October – November 2024 Newsletter
St. Andrew’s Uniting Church, Longueville
October – November 2024 Newsletter
FOUR INGREDIENTS OF A HEALTHY CHURCH
It is a delight to be sharing with you this morning …
Having been senior minister of churches which have experienced significant growth, visitors would sometimes ask: “To what do you attribute the success of this church?”
- I have always felt uncomfortable with the inappropriate word “success”.
- I usually reframe the question – “What creates healthy churches?” That is a question worth asking.
In the book of Acts, we learn something of the inner life of the early church. We see that it was growing: a well-rounded church, concerned for each other, and yet sufficiently focused on the world to grow through the Holy Spirit.
From time to time, I hear enthusiastic people say: “What we need to be is a New Testament church.” I am fairly sure I know what they mean, but I am equally sure it is not enough. We want to be a church of today!
However, we definitely do need a church empowered by the same Spirit as the New Testament church, in a way that impacts upon the current situations and contexts in which we find ourselves.
A healthy church is like any good meal; it requires the appropriate ingredients to give it quality. One poor ingredient can make all the difference.
Let me tell you about a visit I made to Scott City (in the USA) in 1991:
I was to preach for a week at a city-wide mission – I took a flight from the UK (where I was living at the time) to Kansas City. I had been extremely busy while preparing for this important trip, so I slept throughout the flight – and missed the meals and cups of tea.
I was met at the airport by some leaders of other denominations who were to be involved with me in the mission – and they wanted to talk during the whole of our 6-hour journey across the State of Kansas – there was no offer of a break at a service station for a coffee!
On arrival in Scott City, I was taken to the home of a retired minister where I was to stay during the mission. It was obvious we were going straight to bed – he was wearing pyjamas and a dressing gown! I was hungry and thirsty and, thankfully, he asked if he could get anything for me. I asked if I could have a bowl of cornflakes and a cup of coffee. His wife was already asleep – and it was clear he wasn’t familiar with the kitchen.
Eventually, I was shown to my bedroom, with a tray, my cornflakes and cup of coffee and a bowl of sugar – my host told me there was an alarm set and I shouldn’t come out until breakfast time.
I put sugar on my cornflakes and in the coffee and began my first meal for a very long time – and to my horror my host had put salt into the basin instead of sugar … everything was spoiled!
One small ‘wrong ingredient’ changes everything!
I want to offer to you four ingredients of a healthy church:
1. A CHURCH THAT IS ENERGISED BY FAITH
We can be tempted to feel our church life is about survival, rather than growth. Far too much church life in the western developed world is like that. We need a radical change that will bring us back to original and essential priorities.
Some kinds of energy are not our priority:
- Keeping a church building open at all costs.
- People can be energised for the strangest causes!
Dynamic spiritual energy is motivated by a worshipping community where sacrament, prayer, witness and service all matter. Their interaction is what makes the difference.
- The desire to serve God and one another.
- A meaningful engagement with the scriptures.
- A faith nurtured in Christ helps people to grow in and share their faith; such growth becomes natural.
This ingredient stands at top of the list – and out of which all other ingredients flow. A lack of internal energy was caricatured by a church member who said: “Our congregation is like a wheelbarrow – nothing moves unless you push it.”
Our zeal has waxed and waned down the years, but never vanished. Our resilience is linked to the ever-promised presence of the Holy Spirit. When energised by the Spirit, the congregation:
- Is able to appropriately change and adapt.
- Will not only survive but flourish.
- Is able to reach out and offer compassionate care.
The congregation which is genuinely open to God’s power and energy is a church that is energised by faith.
2. A CHURCH FACING OUTWARDS TO THE WORLD
We must be concerned about the struggle for justice and compassion for the hurt, which should be deeply rooted in our witness.
We must connect faith and daily life. We should not leave our daily work at the door when we come to church – nor leave our faith at church when we leave.
I ministered in Wales for 9 years – and raised funds for an imaginative building project at one of my churches. This involved building a new coffee lounge, kitchen and hall for community activities. As the congregation were enthusiastic about the new opportunities, I encouraged them to replace the pews with chairs and to put glass doors at the church entrance. One member suggested this would “allow the community to see inside the church” – when in fact my reasoning was that the church would be able to see out into the community we wanted to reach!
There is a recurring call of God to mission in the world. His redemptive work in the world is missionary. The Latin for ‘sending’ is ‘missio’ and none of us would know if we had not first been reached. It is tragic that many church members think of missionary work as something distinct when compared to ordinary witness and work. Such a view is disastrous:
- Christians must be actively engaged in mission.
- God’s harvest-field is the world – in Australia, Africa, Asia, Europe and the UK, as much as anywhere else.
- No Christian can serve the Lord in isolation.
We are called to point outwards to the world.
3. A CHURCH THAT DARES TO DO THINGS DIFFERENTLY
- We must embrace and celebrate the past – but we must be willing to do things differently.
- We must admit when things don’t work – and to see new possibilities.
- Taking positive steps to change – embracing its opportunities.
How does that resonate with our mission here in Longueville at this point in time?
When we are a church daring to do things differently, we discover we are part of a kingdom work:
- Whose growth is often unobtrusive like yeast in the dough. (Mat. 13:33)
- Whose growth is noticed like light from a city on a hill. (Mat. 5:14)
- Whose growth is never triumphalist but comes from small beginnings. (Mat. 13:31)
We may feel the Spirit of God stirring dry bones into life. We emerge from a cul-de-sac mentality to walk the Jesus way.
Healthy churches will always make room for all, and newcomers soon become integrated:
- For nine years, I had responsibility for a large church in a prime holiday location by the sea. It was a great personal challenge. There they emphasised the welcoming of visitors and, although good, it was not enough. Real welcome follows the initial greeting and is much more to do with integration.
- Our attitude to children and young people may need to change – they are sometimes described as “people in the making”. They are already people!
- We could equally say older people are not merely the “carriers of our story of the past”, but vital to our present journey.
The New Testament displays no better picture of the early church than that in 1 Corinthians 1:26–28.
Christianity began to lose some of its unique spiritual force when it became institutionalised and powerful.
There is something “now” and something “not yet” about every positive church. Our doors and our hearts are open wide – not just to “people like us” but to all!
John and Charles Wesley’s favourite word appears to be “All”. Charles used that small, simple word so often in his poetry and hymns – and, in one of his greatest hymns, he summed it up – “For all, for all, my Saviour died!”
4. A CHURCH MUST BE FOCUSED – NOT FRENETIC
My fourth ingredient is such an essential feature of any healthy church. There is a mistaken view that growing churches do almost everything, and the sign of a healthy church is constant activity. One of the conclusions that people are coming to regarding growing and healthy churches is that they do the basic things well – they are good news as a community – and they are relaxed about what they don’t do!
- However, it does mean public worship, leadership, pastoral care and administration are done well.
- It does mean the call to proclaim the good news and to live out the gospel is taken seriously.
- It does mean we enjoy what we do – with a sense of joy at the heart of the community.
The presence of God is mediated as people work, pray, support and encourage one another.
- Interpreting the story of God’s love in our community and for every generation.
- Setting the claims of Jesus Christ before people and challenging them to make a response.
- Creating and maintaining a welcoming community, where people can be nurtured in discipleship.
The greater part of Jesus’ ministry was in small towns and communities around the Galilee. It was there that his public ministry began and where he told his stories.
Healthy churches take seriously being at the heart of their community. If we are to follow the pattern of Jesus, we must live out our discipleship where we are known and where we can be held accountable to each other and to our neighbours for what we say and do.
In the Acts of the Apostles, we notice that there was a sense of awe among the early believers. Authentic worship lifts us out of the ordinary and familiar into the presence of God. They lived lives of integrity, led by faith.
A healthy church makes a difference in the community.
Hans Küng, the influential Christian writer, said in his monumental work The Church, that it is not part of the nature of the church to have uniform worship or theology. He points to Ephesians 4 and says quite the opposite is true. He drew a picture of different peoples, different communities, different languages, different rites and forms of devotion, different prayers and hymns, but centred around the one God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Today there is a widespread spiritual hunger. Materialism and personal advancement do not satisfy and the one quality that ultimately sets a growing church apart is a love for God and for each other.
Not all churches that display this will grow numerically, but NO church will grow spiritually without it.
Rev. Keith Garner
(SCC Presbytery Chairman)
CHURCH COUNCIL REPORT
September was a busy month – Fashion Parade, Election Day stall and three visiting preachers. We welcomed Bob Minton on 8 September, Rev. Liam McKenna, Lane Cove Community Chaplain on 15 September and Presbytery Chair Rev. Keith Garner last Sunday 22 September. Rev. Garner spoke about “The Ingredients of a Healthy Church”. His sermon is in this Newsletter.
We will certainly need to do things differently once Krikor retires next year and your church council are meeting with Lane Cove Uniting Church and Presbytery about our future. One thing is certain, we will not have a full-time minister so we will have to do things differently. As yet there is no clear pathway, but we are making progress.
Thank you to Jan and Brian for their huge contribution to the success and enjoyment for all who attended our Spring Fashion Parade. The number of attendees was better than last year, the morning tea was scrumptious and the shopping profitable. Stafford Fashions provided the clothes and Tina Hyman the jewelry. $1200 was raised. Some of the proceeds from this year will be donated to the Rev. Bill Crews’ Exodus Foundation.
Thank you to those who manned the election day stall and to those who baked. It is a sign of the times that so many voters fail to bring cash. We still managed to sell our stock and bank, $1936. There will be another election in the first half of next year so hopefully voters will remember to bring some notes and coins.
Penny Goodley
THE GOLDEN CHAIN OF MERCY
It was pleasing to hear the loud applause at the conclusion of the world premiere of this fine documentary on 16 August 2024, the third in a series highlighting the help given to the Armenians following the forced exit from their homeland in 1915. Very few of the older members of the Australian diaspora let alone the younger generation knew of the help given by ordinary men and women of Australia and New Zealand following this disaster. It is a lasting testament to the Anzacs who supported Armenians in their hour of need. Contemporary footage was endorsed by today’s historians from many different organisations. The information was factual and thought provoking. Unless projects like this are recorded for posterity this history will be forgotten.
Congratulations to producer Manvel Saribekyan and chief historical consultant Vicken Babkenian who both took questions at the Q&A following opening night at the Film Festival at Ryde, Sydney. Manvel is the grandchild of a survivor and has dedicated 12 years of his life to the creation of the trilogy of documentaries
detailing help given to Armenians in their hour of need. Thank you for your diligence. Thanks to Krikor, the Line Producer, and the Armenian Missionary Association of Australia for being one of the major sponsors and supporter working hard to raise more than the third of the total cost of the documentary.
P.S. Thank you for the opportunity of doing one of the voice-overs, it was a pleasure and a privilege.
Penny Goodley
CELEBRATIONS AND CONGRATULATIONS
Happy birthday to Ian Butters who celebrated 80 years on 26 September with his family, in Canberra.
Congratulations to Wendy and Ken Phelps who will celebrate 50 years of marriage on 25 October, in the Maldives.
CHRISTMAS GIFTS FOR REV. BILL CREWS EXODUS FOUNDATION
Rev. Bill Crews will be preaching at our church on 1 December on First Avent Sunday, as well as St. Andrew’s Day Service. As we have done for many years, please bring in your gifts of non-perishable food and unwrapped Christmas gifts to church during the month of November. A list of requested items will be on the pin board in the foyer. Hopefully Rev. Crews will join us for the St. Andrew’s Day Lunch.
TIME 4 U, Wednesdays at 10:00 am
Time 4U is held every Wednesday from 10:00 am – 12 noon. When Graham Ball gives his music talks we join him at the Library. Other weeks we meet in our hall and play board games or watch a documentary on the screen.
Cost: $5 for home-made morning tea and a welcoming and friendly time amongst friends.
PIZZA AND MOVIE NIGHT – First Tuesday of the month – since Dec 2011!
6:30 pm Pizza, 7:15 pm movie! BYO drinks!
1 October. A Man called Otto (2022). American comedy/drama about a grumpy widower who is very set in his ways and suicidal. A lively young family moves next door, leading to an unlikely friendship that will turn his world upside down – a funny and heart-warming story. Starring Tom Hanks, Mariana Travino and Rachel Keller. (126 mins)
5 November. Red Joan (2018). British spy drama about a widow living quietly in retirement who is arrested by the British Secret Service. As she is interrogated, she relives the dramatic events that shaped her life and beliefs – her student days at Cambridge, the deep-seated sexism there, her love affair with a dashing political radical and the devastation of WWII. Starring Judi Dench, Sophie Cookson, Stephen Cambell Moore and Tom Hughes. (101 mins)
Come along and enjoy what is the best value dinner and movie combo in town!
Cost: $12.00
Bookings essential: 9428 4287/9427 4740
LANE COVE MUSIC
Our fifth concert for 2024 on Tuesday 8 October at 7:30 pm in LCM Anglican Church will be the annual Sydney Eisteddfod/Pollard Awards. The 10 best 12-15 year-old instrumentalists from this year’s Sydney Eisteddfod have been selected to perform. At the end of the evening the audience will vote for the winner – not an easy decision with such talented young musicians. Join us for this exciting evening.
Tickets $30 cash at the door or via our website www.lanecovemusic.org.au Enquiries: Chris Butters 9428 4287 Penny Goodley 9803 1735
ARMENIAN MISSIONARY ASSOCIATION OF AUSTRALIA
“The Map of Salvation” – The film tells the story of the humanitarian movement that emerged during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. A documentary, built on real facts about the European Missionaries of the reformed Evangelical Churches told through the eyes of five women missionaries. Released by Man Pictures in 2015.
“The American Good Samaritans”- This is a story about survivors and extraordinary American humanists thanks to whom remnants of the Armenian, Greek and Assyrian peoples were saved from total destruction. Their mission was to save human lives. The film has received more than 135 awards form International Film Festivals. Released by Man Pictures in 2022.
“The Golden Chain of Mercy” – A film focusing on the story of ANZAC soldiers and Australian and New Zealand missionaries from the reformed Methodist, Presbyterian and Congregational Church, currently known as the Uniting Church in Australia, who helped the suffering Armenian people at the time of the Armenian Genocide. This film has already received more than 45 awards form International Film Festivals. Released by Man Pictures in 2024.
“Map of Salvation” – Tuesday 12 November 2024 at 7:00 pm
“The American Good Samaritans” – Tuesday 19 November 2024 at 7:00 pm
“The Golden Chain of Mercy” – Tuesday 26 November 2024 at 7:00 pm
St. Andrew’s Uniting Church War Memorial Hall
47A Kenneth Street Longueville NSW 2066
Refreshments following the screenings.
Entry with DONATIONS!
KRIKOR WILL BE ON LEAVE
Krikor will be on leave 14-24 October 2024 to attend the AMAA’s Annual Meeting in Montreal, Canada. He will be preaching in the Armenian Evangelical Church of Montreal on Sunday 20 October and perform three baptisms.
OCTOBER DATES FOR YOUR DIARY:
Oct 1, Tue 6:30 pm – Pizza/Movie Night “A Man Called Otto”
Oct 2, Wed 10:00 am – Time 4U and every Wednesday
Oct 6, Sun 9:30 am – Sunday Communion Service – Daylight Saving
Oct 14, Mon – Krikor on Leave
Oct 20, Sun 10:00 am – Worship with Crows Nest Uniting Church
Oct 24, Mon – Krikor returns from Leave
Oct 27, Sun 9:30 am – Combined Service with Lane Cove at LCU
John Flynn Service and Great Outback BBQ!
Oct 30, Wed 10:30 am – Elders/Church Council Meeting
NOVEMBER DATES FOR YOUR DIARY:
Nov 3, Sun 9:30 am – Sunday Communion Service
Nov 5, Tue 6:30 pm – Pizza/Movie Night “Red Joan”
Nov 6, Wed 10:00 am – Time 4U and every Wednesday
Nov 12, Tue 7:00 pm – Documentary “Map of Salvation”
Nov 19, Tue 7:00 pm – Documentary “The American Good Samaritans”
Nov 26, Tue 7:00 pm – Documentary “The Golden Chain of Mercy”
DECEMBER DATES FOR YOUR DIARY:
Dec 1, Sun 9:30 am – Sunday Communion Service – Advent 1 and
St. Andrew’s Day Service and Lunch!
Dec 3, Tue 6:30 pm – Pizza/Movie Night “Charade”
Dec 4, Wed 10:00 am – Time 4U Christmas
Dec 11, Wed 10:30 pm – Elders/Church Council Meeting
Dec 15, Sun 9:30 am – Carols Service!
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To contact Krikor call on 0418 417 411
standrewsunite@tpg.com.au
Church Office phone: 9427 4740
Church Websitehttp://www.longueville.unitingchurch.org.a