Sunday 23 Aug 2015
SWEET SORROW
We have seen that Paul really loves the
Corinthian church. They are so
precious to him that he is willing to go
to great lengths to show it – including,
in the 2 Corinthians 7:2-11 passage,
seemingly harsh words which cause
pain. This is sometimes the role of an
apostle, a pastor, a teacher, or a
parent, and it is often very difficult.
Things sometimes are expressed
poorly,
misunderstood,
only half true, or
are so sensitive
that even gentle
words cause pain.
And yet to not
speak may mean
even more
suffering, the total
disconnection of relationships, and the
continuation of behaviours which led to
the problem in the
first place.
Paul makes it clear, over and over, that
his connection, affection and hopes for
them goes beyond that of a casual
observer, or an overseer.
Please open your hearts to us.
We have not done wrong to anyone,
nor led anyone astray,
nor taken advantage of anyone.
I’m not saying this to condemn you.
I said before that you are in our
hearts,
and we live or die
together with
you. (v. 2,3)
The kind of sorrow God
wants us to experience
leads us away from sin
This love deeply
desires that the
heart condition of
those in the
relationship
continues to grow in light of the gospel,
looking towards the coming kingdom.
Dealing with the joys and sorrows of
the relationship are
crucial to this. If we only
and results in salvation.
deal with the joys, and ignore the
painful things of life we become
disconnected with what it means to be
human. Similarly if we don’t deal with
the painful things, hiding them away
from ourselves and others, we
disconnect from and hurt one another,
and are unable to recognise the joys.
When our sorrows are a result of
sinfulness we can respond in a couple
of ways...
The kind of sorrow God wants us to
experience leads
us away from sin and results in
salvation. There’s no regret
for that kind of sorrow. But worldly
sorrow,
which lacks repentance, results in
spiritual death. (v. 10)
In order to love deeply we must
confront our sins and our sorrows and
discover the joy and sweetness of
being right with God and with one
another. Look at what Paul notices
amongst the Corinthians as they deal
with their sorrow...
A Sheepish Grin
Just see what this godly sorrow
produced in you!
Such earnestness, such concern to
clear yourselves,
such indignation, such alarm, such
longing to see me,
such zeal, and such a readiness to
punish wrong.
You showed that you have done
everything necessary to make things
right. (v. 11)
What a wonderful story of repentance,
and the transforming power of
relationships within a community. If
worldly sorrow results in spiritual death,
then spiritual life must flow from
experiencing sorrow on God’s terms.
This then is the payoff for persisting
with sometimes difficult relationships;
that life and love bring eternal rewards
that usher in God’s kingdom into our
midst with healing and joy.
Glen
PRAYER AFTER
THE 10:00 AM
SERVICE
The Elders offer the
opportunity for you to receive
prayer following the 10:00am
service. The prayer may be
for yourself or for someone
you know.
Just come to the front of the
church after the service and
sit in the front row. Someone
will be there to pray with you.
Glenis, Elder
PRAYER OF CONFESSION AND
INTERCESSION
Oh God, we don`t know
what lies ahead.
Therefore stay with us, so
that we may stay in you
and confess your name to
the end. Amen
© Ove Sander, Estonia
Prayer from Estonia
You, O Christ, have the
words of eternal life. You
are the Holy One of God,
but most Estonians don’t
know you. They don’t
know to whom they can
go. Many individuals are
desperate, addicted to
alcohol or drugs. Many
families are broken,
without love or peace.
They need you, Saviour,
week-35-estonia-latviaand so do we. May you
lithuania
be seen clearly through
your church so that others
may find your spirit which
gives life.
© Rev. Olav Pärnamets,
United Methodist
Church, Estonia
T HE LORD’S PRAYER
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
O Holy Spirit, flow over us your kingdom come, your
as rain over parched
will be done on earth as
fields so that new life
in heaven.
enters into the hearts of
Give us today our daily
all.
bread.
Pour yourself over our
Forgive us our sins
land so that it blooms and as we forgive those who
bears the fruit of
sin against us.
righteousness.
Save us from the time of
Encourage all to renew
trial and deliver us from
themselves in their mind
evil.
and spirit!
For the kingdom, the
You, Spirit of Strength,
power, and the glory are
make the weak strong,
yours now and for ever.
the fearful confident, the
Amen.
doubting faithful.
You, Spirit of Love, tie us
all together with your
bond of completeness so
that we live with our
neighbours in peace and
harmony without hate and
envy.
Refresh those who are in
trouble and sorrow and
make us all worthy to
praise and glorify you, O
God our Father, with new
hearts and tongues.
© Latvian Evangelical
Lutheran Church, Riga
Prayer from Latvia
Ref: https://
www.oikoumene.org/en/
resources/prayer-cycle/
THINK ABOUT:
Psalm 84
THINK ABOUT:
Ephesians 6: 10-20
For the director of music.
According to gittith. Of the Sons
of Korah. A psalm.
The armour of God
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his
mighty power. Put on the full armour of
How lovely is your dwelling place, LORD God, so that you can take your stand
Almighty! My soul yearns, even faints, against the devil’s schemes. For our
struggle is not against flesh and blood,
for the courts of the LORD; my heart
and my flesh cry out for the living God. but against the rulers, against the
authorities, against the powers of this
Even the sparrow has found a home,
dark world and against the spiritual
and the swallow a nest for herself,
forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
where she may have her young, a
Therefore put on the full armour of God,
place near your altar, LORD Almighty,
so that when the day of evil comes, you
my King and my God.
may be able to stand your ground, and
Blessed are those who dwell in your
after you have done everything, to
house; they are ever praising you.
stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of
Blessed are those whose strength is in truth buckled round your waist, with the
you, whose hearts are set on
breastplate of righteousness in place,
pilgrimage. As they pass through the
and with your feet fitted with the
Valley of Baka, they make it a place of readiness that comes from the gospel
springs; the autumn rains also cover it of peace. In addition to all this, take up
with pools. They go from strength to
the shield of faith, with which you can
strength, till each appears before God extinguish all the flaming arrows of the
in Zion.
evil one. Take the helmet of salvation
and the sword of the Spirit, which is the
Hear my prayer, LORD God Almighty;
listen to me, God of Jacob. Look on our word of God.
shield, O God; look with favor on your
And pray in the Spirit on all occasions
anointed one. Better is one day in your with all kinds of prayers and requests.
courts than a thousand elsewhere; I
With this in mind, be alert and always
would rather be a doorkeeper in the
keep on praying for all the Lord’s
house of my God than dwell in the tents people. Pray also for me, that
of the wicked. For the L ORD God is a
whenever I speak, words may be given
sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor me so that I will fearlessly make known
and honor; no good thing does he
the mystery of the gospel, for which I
withhold from those whose walk is
am an ambassador in chains. Pray that
blameless.
I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.
LORD Almighty, blessed is the one who
Ref: New International Version - UK
trusts in you.
(NIVUK)
Ref: New International Version - UK
(NIVUK)
READING OUR SONGS
MEN’S BREAKFAST
Last Sunday of the Month 'Men's Breakfast'.
Sunday, 30th August
at 8:00am
at Jolly Miller
Here are the dates for your calendar for the
remainder of 2015:
September:
October:
November
Sun, 27th Sep
Sun, 25th Oct
Sun, 29th Nov
Have you sat and read through the words of the
songs we sing, without the tune rambling around
in your head? Just the words, listening for the
meaning. Sometimes it is through silence we
come to understand these songs, a quiet
moment of reflection, a moment to hear God
speaking to us through the words. How do you
hear the words to . 10 000 Reasons
10 000 Reasons
Mike and Brian Written by: Jonas Myrin, Matt Redman
LIVING FAITH CRAFT STALL
After the great success of the first Living
Faith craft stall in 2014, we are holding our
second on, 22nd November, 2015. Get your
minds and hands busy with craft ideas. Any
inquiries see Leanne.
Leanne
LUNCH FOR A CHANGE
Join us for lunch
after church on
Sunday 30th August.
For a $2 donation you can
enjoy a tasty lunch and good
company.
Let Anita know if you have any
special dietary
needs and are
planning to
attend
Anita
Bless the Lord, Oh my soul,
Oh my soul, worship his holy name.
Sing like never before, Oh my soul,
I'll worship your holy name.
The sun comes up, it's a new day dawning,
It's time to sing your song again.
Whatever may pass and whatever lies
before me,
Let me be singing when the evening
comes.
You're rich in love and you're slow to anger,
Your name is great and your heart is kind.
For all your goodness, I will keep on
singing,
Ten thousand reasons for my heart to find
And on that day when my strength is failing,
The end draws near and my time has
come,
Still my soul will sing your praise unending,
Ten thousand years and then forevermore!
Bless the lord, oh my soul,
Oh my soul, worship his holy name.
Sing like never before, Oh my soul,
I'll worship your holy name
HAVE VAN, WILL
TRAVEL
NVS Cleaning Services.
KINGDOM PRAYERS
T UESDAY, 25TH AUGUST
7:30PM-8:00PM
WORSHIP CENTRE
Next Sunday
Next week, Paul Cameron,
Executive Officer of Churches of
Christ Vic/Tas will be speaking.
He has chosen Psalm 126 for the
reading and his theme will be
'How's Jerusalem?'
Our friend Varathan Raja needs
customers.
He does:
House cleaning.
Steam cleaning
Window cleaning
Guttering
Gardening
Painting
Rex
CONTACTS AT LIVING
FAITH CHURCH
STORY OF THE WEEK
AROUND AUSTRALIA
The Value of
Having a Mentor
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]
A story received from
a KIDS HOPE AUS Mentor/
Coordinator
Eighteen children were
selected by our new partner
school for mentoring and they
were each beautifully matched
with a mentor. All I can say is,
the early response has been
quite overwhelming! The
SUNDAY WORSHIP SERVICE T IMES
Principal has been simply
delighted
with each person I have
10:00am - All-age Morning Worship
introduced
her to, and the staff
service
incredibly receptive and welcoming.
One teacher emailed me yesterday so
MINISTERS
excited about the program starting, to
Graeme Harrison: 15 Eldale Avenue,
say, “I feel the value of having a
Greensborough
mentor is more important in supporting
Phone: 9434 5502
Simon to engage with learning than
Mob: 0422 490 323
anything else at the moment.”
E-mail:
[email protected]
Glen Coleman: 12 Porter Street,
Briar Hill, 3088
Phone: 9444 9410
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]
NEWS FROM THE
PRESBYTERY OF
YARRA YARRA



More mentors are needed at our local
school. Please speak to me for more
information.
KIDS HOPE AUS builds caring
relationships:
one child, one hour, one Church, one
school
Robyn (Coordinator)



energy? – Godfrey Moase,  Living Leadership
Assistant General Branch
intensive – Living
Secretary, National Union of
Leadership, resourced by
Workers
the CTM, works to
 What would it mean for
enhance the capacity of
Fundraiser for Asylum
Australia to be a good global
individual leaders and
Seeker Resource Centre
citizen? Collective values
leadership teams across
(ASRC): Glen Iris Rd UC will
and how they shape
the church to exercise
be hosting a Jazz evening
individuals, communities,
effective leadership. For
(and I see there will be
nations and global issues: Is
anyone in a leadership
cheese platters) on Friday,
Australia acting in line with
role eg. Ministers,
28th August at 7:00pm. to
our values in the global
Pastors, Chaplains,
arena?
–
Denisse
Sandoval,
raise funds for the ASRC.
Social
Justice
Officer
Ministry Leaders, Church
Justice and International
Council and Presbytery
Mission Unit convention –  Disability Inclusion – the
members. Oct 7-9 and
“What Kind of Australia Do
VicTas Synod’s Disability
Nov 4-6. More information
We Want To Be”. The 2015
Action Plan will be
here.
convention will be held on
launched by Victoria’s

National Guidelines for
Saturday 12th September at
Public Advocate, Colleen
the CTM in Parkville.
Spiritual Care in Aged
Pearce on Friday 25th
Registration available now.
Care survey – this project
September.0
Workshops included are:
commenced in March and
 Transform Conference –
Caring for the vulnerable
is supported by Uniting
“Let's talk about sex: the
requires more than air. If we
AgeWell, it is now
Bible, faith and
want good services to
conducting a survey and
relationships” is the theme
support people in hardship
invites anyone involved
of the second Transform
and help people reach their
with receiving or offering
2015 Conference for
full potential, how should we
aged care and support at
young adults, over the
fund them? - Dr Mark
home or living in
Zirnsak, Director, Justice &
weekend of September 25
retirement or residential
International Mission
-27, 2015 at Pallotti
aged care (including
How should Australia treat
College. Prof. Bill Loader
seniors themselves) to
First Peoples of this
is the key presenter, with
participate. This survey is
country? - Stuart McMillan,
lots of other great
important in
President of the Uniting
presenters and stuff!
understanding the views
Church in Australia
Some registration
and perceptions of how to
How should Australia treat
subsidies are available for
effectively support people
refugees and asylum
those not in full time paid
spiritually as they age.
seekers? - Jill Ruzbacky,
employment. For more
You can complete it here
Social Justice Officer
information:
Bethany Broadstock
Power to the people! How
www.transformgatherings.
Presbytery
Secretary
should Australia respond to
com
Big Polluters and clean
has been a revival
in the churches,
and several new
groups have
entered the country. The
WORLD COUNCIL OF
Evangelical Lutheran Church is
CHURCHES PRAYER CYCLE the largest Protestant church.
Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania Baptists and Pentecostals are
also well represented. The
SUN, 23RD AUG TO SAT, Russian Orthodox Church in
Latvia comes under the
29TH AUG
Moscow Patriarchate, and is
Estonia
therefore indirectly member of
Christianity was first brought to the WCC. There is an
Estonia from Denmark and
independent Old Believers
Germany, in the 13th century. church.
The country adopted the
Lithuania
Lutheran Reformation.
The Roman Catholic Church
Orthodoxy came to Estonia
has always been strong in
from Russia. In the 1990s a
Lithuania and continues to be
conflict emerged in the
the largest Christian presence
Orthodox Church, which was
eventually settled between the in the country. Under Soviet
Moscow Patriarchate and the influence the churches
Ecumenical Patriarchate by the experienced severe repression,
but the Roman Catholic Church
creation of two separate
was influential in the struggle
jurisdictions. Besides the
for Lithuanian independence.
Lutheran Church, the two
Orthodox churches and a small There are no WCC member
Methodist Church are also part churches based in this country.
of the WCC, through the wider
church structures to which they Intercessions
Give thanks for:
belong. There is a Baptist
Union, and several Pentecostal  The new life which has
emerged from the ashes of
and Evangelical groups are
communism.
active in Estonia.
 The churches, which have
Latvia
experienced new vitality
Latvia was Christianized in the
among the people of the
12th and 13th century, from the
Baltic states.
East (Orthodox) and the West
(Catholic). Part of the Catholic  Krisjanis Barons, who
collected more than a million
Church adopted the Lutheran
dainas (Latvian folksongs),
Reformation of the early 16th
some dating back 1,000
century. During the communist
years.
era, atheism was actively
 The Hill of Crosses near
promoted. Since then, there
Siauliai, Lithuania, and for all
the carved wooden crosses
and saints which mark
crossroads throughout
Lithuania.
 Ancient Estonian runic
chants based on lines of
eight syllables with a theme
gradually developing from
line to line.
 Smoked fish, hearty breads,
pancakes and berry pies.
Pray for:
 Economic improvement and
stability as these countries
convert their economies and
experience opportunities not
available in the past.
 Justice and strength for
those who speak out against
corruption.
 The large ethnic minorities in
each of these countries who
have found themselves
marginalized, vilified and at
times attacked.
 Care and guidance for
women clergy who seek
ways to respond to the call of
God in their lives.
 The shrinking of the gap
between rich and poor, and
for resources and
conscience to care for those
who have been left destitute
in a new economic system.
 The environment that has
been severely degraded by
heavy industrialization and
urbanization, and those who
must live with
the results of
polluted air, soil
and water.
What’s on this Week At Living Faith Church
Saturday, 22nd Aug
4:00pm - Music Group 4
Sunday, 23rd Aug
10:00am - All Age Morning Worship
Monday, 24th Aug
7:00pm - Primary Club - Partner Work - Contact: Rob
8:00pm - Monday Night Life Group - Contact: Bryan
Tuesday, 25th Aug
9:30am - Marching Group - Contact: Janette
10:00am - Playgroup - Contact: Bill
11:00am - Ministry Meeting @Manse - Contact: Graeme/Glen
1:30pm - Codgers - Contact: Stewart/Graham
7:30pm - Kingdom Prayers - Contact: Graeme/Glen
8:00pm - Elders Meeting - Contact: Janet
Wednesday, 26th Aug
2:00pm - Caregivers and Friends meet - Group 2 - Contact: Janet or Jacob
8:00pm - WEBS Life Group - In Recess - Resumes, 2nd Sep - Contact: Jacob
Thursday, 27th Aug
9:30am - Playgroup - Contact: Jan
1:00pm - Friendship Centre - Contact: Brian/Bruce
7:45pm - Thursday Night Life Group - Contact: Jeremy/Loris
Friday, 28th Aug
Saturday, 29th Aug
4:00pm - Music Group 5
Sunday, 30th Aug
8:00am - Men’s Breakfast - “Jolly Miller” - Contact: Mike/Brian
10:00am - All Age Morning Worship