Easter weekend

Hi Church,

The Lord is good! We had such a marvellous Easter weekend. Salvations at the two morning services. 5 Baptisms on Friday. Sunday night “More” at 5:00 pm had prophecy, healing, deliverance, baptism in the Spirit, passionate worship, joy with laughter.

 Plus the Lake Cathie life group led by Justin and Kaidee did a combined church outreach which saw 150 plus community people with kids enjoy a massive family fun afternoon with Gospel preaching. So a big thank you to everyone who contributed and helped in any way across a very impacting Easter. We ministered to a lot of people, and many were blessed and encouraged. Also, a big Thank you to all who gave to the love offering to bless Paul and Monika.

Paul and Monika’s messages to us were outstanding and I encourage you to listen again when online. We were also very encouraged by the Prophetic Word that Paul gave to the Church that saw us as a massive billion dollar yacht, that had three tall masts and three massive sails.  He saw us being taken out of the docks and moving into the open waters with speed.  Many were going to get on board, and everyone will have a task and a function given by God and every person will work with what God has gifted in their hands.

The three masts will represent 1. the Word of God for Prayer and revival, 2. The Spirit of God for here is where He is honoured and revered and 3. Community on Commission for the advancement of the Kingdom.  Signs and wonders will become the norm and Gods “Agapeo” love will be seen by all in Port Macquarie.  Paul called the Leadership of Grace to not worry if the vessel gets heavy and too slow. He also said don’t rely on human motor strength or becoming too comfortable and to doc in the harbour. And He said be careful of large waves and submerged icebergs. 

This is a strong word which is both confirming to the Leadership team and encouraging us.

So we give thanks to the Lord for all He has done and will continue to do. Also please be in prayer for those who have recently suffered broken bones. Jane Bax and Katie Young. Both of these ladies required extensive surgery and metal plates.  Let’s believe there will be no disability or ongoing pain, but total and complete healing.

Let’s pray for the Teisen family as they near the end of their stay in USA and be generous towards their needs as they complete the 6 months of Holy Spirit schooling.

This week we look ahead to an exciting Men’s Breakfast with Des from Momentum Men’s ministry. Please text RSVP to Paul Mapstone 0414 850583 if coming and remember cost increase to $10 with proceeds going to EDM.

I will be preaching Sunday and I look forward to completing the series of Stick to the Game plan. Then Amanda and I will be away for 1 week following to visit our newly married son, Peter and Daughter in-law Milly and other son Jared who live in Melbourne.

Love you Church.

Ps Greg and Amanda

Come and be refreshed

Hi Church,

Thank you for gathering and worshipping God whole heartedly. The power and the presence of Jesus was evident to all as we worshipped boldly and loudly claiming “Our Victory is in Jesus Name! For this is how we fight our battles”.

There is much in life that attempts to defeat us and turn us and cause doubt with in us. But when we turn our thoughts, our hearts and our confession onto Jesus our Saviour King the enemy has to flee, and our encouragement of spirit is renewed in the Lord.

Ps 118:13 says Ï was pushed back and about to fall, but the Lord helped me. 14 The Lord is my strength and my defence; he has become my salvation. Amen! When you feel pushed back by the enemy get ready for your come back, because the Lord is on your side.

Thank you to Carin Bohlscheid who shared the word of the Lord so richly with us. Carin encouraged us to stay refreshed in the Lord so that we can go the distance. Like an ultra-marathon runner (Carin’s father Dicky van Dyke as example and reference) we need to take regular refreshment breaks to be able to run the race marked out for us and cross the line with great joy, not limp and drag ourselves across, dehydrated, because we ran on nothing but our own will. Here are Carin’s 4 key points for hunger in God’s word to stay refreshed and energised:

1.         Feed the appetite you have, a little can become a lot through regular eating.

2.         Starve competing appetites, recognise what is un-necessary and stop it.

3.         Apply truth, knowledge without application is just information.

4.         Make simple adjustments, sudden drastic changes don’t last.

Make sure you catch up on the detail of Carin’s very encouraging message when posted online and share it with your friends.

Easter will soon be upon us and it is time to pause and reflect on the Victory Jesus brought to us through His death and resurrection. Please take the time to read through the passages that lead us to the cross and then the empty tomb, start your reading from Matthew 21 to 28. Let Holy Spirit speak into your heart the depth of Jesus love for you and the full weight of the sin of the world placed upon the innocent lamb who was sacrificed instead of us. 

This weekend will be meaningful and powerful and can I encourage you to bring a friend as Paul and Monica Zanardo will be sharing with us great truth and ministering in great power of the Holy Spirit. Paul is a prophet evangelist, and his gift will bring light to darkness and freedom to captives. Monika is an enthusiastic teacher of the word and resurrection Sunday will be a buzz with gospel truth. Sunday evening will be our Powerhouse encounter night with both being released to minister in freedom whilst we worship boldly together. Come with expectant hearts.

Now if you haven’t been baptised this is your week because Wednesday night will be teaching night at 7:00pm at the church and then Good Friday is the day your sins will be washed away in the Hastings River at McInherney Park from 12:00pm. Join us for a Picnic all welcome, bring your own everything.

There is a lot to look forward to and enjoy, so come expectant, come be revived, come with a friend to be saved, come let us worship the Lord with gladness.

Love Ps Greg and Amanda

Impact of a changed life

Hi Church

The last 7 days has been a very encouraging time for myself and for Grace Church. Last week I had the privilege of being at the IN Him conference with GCC Life Church in Leichardt Sydney. It was very encouraging to be in a setting where Teaching, Prophecy, Apostolic, Pastoring and Evangelist gifts were all present and ministering to those that gathered. I was able to connect with several leaders who showed interest in attending as speakers at our Powerhouse conference in late July/August.  I also received some personal prophetic encouragement.

Its when we recognise a gift and have an expectancy of growth that we see how quickly the church can mature into in ministry functions. Like on Sunday recognising Martin Garcia as a five fold ministry gift to the church to help in our maturity in evangelism, straight away after the service we were able to see people come to faith. What was taking a long time became instant as the gift matured us into action.  And Praise God what a delight to lead a gentleman and his son to receive salvation and Jesus as his Lord.

Martin’s preaching was taken out of the scripture Luke 8:28-39 The Healing and deliverance of the Man with a legion of Demons. He showed us the reality of the Mans Condition, The Conversion of the Man as He met Jesus and the Commission of the Man, who was later sent to tell the good news of His freedom in Christ. Martin told some wonderful stories which added to the teaching about his own heritage and the conversion of his own Parents and even himself in Melbourne as a teenager. I was specifically moved by the Conversion of the demon possessed man came as a result of Jesus attention, Jesus’ authority, and Jesus’ affection for him. Martin challenged us to give the same attention and release His authority and affection to the people around us.

He also brought a challenge to us to set our phone alarms for 2:47 each day. Why, because in Acts 2:47 it says “the Lord added daily to the Church those who were being saved.” So we can pray for that to happen to our church and in deed all the churches for the region.

A moment of gratitude was shared for Warren Shepherd as he retires from 15 years of service, cleaning and mowing the lawns at Grace Church. Warren with great diligence served in this area at very low expenditure to the Church family and for that we are so grateful. He will be greatly missed form this job and it will be very expensive to replace him. For those who would like to take up part of what Warren did please contact Church office.

Thank you to those who attended the celebration of life service for Phil Baker. It was great to see the richness of Phil’s faith expressed through his and Gail’s family. And listen to the many stories of admiration and love.  Gail felt greatly supported by those attended. Let’s remember to pray for Gail and support her in days to come when she will be left alone and family all return to their normal places and schedule, but hers is forever changed. 

I’m looking forward to Easter to celebrate and remember Jesus and what He has won for us through the Cross. Also, Ps Paul Zanardo and Monica Zanardo will be with us and I’m believing for a powerfully supernatural time. Remember baptism is available on Good Friday so please make connection ASAP about attending teaching class and participating.  Sunday evening at 5:00pm will be an amazing time to gather for renewal. Let’s bring someone who needs Heavens Touch. 

Praying for the continual power and presence of Jesus to enrich us all for His glory.

Love Greg and Amanda.

Simple Hospitality

Hi Church!

What a wonderful family service Sunday to be a part of. Being seated around the tables released something special not felt for a long time in Grace Church. The buzz of friendliness and connection was contagious and noisy! Just like any family dinner when all whom you love are gathered. Hospitality was our theme for the day and the multi-generations all contributed something that was special to the day. Of course, Carin and Kaidee did steal the day with their crazy cook off with different ingredients used by each.  Cream and Butter verse sand/rocks/weeds not sure that’s a good alternative. Anyway it was a solid reminder for us to consider the ingredients that are going into our life and the likely outcome of good verses bad input. 

Some other good input of our time around the table was Neve’s communion message and the short video compilation of World Changers Youth and all the fun they have on Friday nights. The young people are growing in numbers of gathering and depth of faith and it was exciting to see their energetic enthusiasm. More good news in the youth area is how Pastor Debbie is now mentoring a number of Youth in instruments and voice with the plan to assimilate them into our regular worship team for Sundays. Please pray that these brave young people will not be afraid or intimidated but make a bold new sound for their generation.

Being around a table on Sunday reminded us all how important hospitality is to the gospel and that it’s a cure for the loneliness epidemic which is in the church and in our society. Don’t be fooled that everyone is too busy for church, most people have said in surveys they would attend an event if personally invited. People are hungry to belong. Let’s make that our goal to help people belong in our church family through hospitality so that they can believe and then become all that God intends for them.  True hospitality is inviting someone into your spaces so that you can be Jesus to them.  The majority of Jesus ministry was done through the outworking of generous hospitality. Let’s follow his example. Remember for the most part a stranger is a friend you just haven’t met yet.

This week I will be away at Conference called IN Him at Glorious Gospel Church in Leichardt Sydney. It’s a conference based on the five-fold ministry gifts Eph 4:11-12.  I love this type of conference because I come away feeling equipped and encouraged and inspired to minister for His Glory and discover new ways for own conference later in the year.

The Coming weekend will be encouraging at Grace with a wonderful minister of the Gospel, Martin Garcia. Martin is from Word of Life Youth Discipleship Ministry, based at Laurieton and his passion to reach the lost both here and globally is truly inspiring. Phil Baker’s celebration of life service will be held Sunday afternoon at 3:00pm, please wear something blue for Phil. Please inform Gail ASAP if attending for catering purposes.

If you would like to be gathered around tables more often in the future then please inform me.

“God is in this House” we sang that song over the weekend, and it stays with me now as a declaration over Grace Church. Let’s continue to love Him passionately and Love each other deeply and we will grow for His glory.

Let there be More in 2024!!  In Christ Together.

Ps Greg and Amanda

A weekend of Grace

HI Church 

Thank you for being part of a marvellous weekend with our special guests Ps David and Ps Narelle Crabtree. They were with our Executive Leadership team and Staff on Friday, then the Men’s and Women’s Ministry on Saturday and then two services on Sunday. Their time with us was so enriching as they explained and worked their way through the necessity of a true New Testament understanding of God’s grace.

David and Narelle pointed out that grace is so much more than unmerited favour, that in fact it’s God’s empowering presence. This grace is received through faith in Jesus’ work on the Cross so we can enter into His rest, which is expressed through His love, forgiveness, acceptance, adoption, righteousness and more….  

David went on to share about the importance of Joy in our community together. This only happens as we take delight in each other as forgiven, members of His family, loved by God. This type of love is called Sticky Love. It’s the Hebrew definition of Love not the Greek version. Sticky love means that no matter what, we remain committed to each other. We need that type of love in these days of church consumerism. 

A particular highlight from Narelle’s preaching was the prophetic call she gave to the youth to be present with the presence of Jesus to their generation when they are hurting and alone. Narelle also called us to honour each other‘s generation by recognising the grace of God in each other and blessing each other. A prophetic word was given for the whole of Grace church, which was, that we were an island oasis in a sea of water, where people were coming for healing and hope. 

Thank you to Ps Debbie-Ann who prepared two great worship sets and introduced a new song that could not have been more on point, as it called us to live in the more of God as we lived from a fountain of God’s grace. 

This week will be our first Family service for 2024 and I’m looking forward to sharing a good word to encourage our families, with our generations all contributing to our time together. Don’t forget we will share a BBQ lunch straight after the service.  

For those looking to attend memorial services and support our Grace church family we note the following: - 

1. Graeme Stewart – Innes Garden Chapel- Monday 11th March 10:00 am

2.  Phil Baker – Grace Church - Sunday 17 Mar at 3pm

Thank you Church for continuing to be generous and caring. 

In His love

Greg and Amanda

Keeping to the Game plan

HI Church,

This week we continued our teaching series on Keeping to the Game plan as we see in 1 Peter 4:7-11.  In these times of the end when wars are increasing, poverty is increasing, evil is increasing all across the word, we can be sure that God has a plan to help us make it to the finish line.

So Peter writes to us to be alert, to be praying and be loving. And whilst I didn’t complete the message, yet the truth of Gods word so far encouraged us to live a life that wasn’t afraid, that is committed to prayer and committed to each other with a love that covers over each other’s multitude of sins, just like the love we received from God the Father when he first saved us. Constantly remembering how we were saved from our sin with the Father’s great Love will help us to love others around us. For those who have been forgiven much will love much.

Sadly, during the service, we received the news that our Brother in Christ, Phil Baker had passed away that morning and so our prayers of love and comfort are with his wife Gail and her family. We also learnt that Colleen Palmer had also been with her father Graeme Stuart when he passed away during the evening. And so we lift Colleen and her family to the Lord in prayer as well for peace and comfort in their grief. 

Both Graeme and Phil had suffered in their bodies in their final months and so it was with great relief and God’s mercy that they were received into eternity, healed and whole to be with their saviour Jesus. Both of these men lived rich lives of faith and we give thanks for their contribution to the faith of so many others.

To support Colleen and her family and give thanks for Graeme you are welcome to attend Monday 11th March @ 10am at the Innes Gardens Chapel.

To Support Gail and give thanks for Phil’s life a service will be held at Grace Church on __________

Thank you to everyone who were so generous to help the Teisen family to stay in the USA at Bethel. They were able to pay their rent for another month and cover their basic costs. Lets continue to believe with them for the final months of April and May to be covered.

Please be in prayer for this weekend of 2nd to 3rd of March as David and Narelle Crabtree will be with us to minister truth, healing and prophetic encouragement. Especially set aside Sunday evening at 5pm as we have our first Powerhouse encounter night for 2024. Believing for a free flow in Holy Spirit anointed worship, word and wonders. Bring a friend along for salvation or a miracle or both.

Blessings

Ps Greg and Amanda

Stay Alert

HI Church,

Thank you for being part of another magnificent time of gathering on Sunday. Our worship time was gently powerful as Jane Wright led us through heartfelt moments of encounter in the presence of the Lord. As a result, two prophetic words were released. One was to consider ourselves as living stones being joined together, with Jesus being the chief cornerstone and the most precious stone that we are built upon. And a call for uninhibited fearless worship in our togetherness.

Our congregational input in the worship through the release of prophetic words are encouraging, comforting, and edifying and we need more of them. So, I encourage those who are hearing from the Lord to be bold and release what you hear during the worship time.

My Message for the day was built around the text from 1 Peter 4:7-111 and we only went a short way as we considered Peter’s life as an example of slow and steady transformation over a lifetime. We thank God for his example of someone who was not perfect but teachable and who was committed for the process of change. When considering the text directly Peter’s words to us are like that of a coach, who is training us to stay in the game until the end, knowing that our time is short so we need to play at our best. Stop procrastinating and make the priorities necessary in our life that will cause us to win. We are to be a team supporting each other and loving each other. We are to be Alert to our season, we are to be sober minded, not fearful but becoming a people of Prayer. Which leads us close to God’s heart.

Looking ahead its not long to go now till Ps David and Narelle Crabtree are with us 2nd to 3rd of March, so lets set the weekend aside to be encouraged and equipped for Kingdom service and be a part of all that’s available.

This week we start the time that Amanda Campion officially takes on the administration of Grace Church. She will be employed three days a week, Tuesday to Thursday and will supply back up support to staff and keep track of all our filing and procedures and rosters and will help Robert with treasury. It’s a big role with many different parts but we know that Amanda will bring her eye for detail, her passion for excellence and her heart for people to help us grow forward. Amanda will continue to be available to give leadership on the Executive team and help me in my Senior Leadership and Pastoring of Grace Church as always. Please pray for us that our constant working relationship will be an ongoing source of joy. 😊

As this new year begins, please be attentive to new people that may join Grace Church, remember hospitality goes a long way to help people settle quickly into a church and find a place to call home. See you again this coming weekend for Keep to the Game Plan Part II.

Love and Prayers of Blessing for your family.

Ps Greg and Amanda

Partnership in Missions

Hi Church,

Great to be back with you after a short break.  It was just what Amanda and I needed, a time out with no family pressure and no big commitments. We really appreciate the support of the ministry team and our Church family encouraging us to make sure we are refreshed well for the year ahead.

It was such a joy to have Kent and Ruth Hodge with us giving us an update on their time in Jos, Nigeria. I feel so encouraged and challenged by their time with us. Their commitment to be ordinary people doing extraordinary things in Nigeria is amazing. I really felt the grace and the smile of the Holy Spirit upon us and them after the service on Sunday. I felt a real partnership was in place where their victories were our victories as well and their rescue of hundreds of children terrorism survivors was us rescuing them as well and their sending of a 1000 trained Pastors and Missionaries into northern Africa was our sending as well. This partnership is created when we pray for their success and protection, when we send gifts, when we support and promote.   Thanks again for everyone for being so generous on Sunday towards Kent and Ruth. A record $3000 was collected and given to them to support their life and mission into Jos and another $1000 added from our Missions account.

Kent mentioned that one of the keys of their success for the Lord to bless their work was unity. Unity of heart as Leaders, as followers of Jesus and a mission’s workers into their community. I felt that needs to be a key for us.  Its good to turn up in agreement to worship together. But true unity is so much deeper than that. True unity comes as 1 Peter 4:8 says

 “Love each other Deeply from the heart… ”.

I believe our year of More needs to include more love. More Love for each other, stepping in and stepping up for each other, blessing each other, being generous for each other, caring for each other, praying for each other, forgiving each other’s offences. For as Ps 133 says where we dwell together in unity expressing this love, God will command His blessing and we will grow and become fruitful for the glory of Jesus.  

Thank you for those who are giving towards our solar panels, we are on the rise towards our $10,500 installation. 

Looking forward I ask that you keep the weekend of the 2nd to 3rd of March to be present for our time with Ps David and Narrelle Crabtree. These wonderful pioneer leaders of the Australian Charismatic movement will be ministering across Men’s and Women’s Ministry times, Leadership gatherings, and Sunday morning and Sunday night. So don’t miss out on the blessing that God will release.

This weekend I’m looking forward in sharing the direction for our year and some key truths to take us there through the life of the Apostle Peter.

God bless you Church.

Grace and Peace.

Love Greg and Amanda  

Spirit and Truth Worship

Dear Church,

Guess what! You are engaged! Holy Spirit is God’s promise to you. In this engagement period, God wants to know you and be known by you. God wants to know if your heart is truly for Him. This is the heart of spirit and truth worship. 

“But the time is coming-indeed it's here now- when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship him that way. For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth." (John 4:23-24, NLT)

There is a gap between who you are and who God calls you to be. What do you do with the gap? I believe this is where spirit and truth worship comes in. 

I see a model of spirit and truth worship in 1 John 1:5-9. In this scripture, we see God inviting us to bring everything about us into the light as He is in the light. We read that in accepting His invitation we experience increased fellowship with God when He sees our desire really is to live life His way. God will then cleanse us from all unrighteousness by the blood of Jesus. 

The life of a God-worshiper is a life of increasing sanctification. Right now there are ways you live your life that are in fellowship with God (Thank you, Jesus!). At the same time there are ways, attitudes, bents in your life that are in disfellowship with the ways of God. Holy Spirit and the word of God provide a pathway forward: a beautiful opportunity to honestly bring these areas before God, and exchange them for the light of God, experiencing increased fellowship with Abba Father. 

I see the spiritual activity of our church increasing. I see spiritual chains falling as each of us engages with God in spirit and in truth. I see the Bride preparing for everything Jesus promised. Spirit and truth worship is not to be avoided: it’s something to embrace. This is the year we move closer: knowing God and being known. 

Be blessed to walk more closely with Abba Father. 

In Love and Grace, 

Deb

Debbie-Ann Bax

Worship & Creative Pastor

Christmas is coming

Hi Church,

Sorry its taken so long to get a message back to you through e-news and my usual blog, but I’ve been flat out like the proverbial lizard drinking. Thank you to Suzie Wood for sharing a great word last Sunday whilst we were away.

Why have I been flat out? There are two reasons:-  

One, a wedding is a very mentally and emotionally draining and, when you travel interstate, time consuming business. It’s exhausting, but worthwhile. Thank you for everyone’s prayers for a beautiful day. It was perfect and the Bride and Groom were sent off in love and honour and truly two families were celebrated and one new one emerged through the service and beyond the reception gathering. 

Secondly, the whole family by the time we returned Sunday night were diving headlong into Covid Symptoms which were confirmed by tests on Monday. And so we have been smashed with tiredness and sickness and the usual aches and pains that come with it whilst still trying to organise Christmas and Church life. 

So unfortunately, I will not bring the word this week. But once again our good friend Randolph will carry faith for this Sunday to help us celebrate and consider Christmas well.  If I’m well enough I will service lead. Deb will bring some joyful Carols and Bree Brown has a kids yarn to tell. And of course, there will be lots of food to share and fellowship to enjoy straight after the service. Please bring a plate to share.

You know, the difficulties we sometimes face in life provoked me to thoughts around Mary and Joseph as they faced their future. Once they were both charged with carrying the Son of God literally as a word of faith, then as an unborn baby and then as a new born, in a hostile environment, Mary and Joseph faced constant challenges, constant disruption and contention.  Sometimes we think when coming to Jesus all will be made well and all will go well. But not necessary so. Mary and Joseph had to contend for every promise of God along the way. 

I’m encourage by them, by their confession and obedience and their desire to not swerve away from the destination no matter how hard it became. Through their faith, the lamb of God that would take away the sins of the world entered our world and grew and was nurtured and protected till just at the right time, His own voice was heard, and the way of salvation was known.

What has God laid upon your heart to carry through every season? What word has He spoken that needs to grow and develop through faith and be protected despite the opposition? Sometimes you may just want to quietly walk away from the responsibility, the destiny God has called you to.  Well don’t give up. Trust and obey for there is no other way. He knows its hard. So look to Him the author and the perfector of your faith. Draw from His strength and He will see you through. 

Mary took that promise from conception to the cross, from witnessing the empty grave to the ascension of her son into the heavens and then the coming of the Spirit on the day of Pentecost. She determined not to miss a moment of life with Jesus…..What about us?   

Let’s pause this Christmas and make sure we don’t miss a moment with Jesus, let us continue our journey in Him till the very end. 

Merry Christmas Church and a Happy blessed New Year from my family to yours. 

The Church Office will be Closed from 25th of Dec till the 14th of Jan.  Pastors will be on holidays during this time. Emergency calls can be made to my mobile.  Volunteer Pastors will be available through Kerry Medway and Jane Bax at various times. 

A Thanksgiving Service will be available on the 31st of Dec, come ready to testify of Gods goodness for 2023 and pray for 2024. 

January will have various speakers and smaller worship teams and no Childrens Ministry as we attempt to give everyone a rest as best we can over the January period.  

Thanks for your encouragement and support in 2023 Church and I look forward to the journey together in 2024. 

See you there 

Love Greg and Amanda

Look Up

Hi Church,

The year is closing out and no doubt many of us are tired and looking forward to holidays. The service over the weekend was encouraging. Randolph Kubicek gave an encouraging word reminding us to not be complacent in these uncertain days but be diligent and alert to what God is doing and what the Enemy is trying to do. I can also give testimony that the words of knowledge Randloph gave at the beginning of the service were responded to after and had great impact.

Back to Randolph’s message, you know the enemy of our soul always tries to deceive us with lies and doubts. But Randolph showed us through the scriptures that we need to Wake up, Stand Up, Speak Up, Build Up and Look up.

Some key phrases spoken,

·       You are robbing yourself if you are not in God’s word daily.

·       Find out what pleases the Lord and do it.

·       There are two ways to stand. On your knees in prayer and as you move forward in Him.

·       To release a miracle, do what Peter and John did at the Gate Beautiful: -

1.     Use the power of the Spirit.

2.     Use the name of Jesus.

3.     Release your faith.

4.     Speak with boldness.

5.     Know the Name of Jesus is above every other name.

One of the key scriptures he referenced was Eph 5:1-16 especially verses 13-16.

“Wake up sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”

This is the type of people God wants in this world. People who are alert and awake, diligent and vigilant to reflect the glory of the Lord on to all those around us. Thank you, Randolph.

This week will be a family service with a Christmas theme, and Susie Wood will be our speaker for the Sunday.  Enjoy the Christmas treats for morning tea after.

Amanda and I will be returning from Canberra as we celebrate the wedding of Peter our Son to his fiancé Amelia Raymond. We give thanks to the Lord for his guiding hand and his blessing on their lives.  

Christmas will be celebrated on the 24th of Dec at Church with carols and Kids talk and a great get together. Please bring a plate ready to serve of Christmas treats and scrumptious food to share for the celebration.

New Years Eve will be the following Sunday. The plan will be to make it a Giving Thanks Testimony Day. It will be a time to reflect on the year that has been and declare the goodness of God, big story or small so we can all be encouraged together.   

As we finish the year I want to say a big thank you to everyone who helped make it possible for us to gather each week and declare God’s goodness, encounter him through worship and meet together as family. Your small but regular act of service is a blessing to so many. A such we can say we have a house of prayer, a house of praise, a house of miracles, salvation and hope for all those who desire it.

Merry Christmas and Blessed new year to come.            Love Greg and Amanda.

Carols success

Hi Church,

Thank You abundantly Grace.  My heart is full of pride for you as I’m celebrating your generosity, effort, love, passion, work, voices, artistry, teamwork, talents, commitment and community witness and so much more. The Carols were a mammoth effort and a great success. We increased our attendance on last year by 50% with plenty more who wished they could have been there. The Four Churches worked so well together and the peace and blessing of God on the event was obvious. The Lord sparred us from the worst of the weather and gave us a beautiful sunset,  a light breeze and mostly dry pitch.

The Hope tent gave good witness to many, gave out bibles and tracks, Rhema FM were able to promote Christian Radio. We cooked and gave away all 1500 sausages, sold nearly 300 steak buns, gave out nearly a 1000 drinks and coffee’s, parked 500 cars, decorated 500 cupcakes, painted 100’s of plaster moulds, painted 100’s of faces, and presented over 2hrs of quality live music, (Thank you Pastor Debbie-Ann and team). This was our biggest and best Carols yet.

I was Interviewed by our partner sponsor Lewis Land for an article on what inspired us to do Carols. This was my response;-

 We have a couple of motivating points for the Community Carols.

1.         Sovereign Hills is a new location for housing. But houses don’t make a community it’s the people gathered and connected and recognising each other in their locality. Hence, we believe as a church we have an opportunity to help create that sense of community through meaningful cultural events.

2.         We believe the true message and meaning of Christmas will be lost unless the Church steps in and draw people’s attention away from temporary shallow material commercialism, back to deeper truths around traditional family values and faith, which are long lasting and create meaning.

So thank you for participating in helping to achieve both. Our unity of heart and purpose makes these big events possible. Well done good and faithful ones. I cant wait to see what we will achieve next.

As we go forward lets take some time to remember our dear Brother Peter Wood who passed 7 Dec 2022. His legacy of love and service lives on through his beloved Suzie and their four boys Brendon, Oscar, Aaron and Riley. We love them and they are in our prayers and hearts.

As Christmas approaches let us remember that the Greatest Gift of all is Jesus, Emmanuel, God with us. So, lets share that gift with as many as possible.

Love to all

Ps Greg and Amanda.

To tear and to mend

HI Church,

Well, this is the week we have all been planning for the last 4 months. Teams have been gathered, food ordered, songs practiced, bbq’s are primed, advertising made known. It just comes down to the presentation, attendance and weather. Carols 23 is upon us. Lets pray for a magnificent week of the best weather ever. Lets pray for just the right number of people to turn up which is about 1500, so everyone can get a sausage sandwich and a drink. And Lets pray for the best presentation of Carols Sovereign Hills has ever seen and heard.

This is such a wonderful opportunity to bless our local community and share the love of God and Christmas truth with everyone. Lets pray that bibles and hope cards will be received and that there will be plenty of opportunities to pray with people.

Thank you everyone for your generous contributions of finance and your commitment of time to make it all work.

If you missed last Sunday message, I continued the family’s series on Know your Season. I spoke on Ecc 3:7 which says there is a time to tear and a time to mend. After highlighting all the many different ways the Bible says about tearing clothing in response to life, we also looked at what are the ways we can mend.  There were some strong points brought out about having our hearts mended by God because this is the ministry of Jesus who mends the broken hearted. We also looked at throwing out the old clothes of our previous life and being clothed in the new creation of Jesus. Gal 3:27 tells us to be clothed in Christ and Eph 4:24 says be clothed in the new nature.

In regarding to mending relationships that have been torn I highlighted the importance of forgiveness to be extended to those who have aggrieved us so we can be sown back together in unity. But to those who live in abusive marriage relationships continual forgiveness is not the answer for unrepentant behaviour, this needed to be carefully cut apart for the safety of the victim, then if possible mended back together through repentance, counselling, and rehabilitation before there should be co-habitation again.

The word of God is full of life’s answers, so let’s know it and live it for the good life Jesus wants for us. He truly does make all things Beautiful.

See you in the Action of Community Carols. Remember to bring your Camp Chair, mozzy repellent and a friend. If raining, event will be held in St Josephs Regional College Auditorium.

Love Greg and Amanda

Hold on to what matters

Hi Church,

Well another family service was concluded over the weekend. Graeme Corin did a great job sharing the Kids Talk with the young ones and although he loomed high above them whilst they sat still upon the carpet, his gentle nature won them over.  His message of what it means to have good conversations with people no matter what their age, so that you get to know people truly and not to be distracted by games and devices was well received and Zac was a great helper. Suzie Wood shared an encouring word on communion and how great God’s love is for us and how we need to share it with those around us, through our forgiveness of when wrong is done and the most excellent way of 1 Cor 13.

I continued my Families talk from Ecc 3:1-11 and I did not proceed past the first point for the day. The big truth we focussed on was “Hold on to what matters”. This was taken from Verse 7 which says there is time to gain or search and a time to loose or give up.  A Time to Keep and a time to throw away.

The sad thing about our consumer culture is that it constantly encourages us to gain and gain no matter what the cost. This has been the message of all advertising from the 1950’s onward. Creating within us a drive to be dissatisfied with what we have, compare ourselves to our neighbour and then strive to gain what we think we need. This has resulted in a throw away society, a greed-based society, envy society which is amplified by social media and has had disastrous effects on the environment and the mental health of many. Creating a world of have and have nots and those who are trying to fake it till they make it.

Just this week an alert has gone out from the ACCC, Australian Consumer watchdog, to watch out for fake Websites for the upcoming sales season, because the products that are being offered at the “too good to be true prices” are guess what?  Not true! The products and websites are proving fake and its already cost customers $500,000 in rip offs just in the month of September.

Its so easy to go along with the flow of society and get caught up in the glitz and the glamour to have the best of things. To have what we think we need as opposed to what we really need. Jim Elliot who sowed his life as a missionary martyr in the 20th Century to the Amazon Indians, said, “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot loose”.

Our life is for the giving not the getting. This world we live in is passing away and we are but travellers, pilgrims as Peter says 1 Peter 2:11, through to the next world for all eternity, so let’s travel light. Our Gain is what is coming with those whom we are bringing with us. Jesus reminded us that our treasure is in heaven where no rust or moth will destroy Matt 6: 19-21. So let our hearts be focused on that and how to bring others into that truth.  Paul also reminded us in 1 Tim 6:6-7 

“But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it…”

Character and Contentment is the greatest wealth, which is effectively what this verse says. So Let that be the mark of true believers.

So what do you have to lose to gain more of Jesus in your world? What more can you giveaway to hold more of who He is? That’s our challenge in this temporary world, that is becoming so dim, as we gaze more into His glorious face. 

Love Greg and Amanda

Oil in your lamp

HI Church,

Well it was fun for me to walk into Church like most people on Sundays, and yes I was late, as I travelled back from Forster and arrived just after 9:30, ok maybe more like 9:40 am. But never mind that, but what was great was a whole team of people who made for another great day.

It truly was a joy and like a proud parent moment, to step into a Church worshipping with all their heart and embracing all that God had for us in our togetherness. Thank you, Ps Debbie, for leading a multi-generational team, including Ken Harvey who dusted off the Conga drums and played some percussion and chimes.  Thank you, Paul Betenson, for leading the service with great sensitivity to Holy Spirit.

Jane Wright brought the word of God to us and did a marvellous job preaching from Matt 25 and the parable of the Ten Virgins and their readiness for the great feast of the bride groom and Bride. Jane reminded us of the many characteristics of a Galliean wedding were spoken about by Jesus and how they parallel his life actions and the nature of His second coming.

This was especially so in regard to the trimming of our wick in our lamp stand. That we were responsible for keeping our lamps filled with oil representing the Holy Spirit and that we were responsible for tending to the wick to make sure it shines bright and clean. I was challenged by Jane’s reminder that we are to trim our own lamp’s wick before we attempt to point out the dirty wick in other people’s lamps.

The many truths that Jane highlighted, brought us to a place of humility before our God, with a desire to be filled with the Holy Spirit so we are ready for His return. And The Spirit and the Bride say come!

This Sunday the 19th of November is our special offering day for Carols, and I ask that we are all generous as we seek to supply sufficient funding to bless our community and present well our message of Hope through Christ. Please come prepared.

I also ask you to be praying daily for the Carols that we would have clear and great weather, healthy participants and volunteers who are safe and we have enough people to make this event work. We also pray that every gospel seed sown will bring a harvest of souls into the kingdom. And that the four churches will work well together.

A point to remember is that there will be no service the morning of Carols 3 Dec here at Grace but we will be gathering from 12:00 pm onwards to assemble the works necessary for the Carols set up.

Standing with you Church as we partner together ready for Kingdom Action.

Love Ps Greg and Amanda.

Hope for Salvation

Hi Church,

Praise God for the rain! Everything is looking green again and the dust has been washed away. A sense of refreshing is in the air, thank you Holy Spirit. Visiting Speaker Evangelist Pat Steele was ready to lead us into revival and refreshing last Sunday, with his stirring challenge to lay down our life like a seed into the soil of our world so that we can see a harvest of souls for the kingdom of God. And indeed, a new lady visiting for the first time committed her life to Jesus, received a bible and joined the prophetic class all in the one day. Pat reminded us again of using the hope cards to leave them around shopping centres and car parks and cafes.

Each Hope card has links to a web site with testimonies of salvation and a contact number so people can be connected to a local church. Please feel free to take as many cards as you can distribute. Pat reminded us that the closer we get to Jesus the narrower is the road towards him, so that nothing fits on it but you and Him and everything else just falls away or needs to be left to the side so we can embrace Him fully.

That’s the challenge, for Revival to come there must be a people who are dedicated to Jesus and who will respond in humility like Him, be repentant in our hearts always turning our faces towards Him and then being commissioned to go into all the world for Him and as Him.

1 John 4:17

NKJV 17 Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world.

This is the testimony of the Ashbury University Revival in the USA that went for 14 days straight in February 2023 with around the clock, praise and worship and prayer. What started on one campus has now spread to hundreds of others across USA. Now according to Pat there are student youth outbreaks of awakening and revival across Australia as well. What can we say but more Lord! Do it again.

Believing with You Church and as Pat said “Just Sow it!”

Ps Greg and Amanda

Live the everyday like Jesus

 Hi Church,

I pray you are all doing well entering a new week to be the people of God in our confronting and confused culture.  Its good to know we stand upon the rock of the Gospel that is immovable and will never be shaken.

Reflecting on our weekend together it was so good to hear from Ross Nancarrow on the work of International Mission Ministries in Nepal and especially the completion and celebration of the Training Facility.  Grace Church had such an amazing part to play in ensuring its completion. Thousands of Dollars were contributed from us and other generous people from around Australia.  What was handed over to the people of Nepal was a legacy of faith, hope and love for their nation so that the gospel will be taught from one faithful generation to the next. Thank you to Ross and his wonderful team who have planted watered and nurtured new churches for the advance of Gods kingdom.

Ross also encouraged us with a great word reminding us of how we are to live the everyday like Jesus. Jesus was not a man unlike us. He lived the everyday in the human limitation like us with even less resources than us, not using His divinity to have any advantage. The advantage that did come to him was cultivated through a lifestyle of faith just the same as we can. The three keys were one; knowing and living from a place of Identity as a son/daughter of God beloved and accepted. Two, living in daily intimacy or abiding with Holy Spirit, listening to what God is saying and doing what he sees God doing. Third, living by faith, that is total trust on His Father. The being about His father’s business in everything. This resulted in a man who lived in anointed relationship with Holy Spirit. A man who was empowered by Holy Spirit to be Holy, to be loving, to be powerful.

Jesus modelled this lifestyle so that we can follow the same, with the same outcomes as He did and even more. This is the faithful fruitful life that results from abiding in Holy Spirit. May we do likewise.

Love and blessings.

Greg and Amanda

A time to embrace

Hi Church,

Family Service again. So exciting to see our young people growing and contributing to the Church family.  Sam and Joel were a great team leading communion. Oliver is an amazing reader and the girls Mia and Eva were happy service greeters with announcements. These all may seem little roles in themselves, but they all contribute to making our time together Spiritually and generationally meaningful. Carin always hits the right word with her Kids story and the worship team is growing with more young people making a difference. Neve did a great job prophetically leading the service. To hear from the Spirit and lead people into a time of deepened encounter with the Lord to help settle hearts is a very mature undertaking and Neve did it with such authority and grace. Well done Neve the Lord has indeed anointed and appointed you for such a time as this.

The preaching from myself over the weekend for the family service was not as good as I hoped and I’m sorry if I was not as clear as usual. Ecclesiastes 3:1-11 Gives us some great insights into life in some very broad strokes and sometimes there are no easy answers to fill the in-between. The important point to understand is the God is interested in the in-between and that our spiritual life is not reserved for Sunday only but to cover our everyday and every life moment. Sometimes we can think the way of Jesus does not include some base line living around marriage and family. But the opposite is true. Our Life in Jesus makes for a better marriage and family life when done in Him.

A few points to sit with.

1.     Stones of disappointment and bitterness, our emotional rubble needs to be thrown away from us for greater fruitfulness and rebuilding. But they are not to be thrown at people in judgement. Forgiveness from the Lord gives us an opportunity to deal with our rubble of rejection, anger and brokenness not an excuse to hang on and collect them as trophies or weapons.

2.     Knowing when to embrace and when not,  sets up good relationship practices for the safety of relationships in friendships, in family and fellowship of the church. Doing this well brings strength, protection and enduring love, especially in our marriage relationships.

It was a special moment in our service also to pray for the “Peace of Jerusalem” and the Middle East as per Ps 122. But not to pray as a someone taking a side but praying as a Mum or a Dad or as a child witnessing the destruction of families. May the Lord’s will be done, and His kingdom come. Let this war break down the resistance to the saving gospel of Jesus the Messiah. Let us be ready for what comes next.

This Sunday coming will be exciting to hear the report of Ross Nancarrow and those who went to Nepal during September. After the service there will be short break and then our AGM for the year. Please attend to get a copy of the annual report and give thanks to the Lord for all he has done. The AGM and any voting rights is for those who regularly attend Grace Church and call it their spiritual home.

Sunday evening will be our last Powerhouse Prayer and Praise night for 2023 so I encourage us to attend and bring your prayer for revival and renewal in Grace church and for our nation.

Now is the time to be thinking about Carols at Sovereign Hills and on the 5th of November we will have sign up to a Carols service team day so start thinking how you can make a big difference. Then on the 19th of November we will take up a special offering to sow into our Carols Blessing Chest so that we can make it the best ever.

Thank you so much Church for all that you are and all you are becoming in Jesus.

Love and Blessings

Ps Greg

A Kingdom that cannot be shaken

 Hi Church,

The Last week has certainly been difficult for people. Seeing people divided over a referendum with strong views for and against, tears at the fabric of our heart. Some will be ripped completely, many stretched into a new shape different from before. Some relationships maybe permanently damaged and some will try to out shame each other for a result not wanted.

Sadly, what was put as a vote on a change of how we do governance or not,  became an endorsement of value upon a race of people. Many have walked away with hearing a shout, NO! we don’t value you. Therefore, the pain will be ongoing.

Of course, this is a lie perpetuated by the enemy of our souls to keep us divided and hearts closed to each other. As Christians we can’t get locked into a “sideism”, that is choosing one people over another, the Gospel doesn’t allow us to do that, we must find a way to embrace to bring peace. That is the heart of reconciliation.

The same is what is happening in Israel in the Middle east as Media is forcing us to take a side and prefer one over another. To hate one and justify one and to disregard one and accept one. In the natural again its heart breaking. Its horrible to make a choice. Yet Jesus walks right into dead mans zone between the warring parties and lays down his life in the middle, for his friends and for his enemies.

Romans 5:7-9

7 Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.  (To be a sinner is to be an enemy of God.)

Phil 2 tells us this is the attitude we all need to carry into the world. This humbling oneself, this dying to one self, this filling the gap of division with our own life is what, brings peace, truth , hope, love, grace, reconciliation. 

I can’t say that I’m an expert in this but that should not stop us from trying.

There is of course another layer of what is going on in the Middle east right now. We are in the times of the end and God’s plan is unfolding before our eyes. Nations are being pulled into position. Israel is being used by God to reveal the arrogance in the heart of men who have turned their back on God since Sin entered the world.

We can’t stop it and we must not applaud it. We need to pray for God’s mercy in it. Not be afraid but be aware. The Season is changing, our focus needs to shift. Jesus said Look! Your redemption draws near. Luke 21:31.

So let’s be sober minded and not put off any longer being the people He wants us to be.

Romans 13:8-12

8 Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law. 9 The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not covet,”[a] and whatever other command there may be, are summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbour as yourself.”[b] 10 Love does no harm to a neighbour. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.11 And do this, understanding the present time: The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.

Love and Peace Church.

Ps Greg and Amanda

Pause to consider

Hi Church, 

Well for me I have had a lovely weekend of family friends fellowship and fun. It started with a lovely celebration Part 2 of my Son Peter and his finance Amelia Raymond at their engagement party which was held at my house. This resulted in some 50 to 60 people turning up from near and far and toasting the Bride and Groom to be. It was a wonderful moment to enjoy as we saw two heritages of faith begin to flow together, as both Peter and Amelia are from multi-generational Pastoral Leadership homes. We will follow up this party with their wedding which will be in Canberra on the 16th of December. Sorry I can’t invite you all but I’m sure you will send your love and prayers anyway for what will be a beautiful day.

Apart from my Saturday there was a wonderful Sunday for us all with Ps Mark Raymond, Amelia’s father, sharing the word with us. I loved Mark’s anointed relax style leading us into an encounter with Jesus as we paused to consider where Jesus was in our storm. Mark showed us through the gospel of Mark 4:35-41 of Jesus in the boat in the storm that Jesus does care and that as Christians we are of all people are best placed to endure the happenings of life because of Christ within us.  Mark told us as trained counsellor that modern Psychology is just recognising now just how important the human spirit is for the inner peace world and mental health. The answer then and now and always will be keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, know that He is close, know that he is our help and peace. The Worship team and the prophetic throughout the meeting was again on point, knitting together a complete spiritually meaningful time together.

A moment of thanks was included in our service to recognise Kalista Klomps much valued work season with us for the past near three years. We bless Kalista for her new season and pray it will be fruitful in her new location. You can always catch up with Kalista at her business Blendz and Beanz on Clarence Street.

Further to my comments last week. Some may have felt offence by them in my broad stroke generalisations, if so please forgive me. My intention is to provoke us to think and pray and take our heart responses to the Holy Spirit for understanding. My heart is that we have a community that is united in love and peace by the Kingdom of God and not divided by race and preference of one over another. I believe the intention in general, is good for those who want a change through the Yes vote. There is a cry for recognition, justice and truth that does need a considered and compassionate response. I also believe that the way it has been packaged as an all or nothing approach leaves so many unanswered questions that the risks for such a major change requested seem very great. We don’t want to be a people of fear and we don’t want to be a people naive to possible dangers of significant law changes and governance.

Either way I believe we are left with a heavy heart as the options placed before us don’t seem to lead us to peace and reconciliation to each other. This is when we pray Have Mercy O Lord  and let “Your Kingdom Come your Will be Done on Earth as it is in Heaven.”

I will leave you with more articles to consider from the Daily Declaration a Christian e-news publication detailing articles for and against which hopefully will be helpful to form your own opinion.   https://canberradeclaration.org.au/

 Approaching the Voice from a Christian Perspective

For the Voice

1.  The Voice: A Christian Consideration by Rev Dr Michael Jensen. Michael is the rector at St Mark's Anglican Church, Darling Point, and a former lecturer at Moore Theological College.

2. Open Letter to Religious Leaders In Australia – Supporting the Voice – Supporting the Voice” by Tim Costello. Tim was the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Advocate of World Vision Australia.

3. Responding Generously to a Generous Voice by Rev Dr Andrew Errington. Andrew is the rector at Newtown Erskineville Anglican Church and researcher at the School of Theology, Charles Sturt University. Andrew writes for Sydney Anglicans on behalf of the Social Issues Committee.

Against the Voice

1. 10 Reasons Christians Should Vote No to the Voice by Kurt Mahlburg and Ps James Dargin.

2. The Voice: Making Life Even Worse for Us  by Bess Nungarrayi Price, AM. Bess is a former Member of the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly and the mother of Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price.

3. A Christian Case to Vote No to the Voice: My Reply to Michael Jensen’s Response by Dr Stephen Chavura. Stephen teaches European and Australian history at Campion College in Sydney.

Conclusion

The issues raised in these six articles give a good overview of where the two positions are coming from. Searching the Daily Declaration for the ‘Voice’ and the ‘Uluru Statement from the Heart’ will retrieve a wealth of information to consider in the lead-up to referendum day.

The Constitution, beginning with the words “humbly relying on the blessing of Almighty God”, has given Australia a firm foundation for its nationhood and has served us remarkably well. Let’s lean into that.

A special note Shirley Hallum has presented some insightful research on the Voice and has been published in the editor’s column in the Daily Telegraph on multiple occasions.  Well done, Shirley.

God bless you Church as you earnestly seek the Lord and His wisdom.

Ps Greg and Amanda