ABC NEWS
Sunday 16th November, 2014
From the Pastor
At a Pastors seminar at Kew Baptist Church on Wednesday the speaker was Rev
Dr Paul Beasley-Murray, a Baptist minister from the UK who recently retired from
the church he had served for many years. It was encouraging and challenging to
listen to an experienced minister and author speak about key issues for ministers
and churches. He was sharing portions of a new book “Living out the Call” that
will soon be published. I found myself thinking how much I enjoy ministry and
how much I love the people whom I serve. I am still glad God called me to be a
Pastor. Paul spoke about Pastors and Churches caring for older people as people
of worth and value in the sight of God. I felt affirmed in that the day prior I had
spent a couple of hours engaging with senior people at an aged care facility.
Among other topics, Paul addressed topics like the Role of the Pastor as creative
liturgist and how the ultimate responsibility for a congregation’s worship lies with
the Minister. He also affirmed the Lord’s Supper as the climax to worship and the
emphasis of it as a sacrament, which is a means of grace. He urged that well
prepared prayers of intercession and confession be integrated and reading the
Word of God. Paul also addressed our need to care for non-conformers.
On Thursday night I represented the church at St Andrews Anglican Church for
the commissioning of their new Priest, Samuel Dow. I was sitting between two
colleagues: one from Our Lady’s Catholic Church, the other from St John’s Uniting
Church. In his address, the Bishop spoke of the work of the Holy Spirit. I found
this quite inspiring. Samuel is keen to meet up with me. The Catholic Priest is
familiar with our website and hoped to attend one of our services but they are at
the same time as his. Perhaps there will be fresh opportunities for ecumenical
cooperation in our area.
This week I have been reading Jeremiah. A key thought arising from the readings
is that God’s love has always been stronger than his anger.
Church Meeting
At today’s church meeting discussion will include
 Christmas Celebration on Friday 19th December
 Replacing our non-repairable organ
 Draft Constitution
 Church Cleaning
 I have been thinking about …..
Welcome to any visitors today. Please come and join with us
after the service for a cup of tea/coffee.
Worship Services
Today Sunday 16th November
10am: Leader – Daniel Braid
Speaker – Ken Westwood
Next Sunday 23rd November
10am: Leader – Michael Braid
Speaker – Rev Sylvia Griffiths
Rosters
Welcoming
Today: Leanne Lewis & Jenny King
Next Week: Peter & Beth McKinnon
Today: Laurie & Merilyn Wilson
Next Week: Ivan & Caroline Tudor
Birthdays
None this week.
Church Meeting and Lunch
TODAY our Quarterly Church Meeting will follow morning tea. As per usual we
will have lunch together during the meeting. At the meeting we will hear about
plans for our neighbourhood Christmas event
Musical Afternoon
The Keilor East-Airport West Uniting Church presents a Musical Afternoon
TODAY Sunday 16th Nov at 2pm at Penleigh & Essendon Grammar School’s
Auditorium, Rachelle Rd (Cnr Keilor Rd), Keilor East. Admission $10. Info: Ken
Baker 0438 066 071.
Buckley Park Association of Friends
Tuesday at 12.30pm Christmas Dinner
Hymn-Sing-Along
At 2pm NEXT Sunday 23rd November the Pascoe Vale South Uniting Church, Cnr
Cumberland Rd and Westgate St, Pascoe Vale South, will be holding a great
afternoon of singing of favourite hymns and choruses. Rev Ian Collings will be the
compere and Geoff Anderson the organist. Afternoon tea will be served
afterwards. Donations welcome. For more information contact Nancy Middling on
9357 3595.
Cleaning
Volunteers clean our building. We don’t employ anyone to do the work. There
are some gaps in our current cleaning roster. Please consider what cleaning
activity you might be able to do on a regular or occasional basis.
Christmas Celebration
Planning has commenced for our Christmas Celebration on Friday 19 th December.
If you have ideas to share or would like to be involved with the planning group
please talk to Ken, Robyn, Jane, Catherine and Daniel who are the members of
the group at this stage. Estate Agent signs have been booked to assist with
promotion of the event.
What’s On This Week
Sunday – Sunday Night Growth Group 7pm at Carmel’s home
Monday – CWA 12noon-3pm in function rooms
Monday – Young Adults 6.30pm dinner, 7.30pm study, see Daniel for more info
Tuesday – Play Group 10am-12noon in function rooms
Tuesday – Association of Friends 1.30-3.30pm in function rooms
Tuesday – Neighbourhood Watch 7.30-8.30pm in function rooms
Wednesday – Wednesday Evening Growth Group 7.30pm
Thursday – Parkinson’s Painting Group 10am-12noon
Friday – Make & Mingle 10am-12noon in function rooms $2
Friday – TNT The Bradshaw Games 6.45-8.30pm at Bradshaw St Reserve. $2.
Friday – G2G Barefoot Lawn Bowls 7-9.30pm. $5
Sunday – Prayer 9.15am in small meeting room
Prayer Points
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Praise God for our church family and our freedom to worship together
Pray for Christians worldwide who are being persecuted for their faith in Christ
Pray for the team preparing for our Christmas celebration in the car park
Pray for churches throughout our nation that they will be able to reach their
communities with the true meaning of Christmas
Bible League International: a group of university students in Senegal meet
regularly for prayer and Bible study behind the campus using Bible League
resources which are normally normally prohibited. Please pray for courage as
these young Christians follow in the steps of Jesus
ESA: Bruce asks for prayer for Access Ministries staff as they work with a
government department- DEECD towards SRI classes for next year. Please
pray that whis is required will make it possible for good numbers of pupils to
have SRI in 2015
Open Doors: North Korea- pray for the Christians in closed villages, prisons
and labour camps. Pray that God will give them strength and encourage them
through His Holy Spirit. Pray that they won’t break because of starvation, hard
labour and torture
Global Interaction: Zambia has a population of 15m which are primarily
Christian. Unemployment has risen to 60%. Pray for Keith Gallagher a GI
consultant working with the central Baptist Associations of Zambia, who are
committed to church growth and leadership training on over 400 churches
across the country
Pray for the children, teenagers, their parents and leaders who are planning to
attend the Port Fairy SUFM commencing on the 27th December
Pray for the students sitting Exams or completing assignments this week
Pray for the containment of Ebola Virus
People for prayer this week: Peter Whiteley, David Thomas (brother of Faye
Arkethon), John Kear, Craig O’Donnell and Fina Blanco (broken arm)
Ministry for prayer: Baptcare Family Services
ABC News Items for ABC News. Email to aberbaps@bigpond.net.au or place
in tray in Church office by 12noon Thursday.
Church Contact Details
Church Office: 5 Price Street Essendon
Phone: 9337 9955 Fax: 9337 0877 Website: http://www.aberbaps.com.au
Email: aberbaps@bigpond.net.au
Pastor: Ken Westwood
Mobile: 0419 505 265 Home: 9331 2123
Elder: Val Brown 9338 3616