If you want the latest news from RCRC, sign up for our email newsletters:
eNews
Mid Week News
Sunday
9am: Someone who loves you wants you to belong. The shepherds are perhaps the most unlikely people to receive breaking news of such world shattering importance. Shepherds were viewed as untrustworthy and unclean - but God wants them as part of his family, and chooses them to announce the birth of Jesus.
No matter what your past, or even your present, God is calling you home for Christmas. Luke 2:8-21
Profession of Faith and Baptisms
This Sunday morning we have the privilege of witnessing the profession of faith and baptism of Nicole Black. We praise God for His work in Nicole's life and bringing her to this point. In a baptism double, we will also be baptizing John and Nicole's son Eli - and celebrating the promises of God that he makes to Eli, to John and Nicole and to all of us, through this sacrament.
5pm: The old carol goes, "We three Kings of Orient are ... following yonder star", but how accurate is that? It just might not be the whole story! In fact, a close look at the visit of the wise men to Jesus, reveals some very interesting things about who they were and why they came. And in a way it will reveal something very interesting about who WE are and why WE come as well. Have a read of Matthew 2:1-12 while humming the Carol and see what you find.
Guest Preacher: Rev Richard Condie
Sunday night, Richard Condie, Rector of St Jude's in Carlton, Vic, will be preaching at RCRC. This will be a great opportunity to worship and praise God - let's give Richard a very warm Redlands welcome!
Food Drive: Sunday
We're collecting HEAPS of food for Redlands Community Centre's Christmas food parcels: please, be very generous - there is a lot of hardship in our local community. Donations of non perishable food can be made on Sunday - let's fill the foyer!
Kids @ Church
Kids@Church this week are having a end of year party.
All children will need to bring a gift (max $5) to give away and a plate of food to share.
Carols in The Carpark
...there are invitations at community central: please share them with your friends and invite them along.
CHRISTMAS LUNCH @ RCRC
Not everyone has somewhere to go on Christmas Day. For some, it is a very lonely day. So, we're wanting to provide a caring, happy environment - not to mentioning a smashing good Christmas Dinner - to all and any who may want to come.
This idea has been very warmly received by the RCRC family, and a dedicated team of people is now making this happen. There are invite flyers in the foyer for you to pass on to people you know who you'd like to invite.
If you'd like to come, or be part of the team, please email Dave dave@redlandscrc.org.au or Margaret mnugent@redlandscrc.org.au.
HELPING WITH CHRISTMAS LUNCH
We have a great team who are able to be present on Christmas Day to run the lunch - however, there are things that you can do if you would like to support it and can't be there on the day.
- Buy a packet of Christmas serviettes or bon bons to place on the table. Leave your donations in the Admin Office.
- Drop into the Office and pick up a bundle of flyers - we have a list of places we would like them taken to, choose one that is convenient to you.
- We will need a group of people to peel potatoes on Christmas Eve. We will be doing that in the church kitchen at 10.30am on Christmas Eve if you can come and help (bring a peeler!).
Prayer
- New Elders were elected last Sunday. Kev Hudson and Frank Lanaro were both resoundingly affirmed. They will be installed in their new role in the am service on Dec 14. Please pray for Kev & Frank as they prepare for eldership.
- Matt Harwood and Alison Clark will be married on Sunday afternoon (Latrobe Chapel, Paddington). It's great to see two young people seeking to live their lives honouring Jesus. Please support them as they begin their lives together.
- Please keep Jesus central in your Christmas celebrations this year. There is so much confusion about who he is and what he has done - let's ensure the messages we send are clear.
- Pray for our local community, and ask for opportunities to share the hope of Jesus.
New Elders Elected
The outcome of yesterday's eldership vote was that both Kev Hudson and Frank Lanaro were both resoundingly affirmed as Elders at Redlands CRC. Both men will be ordained as Elders in the 9am service on December 14. Please continue to pray for these men as they prepared for their leadership role.
Elder Candidate Information for Sunday
On Sunday (in both services) we are voting for new elders. Below we have supplied some basic infomration for both candidates. Please continue to prayerfully consider these men. Any questions re: the election process can be directed to greg@tenni.id.au or dave@redlandscrc.org.au
Kev Hudson
Age: 67
Wife/family info: Married to Del, two adult sons: Gary & Murray, 5 grandchildren
What you like about following Jesus: The love, security, and provision I have through God's promises "He will never leave me or forsake me"
Previous leader/elder experience (if any): Board member - Ambassadors for Christ Australia (18 years), youth leadership roles and other church responsibilities
What you like about RCRC: The warmth and friendliness of the people; Small group activity; Wide variety of opportunity for involvement and service (something for everyone); In depth ministry
Your future vision/desire for RCRC: To encourage each other to serve, to grow, to share in the love of our Lord - to see the RCRC community shine out as a beacon to our God.
Frank Lanaro
Age: 40
Wife/family info: Married to Michelle, Children: Matthew (15), Sarah (13) and Rachel (12).
What you like about following Jesus: I follow Jesus because of the eternal hope that we share as believers. To me personally this also means that despite our circumstances we can experience an overwhelming peace when our minds are focused on our Lord and Saviour
Previous leader/elder experience (if any): Previously served as a leader (Deacon) at our previous church for about five years
What you like about RCRC: RCRC is appealing because of the spiritual and practical faithfulness to God's Word evidenced through the various ministries and commitment of God's people in the church
Your future vision/desire for RCRC: I share the same vision as RCRC - i.e. to see the city of Redlands become a community of hope. My personal desire is for the body of Christ at RCRC to fulfil God's greatest commandments in Matt 22:37-39 Jesus replied: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.'
Both candidates must receive over 80% of the vote to be affirmed. The results of the ballot will be announced in the Sunday PM service and via eNews on Sunday night. Together we seek the Lord's guidance as he prepares new leaders to serve him at RCRC.
Dave Groenenboom dave@redlandscrc.org.au
Mid Week News
Sunday
9am: For thousands of years ancient Egypt had a very strong focus on the worship of idols. Many of these idols were pictured as animals or part-animals.
This morning we want to consider how Romans 1 relates to idol worship, and what some of the consequences are. Not just for the Egyptians, or the Israelites, but also for us in 2008. The only one who can set us free from wrong worship, is Jesus.
5pm: Remember as a kid how exciting the whole time of Christmas was? The presents, the holidays, the parties. It all added up to be one great time of celebration and excitement. To be honest, I wish I could go back to that sometimes, because sometimes Christmas feels like more hassle that it really is - something to be endured, rather than something to be celebrated. But the very first Christmas was a time of great celebration. IN Luke 2 we read words like "great joy", "rejoicing", "praising God." So what's the celebrate? Find out this Sunday night.
Christmas Carols Flyer Distribution
We need your help!
We have around 4000 flyers to distribute to the local community advertising the Christmas Carols event on the 14th December. After church there will be bundles of flyers with maps attached to them on a table in the foyer. Please take a bundle and distribute them this week.
Car Wash (for New Life Orphanage, Burma)
Car Wash is on again this Saturday, and judging by recent weather, we will have plenty of customers! What we need is stacks of car washers! The more we have, the easier (and shorter) your commitment will be. To sign up, please email Damien Watson dhwatson@iinet.net.au or phone 3829 3468
Kids @ Church holiday program
People with blue cards are needed to take the younger kids during morning church in the school holidays to give the kids ministry teams a break.
The dates to be covered are -
21st Dec
4th Jan
11th Jan
18th Jan
25th Jan
Please email lisa@redlandscrc.org.au if you are able to assist during this time.
Christmas Lunch @ RCRC
Not everyone has somewhere to go on Christmas Day. For some, it is a very lonely day. So, we're wanting to provide a caring, happy environment - not to mentioning a smashing good Christmas Dinner - to all and any who may want to come.
This idea has been very warmly received by the RCRC family, and a dedicated team of people is keen to get this happening.
We're planning to put our heads together in Dave's office after the am service this coming Sunday. Our goal will be
- Identify coordination team
- Identify and apportion tasks
- Identify promotional needs and contexts
- Support this vision in prayer
If you'd like to be part of this team, please email Dave dave@redlandscrc.org.au or Margaret mnugent@redlandscrc.org.au and come along Sunday morning.
Dave
Prayer
- Albert Verkruissen's cochlear implant (‘bionic ear') operation was successful medically, and he will be now re-introduced to sound in a process commencing 8th December. What a blessing technology can be!
- Please remember those who have been ill for a long time: Margaret Harwood, Alana Salisbury. Ask for added strength, patience, and the comforting awareness of God faithfulness.
- Redlands CRC votes for new Elders, Kev Hudson & Frank Lanaro coming Sunday (both services). Please pray the Lord will lead us as we consider these men
Christmas Day Lunch @ RCRC
Discussions this week with a few people have indicated that there is quite some interest in having a Christmas lunch - on Christmas Day - at RCRC.
This will be especially for people in the general community and the church family who will be on their own or who have nowhere else to go. What a blessing it will be!
The thought is that we could have entree, main course and dessert. We could have some carols, and something very clearly celebrating Jesus' birth. It would be a great opportunity to serve our community with the Gospel of hope.
WHAT WE NEED RIGHT NOW: We need a solid, committed, action oriented team of people who can make it happen on the day, and do some planning together over the next weeks. With the right people, we think a team of 6-8 can make it happen, and there are already a couple of takers.
Will you please help us?
We need to know from you if you can help. Can you please email Dave today ( dave@redlandscrc.org.au ) to express your commitment to making this happen.
Dave
Page: 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 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55