BELROSE UNITING CHURCH

Cnr Forest Way & Morgan Road Belrose NSW 2085

 

 

 

 

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Good News is Belrose Uniting Church's bi-monthly magazine, edited by Venessa Crane.

 

GOOD NEWS

Issue 69   July - August 2008

SPIN YOUTH CAMP 2008

 

 

 

 

Well, it was COOLLLLDDD this year at SPIN - even snow was seen up at Katoomba where we stayed opposite Scenic World! Thirty of us all rugged up for four days of fun, games, worship, night amazing race, awesome talks from Ferg and so much more!

 

A bit of drama - we went on a three hour bush walk and poor Jess twisted her ankle half way through! She hobbled all the way back, a miracle in itself!

 

We also had a Super Sumo Fun Day where we dressed everyone up in foam & bubble wrap & played games where falling over didn't hurt... it was such fun!

 

We all got to know each other better and got closer to God - it's so easy to get distracted off him in everyday life. We all need time away now and again to get re-focused and re-centred on him!


Here are some comments from SPIN this year...

  • It helped me deal with the stress of the HSC

  • I had been going through a dry patch – now feel refreshed

  • I found rest in God

  • I want to make more room for God

  • I want more of God

  • It's great to hang out with Christians

  • I made so many new friends

  • I know I will go to heaven now

Thanks to all the incredible youth leaders who came away - it was a great camp!

 

JESUS AND WORSHIP

 

By Rev Bob Coleman

 

(Uniting Church Minister - Retired)

 

This is the fifth and final article in the series on Worship I promised for "Good News". The subject is "Jesus and Worship".

It is to Jesus we must turn for the deepest teaching on worship. He stressed its profound importance both by his teaching and his example.

In her conversation with Jesus the Woman of Samaria suddenly changed the subject about her husband because it had become uncomfortable for her.

 

She posed a question to Jesus to see if he would settle a long-standing dispute between the Jews and the Samaritans as to where was the right place to worship God. "Our fathers worshipped in this mountain" (Mt. Gerizim, the Samaritan mountain), she said, "and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where man ought to worship". In reply, Jesus cut straight to the crux of the question as he usually did and said to her, "Woman believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father... But the hour cometh, and now is when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit and they that worship him must worship in spirit and in truth" (John 4:20-21, 23-24 AV). He declared it is not WHERE you worship God that is important but HOW you worship him. Is our worship sincere, does it come from the heart? This is what concerned Jesus.

 

The spirit of worship is far more important than either the places or the forms of our worship which are only means to a great end. Any form can be corrupted if it remains only a form even if it is held in a beautiful cathedral. Our heart must be in it and if it is there can be a great variety of forms or places where we may worship him as we know from experience there are.

However, Jesus did not only instruct in relation to worship he also practised what he preached in both Synagogue and Temple.

Finally, whenever we do anything on a regular basis there is always the danger that it becomes only a habit, form without content, an empty gesture like a parrot repeating a phrase over and over without any real understanding of its true meaning. A good example is the constant repetition of the Lord's Prayer. The same danger lurks in relation to worship, particularly when we worship on a regular basis. It can become a habit instead of a personal response of the heart. Whenever we meet for Christian worship we need to hear those penetrating words of Jesus ringing in our ears, "the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth".

 

Rev Bob Coleman

 

IF GOD SHOULD

GO ON STRIKE

 

From Janet Edwards

How good it is that God above has never gone on strike,

because He was not treated fair in things He didn't like;

If only once He'd given up and said, 'That's it, I'm through,

I've had enough of those on earth, so this is what I'll do'.

 

I'll give my orders to the sun - 'Cut off the heat supply',

and to the moon - 'Give no more light, and run the oceans dry'.

Then, just to make things really tough and put the pressure on,

turn off the vital oxygen till every breath is gone.'

 

You know He would be justified, if fairness was the game,

for no-one has been more abused or met with more disdain

than God, and yet He carries on, supplying you and me

with all the favours of His grace, and everything for free.

 

Men say they want a better deal, and so on strike they go,

but what a deal we've given God, to whom all things we owe.

We don't care who we hurt to gain the things we like;

but what a mess we'd all be in, if God should go on strike!

 

(from Acts International "Encounter 81" March)

 

I found the above (a cutting from a magazine), in a book I inherited from my Aunt. I often find little gems like this in the books that were hers.

 

In our group at FM this term, we did an overview of the Old Testament titled 'Full of Promise'. To complete it in eight weeks meant a fair bit of homework, but the inspiration and encouragement we gained from it was well worth it.

 

Each week we were amazed at two things. The first was the number of times the Israelites turned their backs on God and went their own way. God did the most amazing things for them and no sooner had He rescued them and restored them, than they forgot it all and ignored God.

 

The second main thing that amazed us was that God did not give up on them. When they got into terrible strife they remembered Him and would call out to Him and He came to their rescue. This happened time and time again (sound familiar?). God's faithfulness was (and is) absolutely amazing. I think He must love us a lot....and I think the above verse says it all!

 

Janet Edwards

 

BROKEN TOYS

 

A Poem

Contributed by

Gayle Dean
As children bring their broken toys,
with tears for us to mend;
I brought my broken dreams to God
because he was my friend.
But then instead of leaving him in peace to work alone,
I hung around and tried to help, with ways that were my own.
At last I snatched them back and cried
"How could you be so slow?"
"My child," he said, "What could I do?
You never did let go..."
 
Author unknown
 

 

COLIN BUCHANAN LIVE IN CONCERT!

 

Colin is a great Christian kids' musician bringing Bible truths

to little ones. We sing a lot of his songs in Kidzchurch each

Sunday morning at 10:30am

 

Don't miss this opportunity to see him LIVE in concert

in Sydney Tuesday Oct 7, 10am & 1pm

at Ryde Civic Centre.

 

For ticket sales call 9857 4477

or check out his website at

http://www.colinbuchanan.com.au/

 

 

 

Last modified: 05-September-2008