Northern MONTHLY NEWSLETTER OF

LAUNCESTON NORTH UNITING MARCH 2016 – VOLUME 3 NO 3

Church Events Mar 4th — Haven Table Top Games

Mar 5th— Messy Church

Mar 6th — AGM (Newnham)

Mar 7th — UCAF

Mar 11th— Haven CRU

Mar 15th— Crosroads North

Mar 18th— Haven Table Top Games

Mar 19th— Messy Church

Mar 21st— Church Council (P)

Mar 24th— Mauncdy Thursday Messy

Church

Mar 25th— Good Friday Combined

Service L’ton South 9:30am & 7:00pm

Mar 27th— Easter Day

Mar 28th— Easter Monday

Mar 31st — Lilydale Laughternoon

A Vision for our community

The message central to this community is of

transformed living where everyone is loved,

accepted and nourished.

Building a People of God in North Launceston

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If you are involved in a church program, please feel free to send through a small report and/or

photos to celebrate it in the newsletter. Please have the details to the editor by at least the

third Wednesday of the month.

Email lnuc.office@gmail.com (Note new office email) Phone (03) 6326 5928

Pastor’s Pen

Chairperson’s Corner

Reflection

Lent Devotional

UCAF

He is Risen

Haven Market

Social Justice Spot

Social Justice Spot

Messy Church Report

Koorong Book Review

Community Involvement

Hymn Study

Crossroads

Crossroads

Lilydale Laughternoons/Attn Men

Advertisements

Kids Corner

Kids Corner

Let Us Pray

Roster—March

Contacts

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Pastor’s Pen By the time the next newsletter rolls around, the season of Lent will have finished and the Eastertide will be upon us. What then does this mean for how we reflect upon and experience the events of the coming weeks?

This Lenten season, Luke’s gospel offers us a calculated and in-depth look at the understanding of Jesus Christ as Messiah, through the many parables calling us to repentance and warnings about the urgency of the times presented for us to read. We encounter the Christ as the determined one, with eyes set to Jerusalem, pressing on without distraction towards the political eye of the storm. Jesus, the one who comes to challenge the political systems of the day becomes inherently political by engaging with the political perspectives of the day by disengaging with them and remaining completely focused on what He was called to do and say. Jesus stays true to His role as Messiah by continuing to call all those He engages with to repentance. To take up their cross and follow Christ. A road for Jesus Christ which becomes increasingly more challenging the closer we get to the heart of His calling to be Saviour for the world, and yet He remains focused, not without its cost, ultimately with His crucifixion being the culmination of His commitment to remaining focused upon God and His role as Messiah.

How easy it is to remain comfortable in our place, in ourselves, to think that we are doing what we are called to do, when in fact, if we really take notice of the messages of Luke in this Lenten journey,

the call to follow Christ is a costly one. It’s an uncomfortable journey. It calls us to put aside the distractions of the every day no matter what they may be and really focus in on what is most important. Being willing to risk it all for the sake of the gospel, the Good News of Jesus Christ. This is easier said than done when the cost of following Christ might really place us in a position of being persecuted for our beliefs. Yet that is the only response that we can make to such a call to follow Christ. God doesn’t ask for us to half-heartedly proclaim Him as Messiah. We are challenged to unequivocally and without denial proclaim that Jesus Christ is Lord, the means to grace and new relationship with God no matter how much it hurts.

We know the blessings of the new Easter Day. We have heard the stories of those who went to the tomb, only to find it empty, and now we must remain focused in our journey until we get to this new beginning point. With every day’s new prayer being the courage to take up the cross we are called to bear and the confidence to proclaim the message of Christ crucified and resurrected for each one of us.

Rev’d Amanda.

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Just a reminder that the Worship group has reconvened and will be meeting next Thursday 3rd of March at the Manse. If you have any-

thing related to the worshipping of our Parish, please get in touch with Amanda so

that it can be brought up at that meeting.

We will also be updating the Haven disabled door lock shortly in case you see any activity in the Haven doorway.

The Church Council celebrated David Hallett’s birthday with a scrumptious birthday cake before our Church Council meeting last Monday night. Poor David has been lumbered with taking the minutes for our Church Council meetings and is doing a terrific job considering he has never attempted to take down minutes before. It is not an easy job when there are a lot of questions and answers flying round the table. Well done David.

We have now had a few enquiries regarding the preparation of drawings for the church mural. Once ideas are in place, we can organise the tracing of the outlines on the wall and painting will begin. There is a lot of work to get it to the painting stage, but well worth the effort when it is completed.

If you are going past and see the gates open and David in the Haven office, pop in for a chat. There is always something happening with our mission in the local area, and I am sure David would appreciate your interest in the life of our church.

Gods richest blessing to you all,

Chris Dancer. Church Council Chairperson.

Chairperson’s Corner

Look here for updates on what

your church Council is doing!

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R e f l e c t i o

n

O GOD, who makes all things new,

new stars, new dust, new life;

take my heart, every hardened edge and measured beat,

and create something new in me.

I need your newness, God,

the rough parts of me made

smooth;

the stagnant, stirred,

the stuck, freed;

the unkind, forgiven.

And then, by the power of your Spirit,

I need to be turned toward Love again.

Amen.

– Pamela Hawkins

The Awkward Season: Prayers for Lent Copywrite © 2009

You who live in the shelter of the Most High, who abide in the

shadow of the Almighty, will say

to the LORD, “My

refuge and my

fortress; my God,

in whom I trust.”

Psalm 91:1-2, NRSV

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Prayer Lord Jesus Christ, who commanded us to love our enemies and all those who insult and hurt us, and to pray for them and forgive them; you yourself prayed for your enemies, who crucified you. Give us, we pray, a spirit of Christian reconciliation and meekness, so that we may forgive every injury and be reconciled with our enemies. Grant us Christian meekness and true love of our neighbour. Give to our enemies true peace and forgiveness of sins; and do not allow them to leave this life without true faith and sincere conversion. Help us to repay evil with goodness. — adapted from the Orthodox "Prayer for Enemies"

Psalm 25:3-9 No one who hopes in you will ever be put to shame, but shame will come on those who are treacherous without cause. Show me your ways, Lord, teach me your paths. Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Saviour, and my hope is in you all day long. Remember, Lord, your great mercy and love, for they are from of old. Do not remember the sins of my youth and my rebellious ways; according to your love remember me, for you, Lord, are good. Good and upright is the Lord; therefore he instructs sinners in his ways. He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way.

Quote Ah, holy Jesus, how hast Thou offended, That man to judge Thee hath in hate pretended? By foes derided, by Thine own rejected, O most afflicted. Who was the guilty—Who brought this upon Thee? (continued on next page)

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Please feel free to come and meet with

like-minded friends for a relaxed and

informal get-together. This is an

opportunity to chat and have a cuppa

together, discussing anything that pops into your mind.

Times are from 2:00—3:00pm in the Newnham Church Hall.

Please mark the 1st Monday of the month in your diaries.

Monday March 7th is the next get together at 2:00pm.

Launceston North UCAF

Uniting Church Adult Fellowship

Alas, my treason, Jesus, hath undone Thee. 'Twas I, Lord, Jesus, I it was denied Thee!

I crucified Thee. For me, kind Jesus, was Thine incarnation, Thy mortal sorrow, and Thy life's oblation; Thy death of anguish and Thy bitter passion,

For my salvation. Therefore, kind Jesus, since I cannot pay Thee, I do adore Thee, and will ever pray Thee, Think on Thy pity and Thy love unswerving,

Not my deserving.

Something to Think About Forgiveness is an integral part of the Easter story. Who in your life needs to be

forgiven today? Who do you need to ask for forgiveness? This week, consider

extending the hand of forgiveness to somebody who needs it .

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He is risen in the morning,

he is risen from the dead;

he is laughter after sadness,

he is light when night has fled.

He has suffered, he has triumphed,

life is his alone to give;

as he gave it once he gives it

evermore, that we may live.

J. Curle

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Save the Date! Our next Haven Market is

on Saturday 23rd April from

10:00am—3:00pm.

Please come along and

support the local

community and church in

this exciting way.

If you would like to book

your own table to sell your

wares, please either fill in

the online form on our

Haven Market Facebook

page, or contact the church

office.

Please let your friends know about the day. The dates for the remainder of

the year are: Saturdays 25th June

27th August

22nd October and

10th December.

We have purchased a

small jumping castle for the kiddies, several gazebos to protect from the sun

(it never rains on Market day!). We also have live music and face-painting

for the kids.

It’s a great family day, so be sure to come along to the next one in April.

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Soci

al J

usti

ce s

po

t Readers may well be aware of the plight of Dr Ken and Jocelyn Elliott

who, now in their eighties, have

spent their working life caring for

people in West Africa. Notwith-

standing their wonderful

contribution to the local

community, both were recently

kidnapped by extremist rebels.

Mrs Elliott has since been re-

leased, but at the time of writing,

Dr Elliott remains captive. Those

years of service reflect their

Christian faith, that faith is

anathema to extremists seeking

to disrupt orderly government in parts of Africa.

This is not an isolated or unusual story. Many Christians today suffer

simply because of their belief system. The North Korean dictatorship is

certainly the most brutal in their suppression of religious faith, but in the

war-torn Middle East and much of northern Africa, there is active

aggression towards people of Christian faith. Christian communities

which have persisted to this day, from a time before the ministry of St

Paul, remember his eyes and/or mind were opened by a faithful old

Christian who was already resident in Damascus when Paul arrived, are

now shattered. Those who survive endure great hardship: are denied

shelter, food, services, education, and freedom of worship, and can only

expect more cruelty. We are reminded of the great debt we owe to faith-

ful believers through the generations who have won, for us, the many

privileges we take for granted.

The long popular story ‘Pilgrim’s Progress’ was written in an English jail

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by John Bunyan who was imprisoned twice for preaching the gospel. His song which

we sometime sing (TiS 561) “Who would true valour see, let him come hither….”

speaks of “lions, hobgoblins and foul fiends”. These are not strange medieval

concepts but references to those religious and administrative forces opposing

freedom of worship. Bunyan was not alone, and the freedom we now enjoy is the

fruit of men such as him.

At Easter we are reminded that the Gospel (Good news)

story features a cruel execution. The good news is that

there emerged from that suffering the hope of renewal

for all humanity, and not humanity alone, but all of

creation.

The ministry of the “Open Doors” organisation reaches into those places where the

church is hurting in 2016. We are encouraged to acknowledge the many atrocious

acts of the oppressors; weep, pray, and support those who suffer. We are further

encouraged to celebrate the many amazing victories which manifest the hand of God

leading to victory and celebration. We have previously shared a video of young

Egyptian Christians singing inside the shell of their burnt out church, that video “has

gone viral”. We recently heard of two young Iranian women imprisoned for sharing

the Gospel. In prison they found 300 women, all spiritually hungry and open to a

gospel of hope! We learned of young children, orphans in Nigeria, who were captured

by extremists. The militants executed the parents and took the children captive as

potential militia recruits. One can barely imagine the terror experienced by those

children. The good news is that over a thousand such children have been freed by the

Nigerian National Army and are now in the care of Christian communities.

In his conclusion to the Hebrews (Heb 13:3) the writer of that

letter urges us to “Keep in mind those who are in prison, as though

you were in prison with them; and those who are being badly

treated, since you too are in the one body.”

“…..they know they at the end shall life inherit. Then fancies fly away; they’ll scorn what people say, and each work night and day to be a pilgrim”. Ian Farquhar

Keep in mind those

who are in prison, as

though you were in

prison with them

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Me

ssy

Ch

urc

h R

ep

ort

Solution to Bible Cryptoverse on page 25. My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress. Psalms 63:1-2 N.I.V.

Please Note: A special Messy Church meeting will be held on

Maundy Thursday March 24th.

Please come along and support the youngsters and families of the

church and community at this important service.

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book review… How to Read the Bible Book by Book

Reading the Bible need not be a haphazard journey through

strange and bewildering territory. Like an experienced tour

guide, How to Read the Bible Book by Book takes you by the

hand and walks you through the Scriptures. For each book

of the Bible, the authors start with a quick snapshot, then

expand the view to help you better understand its key

elements and how it fits into the grand narrative of the Bible. Written by two top

evangelical scholars, this survey is designed to get you actually reading the Bible

knowledgeably and understanding it accurately. In an engaging, conversational

style, Gordon Fee and Douglas Stuart take you through a given book of the Bible

using their unique, progressive approach.

Orientating Data---Concise info bytes that form a thumbnail of the book.

Overview---A brief panorama that introduces key concepts and themes and

important landmarks in the book.

Specific Advice for Reading---Pointers for accurately understanding the details and

message of the book in context with the circumstances surrounding its writing.

A Walk Through---The actual section-by-section tour that helps you see both the

larger landscape of the book and how its various parts work together to form the

whole. Here you are taken by the hand and told, 'Look at this!' How to Read the

Bible Book by Book can be used as a companion to How to Read the Bible for All Its

Worth. It also stands on its own as a reliable guide to reading and understanding the

Bible for yourself. - Publisher

Gordon D Fee: is Emeritus Professor of New Testament at Regent College, Vancouver, Canada

specialising in New Testament criticism.

Douglas Stuart: is professor of Old Testament at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in South

Hamilton, Massachusetts. This book is available through Koorong for $22.99 Ph: (03) 6331 6759

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Co

mm

un

ity

Invo

lvem

ent

East Tamar Primary and the Launceston North Uniting Church are

strengthening their partnership by begin-

ning a mentoring program for kids.

If you have an hour a week to give to one

child to offer them the opportunity to develop a significant re-lationship with an older person, please see Barrie Robinson

for more details. Ongoing training, support, and resources will be provided.

It doesn't take a lot to impact upon a child's life: what might YOU be able to offer in one hour a week?

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A Famous Hymn and its Story...

When I Survey the Wondrous Cross

Five-year-old Isaac Watts was asked by his father why he had giggled in the

middle of their solemn family prayers. He said that through his fingers he had

seen a mouse running up the bell-rope, and had suddenly thought,

“There was a mouse, for want of stairs,

Ran up a rope to say his prayers!”

But it wasn’t until he was about twenty that he ventured to complain to his father

about the grim verse of the metrical psalms they had to sing at Above Bar Chapel

in Southampton. “Try then whether you can yourself produce something better”,

was the answer.

The young man who had learned Latin at four, Greek at nine, French at ten and

Hebrew at thirteen, sat down to write straightaway, and never looked back. In all,

he wrote about 750 hymns. Many people regard this as the greatest of them all.

When I survey the wondrous cross,

On which the Prince of glory died,

My richest gain I count but loss,

And pour contempt on all my pride.

Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast

Save in the death of Christ my God;

All the vain things that charm me most,

I sacrifice them to his blood.

See from his head, his hands, his feet,

Sorrow and love flow mingled down!

Did e’er such love and sorrow meet,

Or thorns compose so rich a crown?

Were the whole realm of nature mine,

That were a present far too small;

Love so amazing, so divine,

Demands my soul, my life, my all.

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CROSSROADS NORTH

6pm — 8pm Uniting Church Hall

Third Tuesday of each month

George Town Road, Newnham

For transport call

David 6334 5843 or

Mobile 0437 428 864

Cost $6.

Reminder --- Have you paid your $10

Registration fee?

Enquiries Margaret 6395 1267 or

Carolyn 0407 843 715

Hi everyone, here is the Crossroads’ bit for the month.

We had our first meeting for the year on 16th February at Punchbowl Reserve (see pictures on next page) where we enjoyed a nice BBQ, with coleslaw and home grown tomatoes donated by Daniela Radenti. And of course, lovely bread which was provided as usual by David Grant.

We purchased a new urn late last year and got the chance to use it again, lots of people enjoyed their hot cup of tea or coffee; but be warned! - the power point to plug appliances into is way up the wall on the gazebo and the lead on the urn was short. We are going to add an extension cord to our new BBQ bag which we “thought” had every-thing in it. Just goes to prove that you learn something every day if you’re so inclined.

The weather was nice, although many people said they were cold, but they all acted like boy scouts and remembered to bring a jacket.

Our next meeting will be on 15th March and will be held at the hall in

Newnham. We are having a chocolate making session, where one

group will be making Easter cards, one group making Easter boxes, and

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the other group making chocolates! So, at the end of the night everybody will have helped everybody else make an Easter present for everyone to

take home. That’s what you call sharing and caring.

As usual we would like to invite anybody to come along and participate in our group. We have some seats on our bus (cost $6 a head for a return trip) that runs around the suburbs, so if you need transport or want any other information, please feel free to contact Margaret on 63951267 or Carolyn on 0407 843 715.

1st Meeting for the year—Punchbowl Reserve BBQ

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The next get together is on

Thursday 31st March at 1:30pm in

the Lilydale Uniting Church sitting

room.

Come for a chat, cuppa, do your

craft, or help with the puzzle – still

puzzling out those last pieces!

Who will put the last

piece in???

Enquiries: Phone

6395 1267.

Attention Men! What? A men's breakfast.

When? The first Wednesday

morning of the month.

Where? At Balfour Street,

Uniting Church Hall.

Start time? 8:00am

Breakfast cereal, toast, eggs, and bacon, tea and

coffee.

March’s date is: Wed 2nd

Phone Sue Harman 6344 2573 or 0407 809 599, or Will on 0458 118 858

Lilydale Laughternoons

All available for a donation.

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Do you have a

freezer you no long-

er need or use? We are in need of

one for the church hall at Newnham. Please

contact the church office if you have one

spare. Thank you!

Attention all Musicians!

Launceston North Uniting is looking for an organist or

pianist to help out up to once every two months (or when-

ever you can make it) at the morning services held at

9:15am. If you think you can assist in this regard, please

contact the church office where you will be added to the

roster. Any assistance is

gratefully appreciated.

(Note: this is a non-paying

position) See back page for

contact details.

Thank you!

Bronwyn practising late one night in

her pyjamas—and no! - I didn’t ask

for permission to use this picture

Piano Upright, iron-frame, very good condition,

wood-grain $500.00 ono

Hills Clothesline: good condition. Free, but you will

need to take it away. Currently located in Cressy.

For any further details about anything on this page, please contact David Hallett at

the Church Office (details on last page).

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For you to colour in

21

Solution on page 12

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Let Us Pray... Global

Give thanks for:

The release of Jocelyn Elliot from

West Africa (see page 10)

The wonderful world in which we live,

and that we all will do our part to help

in keeping it clean and fresh

Pray for:

The release of Dr Ken Elliott, and his

continuing health whilst imprisoned

The ongoing plight of refugees

worldwide, but especially in Syria right

now

Unity between nations and within

nations over this Easter period, that all

will know the full meaning and impact

of what it represents

children and families who continue to

suffer in war torn countries.

National & State

That all the fires burning across

the state will be extinguished

soon

Praise God for the rain He has

provided for us over the past

couple of weeks

For those in authority over us at

different levels of government

that we will continue to show

mercy and kindness towards the

refugees

Local

For parents, families and students at the start of the new school year

For the Mums in our community who are expecting new babies, that they will have good health in the coming months, and that all will have safe arrivals

For those affected in our wider community by the loss of loved ones over the past several months

For local churches with whom we have an impact: Matu Christian Church, Tas Myanmar Church

For our Church Council members as they seek to guide

Creator God, may we proclaim your good news to

the world, in the ways we are each able to and in

ways which can be heard by those around us.

May the fire of your spirit live within us declaring

your glory, the year of your favour. Amen.

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Date

Day

Colour

Mar 6th

Lent 4

Purple

Mar 13th

Lent 5

Purple

Mar 20th

Palm Sunday

Purple

Mar 25th

Good Friday

Black

Mar 27th

Easter Day

White

Church

Times

Newnham 9:15

HC

Lilydale 11:15

HC

Newnham

9:15

Newnham

9:15

Lilydale 11:15

Combined

Service at

Launceston

South

Newnham 9:15

Preacher Rev Amanda Rev Amanda Rev Amanda Morning:

9:30am

Rev Amanda

Musicians Elaine Prewer Bronwyn

Howard

Hidde de Weys Evening:

7:00pm

Elaine Prewer

Stewards Don Howard Don Howard Doreen Turner Zac Nicholas

Elders Ria Foster &

Bronwyn

Howard

Di Farquhar Bronwyn

Howard

Barrie Robinson

Reader Joy Bryan Helen Moir Margaret

Snooks

Ria Foster

Sound Desk Ezri Nicholas Zac Nicholas Barrie

Robinson

Helen Moir

Morning

Tea

Helen Moir & Margaret Perkins

Margaret Snooks & Ria Foster

Jill & Kelvin

McGee

Di & Ian Farquhar

1st Reading Jos 5:9-12 Is 43: 16-21 Is 50:4-9a Is 52:13—53:12 Acts 10:34-43 or Is

65:17-25

Psalm Ps 32 Ps 126 Ps 118:1-2,

19-29

Ps 22 Ps 118:1-2, 14-24

2nd Reading 2 Cor 5:16-21 Phil 3:4b-14 Phil 2:5-11 Heb 10:16-25 or

Heb 4: 14-16;

5:7-9

1 Cor 15:19-26 or

Acts 10:34-43

Gospel Lk 15:1-3, 11b-

32

Jn 12:1-8 Lk 19:28-40 or

Jn 12:12-16

Jn 18:1—19:42 Jn 20:1-18 or Lk

24:1-12

Roster for month of March 2016

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Contacts

FB: The Haven LNU

The Haven Messy Church

Haven Market

launcestonnorth.unitingchurch.org.au

Minister Rev. Amanda Nicholas

lnuc.rev@gmail.com

Mob: 0413 617 469

Office: (03) 6326 5928

Church Council Chair Mrs Chris Dancer

Email: gorgeousgifts@bigpond.com

Tel: 0408 951 177

Secretary / Treasurer Mrs Bronwyn Howard

lnuc.secretary@gmail.com

Tel: 0438 379 284

Booking of Premises

Email: lnuc.office@gmail.com

Regular Events

Services

Newnham 9:15 am, weekly

Lilydale 11:15 am, 1st & 3rd Sundays

Messy Church 5pm: 1st & 3rd Saturdays

Games night 7pm: 1st & 3rd Fridays

UCAF 2:00 pm: 1st Monday

Haven CRU 7pm: 2nd & 4th Fridays

Crossroads 6pm: 3rd Tuesday

Church Council: 4th Monday

Lilydale Laughternoon: last Thursday 1:30

pm

Haven Market: as advertised

NB: Programs run during school term

only, unless otherwise advised

Northern News

Monthly newsletter of Launceston North

Uniting. A place where we can celebrate our

community, share stories, news, and events of

our local parish and beyond. The invitation is

there for anyone with something to share to

send in your “article”, or advertisement for

inclusion. Let’s get celebrating!

Justice and International Mission

information contact : Ian Farquhar

Editor: David Hallett

(Mission & Resource Facilitator—LNUC)

lnuc.office@gmail.com

Mob: 0455 102 191

Office Hours—

Mon: Closed

Tue: 1:00—5:00pm

Wed: 9:00am—1:00pm

Thu: 9:00am—5:00pm

Fri: 9:00am—5:00pm