CBC Update
Dear Friends,
Jesus – I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man (or woman) remains in me and I in them, they will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing (John 15:5).
Last Tuesday evening around 120 people gathered for the ‘Celebrating Our History Night’. People’s reflections and input have provided some really good information for the transition team around our past journey which will be helpful as we discern what will be important moving forward. We have left some of the input on the walls for this Sunday so others might peruse and consider the feedback that was given. This Sunday afternoon, the transition team will be meeting to consider what lessons we might learn from our church’s journey so far. In the next couple of weeks, we will provide a written summary of our findings.
Last Sunday we heard of the work of one our ministry partners, Hopestreet, and the work they do in the inner city and Woolloomooloo where they endeavour ‘to transform lives by expressing the love of Christ.’ As part of that presentation, it was mentioned that the Op Shop is in need of practical donations which will enable them to provide support for the homeless and other vulnerable people in the city. We have set up a table in the café area for the next two Sundays, where people can bring donated goods to pass onto Hopestreet. The items which the Op Shop particularly needs are pots and pans, sleeping bags, blankets, towels, tracksuit pants, warm clothing and men’s shoes. The art and needlework group needs yarn, fabric, needles, hooks, paints, brushes and magazines. If you could assist in any way, please leave any of these items on the table.
Our fundraising to support our mission partners remain open and we encourage you to financially contribute, be it small or large, in supporting our partners. Giving details can be found on the church website or in the collection box in the church foyer. Please mark ‘For May Mission Month’.
Blessings,
Ken
CBC UPDATE – 26 May 2023
Dear Friends,
I recently read a story of a man who bought a new hunting dog and was eager to see how he would perform. He took the dog out to track a bear, and no sooner had they gotten into the woods than the dog picked up the trail of the bear. Suddenly, he stopped, sniffed the ground, and headed in a new direction. He had caught the scent of a deer that had crossed the bear’s path. A few moments later he halted again, this time smelling a rabbit that had crossed the path of the deer. And so on and on it went until finally the breathless hunter caught up with his dog, only to find him barking triumphantly down the hole of a field mouse.
Like that dog, it is easy for us to get side-tracked. We can go chasing off into so many different directions that we miss the most important things in life. In our pursuit of God and his direction for our lives, we have to be careful that we don’t get side-tracked by the “rabbit trails” that can lead us away from the most important things God wants us to focus on. In the rush of modern life, it’s easy to lose sight of our priorities. Under pressure, we tend to focus on the urgent, but not always on the important. So, it’s good to be reminded occasionally of our priorities as God’s people.
I look forward to us gathering together this Tuesday evening (7-8.30pm) for our Celebrating our History night. There is nothing you need to prepare for but be yourself as we identify meaningful touch points of your experience of being part of CBC. Later on we will have the opportunity to consider what God is showing us to be our priorities moving forward.
Next Sunday (June 4), we will be joining together in a combined service at 4pm. This is an opportunity for us to worship God together, to break bread and share a meal as a whole faith community here at CBC. Rather than having our regular church BBQ following the AM service, we will have a BBQ available following the combined service.
Blessings,
Ken