Merry Christmas from Michele and Flora
Hello Friends,
Here is our Christmas newsletter to share with you.
We are now both on school holidays until January 18th and are so looking forward to some down time together. Pools were open but closed after like a week, hotels are open but now you need a negative COVID test to stay anywhere - so we really are not sure how we will fill in our days after the big guy visits! Just not rushing to get out the door will be nice.
Many blessings to you all for a blessed Christmas. Who knows what 2021 will bring, so lets enjoy the day we have with those around us,
All our love,
Flora and Michele xo
20 December 2020
This message has been received from David, Janenne and Rachel Hay on 18 December 2020:
Today we saw the deposit to our bank account from Tuggeranong Baptist Church. Thank you once again for partnering with us. TBC is such a blessing and we thank God for your prayers and support for us.
This extra gift will help as we plan to have a couple of weeks break away at the KwaZulu-Natal south coast in February. This will be the first opportunity for a proper break in over 18 months and we are very much looking forward to it.
Please pass on our thanks to all at TBC
As of Monday this week, South Africa has officially entered the “second wave” of Coronavirus infections. Numbers of new cases have been rising exponentially over the last few weeks. While we have not returned to the extremely severe lockdown we were in earlier in the year, there are some further curtailment of what we can do. One disappointing aspect is that we can no longer meet together at our local church. We were especially looking forward to a carols service this coming Sunday in which several of our kids were to be singing and others were in a Christmas play.
We hope you have a wonderful and joy-filled Christmas.
Blessings
David, Janenne & Rachel
www.HaysInSouthAfrica.com
www.sim.org.au
Physical services at the Garratt Street Centre will be suspended to give the teams who have expended extraordinary amounts of time and energy through the pandemic, so far, a time to be restored and re-energised for whatever is in store.
Church On-line will continue throughout the same period, when the series The Ripple Effect will be uploaded each Sunday via the Website and App. The series will include songs, information and a teaching session from Jesus, the Game Changer 2.
There will be no physical services at the Garratt St Centre on:
Sunday 27 December 2020
Sunday 3 January 2021
Sunday 10 January 2021
Sunday 17 January 2021
Sunday 24 January 2021
Sunday 31 January 2021
Care and Administration Ps Ian Reid will be available throughout January and can be contacted on 0401 301 193
The series is called "The Ripple Effect" will be uploaded each Sunday morning in January and includes songs, info and a teaching session from "Jesus, the Game Changer 2"
Join us for Church On-line from 3rd to 29th January where there will be no physical services at the Garratt St Centre.
Jesus the Gamechanger sessions:
Sunday January 3 Paul and the Early Church
Sunday January 10 Bible Translation
Sunday January 17 Reformation
Sunday January 24 Jesuits
Sunday January 31 Persecution
David shares some thoughts on the difference between worry and anxiety as he reflected on Philippians 4:6-7
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
To read about it and the full November Newsletter to catch up on all the news from the village, download the file listed below.
Read Michele's email message received on 27 November 2020 and open the PDF to read her newsletter.
Hi Friends,
Yes, I know you haven't seen my name in your inbox for a while - but MAN - what a year - I could write pages about it but have hopefully kept it short as a quick update and a hello from us.
I deliberately didn't mention Christmas as we hope to send you a greeting as December approaches.
We trust you are all well and surviving this season of Covid - please do send us some of your news too and how we can be praying for you and your family.
Much love,
Michele and Flora.
Click on the link below to watch Ian's explanation of the church vision as we move forward.
Ian's Update 13 November 2020
Read the attached Update for details of:
Trial Results
Outlines The Garratt‑ Street experience and peoples’ responses to the experience. The result is the decision to carry on with Sunday services at the Garratt St Centre and on -line each Sunday and Christmas Day and then to revert to on-services only until resuming Garratt St Centre services on 31 January. Church on-line will continue.
The Update explains the reasons for the break for teams who have worked throughout the year and how ministry will look during January when I will be available and producing the on-line services.
Changes to restrictions
The changes to restrictions on 13 November 2020 to allow gatherings of 500 do not affect us as the Auditorium only has capacity for 52 as determined by the 4 sqmtr per person and 1.5 mtr distancing rules.
Looking forward with faith
I will be releasing a video explanation of conversations around our theme love God – love People and forward planning for whatever may come in 2021.
Looking Back with thanks - Our Story for 2020
Outlines the plan to collect your stories from 2020 as a substitute of the usual annual reporting from various groups.
Christmas Cheer Campaign
Invites you to contribute to this year’s Christmas distribution of gift vouchers to the increased number of sole parents we have on our books.
Finance
A snap shot of our income and thanks for the support provided by the government this year.
Missions—Pioneers Australia
Announcement of a visit from a representative who is home in Canberra because of the pandemic.
Safe Church Policy and Procedures
Policy and Procedures recently adopted are available in the App in the About Us section.
Prayer
Thanksgiving and intercession.
Teaching @ TBC - leading up to the celebration of Christmas
This series will be featured in both our physical services and the recorded service released on each of the following dates:
Sunday, Nov 22nd to Sunday 20 December 2020
Friday, Dec 25th Christmas Day Celebration
As Christmas Day in on Friday this year, there will be no Sunday service on December 27th.