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FROM THE MINISTER
The Importance
of Harmony ... Rev. Dr. Les Hewitt
We all know the importance of harmony
within the life of the Church and the positive witness that this
gives to the wider community.
Someone once told of how they
sat next to a bassoon player at a band rehearsal. All they heard was his
playing of "pom-pom-pah
pom-pom-pah". They realised that if the whole band sounded
like this, the music would not be appreciated by most people. But from
out in the body of the hall the notes of the bassoon blended with the
rest of the band in a delightful harmony.
I once introduced a soloist by
saying that previously I had heard him singing in a choir. The quick response
was - that I should not have been able to hear him in the choir - his
voice was meant to be blended with all the choir members.
A Church is in harmony when
everyone plays her or his part. It is important that the kitchen function
as well as the worship centre - and that the conversation over morning
tea is equally important as the greeting given at the church door.
Reading from the Bible and leading the service in prayer are significant
contributions to worship - but so is the atmosphere created by those who
arrange the flowers and tidy the church building and who enable us to
"worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness".
The harmony of a congregation
is dependent upon each and every one of us playing our part - be that
small or large. It is our blending together in harmony that counts most
of all as we witness to the love of God in the midst of our community.
- Rev. Dr. Les Hewitt
FAREWELL...
It is time for me to thank you
for the privilege of having been invited to share ministry in the Nowra
Congregation from the beginning of your vacancy. Since mid-December I
have had the pleasure of serving as your part-time Supply Minister and I
thank you for the friendship that you have extended to Lynette and me. On
behalf of this congregation I have shared in the joy of celebrating
baptisms and weddings. For others I was there in times of sadness and
bereavement. Primarily, I have endeavoured to proclaim the truth of
Christ crucified, and to make pastoral visits to some of you in hospital
and in your homes.
June 30th will bring to a
conclusion our time with you. Lynette and I will take a "Bike for
Bibles" service in Batemans Bay on July 4th, before we return to
minister in the Tuggeranong Uniting Church Congregation in Canberra until
mid August.
In saying "farewell"
let me thank you for your kindness and ministry to us; especially to
those of you with whom we were able to share fellowship over a meal. I
pray that God will continue to richly bless you as a Congregation as you
journey towards a future ministry settlement.
-
Rev. Dr. Les Hewitt
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Any
Answers?
Why
is there a light in the refrigerator but not in the freezer?
Why
does ‘Goofy’ stand erect while Pluto remains on all fours? They’re both
dogs!
Why
is a person who handles your money call a ‘broker’?
If
corn oil is made from corn and vegetable oil is made from vegetables,
then what is baby oil made from?
If
a man is talking in the forest, and no woman is there to hear him, is he
still wrong?
Why
is it that when someone tells you that there are over a billion stars in
the universe, you believe them, but if they tell you there is wet paint
somewhere, you have to touch it to make sure?
If
electricity comes from electrons, does morality come from morons?
Is Disney World the only people trap
operated by a mouse?
Remembering the
Life of Lach Brien
Lachlan Innes Brien was born
at Cowra on 15th January 1936,
a son to Edman and Margaret Brien. Margaret’s maiden name was McInnes,
which led to Lach’s second name being Innes, and some people wondered if
Lachlan was after that famous river which flowed close by but we
understand that it was a family name for many of his ancestors. He had
three sisters and three brothers, Blanche, Heather, Jim, Dawn, Ross and
Lester (who predeceased him). His sister Blanche, who was not well enough
to come to the memorial service, had rescued him from hot ashes when he
was only two years old. Lach was only four years old when he started
school but his formal education concluded at 13 years, when he went to
work with his father and brother, Jim at the Murga sawmill and he was
only fifteen when he took over the sawmill from his father.
It was at a dance at Orange in
1961 that he met his future wife, Margaret. It was a friendship that was
to last all his life. They were married on 22nd February 1964
and were blessed with a daughter, Linda and son, Craig. In a tribute from
Margaret at the service of remembrance, she said she had just been
through the saddest week of her life losing her best friend of 49 years
and husband of 46 years. Their marriage had been a partnership of mutual
care and support.
Margaret’s lifelong health
battle with asthma led to Lach concluding the partnership with his
brother Jim, at the sawmill, and the family making the move to North
Nowra about thirty years ago. Lach continued working in the sawmilling
industry as a very valued
employee of Davis & Herbert’s Mill at South Nowra, until his
retirement, a total of about 50 years in the industry.
Lach was diagnosed with cancer
in 2006 and after a long and courageous battle, passed away at his home
in Bomaderry on Sunday 11th April. A large crowd of friends and family
packed into Wesley Centre on Friday 16th April to pay
tribute to a man who had lived life well, lovingly cared for his family
and willingly served his community. The service was conducted by Rev. Dr.
Les Hewitt.
Linda remembered her Dad as a
mild spoken man, firm but always fair and ready to help out. He was a
soul mate to her mother and a loving grandparent.
Craig remembered the interests
they had shared, scouting, camping, motor cycles and old cars and valued
the wisdom that his father had always displayed.
Ian Hughes added a tribute on
behalf of the Lions’ Club. He said that Lach was a ‘remarkable person’,
quiet, humble and modest and with many talents that he willingly shared
with his friends and community. He was a willing volunteer who had gained
the highest awards in the organisation. He also paid tribute to Margaret
as she had always supported and worked with him.
Bevin Hardy also remembered
Lach as a caring, reliable, honest and hard working volunteer in the
Scouting movement.
Joanna Gash, the Federal
Member of Parliament also paid tribute to Lach’s selfless community
contribution.
There is no doubt that Lachlan
Innes Brien had lived a full life, which had blessed many people over the
years. He had followed his lifelong passions. He was a qualified aircraft
pilot. He had motor and engineering skills and with his woodworking
skills, he had built two homes for his family, one at Eugowra and later
his home at Bomaderry. He loved his family and even in the final weeks of
his life had made a journey catching up. He made plans that would make
life easier for Margaret when it was his time to leave.
The hymns chosen for the
service, How Great thou Art and The Old Rugged Cross were expressions of
his faith. A DVD glimpse of Lach’s
life was prepared by Andrew Blanchard and son in law, Wayne Mahoney. The
family appreciated the help of projectionist David Elford and organist,
Joyce Powlay. At the conclusion of the service Chris Langmaid played a
pipers lament.
To Margaret, Linda, Craig and
their families and Lach’s siblings, we extend our sympathy and we join
with them in giving thanks for A LIFE WELL LIVED.
Kent & Ruth Hodge – Christian Faith
Institute
Kent writes. “We heard from one of the pastors that we
sponsored in training many years ago. He is Kanuri. There are about 3
million Kanuri in Nigeria. Recent statistics say there are only about 20
converts. The rest are Muslim and almost entirely unreached today. They are
in the far north-east of Nigeria. There are also millions of Shua-Arabs
in the area and crossing over into Chad. Our brother reaches both of
these groups and must read to them in Arabic for them to understand. He
said he has Kanuri and Hausa converts that want to train with us in Jos
for ministry.
“Another brother who was sponsored and trained many
years ago visited recently. He pastors a church in the very hostile city
of Bauchi, capital of Bauchi State. He also runs a primary and secondary
school there with 200 students. They have Christian and Muslim students
attend. He said they tell the Muslims that they are welcome but that it
is a Christian school and they only teach the Bible and pray through the
Lord Jesus and they will not cater for any other faith. So they come and
learn the scripture memory verses and pray as the Christians and learn
and grow along with the Christian faith without any problems. Some of
them are converted.
“We had a graduate of CFI visit us from Cameroon,
where he has planted and oversees two churches in the jungle. It is a
very hard work in that area and he is overcoming. His churches have
hundreds of new converts. We brought him back to Jos for fellowship to
strengthen him. He has passed through a lot and is doing well.”
Bible Society –Indigenous Australia to hear God Speak.
Thousands of
Australians speak an indigenous language at home. They find English
difficult, especially when it comes to understanding and expressing the
truths of the Bible. Even when Scripture translations are available, if a
person can’t read their own language, they’re still cut off from God’s
Word. Audio versions of these translated Scriptures are needed to reach
indigenous non-readers.\Project coordinator, Paul Eckert says.
“Indigenous communities engage with the Word in its audio form far more
readily than its written form. We hope that people will be impacted by
the Word as they hear it, and that they will then be led to the written
word.”
Bible Society is
working with several key partners to record and edit indigenous language
Scriptures. The Society is committed to seeing at least a Gospel recorded
in 5 languages over the next 12 months.
These audio Scriptures will be
distributed to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and those who
minister to them.
MMercy Ships –
UN statistics reveal
that a woman living in sub-Saharan Africa has a 1 in 16 chance of dying
in pregnancy, compared to 1 in 13,300 risk for a woman in Australia. Then
there is an added risk of childbirth injuries. It is estimated there are
two million women in Africa living with incontinence as a result of
childbirth complications. Not only must these mothers cope with the loss
of a child, but they now face the added indignity of being ostracised
because of their condition. The sad tragedy is over 90% of these injuries
can be repaired with a simple operation costing less than $500 (which
includes surgery and recovery time in a ward.)
Over the last two
decades, Mercy Ships volunteer surgeons have repaired thousands of
childbirth injuries and sent mothers home to resume a normal lifestyle
free from the embarrassment and humiliation of incontinence.
In addition to
providing corrective surgery, Mercy Ships will also be training four
local surgeons in advanced surgical techniques so the work begun by Mercy
Ships can continue long after the hospital ship moves to another country.
Frontier Services
The road to Pasha
Station cuts its path through Brigalow and gidgee country. It’s hot and
steamy and cattle are grazing through paddocks recently greened by the
region’s wet season. For Lauren Mackay-Wiggins, 20, this is all pretty
new. Growing up in Jindabyne, she was unfamiliar with the Queensland
outback. But as a new recruit with Remote Family Care Service, and now
based at Sippy Downs on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast, she is learning
fast. RFCS carers spend up to three weeks with geographically isolated
families across a large part of remote Queensland and the Barkly
Tablelands in the Northern Territory during times of emergency, peak
workload, stress or change. Providing short-term childcare in the home,
this support gives parents the opportunity to attend to other pressing
family matters, or in many cases just gives a mother a break from her
hectic routine. There may be a new baby in the house, along with several
children who learn through long distance education, an ill family member
or it may be mustering time and all hands are needed on horseback. Lauren
is currently staying with Graham and Kristy Heelan at Pasha Station,
three hours west of Mackay in central Queensland, and their two children.
It is completely outside her usual realm as a snow-board instructor at
Perisher in NSW. Pictured Lauren
with Jack and Abigail Heelan at Pasha Station.
SIMaid – All Hasina needed
was a hand up!
Hasina is a great
example of typical Bangla business sense. After facing many troubles,
Hasina was left with sole responsibility for raising four school age
children. She refused to send her children out to be hired labourers.
Instead, she joined one of SIMaid’s savings groups. Her first loan from
the group was for just $39, which she used to rear a young goat. She sold
the goat and used the profit plus another loan to buy a young cow which
later calved. The milk from the cow and the profit from selling the calf
added to the household income. Seeing an opportunity, Hasina diversified
and started a chicken farm in her back yard. After repaying her loans she
still managed a profit of $47. This amount was life changing for this
single mother and her family. Her children now attend school and Hasina
thinks that’s just great.
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Listening to the Silence
The lectionary reading for
June 20 (1 Kings 19:1-15) tells the story of Elijah hearing God’s voice
in a “still, small voice” (KJV) or “the sound of sheer silence” (NRSV).
What an amazing image!
A quick recap of the life of
Elijah: he was feeling threatened, and fled for his life. As he found
himself hungry he prayed for God to take him, but this did not happen.
Finally, he hid in a cave. He did not stay there long – a voice called
him outside.
A great wind came, and Elijah
looked for God in the wind, but he was not there. This was followed by an
earthquake, but still Elijah could not find God. Last came a great fire –
and again, no God. Elijah paused – probably with a very puzzled look on
his face – and listened. It was only then that he heard the “sound of
sheer silence” and in that moment he heard the voice of God.
Macrina Wiederkehr in her book
Seven
Sacred Pauses says
this about silence: “Silence is like a river of grace inviting us to leap
unafraid into its beckoning depths. It is dark and mysterious in the
waters of grace. Yet in the silent darkness we are given new eyes. In the
heart of the divine we can see more clearly who we are. We are renewed
and cleansed in this river of silence. It is a foreign land to you.
Sometimes it is good to leap into the unknown. Practice leaping.”
Can we do that? Can we
pause long enough in our busy lives to leap into the great silence? Can
we let the wind, earthquake and fire of our busyness lapse away, that we
might spend at least a few moments in the silent presence of God?
(MediaCom)
A Visitor from Germany
Have you
noticed a slim grey-haired lady attending the second morning service. As she is picked up at the end
of the service there is no time to socialize.
This is Gudrun
Schrader, a
citizen of Wolfsburg Germany (where Volkswagens come from) and a
retired librarian.
Gudrun
has been a regular visitor to Nowra where she visits an old friend,
Albert Cains, in Pyree. During her last visit this summer Gudrun
regularly attended the evening fellowship group held in Paul Ter Meulen’s
home. Since returning to Germany she has written back expressing
appreciation for the hospitality she received.
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Sticks
and Stones
Found
in an old HIGHWAY Evangelist magazine (the voice of the Christian
Truckie)
Negative words are powerful and
contagious, but positive words yield even more power. A few weeks ago I
received a card from a co-worker that simply said “he likes my work”. It
probably took no more than five minutes for him to write, address and
post it, but the encouragement from that card is still uplifting me. For
awhile I had it on my bulletin board. Now it’s tucked into my incoming
mail folder, so I see the compliment every week.
A local columnist wrote in our
newspaper this week about her daily walks to her office. She locks eyes
with strangers on the street and makes a point of smiling and greeting
them. She enjoys seeing people’s faces light up from her smiles and
‘hellos’
You have the power to build
someone up today with a smile or a kind word.
(Jennifer
Landis)
Paul
exhorted the believers in Rome:
“We
have different gifts…….. if it encouraging, let him encourage.” Romans
12:6-8
“Therefore
encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are
doing.” 1 Thess.5:11
Father Shepherd Story continues – (a story of
one of Shoalhaven’s early pioneers – recorded by Rev S.G. Roberts –
Minister in Shoalhaven 1917-1920)
The generation of today can
hardly imagine their parents coming to church bringing their own piece of
home-made tallow candle, which they lit from each other to sing the hymn
by and blew out for the preaching. Nor can they, who are led by choirs
and organs picture the group around catching up the hymn and singing two
lines at a time as the preacher gave them out. The fact of not being able
to read and it being rather a task to remember a whole stanza made the
reading of two lines at a time imperative.
“Who is this
gigantic foe
That proudly
stalks along,” the preacher read, and then the people sang it.
“Overlooks the
crowd below,
In brazen
armour strong.” Again read and sung.
The disconnections between
sense and rhyme being sometimes more provocative of mirth than melody.
What a pity it should have to
be said that all these several ways of informing the minds and stirring
the hearts of folk, which have evolved in these latter days, are so sadly
lacking in the true essence of ministry and missionary motive.
So much commercialism and
pecuniary interests are attached to them that the thought of giving out
of good for the sake of good in others is lost in the desire to make
money out of what folks want; pandering to the basest passions and the
lowest instincts to catch the crowd and collect the coins.
However much that kind of
spirit may be suspected in the more modern mode of giving information to
the people, there cannot be the slightest suspicion against the nobility
and self-sacrifice of that unselfish band of lay pulpit helpers known
officially among the Methodists as “local preachers.” Some sixty thousand
of them in Great Britain, filling three-fourths of the pulpit
appointments each Sunday, and eight to one of the ministers in this New
South Wales.
The names are kept of the
twenty-four ordained ministers who have led the people’s praise during
the growth of the district to the present centenary year, but few
remember the whole band of lay preachers. Their names are almost
forgotten, but their work goes on.
The first of these preachers
to proclaim the everlasting Gospel on the Shoalhaven was John Vidler, a
converted smuggler, whose story is full of romance and should be told
someday. He rode from Jamberoo in 1839, and, at the invitation of Mr
Berry, preached to some eighty convicts and settlers at Coolangatta.
Little communities were
calling out for services everywhere, and preaching places were set up
from Broughton Village to Ulladulla. And where the minister could not go
these services were led by the zealous, self sacrificing “local
Preachers”, with hearts all aglow of a newly-found experience of divine
love and a consciousness of pardoning grace, together with a passion to
persuade others to the happiness they possessed.
James Shepherd’s class
meeting, which began with four members in the March quarter of 1870, was
held in the kitchen of the parsonage on Sunday mornings before the
service. It had grown in numbers that filled the room by 1876, when Rev.
James Phillips was minister.
It It happened that Mr
Phillips by some oversight had planned himself to preach at Broughton
village and at Terara on the Sunday morning, and leaving early to ride to
the distant appointment, he left orders with his wife to get the morning
class leader to take the appointment in the home church.
The class being ended, the
people were filing out across the yard and over the street to the church,
when James was interrupted in the straightening up of things by the
appearance of Mrs Phillips, who made no further explanation than that Mr
Phillips had gone to Broughton Vale and Mr Shepherd had to take the
service here.
“I had no education for the likes
o’ that,” the old man said afterwards. “I never dreamed that I was called
to the preachin’ o’ the gospel.”
“but Mistress Phillips just
said, ‘ye’re to take the chapel,’ and she shut the door and went ben the
hoose leavin’ me stannin’ there gapin’.”
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What
is a Friend?
Friendship – a
friend is someone who won’t turn away from you. A friend won’t expect too
much or give too little. A friend will listen even when they don’t
understand or agree with you. A friend always remembers the little things
you’ve done and the times you’ve shared. A friend is one of life’s most
precious gifts.
Thoughts on Friendship
· A friend is not embarrassed to give you a comforting hug when you
most need one.
· Many words have been written that tell of all a friend should be,
yet none can fully explain how you can be / are a friend to me.
· A friend is a special person, who no matter what life brings,
helps us to see the bright side of so many different things.
· You are indeed a friend on whom I always may rely to bring light
into my life as the years go passing by.
· It brings a brightness to each day to have a friend, and to know
that our friendship will last a lifetime through.
· We are on this earth for a short time and true friends make it an
enjoyable journey.
· Friends are there for those times when you feel you’re about to
lose your way, they cheer you up and show you that there’s still joy in
every day.
· A true friend is always loyal and shows a sense of care, and with
whom our hopes and dreams we may always share.
· Friendship is a gift in life that brings us happiness.
· Friendship is someone who visits for no other reason than to see
you.
· Friendship can star in Childhood and follow you all through life.
True friendship is a jewel, a gift for us to hold within our
hearts for always, that we should treasure more than gold.
Additions to Men’s Shed
Our
Nowra Men’s Shed works in cooperation with the Shoalhaven Woodcraft Society
and machinery is used on a shared basis.
Whilst equipment is shared, each organization works independently,
meeting and using the shed with it’s facilities on their particular day
or night, so that when a new machine arrives each group shares the benefit.
Recently three new machine have been added. Two of the machines are used
for sanding, a vertical spindle sander and a belt type, although each can be
operated both in the vertical and horizontal position. The third machine
is bandsaw, and of course is used mainly for cutting profiles.
The
annual meeting will be in June, which means of course, that the next
years fees will be due. This year our committee has decided that we
introduce a system centred on safety. Copies of a booklet, made up of
about seventeen quarto sized sheets, setting out safe operating rules
will be given to each member. The new members will be expected to read
the rules, and have an appropriate list signed to prove that they have
read the rules, before being
allowed to use the appropriate machine.
SYNOD 2010
This was my first
experience of attending Synod.
I was fortunate enough
to be able to stay with friends from our previous church in Epping, where
we became members on the formation of the Uniting Church in 1977. Another
friend was my chauffeur and companion at Synod. She had a record of attending for about
twelve occasions.
The Celebratory
Service, held at Ravenswood School’s hall at Gordon, combined youth led
music, a communion service and an inspiring talk by the nation-wide
president Rev. Alistair Macrae .
This was on the Friday evening and started the Synod on a high
note.
Next day started early
with Joan picking me up at 7.30 a.m. for the trip to Canterbury
Racecourse ! The area of the
Function Room main floor was divided into a worship area, the main
meeting section, with designated tables for eight, and a coffee / dining
area at the other end. Space was reserved for a book stall, Ecumenical
Council and other special interest displays.
I haven’t mentioned the
daunting amount of paperwork sent
out prior to Synod, with reports from the various Boards and proposals to
be discussed. The train trip to
Sydney provided catch up time for some topics !
A new format was
introduced this year with business sessions broken up with Worship,
Question & Answer sessions and Information Talks about inspiring
stories from a variety of U.C.A.
activities. The Bible Studies led
by Rev. Ken Sumner, National Chair
of the Uniting Aboriginal and Islander Christian Congress made for a
thoughtful and inspiring session each day.
Each day commenced at
8.30a.m. with communion and closed with prayer at 8.45 p.m. so they were
challenging and not for the faint hearted ! A good spirit of openness to diversity
and respect for all contributors to the debates, made for an absorbing
and interesting experience.
I can recommend May Insights for a more formal presentation of
reports and decisions undertaken at Synod.
Barbara
Cowell
P.S. It was good to catch up with Richard
Harris, previously a youth worker in our Nowra Church. He is now Rev.
Richard Harris at Sawtell U.C.
I also learnt that Rev. Maggie
de Leeuw is working part-time at Ballina.
Nowra Church
Council Report
On May, 5th the church
council was visited by Rev. Mark Greenlees, the Illawarra Presbytery
Chairperson and Pastor John Brentnall, the convenor of the Joint
Nominating Committee (J.N.C.) , the group charged with finding a minister
to be appointed to Nowra Church.
A full and frank discussion
was held about our congregation’s profile, which has to be approved by
the Presbytery Pastoral Relations Committee, prior to submission to the
Synod Advisory Committee on Ministerial Placements ( A.C.O.M.P.). As Mark Greenlees is a member of this
committee, he was able to give us some wise advice about part-time
placements. (Not the same status as Rev.Dr Les Hewitt, who has acted in
supply ministry for us since December.)
As a result of this discussion
it was voted that we request a full-time placement for a minimum of three
years. This is a big step in faith
for our congregation, as despite dwindling church collections, we believe
that God is challenging us to sustain a full-time ministry in our church
and build on our potential for a vital and relevant outreach to the Nowra
Community.
All our members are invited to
continue to give of their time and talents to this project.
Barbara Cowell
Nowra Church
Council Secretary.
Celebrating Easter – began with a service of Holy Communion and Tenebrae on
Thursday 1st April followed by an 8.30 am service on Good
Friday remembering the darkness and pain of the crucifixion. On Easter
Sunday many worshippers arrived at the services with baskets of flowers,
with which a cross was decorated during worship – a joyous symbol of the
victory of the resurrection. These services were all conducted by Rev.
Dr. Les Hewitt.
Visiting Preachers – On Sunday 18th April both morning
congregations were pleased to welcome Rev. Philip Newton to lead the
services. He is the Uniting Church Chaplain at Wollongong University.
Rev. Andrew Watts led both morning services on 2nd May. Beside being a former
Frontier Services Chaplain working in Northern Territory and North West
Australia, Rev Watts has family ties to the Nowra Church, being a descendant
of well known Bishop family who have been part of the history of the
church over many years. Some of the older members of the congregation
also remember intermittent ministry from his father, Rev John Watts.
Andrew shared some beautiful photography of the northern part of our
country and accompanying reflections on them.
F.A.M.E (Fellowship &
Mission Endeavours)
Because of Good Friday falling on the first Friday,
the April bazaar was held a week later on 9th April, the day after the monthly meeting. It
was a busy time for members but we ended up with a pleasing financial
result. The May bazaar, our 498th, was also successful and we are really planning
to celebrate on 2nd July when we should reach
500 monthly bazaars, eleven each year for over 46 years, the first one
being held in March 1965.
Under the leadership of Rev. Lloyd Manning, resident
minister at the time, a committee met to look into the possibilities of
establishing a facility for care of older residents in the community. It
began to look for fund raising ideas and it was Verna Symons, who
suggested a bazaar. Little did she or any of the others that met together
at that time, envisage the bazaars would still be continuing 46 years
later.
I have
located an annual report for the Ladies Church Aid, (a predecessor of
FAME) for the year 1965/66. It states in the document “Our special project which
was started at the beginning of 1965, has proved an outstanding success
and to date we have raised approximately $2000 towards our Aged Peoples
Home. Our ladies voted unanimously to continue working and holding our
monthly bazaar for another year.”
While I do not have a record of the takings at that
first bazaar, I have been told that it was about £100. I do hold a record
of the year from June 1968 to May 1969 showing a total of $1,659.76
remembering that decimal currency came in February 1966. We do have
complete records of the twenty years from February 1990 to December 2009
and it shows a grand total of $222,124.13, which surely represents a lot
of dedication and hard work. In the first fifteen years almost the total
proceeds were directed to the Retirement Village until the need to build
Wesley Centre led to some of the proceeds being directed to that project.
Today these funds continue to help many missionary causes local, national
and international.
The bazaar
workers are looking forward to continued support and hope that many
people will join them on the special 500th bazaar, and besides the bargains that are
always available, there will small gifts to celebrate.
On 22nd June the Illawarra Machine Knitters will again
be visiting us and presenting a parade of their beautiful custom made
garments. The proceeds of this day will be divided between the Linear
Accelerator Appeal and the ministry of SECET in the local high schools.
We are always glad to welcome new members or helpers
at the monthly bazaars, and visitors are always welcome at any of these
events or at the monthly meeting. (S.Chittick)
Booking Officer – At present Rod Gibb is looking after the bookings of
our church properties. We are grateful to Peter Gibbs for the many years
of service that he has given in this capacity. He has earned some
respite. Rod would appreciate not only community users but church groups
making contact when they wish to use any part of the property.
International Visitor – As we prepare to go to press, we are looking
forward on Friday 28th May, to a visit from Bishop Levee Kadene from
the Methodist Church in Zimbabwe. He will be sharing some insights into
the Christian church in his homeland.
Special Training Course –Rev Robyn Lyons is planning
to present a pastoral care course ‘Knowing me, Knowing you’ on Saturday 17th July from 9am to 3pm.
Watch for more details.
Weekly Prayer Meeting – For some time a small group has been meeting for
a ½ hour of prayer at 8am on Wednesday mornings. For some this may not be
a suitable time and other suggested times would be welcomed. Anyone
interested could contact either Svetlana Holman 44232238 or Paul terMeulen
44223222.
Farewell Lunch – As Rev Dr. Les Hewitt’s
part-time ministry with the Nowra Congregation comes to an end at the end
of June, a farewell lunch
is planned for Sunday 27th June. All are welcome and encouraged
to attend to express thanks and good wishes to Rev Les & his wife
Lynette.
|
Date
|
Nowra
8.30 am
|
Nowra
10.15 am
|
Osborne Hse 10.45 am
|
Greenwell Pt
8 am
|
|
6th
June
|
Rev Dr. Les Hewitt
|
Rev Dr.
Les Hewitt HC
|
Cliff
Pearson
|
|
|
13th
June
|
Pastor John
Brentnall
|
Pastor John
Brentnall
|
Cathie
Cochrane
|
|
|
20th June
|
Rev Dr. Les Hewitt
|
Rev Dr. Les
Hewitt
|
Rev Bruce
Wright HC
|
Rev Bruce
Wright
|
|
27th
June
|
Rev Dr. Les Hewitt
HC
|
Rev Dr. Les
Hewitt
|
TBA
|
|
|
4th
July
|
TBA
|
TBA
|
Cliff
Pearson
|
|
|
11th
July
|
TBA
|
TBA
|
TBA
|
|
|
18th
July
|
TBA
|
TBA
|
Rhonda
Lawrence
|
TBA
|
|
25th
July
|
TBA
|
TBA
|
TBA
|
|
|
