The Church Board, consisting of both Elders and Deacons, meets on the second Wednesday of each month. The Elders also meet separately, usually about every three weeks.

At their meeting earlier this week some of the highlights included:

1. Our sub-committee researching the purchase of the neighbouring vacant land are
making progress and will soon be able to give the congregation some details. We
ask you to continually uphold this subject and the sub-committee members,
Trevor Purdie, Rob Carson, Cleve Brisbane and Andrew Scott.

2. As you are aware the sound box has been relocated. Derringers will be coming to
install some new speakers and re-wiring in about 10 days time. Thank you to the
members of the Building Management Committee for building the platform and
moving the desk.

3. Chris Bown has suggested it would be a good idea to have a wheel chair on hand
at the church. Before we rush out and buy one we thought we would ask the congregation
if any one has one and would like to make it available to the church or
know of anyone wishes get dispose of a wheel chair. Please see Chris Bown.

4. It was highlighted at the board meeting the blessing of the new volunteers in the
Coffee Shop and Bookshop BUT several of our regular volunteers are going north
for the winter, so both areas are needing more volunteers to fill the gaps.

5. Unity College G1 children visited the church on Wednesday to learn more about all
religions. Pastor Grant spoke to them and they all received a bookmark compliments
of the Bookshop.

This month our mission focus will be on Family Voice Australia.

Origin:
Family Voice Australia began under the name Australian Festival of Light in the home of an Adelaide lawyer in November 1972.
Rev Lance Shilton – then Rector of South Australia’s largest Anglican Church and later Dean of Sydney – had called a meeting of people from different Christian churches to discuss the formation of a “Festival of Light” committee. One of his parishioners – prominent Adelaide journalist with the Sunday Mail, Helen Carterer – had recently visited London. She gave a glowing report of the impact of the UK Nationwide Festival of Light founded by Malcolm Muggeridge, Mary Whitehouse and others in 1971.

Development:
The first Australian Festival of Light committee included clinical psychologist Dr John Court as chairman, with Bruce Townsend of Campaigners for Christ the first secretary.
Rev Fred Nile became the full-time NSW Director of Festival of Light in January 1974 and helped Festival of Light become a household name in Australia with large rallies and regular media appearances.

The South Australian branch has grown steadily since May 1978 when Steve and Kay Stevens were appointed director and women’s adviser. The Stevenses had been deeply involved with the UK Festival of Light. They returned to England in June 1985 to be near their family. Since 1986 Mrs Roslyn Phillips has contributed to the research and administration of Festival of Light in an honorary capacity. Mr David d’Lima has served as field officer and later SA state officer since 1994, particularly through deputations to churches and other groups.

The one whose work is never through,
Whose love is ever strong and true,
Is mother.
The one who sleeps with waking eye,
And listens for the faintest sigh,
Is mother.
The one who washes off the dirt,
And heals, with kisses, every hurt,
Is mother.
Though age puts wrinkles in her face,
There’s beauty age cannot erase,
In mother.
Of all the names on earth we hear,
The one that seems to be most dear,
Is “Mother.”

Welcome everyone to our worship service this morning, and especially to those who are Mums. Of course, we all have mums, and whether they are still with us or not, we can thank God for them.

Our Worship Leader this morning is our pastor, Grant Spangenberg, and when it comes time for us to celebrate Communion, our leader will be Bob Menadue.

To any who may be with us as visitors it is our privilege to have you worship with us and we pray that it will be a blessed and enjoyable time for you. Once the service is over you are most welcome to stay and join everyone in the coffee shop for morning tea.

While normally Pastor Grant would preach a Mother’s Day sermon today he wants to complete his series on the corporate Spiritual Disciplines and so this morning, and it’s the theme for today, he will be preaching on the discipline of worship under the title, “The Wow of Worship.”

Benediction: You have been in communion with our Lord. Go forth now into this new week in the strength and assurance that the Lord Jesus Christ goes with you and before you. Amen.

GS

FRIENDSHIP GROUP

Tues. 5th May.

OPEN TO THE WHOLE CHURCH

6.00pm Shared dinner

7.00pm Special Speaker
PHIL BURGESS General Manager of Churches of Christ in SA & NT Inc.

It is suggested that all Wednesday evening home groups cancel in lieu of this meeting.

Christian Women’s Fellowship
Tuesday May 5th 1.30pm

Chris Hurst will be speaking on the theme “Learning from Scripture in song”
Prayer Partners will reveal who they have prayed for over the past twelve months. New ones will be received for the coming year. If you would like to know who prayed for you, or would like to pray for someone please come and join us.
All ladies welcome

Psalm 95 is a reminder that we be thankful and faithful every day. A psalm that was used in the worship of God, it is appropriate that as we enter into God’s presence this morning that we ponder some of the verses:

“It is good to praise the Lord and make music to your name, O Most High, to proclaim your love in the morning and your faithfulness at night..
For you make me glad by your deeds, O Lord; I sing for joy at the works of your hands. ..You, O Lord, are exalted forever.. The Lord is upright; he is my Rock, and there is no wickedness in him.”

How good it is then that we can worship our great God! May He be pleased with what we offer to Him.

Leading us in our time of worship this morning is Chris Longden, and when it comes time for us to commune together at the Lord’s Table our leader will be Keith Durham.

To any who may be visiting with us we say, “It’s good to have you worship with us and we trust that you sense God’s touch upon your life in our time together. After the service is over you are invited to join everyone in the coffee shop for morning tea.”

As we open God’s Word to hear what His message is for us today Pastor Grant will be speaking on “Confession”, the first of four sermons on what are referred to as ‘Corporate Disciplines. It is also the start of the concluding section of his series on the spiritual disciplines. The title of what he will be saying is, “Confession – The Power That Heals.”

The city of Coventry was one which was heavily bombed during World War II. One building destroyed during the bombing was the Anglican Cathedral. At the altar of the cathedral was an inscription based on Romans 3:23, “For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” In part it says –

• The Hatred … which divides nation from nation, race from race, class from class; Father, forgive.
• The Greed … which exploits the labours of men and lays waste to the earth; Father, forgive.
• Our Envy … of the welfare and happiness of others; Father, forgive.
• Our Indifference … to the plight of the homeless and the refugee; Father, forgive.
• The Pride … which leads us to trust in ourselves and not in God; Father, forgive.
  Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you (Eph. 4:32).

Benediction: “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.” (2 Cor. 13:14).

GS

WORSHIP SERVICE TOMORROW

Murray Bridge Church of Christ

32 Seventh Street, Murray Bridge

10am

All welcome.

Worship leader: Chris Longden

Communion: Keith Durham

Speaker: Grant Spangenberg

Subject: “The power that heals”

Readings: Psalm 103: 1 – 13, 1 John 1: 5 – 10

Join us afterwards for a cuppa and biscuits in the Coffee Shop.

FRIENDSHIP GROUP
Tues. 5th May.

OPEN TO THE WHOLE CHURCH

A “MUST DO” MEETING

6.00pm shared dinner
7.00pm Special Speaker: PHIL BURGESS
General Manager of Churches of Christ in SA & NT Inc.

It is suggested that all Wednesday evening home groups cancel in lieu of this meeting.