Belong

Foodbank Australia

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We are aware that many in our community are struggling with loss of work and uncertain incomes. One way we can help is through supporting the foodbank. We are collecting resources to take down to the Foodbank in Bunbury. If you would like to donate, please bring your donations down to the church building while it is open during these times: Tuesdays to Thursdays 9:30am to 11am.

Items that cannot be accepted include:

  • regulated products such as alcohol, tobacco or drugs of dependence
  • products past its use by date
  • products more than 6 months past its best before date
  • products where the packaging seal has been broken
  • mouldy or rotting products
  • products where the cold chain has not been maintained
  • products subject to a safety recall, and
  • unlabelled products provided without ingredient details.

Any donations will be greatly appreciated.

Monday Fellowship Group

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We are a diverse group of men and women, mostly mature Christians, who meet each Monday to study God’s word. Our studies are based on prepared courses covering six weeks. The topics vary; some compiled by Jamie and Verity, and some adapted by Jan Capp.

Discussions are open and all members are encouraged to express their opinions. I sometimes have to close and discussion continue over afternoon tea.

When we started studying ‘Being Together’ the Roman Catholics in our group were concerned that it might be Anglican centred but we have all found the topic interesting and thought provoking.

We are aware of the evil of gossip, as against open discussion of concerns. Our group has developed into a  safe place where people feel free to raise matters of concern.  Free discussion with fellow Christians can be helpful in many ways.

Once a matter has been brought to light and viewed form different angles it may be proven to be unworthy of concern. Shared discussion may produce a solution that can be taken further.

Of course we need some wiser, mature Christians in our group to see that discussion doesn’t slip into gossip. We have those people. Next term we will be studying ‘Living Free’. We would love for you to join us.

Blessings,

Betty Frost

Australia Day Breakfast 2020

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On Sunday 26 January, St Nicholas was involved with the Australia Day breakfast along the Australind foreshore. It was great to see so many families and couples coming together to share in the celebration of those receiving their Australian Citizenships. Thank you to everyone who came down to help with the tea and coffee station and also to those who spent their breakfast along the foreshore. We hope to see you there again next year with the new natures playground that is currently in the works!!

Random Coffee

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Would you like to get to know your St Nic’s church family better? It can be as easy as inviting someone over for a cuppa!

Once a term, the Connect group of ladies who meet at St Nic’s on Wednesday nights, as part of their fellowship, conduct what we call ‘random coffees’. We pair up two ladies at random by pulling names out of a hat to have a cuppa at a location and time of their choosing. It is a wonderful opportunity to get to know one another better or to strengthen friendships. It is a chance to relax and have a longer chat than is possible while we are at church or Connect. It allows us to support and pray for one another and enjoy each other’s company. I have found the Random Coffees a wonderful time to relax and strengthen our faith while renewing and making new, wonderful friendships. It makes us stop with our busy lives for a short time to enjoy fellowship and friendship and worship together with a cuppa.

Who would you like to get to know better? How about inviting them over for a cuppa? Maybe your small group could adopt the ‘random coffee’ idea too? You could make a new friendship or strengthen an old one!

Wendy Dickenson

Robyn’s Testimony

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In 2018 I set myself a challenge to read the Chronological One Year Bible. This Bible is arranged in the order the events occurred in 365 daily readings.

At the time I had a New Age business and had studied various New Age practices over the past 20 years. I had a collection of crystals, books, essential oils, statues of various false gods, Oracle cards and assorted ‘tools’ for my business.

I was inspired by the testimony of a prominent ex-new Age woman named Doreen Virtue, who had recently had an encounter with Jesus. Doreen was a successful author (with Hay House), teacher, and a successful businesswoman in the New Age. She walked away from it all to follow Jesus.

At the end of 2017 Doreen announced she was going to do daily video posts for the 365 daily Bible readings. I decided to join in, along with thousands of others. Her daily commentaries and links to helpful videos really helped me to get through some challenging areas in the Old Testament.

My original thoughts were that I would still be able to have my feet in both worlds, keep up my new age work and read the bible. Four months in I threw out all my new age books, the essential oils, and many other items I had collected over the years. God’s words were sliding into my heart and I knew His words were the TRUTH. Two passages from the Bible that spoke to me were from Deuteronomy.

Deuteronomy 4: 16-20

So do not corrupt yourselves by making an idol in any form – whether of a man or a woman, an animal on the ground, a bird in the sky, a small animal that scurries along the ground, or a fish in the deepest sea. And when you look up into the sky and see the sun, moon, and stars – all the forces of heaven – don’t be seduced into worshiping them. The Lord your God gave them to all the people of earth.

At the time I was attending Full-Moon and New-Moon rituals, honoring the four directions, and believing certain animals, crystals, and false gods held various powerful energies that could enhance/improve my life.

Deuteronomy 18: 10-12

And do not let your people practice fortune-telling, or use sorcery, or interpret omens, or engage in witchcraft, or cast spells, or function as mediums or psychics, or call forth the spirits of the dead. Anyone who does these things is detestable to the Lord.

Reading that the things I was practicing were detestable to the Lord really hit me, because I honestly thought I was helping people.

Each of us comes to the Lord damaged. So, He begins a renovation program to repair our thoughts about Him, about others, and about ourselves.

(from Bob Gass)

Doreen often encouraged us to find a church to attend. She said having other Christians to support and encourage you was an important step. When Sunday would come around, I would make excuses as to why I couldn’t go. One day I was walking past St Nics and felt God was calling me to this church.

In May 2018 I attended St Nics for the first time. Being a person who finds going to unfamiliar places with people I don’t know very challenging, I was comforted by the warm welcome I received from Jamie, Verity and all the parishioners. I feel so blessed to have found this church. Since then I have completed the Alpha Course; which I found incredibly helpful and answered some of the questions I had, in easy and simple terms. Verity invited me to join the lovely ladies in the Connect group; where I have made valued friendships.

On Sunday 20th October I was Baptised and Confirmed by Bishop Ian, supported by my family and my church family.

John 3: 5-7

Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit.

The decision on January 1 2018, to begin to read the bible in one year, has changed my life. Instead of believing my thoughts created my reality, worshiping false gods and God’s creations, I now know that God is the one who walks with me, He is my provider, he is my redeemer, the one who forgives, and the one I worship.

Isaiah 55: 11

My word that goes out form my mouth will not return to Me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.

Blessings,

Robyn

 

St Nic’s Site Management Team

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This site management team has been assembled with the intention of carrying out as many general maintenance and capital works projects as possible, as and when required. Because we have come from varied work backgrounds we tend to complement one another with our different skill sets, talents and ideas. Consequently, we are getting the jobs done more quickly but just as importantly at the lowest possible cost.

Our team includes: Tony Wheeler, Trevor Freckleton, Struan Faed and Geoff Blechynden.

Although we have a team leader, he is not the one who is there to crack the whip. He is just there as a referral point for church management to report faults to or for work projects to be looked at, costed, approved by Parish council and then carried out. We also need someone to liaise with the other team members.

We have responsibility for the church main building, the heritage church, the op shop, and rectory and church grounds. When and where ever possible we endeavour to carry out the work ourselves without wanting to call in contractors.

We all feel that this is one of the ways we can make our contribution to church ministry and the wellbeing of the church.

Blessings,

Tony Wheeler

 

 

Biggest Morning Tea 2019

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St Nicholas was one of many places to hold the Biggest Morning Tea on Thursday the 30th of May raising money for the Cancer Council. This year’s numbers were up and there were a number of visitors who came in after seeing the sign out on the front fence.

This year we invited Alison Comparti who is chair of the South West Women’s Refuge to be our Guest Speaker. Alison’s message was excellent and she invited expressions of interest to people who may like to become involved either as active committee members or by coordinating groups of people to donate goods such as toiletries for the Women’s Refuge. It was great to know that Bonnies Op Shop and The Salvos in town are happy to receive donations of household goods and clothes that can be stored on their premises for those who leave the Centre sometimes with just the clothes they are wearing. Those leaving the temporary accommodation are given a card to show the Op Shop workers informing them of the client’s need of emergency assistance and that enables them to choose necessary goods free of charge.

God blessed us with a sunny morning and it was a joy to meet up with friends and to be able to browse and shop at the Craft Stall. A sincere thanks to Pam, Barbara and Eve who manned the stall and to the ladies who contributed by donating saleable goods.

The lucky door prize was a queen sized quilt donated by Shellagh was exquisite. Thank you so very much for the many hours spent machine embroidering the quilt. A thank you to Margaret for being our welcoming person as guests arrived, a thank you to everyone who worked in the kitchen, and to those who provided the delicious food served for morning tea. To the people who set up the chairs and tables and especially to Fran Craig who once again provided her exquisite china tea pots as decoration for each table, it was very much appreciated. Appreciation to you Fran for all you do so quietly behind the scenes.

The total takings we raised this year of $1,350.75 will be donated to the Cancer Council to be used for research.

My appreciation to everyone who helped in anyway and to everyone who attended.

Judith Newing

12 posts,12 months

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It has been a year since I started my role as Communications Officer at St Nic’s. One of my earliest and enduring initiatives has been separating the feature of our weekly print bulletin from our (almost!) as regular blog posts.

“Looking back only gives you a sore neck!” is a regular saying in my favourite sport, Supercars. However, at times looking back can be also be a pretty awesome and satisfying exercise.

So for this blog post, I am looking back at 12 of my favourite posts from the past 12 months. In no particular order (drumroll please):

Our Stories

Finding Her Voice
Blessings of a Moon-Boot
God-incidences
Millennials @ Church Part 1 & 2

Our Prayer life

1 Minute Prayer
Prayer Changes Things
United in Prayer

Our Community

Presenting the Marvellous Site Management Team

Our Personal Growth

Where is Your Sacred Space?
Journaling Part 1 & 2

Our Understanding

An Easter Reflection
The Good Gift of Power at Pentecost

Happy Reading everyone!

Get Involved! AMP Part 2: Finances & Budget

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Sunday 17th February – get it in the diary now! After our combined 9am service we will be hosting our Annual Meeting of Parishioners Part 2: Finances & Budget!

If you like numbers or are interested in stuff like income and expenditure you don’t want to miss this! This is when we will vote on our budget for 2019 – which Treasurer extraordinaire Ian has released for us all to analyse and dissect.

Again, please send in questions beforehand! Or better yet, come along to our Church Finances Q&A clinic Wednesday 13th 5pm-6pm and quiz the man (and our Wardens) yourself!

Psst in case you hadn’t heard, Wednesday Dinners are back! So why not stay after the clinic for a free meal! All welcome!