscriptions are $12.00 per year Crossroads Christian Fellowship NSW Inc. A Ministry advocating for and involving people with disabilities Established 1961 ABN 90 070 601 357 Page 1
Tamworth Photos Shepherds and sheep wait patiently. The Angelic Choir. King Herod is not happy to hear about a New King! Wise Men bring gifts. Pass the parcel game. Page 2
NEWSLETTER SUBSCRIPTIONS Subscriptions for 2019 are due now. If you haven't renewed your subscription please do so as soon as possible. You will not get the next copy of the Crossroads News if you have not paid your 2019 subscription! Subscription remains at $12.00 per year, for the four newsletters, posted to you. How to pay: 1. Give your $12.00 to your branch. They will collect all the names and money, and send it to Crossroads NSW. 2. Pay by electronic funds transfer. BSB: 062 225 Account no: 10063013. Email the transaction details, name and address to nsw@crossroadsfellowship.org.au 3. Send a cheque or money order directly to: CrossroadsNSW, PO Box 3132, North Nowra NSW 2514. Have you got news? Crossroads News works best when you share your news with us! Send contributions to nsw@crossroadsfellowship.org.au Page 3
Time for a Holiday? Page 4
Shoalhaven Snaps Shoalhaven Crossroads enjoyed a visit to the Shoalhaven Zoo at the end of last year. It was such fun to meet and pet the animals. They enjoyed a shared lunch and the opportunity to have time together before the Christmas break. Page 5
New from Newcastle Here is a greeting from Crossroads Newcastle. "We here at Newcastle Crossroads are still on vacation. Our first meeting this year will be on the 14th February and then fortnightly until the end of November. We have had to reduce our meetings from weekly to fortnightly due to insufficient bus drivers. It s a shame, but getting volunteers has proved extremely difficult for us and our small band of regular volunteers. There will, however, be less pressure on our regulars which will be a bonus for them. Nevertheless we are looking forward to 2019 and have already scheduled our entertainers for the year. We have a good base of entertainers who, like us, are getting older but who continue to serve with enthusiasm. As they will have a reduced schedule this year it should make things easier for them as well as for us. Best wishes to all the other branches for a successful 2019." Best regards John Mathieson President Something to think about. The 2019 theme for Shoalhaven Crossroads is colours. The first colour they are thinking about is Gold. Gold can remind us that God is Glorious. It is a very valuable metal. It costs a lot, and is used for special things like jewellery. When we think about God we could say he is a bit like gold. He is special, powerful and valuable and no other thing on earth can compare to Him. Jesus showed us how glorious God is. The Bible says: The Son (Jesus) shows the glory of God. He is a perfect copy of God's nature, and he holds everything together by his powerful command. Hebrews 1:3 Trent's Trivia Trent attends Shoalhaven Crossroads. He is interested in music and movies and has come up with these questions to challenge you! Trent hosts various programmes on his local radio station - Triple U FM. You can find out more at http://www.shoalhavenfm.org.au. Currently Trent is on air on Sunday at 12pm, Monday at 1 pm and Friday at 10pm. Answers to the trivia questions are on page 8. 1. What Christmas song by which artist was the Aria Singles Chart number 1 over Christmas this year? 2. How long is it since Michael Jackson died? 3. When was the movie 'Grease" released? 4. Which musician was honoured after his death, with the USA Presidential Medal of Freedom? 5. Silent Night was written two days before Christmas Eve in what year? Page 6
A note from the Editor, and Chairman's Chat! Dear Crossroaders, and Friends of Crossroads, Happy New Year - although by now the year is already two months old! I hope that each branch of Crossroads has got off to a good start this year. As Chairperson of Crossroads NSW there are two things I would like you to think about. Firstly, the need for a state governing committee for Crossroads NSW. Last year our Patron, Dr Keith Suter, reviewed the activities and needs of Crossroads branches. It was clear that most branches continue to provide a much valued fellowship, some for large groups, some for smaller groups. What was not clear was the future of Crossroads NSW, as an organisation. Unfortunately many of the state committee positions are not filled, which is a constitutional concern. Perhaps it is time to consider the need for this level of functioning? The individual member branches are functioning well within their communities, but at a state level there does not appear to be a lot of interest or need. This important matter deserves your consideration. I would value your opinion on the matter. Are there things you would like to see addressed at a state level, and are you eager to participate at a state level? Secondly, an urgent reminder to renew your subscription to Crossroads NSW news if you wish to receive the next three newsletters for 2019. At this point there are very few subscriptions. Renewal was due at the beginning of the year. Branches are encouraged to remind their members about the newsletter, and to send in their news. I look forward to hearing from you with ideas about state functioning, and with your news articles too. Shona Here are a few more happy moments from the Shoalhaven Crossroads Zoo visit. Page 7
Crossroads Branches Annangrove / Kenthurst 02 4587 8841 Bankstown City 02 9773 4754 Central Sydney 0408 241 020 Dubbo 0417211380 Kindilan -Trips 02 9654 3070 Lismore 02 6628 2372 Mudgee 02 6372 2187 Newcastle 02 4951 8106 Shareability - Canberra 02 6254 2098 Shoalhaven 042 204 3321 Tamworth 02 6769 5568 Wesley Crossroads Fellowship - Sydney Doug McInnes is a passionate and busy poet. We enjoyed some of his work in our last edition. here is another poem by Doug about Easter for you to enjoy. EASTER As we all do say It is now Good Friday So now He is crucified and our sins do not stay Then on Sunday He had risen and now are forgiven whether you are on earth or even in prison. 02 9263 5555 Wollongong 0412680141 STATE OFFICES NSW 041 000 9634 Queensland 07 3229 9011 Tasmania 03 6344 6119 Victoria 03 9808 3677 On a personal note... Elaine Beddie, a long serving Crossroads member, was saddened to hear of the passing of Hilton Hayes in the last Crossroads newsletter. Elaine said: WELL DONE GOOD AND FAITHFUL SERVANT, in memory of Hilton. Western Australia 08 9380 9427 Crossroads News is a publication of Crossroads Christian Fellowship NSW INC. Editor: Shona Hojem Email: news@crossroadsfellowship.org.au Telephone: 041 000 9634 PO BOX 3132, North Nowra, NSW 2541 www.crossroadsfellowship.org.au The views expressed in Crossroads News are not necessarily those of the Editor or Crossroads Christian Fellowship NSW Inc. The right is reserved to reject or amend any article or advertisement. Trent's Trivia - how did you go with these answers? Here they are... 1. "All I want for Christmas is You" - Mariah Carey, 2. 10 years 3. 1978 4. Elvis Presley 5. 1818 Page 8