The Link

December 15 2013

Neil Ryan Senior Pastor

Seth Emery Youth Pastor

Kathy Heath Childrens Pastor

Gavin Jones Pastor, LifeChurch

Allan Stanley-Smith Pastor, Pastoral Care

Welcome

December 15 2013

Welcome to Unley Park Baptist today. It is great to have you with us. If you are new to Unley Park, we appreciate that it can be daunting to walk into a new church, so as much as we can, we want to help you feel at home here. In the pew in front of you please find a black folder that contains a white care card for you to complete. There is also a "Welcome Pack" available for you that, among other things, has a special Care Card for you to record your visit and for us to follow up any requests you make. All Care Cards should be "posted" as you leave the church, in the locked box on the table by the "Baptistry Door".

10.00am

Morning Worship Neil Ryan David and Goliath 1 Samuel 17 Is faith about slaying giants? Lyn Ryan, Jill Page, Doug & Sandy Castle Marlene Salmon, Denise Gooley, Lois Smith Life Church

Morning Tea: Morning Tea Next Week: 5.00pm

Just a Minute
Last Friday I called into a new caf in East Avenue, Clarence Park. It is typical of so many cafs these days; old shops that are refurbished in retro style. When the young lady brought the coffee I told her that my daughter was a Police Officer and that she had recommended I call in and take a look. The young ladys eyes lit up as she told me how they have Police Officers call in regularly. She said at one stage last week there were 5 police cars parked out the front of the caf. I asked her whether that was good for business, or not! She seemed to think it was sending all the right messages. So I wished her well, and hoped the caf was a success in the years to come. When I went to pay, my bill came to $11.50. For some reason I gave her $11 and said thanks and walked out. It was only when I got home I realised I had short changed her, and in fact I could hear her saying $11.50. I do remember her looking at me with a strange look but I have gotten used to that over the years! I couldnt get that 50 cents out of my mind. Its not much really. What is 50 cents in the scheme of things! Then I remembered her saying she only charges Police Officers half price for coffee, so what was a measly 50 cent discount to a Pastor going to matter? Even as I write this my mind is telling me that 50 cents is nothing! So why couldnt I just forget about it! This week I went back to the caf and when I ordered my coffee I confessed my crime! The girl just looked at me and laughed. She said, Its only 50 cents! - I said, well Im a Baptist Minister and if you cant trust the cloth, who can you trust! She laughed again and then said, Now it makes sense . As I sat down I thought about how many times I had tried to convince myself that returning to pay 50 cents didnt make sense. This girl saw the sense of it straight away when she connected it to who I was! Reminded me of something Jesus said, Whoever, can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much. But if you are dishonest in little things, you wont be honest with greater responsibilities. [Luke 16:10] Never thought of it this way before, but after my experience last week, Im happy to say I really want to be a 50 cent Christian! God Bless Neil

Special offering
Please note that a Special Offering will be held today Sunday 15 December for the nd Community Street Party & Carol Night to be held on Sunday 22 December. This offering provides an opportunity for those not involved in helping to run this event to contribute by making a gift to cover the costs incurred for the Street Party. All gifts received will be greatly appreciated.
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Street Party
This year we will be holding our Street Party & Community Carol Singing evening on Dec nd 22 with a BBQ / Coffee Cakes from 6.00pm and Carol Singing from 7.30pm. If you have any questions please see Garry Gooden.

Slices for Christmas Street Party

We are asking the church community to help supply homemade slices or biscuits for our nd Christmas Street Party on Sunday 22 December. Please leave your slices and biscuits in the church kitchen Sunday morning or when you arrive at the Street Party. See Noelene Hunt or Kathy Heath for any inquiries.

Childrens Christmas Choir

The rehearsal times for the children are as follows: Sunday Dec 15 at 2.30-3.30pm Sunday Dec 22 final run through - rehearsal schedule times TBC

Pre-service prayer
We meet each Sunday morning before the coffee time and before the service, in Neil Ryan's office for a short time of prayer at 9.45 a.m. All welcome. "Did I not say to you, if you believe, you will see the glory of God"? John 11:40

Our Missionary Families

The Ames Family Owen, Sarah, Rachel, Jessica & Joshua OM/TEAM Church Planting, Tokyo, Japan Please pray for Rachel and Jessica over the next couple of days as they have some test and big assignments due before their two week Christmas/New Year break starts later this week. They will also be helping Owen distribute tracts on Saturday, so we appreciate your prayers for all those who will receive the message of the good news of Christmas! This week will also include various preparations for our nd Christmas service and Christmas lunch (on Dec 22 ). Pray for our missionary team and our church members as we plan and prepare for this event and as we invite our contacts to come along. Pray that God will prepare the hearts of those who will come to the service, that there will be a desire to hear more about the message of the gospel.

Pray for these families

Names for this week beginning December 15: Jamie, Sarah, William, Phoebe & Charles Milner Graham & Sandra Mitchell John & Susan Noonan Zeke, Joanne, Noah & Ethan Osmond Danny, Libby, Ashleigh & Charlotte Page Jill Page

MLT break-up meeting

The Ministry Leadership Team will be having their break-up meeting on the evening of th Monday 16 December. As always, we value your prayers for our wisdom in discussions on behalf of the church family at UPBC . Many thanks.

CHRISTMAS SCHOOL HOLIDAYS

During the holiday break there will be a shortened Childrens Ministry Program for the children in Small Groups Kindy to Year 5. The children will be signed in during morning coffee time and will sit with their parents until just prior to the sermon when they will leave the church. They will be signed out and collected at the conclusion of the service. The children in Years 6 & 7 2014 (ZONE 67 ) will remain in church during the School holidays.

HOLIDAY PROGRAM
DATE
22 Dec th 29 Dec th 5 Jan 12 Jan th 19 Jan th 26 Jan
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FOCUS Christmas Family Brunch Sunday family service Seminar Sunday (sign in will take place at 10.30am) Service Sunday family service Christian Magician is coming Gearing UP
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Please note there will be NO Childrens Ministry Program on 29 Dec and 12 Jan.

CRECHE
At this stage there will be Crche provided on Dec 22nd. We need volunteers for January 5th, 19th and 26th. If this doesnt happen the Crche facilities will be available for parents to use with their Babies to Kindergarten age children only as these facilities are

specifically age appropriate. *There will be no formalised Coffee Playtime during the Holiday break. *UPbc will commence Sunday 2nd February 2014

Sermon Notes

This week at UPBC

Playgroup In recess for school holidays Prayer Team Tuesday December 17 9.30am-11.30am Tuesday December 17 9.30am-10.30am Tuesday December 17 11am-12noon Tuesday December 17 5.30pm - 8.00pm Wednesday December 18 9.30am - 11.30am Wednesday December 18 7.45pm - 9.00pm Thursday December 19 9.30am-11.30am Thursday December 19 5.30pm 8.00pm Friday December 20 7.30pm - 9.30pm Sunday December 22 10.00am Sunday December 22 6.00pm Sunday December 22 5.00pm

Hilighters

Munchiez Food Van Team 7 Andrew Lawrence Playgroup In recess for school holidays Bible study at the church In recess Know your Bible In recess Munchiez Food Van Team 14 Allison Flaherty Elevate Youth Group (year 8-12) In recess Morning Worship Neil Ryan Street Party and Carols Night

LifeChurch

Northgate Street Unley Park PH: 82720258 www.upbc.org.au admin@upbc.org.au