The Lord is king; he is clothed with majesty and strength (Psalm 93:1)
Monthly Newsletter - November 2006
Service Times
5 th November Holy Communion - Bathurst 9.00, Orange 11.0012 th November Worship Service + S/School – Bathurst 9.00, Orange 11.00
19 th November Holy Communion – Bathurst 9.00, Orange 11.00
26 th November Lay Reading + S/School – Bathurst 9.00, Orange 11.00
Christman Service
Christmas 2006 falls on a Monday and thus Christmas Eve is on a Sunday. Please give some thought as to what services you would like on Christmas Eve and/or Christmas Day and the times of these services and please let Pastor know.
Pastor’s Absence
Pastor David and Jo will be in Sydney to attend their annual family get-together from 24 th to 27 th November. There will be lay-reading services in both congregations on the 26th November.
Sydney Meeting about Women’s Ordination Debate
At the recent General Synod in Toowoomba, the vote on whether women should be ordained to the public ministry in the LCA failed to reach the required two-thirds majority to change the present rules of the church.
District President, Pastor Neville Otto reports: I would also like to draw your attention to the public meeting opportunities being made available in Adelaide , Brisbane , Perth and Sydney on Nov 19. These meetings are designed to offer pastoral care. Each district president will ensure appropriate care for those concerned about the result.
So, there will be an opportunity for folk to come together on Nov 19 at St Paul ’s congregation, 3 Stanley Street , Sydney at 1:00 pm . The folk at St Paul ’s have kindly arranged that parking will be available in the school car park which is opposite the church.
The purpose of providing this meeting is to offer pastoral care for those who wish to avail of such an opportunity. So time will be made available to talk through people’s reactions (to listen to share and to pray). In addition to this, there will be opportunity to provide feedback to the College of Presidents and the General Church Council
Orange Coffee Morning
The last coffee morning for 2006 will take place on Wednesday, 15 th November at 10.00am . These fellowship gatherings will commence in February, 2007 at a new time of 10.30am on the 3 rd Wednesday of each month. All welcome.
Hospital Visiting
Just a reminder to let Pastor David know if a relative or friend is in hospital. The list available to church ministers at the hospital is notoriously unreliable.
The Vast Company of Saints
In Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. Romans 12:5
Imagine this: You are the only Christian on the face of the earth. All others have left the faith. Consider the problems this would raise. You are the last of the believers. Your spirit would soon sag. You might even start questioning your faith, for if everybody else had rejected it, you would wonder how you can be sure of what you believe yourself.
If the Good News you wanted to share fell on the deaf ears of others while it was bursting within you, and you could not find anybody to share it with, it would tear you up inside.
Such probing can possibly help you appreciate how good it is to be surrounded by a vast company of saints. They help you know that people have testified to that same faith through the ages. They keep your spirits high as you gather with them, talking about the faith and worshiping together. They strengthen you for daily living as you engage in the struggle of life together. The many members of Christ's body are joined into one great company of saints through the ages.
PRAYER: Help me to appreciate the company of saints with which I am surrounded, Lord, and help me, in turn, to enrich the lives of others. In the name of Jesus, my Saviour, I pray. Amen.
Herta (Margaret) Burgelis [ Orange ], 6 th October and Joan Molkentin [Gilgandra], 15 th October are now at peace with their Lord .