Sun, 22nd Jan 2017
The Motley Crew of the Church
In the Epistle for today, taken from
Paul’s first letter to the church in
Corinth, we find Paul lamenting
divisions. Friends have reported to me
that you quarrel a lot. It seems that
some of you boast, “I follow Paul,”
some, “I
follow Peter,”
and others, “I
follow
Apollos”.
There are
even some
who claim, “I
am Christ’s”.
What’s got
into you? Can
Christ’s body
be divided up
into little bits?
Divisions had
already
emerged in that young church in the
populous city of Corinth. This angered
Paul, and so his
letter is a stern
talking-to.
It is absolutely the case that a deep
common peace or harmony of mind
can be, and is, experienced in Christian
gatherings. Like on the day of
Pentecost, when “they were all together
in one place.” It still happens today. It
happens all the
time at Living
Faith Church.
All divisions can
fall away and for
a time, when we
are most open to
the Holy Spirit
moving, and
Christ is most
profoundly
present, we are
as one.
Still today, from
time to time,
churches
experience small-, or large-scale,
conflict of opinion, and on occasions,
considerable tension.
Paul was obviously
deeply hurt by the
divisions that had emerged early in the
church at Corinth. All the ingredients
for a severe split in the fellowship were
there. He wrote sharp words to warn
that when disputation led to break-up,
things had gone badly wrong.
himself was not immune to
disagreements. None of us in the
church are.
We Christians can be appallingly
ignorant – just like anyone else in
society. Whenever I see a preacher
Of course, Paul himself had strong
dogmatising as if he or she has all the
arguments with other people. For
answers, I recoil in embarrassment. By
example, he differed strongly with Peter the grace of God, we know a little, and
about some issues, but they kept their Jesus teaches us much. Yet none of
disputes within the peace of Christ.
us can claim to possess a fistful of
answers to every difficult ethical and
Later, Paul and his fellow missionary
religious question.
Barnabas finally split. They argued
about the worthiness of Mark to be a
The way of Christ is to seek to resolve
fellow apostle. Not able to agree, they any tensions prayerfully, and in a loving
went their separate ways, but still
and accepting way. For all of us alike
recognised each other as servants of
are children of God’s love, and all of us
the Gospel.
need understanding and forgiveness.
So Paul may have been affronted by
the danger of splits at Corinth, but he
Said with a Sheepish Grin
Jacob
Friendship Centre
Friendship Centre is to start up again
on Thursday, 2nd Feb.
1:00pm to 3:00pm
including afternoon tea for $2.
Activities available are:

Board Games,

Arts and
Crafts,

Table
Tennis,

Computer
Group, and

Carpet
Bowls if there are
people wanting to
play.
This Group
continues throughout
the year except in School
Holidays.
Enquiries to Graham, Bruce or Brian.
Brian
Electric Lifting
Chair
for Sale
We have an electric lifting chair, which
my Mum had for only 8 months, which
we would like to sell.
It is a Fisher Lane Mobility chair called
Menningham A.
It is electrically operated and can have
the footrest up, or the seat can lift and
tilt to help the user to stand.
It has a blue fabric which can be wiped
with a damp cloth for easy cleaning.
Cost would be $1100 or near offer
(new price was $2295.).
Full details are available on the web at
www.fisherlane.com.au/products.
Men's Breakfasts
Men’s Breakfasts are starting again on
the last Sunday of the month, each
month, held at:
"The Missing Bean Café"
at 8:00am.
The first is on Sun, 29th Jan.
No need to
book, but advise
Mike or Brian if
you can be
there.
Please call me if you are are interested
Brian or would like further details.
Glennys
Marching Group
Due to unforeseen circumstances
Janette will not be able to start
marching until probably Tuesday, 7th
March 2017.
KIDS HOPE AUS
IS SEEKING
VOLUNTEERS
KIDS HOPE AUS is seeking
passionate volunteers to assist
us in the month of January and
February at our national office
in Scoresby. The purpose of
this volunteer role is to provide
administrative support to the
team. We’re looking for helpers
who have a basic computer
knowledge and are willing to
help us with data entry tasks.
Janette
Ideally, you will have high
attention to detail and have the
ability to follow instructions as directed.
If that sounds like you and you have
some time to offer during January and
February we’d love to hear from you.
Please email us if you are interested
th
and provide a copy of your resume if
applicable to
Tuesday, 31st January is World Leprosy [email protected], or phone
03 9780 4823 if you would like further
Day. Every year on the last day of
information.
January, people all around the world
celebrate World Leprosy Day. It’s set
We would also appreciate if you could
aside to raise awareness of people
please advertise the below volunteer
affected by leprosy.
opportunity notice in your church
bulletin/ notice board or even send an
To mark this occasion, Living Faith
email through your churches
Church will be holding a special
communication method. Thank you for
Cuppa for a Cure morning tea after
your assistance.
church on Sunday, 29th January.
Please make a ‘Gold Coin’ donation
Blessings,
for your cuppa to help support those
Robyn
affected by leprosy and disability.
On behalf of KHA Team
Paul
KIDS HOPE AUS builds caring
relationships:
one child, one hour, one Church,
one school
Janette will let Marching Group people
know of any changes.
World Leprosy Day
Cuppa for a Cure
Morning Tea on
Sun, 29 January
Contacts at Living
Faith Church
Every 2 minutes… One person is diagnosed
with leprosy. What would Jesus do?
Good news! Together, you can stop others from
suffering like Laxmi.
Join us and help free people affected by leprosy Will you reach out like Laxmi's friend and
from the devastation of disability, isolation,
transform their lives?
poverty and rejection.
We encourage you to pray for people affected
Laxmi lives in Nepal. by leprosy. You can say a prayer in your private
Around two years
worship or with your loved ones, perhaps using
ago she developed The Leprosy Mission Prayer printed here.
nodules on the skin The Leprosy Mission Prayer
of her face, hands
and feet. Her hands Almighty Father, the giver of life and health,
look mercifully on those who suffer from
and feet were
leprosy.
swollen. She
experienced a
Stretch out your hand to touch and heal them
burning, tingling sensation in her feet as well.
as Jesus did during His earthly life.
She went to see her village’s traditional healer. Grant wisdom and insight to those who are
He told her that there was nothing he could do seeking the prevention and cure of the disease.
for her and that she had 3 months to live.
Give skill and sympathy to those who minister
Laxmi was terrified she would die within 3
to the patients.
months.
Reunite the separated with their families and
But Laxmi had a Christian friend who reached
out to her and invited her to church. As a result, friends.
Laxmi came to faith in Jesus and she now calls And inspire your people with the task set before
herself a Christian!
The Leprosy Mission,
Laxmi was eventually diagnosed with leprosy.
She underwent treatment and has finished her
year-long course of Multi Drug Therapy (MDT).
The nodules have disappeared from her face
and body. But treatment came too late.
Although she has no visible effects, Laxmi has
permanent loss of sensation in her hands and
feet. She struggles to work in the fields and
cook for her family.
That it may never lack either the staff or the
means to carry on its healing work,
In accordance with your will, and to the glory of
your holy name.
We ask for this for the sake of Jesus Christ,
your Son, our Lord,
Amen.
Website:
http://www.livingfaithchurch.org.au/
Phone: 9435-8797
Street Address: 37 Gri msh aw Street,
Greensborough 3088
Postal Address: PO Box 291,
Greensborough, 3088
Office Email Address:
[email protected]
Sunday Worship Times
10:00am - All-age Worship service
5:00pm - Worship @ 5
Ministers
Graeme Harrison: 15 Eldale Avenue,
Greensborough
Phone: 9434 5502
Mob: 0422 490 323
E-mail:
[email protected]
Glen Coleman:
Mob: 0414 524 536
E-mail:
[email protected]
Articles for
Getting Connected
Articles or information for publishing in
Getting Connected, should be sent to
Getting Connected by
6:00pm on Thursday evening.
Email
[email protected]
Summer
Programme
A programme to encourage parents
and children to ‘get church’ over
summer, so that summer is a useful,
learning time, rather than simply down
time, leading to and driving the
commitment to scripture understanding
in children and parents, together.
On Sunday we are reading from the
book of Mark.
If you are into arts and craft, maybe
you could make a diorama of the story.
That would be cool to see.
I pray God blesses your family this
week. It would be great to find out how
the Spirit has been moving in your life
and how you plan on responding to
that.
Alistair
From the
Presbytery of
Yarra Yarra
LifeAssist Forums on Home
Care Packages
Glen Waverley
March 7, 10am–12noon
UnitingCare lifeAssist
Ground Floor, Building 5
Brandon Business Park,
530-540 Springvale Road
Please RSVP on 1300 ASSIST (1300
277 478) or to [email protected]
Death and Dying: Looking at
End of Life Issues
Government funded home care is
changing in February 2017. Older
people will be given more choice and
flexibility over their package. LifeAssist
invites those interested to join them at
one of our five forums which will
discuss these changes. They will also
be exchanging ideas about the services
available beyond Council support, how
to navigate the aged care system and
break down the barriers surrounding
living at home longer.
Chirnside Park
January 31, 10am–12noon
Chirnside Park Country Club
68 Kingswood Drive
Doncaster
February 7, 10am–12noon
Manningham Function Centre
699 Doncaster Road
Rowville
Lots of laughter, lubrication and looking
at end of life issues. The Eastern
Metropolitan Region Palliative Care
Consortium are organising an evening
with Anny Byrne & Shelley O’Dwyer,
two cancer nurses from Gippsland
(Frock-up Promotions) and Die
Laughing with Jean Kittson. This event
includes information about palliative
care; death, dying and legal decisions;
and a humorous advance care planning
hypothetical. For further information
contact Karen Conte 8804 0651 or
email [email protected]
When: Thursday 23rd February 2017,
6.30pm for 7pm start Supper provided
Where: Waratah Room, Whitehorse
Centre, 379 Whithorse Rd,
Nunawading
Cost: $65 (all profits go to scholarships
for palliative care education of health
care workers in the Eastern
Metropolitan Region)
Transform Conference will be held
from 17th to 19th March 2017,
featuring Robyn Whitaker speaking on
the theme “Empires, Evil, and
Understanding the Sacraments is an
Evangelism: thinking about discipleship
introductory course for everyone
interested in a deeper understanding of and mission with the book of
Revelation.” For more info:
the sacraments of Baptism and the
www.transformgatherings.com
Lord's Supper (Holy Communion/
Eucharist) as practiced within the
Uniting Church in Australia. Prepare to
be encouraged, challenged and
inspired in a temporary but intentionally
supportive community of learning.
Everything You Want to Know
The dates of the first Sacraments
About Your Life’s Purpose
course for 2017 are:
Mon 6th Feb - 9am–5pm – Day 1:
How are your gifts being used in God’s
Sacraments, Baptism & Holy
mission to transform the world? What
Communion
on earth does God want you to do with
Mon 27th Feb 9am–5pm – Day 2:
your life? How would you even know?
Uniting Church practices, policies &
And what has the (Uniting) Church go
guidelines
to do with any of that?
Mon 20th Mar – 9am–4pm (optional) –
Day 3 (optional): class presentations & Join Rev Dr Jenny Byrnes (Head of
concluding Communion
Pilgrim Theological College) and
Rohan Pryor (CTM Lay Leadership
Event details, course resources &
Educator) to explore discernment and
costs, and online registration are
your life’s purpose on earth - all in just
available here: https://
half a day! Survey the broad terrain of
ucavt.goregister.com.au/
discipleship and ministry in the Uniting
sacraments2017/registration/
Church. Unwrap the gifts and ministries
or ring Rohan Pryor at CTM on 9340
of the whole people of God. Unearth
8816.
discernment, vocation, and formation.
Map the questions that arise.
Understanding Sacraments
Course Opportunities
February 14, 10am–12noon
Kingston Links Golf Club
14 Corporate Ave
Caulfield
March 2, 10am–12noon
Caulfield Park Pavilion
Balaclava Road
Transform Conference for
Young Adults
The next UCA young adults (18–35ish)
WHERE: Centre for Theology &
Ministry, 29 College Cres, Parkville,
3052
WHEN: Saturday, 4th February,
9:00am – 12.30 pm
COST: $5 contribution to BBQ lunch
following
RSVP: Tuesday, 31st January to
[email protected]
or 9340 88
Saturday
Night at the
Movies
What’s on this Week At Living Faith Church
Join us for the excellent movie
"LION"
on Sat, 4th Feb
(book your own tickets for the
session closest to 6:00pm)
This highly regarded film
(118min PG) is adapted from
a truly emotional true story of
a little five-year-old Northern
Indian boy
Saroo, who
becomes lost and ends up on
the streets and eventually an
orphanage in India.
Saturday, 21st January
c10:00am - Music Group 4
Sunday, 22nd January
10:00am - All-Age Worship
Monday, 23rd January
He finds safety and love by
being adopted by a loving Hobart couple.
Later, as a young man he seeks out his lost mother and brother in the land of his
birth.
The film stars Nicole Kidman, David Wenham and Dev Patel.
WHERE: Palace Cinema
233 Whitehorse Road Balwyn
followed by tea at Colombos 250 Whitehorse Road Balwyn.
This is our first movie night for some time so join us for a great night out - family,
friends, neighbours!
Val and Brian, Irene and Stewart.
Heartfelt Thanks from
Heather
Heather and family would like to thank every-one
at Living Faith Church for their thoughts and
prayers and cards which were so much
appreciated on the passing of Mike.
Heather
Tuesday, 24th January
Wednesday, 25th January
2:00pm - Caregivers and Friends meet - Group 2 - “Rozzi’s Café” - Contact:
Janet or Jacob
This is the first gathering for the year for this group, and the group will resume
the pattern of meeting every second and fourth Wednesdays of the month.
Thursday, 26th January
Friday, 27th January
Saturday, 28th January
c10:00am - Music Group 5
Sunday, 29th January
8:00am - Men’s Breakfast - Missing Bean Café - Contact: Mike/Brian
This is the first men’s breakfast for 2017, and will occur on the last Sunday of
each month. All welcome. No need to book, but let Brian or Mike know if you are
coming.
10:00am - All-Age Worship