Dapto Anglican Church

All the goings on at Dapto Anglican.

Bulletin 27/11/05 (pdf, 1.0 MB)

A friend of mine was born in Uruguay but has lived 25 of his 35 years in Australia. He is not a soccer fan (preferring that the game be scrapped instead that they just go straight into penalty shootouts – finding them much more entertaining).
However, for years ago he chose to “rub in ” Uruguay’s victory. This week the tables were turned and his email has run hot (How many Uruguayans do you know?)

Christians are caught in a dual citizenship situation. As people of God’s kingdom we know that we should have an eternal mindset and keep out thoughts of the things of God. Yet at the same time we are people of time and space, on earth and subject to the pressures and struggles of a world that is groaning and ultimately passing away.

The author of Psalms 42-43 would encourage us to take our ‘dual citizenship’ seriously. We are vulnerable to the pressures and hurts of a world that has largely turned away from God. The answer to our eternal spiritual survival is our faith which must keep asserting itself. We need a deep assurance that God is present in all aspects of our life.

Through the storms of life we need to cling to the one sure rock of light and truth, our saviour Jesus Christ

Stephen Semenchuk

News and events for this weekend.

Bulletin 20/11/2005 (pdf, 708 KB)

This weekend our Horsley Congregation are away at Huskinson and in a few weeks time our youth group will be away at Youth Camp. These times away are fairly costly (and unfortunately cut into the offertories for those weeks). Why do we as a church spend God’s valuable resources on times away?

Because such occasions are live changing!

One parent has commented that last month’s children’s camp has revived her child’s interest in reading the Bible and praying with the family.

For me a You Camp 31 years ago was the time I committed my life to Christ.

The church community of Horsley want to be a Church family that doesn’t just get together on Sunday but is building a unity where they want to “holiday” together.

Often you can not put a value on the life changing transformations that occur when God’s people spend a whole weekend in Christian Community.

Stephen Semenchuk

Catch up on the latest news and events of the church.

Bulletin 13/11/2005 (pdf, 704 KB)

A number of people cam up to me after the celebration Service with great thanksgiving to God for the children and youth who were involved in the life of our Parish. Quotable quotes included:

They are the church of tomorrow

So many churches aren’t blessed with such a wonderful group of young people, please make sure we keep up the good work

Our young people are a real blessing from God and rather than being the church of tomorrow, they are part of the church of today. A particular encouragement is the number of young people who are now considering ministry as volunteers and as a career. Dapto Anglican has been a church that has encouraged ministry trainees in the past and it is an essential part of our future vision. Not only should we benefit our own church, but also raise up people to serve way beyond out parish in building God’s kingdom.

Let’s make sure we entrench training and development into the fabric of our church life.

Next year our church’s budget does not include funds for trainees – we are only budgeting for a modest cost of living increase in weekly offerings because of the likely building project. Never the less we have a person offering to serve as a full time Ministry Trainee and another as a full time Children’s Worked Trainee. Also at least one of our young people has applied to do the new YouhWorks Year 13 Course.

We all need to better understand the investment we make in the future of our precious people. Please plan to attend our special Parish Encouragement and Training Information Meetings at the Ministry Centre.

Sunday, 20th November at 1 pm for lunch ($5)

Monday, 21st November at 7:30 pm for coffee & dessert (gold coin)
Please RSVP on clipboard provided

They will include a meal or supper because we are in partnership with our trainees and want to share in celebrating the past and catapult them into the future.

If you want to contribute to the financial support of our trainees you will be given the opportunity to give a special gift to our church trainees in the “Give you church family a present” programme. You will find the details of this in your bulletin today.

Stephen Semenchuk

What’s happening this week? Don’t know? Better download and find out.

Bulletin 06/11/2005 (pdf, 1.1 MB)