"Messy Church" is an all age, activity based style of church service designed to have families interacting and sharing with each other. Born in the UK, it has now spread around the world as both a viable contemporary outreach and a style of congregation in its own right.
Angela, Wendy and a few others have been praying about Messy Church and took some of our children to the Messy Church congregation offered by Henley-Fulham Uniting Church. Full of ideas they have returned and will be offering a Christmas Messy Church on Saturday December 17 at our Seacombe Gardens centre.
Keep the night free to bring your family and keep an eye out for the advertising/ details.
Tuesday, 29 November 2011
Promoted to Glory - Rose Collyer
It is with sadness that we note that Rose Collyer was promoted to glory last Friday.
Rose was a beautiful part of our church family, famous in our neighbourhood for her walks with her big dog! She was a sweet lady that smiled her way through life and added so much to our community while she was with us.
A rememberance service for Rose will be held at our hall at 1pm on Monday.
Rose was a beautiful part of our church family, famous in our neighbourhood for her walks with her big dog! She was a sweet lady that smiled her way through life and added so much to our community while she was with us.
A rememberance service for Rose will be held at our hall at 1pm on Monday.
Congratulations Iris
The Federal government has this year announced awards in each electorate for volunteers. The awarding is coninciding with International Volunteers Day, December 5 (early next week).
Iris Collins has won an award within the Boothby electorate for her long term service to the community as a volunteers. Iris, in her usual humble way, has said this is a good opportunity for The Salvation Army to be seen. Of course, for the rest of us it is a great opportunity to recognise Iris and her service to God through The Salvation Army.
Iris will be presented her award by the federal member for Boothby, Andrew Southcott, at a ceremony on Thursday evening, December 1. Congratulations - and THANK YOU - Iris.
Iris Collins has won an award within the Boothby electorate for her long term service to the community as a volunteers. Iris, in her usual humble way, has said this is a good opportunity for The Salvation Army to be seen. Of course, for the rest of us it is a great opportunity to recognise Iris and her service to God through The Salvation Army.
Iris will be presented her award by the federal member for Boothby, Andrew Southcott, at a ceremony on Thursday evening, December 1. Congratulations - and THANK YOU - Iris.
Callum Wright
Our family celebrates again. Please pray for and congratulate Nathan and Chrissy on the birth of Callum James Wright-Baldock. Callum was born yesterday weighing 9lb 6oz. Chrissy and Callum are both doing well.
Thursday, 24 November 2011
Myer
Myer have been long term supporters of The Salvation Army. This year they have again launched the "Spirit of Christmas" CD, a collaboration of some of the country's best vocal talents, the profits from which will be donated to The Salvation Army.
As part of the CD launch, our singers were invited to go to Westfield Marion Myer to sing carols on Tuesday. For two hours we were able to wander the store singing carols, providing a background Christmas message to a few thousand invited shoppers. A great start to our carolling season.
As part of the CD launch, our singers were invited to go to Westfield Marion Myer to sing carols on Tuesday. For two hours we were able to wander the store singing carols, providing a background Christmas message to a few thousand invited shoppers. A great start to our carolling season.
Monday, 21 November 2011
Hall Hire at Marion
One of the means through which our Corps continues to connect with our community, and manages to supplement our income, is through the hire of our facilities to various groups during the week. Both our Seacombe and Glenelg centres have spaces that we can hire out to groups.
We are pretty fussy. Groups need to be compatible with our mission, have their own insurance and be flexible enough to allow for the needs of our Corps to come first. An example of this was in recent negotiations to move one such group to allow our Wednesday service use of the main hall at Seacombe Gardens.
We are also pretty careful with the rates we charge. Because of our legal situation we cannot be commercial hirers or providers of commercial rental spaces. The auditors check regularly to ensure that we are not placing ourselves at legal or financial risk - this means that Lynette often does a comparitive check to ensure our rates are in the right ball park.
I know of late that there have been enquiries about our rates from some members. Lynette can provide exact amounts for you, if you desire. However, the way that they are determined is fairly simple: we charge 'outside' groups a little less than 50% of retail rental for the space they use. Salvation Army uses get a 25% discount off of that low rate. Corps members recieve a 50% discount (on the already 50% rate). This means that our own members can have use of our facilities (power, water, urns, toilet paper, sound system etc) for less than a quarter of what it would cost for the same facility and equipment elsewhere.
Oh... and in case it comes up... we do not charge for funerals or weddings.
We are pretty fussy. Groups need to be compatible with our mission, have their own insurance and be flexible enough to allow for the needs of our Corps to come first. An example of this was in recent negotiations to move one such group to allow our Wednesday service use of the main hall at Seacombe Gardens.
We are also pretty careful with the rates we charge. Because of our legal situation we cannot be commercial hirers or providers of commercial rental spaces. The auditors check regularly to ensure that we are not placing ourselves at legal or financial risk - this means that Lynette often does a comparitive check to ensure our rates are in the right ball park.
I know of late that there have been enquiries about our rates from some members. Lynette can provide exact amounts for you, if you desire. However, the way that they are determined is fairly simple: we charge 'outside' groups a little less than 50% of retail rental for the space they use. Salvation Army uses get a 25% discount off of that low rate. Corps members recieve a 50% discount (on the already 50% rate). This means that our own members can have use of our facilities (power, water, urns, toilet paper, sound system etc) for less than a quarter of what it would cost for the same facility and equipment elsewhere.
Oh... and in case it comes up... we do not charge for funerals or weddings.
Gospel Arts
Saturday night saw the "Gospel Arts" concert held at Elder Hall. This was not a divisional or Corps event, but was devised by a group of Salvation Army personnel for the benefit of the Ingle Farm Youth programs - and just to have fun with some quality arts presentations.
Nights like this are rare, not least because of the effort involved in putting together such a quality presentation. Those that attended were treated to some world class performers. Keep your eye out for any such future events.
Nights like this are rare, not least because of the effort involved in putting together such a quality presentation. Those that attended were treated to some world class performers. Keep your eye out for any such future events.
KMart Wishing Tree
For the last 24 years KMart have sponsored a wishing tree in each of their stores. This tree, usually at the front of the store, or in the main aisle as at Marion, is where people can place a gift for a child to be distributed through a local charity prior to Christmas.
The wishing tree has grown so that now it is a national event whereby around 475,000 gifts will be distributed this year. The Salvation Army continues to be the national charity of choice for KMart and the distribution of toys, along with Brotherhood of St Laurence in some other states and Uniting Care in country areas where The Salvation Army no longer sustains a permanent presence (e.g. Port Pirie).
Thank you to the members of our own team who are helping with the appeal this year. Each day for the next six weeks we have 'toy couriers', counters, sorters and packers working so that in the week before Christmas our centre will distribute toys to around 350 families in the cities of Onkaparinga, Marion and Holdfast Bay. Pray for Kerryn and her team as they manage this process, and pray that the recipient families will not only experience joy with the gifts but get a glimpse of the Christmas message and the love and grace of God.
The wishing tree has grown so that now it is a national event whereby around 475,000 gifts will be distributed this year. The Salvation Army continues to be the national charity of choice for KMart and the distribution of toys, along with Brotherhood of St Laurence in some other states and Uniting Care in country areas where The Salvation Army no longer sustains a permanent presence (e.g. Port Pirie).
Thank you to the members of our own team who are helping with the appeal this year. Each day for the next six weeks we have 'toy couriers', counters, sorters and packers working so that in the week before Christmas our centre will distribute toys to around 350 families in the cities of Onkaparinga, Marion and Holdfast Bay. Pray for Kerryn and her team as they manage this process, and pray that the recipient families will not only experience joy with the gifts but get a glimpse of the Christmas message and the love and grace of God.
Tuesday, 15 November 2011
Gospel Arts Concert
A reminder to everyone in Adelaide that this weekend, on Saturday night at Elder Hall, there will be a great gospel arts concert that you will love! Styled after a night at the proms in England, it will include world class vocalists and instrumentalists, excellent ensemble work and great community singing.
Warm up your vocal chords, go to ticketek to book and join us on Saturday for all the fun and arts.
Warm up your vocal chords, go to ticketek to book and join us on Saturday for all the fun and arts.
God's Provision
A little while ago we spoke about someone in our community who needed a microwave just as one appeared.
This week the UPS (Uninterupted Power Supply) that we have at the Seacombe Centre to protect our computers etc started to play up. Essentially it's a big battery that keeps things going so that we don't lose our computer data or important information when there is a power supply.
It is going to cost us about $600 to replace. The day that it started to play up, $600 was found in our shop. While we are going through the process whereby we have handed this in to the police in case it has been lost, we can't help but feel that God is again making sure that we have the means with which to keep going. God provides.
This week the UPS (Uninterupted Power Supply) that we have at the Seacombe Centre to protect our computers etc started to play up. Essentially it's a big battery that keeps things going so that we don't lose our computer data or important information when there is a power supply.
It is going to cost us about $600 to replace. The day that it started to play up, $600 was found in our shop. While we are going through the process whereby we have handed this in to the police in case it has been lost, we can't help but feel that God is again making sure that we have the means with which to keep going. God provides.
Friday, 11 November 2011
Seeking Asylum in Australia
One of the hot issues of today, and one touched on by Tim Costello on Monday evening, is the issue of those people seeking asylum as refugees in Australia. The whole matter seems to lose perspective in what, I percieve, is an immature political debate. Here are some realities to get people looking at this issue, less from a fear perspective, and more from a constructive perspective...
We need, as a country, to rid ourselves of the irrational fear of refugees or general vulnerability and embrace mature discussion on this issue.
- Australia does not have a problem with illegal immigrants. There are two reasons for this: seeking asylum is not illegal, and our border control is one of the best in the world.
- Australia does not have a problem with boat people. More than 95% of people that arrive seeking asylum do so by plane!
- Australia is not being flooded with people seeking asylum. Compared to countries such as the US and those in Western Europe that have land borders we have a very small number of people seeking our help.
- Australia has demonstrated great hypocrisy in demanding that offshore processing sites are signatories to the refugee convention, as we do not uphold the refugee convention ourselves, despite being signatories. For example, we are obliged under the convention to process people that land in Australia here as expediently as possible, but have instead sent them away.
- More than 90% of people that Australia detains while processing their asylum requests end up being affirmed as refugees and settled in Australia. However, our current system of slow detention in unhelpful conditions is leading to many mental health issues. In the end, our slow, poor treatment of these refugees lands us with a large mental health bill that we would be rid of if we treated them humanely and processed claims on-shore and quickly.
We need, as a country, to rid ourselves of the irrational fear of refugees or general vulnerability and embrace mature discussion on this issue.
Thursday, 10 November 2011
Business
In the past we've been accused of letting business get in the way of ministry. Sadly, a reality of our current world is that statutory and regulatory requirements mean that a degree of concentration and intentionality is given to business practice.
Yesterday, Brad and Nathan attended the Divisional Business Day. These are held three times a year to bring officers and network directors in The Salvation Army up to speed with things that they need to be kept abreast of in the business/ legal world.
In coming months some significant things will impact our operations. Some of you would be aware of the Work Health Safety rules publicised through the Messenger Press this week. Because we are already a best practice centre, some of the impact described by other churches and charities in the paper will not be issues for us.
As well as this we are waiting for a decision from Fair Work Australia about the wage case claim made by the Australian Services Union on behalf of the social and community services sector. This could have a major impact on our service delivery, or at least our capacity to employ people in that sector.
In the meantime, please pray for us as we continue to attempt to be faithful stewards of the business, money, and people that God has placed in our care.
Yesterday, Brad and Nathan attended the Divisional Business Day. These are held three times a year to bring officers and network directors in The Salvation Army up to speed with things that they need to be kept abreast of in the business/ legal world.
In coming months some significant things will impact our operations. Some of you would be aware of the Work Health Safety rules publicised through the Messenger Press this week. Because we are already a best practice centre, some of the impact described by other churches and charities in the paper will not be issues for us.
As well as this we are waiting for a decision from Fair Work Australia about the wage case claim made by the Australian Services Union on behalf of the social and community services sector. This could have a major impact on our service delivery, or at least our capacity to employ people in that sector.
In the meantime, please pray for us as we continue to attempt to be faithful stewards of the business, money, and people that God has placed in our care.
Doris (Dot) Spencer
It is with sadness that we pass on the news that (Doris) Dot Spencer has been promoted to glory.
Dot was originally from the Colonel Light Gardens Corps and transferred to Glenelg in 1997. She became part of Marion Corps as we amalgamated last year. Dot was much loved by the people who knew her through the Corps.
Dot's funeral will be led by Major Laurie Venables. It will be held at Simplicity Funerals, Black Forest, on Tuesday November 15 at 10 am.
Dot was originally from the Colonel Light Gardens Corps and transferred to Glenelg in 1997. She became part of Marion Corps as we amalgamated last year. Dot was much loved by the people who knew her through the Corps.
Dot's funeral will be led by Major Laurie Venables. It will be held at Simplicity Funerals, Black Forest, on Tuesday November 15 at 10 am.
Tuesday, 8 November 2011
Walk Together, Talk Together
50 years ago, the men's fellowship groups from a variety of churches in Marion and Brighton got together for the first "Walk Together, Talk Together". This annual, ecumenical, men's night celebrated its half centenary last night at Holdfast Baptist Church, Somerton Campus.
Around 20 men from our church joined the celebrations. There were a few highlights, one of which was the guest speaker Rev Tim Costello, current CEO of World Vision Australia. Having approximately 280 men singing "Bread of Heaven" together was also something to be heard to be believed. And as is often the case with these events - there was a great meal.
The night highlighted our unity as Christians. It showed the importance of men being able to meet together (as was also discussed by the guest speaker). It demonstrated the capacity of the church to put together great events. It also highlighted how good our church is at serving - the ladies in the kitchen and hall were from Holdfast Baptist Church and Marion Salvos with their families!
Around 20 men from our church joined the celebrations. There were a few highlights, one of which was the guest speaker Rev Tim Costello, current CEO of World Vision Australia. Having approximately 280 men singing "Bread of Heaven" together was also something to be heard to be believed. And as is often the case with these events - there was a great meal.
The night highlighted our unity as Christians. It showed the importance of men being able to meet together (as was also discussed by the guest speaker). It demonstrated the capacity of the church to put together great events. It also highlighted how good our church is at serving - the ladies in the kitchen and hall were from Holdfast Baptist Church and Marion Salvos with their families!
Friday, 4 November 2011
Congratulations
Congratulations to Felix and Esther Chandrakumar on the birth of Olivia. Prayers and blessings on this special family, including older sister Felicia.
Wednesday, 2 November 2011
Update on National Schools Chaplaincy Program
Many of you would recall earlier posts on the High Court challenge to the federal funding of school chaplains. The High Court heart the case in August but is yet to deliver its decision.
However, 75,000 Australians signed the petition that was sent to the federal government at the time, supporting chaplaincy and the continued funding programme. In response, last month, the Gillard government confrimed its commitment to chaplains, and our children, by announcing continued support for the current chaplains and additional funding for 1000 more schools across the country.
This is great news. It is worth us also considering how we can support our chaplains. You might like to log on to the Schools Ministry Group website http://www.smg.asn.au/ to read about schools ministry in South Australia and the ways that you can support and pray for those that help our kids.
However, 75,000 Australians signed the petition that was sent to the federal government at the time, supporting chaplaincy and the continued funding programme. In response, last month, the Gillard government confrimed its commitment to chaplains, and our children, by announcing continued support for the current chaplains and additional funding for 1000 more schools across the country.
This is great news. It is worth us also considering how we can support our chaplains. You might like to log on to the Schools Ministry Group website http://www.smg.asn.au/ to read about schools ministry in South Australia and the ways that you can support and pray for those that help our kids.
Tuesday, 1 November 2011
Ascot Park Thrift Shop
Today we received approval for the expansion of the Thrift Shop at Ascot Park. While the shop has done very well under the leadership of Wendy and Tryntje, we are limited by our very small floor space and the hours we can currently operate.
Recently, a new business plan was written for the shop to include relocation to the neighbouring premises, the employment of a supervisor and the inclusion of a conversation/ mission/ prayer/ reading area to truly make the shop a mission centre.
It is hoped that we will move next door by the end of the month. Today we have advertised for a supervisor, who, when employed, will report to Greg Varidel, our current shop manager at Seacombe Gardens. This position will be part funded by The Salvation Army South Australia Division to help us establish the new and improved shop. It is viewed by the Division as an investment - once our shop is running smoothly it will support itself and our Glenelg campus ministries.
As a bonus, we have been able to obtain some extra shop fittings from a recently closed thrift shop. It seems that God is pulling this together for us nicely!
Recently, a new business plan was written for the shop to include relocation to the neighbouring premises, the employment of a supervisor and the inclusion of a conversation/ mission/ prayer/ reading area to truly make the shop a mission centre.
It is hoped that we will move next door by the end of the month. Today we have advertised for a supervisor, who, when employed, will report to Greg Varidel, our current shop manager at Seacombe Gardens. This position will be part funded by The Salvation Army South Australia Division to help us establish the new and improved shop. It is viewed by the Division as an investment - once our shop is running smoothly it will support itself and our Glenelg campus ministries.
As a bonus, we have been able to obtain some extra shop fittings from a recently closed thrift shop. It seems that God is pulling this together for us nicely!
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