For Pastoral Care and Prayer Support

please contact Pastor Stewart on 0402 287 720.

For Church Family Prayer Support contact Peter or

Fiona McLeod on 5967 2755 (AH) or

Fiona 0427 682 301 (BH)

For Email Prayer Chain requests, please email

prayer@lb.org.au

Church Office 2/28 John Street Lilydale. 9735 2233

office@lb.org.au Hours: Mon-Thurs 9am-4pm

The Mustard Tree Shop & Cafe 3/28 John Street Lilydale. 9735 3500

Hours: Mon-Fri 10am-3pm Sat 10am-1pm

December 2019

Season of Waiting One vital aspect and offering of this season is often missed today: Advent is a season of waiting. Whereas Lent, as a season, encour-ages a kind of whole-life consecration in an-ticipating the marking of Jesus’s final week — and especially his sacrificial death for us on Good Friday, and his victorious resurrec-tion for us on Easter Sunday — Advent’s par-ticular note is one of patient waiting. Each year, in our month of waiting to mark the arrival of God himself in human flesh, we remember the people of God who waited centuries — centuries! — for the coming of the promised Messiah to rescue them.

A Community of People who

Worship, Love, Serve and

Discover Jesus Together

Cont. from front page... They had God’s promises: a “seed of the woman” who would crush the serpent’s head (Genesis 3:15; Romans 16:20), a prophet like Moses (Deuteronomy 18:15, 18; Acts 3:22, 7:37), a priest who would surpass the first-covenant order (Psalm 110:; Hebrews 5:4-6; 7:11-17) , a son of king David and heir to his throne (Isaiah 9:7; Matthew 1:1;; 22:42) who would be greater than David, as his Lord. For centuries, God’s people waited. They “did not receive what was promised, since God had provided some-thing better for us” (Hebrews 11:39-40). We now live in the era of the Messiah. Christ has come as the climax of history and shown us the Father and his purposes. It is good for us, though, to rehearse the patient waiting and anticipation of God’s ancient people to renew and deepen our appreciation of what we now have in him. For this reason, Advent is a season of minor chords, captured so well in “O Come, O Come, Immanuel.” As we wait, we replay the centuries of long-ing and yearning that preceded the coming of Christ, and in doing so, our joy in and gratitude for what we have in Christ deepens and enriches and sweetens. And we too live with longing and yearning — for Jesus’s second coming — even as our waiting now takes on a fundamentally new shape and rises to previously unforeseen levels of hope and anticipation, and joy in the waiting, because of his first coming. Then, on Christmas Day, those minor chords break into the bright, festive major chords of “Joy to the World,” resolving the tension of ages past, even as they point us to the sec-ond coming for which we hope. Extract from an article written by, David Mathis

Executive Editor, desiringGod.org

These words of Mathis in many ways echo the sentiment and burden I

have for us. Christmas is rich in meaning and If we are not deliberate to

engage with the story it will be drowned out by all the other noise of

life. What a shame not to be renewed and

encouraged by the celebration of Christmas.

Take the time, slow the pace and priorities

Christmas so that you can encounter God’s

love, hope, peace and joy afresh.

Pastor, Stewart.

7

Church Family Events

• Sunday 1st December: “Under the Christmas tree” begins for Food

Bank

• Saturday 7th December: BlinGG Christmas Supper @ 7.30pm

• Sunday 8th December : Jewels of Hope jewelry, cards & soaps for sale

after the morning service.

• Tuesday 10th December: Last Community Table @ The Mustard Tree

• Saturday 14th December: Garden Group 9.00-12.00 @ church

• Sunday 15th December: “Lunch on the Lawn” @ 11.30am at the

church after the service.

• Sunday 15th December: Carols on the Lawn @ 5.30pm at the church.

Jewels of Hope, Jewelry, cards & soaps available for sale at Carols.

• Tuesday 17th December: Last day of trading @ The Mustard Tree

• Tuesday 17th December: Volunteer Christmas Celebration @ 5pm see

notice for details.

• Wednesday 25th December: Christmas Day Service.

Scripture Union Victoria

455 Springfield Road, Mitcham

VIC 3132

Ph: (03) 9482 5700

M: 0413 158 010

Days of work: Tuesday, Thursday & Friday AM

rachelg@suvic.org.au

www.suvic.org.au

Study of the Old Testament

Saturday 7th December 8am

in the Fellowship Hall

This Breakfast/Bible Study is part of a series of informal, interactive studies for men in the historical books of the Old Testament. BYO Bible and a healthy appetite for break-fast. RSVP for breakfast to Bruce - 0419 501 528 or Gordon - 0412 349 886

Lilydale Baptist Church Privacy Collection

Notice: Personal information provid-ed by you and collected by

Lilydale Baptist Church will be used in conformity with our Privacy Policy, which can be

found at (www.lb.org.au) or a copy can be obtained from

the church office.

If you are interested in joining a group please speak with Pastor

Stewart.

BLinGG Craft

First Thursday of the month 7.30pm in the fellowship room.

LBC Gardening Group

The LBC Gardening Group is a team of people who are interested in helping with the

care and upkeep of our church property. We meet on the second Saturday of the

month 9.00-12.00. Morning tea is provided and lots of fun guaranteed.

Please speak with either Vicki or Jenny if you are interested or just coming

along with some tools, gloves and a vision for a

much improved property.

Lunch on the Lawn

This is an opportunity for us as a church family to spend time together in

fellowship after the church service once a month for lunch, conversa-

tion, fun and games. Lunch will be a free sausage sizzle and ‘sweets’ and

some sporting equipment for the kids (and adults) to have some games.

Even if you don’t eat lunch just stay for a chat! We will have chairs and

shade for those who require a little comfort and if the weather is bad we

will just postpone until next month. The plan is to be flexible and stress

free. We would love for you to join with us.

Café’ News

Saturday Mornings:

We are looking for willing workers to help in the op shop and café on Satur-

day mornings. If you would like to join the Saturday Team and work from

10.00am to 1.00pm each week (or even just once a month).

Please see: Kathy Mitchell.

Café’ Renovations:

The Café’ renovation is nearing completion. Be encouraged to come in and

see the changes we have made. Check out our new lights—you’ll never

guess what they are made of!

Christmas Goodies:

Come in and try some of our Christmas goodies. Shortbread, Gingerbread

people and Chocolate Christmas Truffles—they look amazing...

We need volunteers to help at

The Mustard Tree on Saturday mornings.

If you can spare one morning each

month, 9.30am to 1.30pm,

please see Judy Huddleston

or Kathy Mitchell

“Under the Christmas

Tree”

A big ‘thank you’ to the Kidszone kids and everyone who supported the morning tea to raise funds to

purchase gifts to be given away in Foodbank. Your generosity means that children of families who are

doing it tough this Christmas won’t miss out.

Thank you too, to everyone who has brought food and other items to be placed under the Christmas

tree.

During December in Foodbank, we anticipate that

we will be making up around 120 food parcels.

Please continue to bring items of Christmas styled

food so that we can add these special items to each

food parcel.

If you would like further details,

Please see Judy Huddleston .

The Mustard Tree Community Shop

Garden

Gathering

Where: The Mustard Tree

When: Tuesday Mornings

Time: 10.00am to 12.00pm

BYO: gloves, hat, enthusiasm

Join with us for a couple of hours of gardening

enjoyment. Meet new people. Learn new skills. Help us

plant vegetables and look after our Community Garden.

JEWELS OF HOPE—Lesotho—Dawn Taylor Australian Marketing Manager

.Praise that: - one of the trainers has been able to pick up

some of the practical tasks that Daniel has done p

- the JoH events held here during November were successful in passing on infor-

mation to interested parties and in raising needed funds

Pray for: the completion of the jewelry items that are to be made before the end

of this term. And the end-of-year Christmas party for the girls and the preparation

of the food parcels that they will each receive. Thanking you Dawn

Missionaries Financially and Prayerfully Supported by us

.

Please pray for the graduation of the pastors who attend the in-service training on the 30th November. The students are looking forward to their graduation. There will be fifty pastors and ministry leaders graduating. Al-ready, I have a large number of applicants for 2020. Pray also as I travel on the 2nd December to speak at the Onepusu Bible College graduation on the 4th December and return back on the 5th to officiate a wedding on the 7th December and speak at a church on Sunday 8th December.

We are planning to go for our holiday break to the village on the 13th December. The boys are both back with us for their holiday at the mo-ment. We are yet to plan details of our holiday. God Bless Eric

SOLOMON ISLANDS—Eric and Jemima

Maefonea (Josiah, Amos, Erima & Vicki)

Praise God for safe travels and many meaningful conversations with ministry partners and churches in Adelaide, Ballarat and Sydney during November. We are thankful for the partnerships in place and for some additional financial commitments made.

Give thanks that we were able to attend the year 11 awards assembly at Lilydale High where Caitlin received some academic achievement awards and was announced as Year 12 captain for 2020.

Pray for Tim (West Asia, 4 weeks) and Liam (Rye 2 weeks) and their Summer Project adventures, for God’s protection and opportunities to grow and influ-ence others.

Pray for Judy’s eyes as she has been experiencing irritation and swelling for several weeks.

Pray for ConneXion Conference, January 11-17 – theme Interdependent Com-munity. Every two years the entire Power to Change family gathers for an en-riching week of worship, celebration, bible teaching and fellowship. With our Conference Director currently supporting sick parents in the USA, Dave now has some additional responsibilities serving on the Conference team. Liam and Caitlin will be joining Judy and Dave in Wollongong. Liam will be serv-ing with the youth program. We’re also hoping to visit Judy’s family in Canberra as part of our trip. We’d welcome your prayers as planning continues and for all involved to be encouraged and refreshed for a new year of ministry in 2020.

POWER TO CHANGE

Dave & Judy Huddleston (Tim, Liam

& Caitlin) - Deputy National Director

& Member Services Leader

Pray for: • Dickson as he studies at the Kiniki Bible College to be a Pastor of a vil-

lage church. • Pray for Jennifer, his wife, as she seeks to earn some money to sup-

port the family and to keep things going at their home some distance from the College.

K PEOPLE David & Eliza Ben & Petra

Dickson & Jennifer Chilele

Baptist Union Zambia

David and Eliza are settling back into life in the Silk Road Area following their Home Assignment. They have loved reconnecting with their K friends as well as interacting with neighbors they hadn’t previously met. This is particularly occurring through the building of the workshop that David will use as a base for the Agricultural Innovation project. This project will respond to the prac-tical needs of local farmers while also opening opportunities for David to build friendships with K men. Two local brothers are building the workshop with David and during this process, he and Eliza are developing good rela-tionships with them. David and Eliza were also thrilled that their presence at the workshop prompted a neighbor to pop in and borrow some tools. He thanked David with some welding rods and has regularly dropped in for a chat since. For Prayer:

• That people will be drawn into the workshop and that as trusting friendships develop, David will have opportunities to share stories of Jesus.

• For a movement of God’s Spirit to stir in their hearts of the team’s K friends and neighbors, prompting conversations about Jesus.

OVERSEAS MISSION FELLOWSHIP Simon and Meg Crittle (Melanie) Japanese Diaspora Ministry Melbourne OMF International Thank God that we have made contact with so many Japanese families during 2019. Pray that many of these families will respond to our invitation to the family-oriented Christmas event at Clayton Church of Christ on Saturday afternoon, 14 December (the event is for families associated with Sunday school, church play-group, and our weekly English class for Japanese mothers). Pray that the Japanese families will be inspired by the Christmas play and carols, and the vibrant church community. We are preparing bilingual Japanese-English Christmas cards to give them, telling the meaning of Christ's coming. Pray for the young Japanese family who have been attending Sunday church with us over the past few months. Thank God that they are really experiencing the Lord's love and presence through the Clayton church folk. We are looking forward to starting Japanese/English Bible discovery sessions with them soon. Pray for more Japanese families to accept our offer to "come and see what church is like". Pray that through the combination of God's people, God's word and God's Spirit, many Japanese families will truly see the wonder of God's life-saving love through Jesus. Over the past few months, we have been thinking about ministry modes and methods for 2020 and beyond. We've realised we need to allocate more time for mobilising, orientating, equipping and mentoring local Christians who are keen to do Japanese outreach. Pray that God will grant us wisdom, guidance, patience and focus, that we may do this well. Thank God that the Clayton church leadership team is very supportive of this ex-panded partnership. Thanking you for your support and prayers, Simon & Meg

MAF PILOT AND HOME SUPPORT David and Jen Pett (Jonathon)

Here are our December/January points.

Please pray for the sale contracts and moving date to be agreed very soon if we are to help with the house move.

We are thankful that we could find return flights in time to greet David's family spending Christmas in Cairns with us.

Please continue to uphold Graham as he tries to find the right treatment for his ongoing health problems.

Please pray for good closure for Jen and her family as they prepare to leave the family home of 56 years.

Please give thanks that David has been able to work remotely, complete some projects and meet up with UK-based MAF staff.

Please uphold Jonathan who has been living alone in our extended absence and supporting Graham on our behalf.

We hope you have a joyful Advent and a Happy Christmas.

With love David & Jen

CROSS CULTURAL WORKERS Matt Inglis Japan

Melissa van Leeuwin Centre for Disease Control in the NT Department of Health in Alice Springs

Praise God for how He continues to work so clearly in my life and for the many ministry opportunities He provides!

Please pray for my upcoming immigration procedures (in early 2020) and for increased classes at the international Christian school where I teach part-time science.

Please also pray for my health (I`m not so well at the moment), for ade-quate rest/sleep and for daily spiritual protection.

Missionaries Prayerfully Supported by

Pray for ongoing healing from a recent operation on my ear that occurred during No-vember. Pray that this will make ongoing treatment for my Meniere's Disease (inner ear issue) much easier and will reduce the need for repeated visits to the theatre to treat it. Pray for the community of Yuendumu and for the NT Police Force following the recent death in custody of a young man in Yuendumu. Pray for M and S Anderson (GiA missionaries) who work in Yuendumu, that they will be able to bring a message of peace in a very troubled place. Pray for the NT Police officers, both those stationed in Yuendumu and across the NT. There is a lot of negative attitudes towards the police. Pray for God's solution to this terrible situation. Praise God for the opportunity to visit my family in Melbourne for Christmas (I hope to come visit LBC on the 22nd of December). Praise God for the many opportunities He provides me with to share His love. Love Melissa