Families As December 2020 draws to a close, perhaps you will, as I will, be drawing in a collective sigh of relief. It has not been an easy year. The year of COVID-19. One we will not soon forget. We can also ponder in our hearts, as Mary did over baby Jesus, the loss to many families that came in 2020. Perhaps you shared the loss of a loved one this year, or perhaps you …
Above: Some of the Hensley children enjoying a treat – a day out at a wildlife park. In 2020, family life with young children can be summarised in one word: interruptions. I don’t mean the kind of interruptions where someone speaks while you are speaking or something happens that makes you lose your train of thought. I mean the kind of interruptions where you had plans – good ones! – which simply cannot go forward, and …
Lutheran Community Care SA/NT (LCC) is a South Australian out-of-home care (OOHC) service provider. OOHC is a broad term for different types of care for children who are unable to live with their birth parents and who are under the Guardianship of the Minister for Child Protection. OOHC includes Foster Care, Kinship Care, Adoptions, Residential Care and Specific Child Only (SCO) Care. The foster care program provided by LCC in South Australia has over 240 …
At Grow Ministries, we are often encouraging congregations to rethink their ministry to children, young people and their families. What are we rethinking? We will frequently begin a training day with a question. Who or what has influenced your life of faith? Think about this for a moment. How would you answer? We often get responses like; parents, grandparents, pastor, Sunday school teacher, mentor, friend, Bible study, Christian camp. What this list says to us …
Books to encourage and assist you with printed material for you and gift suggestions for the younger generation. Many thanks to Mark and Elysia from Australian Christian Resources (ACR) who have supplied us with the following book suggestions.Exploding Stars, Dead Dinosaurs, and Zombies Youth Ministry in the Age of Science – By Andrew Root Root, a renowned expert on adolescent spirituality, shows how science overstates its claims on truth, while faith often understates its own claims. …
Jesus continually showed his special love for the young while on this earth. He also especially reminded Peter to take care of his lambs. What better privilege can we have than to teach the young the way of the Lord, leading them by our example as children of God loved and saved by him. Children are a gift from the LORD; they are a real blessing. Psalm 127:3 (GNT) See that you don’t despise any …
This year the committee of the Ladies Fellowship at Concordia Lutheran Church, Duncraig, Western Australia decided to make up care packs to support people who may be going through difficult times. Little did we know that the Corona virus would precipitate the need so quickly! But God did! The groundwork had already been laid and, with the cooperation of the greater church community, assorted items ranging through lovely, practical, edible, cute, and quirky were soon …
I can’t remember a time in my adult life when I wasn’t involved, in some way, in how young people engage with their faith and church life. Working and volunteering with this age group (the ‘first third’, 0–30 years) doesn’t make me an expert by any stretch, but it does make me quite passionate about the subject! Even before I had children of my own, my work allowed me opportunities to create a space and …
Myrtle had a real servant heart and was always quick to be there for those who needed help. Among many interests she had a passion for sewing and used this to help people of all ages, shapes and sizes. She always wanted her sewing (in fact whatever she did) to somehow bring honour and glory to God. After completing her primary school years Myrtle left school and started to sew. Once she had a family …
My husband Gil, and I, had a wonderful life living in Loxton, in South Australia’s Riverland, where we raised our three children. Eventually, Gil had a transfer to Adelaide, so we made the move to the city. We settled into our lovely home in Valley View, with beautiful gardens and entertainment areas. We missed our country lifestyle but enjoyed the family benefits the move created. As I write, I contemplate the thankfulness that overwhelms me, …
When the Committee for Ministry with the Ageing was being developed, it was initially to be called the Committee for Ministry to the Ageing. However, due to a lightbulb moment, and the realisation that ministry is a two-way process, the current name was selected. We know that we are an ageing church. The latest Australian census told us that nearly one in every six people is aged 65 years and older. The average age of …
Long life is the reward of the righteous; grey hair is a glorious crown. Proverbs 16:31 (GNT)Is not wisdom found among the aged? Does not long life bring understanding? Job 12:12 (NIV)Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 2 Corinthians 4:16 (NIV)He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young …