Upload
humeridge-church-of-christ
View
217
Download
2
Embed Size (px)
DESCRIPTION
Transformed Magazine - February and March 2013
Citation preview
TRANSFORMEDHumeRidge Church of Christ Magazine
Easterfest
Churches of Christ QLDHumeRidge - part
of the bigger picture
Introducing Mosaic Ministries
TRANSFORMEDHumeRidge Church of Christ Magazine
“My momma always said, ‘Life was like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re gonna get.’” This quote by Forrest Gump in the hit Hollywood movie is how many people feel at the start of a New Year. There are hopes and dreams,
and resolutions, but also fears and anxieties about what may lie ahead. We make plans – and this is good – but we never quite know what we’re gonna get!
For those who follow Jesus, however, plans for the future can be made with a calm assurance that whatever may come, God is with us and God is in control. One can say with sincerity, “I don’t know what the future holds, but I know who holds the future.”
With so much uncertainty in the world, and with the opportunity for personal or spiritual growth in the year ahead, now is the time to make some plans to invest in your soul!
At HumeRidge we offer a Christianity Explained course if you wish to understand the core of the Christian faith. We also invite you to join one of dozens of Connect Groups meeting in homes on various nights of the week. There are LifeKeys courses available too, and the Marriage Course, as well as a range of activities for youth, children, and young adults. And counselling is now available through Mosaic Ministries, with Dr Sandra Baker and her team. Many of these are highlighted in this edition of our magazine.
Finally, you are welcome at any of our services at 9am or 5pm each Sunday at HumeRidge! We have a caring Welcome Team; a Welcome Lounge that is open after the service, and a Welcome Pack available for all guests. We want YOU to feel at home whilst discovering the uniqueness of Jesus Christ, which is our focus in Term 1. And we pray you may develop a deeper connection with the One who cares for you and holds the future in His hands.
Dale White SENIOR PASTOR
cONTENTS Who is this Man? 2 John Ortberg
Mosaic Ministries 4 Mosaic Team
Easterfest 6 Drew Vallejos
National Day of Prayer 8
What’s on Sundays 9
February / March 10 Pull Out Calendar
SOAP Studies 12
HumeRidge Seniors 13
I am second 14 Ross Savill
Churches of Christ QLD 16 Peter Hicks
Share Your Story 18 Natalie Tucker
Noticeboard 20
Contact Details 21
Wednesday Night6.30 - 8pm
Grades 4 - 6
Friday Night
5 - 7pm Grades 7 & 87 - 9pm Grades 9 - 12
Youth
Good Friday – March 29 9am Communion Service HumeRidge Ministry & Worship Teams
Easter Sunday – March 31 8am Communion Service 10am Celebration Service
Featuring Compliments of Gus
It turns out that the life of Jesus is a comet with an exceedingly long tale! Here are some shards of his impact that most often surprise people:
CHILDREN
In the ancient world children were routinely left to die of exposure – particularly if they were the wrong gender (you can guess which was the wrong one); they were often sold into slavery. Jesus’ treatment of and teachings about children led to the forbidding of such practices, as well as orphanages and godparents. A Norwegian scholar named Bakke wrote a study of this impact, simply titled: When Children Became People: the Birth of Childhood in Early Christianity.
2 I
John ortberg
Yale historian Jeroslav Pelikan wrote, “Regardless of what anyone may personally think or believe about him, Jesus of Nazareth has been the dominant figure in the history of Western Culture for almost 20 centuries. If it were possible, with some sort of super magnet, to pull up out of history every scrap of metal bearing at least a trace of his name, how much would be left?”
EDUCATION
Love of learning led to monasteries, which became the cradle of academic guilds. Universities such as Cambridge, Oxford, and Harvard all began as Jesus-inspired efforts to love God with all ones’ mind. The first legislation to publicly fund education in the colonies was called The Old Deluder Satan Act, under the notion that God does not want any child ignorant. The ancient world loved education but tended to reserve it for the elite; the notion that every child bore God’s image helped fuel the move for universal literacy.
COMPASSION
Jesus had a universal concern for those who suffered that transcended the rules of the ancient world. His compassion for the poor and the sick led to institutions for lepers, the beginning of modern-day hospitals. The Council of Nyssa decreed that wherever a cathedral existed, there must be a hospice, a place of caring for the sick and poor. That’s why even today, hospitals have names like “Good Samaritan,” “Good Shepherd,” or “Saint Anthony.” They were the world’s first voluntary, charitable institutions.
FORGIVENESS
In the ancient world, virtue meant rewarding your friends and punishing your enemies. Conan the Barbarian was actually paraphrasing Ghengis Khan in his famous answer to the question “what is best in life?” -- To crush your enemies, see them driven before you, and hear the lamentations of their women.
An alternative idea came from Galilee: what is best in life is to love your enemies, and see them reconciled to you. Hannah Arendt, the first woman appointed to a full professorship at Princeton, claimed, “the discoverer of the role of forgiveness in the realm of human affairs was Jesus of Nazareth.” This may be debatable, but he certainly gave the idea unique publicity.
HUMANITARIAN REFORM
Jesus had a way of championing the excluded that was often downright irritating to those in power. His inclusion of women led to a community to which women flocked in disproportionate numbers. Slaves--up to a third of ancient populations--might wander into a church fellowship and have a slave-owner wash their feet rather than beat them. One ancient text instructed bishops to not interrupt worship to greet a wealthy attender, but to sit on the floor to welcome the poor. The apostle Paul said: “Now there is neither Jew nor Gentile, slave or free, male and female, but all are one in Christ Jesus.”
Thomas Cahill wrote that this was the first statement of egalitarianism in human literature.
This article is adapted from The Huffington Post; based on John Ortberg’s latest book, Who is this Man?
HumeRidge Church of Christ Magazine I 3
transforming
6 I
their ministry, and this figure rises to over 44% after 14 years.
4 Toowoomba currently ranks higher for homelessness than Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and Perth.
5 In regard to financial distress, the Toowoomba region is ranked third in Australia, and first in Queensland.
6 Both homelessness and financial distress are primary indicators for depression and other mental illnesses.
A healthy Christ-centred ministry of transformation located in Toowoomba will make a valuable contribution to the HumeRidge’s mission to reach and nurture the people of our city.
If you would like to contact Mosaic Ministries please call 46353534 or email [email protected]
Mosaic Ministries (MM) is a new ministry partnering with HumeRidge to see people loved and healed in Jesus through professional Christ-centred counselling (i.e., 1-to-1 and groups) and educational seminars regarding mental health. MM aims to reduce the pastoral load of heavily burdened church leaders as it cares for, and nurtures believers in their times of need, as well as reaching out and serving the lost in Christ’s name.
Consider the following:
1 Sadly, one in five adults experience symptoms of mental illness in any given 12 month period which equals approximately 2.4 million Australians.
2 Stigmas about mental illness remain thus further isolating and marginalising sufferers.
3 Peter Brain points out that Christians are not immune. Also, 27% of Australian Pastors suffer burn out, a break down, or serious illness, within
transforming
Mosaic TeaM
Introducing Mosaic Ministries
4 I
TRANSFORMED FebRuaRy MaRCH 2013 I 5
tony Machin
Tackling mental health challenges head on
You have already read some of the disturbing statistics about the growing numbers of people facing mental health challenges. However, the statistics don’t capture the incredible disruption to people’s lives and the increasing burden on our health system.
At HumeRidge we believe that working with Mosaic Ministries will enable us to support individuals and families dealing with mental health issues. MM will also provide seminars and workshops to better equip and educate not only those experiencing mental health concerns but also their carers, friends and family.
Mosiac Ministries is not just about dealing with trauma but also helping people work through the stressful situations that many of us face in every day life such as relationship breakdown, loss of work, financial pressures and grief.
The significance of this ministry can’t be overstated as we move forward into the future. Please pray for the Mosiac Ministries and Pastoral Teams as they work together in supporting our community.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
1 Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Services, 2006 & ABS 2007.
2 SANE Australia, SANE Research Report 1: Mental Illness and Social Isolation. http://www.sane.org/images/stories/information/research/0510_INFO_RB1.pdf
3 Brain, P. Going the Distance. Matthias Media.
4 State of Australian Cities 2010, Australian Government, Infrastructure Australia, Major Cities Unit. http://www.infrastructureaustralia.gov.au/publications/files/MCU_SOAC.pdf
5 Insolvency and Trustee Service Australia; “Bankruptcies in Spotlight.” John Farmer, The Chronicle, April 11, 2012.
6 Homelessness and Mental Health Linkages, Report for Australian Department of Health and Aging, 2006,http://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/content/0C6EDF2DBEF5A920CA2573FB00196F28/$File/homeall.pdf
Tony Machin (on behalf of the Elders)
6 I
streets with a simple mandate to share with people in cafes and restaurants: “why Easter means so much to me”. We also challenged the Easterfestivity crew to finish every conversation with a simple question, ‘Can I pray for you?’ The results were astounding as many people encountered God in a very real and tangible way on the streets of Toowoomba.
We then took the testimonies of the things that God did in the streets and shared them at night with campers from all over the country, again finishing every conversation with that same simple question ‘Can I pray for you?’
To most people Easterfest is music and lights, carnival rides and camping, jazz concerts at the Empire Theatre, acoustic shows in cafes and restaurants and gospel music in cathedrals.
What many people may not know is that Easterfest is also evangelism crews in the streets and in the campsite, it has an around the clock praise and worship venue running the entire weekend, over a dozen church services, and devotional prayer and worship meetings as well as 24 hour intercessory prayer underpinning everything we do.
Last year the Easterfestivity crew took to the
Drew ValleJos
www.humeridgechurch.org I 7
Last year HumeRidge was one of the first churches to partner with the Easterfestivity crew, we hope to see many more join us this Easter in sharing with people from all over the country what God is doing here in Toowoomba.
Yes, Easterfest is about music and lights and that sense of community you get from coming together with tens of thousand of other Christians. But most importantly it is a unique opportunity to introduce people, one on one, to the real Jesus.
I hope to see you there.
We prayed for dozens of youth leaders and hundreds of young people and sent many of them home to their communities with a deposit from God and an ignited passion for seeing their communities transformed.
This year we’ve asked youth leaders from across the city to join us in the streets and in the campsite, to come and minister with us to both Christians and the unchurched, believing for God to do even greater things than we saw last year. The response has been overwhelming with many youth leaders wanting to bring their young people and be a part of ministering with us at Easter. Drew
8 I
This year HumeRidge will join with Christians across Australia to pray for our nation on Sunday 10th February. From Wednesday, 13th February to Sunday 24th March will be 40 days of prayer and fasting for our nation. We invite you to join with us as we pray for God to bring renewal to our nation. The theme this year is LIFE.
LOVING EVERY LIFE!
Seeking eternal and abundant LIFE for all Australians!
Pray each day for those who need LIFE – those don’t know Jesus, are ill, frail, suffering mental health challenges, the young, disabled or challenging children and parents and carers. Pray for LIFE breakthrough over abortion and suicide in Australia. Pray each day for people by name and speak natural encouragement to them.
WEEk 1: God is Life Giving! God is the source of LIFE. Genesis 1-2.
WEEk 2: God is Life Giving! We are free to choose to receive and release LIFE or death. Deut 30:19-20
WEEk 3: God is Life Giving! We can all be washed in the river of the water of LIFE. Rev 22:1-2
WEEk 4: God is Life Giving! God has given us the Tree of LIFE with fruit for healing nations. Rev 22:2 We pray for God’s fruit in our LIVES and nation!
WEEk 5: God is Life Giving to Others Through Us: Speaking Blessing and Cultivating Relationships.
WEEk 6: God is Life Giving! Be a Blessing! Overflow God’s LIFE to your world by loving every LIFE.
40 Days of Prayer & Fasting
If you would like a more detailed prayer guide please register at www.40daysofprayer.com.au or speak to Pastor Neale Proellocks.
We believe fasting is a biblical practise which helps one focus on God. Throughout scripture God’s people fasted to seek His will, intervention and blessing. Traditional fasting meant going without food however you might also like to consider fasting from an activity, facebook, or television
for this period. You may like to fast one day a week or give up a meal a day during this period. If you are considering fasting without food we recommend you check with your doctor first. Remember the purpose of fasting is to focus you time and energy on prayer, on seeking God.
Friday 1st March 10.15am
Women’s World Day of PrayerMiddle Ridge
Uniting Church
New serIes by Senior Pastor Dale White
February 3 Jesus – Who is this Man? DVD Presentation by John Ortberg
February 10 Jesus – Son of GodHebrews 1:1-14
February 17Jesus – Son of ManHebrews 2:10-18
February 24 Jesus – Great High Priest Hebrews 4:14-16
March 3 Jesus – Wounded HealerHebrews 5:1-9
March 10
Jesus – Mediator Hebrews 8:1-13
March 17 Jesus – Perfect SacrificeHebrews 10:1-14
March 24 Jesus – Our Example Hebrews 12:1-3
Good Friday – March 29 9am Communion Service HumeRidge Ministry & Worship Teams
Easter Sunday – March 31 8am Communion Service 10am Celebration Service Featuring Compliments of Gus
humeridgeFebruary & March
www.humeridgechurch.org I 9
10 I
SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY
1 2
3 4 5 6 7 8 9
10 11 12 13 14 15 16
17 18 19 20 21 22 23
24 25 26 27 28
9.30am Playgroup
9.30am Playgroup7pm Grade 13’s
6.30am Prayer10am
Kyb Introduction6.30pm Stumpy’s
Commencing 40 days of Prayer &
Fasting 6.30am Prayer
9.45am Kyb1.30pm Hymn
Singing 6.30pm Stumpy’s
6.30am Prayer9.45am Kyb
6.30pm Stumpy’s
6.30am Prayer9.45am Kyb
6.30pm Stumpy’s
8am Prayer9am Sunday Service
4pm PrayerSunday@5
9.30am Playgroup 5pm youth
Grades 7 & 87pm youth
Grades 9-126-9pm T4T Training
9.30am Playgroup 5pm youth
Grades 7 & 87pm youth
Grades 9-12
10am G’day Saturday 4pm Music
Team Practice
National Day of Prayer
9-3pm T4T Training10am G’day Saturday
4pm Music Team Practise
10am G’day Saturday4pm Music
Team Practice
7am Women’s breakfast
“Seasons of empowerment”
10am G’day Saturday4pm Music
Team Practice
8am Prayer9am Sunday Service
4pm PrayerSunday@5
9.30am Playgroup7pm Grade 13’s
7.30-9pm Puzzling Questions &
Table Talk with Paul Griffiths
9.30am Playgroup 5pm youth
Grades 7 & 87pm youth
Grades 9-12
8am Prayer9am Sunday Service
4pm PrayerSunday@5
12.45pm Kyb7pm The Marriage
Course
12.45pm Kyb7pm The Marriage
Course
12.45pm Kyb7pm The Marriage
Course
9.15am Golden eagles 12.45pm Kyb
7pm The Marriage Course
6.30pm Welcome Dinner
februarycalendar 2013
8am Prayer9am Sunday Service
4pm PrayerSunday@5
9.30am Playgroup 7pm LifeKeys
9.30am Playgroup 7pm LifeKeys
9.30am Playgroup 7pm LifeKeys
9.30am Playgroup 7pm LifeKeys
9.30am Playgroup7pm Grade 13’s
Sunday 3rd March and Sunday 10th March
11am – 12noon
DIScOVERING HumERIDGE
Contact Pastor Neale 0419 737 950
T4T TrainingTraining Others to Train Others to…
“2 Timothy 2:2”
February 8th & 9th with Kim & Ashley Hood
HumeRidge Church of Christ Magazine I 11
SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY
31 1 2
3 4 5 6 7 8 9
10 11 12 13 14 15 16
17 18 19 20 21 22 23
24 25 26 27 28 29 30
9.30am Playgroup7pm Grade 13’s
9.30am Playgroup7pm Grade 13’s
6.30am Prayer9.45am Kyb
6.30pm Stumpy’s
6.30am Prayer9.45am Kyb
1.30pm Hymn Singing
6.30pm Stumpy’s
6.30am Prayer9.45am Kyb
6.30pm Stumpy’s
6.30am Prayer9.45am Kyb
8am Prayer9am Sunday Service
11am – 12noon Discovering HumeRidge4pm PrayerSunday@5
9.30am Playgroup 10.15am Women’s
World Day of Prayer 5pm youth
Grades 7 & 87pm youth
Grades 9-12
9.30am Playgroup 5pm youth
Grades 7 & 87pm youth
Grades 9-12
9am Good Friday Service
easterfest
9.30am Playgroup 5pm youth
Grades 7 & 87pm youth
Grades 9-12
10am G’day Saturday 4pm Music
Team Practice
10am G’day Saturday 4pm Music
Team Practice
easterfest
10am G’day Saturday 4pm Music
Team Practice
10am G’day Saturday 4pm Music
Team Practice
8am Prayer9am Sunday Service
4pm PrayerSunday@5
9.30am Playgroup7pm Grade 13’s
9.30am Playgroup 5pm youth Group
Grades 7 & 87pm youth Group
Grades 9-12
8am Prayer9am Sunday Service
4pm PrayerSunday@5
12.45pm Kyb7pm The Marriage
Course
12.45pm Kyb7pm The Marriage
Course
12.45pm Kyb7pm The Marriage
Course
9.15am Golden eagles 12.45pm Kyb
7pm The Marriage Course
marchcalendar 2013
8am Prayer9am Sunday Service
11am – 12noon Discovering HumeRidge4pm PrayerSunday@5
easter Sunday8am Communion
Service10am Celebration
ServiceCompliments of Gus
9.30am Playgroup 7pm LifeKeys
9.30am Playgroup 7pm LifeKeys
9.30am Playgroup 7pm LifeKeys
9.30am Playgroup 7pm LifeKeys
9.30am Playgroup7pm Grade 13’s
Good Friday – March 29 9am Communion Service Easter Sunday – March 31 8am Communion Service 10am Celebration Service
puzzling questions
& table talkWITH PAUL GRIFFITHS
A church leader, evangelist and author, Paul is the founder of the Ugly Duckling Company encouraging the church to communicate the gospel in culturally relevant ways. Come and explore with us how you too can turn a conversation to Jesus and share the hope we have in Him with our friends.
www.theuglyducklingcompany.comContact Pastor Tim for more information
12 I
s.o.a.p.studies
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
Matthew 13
Matthew 14
Matthew 15
Matthew 16
Matthew 17
Matthew 18
Matthew 19
Matthew 20
Matthew 21
Matthew 22
Matthew 23
Matthew 24
Matthew 25
Matthew 26:1-56
Matthew 26:56-27:31
Matthew 27:32-66
February
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
Hebrews 1
Hebrews 2
Hebrews 3
Hebrews 4
Hebrews 5
Hebrews 6
Hebrews 7
Hebrews 8
Hebrews 9
Hebrews 10
Hebrews 11
Hebrews 12
Hebrews 13
exodus 14
March
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
exodus 29
exodus 30
exodus 31
Matthew 1
Matthew 2
Matthew 3
Matthew 4
Matthew 5
Matthew 6
Matthew 7
Matthew 8
Matthew 9
Matthew 10
Matthew 11
Matthew 12
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
exodus 15
exodus 16
exodus 17
exodus 18
exodus 19
exodus 20
exodus 21
exodus 22
exodus 23
exodus 24
exodus 25
exodus 26
exodus 27
exodus 28
7.30pm 19th February
transforming
monthly 9.15am Thursday
21st February
There was some surprising creative talent shown particularly by June Schluter whose potato won the prize. There is an open invitation to any folk in the 50+ age group to join us in 2013. We meet on the third Thursday of each month in the Chapel at 9.15am. and have visiting guest speakers, the odd bus trip and other entertainment including a lovely morning tea and time to chat and meet others.
My God to Thee”, “Be Thou My Vision” and the 23rd Psalm. The group meets on the second Wednesday of the month from February to November and anyone is welcome to attend. We begin at 1.30pm and sing until 3pm; when we enjoy each other’s company over a cuppa. Contact the Church Office for details.
This group of folk in our church finished off the year with a well-attended Christmas Lunch. A highlight was the visit from the Centenary Heights Choir which sang a delightful group of carols and showed off some of the talent with solos and small groups. Much fun and hilarity was had by the guests during the meal when they were challenged to dress a potato with odd and ends they were given.
Singing the old traditional hymns using Alexanders and the Church of Christ Hymnal this group of enthusiasts had an average attendance last year of 15. Whilst individual requests and favourites were regularly on the agenda, we also covered some interesting themes including God’s Promises, Blessings, Martin Luther, the Resurrection and featured the background of hymns such as “Nearer
1.30pm second
Wednesday of
the month
transforming
14 I
This year we had 202 attend youth camp. The behaviour, co-operation and attitude of the young people was brilliant all weekend, including during the 5 and half hour bus trip home due to mechanical problems.
At camp 34 young people made decisions and spoke to their leaders about the decision they were making. This means that many of those 34 have made decisions to surrender their will and their lives to the care of God. A number of young people have spoken to their leaders about being baptised and will meeting with their leaders or myself to discuss the issue of surrender.
The theme of camp was I AM SECOND. Some of the material I used for the input sessions was from the book I have been reading ‘Breathing Under Water’ by Richard Rohr - it is very challenging, and solid. Tim also provided me with some material from the DVD series ‘I am Second’. We also used one of the DVD’s one Sunday Night in December and 2 more young people spoke to me about surrendering their lives to God.
We are now in the process of following up with 36 young people.
I really believe something is happening at the moment that is very significant, and incredibly important.
something is happening at the moment that
is very significant, and incredibly important
2nd
15 I
Many of us prayed earnestly asking God to move and asking him for spiritual breakthroughs, I believed that has happened. We prayed that young people would come to know Jesus and make decisions about faith. On the last morning of our 6am prayer meeting we had over 95 people gathered and praying. There were Elders, Ministry team, older members of our church and lots of young people in their uniforms, and a strong contingent of our African youth. I had real sense of God’s presence and also that something was stirring. The week leading up to camp was a very hard, demanding week, with lots of challenges that just kept coming from every side. I want you to know that Jamie and Lauren were exceptional. They went above and beyond, sometimes working 12 hour days during that week.
I would like to ask for you to please pray for the 36 young people not to go cold or drift. Please
pray for me and for our youth leaders. Please pray for the families of these young people and their reaction to the decisions. This has been one of the most significant times in the years of Youth Ministry, I am convinced of this, but I am also very aware of the need not to just think the job is done or that there will be no opposition to what is happening.
There were many very important moments and features of this camp, some of you who heard the reports by that group that gave the camp report on Sunday morning the 14th December got a glimpse of some of what made this camp very special. There are times in 4th term that I wonder if all the effort and costs associated with camp are worth it. I am in no doubt that it is definitely worth it.
Thank you for all your support and for continuing to believe that it is worth investing so strongly in the Youth Ministry.
ross saVill
Ross
16 I
Peter hicks
www.humeridgechurch.org I 17
Churches of Christ Queensland and Churches of Christ Care services continue to grow and fulfil their mission: Bringing the light of Christ into communities. Every day thousands of lives are impacted by the work of pastors, chaplains, care workers and volunteers throughout our state.
To celebrate the work of the Church and Care services in 2012 the new “Celebration Dinner & Awards” event was launched on the 17th November. The “Celebration” closed a two day event including the Centifuge training day on Friday and the AGM on Saturday afternoon.
Members of HumeRidge were among Celebration Awards recipients:
LONG SERVICE AWARDS
Pastor Tim Smith Service in Ministry
Joy Hills 20+ years service to Care
Minister Emeritus Bruce Armstrong Service in Ministry & State Council
APPRECIATION OF SERVICE IN MINISTRY AWARDS
Pastors Neale Proellocks, Ross Savill and Tim Smith along with Senior Pastor Dale White.
This event also marked the retirement of Bruce Armstrong as Chairman of Qld Churches of Christ Council. Bruce was recognised for his commitment to social justice, church growth & strategic planning, mission and local church ministry. Bruce’s little friend, Sergeant Leon, who got away with lots of cheeky and humorous comments didn’t escape a mention!
At HumeRidge we enjoy a good relationship with Churches of Christ Care and regularly provide
ministry support for NuMylo Nubeena. Activities our members assist with include visitation, hymn singing and chapel services. Currently there is an opportunity for you to join our team in assisting with music (guitar, organ, piano), leading worship or communion at a monthly Sunday morning service. Please contact Pastor Dale White for more information at [email protected].
If you’d like to learn more about Churches of Christ in Queensland please check out the website at www.cofcqld.com.au and don’t forget to pick up a copy of Networking magazine.
By using our individual gifts and abilities we are One Church, One Body working together to bring the good news of Jesus to “our Queensland”.
Did You Know?
• There are currently 211 churches and care service locations in Queensland. These are known as “Kingdom Access Points”.
• Each Sunday over 6,800 people attend services.
• Care has in excess of 33,000 clients.
• Care has over 950 register Foster Carers and 350+ Family Day Care carers.
• There are over 1,600 operational Aged Care beds in Care services along with 650+ independent living units and approximately 900 housing placements.
• Care employs over 2,900 staff and coordinates over 600 register volunteers.
Celebration Dinner & Awards event 2012
18 I
When I started Bible College my very first challenge was to tell “my Story” to my Spiritual Formation Group (Discipleship Group). Now I could do a quick 5 minute snap shot of my life but the telling of my story was something much more. Over the course of an hour I was to share about my family of origin, the highlights and challenges of my life, about marriage, parenthood, divorce and singleness with 5 women, at different stages of their faith journey, who until that week were complete strangers. Then, I listened as these ladies shared their stories with me.
As the year went on and we shared more deeply, more of our stories emerged. I began to realise just how much my emotions, my decision making processes, my faith, my perceptions of others and of God were effected, and sometimes distorted, by my life journey. I also began to see God not just in the big things but in the small details of my life. I learnt to appreciate the significance of sharing in the “story” of another and the great power there is in words.
One of the most significant influences in my life has been shifting house over 20 times and
natalie tucker
transforming
I 19
sharing life in difference communities and with different friends. Some years were lonely, isolating and challenging. Some years were exciting, inspiring and full of joy. Most however where a mixture of both! What I’ve experienced in all this moving is God is faithful to provide a friend or a bunch of friends to share in my journey. True friends who are faithful with the good, the bad, and dare I say ugly, moments of life.
Most of my friends walked with me for only a short while during my stay in a particular town but the memory of the times, and tears, we shared, and the words they inspired me with, still make me smile. As we shared life, we talked about our families, our struggles, our joys, our experiences and our faith. Our stories were the very thing that inspired, challenged, and connected us as friends. We became part of each others story.
Wherever you are at the moment why not take some time to think about your story. Your experiences, the good times, the hard times, the people you’ve met and the people who share your journey today. And as you do, consider God amidst it all. In reflecting on “my Story” I’ve become more and more aware of the God moments in my life and how God has shaped me to be who I am today – warts and all. I’ve also seen how much God loves me through His provision, comfort, peace and presences. The reality of His grace and mercy to me, and my family and friends, has deeply touched my heart.
I’m no evangelist but in learning to tell my story, sharing about my life and my faith, have become easier and part of my natural conversation. My faith isn’t something I “do”, its part of who I am. So in sharing my story how can I not share God!
In 2013 there will be several opportunities to learn more about sharing your story. The first will be the T4T Training on the 8th & 9th February and then the evening with welshman Paul Griffiths on the 19th February as he explores “Puzzling Questions & Table Talk”. Why not consider taking some time out to learn more about introducing others to God through the story of your life.
As Editor of Transformed I’d like to hear your story and how God has cared for you. Feel free to email me at [email protected]. Let us encourage and inspire one another as we share this part of our journey together.
puzzling questions & table talk
with Paul Griffiths
T4T Training :: Training Others to Train Others to…
“2 Timothy 2:2”
~ KYB (Know Your Bible) ~Ladies Bible Study
T4T Training :: Training Others to Train Others to…
“2 Timothy 2:2”
Friday 8th Feb 6-9pm & Saturday 9th Feb 9am – 3pm
HumeRidge Church of Christ
Cost: $20 inc manual; morning and afternoon teas - please BYO lunch.
For more information contact Pastor Neale 0419 737 950
7.30-9pm Tuesday 19th FebruaryChat’s Café @ HumeRidge
puzzling questions & table talk
with Paul Griffiths
Good Friday – March 29 9am Communion Service HumeRidge Ministry & Worship Teams
Easter Sunday – April 8 8am Communion Service 10am Celebration Service Featuring Compliments of Gus
Senior Pastor Dale White 0419 756 469
Pastor – Outreach Neale Proellocks 0419 737 950
Pastor – Congregational Care Tim Smith 0438 350 376
Pastor – Youth Ross Savill 0411 201 227
Pastor – Children Chris England 0413 580 012
Pastor – Communications Natalie Tucker 0409 393 439
Worship & Production Coordinator Brendon Walmsley 0419 654 548
Careforce LifeKeys Coordinator Jack Kamst 0434 729 115
Minister Emeritus Bruce Armstrong 4635 9885
CAP Money 0498 188 840
Mosaic Ministries 4635 3534 E [email protected]
PHONE 07 4635 0350 FAX 07 4635 4674 EMAIL [email protected] WEBSITE www.humeridgechurch.org ADDRESS 461 - 469 Hume Street Toowoomba Q 4350PO Box 7564 Toowoomba South Q 4350OFFIcE HOURS 8:30am - 4:30pm Monday - Friday
Editorial by Natalie Tucker
Design Kristy Fielder { www.blackcanvas.com.au }
Photography Zara England { www.zarajane.com.au }
TRANSFORMING LIVES to Christ by experiencing and reflecting God ’s love together
TRANSFORMING LIVESto Christ by experiencing and re�ecting God’s love together
Hearts Hope Families World
20 I
Wednesday Nights6.30-8pm Grades 4 - 6
6.30-8pm Thursday, 21st February
WELcOmE DINNERregister at the Church Office
46350350
Sunday 3rd March or Sunday 10th March
11am – 12noon
DIScOVERING HumERIDGE
Contact Pastor Neale 0419 737 950
cHRIStIANItY ExpLAINED
Commencing7.30pm Tuesday 5th February
10am Wednesday 13th February (creche available)
Saturday 23rd February
Women’s “Season for Empowerment” Breakfast
Friday Nights5-7pm Grades 7 & 87-9pm Grades 9 – 12
Youth
Well done team!