Yesterday was a great opportunity for our Corps. The church was featured in the main Adelaide new bulletins on channels seven and nine.
While the broadcasts were focussed on our Christmas distributions to the community, they were also a great opportunity to portray our church as one which serves. Channel 9 gave great focus on our facilities as well and spent time interviewing volunteers, clients and staff.
Thank you to Kerryn, Anne and all the team that helped.
Over 1000 children recieved gifts through yesterday's activities. Today the team are offering food hampers for people. We are grateful to the community for their generosity that makes it possible.
Wednesday, 21 December 2011
Monday, 19 December 2011
Christmas Cheer
Christmas Cheer has had its realisation in a number of way for us here at Marion.
Last week the band were able to play to residents in Bucklands and Pines nursing homes, visit two of the boarding houses in Glenelg, play on Jetty Road and also play to shoppers at Westfield Marion.
Our children's ministries were able to have parties at both Busy Bee and First Steps playgroups, and enjoy a Christmas celebration at both Junior Soldiers and Kidzone. Being able to speak the meaning of Christmas into the lives of children is such an honour.
Our youth ministries finished up the year on a note of service. Over 30 gathered to help unpack the toys that had been collected from theKMart Wishing Tree ready for distribution to our community.
We've joined with local businesses to support our community. Bedford Park Westpac, The Commonwealth Bank branches at Hallett Cove, Marion, Glenelg and Brighton, Bunnings Marion and Westfield are all joining in our ministry to the community. This week over 300 families will be blessed with toys for their children (over 1000 children will be supported). Even now, I can hear the guys from Westpac busily helping in the hall as they set up for our distribution week.
Referrals have come in from country and interstate Corps to ask for assistance with their community members that are in Flinders hospital.
Last week 2 people came into our centre asking to speak to people about God. For Kim there was a new realisation that God was real and loved her. For Michael there was a reconnection with God.
Messy Church was launched on Saturday. 40 people came, half of whom were not previously connected with our Corps or a worshipping community. Please pray that as we worship with them and the families play together in this uniqued church environment, they will come to embrace God in their lives also.
For all of this, we need to thank God and our amazing team here at the Corps. Thank you to everyone who has helped with the Carol Service or the Collecting. Thank you to everyone who has been collecting or spoken in the schools. Thank you to everyone who has picked up toys and food, or handed it out. Our community is a better place because you have served this Christmas season.
Last week the band were able to play to residents in Bucklands and Pines nursing homes, visit two of the boarding houses in Glenelg, play on Jetty Road and also play to shoppers at Westfield Marion.
Our children's ministries were able to have parties at both Busy Bee and First Steps playgroups, and enjoy a Christmas celebration at both Junior Soldiers and Kidzone. Being able to speak the meaning of Christmas into the lives of children is such an honour.
Our youth ministries finished up the year on a note of service. Over 30 gathered to help unpack the toys that had been collected from theKMart Wishing Tree ready for distribution to our community.
We've joined with local businesses to support our community. Bedford Park Westpac, The Commonwealth Bank branches at Hallett Cove, Marion, Glenelg and Brighton, Bunnings Marion and Westfield are all joining in our ministry to the community. This week over 300 families will be blessed with toys for their children (over 1000 children will be supported). Even now, I can hear the guys from Westpac busily helping in the hall as they set up for our distribution week.
Referrals have come in from country and interstate Corps to ask for assistance with their community members that are in Flinders hospital.
Last week 2 people came into our centre asking to speak to people about God. For Kim there was a new realisation that God was real and loved her. For Michael there was a reconnection with God.
Messy Church was launched on Saturday. 40 people came, half of whom were not previously connected with our Corps or a worshipping community. Please pray that as we worship with them and the families play together in this uniqued church environment, they will come to embrace God in their lives also.
For all of this, we need to thank God and our amazing team here at the Corps. Thank you to everyone who has helped with the Carol Service or the Collecting. Thank you to everyone who has been collecting or spoken in the schools. Thank you to everyone who has picked up toys and food, or handed it out. Our community is a better place because you have served this Christmas season.
Monday, 12 December 2011
Commissioning
What a weekend. Thank you to everyone at Marion for releasing our Corps Officer team to attend a wedding and Commissioning in Melbourne. Thank you, especially, to Majors Harry and Loris and Catherine and Craig for leading services in our absence.
Commissioning is a big event in Salvation Army circles. It occurs over three significant services. In the first, officers covenant with God their availability to serve. In the second, they are ordained as ministers of the gospel of Jesus Christ and commissioned as officers in The Salvation Army. In the third, they are vested with the authority of leadership and given their first appointment as commissioned officers.
This Commissioning weekend had some significance for us here at Marion as we had links with a few of the cadets, now lieutenants. Katherine Baudinette (nee Rowe) is Nathan's sister. She was commissioned and appointed as a Corps Officer at Richmond, in Victoria. Fiona Kean (nee Hailes) attended the Corps (at Seacombe) as a child. She, with her husband Matthew, were commissioned and appointed as Corps Officers at Hobsons Bay in Victoria (a multi-campus merger of Altona and Williamstown Corps). Marie Kovacs spent part of this year on 'out training' placement here at Marion. She was commissioned and appointed as the assistant corps officer at Sunshine in Victoria.
Please pray for our friends over the coming months as they prepare to move to their new homes and appointments.
Commissioning is a big event in Salvation Army circles. It occurs over three significant services. In the first, officers covenant with God their availability to serve. In the second, they are ordained as ministers of the gospel of Jesus Christ and commissioned as officers in The Salvation Army. In the third, they are vested with the authority of leadership and given their first appointment as commissioned officers.
This Commissioning weekend had some significance for us here at Marion as we had links with a few of the cadets, now lieutenants. Katherine Baudinette (nee Rowe) is Nathan's sister. She was commissioned and appointed as a Corps Officer at Richmond, in Victoria. Fiona Kean (nee Hailes) attended the Corps (at Seacombe) as a child. She, with her husband Matthew, were commissioned and appointed as Corps Officers at Hobsons Bay in Victoria (a multi-campus merger of Altona and Williamstown Corps). Marie Kovacs spent part of this year on 'out training' placement here at Marion. She was commissioned and appointed as the assistant corps officer at Sunshine in Victoria.
Please pray for our friends over the coming months as they prepare to move to their new homes and appointments.
Thursday, 8 December 2011
Carolling
I have noticed that I have not been on the blog much this week. It's that time of year.
But the opportunities that have been presented to us already this year have been amazing.
We have been able to shine God's light through our presence at Christmas activities at:
Marion Primary School
Braeview Primary School
Brighton Primary School
Brighton Secondary School
Aberfoyle Park Campus School and Pre School
Brighton Beach
Myer Marion
KMart Marion
And we've only just begun! Within the next three weeks the band will play in Westfield, Nursing Homes and on the streets. The CSS Team will continue to connect with schools and with the community. 400 families will receive assistane with toys... and we're not sure how many we'll help with food. Another 120 families will be helped through the financial counselling service and over 120 seniors will remember their day on Tuesday, celebrating the arrival of Christ, with our Pioneer's Companion Club break up.
During the next week, the Junior Soldiers, Playgroup and Kidzone will have Christmas events and our youth group will be serving the community - they're helping sort the toys for CSS.
It's a busy season. But we love the chances we now have to mention Christ and to be Christ to our community. Think about the opportunities you will have as an individual; remember to invite your friends to our carols services on the 18th, too.
But the opportunities that have been presented to us already this year have been amazing.
We have been able to shine God's light through our presence at Christmas activities at:
Marion Primary School
Braeview Primary School
Brighton Primary School
Brighton Secondary School
Aberfoyle Park Campus School and Pre School
Brighton Beach
Myer Marion
KMart Marion
And we've only just begun! Within the next three weeks the band will play in Westfield, Nursing Homes and on the streets. The CSS Team will continue to connect with schools and with the community. 400 families will receive assistane with toys... and we're not sure how many we'll help with food. Another 120 families will be helped through the financial counselling service and over 120 seniors will remember their day on Tuesday, celebrating the arrival of Christ, with our Pioneer's Companion Club break up.
During the next week, the Junior Soldiers, Playgroup and Kidzone will have Christmas events and our youth group will be serving the community - they're helping sort the toys for CSS.
It's a busy season. But we love the chances we now have to mention Christ and to be Christ to our community. Think about the opportunities you will have as an individual; remember to invite your friends to our carols services on the 18th, too.
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