Bulletin Announcements – 14 September 2014
Baptism: Those who believe in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour and desire to be baptised, please see Rev Noldt about commencement of baptism classes. The WS baptism service will be held on Sunday 23 November 2014.
Operation Christmas Child Shoeboxes: please return the shoeboxes by 21st September.
Children Ministry Announcement: Today is the Last day for Sunday school Term 3. We will have holiday program for 21/9, 28/9 and 5/10. Term 4 will start on 12 October. Last day for Play Group will be on 16 September. We will have a Teddy Bear Picnic on the day. Please join us for a time of fun. Term 4 will start on 7 October.
Strathfield 9am Ladies Fellowship Bible Study. Sunday 28th September 10.45am to 12.15pm at the home of Becky Tong in Homebush. The study will be from chapter 3 – “A Blind Beggar”.
Announcements from Diaconate:
+ AGM Announcement: Notice is given hereby to all members to attend an Annual General Meeting called by the Diaconate, to be held on 5th October 2014 at 12:30pm, at the Chapel of the church. In the agenda of the AGM, beside election of deacons and other regular items, there will be a special motion, “To call Rev. Dominic Ku to be a full time minister of WSCCC primarily serving Strathfield Mandarin congregation. His term will be three years and renewable. ” (As this is a special resolution, 75% majority votes are required to pass.) Proxy Forms can be obtained from any deacon or minister and should be returned to deacon or minister or by fax or email to WSCCC. Deadline of Proxy Form to be received as valid vote is 3rd October 2014, 12:30pm. Any Proxy Form received after the deadline becomes invalid and will not be counted.
+ In the diaconate meeting on 22nd August 2014 it was unanimously agreed to renew Rev. Ariel Kurilowicz’s contract for 3 years, from 6th March 2015, at part time basis aiming to increase the work hours as his physical condition improves. Rev. Kurilowicz has kindly accepted the offer.
Ariel writes – a weekly Scriptural devotion:
Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Saviour. (Habakkuk 3:17-18)
A very beautiful and poetic statement of faith in spite of material blessings. For this reason I’m not sure many, or even any, of us can fully appreciate these words. But imagine if we could? What would it take? The loss of our jobs and our possessions? Maybe a feeling of true hunger in our stomachs because of the lack of food or clean water? Also, the pain of not knowing if we could provide for our children or even if they’d have a future themselves? Living in a country with high unemployment, maybe even a civil war or a corrupt government? Finally, in the context of Habakkuk, it could mean persecution for our faith too. Consider the countless number of Christians around the world right now suffering under these very circumstances. But also consider what they truly possess: great joy in a God who saves. Wouldn’t it be good if we could fully appreciate these words?
from Pastor Ariel