Children and Worship

Grasa Mesak is a ministry aimed primarily at children and their growth in the Christian faith, so it may come as no surprise to you that I am very interested in the topic of children in worship. Especially when the topic is diligently brought to my attention by my friend and colleague, Pieter Stok. Pieter hopes to write a book on the subject and is gathering material toward this end.

What was your experience of church and worship as a child? Have a look at Pieter's blog - he would very much appreciate your memories of church as a child.

(To my Timorese and Indonesian friends - please don't worry about the quality of your written English - Pieter wants your experiences and stories; he doesn't care about spelling and syntax!)

Child in church - photo by Rob Duncanson

Remembering the Reformation

Today is October 31. I am saddened to see the increasing involvement that Australians now have in Halloween celebrations. The supermarkets and department stores have huge displays selling lollies and creepy accessories. I would not be surprised to see trick-or-treaters at my door this evening. But I hope not. I see this shift towards Halloween, not so much as a shift towards Americanism, but towards hedonism. Australia embraces Halloween with all the enthusiasm of Christmas, Grand Final Day, Easter...and all the other excuses for spending money and indulging in excess food.

Today is October 31. It is also Reformation Day; the day many Reformed people around the world remember God's wonderful work in the 16th century. Today, if you were to come to my door, I would not give you lollies. I would give you something far sweeter, the five solae that rang out so strongly in the 16th century. I pray that they can ring out again through the world today:

Sola Scriptura - the Bible is the only inspired and authorative word of God.
Sola Fide - we are saved by faith alone, not good works.
Sola Gratia - this salvation comes only by the grace of God.
Sola Christus - Christ is the only mediator between God and man; there is no salvation without Him.
Soli Deo Gloria - the glory goes to God and to God alone.

Working together for the King

As some of you may know, the Presbyterian Church of Australia has a partnership with the Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Timor-Leste (or IEPTL) - and a commitment to support and encourage. Gary Ware reports on yesterday's partnership working group meeting.

The man third from the right is the Rev Daniel Marcal, Moderator of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Timor-Leste. Rev Robert Benn is third from the left. Please note that Robert Benn's position is so aptly described as 'living legend'. Who can argue with that?

Igreja Evangelica Presbyteriana iha Timor Leste

Tomorrow the Igreja Evangelica Presbiteriana iha Timor Leste will be holding their synod meeting. It will be held over two days - Tuesday 29th to Wednesday 30th November, 2011. This is a very important synod for the work of the gospel and our brothers and sisters in Timor-Leste would appreciate our prayers. For more information about the synod, please have a look at Rev. Rob Duncanson's blog. Rob will be attending the synod as an observer, representing the Presbyterian Church of Australia. Keep an eye on his blog over the next few days!

The Daughters of Joanna and Susanna

And Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod's steward, and Susanna, and many others who provided for Him from their substance.

Luke 8:3

The foreign mission movement, for a long time, was heavily supported by women. In small groups, at least around the English-speaking world, women would come together to pray and raise funds for missionaries spreading the gospel across the globe. They would give of their time, their money and their energy for His work. They were the Daughters of Joanna and Susanna.

They are still around today.

Raising funds by producing and selling
 a cookbook was once very popular

I have met them - a lot of them. Sadly, they are often undervalued in too many churches. They work quietly with what they have. Sometimes they give of their time and their knitting wool. Sometimes they bake cakes. They write letters to people serving overseas. They sent cheques. Many of them are old, have raise families and have served the Lord for decades. But they would never think of retiring from that service.

One faithful woman I know creates greeting cards and gives the proceeds to the work of the gospel overseas. Another woman makes handmade soap for His work. They are the Daughters of Joanna and Susanna. I thank God wholeheartedly for them.

Do you know any Daughters of Joanna and Susanna? Can you share their stories?

Gathered to his People

Then Abraham breathed his last and died in a good old age, an old man and full of years, and was gathered to his people.       Genesis 25: 8

For those of us who have been following the blog diary of Pastor Douglas Duncan, witnessing his struggle with cancer and his inspiring faith, following his journey, reading his poems, we rejoice that he has now been 'gathered to his people' too. There is great sorrow in death but when a godly man dies, there is also rejoicing. His son has added a final entry to Doug's Diary pointing out the glorious news that Doug is now at the wedding banquet of the Lamb! How good is that!!

I knew Doug when he was living and working in Tasmania. He was, among many, many other things, captaining the Boys' Brigade.

My prayers and thoughts go out to his family.

Katoliku ka presbiterianu - ita sarani! Ita adore Maromak ida!

I will translate my title here for my non tetun-speaking friends: Catholic or Presbyterian - we are Christians. We all love the one God! I know for many Timorese it is heart-breaking when Catholics and Protestants cannot live together. But the Church doesn't belong to men, it belongs to the Living Christ. Please may I bring this article to your attention and ask you to pray for our friends in Timor-Leste.

Activity of another religion destabilize existence of Catholic Church *Suara Timor Lorosa’e, July 21, 2011 language source: Tetun

Many people are concerned about the existence of new religion in the country as it will threaten the existence of Catholic Church in the country. MPs from Fretilin yesterday met with Bishop for Dili Diocese, Monsignor Alberto Ricardo da Silva, talking about this issue, said MP Francisco Miranda Branco. "We are concerned about the new religions in the country, therefore we met with Bishop da Silva to talk about this issue," MP Branco said. It is important for the Catholic Church leaders to better strengthen their relationship with the state in dealing with issue

Ministry and the Body of Christ #3

'And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.'

All things? Does that include where we are living, what church we are worshipping at? The good people of Geelong are spoilt for choice in their city with several churches faithfully proclaiming God's Word. We did not know, on leaving Darwin, where we would be worshipping in Geelong, to what congregation He was sending us. Naturally, I wanted a church that would support me in my ministry. But that wasn't the issue, was it? We have six young children who would like to make friends their own age - but joining a church because of the number of children in the congregation is not mentioned in the Scriptures. In fact, the idea of choosing a church by how it can serve you is to completely miss the point. Should we not be joining a church so that we can be better equipped to serve and worship the King? I think so - so we had to let Him who sent us here, send us where He willed.

So He sent us to Reformed Presbyterian Church, less than 2km from our front door, a dynamic congregation across the generations, with - yes! - lots of young children. Where the Word of God is faithfully preached every Sunday.

'Okay, Jo,' you may ask, 'where does your minsitry fit into all this?' Would you believe me if I told you that today I met a couple in this church who had a deep interest in Timor-Leste  and were passionate about the work of the gospel? Would you believe me if I told you they actually read this blog? Yes, maybe you would, if you believed that this was not mine but God's ministry. Yes, maybe you would if you knew that all things work together for good to those who are called according to His purpose. Ah, I love talking about His Providence!

Our Country, Us Mob

We have left the Northern Territory and journeyed south and are currently house-hunting in Victoria. It is a true test of faith to be in limbo like this - trusting that our Heavenly Father knows and cares about our needs. Having a home, a part of the world that we claim as ours, marking our territory with our belongings, is very important to us humans. But sometimes, perhaps, too important. Sometimes we are struck with the realisation that this is not home, could never be home. We are all just travellers, passing through. Our country, our REAL country, is further than Outback. Our country is Way Beyond The Blue. And there is no comfortable 3 or 4 bedroom homes all with build-ins, waiting for us there. Oh no! There we have mansions. Mansions build to speck. 2000 years in the making. How good is that.


I learned a lot in the Northern Territory. One of the things I learned was how the Indigenous people view family. For teachers it was sometimes confusing, because a child would as likely be picked up from school by an auntie of other family member, as their actual parent. Children are looked after and valued by the whole community, and one's sisters children are as one's own.

Perhaps this is like the Body of Christ. We are all family. We are all one Mob. We all belong to that same Country. Is it suprising, therefore, that we can spend some much time and energy producing literature for the children of our brothers and sisters in Timor-Leste? Of course not. Because that is what we do.

Because we love each other.

Us Mob.

GPS

Yesterday was my last Sunday in Darwin and my family and I said our goodbyes to many dear friends that we have met in our 5 years in the Top End (of Australia). On Saturday we head 4 000 km south to make a new home in Geelong. In this day of almost instant communication, it's hard to imagine such a huge communication void - but the outback of Australia is a desert in more ways than one. Phone reception is in the occassional towns on the way. We won't have much chance of internet either. So this blog may go quiet for a little while.

My friends in Timor-Leste can certainly appreciate that. Communication is available (sometimes) in the capital, Dili, but in the rural areas phone reception and certainly internet access are scarce as hen's teeth.

It is a blessing for me, as for them, that God's Providential Support (GPS) is available everywhere on the planet. He always knows exactly where we are and what we need and hears our prayers.

So please include my family and me in your prayers next week and of course continue prayers for our brothers and sisters in Timor-Leste - particularly those in the remote rural areas.

Ministry and the Body of Christ #2

And so....I waited.

And then one day, Rev Robert Benn, former moderator of the Presbyterian Church of Australia, came to town and talked to the the good folk at Darwin Presbyterian Church. He told us of the work that was being done by God's people in Timor-Leste and how these people desperately needed our help. He spoke compellingly and from the heart. Ah, may the Church always have such men who move mountains by speaking from their hearts as well as their heads. Yes, he moved mountains. Well, the mountainous island of Timor! Straight into the hearts of more than one person there!