We made it! 50 men! This is exciting! It’s a great beginning! BUT… it is only a beginning. This Thursday, 50 men of our church are heading up to Brisbane to an event called “Burn Your Plastic Jesus”. The main thing that will happen on Thursday night is a talk by Mark Driscoll. Mark’s clearly stated aim is that his talk will unsettle our complacency about the Lordship of Jesus and expand our view of the REAL JESUS SO THAT we will renew our efforts to grow as real Christian men who are:
faithful to our families
who fight hard against sexual temptation
who are honest and reliable in all our dealings
who seek to serve rather than be served
who are committed to our churches
who strive to be bold yet humble and who bring honour to our Lord Jesus
SO… there is a purpose to this trip. We’re going SO THAT real change, real growth will happen. This trip is not just about having a good time, in fact it will be good if we find it difficult. This trip is not about one night in 2008. It’s about setting a direction for the rest of our lives as Christian men. This trip is not about macho chest-beating and slapping each other on the back. It’s about acknowledging our past failure to be REAL MEN following the REAL JESUS and committing ourselves to leading more genuine Christian lives.
If you are one of the 50, please pray for yourself and for each other - that this trip will achieve the purpose intended for it. And everyone else, please pray for these 50 men - that they will LOVE the REAL JESUS and be transformed by him into strong leaders of their families and our church and great ambassadors for the gospel in their homes and workplaces and in the wider community.
NOTE: actual start time is 7:30pm not 7:00pm as in the image above.
Have you ever wondered what to do when you finish school?
Well the Year 13 Youthworks Gap Year is a great program to consider and the best thing about it is you don’t miss out by living here in Lismore. You can choose to do the course via the intensive mode offered which is a great alternative for people living away from Sydney.
You will learn from God’s word and read the Bible from cover-to-cover and be challenged as you study the Bible and a range of subjects from world religions to church history and theology for everyday life.
During the year you will travel to Sydney and stay on the Loftus campus to complete your intensive study. The dates for staying on campus in 2009 are:
12 February to 24 February (2 weeks)
15 April to 6 May (3 weeks)
11 September to 26 September (2 weeks)
Outside of these periods of intensive study, the average “Lismore week” would include 2 days of study, 2 days of ministry and 2 days of paid work in a “secular” job.
As well as serving in Christian ministry, one of the big highlights of the whole year would have to be the month-long mission trip to Fiji. During the trip you will experience cross cultural mission first hand and learn how to minister the gospel in many different contexts, from universities to orphanages.
We will be hosting an information night on Saturday 13 September at Park Avenue, East Lismore Office from 7.00pm. This is open to ALL highschoolers and parents (not just those in year 12) who want to know more about this exciting opportunity.
Kelvin Jarrett spoke to us from 1 Corinthians 10:14-22 - while idol feasts seem innocent to the Corinthians Paul uses the Lord’s Supper to show how a meal can be more than a meal. We must flee from anything that draws our worship away from Jesus and him alone.
this is a question for all of us; and even if you have done crossroads it’s good to think about doing it again especially if you are looking to connect more within our church.
on sunday Peter Yock shared his experience about arriving in Lismore from the big smoke and attending our church. Peter really enjoyed doing crossroads and found the time very helpful to get to know others in our church family. Crossroads gives you an idea of who we are at SCPC, what we believe, and what it means for us to connect and grow and serve together as a church family. It’s also a good opportunity for anyone thinking about being baptised or becoming a member on celebration sunday.
crossroads will take place over 3 sundays starting on august 31 at 11.30am. Lunch and child care will be provided. If you would like any further information or would like to attend then please call me or Pete at the office on 6621 3655 or send an email through to the office.
Matt Simpson spoke to us from 1 Corinthians 10:1-13 where we heard how Paul used examples from Israel’s history to show how people who trust in outwards things fall under God’s judgment. His call is to respond to God’s faithfulness from the heart and so to truly turn from idols and sin.
Key Verse
So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!
It’s that time of year again; in fact this event only happens once every two years so that’s why it is even more special!
Yes, that’s right its time for the 2008 Southern Cross Bush Dance.
On Sunday we got a little taste of what’s in store although nothing will compare to being there on Saturday night23rd August. In fact now is a good time to start looking through your wardrobe to see what flannelette will look best and how you can win the most popular “best dressed award” on the evening.
The bush dance is being held at the Lismore High School Auditorium (where we meet on Sundays) and the dance starts nice and early at 6.30pm.
I personally like the old bush dance and am encouraged to hear that many of you do. If you would like to help out on the evening then please give me a call at the office on 6621 3655 or send me an email at julie@scpc.org.au.
Remember this is an event for ALL ages which means that anyone can give it a go.
Peter Yock spoke to us from 1 Corinthians 9:19-27 where we saw that Paul changed himself in whatever way necessary to help win people to salvation in Jesus.
Key Verse
To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some.
We all know that anything worth having is worth working hard for. Unfortunately, sometimes we forget that keeping things can require just as much hard work as getting them in the first place - hence the phenomenon of the school child who will slave away earning pocket money to buy a pet only to neglect it once the novelty wears off. Sadly, many marriages suffer the same fate!
The Marriage Course is not rocket science. Neither is there anything magical about it. It’s a course developed by wise and realistic people who know that a good marriage is only ever the product of hard work. It’s hard work because at the heart of a good marriage is the need to sacrifice your own needs and desires in order to meet the needs and desires of your husband or wife. I wonder how many of us realised when we first got married what a challenge this would be!
This hard work must take two forms - hard work IN the marriage and hard work ON the marriage. Hard work IN the marriage is just the daily, even momentary decision-making in which we recognise that our choices effect our spouse and so we work hard to put each other first. Hard work ON the marriage is quite different and its what the marriage course is all about. Because life is so busy, we hardly ever make the time to hit pause, take a step or two back from our marriage and make a true and honest assessment of how we’re travelling. Amidst all the clamour of daily life, it’s all too easy for our marriage to drift off course and we don’t even realise it’s happening. Neither do we know the way back!
The Marriage Course provides an EXCELLENT opportunity to put in some hard and absolutely necessary work ON your marriage. The course covers 7 topics central to EVERY marriage - understanding marriage and knowing your spouse; the art of communication; resolving conflict, the power of forgiveness, parents and in-laws; good sex; love in action - and provides video input followed by time for couples to discuss the health of their marriage in each area.
If you think your marriage doesn’t need any help, then maybe the marriage course isn’t for you - but check with your spouse first!
The Marriage Course begins at 7:30pm Thursday 7th August and runs for 7 weeks in the church building, Park Ave East Lismore.
On behalf of our church family I would like to thank Jillian for the great job she has done as our ministry co-ordinator. On Sunday we were able to formally thank Jillian and pass on a gift. It was also a good opportunity to ask some questions about the upcoming arrival of baby Coutts. Below are some of the highlights from the interview.
1. Jillian, the obvious question first: how long to go and what’s your hunch, boy or girl?
Well, I’ve heard babies tend to arrive when they’re ready rather than on their due date, but there’s 3½ weeks until my due date. As for a hunch…well, we both keep changing our minds! Initially I thought it was a boy for a long time, but recently I’ve been leaning more towards a girl, but then switching back and forth, so we’ll be happy with either!
2. Jillian, it feels like you were the smiling face and cheery voice of Southern Cross for so long – how long was it really and what are your most lasting memories of being ministry co-ordinator?
I was only ministry co-ordinator for 18 months, but it was a very busy 18 months at SCPC! I guess the main thing that will stay with me was the experience of working in a full-time ministry environment, not only for myself, but seeing and being involved in the lives and ministries of the rest of the staff team and the many challenges and joys that come with that.
Over the past 18 months, God has really challenged me in my own personal godliness, and also in the need to pray for our leaders, and I’m very thankful that I was able to work in such a godly staff team, and in a loving church family.
3. How can we pray for you in what lies ahead?
Please pray for wisdom for myself and Ian as we begin this new journey of parenthood together. Pray that we will still make time for each other and be a godly team in bringing up our baby to know and love Jesus.
Being parents will bring new opportunities for us, so pray that we’ll make the most of these opportunities to point others to the cross.
I would personally like to thank Jillian for her dedication and what she has done for our church. She has set a great platform for me to work from and I hope that we as a church will be able to support her in what lies ahead.
The Father sent his Son down
The Light of men
The cross he bore was crippling
Rejected in his own town
They couldn’t see the Sun shining
He knelt in the garden and prayed
Father let this cup pass from me
It’s not Your will for me to stay
Your will for me’s the opposite way
And it seems like He was locked in a cage
And He couldn’t find a way of escape
But through the cross He conquered the grave
My Jesus ran the opposite way
It’s a 7 week course that began on august 7 and is held each Thursday from 7:30pm. You will need to make your own arrangements for childcare, but please let us know if you require assistance.
Celebration Sunday
Sunday 21st of September
...is a time to celebrate the things God has been doing within our
church family. There'll be no night church, as we combine the two
congregations together for this special Sunday of celebration.
We made it! 50 men! This is exciting! It’s a great beginning! BUT… it is only a beginning. This Thursday, 50 men of our church are heading up to Brisbane to an event called “Burn Your Plastic Jesus”. The main thing that will happen on Thursday night is a talk by Mark Driscoll. Mark’s clearly stated aim is that his talk will unsettle our complacency about the Lordship of Jesus and expand our view of the REAL JESUS SO THAT we will renew our efforts to grow as real Christian men who are:
