Today God has blessed us richly with the installation of our new minister. Our day started out nice and slowly. Since we were using Rockingham's church to fit us all in, our church services were going to be at 11:15 and 2:15 for today. So we could all enjoy a lovely sleep in before it was time to get ready to go.
In the morning Rev VanDelden had a wonderful sermon on Galatians 4:12-19. "Receive the Ambassador of Christ sent to you so that he may labour to form Christ in you". After the installation we enjoyed a quick lunch and coffee at church before we sat down again to listen to Rev Hart's first sermon as our minister. We were really spoiled and could enjoy 2 great sermons in one day. Rev. Hart's sermon focused on Lord's Day 38 regarding the Sabbath Day. "True sabbath rest is to be found in the presence of God. This rest is God's gift and this rest is God's command." How often don't we become overwhelmed or bogged down in the jobs we do, and how important to spend time to refocus and change from being self-centered to God centered. What a precious gift from God our Sunday is - and this then spills over into the rest of our week.
The kids also really enjoyed the sermon. Even Brett said he hopes our minister will keep preaching like that!! How richly blessed we are here, to have an ambassador of Christ!! May God continue to bless us as a congregation with our new minister.
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Wade's Injuries
On Thursday I'd decided to spoil myself and actually take some time out and go shopping for some clothes for me. So I went to the shops, and had filled my arms with clothes to try on when my mobile rang. The school secretary was ringing to let me know that Wade had had an "incident" on the playground and they thought he had broken his collarbone. That, of course, was the end of my shopping trip!! It turns out that Wade and his friends were playing Honkey nut Rugby (don't ask, it's a case of boys will be boys!!) and he was tackled by a friend and landed on his shoulder with his friend on top. As you know, there's not much protection on Wade....
Wade was taken to the hospital where mum L met him until I got there. Of course it took a few hours to be seen and x-rayed. The doctor was convinced his collarbone was broken, but the x-ray didn't show up anything too clearly although you can feel a dent in his bone... So now his arm is up in a sling and he's popping lots of Panadol's for the pain. Next Friday we go back to the doctor's for a follow-up and hopefully it won't take too long to heal. We do have lots of plans for the holidays!!!
There's always something happening around here!
Wade was taken to the hospital where mum L met him until I got there. Of course it took a few hours to be seen and x-rayed. The doctor was convinced his collarbone was broken, but the x-ray didn't show up anything too clearly although you can feel a dent in his bone... So now his arm is up in a sling and he's popping lots of Panadol's for the pain. Next Friday we go back to the doctor's for a follow-up and hopefully it won't take too long to heal. We do have lots of plans for the holidays!!!
There's always something happening around here!
Folk Music Festival
Last week Friday and Saturday evenings the school bands put on a fantastic musical fesival of all different folk songs. The guitar ensemble started off the evening, then we enjoyed listening to the junior band. Meagan and a friend had the task of introducing each song for the junior band and she did a great job public speaking - very confident! Wade (trombone) and Meagan (flute) are both in the junior band and they all perfomed very well. Brooke hopes to join the band next year with her clarinet.
The senior band finished off the evening with several great pieces like the Pirates of the Carribean, Braziliana and Canto. Cody had a saxaphone solo in the song Cajun Folk songs and did an awesome job, although he was very nervous Friday night; said he had dragonflies in his stomach!!
All in all it was a much enjoyed event for all involved.
PS If anyone has some photos, I'd love to add them to my blog....
The senior band finished off the evening with several great pieces like the Pirates of the Carribean, Braziliana and Canto. Cody had a saxaphone solo in the song Cajun Folk songs and did an awesome job, although he was very nervous Friday night; said he had dragonflies in his stomach!!
All in all it was a much enjoyed event for all involved.
PS If anyone has some photos, I'd love to add them to my blog....
Friday, June 19, 2009
Re-arranging Furniture
Today Helen came over to help me rearrange some furniture. I had bought this lovely zebra picture from Ikea to add to our South African theme in the family room. However, my couch didn't really match the decor. So we moved the lounge furniture into the family room and the other couch into the lounge. It was a cheaper solution than buying new couches and I think it came out quite okay! I just need to hang up our springbok skin again, and put up a shelf for our wooden figures. Somehow there's always work to be done! I'm not sure what Dave's reaction will be, although he loved the zebra picture...
Monday, June 15, 2009
Welcome Evening for our new minister!!
After nearly 2 years of waiting, the Lord has blessed our congregation with a minister. The Hart family arrived safely 2 weeks ago and on Saturday we were able to celebrate their arrival and welcome them into our midst officially. After much planning and organising the day had arrived and we hoped all our plans would turn out great. And what a great evening we had!(okay, so I was in the organising committee and may be a little biased, but that's allowed, right??!!)
The 'evening' began in a Christian manner at 4:oo, well, in truth we officially began closer to 4:20 by the time everyone had arrived and were seated, by our MC, Hendrik. Then followed a number of items of entertainment:
Our youth band played 3 lovely songs for our enjoyment. Our family figures rather prominently in the group, with Wade, Cody, Meagan, Hailey, Kara and Emma all playing various instruments. With Jim there as conductor weaving his magic, the kids sounded fantastic! It's really awesome seeing the scope of musicians we have in our small church!
Then the school kids came forwards and sang a song about the 'Schoolies of Baldivis", showing off their big smiles and welcoming the 3 Hart kids to their school. Of course Nico (the Principal) had to let his sense of humour shine through and let the kids stick a smiley face to his back.
The years 6-8 had all taken goodies for the "Pantry song" so while we sang, the Hart's had to run around the room and fill up their baskets.
The older youth involved everyone in a game of the "Battle of the Sexes" which much to the males delight, they won, although we think that was a little rigged....
Rob put on an interesting competition about where to do mission work: PNG (where Rev. Hart has just left) or Sumba (where we currently do our mission work). Thankfully we were able to translate and name the bible book and passage more accurately than the PNG group and so our mission work will continue in Sumba... no bias from our judge, of course!!
Keith had an interesting skit from the Men's club which had some kids in stitches trying to dress up in 2 outfits. His underlying message: how satan attacks us and tries to stop us from attending bible study club was quite relevant...
The consistory also had a skit prepared of a "typical" consistory meeting. They had fun making fun of a number of us in the congregation like the ThreeQuarters family living outside our boundary, but wanting membership in Baldivis. When it was made known that Mister ThreeQuarters could teach catechism there was a unanimous agreement to allow this. (family ThreeQuarters referring to Helen and Mick who, incidentally is teaching catechism on Monday nights...) For those who listened carefully, there were many hidden meanings, quite amusing!
The woman's club had a group of dads and group of kids that the minister and his wife had to match up. They did very well, the only mistake being with Jodi and Danielle. Their excuse: when we visit one house they're there and when we go to the other house they're there! Being cousins, they do tend to mix houses a bit!
Hendrik also had a speech about how to lure a minister to come to our church as we are only a small church, with no handicapped parking bays, lights that have a mind of their own, alarms that go off at will, airconditioning that goes from cold to colder and a host of other maladies, unlike Albany (who also called Rev Hart), who have a beautiful new building.... Thankfully Rev Hart accepted our call...
Mum had the privileged duty of presenting a scrapbook the whole congregation had made up of their families and interests to help our new minister become aquainted with who's who in Baldivis.
Rev Hart had some words to share with us and then Brian closed the formal side of the evening and opened for dinner. Then we all enjoyed a spit roast of pork, beef and lamb with salads and buns as well as a bountiful supply of desserts!! How richly God blesses us!!
The 'evening' began in a Christian manner at 4:oo, well, in truth we officially began closer to 4:20 by the time everyone had arrived and were seated, by our MC, Hendrik. Then followed a number of items of entertainment:
Our youth band played 3 lovely songs for our enjoyment. Our family figures rather prominently in the group, with Wade, Cody, Meagan, Hailey, Kara and Emma all playing various instruments. With Jim there as conductor weaving his magic, the kids sounded fantastic! It's really awesome seeing the scope of musicians we have in our small church!
Then the school kids came forwards and sang a song about the 'Schoolies of Baldivis", showing off their big smiles and welcoming the 3 Hart kids to their school. Of course Nico (the Principal) had to let his sense of humour shine through and let the kids stick a smiley face to his back.
The years 6-8 had all taken goodies for the "Pantry song" so while we sang, the Hart's had to run around the room and fill up their baskets.
The older youth involved everyone in a game of the "Battle of the Sexes" which much to the males delight, they won, although we think that was a little rigged....
Rob put on an interesting competition about where to do mission work: PNG (where Rev. Hart has just left) or Sumba (where we currently do our mission work). Thankfully we were able to translate and name the bible book and passage more accurately than the PNG group and so our mission work will continue in Sumba... no bias from our judge, of course!!
Keith had an interesting skit from the Men's club which had some kids in stitches trying to dress up in 2 outfits. His underlying message: how satan attacks us and tries to stop us from attending bible study club was quite relevant...
The consistory also had a skit prepared of a "typical" consistory meeting. They had fun making fun of a number of us in the congregation like the ThreeQuarters family living outside our boundary, but wanting membership in Baldivis. When it was made known that Mister ThreeQuarters could teach catechism there was a unanimous agreement to allow this. (family ThreeQuarters referring to Helen and Mick who, incidentally is teaching catechism on Monday nights...) For those who listened carefully, there were many hidden meanings, quite amusing!
The woman's club had a group of dads and group of kids that the minister and his wife had to match up. They did very well, the only mistake being with Jodi and Danielle. Their excuse: when we visit one house they're there and when we go to the other house they're there! Being cousins, they do tend to mix houses a bit!
Hendrik also had a speech about how to lure a minister to come to our church as we are only a small church, with no handicapped parking bays, lights that have a mind of their own, alarms that go off at will, airconditioning that goes from cold to colder and a host of other maladies, unlike Albany (who also called Rev Hart), who have a beautiful new building.... Thankfully Rev Hart accepted our call...
Mum had the privileged duty of presenting a scrapbook the whole congregation had made up of their families and interests to help our new minister become aquainted with who's who in Baldivis.
Rev Hart had some words to share with us and then Brian closed the formal side of the evening and opened for dinner. Then we all enjoyed a spit roast of pork, beef and lamb with salads and buns as well as a bountiful supply of desserts!! How richly God blesses us!!
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