Wednesday Lunchtime City Growth Group??

Our Growth Groups are the best way to do five things in our church life: belonging, growing, praying, caring and reaching out to others. I've been thinking about starting up a Growth Group in the city that meets on Wednesday lunchtimes. Touch base with me if that is something that you might like to be part of.

Music TIme starts on Monday (28th)

Our Music Time groups starts up again this Monday at 10.30am. If you have a preschool child and want to do something really valuable with them please come along. Your first visit is free.Check out our website for more information.

SPLASH is back

Just a reminder that our group for kids in school years 3-6 has started up again on Friday nights from 6.30-8pm.

Moore College Open Day

Moore Theological College is having an Open Day on Saturday 23rd August. It would be a great day to find out more about the bible courses offered by the college and meet students. 

Dates for Term 3

17 August - Guess who's coming for lunch - We're going to have lunch 'together' at different people's places. Keep the time clear!

23 August - Community Working Bee and BBQ lunch. 10am - 1pm in the church grounds. It would be really great for as many of us to be there as possible. Invite someone you know to come and help out too.

27 August - Burn your plastic Jesus - at the Entertainment Centre. See Mark for more details and where dinner will be happening.

21 September - BBQ after church

Pure Sex Seminars Start next week

The Pure Sex Seminars are starting next week. It will be great to hear God's perspectives on a bunch of issues. It is designed to supplement our teaching in our Sunday morning meetings and something that people who aren't Christians might really like to have some wisdom on.

We've postponed the seminar that was going to be on the last Sunday in August so we can have a special guest from Liberty Christian Ministries share with us.

Total Church - chapter 2 - why community

Chapter 2 is about God’s plan to create ‘a people’, not isolated believers. By becoming a Christian we join a family of people who follow God.

We often view ourselves in the centre of our lives, juggling work, family, finances, health, church etc. When it gets too much we drop one of these, church just being another thing we have to do. However church is not another thing I have to do but the very group of people in which I find my identity. As Christians we belong to God and to each other. Our identity is found 'in Christ' together. At the centre of Bible’s view is not ‘me’, but ‘us’ (a people, our church Summer Hill Anglican). Church is what defines who we are and gives Christlike shape to our lives, it is more than attending a meeting on a Sunday.

It’s better explained by an example in the chapter:

Imagine Nathan and Natalie have a baby.

Babies take time. Nathan and Natalie now have less time. Nathan and Natalie decide they may have to ‘drop’ church. But in the Bible’s view is it’s not a problem for just Nathan and Natalie, it’s a problem for the whole church. As a congregation we must take some responsibility. Perhaps a few people help Natalie bathe their baby on different days so Nathan and Natalie can have some time together, perhaps someone else drives Nathan to work, as he’s so tired. Nathan and Natalie might be less involved in the church meetings but they’re still just as involved in the life of the community.

The idea of community is attractive until you realise the costs. It means taking into account the church in my decision making and listening to others and gaining their wisdom. It means spending time with people and being available for people. It means sharing our lives with each other in a way that is not superficial.

Christian community is also a powerful witness. As Christians we model to a watching world what it means to live under Christ's rule. Building community is something we can all do whatever our role in church life.