Author: Sarah Manning

There’s an Orange Balloon in my Letterbox….

By Mark Schroder

The other day I returned home from another great day of work at Broughton to find an orange balloon and a small message in my letterbox. The note read:

“Dear neighbour, I would like to encourage children of the area to come “trick or treating” around the neighborhood (minus the tricks, thank you), but only to houses that have orange balloons showing. If you want to see the cute costumes, and maybe send your own kids out as part of the celebration, blow up the balloon and hang it up outside.  On your letterbox is good.  Then lay on some lollies for the visiting munchkins.  If you would prefer not to have anything to do with it, just throw the balloons away (or drop them back in our letter box for recycling) and ignore the whole mess.”          

I don’t know about you, but until recently I didn’t really know much about Halloween. I grew up in the 80-90’s and I never celebrated it and nor did my friends so I never heard anyone recount stories of their trick or treating adventures. As far as I can tell it’s only been in the last few years that Halloween has been celebrated with any kind of gusto.

However, now that I find myself in a community where it’s often celebrated, I’ve needed to do a little bit of Googling to see where Halloween started and what it’s all about.

So here’s what I found…

Halloween’s origins date back to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain (pronounced sow-in). The Celts, who lived 2,000 years ago in the area that is now Ireland, the United Kingdom and northern France, celebrated their new year on November 1. This day marked the end of summer and the harvest and the beginning of the dark, cold winter, a time of year that was often associated with human death. During this time, they believed that there was a better connection with the spiritual world and so in an effort to capitalise on this season they would dress up in costumes consisting of animal heads and skins and attempt to tell each other’s fortunes as they danced around huge bonfires.

Over time as cultures collided and as the Roman Empire took control of the Celtic territory, other festivals and celebrations where combined with Samhain and then eventually in 609 A.D Pope Boniface IV dedicated the Pantheon in Rome in honor of all Christian martyrs, and the Catholic feast of All Martyrs Day was established in the Western church. Later on Pope Gregory III expanded the festival to include all saints as well as all martyrs, and moved the observance from May 13 to November 1. Eventually by about 1000A.D the Catholic Church established November 1 to be “All Souls’ Day”, a day to honor the dead. All Souls Day was celebrated similarly to Samhain, with big bonfires, parades, and dressing up in costumes as saints, angels and devils. The All Saints Day celebration was also called All-hallows or All-hallowmas and so the night before it, the traditional night of Samhain in the Celtic religion, began to be called All-hallows Eve and, eventually as we know it today as “Halloween”.

By the 1920s and 1930s, Halloween had become a secular celebration and by the 1950s with an added mix of lollies, costumes and large scale parties, Halloween had evolved into a holiday directed mainly at the young. Even the centuries-old practice of trick-or-treating was revived. It evolved from people dressing in costumes and going house to house asking for food or money and where young women even believed that on Halloween they could divine the name or appearance of their future husband by doing tricks with yarn, apple parings or mirrors. It changed to be relatively inexpensive way for a community to share the Halloween celebration and in theory, families could also prevent tricks being played on them by providing the neighbourhood children with small treats.

As I read about this history of Halloween, a few things jumped out at me.

Firstly, Halloween in Australia is so very distant from its original roots and traditions as celebrated in the Northern Hemisphere. For instance, here in Australia we are not celebrating the new year, we are not entering winter, we are not marking the end of summer and we do not associate this time of the year with human death. Additionally, I would be very surprised to find anyone who would consider this time of the year to be a time of special connection with the spiritual world.

Secondly, Halloween is a tradition that has its roots in honouring the dead. The Bible teaches us not to honour the dead but to be strengthened in faith by the faith of others (Heb 12:1). So it’s potentially confusing for us to celebrate Halloween as a festival that exalts the dead and the things of the dead.

Thirdly, encouraging children to knock on stranger’s doors and ask for lollies is just plain weird! Honestly, it goes against the normal, appropriate and even safe practices that we teach our children.

All this gives me reason to avoid participating in Halloween and I’d challenge you to consider why you would entertain “trick or treating” tonight!

Even so, I do also think that as Christians we have a responsibility in our world to try to take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ (2 Cor 10:5). So how do we and should we participate in a community that celebrates Halloween?

Firstly, don’t be superstitious about this season. Christians ought to remember Jesus who has overcome the world (1 John 4:4), Jesus who has disarmed the powers and triumphed by the cross (Colossians 2:15). We have nothing to fear, because although the devil prowls like a roaring lion (1 Peter 5:8), Jesus always wins and with Him we too can claim victory over death (1 Corinthians 15:55-57).

Secondly, consider the principles we teach our children by either participating or avoiding these times. For instance; if you avoid Halloween, do you do so with grace? How do you speak about those “pesky trick or treaters”? When the doorbell rings do you open the door with grace or with scorn?  Alternatively, if you participate in Halloween how do you equip your child to share the things of “the light” (1 John 1:5) with your community rather than being absorbed by the things of darkness?

So consider, rather than knocking on doors to take chocolate and lollies, why not knock on doors and give chocolate and lollies. After all, Jesus said, Here I am, I stand at the door and knock, if anyone hears my voice and opens up the door I will come in and eat with him (Revelation 3:20). How can we appropriately knock on doors and give an invitation for people to join us to become a fellow member of Jesus’ family?

When I received that orange balloon in my letterbox, I scoffed and threw it in the bin, however as I’ve read and thought a little bit about Halloween and our community’s involvement in it I’ve been challenged. Challenged to consider how I, as someone who knows just how good it is to belong to the light- to belong to Jesus – can invite others in my community to join me as I walk in the light of Jesus.

Jesus said: “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (John 8:12).

I believe this and joyfully walk in the light of Jesus. Will you walk with me?

____________________________________________

Mark Schroder works as the P-12 Chaplain at Broughton Anglican College. The work of Chaplaincy at the College has a strong history of Gospel preaching that has been changing the lives of young people for more than 30 years. As a church we give thanks for Mark and his team!

Dear friends,

Some years ago, the Fortescue family walked into a famous church in the USA expecting an awesome morning. Luggage and coffee in hand we arrived early and as we entered the foyer, the first words we heard – “bags in the cupboard over there”. That was ok; we expected church to be packed and we had 6 bags. So we offloaded them.

We returned to the entrance to the church and a man with a Madonna mike put out his hand and said “you can’t bring coffee in here, drink it outside.” So we did. Once inside, people said “hi” but that was all.

No one helped us understand what was happening, no one explained what happens with kids or anything. After the service only one person spoke with us and only as we were exiting. He was a minister from the Eastern suburbs of Sydney who we knew.

The church is called to welcome and love like our God. Didn’t happen there.

During the same trip we went to another famous church in the USA. Walked to the door, coffee in hand and the guy said, “Welcome, it’s great to see you”. I said “thanks”. And he said, “I hear that accent, have you been here before?” “No” I said. “Well, we are so glad you are here. Would you like some help getting sorted for church this morning?” We said, “YES”.

He showed us the coffee stand, book stand, toilets, and the kids club; he took us to some seats and within 30 seconds another official welcomer came and said G’Day – she was friendly, not smothering. Within 30 seconds the family in front of us lent over and said G’Day. After church we chatted to people and felt loved. We were invited to lunch. We were invited to join some of their midweek groups.

We are called to welcome and love like our God. Happened.

Friends, if we are committing to being a growing Christian community, we need to all always have a mindset of welcoming and loving every time we gather. We need to come to church ready to welcome and love. And as a church grows, the reality is you never really know who is new and who is not. You need to have your mind engaged and be actively ready all the time. This is not someone else’s job, this is our job.

This is how you love your church.

God has placed you here to love.

You belong here to love.

You are loved here so love.

I am looking forward to unpacking more of this at Megachurch this Sunday.

In Christ

Nigel

The NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics released data in September saying that more than 1 in every 200 people in Campbelltown has been subjected to domestic violence. If you read the data carefully you will discover that this is just incidents recorded by Police. The number is undoubtably much larger. This is horrific. Statistically we are the second worst LGA for Domestic Violence in Sydney.

I spoke to a lady this week who has been subjected to domestic violence from her husband and her daughter – the complexity of life for her as she tries to hold the family together is unfathomable. What is most perplexing is that they are all Christians. The reality is, being a Christian does not save you from being a victim or stop you from being a perpetrator of domestic violence.

In Synod this week, I contributed to a motion that committed our Anglican churches to keep acknowledging and addressing this issue. Institutions move slowly and can only do so much – we must also address this violence at the local and personal level. We can do that in two ways…

First, having acknowledged that there is a problem – some Christian people are violent toward their family – we need to ensure that we share the belief that violence is contrary to the Gospel and rebuke those who are engaged in it. This might begin with us asking more pointed and personal questions of friends in our church. More than “How’s your marriage?” Dig deep with people. Ask the awkward questions about parenting, finances, sex and violence. The Scriptures have much to teach us and asking these sorts of questions is a form of loving each other.

Second, in our church we need to work hard to create a strong culture pursuing godliness with grace and forgiveness. Jesus managed to both condemn sin and eat with sinners. There is an ideal to aspire to, and aspire we must to patiently, carefully and lovingly correct and rebuke each other.

Part of the Synod motion a call to prayer:

Synod prays for the protection, healing and support of victims and survivors of domestic violence within our churches; for wisdom and insight, courage and compassion for clergy and church workers in providing pastoral responses to people in such situations.

If you would like to talk to someone about your family situation, please feel safe to call or come and see me.

In Christ

Nigel

Dear Friends,

Over the next two weeks the Sydney Anglican Synod will meet to discuss vision, governance, structures and theology. What is this synod, I hear you ask! Let me tell you.

Synod is like the parliament for our church – it is thus a large body of people representing all the churches in our diocese. Synod meets for 5 days each October to think, pray and work together on how we can most safely and effectively be doing ministry. Every Sydney Anglican Church is entitled to send their Senior Minister and one or two members. Our church is represented by David Busutel (Church at Ten) and Chris Main (St Andrew’s).

The meetings run from 3-9.30pm and are quite formal with a Chairman, motions, objections and everything you would expect from a parliament. The only difference is that there are usually 600 people involved.

This year there are several items that are of particular significance.

First, we will be considering an increase in a levy on parish offertory to fund the building of new church buildings. You don’t need to go too far to realise that lots of Anglican Church buildings are tired and a bit decrepit. In some places, the buildings are in such bad condition that the only real way of creating good infrastructure for the future is to knock them down and start again. But this is expensive. We already give 2% of our offertory for purchasing new land in developing suburbs (like Oran Park and Leppington). The proposal is to give another 2% for rebuilding church buildings in strategic locations.

Second, we will be considering our response to the social issues of gambling and refugees. Synod has already moved motions in these areas but keeping these matters at the forefront of our attention and action is important. In regard to gambling, Synod will be asked to note the way gambling brings destruction to the person who gambles, their family, friends and their employer and express its concern at the continued inaction by governments on gambling reform. We will then call on the Prime Minister, and the Minister for Communications, to work with state ministers to implement additional controls on poker machines and advertising for sports betting on TV, radio, the internet, and mobile apps.

There are always a few laughs and some awkward moments and I think one of those will be when we come to discuss the motion about preaching length. One member is moving a motion requesting Synod to urge ministers to preach for no more than 20 minutes. I’ll be watching very carefully how our representatives vote on that one!

If you are keen to read more you can find everything at www.sds.asn.au. Please pray for us as we represent our church.

In Christ
Nigel

Every now and then there is a flurry of activity around church and it is easy to miss some things. The staff delight in hearing from you and if you ever have questions about things that are happening, please do just ask. Here are the six important things we want you to know about and pray for:

1. We are still working on following up applications for our Children’s Ministry position. it is likely that a new person will start at the beginning of 2017 to continue the good work that Mark Schroder began. Please pray that we would select the right person to complement our team and that we would have the finances to support the position.
2. We are currently receiving applications for a new Ministry Support Coordinator to replace Lisa Ryder who has sadly taken a new job with St Peter’s Anglican Primary School. The position is Thursday-Friday and focuses on our office interactions and Parish communications. If you or someone you know would suit the role, please contact me ASAP.
3. We are excited to be announcing this weekend details of a New Church Service that we are seeking to start in October. The people at St Andrew’s already know this news but this Sunday the secret will be out to all! Please pray for wisdom and perhaps even for yourself – why not consider joining something new as we seek to continue being a Growing Christian Community.
4. Carol Blanchard has joined out team as an Anglican Deaconess Ministry Trainee. ADM have funded her position as a Community Chaplain particularly working with ESL and other ministries to help connect people into the life of our church and the local community. We will hear more from Carol in the week’s ahead but please pray for her as she works in new and creative ways.
5. We will be taking on a new Year 13 Student from Germany in September. Nathaniel attends church with Michael Clark (CMS) and has become connected to us through that partnership. He will join Oliver, Michelle and Kyle in the program and will be with us through to the end of the Fiji Mission in 2017. We look forward to meeting him soon and ask that you pray for an easy transition to life in Campbelltown. Give thanks too for a church family who will billet him.
6. MEGACHURCH is happening – October 30. As usual, there will only be one service that day and we will gather for lunch and fun after church. More details to come, but please note this date in your diary – particularly if you are an evening church member.

See you Sunday.

In Partnership for Christ’s Glory,

Nigel

I hope that many of you are feeling excited that our parish-wide mission is beginning next Sunday, 7^th of August.  I hope that many of you have been praying fervently for your friends, family, neighbours and community that God will be providing you an opportunity to help people to engage in a conversation with Jesus.  I pray that many of you have already begun inviting your friends to come and engage in that conversation with you at a church service or a dialogue dinner or the women’s event or at coffee and castle or simply to engage with you over a meal in the future.  I also hope that you might be looking for opportunities to help facilitate evangelism for your brothers and sisters in Christ as you consider how you might serve during this week: Mission Week 2016 Survey.

But today I want for us to briefly consider what it might look like to engage in a conversation with our friends about Jesus.  And as such, I wanted to offer 5 tips to a good conversation:

1. God is the one who changes hearts – so relax. Often we can feel pressure that if we don’t know everything, or explain it perfectly – then our friend will reject God and it will be our fault.  Friend, relax.  God is the one who changes hearts and who works in people by his spirit.  Your job is to be a good, genuine Christian as you speak – and to trust God to do the hard bit of changing someone’s heart.

 

2. Good conversations involve good listening and questions. Too often in conversation we are listening to the other person only as long as it takes to work out what we are going to say next.  As you listen carefully to what they say, you might try and rephrase what they are saying to confirm that you have properly understood what they mean “so… you said…”.  Listening well is essential and then…

3. Ask good questions. Part of listening well is then to ask good questions which allow your friend to expand on what they think.  Asking questions about how they formed that opinion or why they ask that question of Jesus or what they mean by something helps them to expand on what they are saying and helps you to listen and understand them better.  A good conversation regularly involves you speaking less than 20% of the time!

4. Be gracious. Sometimes people say thing which are poorly thought out; they might be wrong; they might be offensive; they might be foolish.  Be gracious.  Ask them questions.  Be gentle in asking questions which might challenge their position.  Your manner will play as much of a role in the discussion as anything that you might say.

Make your 20% of speaking time count.  Talk about how you have found hope in Jesus.   Talk about how Jesus changes everything for you.  Graciously point them at the God who would love them so much, that he might step into our world to die for you, that you might be in relationship with him.  Forget about arguments.  Just talk about Jesus.

In Christ,

Mick Bullen

As we read through the book of Acts last year it is easy to remember the apostle Paul and the words that he spoke, as God worked in people’s lives and brought men, women and families back to himself.  But we can often forget some of the people without whose effort, Paul’s evangelistic efforts would have been hampered.  There was the encourager, Barnabas (Acts 11); there were the deacons who served tables (Acts 6); There was Mary, who had a church meet in her home (Acts 12); Lydia who provided hospitality (Acts 16), Jason who started a church in his home (Acts 17) and many, many others.

Friends, as we think about Mission here in Campbelltown over the next few weeks, it is worth us reflecting on how Mission is ‘team based Evangelism.’  There are many people who are involved in creating these moments for people to speak with their friends about Jesus.  You might offer your services as a barista on Tuesday or Friday at the ‘Coffee and Castle’ pop up.  You might do craft with 4-year-olds.  You might monitor the bouncy castle to make sure kids are safe.  You might offer to host a dialogue dinner – and to cook a great meal and dessert so that others might invite their friends and engage in conversations with them around the table as you host.

You might hand out a newsletter at the station with a smile on Monday, Wednesday or Thursday.  You might see someone in an engaging conversation during the week and pray for them.  Or you might have the great opportunity to engage in a conversation about Jesus with one of your friends – knowing that there is a team of people whose combined efforts brought this moment together.  Just like each musician in an orchestra plays its part in performing a glorious masterpiece, so we too each play our part in Mission, in service of one another and to the glory of God.

It was Monday 13th Aug, 2012.  Nick’s family had moved into the area several months earlier, but Nick had become somewhat unstuck from his Christian faith, without the support of his former youth group.  He was heading into the city that morning, when he received a newsletter at the station from our church.  The next day he stopped to have a conversation with one of the church members named ‘Nigel’ who invited him along to 6pm church that Sunday.

Coming to church was an excellent experience for Nick, just out of year 12.  He felt extremely welcomed by Jess, Justin, Callum, Lindsay and Bronte who invited him to join their growth group.  For Nick, this was a huge moment in his life, which caused him to recommit his focus on Christ.

There are many ways to be serving on Mission week, between the 7^th and 14^th of August in doing evangelism, facilitating evangelism, or in just being a friendly face who lovingly welcomes someone who is new.  How might you play your small part in God’s work? Let us know how you can serve at Mission Week 2016 by completing this quick survey.

In Christ,

Mick Bullen

 

Dear Friends,

God is on a mission and we need to stay on it with him!

This Thursday to Sunday, throughout Airds, Jason Moss is running a mini-Mission to reconnect with the many our church has contacted in the past. If you would like to be involved in what is happening, call Jason or the office. All welcome!

In the weeks ahead you will hear about our 2016 Mission Week – August 7-14. Mick Bullen is pulling it together and will be speaking with GG leaders and others ahead of our program announcement in two weeks’ time.

Let us remember that we are all called to speak of the good news that Jesus rescues people from hell. Have a read of 1 Peter 2:9 and 3:15.

So, don’t hide your faith. Give answers for the hope you have. Tell people why you are a Christian.

The only way to muck it up is to say nothing!

Here are a few tips to help you….

1. Prioritise prayer. Pray for God to do a mighty work and save people who are not Christian.
2. If someone asks you a question you can’t answer you can say – “I don’t know” – and then find the answer so you do know and you can share it.
3. Work at naturally introducing your trust in Jesus into conversation – tell people you went to church, share something you learnt at church, share a Christian perspective on what is being discussed.
4. A great way to bear witness to the glory of God and your faith in him is to offer prayer for someone. Someone shares a trouble, a stress, a problem – just say, “Can I pray for you?” It’s a powerful witness to your trust in God.
5. Invite people to church. Every Sunday is a good Sunday to bring a friend but Mission Week makes it easier!

Remember our Mission Goal: We are praying that every person in our church will lead another person to know Jesus and join our church in the next 5 years.

Let’s pray for a great harvest in mission this July and August.

Prayerfully,

Nigel

Dear Friends,

We want to be a Growing Christian Community Devoted to Maturing in Jesus for the Glory of God. This vision we adopted last year has been guiding our decision making over the last 9 months as we reshape our ministry. We have expanded our Growth Group program to provide more opportunities for spiritual growth and more effective pastoral care. We have started new ministries to reach parts of our community we have neglected. We have employed Mick Bullen to focus on Mission. And now is the time to hire again.

Mark Schroder became the Broughton Anglican College Chaplain at the end of 2015 and we have been working towards replacing him over the last 6 months. Not that you can replace someone with Mark’s skills, but we will try!

We have decided to focus on hiring a person with specialist skills in Children’s Ministry. Over the last ten years there has been a lot of research around how churches keep growing. The four key strategy areas identified have been:

1. Recapture the focus on growing transformed disciple, making disciples
2. Strategic integration of newcomers into the church community
3. Addressing the transition, retention and relocation of Christians
4. Building effective children and youth ministries

As we analyse our church, it is in the area of Children’s Ministry that we are doing the least effective work. Our Kids’ Church leaders are working hard – they are exceptional – but in the 0-12yr age bracket we are lacking an effective integrated ministry focussed on reaching and growing children in their faith and transitioning them to youth group.

Our goal for this new position is that we might create enormous and effective inflows to Youth Group where children are able to continue to mature in their faith.

For further insight into the way we think about Children’s and Youth Ministry, you may wish to have a read of this paper that helpfully captures much of my thinking.

http://www.effectiveministry.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Yth-and-Chns-Paper-revised-ed.pdf

The youth minister who had the greatest influence on my ministry thinking often said, if you get your Crèche and Kids Ministry right, you will have an awesome youth group and a growing church. The research and evidence indicate that he was right.

Please pray for wisdom as we seek the right person to join our team and catch the vision for the children of Campbelltown.

Thanks for your partnership in Christ

Nigel

The Scriptures urge us in 1 Timothy 2:1-4 to pray regularly for those in power over us. They need our prayers but we should also pray for ourselves in our responsibility for electing them. No one should ever tell you how you must vote, but I want to urge you to think carefully about your vote.

We must recognise that each party has various standpoints on different issues and some proposed  policies may make it more difficult in the future to be Christian or to hold to and teach a Christian worldview. The ABC have made it easy to assess the policies via a website: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-05-25/key-issues-where-the-parties-differ/7421638. I want to encourage you to make use of it.

One issue of importance is the nature of marriage and the implications of any change. The Sydney Anglican Diocese has sent this information for your consideration:

On July 2 Australia goes to the polls.  Christians will come to different conclusions about how they should vote. We attach different levels of importance to various issues. One may feel that economic management is extremely important. Another may prioritise the plight of refugees or climate change policy.  However there is one issue, unique to this election, which is very important from a biblical point of view. This election may decide whether or not the definition of marriage will be changed to include same sex marriage.

This is a very significant departure from the Bible’s teaching, which will have profound long-term consequences for the fabric of our society as a whole, because it undermines the place of marriage and the family as the basic societal unit. It is likely that legislation to implement same sex marriage will not contain sufficient protections for those who continue to believe and teach that marriage is only between a man and a woman. As a result, our ability to exercise biblical, gospel ministry through our schools, caring organisations and even our local churches could be severely constrained.

This is not the only issue we should consider when deciding how to vote. There are other issues that are also very significant. But it is essential that we don’t underestimate the importance of this election for this particular issue.

I invite you to prayerfully consider this when you come to vote on July 2.

Bishop Michael Stead, Chair of the Archbishop’s Plebiscite Task Force

Dear Friends,

One of the guests at Yvonne Webb’s Thanksgiving Service on Thursday reminded me of how important and profound a work we are doing in two of our new ministries in 2016. I noticed that the lady was standing in the foyer of the St Peter’s Church building holding a Flyer for both Jesus Club and the Red Tree group. As she stood there, she was overwhelmed that we are working hard to include people with very diverse health and personal needs in the life of our church.

The Red Tree Group aims to offer an opportunity for spiritual growth and pastoral care for people with a dementia and their carers. We hold a short church service on the 3rd Monday of the month starting at 9.30am followed by morning tea. At 10.30am we have an activities group for people with a dementia and carer’s support group. Our next program will be on Monday 20th June.

Red Tree Group has yet to make solid relationships with people with a dementia who are looking for spiritual connections. We would love you to recommend the group to those you know in the community with a dementia or their carers. Our team are more than willing to visit people in advance of attending. We are working hard at building relationships with ARV and other local organisations.

The Jesus Club aims to offer an opportunity for spiritual growth and fellowship for adults with an intellectual disability. We meet fortnightly on a Thursday in the St Peter’s Hall to sing, learn from the Bible, enjoy games, craft and discussion. Our next program is Thursday 23rd June.

The Jesus Club has a few members attending already but there is room for many more. We have a number of members who are also hearing impaired and use AUSLAN.  We would love you to recommend the group to adults you know in the community with an intellectual disability. Our team are more than willing to visit people in advance of attending.

I want to ask you to encourage both Cheryl Atkins (Red Tree) and Judith Taylor (Jesus Club) and their teams. These two faithful servants are doing their very best with their professional skills to serve Jesus and enable us to continue to be a Growing Christian Community.

Praise God.

Nigel Fortescue

Dear Friends,

As a church we work with many vulnerable people and it is important that we treat them appropriately with kindness and Gospel-shaped grace. It is of course important that everyone is treated in this way, but the vulnerable can easily be forgotten or hurt.

One of the most vulnerable groups in our midst are children. They are often powerless and usually at the mercy of the adults who are given responsibility to care for them.

In recognition of this, the Anglican Church now requires all people involved with caring for and ministering to children and vulnerable people (eg. Jesus Club or Red Tree) to do two things.

First, all people involved in caring for and ministering to children must do the Anglican Church approved Safe Ministry Training. Many professions require you to do Safe Working with Children programs however, such programs cannot be accredited to replace the Anglican Church Safe Ministry Training. Once completed, a refresher is completed every three years. The upcoming date for the full course training is 3rd July. If you are unsure as to whether you should do the training or where you are up to in the three year cycle, please come and do it again. If you are not Safe Ministry Trained, you will not be able to continue with your ministry to children or vulnerable persons in Term 3, 2016. Register in the office.

Second, all people involved in caring for and ministering to children and the vulnerable must apply for a Working With Children Check (WWCC). You start this process by going to www.kidsguardian.nsw.gov.au. You make an application and they send you a temporary WWCC number. You must then go to the RMS and identify yourself again after which the check takes place and clearance (or otherwise) is provided. You must then provide the office with your WWCC number and date of birth for verification. If you do not have a WWCC that has been verified by our office you will not be able to minister to children.

There are some very limited exceptions to both of the above arrangements and if you wish to discuss those, please speak to me or our Safe Ministry Representative, Kerry Olsen.

It is actually our preference that everyone in our church does both the Safe Ministry Training and acquires a WWCC. This not only creates a helpful culture of transparency but also a culture of understanding. The more eyes that both see and understand, the better. If you have any questions about this, please speak to me or one of the Wardens.

Thanks

Nigel

Dear Friends,

For three days this week, our staff team attended the annual Wollongong Region Ministry Conference with Anglican Church workers from Cobbity and Glenfield to Miranda and Ulladulla. We endured a packed program but it was a particularly thought provoking time. The issues that have continued to roll around inside my head concern social change and the church.

Here are a few of the observations made over the week:

• Saturday afternoons and Sundays used to be family and community time, now they are almost indistinguishable from the rest of the week.
• Marriage used to be honoured by all but is now an optional extra.
• Children used to be cared for in the home but now their lives are out-sourced.
• The Bible used to be read on the ABC every night but now biblical thinking is censored in favour of hedonism and sensuality.
• People used to gather on the street in the afternoons to play and socialise, now we sit alone and watch TV and some even watch other people watching TV!
• The church used to be seen as a bastion for morality and social cohesion but now it’s an archaic immoral institution.
• Voluntary participation in community activities was strong but now sports clubs struggle to find helpers.
• Most disturbingly, there are a whole generation of children being raised who know of no connection between Easter, Christmas and Jesus.

You might say in summary that we Australians have become more consumerist and individualistic in our approach to life. And church.

The right response to this is not to lament and have conversations that begin with the words “I remember the good old days!” The right response is to pray. To pray for ourselves and our friends who do not know Jesus, that we would have the wisdom and courage to share Jesus with them.

At our AGM I lamented the fact that we have not had a regular gathering for missional prayer. How can we be a growing Christian community without ever praying together? It’s time for a change.

Each month on the first Sunday of the month, I will be in the church to pray from 4.30pm-5.30pm. I’d love you to join me and pray for those who don’t know Jesus and those who can tell them. I hope you are continuing to pray for the person or people by name who you would love to see come to know Jesus and join our fellowship by 2020.

In Christ,

Nigel

Dear Friends,

Each week I have the privilege of speaking to the staff of both Broughton Anglican College and St Peter’s Anglican Primary School to encourage them to keep maturing in Jesus. Both these schools were set up as activities of the church to reach into the local community with the the Good News of Jesus. It is a joy to work alongside the staff and I am confident we have two effective ministries that are serving to grow the Christian community both at our church and other churches in the region.

This week I spoke about Discipleship – we are following Simon Manchester’s Small Steps for Long Gains.

The questions I asked of the staff were: How many people do you follow on Instagram? How many Facebook friends do you have? How many Pinterest Boards have you pinned? How many Tumblr blogs do you catch up on? And the list could go on.

(For those confused by these names or who despise social media, perhaps I could ask: which TV shows do you watch religiously? What magazines do you read? Whose lives do you keep track of? What talk back radio hosts do you love to tune into?)

We all have people we follow – and we usually do so uncritically and unmindfully. We listen to their thinking, we catch up on their thoughts and activities and we too often attune our thinking to theirs. We end up liking what they like, thinking what they think, and doing what they do.

The challenge for Christians is that there is one person of much greater significance who has said “Follow me!” His name is Jesus! Our problem is that we can’t just add Jesus to the list of people we follow. He cannot be one among many. He is jealous for our attention, affection and activities to be governed and directed by him. Luke recounts Jesus saying:

“Then he said to them all: ‘Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it. What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self?” (Luke 9:23-25)

If we must deny ourselves how much more must we deny the influence of Kim, Justin, Ariana, Selena and Taylor. (And Ray Hadley, Ben Fordham and Tony Jones)

It’s worth asking yourself, who am I following really?

Jesus? Jesus and a string of others? Or just others?

Remember your citizenship in in heaven.

In Christ

Nigel

Dear Friends,

There is lots happening around church at the moment and I wanted to make sure you were “in the loop” – so here are 10 things I want you to know and pray about….

1. We are about to begin advertising for a new Children’s and Youth Minister. Please pray for wisdom.
2. Jesus Club began on Thursday night with two members joining and an enthusiastic and well trained team of volunteers. Please pray for growth.
3. This Monday at 9.30am the Red Tree Group meets again (serving people with low mobility and dementia) for church, activities and a carer’s group. Please pray for compassion.
4. Our Year 13 students are still fundraising for their Mission Trip to Fiji in June and you will be asked to contribute at least $10 in church this week. Bring your cash! Please pray for generous hearts.
5. Our next Growth Spurt is on next Saturday night (21st) and Simon will be leading our thinking on creation and the beginning of life. Pray for ears willing to listen.
6. One of our strategic goals is to become a Centre for Ministry Training in the South-West. We are currently talking to two people who may join us as ministry trainees in 2017. Pray for zeal.
7. The new owner of the Health Care building at 28 Cordeaux St has asked to buy a piece of land from us to finalise his DA. You will hear more about this on Sunday. Please pray for prudence.
8. Jason Moss will be leading a Mid-year Mission in Airds in the July School holidays, seeking to reconnect with people who have walked away from Jesus. Pray for spiritual awakening.
9. We are still looking for 2 Scripture teachers to assist on a Wednesday morning 9.30am-11am at Bradbury and Campbelltown. Please pray for willingness.
10. The Women’s Breakfast (28th May) and Men’s Gong Day (18th June) are taking registrations now. Please pray for maturity.

As always, if you have any questions about things that are happening, please speak to a member of staff or one of our Wardens (Barrie Atkins, Chris Main, Derek Poole, Robert Palmer, Michael Douglas or Margaret Hiron).

Thanks for your partnership in the Gospel.

In Christ,

Nigel

This term you have an opportunity to make a significant change to your life. A change that could reshape everything and bring greater satisfaction, perspective, hope and joy. A change that will be hard to make but worth every moment of the blood, sweat and tears it may take. A change that you are empowered to make by the one who dwells within you.

The question is, will you keep in step with His desires for you and make it?

Sadly, our lives are centered around the acquisition of stuff for enjoyment and for safety in the future. We work to pay for things we want. We work to put learning in our minds and in the minds of our family. We work to put a roof over our head. We work so we can play later. We focus so much on work and acquisition that the bigger things in life can pass us by. The bigger things like the acquisition of wisdom, prudence, discretion and insight. We need to change this.

This term in church we will be helping each other to Get Wisdom through the book of Proverbs! I hope we can all see the truth of this:

How much better to get wisdom than gold, to get insight rather than silver!

Proverbs 16:16

I encouraged my Growth Group to write down an area of life they would like to be wiser in, to grow in insight and understanding of throughout this series. It was fascinating to hear people’s goals and we all agreed that all of us have room to grow in wisdom.

Through the stages of life, I have often thought I would get to wisdom eventually – but I have discovered I need increasing and new wisdom at each stage! In the end, what I really need is more of the mind of Christ who is ultimately the power of God and wisdom of God.

Why don’t you write down how you would like to grow in wisdom through this series. Don’t be surprised however, if you are challenged in ways you least expected and in areas you thought you needed no work. You have the opportunity this term to make significant changes to your life. But will you?

Dear Friends,

A few years ago I heard a friend speak about ANZAC Day surprisingly. He spoke of the way that from the 1950s-1970s barely a soul celebrated the Day and that the hills around Gallipoli were almost always empty of people. He explained that the French lost four times as many soldiers as we did and that the Turks see their victory in 1915 as the successful defence of Islam. But he spoke of more than facts – he called for a deeper analysis of why the ANZAC legend has become so important to Australians.

His contention was that since rejecting Christianity, Australia has been a nation in search of a faith and a story that explains us. One that explains where we came from, who we are and how to live, that gives us a sense of unity and cohesion – a national identity – and that gives us a faith that we can turn to and believe in and use to find strength and courage in times of need. A story that gives us back God or gods who are like us – but are greater than us – and about whom we can only speak of in hushed voices of deep respect and sombre reverence.

The thinking is compelling. Australia emerged from the freewheeling 70s looking for something to hold onto (having excluded the possibility of Jesus) and we found ANZAC. And woe betide anyone who takes the name ANZAC in vain as Woolworths discovered last year!

We have fashioned ANZAC into an idol and a myth that gives Australian life meaning.

None of this takes away from the courageous efforts of our family and friends who served and self-sacrificed for our country at Gallipoli or anywhere else. Rather, identifying this reality, turns ANZAC Day into a moment when you can point people to the Cross.

But not just to a man who gave his life that his countrymen may be free. But a man who gave his life that his enemies might be free. A man who gave his life – and won a great victory – without raising a hand in anger. Indeed, by raising his arms in glad surrender. For the only blood shed that day on the hill of Golgotha was his own.

Most of us will have a day of rest on Monday in recognition of sacrifice. How will you use the day to help those around recognise the greater sacrifice of Jesus?

Dear Friends,

 Earlier this week I stood with friends in the fading light on Windang Beach, fishing. Gusts of wind and the clatter of waves created a stage for the wondrous salty, fishy smell that filled the air. Nylon lines were slack in the waves, occasionally tensing for a fish or shark; but there was little disappointment as this was a moment for pause.

As I absorbed the misformed clouds, my mind wandered to thankfulness, questions and concerns about our church, where we are heading and how we are going to get there.

The enormity of the sky pointed me to the reality that God has got it all in hand and I recalled that this has been one of the big lessons from our study of Acts. God has got this! Do you remember the mission Paul wanted to be on, the one the Holy Spirit stopped him from being on? God’s plans never fail.

I pondered 8am at St Peter’s. Why have we had a reduction in numbers – perhaps 20%. Yes, many are unwell and some have gone to meet Jesus but is there something more, something we are missing?

I gave thanks for St Andrew’s at 9.30am, for the vibrant caring congregation that meets there but wondered what else should be done. We have many contacts but few appear willing or able to connect.

I smiled at the chaos that is often 10am at St Peter’s. Sometimes 100 people arrive during the first song and watching parents work out seating with children can be stressful. Even just identifying who is new is sometimes troubling, but always delightful.

I prayed for the Indigenous Church, thankful for the recognition of our partnership in the plaque that will be permanently affixed to the church soon. An increasing number of people gather on a Sunday and through the week to read the Bible and pray to the God who loves people from every tribe and nation, language and tongue. What a joy!

I felt pensive about 6pm at St Peter’s. It’s the most diverse of our gatherings and has within it the most spiritually vulnerable of our people – 16 to 26 year olds. They need deep gospel foundations that will serve them for all of life – are we doing enough to help create those?

Why don’t you take a moment for pause. It needn’t be while fishing. What are your reflections on the year so far? I’d love to hear them.

Thanks for your partnership,

Nigel

 

Dear Friends,

Our Annual General Meetings have now been held and the following people have been elected and appointed to positions within the church:

St Andrew’s Wardens: Chris Main, Robert Palmer, Margaret Hiron

St Peter’s Wardens: Derek Poole, Michael Douglas, Barrie Atkins

Parish Council: Alanna O’Brien, Arya Darmaputra, Lindsay Schroder, Kevin Hines, Jon Ponsonby, Kylie Williamson, Jason Manning, Sharon Richards.

Parish Nominators: Sarah Manning, Derek Poole, Nicole Schroder, Barrie Atkins, Alanna O’Brien.

Please pray that all these people would serve with wisdom and grace for the Glory of God.

But please don’t stop there. The life of our church is not determined by any one group of people – not even the ministry staff. The life of our church is under the headship of Christ and the guidance of leaders but involves everyone for we are one body. We all have gifts for serving and we all have minds that God has given us to be creative and thoughtful. Remember the encouragement of Ephesians 4:16: “From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.”

Your part in the work involves prayer and support but also contribution and thought. Parish Council love to hear suggestions, ideas, concerns and comments on the ministry work they are facilitating. Please don’t sit back and think someone else will see, say or think something. Speak to one of them or to me.

There is lots going on at the moment with new ministries launching and various events taking place. The core of what we do however is our weekly Growth Groups and if you are yet to join one, now is a good time as most take a short break right now and will restart in a few weeks with new study material to work on. Join one today by using the Next Steps Card or speaking to a member of staff or inviting yourself to someone’s group. Just go for it.

In Christ

Nigel

Dear Friends,

One of the things we want to ensure is that communication between us as a church is clear and efficient! We dearly want every member of our church to know what is going on in church. We also want every member of our church to be sure that the staff and pastoral team know what going is on for you so we can pray and care.

There are many ways communication happens.

First is the newsletter – this newsletter. Each week it contains information about the who, what where and why of church. I want to encourage you to read it each week! It is emailed and copies are available in church. If you don’t get emails from us, let us know after you check your spam folder.

Second is the Next Steps Card available in church. Our staff and pastoral teams simply cannot have a conversation with everyone every Sunday – but we want to know what is going on, what you need, help you’d like, your news etc… Please fill in the connection card every week and place it in the offertory in your service. It is of very great help to hear from you!

Third is email. Every week we send out at least one email with news and reminders from church. If you do not receive email from the church office, please email us and we will get you on the list:  office@campbelltownanglican.org. You can also email us questions, requests, news or suggestions!

Fourth is the website. The website has information, registration forms, sermons and a host of other things that will be helpful for you to know. Make sure you visit about once a week to catch up on things that are happening.

Fifth, for some particular ministries there are blogs. The Growth Group leaders have a blog that they receive help for weekly groups on in the way of ideas on the passage and ideas for running groups well. Ask them about it!

Sixth is social media. We use Facebook, Twitter and Instagram regularly to pass on prayer points, news and special requests. People of all ages are on each of these communication channels and if you are not connected yet, please search for Campbelltown Anglican Churches and join us!

Finally, you can ring and make a time to meet with a member of staff. We are in and out of the office most days but we always have time in a week to meet and talk. Just give us a call.

Communication is vital to good understanding and care.

Thanks

Nigel

Dear Friends,
We have almost come to the end of a most excellent week away with 37 of the more “Senior” members of our church. We have been on a harbour cruise around Eden, visited a local historic car club, wandered through Burnima, a classic Victorian homestead (think Downton Abbey) and visited the eccentric town of Tilba Tilba. And that’s not even scratching the surface.

But the week away is not really about visiting interesting and historic sites. It’s about relationships. I’ve loved watching people who did not previously know each other gather around the big square tables at breakfast and dinner to share stories and laugh. There is much to share of course, more than just the days activities. I’ve heard stories of moments when life has taken unusual turns. I’ve heard stories of the way Campbelltown used to be. I’ve heard stories of the history of our church and the comings and goings of clergy and people and buildings. Again, I feel like I have just scratched the surface with many but the time together and shared experiences create memories and future opportunities.

I’ve also loved our evening devotions where we have sought to reflect upon our relationship with God and the way we pray. We’ve thought about praying repentantly, praising God, interceding for others and trusting God as we pray. Each day we had the opportunity to reflect together on one of the prayers from the Bible and to write or pray our own prayers in response. It has been great to hear from people about the desire they have to make their prayer life fuller and more robust as they pray to our great God.

Time with other people, getting to know them, encouraging them and learning together with them, is an essential part of the Christian life. It is what Paul instructs us to do:

“Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.” Colossians 3:16

You don’t need to go on a Seniors Retreat to do that. You can do it around the dinner table with family. You can do it by inviting others to a meal at your house. You can do that in your Growth Group. Go for it!

Our next Seniors Retreat will be 2018. If I was you, I wouldn’t miss it!

What does it look like to triumph at life?

I walked past a three storey house on Sydney Harbour last Friday with a view to the harbour bridge and a Lamborghini in the garage. Are they triumphing at life?

I walked past a family a four swimming at the beach, enjoying the sun, laughing together and munching on some healthy sandwiches. Are they triumphing at life?

I walked past an old man, smiling as the sun rose over Bondi, enjoying his coffee, sitting alone. Is he triumphing at life?

What would triumphing in life look like for you?

Paul explains in Colossians 2 that Jesus triumphed at the cross!

“When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having cancelled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.”

For Jesus, triumph in life came through his submission to the will of God, his subsequent suffering on the cross for us and work of defeating the enemy of his friends through that same death.

Triumph came not through gaining what life has to offer but by providing life to the full to those who would trust in him.

Easter is a celebration of this triumph. That at the cross, Jesus bore our sins in his body that we might die to sin and live for righteousness; that we might give away the pursuit of things in this life and look ahead to the things of the next life.

There is so much that can disappoint in this life. There is nothing that will disappoint about the next if you trust in Jesus. Moreover, triumphing without Jesus in this life excludes you from triumphing with Jesus in the next.

Easter is the best time of the year to invite friends to hear this message. Who are you praying might come to know Jesus and join our fellowship in the next 5 years? Would that person be ready for an invite?