23rd September 2022

Thanks for opening up CCC Weekly News as we prepare for ‘Covenant Partner’ Sunday and the AGM. We are praying as always for our church family and mission partners who live in our vicinity and elsewhere. Lord Jesus, by faith we pray for all those who are needing God’s healing grace and peace at this time. May you and yours experience God’s exceeding abundance this week.

ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THIS SUNDAY 25th SEPTEMBER – ‘COVENANT PARTNER SUNDAY’ THIS WEEK, Graeme will wrap up a 2-week introductory teaching about Fullness in Christ and officially Launch the ‘Spring Campaign, THEN we’ll move into the 2022 AGM as soon as those in attendance grab a cuppa – approximate start 11.30/40am with an estimated finish time of 12.30pm.

It was terrific to catch up last Sunday with our southern Illawarra missionaries, Jono and Nicky Hyratt, pray for and with them and present Jono with his Diploma of Christian Ministry and Theology (HOPE**) with Official Transcript of his completed study program. There will be more to engage over the next few months as we sharpen our mission objectives but meanwhile, keep on praying for these saints.

** indicates that this award included ‘Heaven On Planet Earth’ distinctives as part of the Diploma of Christian Ministry and Theology aligned with the nationally accredited program (10743NAT).

IF YOU ARE IN THE VICINITY ON SUNDAY, PLEASE DO JOIN US face to face at the Augusta Street Hub, and if you are away for whatever reason, please join us ONLINE via our Live-Stream from 10am THIS and EVERY SUNDAY … (see our Facebook page link OR our YouTube Channel for online access). NB: The recording of the Live-Stream is available for viewing on our YouTube Channel AFTER our gathering, ‘usually’ from about midday Sunday onward.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR CARE FOR ONE ANOTHER – PLEASE stay home if you or someone in your household is feeling unwell.

IMPORTANT NOTE ABOUT HUB ACCESS THIS SUNDAY 25th September – NB: This is a World Championship Event …… Pioneer Road will be closed between Bellambi and Towradgi from 9.15am to 12.15pm, and there will be NO ACCESS to the HUB from Towradgi Road, so ….. please adjust your travel route to the HUB from the north-west.

  • If you are in the section of housing south of the Hub between Towradgi Creek and Towradgi Road, you will probably have to walk UNLESS you are able to negotiate your drive before 9.15am via Pioneer Road OR anytime via Towradgi Road back to Memorial Drive (if the information that Towradgi Rd is NOT closed, but only at the Pioneer Road intersection, is true) You can still expect parking vehicles trying to get people close to the race route to be an issue)
  • If you are east of Pioneer Road, (again, it’s not supposed to completely close until 9.15am and it is scheduled to re-open after the finish time of our AGM). Nevertheless, information gleaned suggests that if you can park reasonably close to Pioneer Rd, you should be able to walk across via pedestrian control Marshalls at intervals along the race route. HINT: If you are able to get a look at how the controllers deal with the same route for the women’s race tomorrow (Saturday between 11.30am and 2.30pm), that knowledge may help you on Sunday morning when the same conditions will apply.
  • If you are north of the church and west of Pioneer Road (unsure – if you are north of the Hub and east of Pioneer Rd/Railway Pde/Rail Line north of Woonona), you should be able to navigate Memorial Drive to Railway St and Duff Parade but you might need to give yourself extra time.
  • If you are south of Five Islands / Cordeaux Rds, you’ll probably need to access the M1/Memorial Drive from Northcliffe Drive – then via Railway St and Duff Parade to Augusta.
  • If you are somewhere in between, there should be at least one clear path to an M1/Memorial Drive On Ramp – then via Railway St and Duff Parade to Augusta, but again, you might need some extra travel time as delays most likely will occur.
  • To confirm your route on the 25th, use this link and navigate ALL THREE Purple information buttons to help you work it out.

The HOPE Project Mission Situation Reports (Sit-Reps)

UCI BIKE RIDE (17th – 25th September) – The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) is the world governing body of cycling, recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), and somehow, it is holding it’s a world cyclist championship event in Wollongong for 8 Days currently. As a church we have been involved with the churches of our region, praying and coordinating prayer events for the gospel reach effort. Some of us have been out and about talking with people about Jesus OR praying for people who are talking with people about Jesus. Stay tuned for some Sit-Reps about all of this. With the TWO biggest and most watched Races still to happen, PLEASE be in prayer for all that this means ……

2ND CONCERT IN SYDNEY ON OCTOBER 15 – The Sydney edition of the Keith Green Tribute Concert for HOPE4Kids and Hope and Future Projects, is scheduled for 7pm Saturday 15th October 2022. Due to unforeseen costs, we have had to CHANGE the venue. This is still being negotiated and we’ll update the venue soon, WHICH WE EXPECT will still be in the previous venue’s vicinity. If you have informed family or friends to use the direct booking link, THIS IS STILL THE RELEVANT BOOKING LINK as we will have enough contact information to let people know directly, where we move to. So, here is the DIRECT LINK to the Concert’s booking website if you or someone you know missed out recently and or, you know someone in Sydney who might like to experience the event. (banner image above of Wollongong Keith Green Tribute courtesy of Robert Sackett Photography with thanks)

HOPE4Kids ANNUAL AWARENESS & FUNDRAISER IS DONE FOR 2022 – We will be officially closing the fund raising effort later TODAY, BUT we won’t wrap things up until after the second Keith Green Tribute Concert in Sydney during October (see above for details). Extra fund raising (that is, not including Sydney ticket funding projections), has achieved a terrific response and the total is hovering just under $3K without any way of clarifying that number just yet. We are so thankful to God for people’s generous giving hearts and ANY LAST MINUTE DEPOSITS either via DONATING DIRECTLY VIA CARD TRANSACTION HERE, OR if you are already giving to the church account electronically, you could identify an extra gift deposit as ‘H4K-22’, OR by give cash specifically earmarked for H4K-22 to Heather or Carol if and when you see them OR by purchasing one of Graeme’s music albums – SO GRATEFULLY RECEIVED.

You can also catch up with the latest about our KIDS and the 2022 campaign stories on the HOPE4Kids Facebook Group. If you’d like to read the H4K backstory, visit our website’s ‘HOPE4Kids’ page.

PODCASTS / SERMONS / STUDY GUIDE OUTLINES – are now becoming available on our HOPE Podcast Station as we complete and upload them (as per first bullet point in PILLAR of PREPARE story board). The first of these ‘extras’ is Julie presenting the prophetic word the Lord gave her in August which she preached on the same month. If you are interested in accessing this, we have uploaded Julie’s Prophetic Word Podcast HERE and the written out version of the prophetic word is available on our Sermon Notes etc. website page HERE. Julie has recommended that if you are planning to listen to this particular podcast, it would help to have a printed or visible electronic version of the prophetic word in front of you as she speaks to the context and biblical bases in the podcast which is about 25 minutes in length.

There are of course SEVEN (7) new short weekly HOPE Devotional podcasts also available on the HOPE Podcast Station. These have been directly addressing the ‘Fullness IS Equipping’ content that Graeme has been preaching lately. The WRITTEN versions of these are of course available in order of release date via Links on our HOPE Devotional Web Page. MORE RESOURCES UPLOADED SOON …

OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD (OCC) 2022 – is our hands-on way to bless children in need across the world by filling shoe-boxes with toys, hygiene items, school supplies, and fun gifts. The shoe-boxes and other helpful materials are available now from the Hub. See Heather or one of our Hosts soon, if you are at the Hub on any given Sunday OR use our Contact Us page to let us know you are interested in helping and would like to know more and we’ll make sure you have all the information you need. As boxes are completed, we will gather them together and deliver them to our local OCC coordinator Robyn, who will distribute them in the name of Jesus Christ to children living in vulnerable situations.

Calendar Updates

(Please use our Contact Us page if you’d like to register for, or get more details for the following)

  • EVERY THURSDAY MORNING 10-11am – We provide a support team to help distribute affordable grocery hampers out of a truck parked in the Car Park west side Fred Guest Park off Balgownie Road. If you could help every week, or fortnightly or monthly, please talk with Gary or Jacki – thank you!
  • General Bible Discussion (Beverley) 5th October at Judy’s place (on the verandah or inside with the heater if cold), (now the 1st and 3rd Wednesday’s of each month) Contact Beverley or Judy if you are thinking of coming any given meeting.
  • Regular Hour of Prayer for the Churches of the Illawarra and the Salvation of Souls (Graeme) We will TRIAL Mt Keira Lookout park as a venue – 8am on the 2nd and 4th Mondays each month. NEXT PRAYER MEET THIS MONDAY 26TH SEPTEMBER (be patient please as we work this out)
  • Covenant Partner Sunday – AGM – scheduled for after THIS Sunday 25th September Gathering – notice has been sent in accord with our Constitution. (see road closure notice in sit-rep about UCI Bike Ride) – PLEASE provide a proxy to Heather if you don’t think you will be present. Thank you!
  • NEXT Blokes Sharing and Ministry – (TBA)
  • The Wollongong ‘Keith Green 40th Anniversary’ Tribute Concert # TWO (for HOPE4Kids & Hope and Future Ministries) at a VENUE TO BE ADVISED (still in North Sydney – see above Sit-Rep for details) Saturday evening October 15 … find out more HERE, including our ticket website
  • WEEKLY TRAINING WORKSHOP (between mid-October and the end of November) in discipling, pastoral and community care, the ministry of reconciliation, starting kingdom conversations and more – 1st EIGHT (8) WEEK INTENSIVE – please see Graeme ASAP as he will confirm times / days etc once he has spoken with all the interested parties. FINAL WEEK FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST!!
  • Oct-Nov Sunday Weekly Preaching Theme with an Outward Focus towards ‘others’ will be ‘All You Need Is Love’ and will span the FOUR Sunday’s from October 23rd to and including November 13th. As with ‘Outrageous Forgiveness’ in 2021, we will focus messages, creative and interactive presentations over the FOUR Sundays around the ‘All You Need Is Love’ theme. More Detail soon …
  • Church Family Christmas Lunch – Sunday 4th December SAVE THE DATE! Details from Carol soon.
  • ‘Carols in the Street 2022’ – is scheduled as always for the second Sunday of December (11th). The street closure will occur from 4pm – 8pm. We will gather on that Sunday (11th Dec) morning to PRAY and ALLOCATE tasks for this our annual Christmas Gift to the community and as such there will be NO SUNDAY AM GATHERING that day. Our mate AMBER NICHOLS is booked in! DESPINA is checking her schedule. More Details soon. SAVE THE DATE!
    • NB: If you know someone in a local business who might like to sponsor the Carols with a small financial gift, we will organise advertising for them in the lead up to and during the Event. PLEASE mention any options you might have to Heather or Carol soon as we are preparing to send sponsor request letters out. Thanks!

Weekly Pastoral Prayer Update

NB: We leave prayer points up until we either hear about resolutions OR thank God for answers etc. so …

  • Firstly, we are THANKFUL for all the answered prayers that often go unnoticed. Thank you, Lord, for Your faithfulness.
  • Secondly, each and EVERY week we pray for each other and our brothers and sisters representing the Illawarra region’s body of Christ through other local churches who meet around us. And as Jesus prayed 15 My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. We know this is a season when we will need to be combat ready and so we pray for each other that we would stand firm in the victory Christ won for us … AND that the Lord will add daily, those who are BEING SAVED!
    • THIS WEEK we are continuing to pray with the Northern Illawarra Churches for the UCI World Cycling Event, as we seek to declare, represent, and demonstrate the kingdom of heaven to the visitors to our city from around the world. Final events and wrap up.
  • Thirdly each week we pray for the New Season of Mission Effort – We thank you for the first ‘7 years of planting and re-aligning to heaven’ and now we pray for the FIRST PHASE of the time we are referring to as ‘The SEED of Sustainability’ (2022-23). As we now release the strategic plan for Spring 2022, PLEASE PRAY AS WE PREPARE (Pre-Prayer). PLEASE ALSO PRAY AS WE PREPARE FOR THE 2ND KEITH GREEN TRIBUTE CONCERT IN SYDNEY ON OCTOBER 15TH. GIVE THANKS TO GOD FOR THE WOLLONGONG CONCERT A FEW WEEKS BACK, AND FOR THE KIDS AND FAMILIES WHO WILL BE IMPACTED THROUGH HOPE4KIDS AND THE HOPE AND FUTURE PROJECT.
  • Fourthly, here following are the MOST RECENT prayer requests that we have been given permission to share across our praying network … (please talk directly with the source of the request if you want more info) – we will endeavour to seek updates on all of the following, particularly those points that we’ve been praying for these last few weeks – not always simple, so thanks for your patience.
    • Lord Jesus we pray for our Beverley who is scheduled to have a a procedure THIS Tuesday (27th) Please pray for complete healing and peace for her and the family.
    • Lord we thank you that Christian has had his appendectomy scheduled for October 28th. We give thanks for his good health in the lead up and that all is in Your sovereign healing hands as his procedure dawns.
    • Father God, we are praying in faith for wisdom, peace and guidance for Jono and Nicky as they care for Jacob who is struggling with addiction. Lord we ask for freedom for this great young bloke as he breaks free from these chains in Your consistent and lasting strength.
    • We thank you Lord that Jo’s arthroscopic procedure went well last Tuesday. We continue to pray for a quick and complete recovery.
    • Father, we continue to petition you on behalf of Jono’s mate Gringo, for Gringo’s wife Deb who has pneumonia. We ask for your healing grace to be completely manifest in her life.
    • Lord Jesus, we are praying that God will make a path for Maree’s girlfriend Penny’s daughter Jo as she deals with the aftermath of court proceedings last Wednesday. We acknowledge some bad choices have been made but we ask for Your mercy and a a way forward that would lead Jo into your loving arms.
    • Father in heaven we also pray for Maree’s friend Marion’s brother Peter who has been diagnosed recently with bone cancer.
    • Lord we are praying this week for Ilja’s daughter as per Ilja’s request.
    • Father, we are praying for Kylie’s uncle who has potential kidney and heart issues and for her aunt who fell recently and broke her pelvis in a couple of places. We pray for your healing touch and best process outcomes.
    • Lord God, we continue to pray for Linda’s sister Shirley (in Abu Dhabi) and Alex’s brother Rab (in Perth WA), who have both undergone serious life saving surgeries. We pray for their families and thank God for early good reports in the aftermath of both surgeries.
    • We thank you too Lord for a quick recovery for Maggie after some dental work.
    • Father, we pray for our Gwen who was admitted to the hospital’s medical ward a couple of weeks ago. We pray for complete healing and peace and strength for Nancy, Jason and the whole family.
    • Lord we continue to pray for Jayden O’Connell (son of John and Chris) who took ill whilst away in Tweed Heads. He is stable and slowly recovering in ICU. There are things being monitored. The family will be in their current location for a bit longer yet but are assured of the best care where they are. Thank you Lord.
    • Please keep praying for our friend Marie and her family as she continues to recover from some serious health challenges. We praise God for her recent positive move to a Residential Care Home and we pray for the family and health professionals as they work longer-term options out with Marie and Doug.
    • We are praying also for our friend Audrey who is dealing with some health challenges and recently completed care regimes. We pray for health and peace for her, her family and her friends.
    • We are praying for complete healing in Jono’s body, particularly the hernia that has been an issue for some time now. Lord, bring peace to Jono, particularly with regard to what you want from him with regard his work situation.
    • We thank you Lord that Christine continues to improve after her broken toe and the recent bout of the migraines she’s been having. Christine sends her greetings and heartfelt thanks for prayer support.
    • We thank you Lord for our sister Dot who sends her love to you all and we keep praying for her general health and well-being.
    • We thank God and keep praying for Evelyn’s complete recovery.
    • We are praying for Maree’s friend Gail who has a suspicious nodule on her thyroid gland. We pray for God’s miraculous healing supernaturally through the surgeon – guide them in whatever they do. Lord bring hope, peace and healing to Gail and all who love and care for her.
    • We pray for Emma’s friend Anna. That you will be sovereign in her life and completely cure whatever is wrong with some vital organs. We thank you for a recent positive update.
    • Linda and Andrew have some things going on for them with friends and family. God knows what’s happening so let’s pray for them and the circumstances in faith for complete resolution in the name of Jesus.
  • Please Keep Praying for these Brothers and sisters and situations –
    • We pray healing for members of our family who are each dealing with a variety of ongoing health issues currently, including those still experiencing cold and flu symptoms and or respiratory infections. We thank you for recent full recoveries and Lord for your protection over other family members of these precious folk.
    • We continue to pray for Harry, Joy and Greg, Tom, Elsie and Carolyn’s family, Tim, and for Kylie.
    • We pray thanks to God for the work of the Northern Illawarra Scripture Board and for answered prayer. We pray that we are empowered to play our part in this kingdom advancing work as it increases across the northern Illawarra churches network. We pray for our scripture teachers and chaplain as they wrap up term 3 and we pray thanks for the successful Trivia Fundraiser.
    • We continue praying for Murray and Julie and the Food for Life Community Care team as they work tirelessly to provide affordable groceries to people trying to make ends meet across the Illawarra and Shoalhaven. We pray for Murray in the aftermath of a melanoma removal and the impact this has for his wife and mission partner Julie and the Kids, with Julie running the FFL Service currently. We pray for our support team who work with the hamper truck on Thursday mornings. (Gary, Christine, Beverley, Ken, Jacki, Denise, John, Margaret, Maggie and Alex)
    • We pray for the people doing it tough that our Food for Life volunteers come across weekly when they serve hampers off the truck.
    • We continue to petition our Lord Jesus for Heaven’s answers to the needs of so many who are struggling in the current economic climate and or have lost significantly in these repeated floods and cold weather snaps up and down the east coast.
    • For all of the wonderful people connected with our church family as we stand together during this new season of the battle for souls. We thank God for His encouragement, His healing touch and His mercy, grace and protection.
    • We pray both thanks to you God and ask for exceeding abundant blessings on all the new people who are determining whether or not to partner with us in the mission You have called us to.
    • We also pray with thankfulness for the wonderful and consistent giving and investment that our family and partners offer to enable this mission to thrive.
    • Graeme is so grateful for the faithful pray-ers who have stepped up and interceded for important gospel and kingdom work that we’ve been engaged in of late. We give thanks to God for Karen’s continued, but slow and steady return to full energy and health.
    • We have been asked to pray with Lionel Rattenbury (Hope Church – Helensburgh) as he and a team engage people with dire need in the Port Kembla CBD. We pray for all efforts in this space, including Gordon and Port Kembla Baptist – particularly as he and a kingdom team engage with the people west side of King Street Warrawong, Brian and Hope Street (Baptist Care), James Dargin and the Aboriginal Outreach, The Foundery, YWAM and more. Lord, hear our prayers!
  • The World needs our Faithful Prayers –
    • We continue to pray for people in the Ukraine and Russia, for peace, for unity, for a sense of purpose together for the future, instead of the divide and the misdirection that seems evident and ongoing. LORD HAVE MERCY and prevail on key players to bring this conflict to a close.
    • We pray for ongoing health issues around the world and ask for Your intervention Lord, bringing about your purposes in response to these things rather than feeble human control efforts. LORD HAVE MERCY on those affected and those working out what’s happening, and those working closely with those affected.
    • Please pray for the people who are hungry and helpless. Pray for the church (under persecution in many of these countries mentioned below) that they along with World Aid organizations will be able to be God’s effective hands and feet in that desperate scenario.
    • Pray for the people in many other countries who are dealing with political, religious and military unrest and or are being subjected to violence and persecution; in particular this week we pray for the escalation of the persecution against Christian ministries in Uganda and the focus on recent converts from Islam. Also for the unrest and unease continuing in Myanmar, also ongoing concerns in Afghanistan, the senseless violent attacks on people in Ethiopia, Vietnam, Togo and Ghana, Kenya, pending genocide in predominantly Christian Papua (Indonesia), Eritrea, Burkina-Faso (particularly in the East where Jihadists seem hell bent on eradicating Christian facilitated education), Algeria and Indonesia, Nigeria (particularly for recent savage attacks on churches and renewed calls by IS to attack Christian, Jewish, Hindu and Shi’ite places of worship across Africa and Asia), India, Iran, the Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo, and this week our prayer call is for continued and lasting peace along the North-Eastern Syrian border with Turkey (and Syria in general)
    • PLEASE add any concern you have for our world HERE and pray LORD HAVE MERCY!
  • Of course if you have any thing you feel confident to ask us to SHARE in prayer for, please call, send a text or email Gary Padwick if you know his contact details, otherwise via our Contact Us page. We can help connect you, and Gary will faithfully engage our prayer-network.
  • Thank you for continuing to uphold each other and the lives and circumstances of our partners everywhere, in life-empowering prayer.

Love & blessings
Graeme for The Team