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Mid Week News
Sunday
Most of us have heard Rick Warren say that loving community is the number one factor in churches that grow. That's an attractional quality.
But what else is needed for that community to move toward maturity?
If we really are going to grow together, if the church really is to be the new community it's called to be, what sort of things should we be thinking about. Eph 4 draws us into Kingdom life that really is an expression of new creation. It's a wonderfully attractive picture: read about it in Eph 4:25
Relay for Life:
Are people from your small group interested in being part of the Relay for Life - but you don't have enough to field a team?
Then let's combine.
Send the names of interested people through to dave@redlandscrc.org.au and we'll set up a joint effort. This is what you'll be committing to walking the Relay for Life Track for your designated period of time - teams are responsible to have at least one member of their team walking on the track for the whole 24 hour period. eg. 12 walkers each with a two hour responsibility
Each walker raising $100 in sponsorship
Finding some way to do this as a church: ie. RCRC T-shirts (hey, you can borrow from those who have them...)
...all pretty easy, really, and it could be a load of fun!
Act now - send an email to Dave: we've only got a few days to register
Taking the next step
Preparing for profession of faith, baptism and membership
A 7 week discussion on the basics of the Christian faith and Redlands CRC ‘distinctives'
Begins April 2007.
If interested email clinton@redlandscrc.org.au or phone 0424 477 487
40 Days of Community
The Week Just Gone:
Over the last week I have received a lot of comments from my message last Sunday. These comments have been a real mixture. So I just wanted to add a couple of things.
Firstly, its not a matter of doing more. Many of you are already stretched time wise and commitment wise. Jobs, families, hobbies and ministries. I believe it is a matter of doing things differently. When we talk to people after church, who do we talk to? People like ourselves, just the people we get on with, or people who are different, that we don't know. Instead of inviting 2 families around who we get on well with, and we share much in common with, why not invite some close friends, and some people we might not know so well. This will undoubtedly push us out of our comfort zones, it will go a long was to bringing us towards an enfolding church.
Secondly, while its true that like attracts like, we have a special responsibility to those who are different. Some people have made the comment that we are a white middle / upper class church in a white middle / upper class area, and this is kind of natural. And its true, like will often attract like in church situations. But the gospel calls us to go beyond this, to actually seek, and enfold, those who are different. We do have people who are different from ourselves come through RCRC, let's work extra hard at enfolding them.
The Week To Come:
This week we are looking at purpose #3 we are put together to GROW to maturity. The point will be made that it is impossible for us to grow into the image of Christ without the community around us. We simply can not obey the commands to love, support, nurture, if there is no one to practice these things on.
This is why Small Groups are so important. If we are just relying on a Sunday Service to do these things, we are going to come up short, our growth will be stunted. So I would like to challenge you, if you are not in a Small Group. Are you really growing as you could be growing? What is standing in the way of joining a Small Group?
If you would like to know more about joining a group, I would love to help you get connected.
Clinton
Church Planting Exploration Team
In an exciting, challenging and daunting new phase of RCRC ministry we are going to be looking at the issues of church planting and ways in which we can further the work of the gospel in our area through it. To do this, we are wanting to gather a Church Planting Exploration Team, to begin training in church planting and preparing the whole church for this adventure.
We are looking for people who are interested in:
- Learning more about church planting
- Wanting to help resource and support a church planting team
- Being a part of a church plant from RCRC
If this is you, or you are just curious to see if it might be you, we would love you to come along to our first gathering
Tuesday 3rd April, 7.30pm @ the church.
If you have any questions, or want to register your interest, please speak to Dave or Clinton, or email churchplanting@redlandscrc.org.au
Changes to Sunday Services?
You were asking?
After yesterday’s morning service a few people asked about the slips we filled in about changes to worship services:
· Are we really going to add another service to Sunday morning? What time will it be? What about kids at church? etc.
· If we ask some families to move to the 5pm service, thus opening up more seating at the 9am, will there be a kids program? Etc.
These are important factors, and you can be sure that they will all be addressed in time. Any changes to the way Sunday services are configured really needs to be well developed, supported in a united way, and fully discussed with the church family.
Even so, given the questions asked, we thought a brief email might clear up a few things.
What’s happening is that we are beginning a process of discussion about Sunday services, and this already commenced the week before (Feb 25). An open meeting was held and that meeting was attended mainly by small group leaders, those involved in Sunday ministry, and any others who wanted to attend.
The issue is that our 9am services are generally quite full, and we need to make some space. Our starting point is that there are two unacceptable options:
· To say that we are full, and leave no room for new people
· To do nothing
Church Council has recently discussed the matter of having a second service on a Sunday morning. The Church Council does understand that this would place increased strain on people involved in current ministries: music, technical, children’s ministry, coffee, etc., so it is not a trouble free solution.
Another possibility is to ask some of the families who currently attend the 9am service to attend the 5pm instead. This is not without its complications either. It would involve changes in family schedules, and have some impact on the feel of the 5pm service.
So friends, it’s a difficult one! The small form you may have filled out last Sunday is certainly not the last word. In a sense, it’s just the beginning of our discussion process.
In questions like this the most important this is that we develop solutions together, and that we move ahead together.
So coming Sunday there will be an opportunity for those who have no yet made their preference known to do so. After that we’ll work through all the information we receive, and then come back to you to discuss a final proposal.
Finally, some have wondered why we’re asking people to put their names on the forms they fill in. We’ve asked for this because knowing general preferences is a good thing, but it’s not much help if there’s no commitment to follow through. So we’re asking you to put your name on your form so we can gauge the level of real commitment to each proposal. Remember: we will still come together before moving ahead with anything.
As always, if you have some insight on something that hasn’t been mentioned, or which doesn’t already appear to be part of the picture, please email us! We’d love your feedback!
Every blessing!
Dave Groenenboom
Feedback: dave@redlandscrc.org.au
Car Wash - 24th March
Next Car Wash will be on Saturday 24th March, 8am - 12pm.
Small groups are encouraged to commit to a time slot together as part of 40 Days campaign.
Contact Damien at damienwatson@optusnet.com.au or Ph 3829 34680.
40 Days of Community
40 Days of Community
0 Days to go!
Here we are- we have arrived at the beginning of the 40 Days of Community program! Today is a very exciting day, as it is the first Sunday service for the next 7 weeks based on the 40 Days material; and it is also the first day of devotional readings in the book "Better Together". Don't forget your 3 committments for the next 40 days- attend a service, take part in a Small Group, and serving each other as Christ has served us.
Please continue to pray the program in all its aspects throughout the church, from Kids@Church to Small Groups, from leaders to mission projects, and above all that this will be a blessed time of Spiritual growth and increased love for each other in the church and the community.
eNews Update
Prayer Diary
- Geoff and Kathryn Crawford are rejoicing in the safe arrival of James Stephen, 10:00am on Friday. Although James arrived a little earlier than expected, Kathryn and James are doing fine. They are currently in Mater Private (in the city) [1/27 Anzac Rd, Carina Heights, 4152, 0417 723 659 geoff@doctors.net.uk]
- Clinton has received some good news that only 2 of the 34 lymph nodes removed had any signs of cancer. One was the node that was swollen, and the other had only a trace. We can thank God for his continued care, and we pray that Clinton will recover fully.
- We still are in urgent need of some Kids@Church teachers. Please seriously consider how you can support this great ministry for children.
- Pray for the services tomorrow - that the Lord will be praised as we gather around his word, honour him in worship, and (in the morning) share the Lords Supper together.
Feedback: dave@redlandscrc.org.au
40 Days of Community
This Sunday will be the beginning of the 40 Days of Community program at Redlands CRC. Not only will Sunday be the first of 7 themed messages, but it will also be the first day of readings from the book, "Better Together". Your Small Group leader will be distributing these books at your group week, so make sure you grab your copy and are ready to start reading on Sunday. Remember there is one chapter to read each day, and each week at your Small Group you will view a short DVD and discuss the readings from the week.
During 40 Days we want to raise the following ‘commitments' to RCRC and its vision and ministry:
- Everyone at one Service a week.
Life can be busy, and often one of the only chances we have to sit still for a while is Sunday. It's a time to renew, recharge and spend with the family. One of the ways we do this is by meeting with our church family. It is a great chance to be feed by God's word, encouraged in song and fellowship and also to be a blessing to others. - Everyone in a Small Group
While Sunday can be a great time of celebration and encouragement it is not the time or place where community is expressed and experienced in its true form. This happens often in the context of Small Groups. It is in Small Groups that we get to know other people, to share life with them, to study God's Word in depth, and to bear one another's burdens. If you are not already in a Small Group, the start of 2007 is the perfect time to join one. - Everyone serving in a Ministry
The body of Christ is just that, a body. In our bodies, everything plays a part, everything is integral. If one part is not functioning, the whole is struggling. The church, as a body, functions the same way. We were designed to all be using our God given gifts for the benefit of others, through loving service. We want to provide everyone with an opportunity to serve others as Christ has served us.
During the 40 Days of Community, whether we have signed up or not, we want to invite you to make the above commitments. Everyone at one service, everyone in a small group, everyone serving. When this is taking place, we are going a long way to belonging to a great Christ centered community.
If you want to learn more about this, please speak to one of the pastors, or your Small Group leader.
Prayer Diary...
Clinton's Surgery Update
Clinton and I were able to speak on the phone earlier today. After his four hour operation yesterday, Clinton was feeling a bit sore and hadn't rested that well overnight. This morning, the surgeon informed Clinton that he was quite happy with what they were able to take away. The swelling in the lymph node was definitely related to the melanoma, and pathology has been ordered to further clarify the situation. Clinton has an appointment with his Oncologist next week Friday and he will know more abut his situation after that.
Dave will be preaching this Sunday while Clinton recovers.
Remember friends, that while there is much about life that we do not understand, and lots that we cannot control, nothing is beyond the loving hand of our Father in heaven. Pray in faith with such an attitude.
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. For this reason, we can even consider trials with an attitude of pure joy (James 1). Our hope can only even be in God, and not our circumstances.
Prayer Diary...
Clinton's Surgery
We just had news that Clinton's surgery was completed at about 2:00pm. Tracy says that he's pretty sore and groggy - no doubt he has a bit of sleeping off to do. Clinton has not spoken with the Doctor following the operation - so there is no detailed news at this time. Hopefully, he will find out more information tomorrow sometime, and following that we may be able to tell you a little more.
Please continue to pray for recovery, and that God's grace of healing, strength, and the peace of His presence will surround Clinton, Tracy and the family.
Other prayer points:
- Rani Gillan continues to receive treatment at Greenslopes Hospital. Please pray for patience, for healing, and for wisdom for her medical team.
- Diny Kapinga is also in Greenslopes Hospital for a few days. Please remember Diny and John in your prayers.
- Ben West will have tests on Sunday to ascertain further treatment needs
Thanks for being a supportive and caring church family!
Feedback: dave@redlandscrc.org.au
40 Days of Community
Renew your commitments!!
What does it mean to be committed to RCRC? Is it simply a matter of turning up once in a while or having a memberships form?
During 40 Days we want to raise the following ‘commitments' to RCRC and its vision and ministry:
- Everyone at one Service a week.
Life can be busy, and often one of the only chances we have to sit still for a while is Sunday. It's a time to renew, recharge and spend with the family. One of the ways we do this is by meeting with our church family. It is a great chance to be feed by God's word, encouraged in song and fellowship and also to be a blessing to others. - Everyone in a Small Group
While Sunday can be a great time of celebration and encouragement it is not the time or place where community is expressed and experienced in its true form. This happens often in the context of Small Groups. It is in Small Groups that we get to know other people, to share life with them, to study God's Word in depth, and to bear one another's burdens. If you are not already in a Small Group, the start of 2007 is the perfect time to join one. - Everyone serving in a Ministry
The body of Christ is just that, a body. In our bodies, everything plays a part, everything is integral. If one part is not functioning, the whole is struggling. The church, as a body, functions the same way. We were designed to all be using our God given gifts for the benefit of others, through loving service. We want to provide everyone with an opportunity to serve others as Christ has served us.
During the 40 Days of Community, whether we have signed up or not, we want to invite you to make the above commitments. Everyone at one service, everyone in a small group, everyone serving. When this is taking place, we are going a long way to belonging to a great Christ centered community.
If you want to learn more about this, please speak to one of the pastors, or your Small Group leader.
Washing Cars Gets Results!
Thanks Church!
God blessed us richly at the Car Wash this morning! The total raised was $720.00 - which will be great for school chaplaincy work in the area!
Please pray for the Chaplains in local schools, and especially Carlee Spiers as she starts her work at Victoria Point High School, and Peter Gavel, current Chaplain at Ormiston State School.
Not bad, eh! Turning soap suds into the Gospel message for kids in our community!
"Pray that God may open a door for the Gospel message" (See Col 4:3)
For tomorrow...
Remember to be a community builder!
- First 10 minutes: speak to someone you haven't met before
- Pray for someone in the church community
- Invite someone home for a cuppa
- Ask someone to your small group
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