on 26 May 2022
26th May 2022
Greetings to all our church family and mission partners in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord! Our HOPE and prayer IN Christ is that in and through whatever is happening with you and yours, that you experience God’s exceeding abundant grace, mercy, favour and increase, and His richest blessings.
IMPORTANT NOTICE …… ANNUAL PIE DRIVE for the Northern Illawarra Scripture Board is ON NOW!!!!! UNTIL 5pm Sunday 5th June. That’s not long so don’t delay ….. Here is the link to our web site page containing all the details OR Here is the direct link to the Pie Order Form. If you aren’t savvy with electronic forms, hard copies will be available at the HUB reception on Sunday, or you can contact the secretary via our Contact Us page if you’d like Heather to work it out with you.
NO HOPE COLLEGE WORKSHOPS ON FRIDAY’S OR REPEAT TUESDAY’S UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE – DETAILS BELOW
Brief Summary of THIS Sunday’s Gathering and Confirmed Upcoming Calendar Events so You Can Save Some Dates ……. If you’d like a little more reading and context, PLEASE scroll down
SUNDAY 29th MAY – Last week, David gave us plenty of food for thought as he reflected upon ‘Intimacy with Christ’s Body’, how we journey with each other in the sort of ONENESS typified by the relationship between God the Father and God the Son. THIS WEEK, Graeme will explore what ‘Intimacy with the LOST’ might mean for us. We know of quite a few away this week, including facilitating team members, being Christ to family and the like but IF YOU CAN, we invite you to engage with us from 10am THIS and EVERY SUNDAY either face-to-face at the Augusta Street East Corrimal NSW HUB or ONLINE via our Live-Stream … (see our Facebook page link OR our YouTube Channel)
Use our Contact Us page if you’d like to register for, or get more details about any of the following
- Month of May Message Theme – ‘INTIMACY’ (Team)
- Women’s Monday Fortnightly Study and Prayer (Julie)
- 30th May – 10.30am @ the HUB
- General Bible Discussion (Beverley)
- 1st June on the verandah at Judy’s place
- Scripture Board PIE DRIVE 2022 (see details above)
- The order form is available for your annual pie orders, which will be taken up until 5pm 5th June. Pies available for Pick Up on June 20th and 23rd. (details on order form)
- Illawarra Prayer Breakfast and Day of Thanks 2022
- Friday 27th May 6.30am – 8.30am @ Shellharbour Civic Centre – STILL 2 LAST MINUTE TICKETS Just deposit your $40 into the Church Account (see details right margin) and identify your deposit with your name & IPB, OR, give your money to Graeme AT THE EVENT.
- This year’s award of thanks is to TEACHERS in our schools. We are offering gifts of thanks to teachers at Corrimal East Public School and Corrimal High School NEXT WEEK ….
- Blokes Bi-Monthly Hang-Out and Mutual Ministry Time
- Tuesday 31st May from 6pm @ Rowles’ Residence in Mangerton – Mick will graciously smoke some meat for dinner – bookings essential so RSVP to Andrew if you know his contact details OR via our Contact Us page
- Northern Illawarra Churches Combined Prayer Evening
- 5pm to 6pm on Sunday 5th June @ City Life Church Centre – Jardine Street (West) Fairy Meadow. (talk to Graeme if you are interested in attending)
- Scripture Board ‘COFFEE & DESSERT NIGHT 2022
- 7-9pm 8th June @ the Northern Illawarra (Bulli) Uniting Church Centre (more details on the Scripture Board website landing page)
The HOPE Project Mission Situation Reports (Sit-Reps) and Equipping/Training Updates
- HOPE COLLEGE Presents ….. ‘Winter Workshops’ 2022 –
- GRAEME NEEDS YOUR HELPFUL RESPONSES
- He hasn’t heard enough information from potential starters to make the weekly teaching a good use of time – and GOOD use of time, effort and resources is something we are deeply committed to.
- People seem INTERESTED BUT NOT COMMITTED so, Graeme IS NOT STARTING THE WORKSHOPS THIS WEEK (Friday 20th) BUT WILL START THEM SOON IF THERE IS ENOUGH BUY-IN BETWEEN NOW AND THEN.
- HOPE College HAS A PODCAST PLATFORM
- HOPE College @ AnchorFM will commence providing equipping broadcasts very soon. Graeme (initially) will record workshops that can be listened to whilst you drive, walk or wherever and whenever you listen to podcasts. (more information on the way)
- Thanks for all who submitted assignment tasks from teh previous Base Camp workshop. Currently being marked.
- GRAEME NEEDS YOUR HELPFUL RESPONSES
- REGISTER YOUR QUESTION OR INTEREST IN OUR TRAINING PROGRAM BY EMAILING the Secretary if you know the email address OR use the College Contact Page, OR by JOINING Graeme on Tuesdays weekly between 9.15am and 10.30am to talk about all things College either AT THE HUB or online via HIS ZOOM ROOM LINK, during the same Tuesday time period, OR by booking a chat with Graeme some other convenient time via his appointment web site HERE. It helps Graeme if he knows you want to chat BUT nevertheless he will do his best to be in person AND online Tuesday mornings.
- As you can tell from the above, we are committed to equipping followers of Jesus for particular functions across the whole of the mission effort, so PLEASE talk with us so we can work out the BEST options for YOUR circumstances.
- We’ll be announcing more opportunities to gather the harvest around the word we’ve received from heaven soon.
- The Sanctuary Illawarra – Our southern hub church continues to plough and sow with online and face-to-face engagement opportunities. Stay tuned to their their YouTube channel and or Facebook page for updates as they come to hand. Pray for these ‘Backyard Missionaries’ AND give The Sanctuary connection details to anyone you know in the Southern Illawarra that would benefit from the ministry of this Targeted Mission HUB, particularly with regard to their ‘Soul Recovery ALL Addictions’ weekly meeting 8pm Monday’s at Central Church Hall, 4 Fitzwilliam Street Port Kembla.
Weekly Pastoral Prayer Update (designed to spread points for prayer out for the week)
- 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! We particularly pray for the upcoming Illawarra Prayer Breakfast, that the churches of the Illawarra might be ‘In ONE-ness accord’.
- Thirdly each week we pray for the New Season of Mission Effort – we pray for the continued outworking of the 2021 commissioning as your servants work out with you, each calling, metron and scope of mission. (see also mission prayer points) – We thank you for the catalyst to our Pillar of ‘PREPARE’ that Brian and Nola’s ministry with us brought recently.
- 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)
- June was scheduled for a hip replacement last Tuesday 24th May. We have been praying and connecting, waiting to hear how things are. We know that her daughter Danielle is due to pick her up from RPA on Saturday. She is seeking prayer for a quick and effective rehabilitation. Her son and our mate Craig Blanch – for good medical test results and June’s friend Mim for her recovery after an accident and subsequent surgery recently. June has asked to convey her deepest gratitude for the prayers of our faithful, praying church family.
- Jono’s Dad Richard – we praise you Lord for answered prayer and we continue to uphold Richard and his whole family. It was great to see Richard’s smiling face on an FB post picture as Jono and Nicky were able to spend time with him last weekend. For Jono’s physical health at this time, particularly as he engages a new part-time work schedule to complement his church planting work.
- For Christine seeking prayer for wisdom and strength for her and her two sisters and the aged care consultants helping them care for their Mum in her own home, also for her family members who have been inundated with water during recent rains and their daughter with a broken arm.
- Julie B sends her love to the church family and asks for prayer for her Mum (a little frustrated with her dependence on others) and her sister recovering from long -covid. Julie asks us to pray also for all people to experience peace in these troubled times.
- Emma has asked us to pray for her kids Keo, Sonny and in particular Kalani who is struggling with some stuff currently. Pray for enduring peace and wisdom for Em and Tim as they work things out for their family. We Praise the Lord for some positive indications during the week.
- Please Keep Praying for these Brothers and sisters and situations –
- We continue praying for Murray and Julie and the Food for Life Community Care team as they think strategically about ways to streamline travel between pick up locations etc.
- We pray for the people doing it tough that our Food for Life volunteers come across weekly when they serve hampers off the truck; in particular we pray for Mich Grey at this time.
- We continue to petition our Lord Jesus for Heaven’s answers to the needs of so many who have lost significantly in these floods 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 for Dot and her family, Gwen, Jason, Maree and Jacki and their families.
- We pray healing for Maggie, Alex and Carol, and quite a few others in our family who are each dealing with a variety of ongoing health issues currently.
- We continue to pray for Harry, Joy and Greg, Elsie and Carolyn’s family, and for Kylie and her family and friends’ needs.
- We pray for complete healing from recent COVID symptoms for John, Beverley, Nick, Diana, Christian, and others affected across our network.
- We pray for our mission partner Mark Beaton and his wife Lou. Mark underwent some tests this week. We thank you for early positive results but continue to pray for good outcomes. Mark is Julie, Donna and Sandi’s cousin.
- Grant Wilson (Kiama Baptist Minister) whom Graeme saw recently. He is now back at home in Kiama and has started a minor regime of work. Pray for his continued good recovery, his family and the church as they deal with challenges in this time of transition. Grant has asked to pray that he has more grace for the long haul.
- 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 ask for the Holy Spirit’s leading and empowering as the team facilitates TWO fund raising events over this next couple of weeks.
- 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.
- 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 currently. LORD HAVE MERCY!
- We pray for this hepatitis and monkey pox outbreaks around the world and ask for You intervention Lord, bringing about a speedy restoration of health. LORD HAVE MERCY on those affected and those working out what’s happening.
- 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 senseless violent attacks on people in Togo and Ghana, Kenya, Myanmar, Papua (Indonesia), Eritrea, Burkina-Faso (particularly in the East where Jihadists seem hell bent on eradicating Christian facilitated education), Algeria and Indonesia, Nigeria, India, Iran, the Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
- 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 Hush – for the CCC HOPE Project Communications Team