Thanksgiving @ Pac Pines

What an amazing three months it has been since we launched our Pac Pines campus.  God has been so good in so many ways leading up to and through this time. 

This Sunday morning at Pac Pines (9.30am) we will be holding a special thanksgiving celebration to mark all that God has done.  This will also be an opportunity to thank all who have been involved in large and small ways in seeing Pac Pines launched.  We would love you to come along!  If you can, we would love you to let us know, as we will be having a very special morning tea immediately following the service.  Just email Liz at liz.mcnamee@newlife.unitingchurch.org.au.

This Sunday @ Robina

This Sunday morning at Robina (8.30am, 10.15am) we will conclude our Jubilee Advent series as Stu reflects on what it means for the oppressed to receive liberty in and through Jesus.  We will also hear two powerful testimonies and of course sing some carols!

At 12two (6pm), Ralph will conclude our Naiveté Scene series.

Sight for the Blind

Last Sunday morning at Robina we continued our Jubilee Advent series as Dorothy Mathieson preached on Jesus’ proclamation of sight for the blind.  Dorothy is an amazingly gifted woman with a powerful story.  You can download her message here:  http://www.stucameron.typepad.com/

Are we holy or compromised?

At 12two last week Ralph continued to dig into those things we are naïve about in our world.  This week he explored God’s call for us to live radically holy lives.  You can download Ralph’s powerful message here:   http://www.thebeanbag.typepad.com/

Christmas Services

Across seven services over two days we will celebrate the good news that is at the heart of the Christmas story.  Service times include:

Christmas Eve @ Robina :
4pm and 5.30pm  A Kidzlife Christmas
9pm and 11pm  Celebrate with Carols and Communion

Christmas Eve @ Pac Pines:
8pm   Family Celebration

Christmas Day @ Robina:
8am and 9.30am Family Celebration

Funstuff Holiday Club

We will be holding our hugely popular Funstuff Holiday program again these summer holidays.  Funstuff will happen at Robina on Wednesday January 18.  A special program for children aged from kindergarten to grade 2 will run from 10am to 12noon.  Another program for grade 3 to grade 7 children will run from 1.30pm to 5.30pm.  The cost is $10 per child.  You can ring the office to register (5578 9322) or email officevolunteers@newlife.unitingchurch.org.au  or contact Viv for more information at viv.batt@newlife.unitingchurch.org.au.

Summer School

Starting Sunday January 15 over three Sundays, Rev Dr Lewis and Mrs Betty Born will be running ‘Yarns with Lew and Betty.’  Two hour sessions include: ‘John Wesley’s Doctrine of Perfection.’, ‘The Marriage Test Match’ and ‘Paul, the Holy Spirit and Freud on Concience.’  Session are $10 each or $20 for the three.  Morning tea and coffee provided.  For more information see the registration form at the information desk or the office.

Christmas Generosity

At Christmas we have the amazing opportunity to break with conspicuous consumption and instead mark our lives with radical generosity.  There are plenty of vehicles for you to do this.  You can give to our Acts 1:8 mission projects through our Christmas Tree project available in the office through the week and in the courtyard on Sundays.  You can contribute to Newlife Care’s Christmas Hamper program.  Or you could give through one of a number of Christian aid organizations that have Christmas programs to support the poorest of the poor.  I personally recommend you explore UnitingWorld’s Everything in Common gift shop: https://www.everythingincommon.com.au/index.php,

Prayer Points

Every week we want to provide you with some prayer points to help guide you as we partner together in bringing our thanks, praise, adoration and requests to God.

• We thank God for the appointment of Renee as the Director of the Isle of Capri Learning Centre; and that now all documentation has been lodged with the authorities to transfer licenses to Newlife.  We pray for interviews for centre staff and all the myriad of small and large tasks that Barry and Con in particular need to oversee between now and January 4, when the centre commences and  opens under our management. 
• We pray for the 458 individuals and families who are at the time of writing receiving Christmas Hampers through Newlife Care.  We pray for more than 50 additional families who will also receive hampers.  We pray that every person touched by this ministry might experience the love of Jesus this Christmas in some simple and profound way.
• We pray for Lyndon, Anna-Mieke and Jack as they prepare to move to take up ministry with the Anglican Church in Lismore.
• We pray for our Pac Pines community as they celebrate this Sunday with thanksgiving for aal the amazing things God has done for, in and through them over the last year.
• We pray for preparations for our 7 Christmas services – that they would with boldness and relevance proclaim the radical message of Good News that is at the heart of the Christmas story.  We particularly pray for Craig as he prepares the creative elements for these services