New Directions, April/May 2011 - Page 13 from the Moderator General, Rt Rev David Jones HOW TO LIVE USEFUL AND PRODUCTIVE LIVES (The substance of a sermon preached at the 122nd anniversary of the Hunter Baillie Memorial Church by the Moderator General on Sunday 27 February 2011.) GARY STREETER, a British MP, said recently at a Parliamentary Prayer Breakfast in Westminster, London – “My prayer is that as a nation we would shift from being obsessed with looking good and feeling good to being good and doing good”. How does that shift happen? There has been a massive decline in public decency and morality in recent years and it is accelerating rapidly. How do you turn that around? How do you produce people who are “eager to do what is good” (Titus 2:14) and who live “useful and productive lives”? (Titus 3:8,14) Or, to put it in terms of this passage in Titus 3, how do you get from verse 3 through to verse 8? And the answer is obvious – you have to go though verses 4-7. “At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. But when the kindness and love of God our Saviour appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Saviour, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone.” (Titus 3:3-8) Notice three things here that God does for us, which we can’t do for ourselves: First: He regenerates us by His Holy Spirit (vs. 5-6). There are just two places in the New Testament where this word “regeneration” is used – here and in Matthew 19:28 where Jesus talks of the “regeneration of the universe” - so it’s both cosmic and personal. Sometimes we talk about urban regeneration, renewing the inner city by tearing down high rise apartments and building new housing, but if you put the same people back in there the same problems reappear. You can’t change people by changing the environment and you can’t change the environment without changing people. God plans to regenerate CARETAKER POSITION MT TAMBORINE PRESBYTERIAN CAMPSITE The Committee on Outreach and Nurture is seeking expressions of interest from parties interested in undertaking the position of Caretaker of the Presbyterian Church’s Mt Tamborine campsite commencing on 1 July 2011. DUTIES In general terms, the duties of the Caretaker include the oversight of those using the campsite, familiarizing all camps with the campsite and associated regulatory requirements (eg fire, cooking, food handling), purchasing items, general maintenance of buildings and surrounds and equipment, camp bookings. Competencies in catering for up to 80 persons would be an advantage. REMUNERATION In general terms, the caretaker will be provided with caretaker’s residence including electricity/gas and telephone (excluding private calls) at no cost, and a monthly allowance. Camps in most instances are self-catered. However, in cases where the caretaker undertakes the catering, the caretaker will be allowed to recover a “fee for service” from the booking party. A current appointment agreement can be forwarded to applicants for their perusal upon request. All correspondence should be addressed to: Rev P. J. Barson Director of Christian Education PO Box 1508 FORTITUDE VALLEY Q 4006 Or emailed to mailto:[email protected] 15% discount to all New Directions readers NEED TO UNWIND FOR A FEW DAYS? Leave stress behind and pamper yourself in this beautiful old Bed & Breakfast, circa 1880. Accommodation has own entrance, own bathroom and is very private from the rest of the house. Being right in the heart of the Warwick CBD you will be close to all amenities. 31 Guy Street, Warwick www.guyhousebnb.com.au 07 4661 7669 or 041614407 email: [email protected] the universe and renew all things by regenerating people like us. (Ezekiel 36:25-27; 2 Corinthians 5:17) In the Philosophy Department at UTAS in Hobart they teach a course in “time travel”. Regeneration is time travel, it’s “back to the future”, except that you don’t go there yet, it comes here. The future is brought into the present and we get to experience the “powers of the age to come” at work in us now. Matthew Arnold defines God as “a power not ourselves making for righteousness” - that is a pretty inadequate definition of God but a good description of regeneration. When we are born again, “a power not ourselves making for righteousness” comes into our lives. If you want to be good you must be born again from above. Second: He justifies us by His Grace (vs. 7) Justification is the verdict of the last day brought into the present. By faith in Christ I am declared “not guilty.” To know that, frees me up to live a useful and productive life now. William Wilberforce lived such a life, full of good works. Interestingly he only wrote one book in his lifetime and it wasn’t on social reform, it was on the doctrine of justification by faith apart from works. Matt Perman in “Christianity Today” writes, “Wilberforce realized that the way to produce a life of good works and social reform is not to focus on good works and social reform but on the source of those good works – which is the gospel” That’s how you get from verse 3 into verse 8 - God regenerates you, God justifies you. Third: He gives us a future and a hope (vs. 7) He makes us “heirs, having the hope of eternal life”. George Bernard Shaw is reported to have said on his 90th birthday: “Our conduct is influenced not so much by our experience as by our expectation.” I suspect he meant that as an excuse. By all accounts, he was a cantankerous old man and perhaps one of his relatives had told him “you ought to know better at your age.” And this was his reply. You see he was an atheist, he had nothing to look forward to at the age of 90 and therefore no reason to live well, but you and I do. Whether we live to 90 or not, we have a future and a hope. And it’s not a forlorn hope, it’s a hope that is grounded in the Resurrection of Jesus from the dead and sealed to us by the Holy Spirit whom he has given us as a deposit guaranteeing what is to come. So we have every reason to live well, every incentive to get out of verse 3 into verse 8 to live productive, useful lives. Many today are concerned about a decline in moral standards. Some advocate the teaching of Christian values in schools. Others want to replace scripture with ethics. But you can’t have Christian values without Christianity. Ultimately, neither education nor legislation can change people’s behaviour. Australians need to hear the gospel; they need to hear these grand old gospel doctrines of regeneration, justification and glorification. That’s what changes things. Roy Hattersley, a former deputy PM of Britain and an avowed atheist, says “it ought to be possible to live a Christian life without being a Christian or, better still, to take Christianity a la carte… Yet men and women who, like me cannot accept the mysteries and the miracles do not go out with the Salvation Army at night. The only possible conclusion is that faith comes with a packet of moral imperatives that, while they do not condition the attitude of all believers, influence enough of them to make them morally superior to atheists like me. The truth may make us free but it has not made us as admirable as the average captain in the Salvation Army”. Tsunami ravaged Japan needs prayer for spiritual renewal AS THE second largest unreached people group in the world, tsunamiravaged Japan is a country that desperately needs the Gospel. Mr Jones urges Christians to pray for all Japanese people in the wake of the earthquake and tsunami which has left more than 10,000 people dead, around 600,000 homeless and 1.4 million without power and water. “The suicide rate in Japan averages 90 per day”, he said. “There are very few Christians. I urge Christians to pray that the Japanese people will hear the voice of God in the earthquake and tsunami and that in the midst of their devastating loss they will receive that ‘kingdom which cannot be shaken’.” National Director of the Presbyterian Church of Australia’s mission arm, Mission Partners, Kevin Murray, was having lunch with some recently returned missionaries from Japan when the news broke about what has been described in the mainstream media as Japan’s greatest humanitarian crisis since World War II. “Naturally I felt stunned by the magnitude of the disaster”, Mr Murray said. “I was immediately very concerned for the one missionary we have serving in Japan and how the very small Christian population would cope.” Thankfully, Mr Murray was soon to hear that the female missionary, who is serving with OMF, was safe. “There is a lot to be done to bring the Gospel to Japan”, he said. “In a society where only 1.5 per cent of the population claim to be Christian and the suicide rate is appalling, it is only the gospel of God’s grace in Christ that can provide any answers.” Mission Partners is currently in the process of helping a couple from Queensland leave to serve in Japan from 2012, and a couple from Chatswood who plan to serve in Japan in the next few years. Mr Murray said he did not expect their plans to change as a consequence of the tsunami. However, getting information has been tricky. “In Japan we work with the Presbyterian Church of America’s missions arm, Mission to the World, so as far as up-to-date information on the tsunami relief goes, we are relying on information from team leader Dan Iverson”, he said. “In the first few days after the disaster, the MTW team rented a truck and distributed aid, but the full effects of the damage to property and life are yet to be realised. “They were seeking to mobilize and relieve incredible suffering and pain in the name of Christ to the five million people of the devastated areas and praying that this will bring a turning to the true and living God, and to Christ and His grace and love. Japan really needs true hope that does not disappoint.” Mr Murray said Mr Iverson had emailed to say that while Japan had grown strong economically and educationally and had “made it”, with 100 per cent literacy, longest life expectancy in the world, and so on, like in Ecclesiastes 2, so many Japanese people who sought the `abundant’ life had found that “all is vanity”. “The areas affected by the earthquake and tsunamis of Miyagi, Fukushima and Ibaraki are some of the most spiritually needy places in Japan”, he said. “With more than 4.9 million people, yet only about 9000 active Christians (about 0.15 per cent which is 1/6 of one per cent), Fukushima has the lowest average worship attendance in all of Japan with only 19 per church. “There is one city and 44 towns with no church at all”, he said. “There are 86 missionaries (adults, including husband and wife) assigned to these prefectures. “One town in Ibaraki has over 46000 people with no church and several others have over 24000 people with no churches. Average attendance for all the churches in Japan is the lowest in Fukushima prefecture. Ibaraki prefecture has the least number of people claiming to have any religious beliefs.” For information on how to financially support the team, contact Mr Murray by phone on 02-9792 1373 or 0421 366 720 or email him at [email protected]. au Prepare - Customized Version PREPARE and ENRICH have been used for many years by those working with couples planning to marry, couples wanting to strengthen their relationship and facing new challenges, and couples experiencing difficulties in their relationship. The inventories have a reputation for accuracy, reliability, sensitivity and relevance. PREPARE-ENRICH CUSTOMISED has been used to great effect for two years now. It is accessed via the internet and is customised to suit each couple. Training in the use of this new resource will be available at Brisbane Boys’ College, Toowong on 2 and 3 June. For a registration form, contact the trainer Graham Cole on 3309 3558 or at [email protected] New Directions, April/May 2011 - Page 14 PresCare vision built on Church values News in brief ... Aged sector review under PresCare spotlight THE PRESCARE Executive team has been working hard on the organisation’s strategic vision for the next five years – and the result is a plan built on Presbyterian Church values, partnering with other organisations and developing current business opportunities. CEO Greg Skelton said the plan – which reflects 80 years of providing services to the elderly, disabled and other vulnerable members of the community – would place PresCare in a strong strategic position to meet the challenges of the future. Importantly, the plan recognizes that “Christ-like servant leadership is, and remains at, the core of who we are and what we do”, he said. The plan also addresses the ongoing needs of PresCare clients in several areas, such as: • Improving the affordability of housing for disadvantaged people in the community; • Reviewing and refreshing existing services so they meet future needs; • Increasing access for Presbyterian Church of Queensland congregations to PresCare services available in their community. Mr Skelton said PresCare was committed to reducing the social isolation of Queensland’s elderly. “Strategies to achieve this include expanding our volunteer numbers and increasing networks within communities in which we serve”, he said. “Above all, our plan is driven by our Christian culture. We recognise that our people are important. Without their dedication PresCare would not be the organisation it is today.” Mr Skelton said it was critical PresCare progressed in a strategic direction to ensure sustainability and quality of current services to the Queensland community, progress partnerships and add value to the mission of the Presbyterian Church. Newly announced executive management team (L-R) Lee Martin, David Green and John Gilmour New team set to tackle challenges CEO GREG Skelton has confirmed a restructured PresCare Executive Management team to take the organisation into the future. Key appointments to the Executive team are: • Director of Chaplaincy John Gilmour • Executive Manager Corporate Services David Green • Executive Manager Care Services Lee Martin John Gilmour will continue to oversee all pastoral areas across PresCare. David Green will oversee Sharyn Sawyer • Group Manager Property & Maintenance – Ken Howatson • Group Manager Projects – Debra Ricks • Manager Information Technology – Peter Bonarrigo • Manager Board & Executive Function – Jo Johnson Mr Skelton congratulated the new appointments. “PresCare has a very strong, cohesive and skilled team dedicated to supporting our people in the field to deliver quality aged care to the community”, he said. Helping hand for our flood victims Praise for PCQ gift Mr Skelton said PresCare was blessed to receive a substantial donation to its staff and volunteer flood appeal (see separate story). “I again take the opportunity to say thank you on behalf of all of our people who have been so badly impacted by the floods.” John’s one word describes the flood tragedy THE REALITY of the Queensland flood disaster was brought home to Church and community leaders by PresCare Director of Chaplaincy John Gilmour at the ‘Service of Prayer for the people of Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria’ held at The Scots Church, Collins Street, Melbourne on Monday, 24 January 2011. He told the audience of 300 people that the Queensland floods were truly ‘awful’ – a theme he used throughout his presentation which started with: “We know that our God is sufficient, but this is awful’. John had ‘borrowed’ the phrase from a friend and he felt it summed up what many Queenslanders were experiencing. He described the carnage and deaths as ‘awful’ – sending a clear message Finance, Human Resources, Fleet, Property and Maintenance. Lee Martin will oversee Residential and Community Care. Mr Skelton also expanded the Executive Leadership Team to include: • Financial Controller - Vicki Mannion (also to oversee new role of internal control and risk) • General Manager Residential – Helen Watkins • General Manager Community - Sue Buchanan • Group Manager Marketing – that nature can pack a devastating blow on communities. John was the only person from Queensland invited to make a presentation on the floods to the gathering, which he described as a humbling experience given the prominence of the audience. (Coincidentally, Victoria was about to experience its own flooding disaster in coming days.) “I was really trying to get the message across that floods on this scale affect everyone in some way. Nothing is spared – from life to financial ruin”, he said. “It was awful on all accounts – awful by deaths and missing, awful by volume of water, awful by area, awful for the people affected and awful by duration.” The proposed overhaul of Australia’s aged care system by the Productivity Commission will come under the spotlight of PresCare CEO Greg Skelton on 28 March. Mr Skelton will be meeting with the Commission and Presbyterian Aged Care NSW to discuss key aspects of the report, which is proposing wide ranging reforms of the sector. The report found gaps in service coverage within the total industry, different charges across the sector and a workforce under pressure. Mr Skelton said he agreed that changes needed to be made as the Australian population was expected to care for more than 3.6 million elderly people by 2050. “I am keen to meet with our counterparts in NSW and to discuss our views on the report with the Commission, which has invited feedback before the final report is handed to the Federal Government in June this year.” Mr Skelton said PresCare was an ever-increasing provider of aged-care services in Queensland and it was important the views of PresCare were put before the Commission. New Cairns office to start NQ expansion Meanwhile, Mr Skelton announced PresCare community services would expand into Cairns in early April – a move he described as an important step in meeting aged care demands in the future across the State. The Cairns office will consist of a coordinator of community services, a registered nurse and a business development manager. Mr Skelton said the Cairns office would provide a base to increase the PresCare ‘footprint’ in North Queensland, with future expansion plans in place for Townsville and south to Mackay. “This is an exciting development for PresCare and I am sure our Church community in North Queensland will welcome the extra provision of community-based aged care in their region,” he said. Home aged care boost for PresCare When there are no trains, planes or automobiles ... try canoeing to work! PresCare dedicated staff managed to keep the ‘care factor’ top of their mind with creative modes of transport during the recent Rockhampton floods. MORE THAN $60,000 has been raised for PresCare staff and volunteers who were significantly impacted by the flood disaster in January. PresCare CEO Greg Skelton said the Presbyterian Church had made the most significant contribution to the appeal and thanked the Church for its unstinting support of PresCare staff and volunteers. He said the funds would be distributed to those in PresCare who needed financial assistance to ‘get back on their feet’. “I would also like to thank the PresCare community, clients and their families and friends who have contributed to the appeal”, he said. “Given that several appeals were underway across Queensland at the time from various organizations, it is generous of our contributors to also think of PresCare in our time of need.” Mr Skelton said the PresCare Staff and Volunteers Appeal would remain open until 31 March 2011. For Community Services enquiries call 1-800-PRESCARE (1-800 773 722) or visit www.prescare.org.au PresCare has received increased support for in-home aged care across South-East and Central Queensland and North Queensland as part of a $6 million Federal funding package. CEO Greg Skelton said the funding provided a total of 166 in-home low care, high care and dementia care packages for elderly residents in the Brisbane South, Logan, Beenleigh, Gold Coast, Mt Tamborine, Caboolture, Sunshine Coast, Wide Bay/Hervey Bay, Rockhampton and Cairns districts. Mr Skelton said: “What this means is that more elderly people can remain at home rather than be accommodated in hospital or a nursing home, which is great news.” He said the funding would provide additional respite time for carers, which was critical for them to maintain support for an elderly person living at home. The funding would also provide nursing services, equipment, advice and other care as required. “This is really about providing a quality of life for the elderly in Queensland.” Mr Skelton said the Federal funding boost increased PresCare’s community in-home services by 40 percent to more than 580 clients across the State. “Importantly, it also provides for employing more local people in the aged care sector in which PresCare is building a rewarding career structure,” he said. “The increased recognition of our services by the government speaks volumes about our direction, standards, practices and training,” he said. For Community Services enquiries call 1-800-PRESCARE (1-800 773 722) or visit www.prescare.org.au New Directions, April/May 2011 - Page 15 What’s on ... briefly TELEPHONE DIRECTORIES Any charges wishing to make changes to their entry in the White Pages should contact Church Office on 3251 4100 or email [email protected] MODERATOR’S CHAPLAINS Chaplains to Rev. Graeme McKay (Moderator-Elect) will be Rev. Bill Lutton and Mr Keith Booker. If you wish to book Mr McKay for an event at your church, contact details are The Secretary, South Toowoomba Presbyterian Charge, PO Box 641, Toowoomba 4350. E-mail: [email protected]. au Tel. 07 4635 4560 DOES YOUR CONCREGATION NEED A NEW ORGAN? DAY WORKSHOPS Saturday 2nd July 2011 8:30 am – 5:30 pm Dalby Presbyterian Church Hall Featuring: Morning, Afternoon and Full Day Craft Workshops Cost $30 Includes Lunch Enquiries: Val Griffiths ph 46685555 PS: Due to changes in circumstances Be Creative Country Camp is unable to be held in 2011 but will be back in 2012!!! Be Creative Country Camp 2012 Friday 29th June -Sunday 1st July Fairholme College Toowoomba grow twenty eleven assurance Saturday 23 July 2011 GROW is a day event for women of all ages with the purpose of building each person in Christ through the faithful teaching of the Bible. For more visit www.qcca.org.au or [email protected] UPCOMING CAMPS 27 June-1 July, SEQ Launch Camp, D. Mitchell, Director 2 July, Be Creative Country, C. Milne, Director 4–8 July, Megasportz Netball Camp, Moogerah, Mrs J Teale, Director 4-8 July, NQ Launch Camp, D. Hopper, Director For more information, contact Presbyterian Christian Education on 3251 4150. Following the recent flood events over much of Queensland, there may be a country church that needs to replace their church organ. One is available in Brisbane, looking for such a new home. The instrument is a two-manual keyboard and a ten-note pedalboard. It is primarily a “theatre-type” organ, but the range of stops and settings enables it to accompany hymns most admirably. The organ has its own stool, and both are in very good condition. For further details you may email campbellclan@powerup. com.au or phone (07) 3273 2159. UNIT TO LET CALOUNDRA holiday unit, 2 bedroom, pool, 100m from Kings Beach, from $390/ week. Phone Ray on 0427 990 161. CHANGE IN MODERATOR AND CLERK OF MORETON PRESBYTERY The new Moderator of the Presbytery of Moreton is Mr Bill Lewis and the new Clerk is Rev. John Nicol. KEEPING TRACK OF THE MODERATOR Follow the State Moderator, Rt Rev. John Langbridge, on his blogsite www. moderator.blog.com New Directions, April/May 2011 - Page 16 PWA of A (QLD UNIT) 2011 ANNUAL SERVICE OF DEDICATION AND COMMUNION by Heather Burton Anton’s Antics - Lost and Found DVD Introducing children to Jesus made fun and easy! AUSSIE OUTFIT, Kidzlink, has expanded into the development of DVDs to assist churches and schools to share the good news with children. Kidzlink’s Director, Stephen Shearsby, saw a gap in the market for high quality, engaging and entertaining gospel presentations for children that pastors and teachers could use for outreach. “Often churches and schools are aware of the opportunities they have to reach children for Christ, but are challenged by a lack of resources to do it. Sometimes it’s a lack of volunteers or a lack of knowhow. Ideas that work and ready-made content will hit the mark. Television is such a popular and growing medium for children that we also wanted to give people something of a high standard for that medium”, says Stephen. Thanks to Kidzlink’s new resource DVD series called Anton’s Antics, sharing the good news with children just got a whole lot easier. The first episode is called Lost and Found and includes a feature presentation of the story of Zacchaeus that is taught using a mixture of drama, colourful sketching and storytelling. The DVD also contains fun revision segments such as learning a new song with guest presenters Taryn and Gra Gra the sheep dog, rapping to a memory verse and interacting with an on-screen quiz. Lots of bonus features also round this resource out to make a comprehensive and powerful arrow in anyone’s evangelistic quiver. Whether it’s a Scripture assembly, Easter service or family event, Lost and Found will provide everything you need to confidently share the good news. With Easter approaching, it’s sure to be a big hit! Anton’s Antics is available at www.kidzlink. com.au Author: Stephen Shearsby Mobile: 0425 65 9966 Email: [email protected] THE PRESBYTERIAN Women’s Association of Australia (Qld Unit) Annual Service of Dedication and Communion was held at Ann Street Presbyterian Church on Tuesday 1 February 2011 at 10.30 am. Praise God for the beautiful sunny day He gave us to attend this service. Our President, Mrs Betty Gadsby, welcomed the Moderator, Rt Rev. John Langbridge and his wife Jan to the service. She thanked them for coming, the Elders of Ann Street for preparing the church and the elements for the service and to everyone for attending. There were 29 people in attendance with apologies from Mrs Heather Ross, Miss Barbara Arnold and Mrs Evelyn Hoyle. The Moderator called us to worship with a reading from Psalm 105:1-4, prayer and the singing of the hymn “O sing a new song to the Lord”. A Bible reading from Colossians 1:15-23 and prayers of adoration and confession followed. The service continued with the singing of “Spirit of God, Unseen as the Wind”, a Bible reading from 2 Corinthians 5:16-21, the taking up of the offering and a prayer of thanksgiving. The ladies of the PWA of A (Qld Unit) stood and prayed the prayer of dedication together and this was followed with the singing of the hymn “God, Whose Almighty Word”. Mr Langbridge preached on the theme of “Reconciliation”. Right from the beginning with Adam and Eve, people have rebelled against God’s law, disrupting our relationship with God and His creation. Reconciliation is entirely the work of God, accomplished at the cross of our Lord Jesus. Only Christianity encompasses this. Beware of other religions which offer another road. Reconciliation equals facing sin, facing God, facing Jesus Christ. The communion hymn “When on that Night” was followed by the Lord’s Supper. The service concluded at 11.40 am after the singing of “My Hope is Built on nothing less”, the pronouncement of the benediction, and the singing of the Threefold Amen. Mesdames Barbara Wixted, Muriel ???, Betty Gadsby, ???, Jan Langbridge and Rt Rev. John Langbridge
© Copyright 2024