Welcome to May Mission Month!
Jesus said, “Go and make disciples of all nations.” Everyone needs to have an opportunity to hear the wonderful gospel of Jesus Christ, and the opportunity to live with him. We have a burden to share the gospel of Christ with our community. We also unite in partnership with our intercultural teams and mission partners around the world. Global interaction is our Baptist organisation through whom we support mission. We also support mission partners working with many other organisations. We pray for our mission partners, take an interest in their work and give them some financial help.
May is a month when we especially consider the work of Global interaction and we also remember the work of all our mission partners. This may get excited about all that God is doing through His people in neighbourhoods near and far. You can explore more about Global Interaction May Mission Month at:
www.globalinteraction.org.au/MayMissionMonth
9.30am Worship Service & SHOUT!!:
Our 9.30am service is also livestreamed at: https://youtu.be/IV2zeee6YRI
If you join us on YouTube we would love to know. Please send us a message or join the chat.
This Sunday “SHOUT!!” is running during our 9.30am service. SHOUT!! is church for the whole family and all children and parents are very welcome. “SHOUT” is also on Facebook!
Our Song Playlist is back. At the end of our service we will be singing. Unfortunately we can’t continue to live stream our singing at this time. Instead you can join in singing using our YouTube playlist:
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDAa9SEvlGqDiGGEZ2KXmNJHfbzdOmiyU
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Worship By Request:
WBR is our monthly online worship service livestreamed on YouTube. It continues to develop and evolve, and despite some technical difficulties, it continues to improve every month. Importantly, Worship By Request is not about Johnny & Joey. It's about worshipping Christ in new and purposeful ways. And we'd love for you to participate!
Everyone can participate in WBR! We would love to incorporate your voices through readings and prayers. It can be a prayer, a biblical passage, or a minute long message, whatever is on your heart. Send us a video or if you don't want your face shown, we can just use your voice, or you can send us a message that we can read on air.
We look forward to you helping us build this unique worship experience together. Thanks! Joseph Arrua To find Worship By Request click here: https://youtu.be/VNIIIreSbIM
Giving:
As Christians we believe it is very important that we give financially to support God’s church. You may give your weekly offering using the following methods:
1). Through direct electronic transfer. You can do this using online banking or ask your bank teller to set up an electronic transfer for you.
2). Deposit your offering directly into the church account at any branch of the Westpac Bank. Our account details are:
Account Name: Ettalong Baptist Church BSB Number: 032 527
Account Number: 350 062
3). You may give during the 9.30am service through our RED offering box, located near the sound desk.
Missions offering
To help support our mission partners we will be taking up a collection for them on the last Sunday in May. Feel free to make a donation at any time in May either electronically (type missions in the description) or in cash (place your donation in an envelope, clearly marked missions, and place it in the churches RED offering box).
Mission Support
– Garage Sale
A garage sale is being held to raise money for our missions on Saturday, 8th May at 111 The Esplanade, Ettalong
Beach.
Donations of items for sale are welcome. Please deliver no later than Friday night 7th of May (not Saturday). If
you are available to help please see Bev Wykes. Phone: 0409 789 676
Items not sold will be offered to Ministry of Leftovers or disposed of appropriately.
Spring Fair Craft Preparation Day: 5th June 2021.
All persons are invited to join Lee and Heather at a craft prep day for our Spring Fair, in the Downstairs hall of the church. Bring your own craft items to make up for the Fair or resources will be provided. No craft flair is needed – just come an have fun! We also need people to wrap and price. Morning Tea and lunch will be provided so please rsvp to Heather on 0419 297 496.
Mothers Day Market
Ministry Of Leftovers are having a giant Mother’s Day market on Monday 3 May. Come and join in the fun. If you are able to help on Monday or you would like to find out more about being a regular volunteer please see Caroline, phone: 0427 309 399
Sunday Morning Prayer:
More than ever our world needs us as Christians to be praying. Every Sunday morning at 8.30am a few very dedicated people meet to pray in the Downstairs Hall before the morning service. You are very welcome to join us.
Alpha:
Alpha commences in May. Phone David Gilchrist for more information. 0448 431 234
2021 Church Directory: A Note From Jean:
As you know I am in the process of putting together a new Church Directory and hope to have it completed in early May. I will be taking photos during morning tea, at the back of the hall until this Sunday May 2nd.
Please come up to the area near the library door for your photo opportunity. If you would like a family photo, please gather all members for the photo to be taken together.
If you or the whole family are not available on Sundays, please email me a photo to include in the directory. My email address is jeanelynch@gmail.com
If anybody misses out, it may be possible to use the photo from the old directory, otherwise no photo will be included.
Thank you all for your assistance, Jean Lynch
Skills For Life High Tea:
Skills For Life raises money for Mango Tree Junior Academy in Kisi, Kenya.
Please join us for an amazing High Tea at Hatter’s Tea House, Ettalong, on Monday the 17th May, at 10:30am.
Cost $40. All proceeds to Mango Tree Junior Academy
Bookings: Larraine Terrill on 0414 514 938 or Jan Harris 0404 963 362
Peninsula Lighthouse -
Annual “Walk against Violence”
11am Saturday 29 May 2021 - Barrenjoey Lighthouse WalkBarrenjoey Headland is a relatively small peninsula, primed for spectacular views. From the top you can see the vast stretch of Pacific Ocean to the east, Hawkesbury River to the north and the gorgeous still waters of Pittwater and Broken Bay to the west. The walk via Smugglers Track looks down over Palm Beach and Pittwater. It has 360˚views from the top of the headland with a heritage lighthouse and lighthouse keeper’s cottages.
Cost is a $5 donation to Peninsula Lighthouse.
Please RSVP by 20 May 2021 to penlighthouse@gmail.com or ben.kelley@gmail.com or phone Natasha 0417 472 374 or Ben 0412 423 331.
Condolences
Jan Baker died on Sunday this week after a long battle with cancer, and is in the presence of her Lord. Please pray for Les and all the family at this time. The funeral is 12 noon on Tuesday the 4th of May at Greenway Chapel.
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Ettalong Baptist Church Revitalisation: Family Forums and Survey
Over the next three months we are seeking to re-state and re-affirm our Purpose and Values. We are also seeking to clarify what is God’s vision for Ettalong Baptist Church as we seek to serve him in this post-pandemic world. We are planning to have three Church Family Forums. Each forum will be 2 hours, and will probably be 1.30pm to 3.30pm.
Our first forum will be instead of our usual May quarterly church meeting, on Sunday 16 May, We are also planning forums for Sunday 20 June and Sunday 18 July. Please join us!
The revitalisation team has developed a survey to help you plan for these forums and to better understand the thoughts and ideas of everyone in our church. Please take the time to prayerfully complete this short survey. You can return it to the church office or reply to this email by Sunday 9 May.
Do you have an item for the newsletter?
Do you have a short testimony to share in the newsletter? Do you have a photo that you can share with us? Please email it to David Gilchrist at david@ettalongbaptistchurch.org.au or drop a note into the Church Office by Wednesday afternoon each week.
Ettalong Baptist Church is starting the process of putting together a new Purpose statement and Values statement, and of forming a vision for the future. The revitalisation team is seeking to better understand the thoughts and ideas of everyone in our church. Please take the time to prayerfully complete this short survey. Please bring your responses to the church office or send them via email ebc@ettalongbaptistchurch.org.au by Sunday 9th of May.
Name (leave blank if you would like to remain anonymous):
1). What do you think Ettalong Baptist Church is doing well?
2). Do you have memory from your own experience that represents Ettalong Baptist Church to you?
3). What do you think Ettalong Baptist Church could be doing better?
4). Is there anything that you feel Ettalong Baptist Church isn’t currently doing that we should be?
5). Spend some time imagining what Ettalong Baptist Church could look like in ten years’ time. What has changed in that time? What has stayed the same?
6). On Sunday 16 May we will be meeting to talk about the purpose of the church. We encourage everyone to join us. Please read the verses from the Bible on the attached page. In light of your reflection on the scriptures, what do you believe God’s purpose is for us?
Purpose Reflection
Some Biblical References to Help Guide our Thinking…
Matthew 28:19-20
‘”Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”’
Acts 1:8
‘”… But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”’
Hebrews 13:15
‘Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise – the fruit of lips that confess his name. And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.’
Colossians 3:12-17
‘Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another will all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.’
Romans 15:2, 4-7
‘Each of us should please his neighbour for his good, to build him up… For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.’
1 Peter 2:9, 12
‘But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light…
Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.’
Romans 12:5-6a
‘… so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given us…’
Ephesians 4:7,11-13
‘But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it… It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.’
Ephesians 3:10-11
His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, according to his eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord.
There are, of course, many other relevant passages in the Bible. You may wish to note down any others on the next page that you think are particularly helpful for us as we seek God’s purpose for our church…
