Let me tell you about my week
Yesterday morning in church I shared with our congregation a few of the things that I had seen and been involved in during the last week. This is what I shared with them ......
I want to tell you this morning about my week. Here are some of the things I have seen since closing our service in prayer last Sunday morning.
SUNDAY
Jo and I left the morning the service to have lunch at John and Catherine’s home – where over 30 Asian students packed into their home to enjoy a meal together. For some time now John and Catherine have been chaplains to our OCF students and have given of themselves tirelessly to build relationships and pastor a whole bunch of students.
My mind went back to the Easter OCF camp where I saw first hand the incredible work our OCF students do. They hold a very bright light of God’s presence up in our state university each week and have seen great fruit come from their ministry
I thought of the other chaplaincies we have operating in our church. John Bachelor who serves the Hmong community right across our nation. Noel Mundy who serves as a sports chaplain to our state basketball team – on top of one of the most demanding jobs anyone could ever have – Noel serves as State Director for Mission Australia – where he is on the front line every day speaking out for those who have no voice in our community.
SUNDAY NIGHT
I came back to church for our evening service. I arrived a few minutes late and came in to find there was no seats left. Over 60 people – mostly teenagers turning up for Sunday night church. Over the last three Sundays the worship and sense of God’s presence gone to a new level. I stood at the back as I watched young people right across the room beginning to enter into worship. All over the hall I could see God doing things in the lives of our young people. I began to weep and thank God for bringing people like Marshall and Yvonne into our midst. I drank in the sight before me. I had never dreamed we might be seeing Sunday night services like this so soon into Marshall and Yvonne’s ministry.
I realised that I had simply walked into the hall – but a whole team of our youth leaders would have worked for about two hours setting everything up – and after we finished they would pack it all up again. They spend hours doing this this - not just once, but every single week. Never once have I heard any complaints about all the work they have to do to make Sunday night happen.
The way the youth team work together to set up and pack up each week in incredible.
I saw Phil and Naomi there. Those two people are incredible. They work their hearts out. Their attitude seems to be ‘whatever it takes’.
Two weeks ago Nathan spoke at our night service. I watched as the Holy Spirit just seemed to come over Nathan as he spoke. I saw a passionate love for Jesus and love for the young people he was speaking to.
MONDAY
My day off – Jo and I picked up John and Catherine and enjoyed a day together at Mount Field National Park. I reflected on the deep friendship that Jo and I have developed with John and Catherine. Every time I see them, I see them serving – giving of themselves again and again. If you want to know what Jesus meant when he called us to serve one another in love – just look at John and Catherine.
MONDAY NIGHT
On Monday night I went to home group. It was another night of sharing and prayer together at Alvin and Kay’s place. Things just seemed to go to a deeper level in sharing and prayer this time. I reflected on the deep sense of belonging and community we experience with that little group.
Then I considered the fact that ours is just one of many groups that meet each week. Home group leaders who come home from a long day at work and then give time to preparing studies and programs for our groups
Every week I watch as Jo goes out several times to meet ladies one on one to pray together for the work of the church
WEDNESDAY NIGHT
I went to an elders meeting at John Kingshott’s home. We had not come to discuss endless church management issues. We had come together to read the scriptures together. We read the whole story of Joseph. Five chapters I think. As we read the story we would stop often and ponder the question, ‘What does it mean to be a leader?’ After our scripture reading we got down to a time a prayer and intercession praying for a long list of people and ministries in the church of which we are shepherds. This is indeed a different type of eldership than I have ever worked with before.
THURSDAY
Arrive at the office and there’s Kay meeting with a whole team of people who have committed themselves to providing visitation and pastoral care to the older members of our congregation. Here was a group of mostly retired people giving up hours every week to care for others in the body of Christ. Some of them go to the hospitals every week and visit people there.
Later on Thursday I went out for lunch with our ministry team. I sat and listened to Marshall as he shared with me a vision he has to expand our youth ministry even further and reach out not just to church kids, but hundreds of others kids right across our city. I was blown away by the passion and love that I saw in Marshall to see young people come to know the Lord be discipled in our church.
I listened to Yvonne outline plans she was working on to provide yet another expression of worship for our church. This Sunday she is launching a new concept called ‘Time and Space for God’ She is setting up about seven different rooms around a common theme where people can come and at their own pace work through the different areas alone with God. Here idea will utilise a an abundance of creative ideas to help people find some time and space to meet with God. I listened in awe of such a creative person who was prepared to work dozens of extra hours this week to make this happen.
FRIDAY NIGHT
Coming down to drop Sarah off for Kaos on Friday night. There were so many cars here I could hardly get in the car park. I come down to have a quick look at what’s happening – Young people packed into our hall – I left knowing that Marshall would be going hard at it until at least 11.00 pm that night. Marshall never does anything half heartedly. He gives his all.
SATURDAY
I turned up at church for a men’s breakfast at 8.00am organised by our ‘Outfella’s ministry’ I discovered that that Noel and Annette had been here at the church since 6.00 am cooking breakfast for the guys. Like many others they were going above and beyond what was asked. They cooked a fabulous breakfast.
During breakfast we listened as Chris Ranson got up and spoke about the growth and development of this ministry in just over twelve months since it began. Listening to Chris talk and realising that not only has it been Chris’s vision, but also his extraordinary commitment and attention to organisational detail that has seen ministry become a cutting edge community ministry in Hobart.
I listened as Chris spoke with passion about other churches starting to come on board and starting to get involved in this ministry. I remembered the day that Chris walked into my office and told me, 'I've got an idea'. Within just twelve months he has established a ministry that without any exageration has touched hundreds of lonely people with the love and mercy of God right across our city.
As I listened to Chris speak about the growth of Outfellas, I thought about our other community service ministries.
'Eating With Friends' that is providing a fantastic meal and a genuine experience of hospitality and Christian community for a whole bunch of elderly people who for them this day has become the highlight of their month. Our last Eating with Friends meal had the largest attendance we have ever had. A team of people work most of the day to make that meal happen. I thought about people like Lib Cooper whose endless energy and drive have seen that ministry grow and develop into yet another expression of mission in our community.
Then there is our seminar ministry. Kay and Sandra have just completed a ‘How To Drung Proof your kids’ program at Warrane Primary School. Now they have been flooded with requests for more programs in schools on the eastern shore.
I sat at the Outfella’s breakfast and saw a whole bunch of guys who had not only come for breakfast, but to give yet one more Saturday to going out in teams into our community to be the living presence of Jesus. I looked around the room and saw guys who all had demanding jobs and yet were now giving up yet another Saturday to simply serve our community.
I saw also people like Steve Whiteley and John Breaden who had come to give yet another Saturday of their time to work on the improvements being made to our annex building.
As I sat I was amazed to see Marshall and Yvonne come in. Marshall, despite getting home from Kaos close to midnight, was fronting up again to go out on a team and do gardening jobs all day.
I had the privilege of going out on a team myself with Harry Diers. I realised that Harry had had a pretty full on week. This week Harry had gone into a number of school to give out New Testaments to students. He had gone into another school and taught students about Stanley engines. He had also gone into some backpacker hostels to place posters of our church services and to build a relationship with the back packer proprietors. Harry had done all of this whilst also caring for Elaine who has been unwell this week. Here it is Saturday morning and Harry is out again.
Harry came out and worked hard in people’s gardens for five hours straight. I looked at him and wondered just how much energy does this guy have for serving the Lord – yet doing it simply as a servant of Jesus.
SATURDAY NIGHT
I attended a fund raising dinner for Samaritan’s Purse at the City Gate Church. When we arrived I was surprised to see a large contingent of people from our church congregating in the car park – coming out to support this great mission project. I thought about all the people in our church who would be involved in filling shoe boxes and giving financially to this ministry. I felt a wave of pride in our people demonstrating a growing awareness of overseas mission.
We went inside for the dinner and saw Nina and Rowena working flat out in their volunteer capacity with the Tassie branch of this ministry. I knew that for them it was not just Saturday night, but they both had put in a pretty solid week of hard work to make Saturday night happen. I listened as the National Director spoke of deep admiration for both Nina and Rowena and the endless hours of they put in as volunteers.
SUNDAY
I arrive at church early and yet I find as I walk in the door that the place is already a hive of activity. . I look and see Chris and Jane are already at the sound desk. Out the front I see Greg Foot working with a team of musicians who were giving time and effort to make worship on Sunday morning possible for the rest of us – Knowing that many of them would also have come out on Thursday evening to practice the songs and the music for this morning.
I stood for a moment and watched Greg. Here is a man who has invested and spent his whole life in ministry and service. For years he worked on the staff of World Vision. More recently he has served in our schools. Currently he tells me he has just taken on a new position working to encourage and support the chaplains in our school system. Doing this at a stage of life where many others would be wanting to kick back and settle down and go on holidays. For 40 + years Greg has been a member of this church. He has served consistently and graciously throughout the whole of this time. His life has become a model for many of us to imitate and follow.
I went down stairs to check out what’s happening there as our children’s ministry team were already hard at work setting up materials and equipment that I know they had spent hours getting ready during the week.
Seeing people like Yvonne Kroon who this year has taken on responsibility for the whole of the children’s ministry in our church. Yvonne has felt stretched and inadequate, but has gone about training herself and attending seminars and conferences to equip herself for a ministry that she is very passionate about.
Seeing Alice Nicholls downstairs and reflecting on yet another person who has given a lifetime of service to the Lord and now at her stage of life is still fronting up every week to teach our children the Word of God.
I saw John Kingshott down there, our chairman of elders. I knew that John on top of all his other responsibilities he has had volunteered to take on ten weeks presenting a special series in our children’s ministry. This would mean that John would give up ten Sunday mornings of church to do that.
I came back up stairs to greet people coming in to church. I met school teachers who had spent their week in front of class rooms. I knew that for many of them it was not just a job, but a life long calling and ministry. I met many others who I knew had given hours of service that week to serve the Lord in a multitude of different ways.
I could go on and on
What a privilege to part of the church.
A church filled with people who invest hundreds of hours every week in mission and ministry.
A church with a vision to be the living presence of Jesus in the city of Hobart
I want to tell you this morning ……
You people are AWESOME
It gives me a great deal of joy to be able tell people that I am pastor of Hobart City Church of Christ.
There’s an old chorus we used to sing:
I love you with the love of the Lord
Yes I love you with the love of the Lord
I can see in you the glory of my King
And I love you with the love of the Lord
If there is anyone who has any trouble experiencing the presence of God
Look around
Every where you look you will see people who radiate the presence of Jesus
That was my week.
I want to tell you this morning about my week. Here are some of the things I have seen since closing our service in prayer last Sunday morning.
SUNDAY
Jo and I left the morning the service to have lunch at John and Catherine’s home – where over 30 Asian students packed into their home to enjoy a meal together. For some time now John and Catherine have been chaplains to our OCF students and have given of themselves tirelessly to build relationships and pastor a whole bunch of students.
My mind went back to the Easter OCF camp where I saw first hand the incredible work our OCF students do. They hold a very bright light of God’s presence up in our state university each week and have seen great fruit come from their ministry
I thought of the other chaplaincies we have operating in our church. John Bachelor who serves the Hmong community right across our nation. Noel Mundy who serves as a sports chaplain to our state basketball team – on top of one of the most demanding jobs anyone could ever have – Noel serves as State Director for Mission Australia – where he is on the front line every day speaking out for those who have no voice in our community.
SUNDAY NIGHT
I came back to church for our evening service. I arrived a few minutes late and came in to find there was no seats left. Over 60 people – mostly teenagers turning up for Sunday night church. Over the last three Sundays the worship and sense of God’s presence gone to a new level. I stood at the back as I watched young people right across the room beginning to enter into worship. All over the hall I could see God doing things in the lives of our young people. I began to weep and thank God for bringing people like Marshall and Yvonne into our midst. I drank in the sight before me. I had never dreamed we might be seeing Sunday night services like this so soon into Marshall and Yvonne’s ministry.
I realised that I had simply walked into the hall – but a whole team of our youth leaders would have worked for about two hours setting everything up – and after we finished they would pack it all up again. They spend hours doing this this - not just once, but every single week. Never once have I heard any complaints about all the work they have to do to make Sunday night happen.
The way the youth team work together to set up and pack up each week in incredible.
I saw Phil and Naomi there. Those two people are incredible. They work their hearts out. Their attitude seems to be ‘whatever it takes’.
Two weeks ago Nathan spoke at our night service. I watched as the Holy Spirit just seemed to come over Nathan as he spoke. I saw a passionate love for Jesus and love for the young people he was speaking to.
MONDAY
My day off – Jo and I picked up John and Catherine and enjoyed a day together at Mount Field National Park. I reflected on the deep friendship that Jo and I have developed with John and Catherine. Every time I see them, I see them serving – giving of themselves again and again. If you want to know what Jesus meant when he called us to serve one another in love – just look at John and Catherine.
MONDAY NIGHT
On Monday night I went to home group. It was another night of sharing and prayer together at Alvin and Kay’s place. Things just seemed to go to a deeper level in sharing and prayer this time. I reflected on the deep sense of belonging and community we experience with that little group.
Then I considered the fact that ours is just one of many groups that meet each week. Home group leaders who come home from a long day at work and then give time to preparing studies and programs for our groups
Every week I watch as Jo goes out several times to meet ladies one on one to pray together for the work of the church
WEDNESDAY NIGHT
I went to an elders meeting at John Kingshott’s home. We had not come to discuss endless church management issues. We had come together to read the scriptures together. We read the whole story of Joseph. Five chapters I think. As we read the story we would stop often and ponder the question, ‘What does it mean to be a leader?’ After our scripture reading we got down to a time a prayer and intercession praying for a long list of people and ministries in the church of which we are shepherds. This is indeed a different type of eldership than I have ever worked with before.
THURSDAY
Arrive at the office and there’s Kay meeting with a whole team of people who have committed themselves to providing visitation and pastoral care to the older members of our congregation. Here was a group of mostly retired people giving up hours every week to care for others in the body of Christ. Some of them go to the hospitals every week and visit people there.
Later on Thursday I went out for lunch with our ministry team. I sat and listened to Marshall as he shared with me a vision he has to expand our youth ministry even further and reach out not just to church kids, but hundreds of others kids right across our city. I was blown away by the passion and love that I saw in Marshall to see young people come to know the Lord be discipled in our church.
I listened to Yvonne outline plans she was working on to provide yet another expression of worship for our church. This Sunday she is launching a new concept called ‘Time and Space for God’ She is setting up about seven different rooms around a common theme where people can come and at their own pace work through the different areas alone with God. Here idea will utilise a an abundance of creative ideas to help people find some time and space to meet with God. I listened in awe of such a creative person who was prepared to work dozens of extra hours this week to make this happen.
FRIDAY NIGHT
Coming down to drop Sarah off for Kaos on Friday night. There were so many cars here I could hardly get in the car park. I come down to have a quick look at what’s happening – Young people packed into our hall – I left knowing that Marshall would be going hard at it until at least 11.00 pm that night. Marshall never does anything half heartedly. He gives his all.
SATURDAY
I turned up at church for a men’s breakfast at 8.00am organised by our ‘Outfella’s ministry’ I discovered that that Noel and Annette had been here at the church since 6.00 am cooking breakfast for the guys. Like many others they were going above and beyond what was asked. They cooked a fabulous breakfast.
During breakfast we listened as Chris Ranson got up and spoke about the growth and development of this ministry in just over twelve months since it began. Listening to Chris talk and realising that not only has it been Chris’s vision, but also his extraordinary commitment and attention to organisational detail that has seen ministry become a cutting edge community ministry in Hobart.
I listened as Chris spoke with passion about other churches starting to come on board and starting to get involved in this ministry. I remembered the day that Chris walked into my office and told me, 'I've got an idea'. Within just twelve months he has established a ministry that without any exageration has touched hundreds of lonely people with the love and mercy of God right across our city.
As I listened to Chris speak about the growth of Outfellas, I thought about our other community service ministries.
'Eating With Friends' that is providing a fantastic meal and a genuine experience of hospitality and Christian community for a whole bunch of elderly people who for them this day has become the highlight of their month. Our last Eating with Friends meal had the largest attendance we have ever had. A team of people work most of the day to make that meal happen. I thought about people like Lib Cooper whose endless energy and drive have seen that ministry grow and develop into yet another expression of mission in our community.
Then there is our seminar ministry. Kay and Sandra have just completed a ‘How To Drung Proof your kids’ program at Warrane Primary School. Now they have been flooded with requests for more programs in schools on the eastern shore.
I sat at the Outfella’s breakfast and saw a whole bunch of guys who had not only come for breakfast, but to give yet one more Saturday to going out in teams into our community to be the living presence of Jesus. I looked around the room and saw guys who all had demanding jobs and yet were now giving up yet another Saturday to simply serve our community.
I saw also people like Steve Whiteley and John Breaden who had come to give yet another Saturday of their time to work on the improvements being made to our annex building.
As I sat I was amazed to see Marshall and Yvonne come in. Marshall, despite getting home from Kaos close to midnight, was fronting up again to go out on a team and do gardening jobs all day.
I had the privilege of going out on a team myself with Harry Diers. I realised that Harry had had a pretty full on week. This week Harry had gone into a number of school to give out New Testaments to students. He had gone into another school and taught students about Stanley engines. He had also gone into some backpacker hostels to place posters of our church services and to build a relationship with the back packer proprietors. Harry had done all of this whilst also caring for Elaine who has been unwell this week. Here it is Saturday morning and Harry is out again.
Harry came out and worked hard in people’s gardens for five hours straight. I looked at him and wondered just how much energy does this guy have for serving the Lord – yet doing it simply as a servant of Jesus.
SATURDAY NIGHT
I attended a fund raising dinner for Samaritan’s Purse at the City Gate Church. When we arrived I was surprised to see a large contingent of people from our church congregating in the car park – coming out to support this great mission project. I thought about all the people in our church who would be involved in filling shoe boxes and giving financially to this ministry. I felt a wave of pride in our people demonstrating a growing awareness of overseas mission.
We went inside for the dinner and saw Nina and Rowena working flat out in their volunteer capacity with the Tassie branch of this ministry. I knew that for them it was not just Saturday night, but they both had put in a pretty solid week of hard work to make Saturday night happen. I listened as the National Director spoke of deep admiration for both Nina and Rowena and the endless hours of they put in as volunteers.
SUNDAY
I arrive at church early and yet I find as I walk in the door that the place is already a hive of activity. . I look and see Chris and Jane are already at the sound desk. Out the front I see Greg Foot working with a team of musicians who were giving time and effort to make worship on Sunday morning possible for the rest of us – Knowing that many of them would also have come out on Thursday evening to practice the songs and the music for this morning.
I stood for a moment and watched Greg. Here is a man who has invested and spent his whole life in ministry and service. For years he worked on the staff of World Vision. More recently he has served in our schools. Currently he tells me he has just taken on a new position working to encourage and support the chaplains in our school system. Doing this at a stage of life where many others would be wanting to kick back and settle down and go on holidays. For 40 + years Greg has been a member of this church. He has served consistently and graciously throughout the whole of this time. His life has become a model for many of us to imitate and follow.
I went down stairs to check out what’s happening there as our children’s ministry team were already hard at work setting up materials and equipment that I know they had spent hours getting ready during the week.
Seeing people like Yvonne Kroon who this year has taken on responsibility for the whole of the children’s ministry in our church. Yvonne has felt stretched and inadequate, but has gone about training herself and attending seminars and conferences to equip herself for a ministry that she is very passionate about.
Seeing Alice Nicholls downstairs and reflecting on yet another person who has given a lifetime of service to the Lord and now at her stage of life is still fronting up every week to teach our children the Word of God.
I saw John Kingshott down there, our chairman of elders. I knew that John on top of all his other responsibilities he has had volunteered to take on ten weeks presenting a special series in our children’s ministry. This would mean that John would give up ten Sunday mornings of church to do that.
I came back up stairs to greet people coming in to church. I met school teachers who had spent their week in front of class rooms. I knew that for many of them it was not just a job, but a life long calling and ministry. I met many others who I knew had given hours of service that week to serve the Lord in a multitude of different ways.
I could go on and on
What a privilege to part of the church.
A church filled with people who invest hundreds of hours every week in mission and ministry.
A church with a vision to be the living presence of Jesus in the city of Hobart
I want to tell you this morning ……
You people are AWESOME
It gives me a great deal of joy to be able tell people that I am pastor of Hobart City Church of Christ.
There’s an old chorus we used to sing:
I love you with the love of the Lord
Yes I love you with the love of the Lord
I can see in you the glory of my King
And I love you with the love of the Lord
If there is anyone who has any trouble experiencing the presence of God
Look around
Every where you look you will see people who radiate the presence of Jesus
That was my week.
posted by Larry Holt @ 10:21 AM
1 Comments:
At 4:43 PM,
Don Holt said…
Go Larry!
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