1. religion and spirituality
2. christianity

New Directions, April/May 2011 - Page 13
from the Moderator General, Rt Rev David Jones
HOW TO LIVE USEFUL AND
PRODUCTIVE LIVES
(The substance of a sermon preached at the 122nd anniversary of the Hunter Baillie Memorial Church by the Moderator
General on Sunday 27 February 2011.)
GARY STREETER, a British MP, said
recently at a Parliamentary Prayer
Breakfast in Westminster, London
– “My prayer is that as a nation we
would shift from being obsessed with
looking good and feeling good to being
good and doing good”. How does that
shift happen?
There has been a massive decline in
public decency and morality in recent
years and it is accelerating rapidly.
How do you turn that around? How do
you produce people who are “eager to
do what is good” (Titus 2:14) and who
live “useful and productive lives”?
(Titus 3:8,14) Or, to put it in terms of
this passage in Titus 3, how do you get
from verse 3 through to verse 8? And
the answer is obvious – you have to go
though verses 4-7.
“At one time we too were foolish,
disobedient, deceived and enslaved
by all kinds of passions and pleasures.
We lived in malice and envy, being
hated and hating one another. But
when the kindness and love of God
our Saviour appeared, he saved us,
not because of righteous things we
had done, but because of his mercy.
He saved us through the washing
of rebirth and renewal by the Holy
Spirit, whom he poured out on us
generously through Jesus Christ our
Saviour, so that, having been justified
by his grace, we might become heirs
having the hope of eternal life. This
is a trustworthy saying. And I want
you to stress these things, so that
those who have trusted in God may
be careful to devote themselves to
doing what is good. These things
are excellent and profitable for
everyone.” (Titus 3:3-8)
Notice three things here that God
does for us, which we can’t do for
ourselves:
First: He regenerates us by
His Holy Spirit (vs. 5-6). There are
just two places in the New Testament
where this word “regeneration” is
used – here and in Matthew 19:28
where Jesus talks of the “regeneration
of the universe” - so it’s both cosmic
and personal.
Sometimes we talk about urban
regeneration, renewing the inner city
by tearing down high rise apartments
and building new housing, but if you
put the same people back in there the
same problems reappear.
You can’t change people by changing
the environment and you can’t change
the environment without changing
people. God plans to regenerate
CARETAKER POSITION
MT TAMBORINE PRESBYTERIAN CAMPSITE
The Committee on Outreach and Nurture is seeking expressions of interest from parties
interested in undertaking the position of Caretaker of the Presbyterian Church’s Mt
Tamborine campsite commencing on 1 July 2011.
DUTIES
In general terms, the duties of the Caretaker include the oversight of those using
the campsite, familiarizing all camps with the campsite and associated regulatory
requirements (eg fire, cooking, food handling), purchasing items, general maintenance
of buildings and surrounds and equipment, camp bookings. Competencies in catering
for up to 80 persons would be an advantage.
REMUNERATION
In general terms, the caretaker will be provided with caretaker’s residence including
electricity/gas and telephone (excluding private calls) at no cost, and a monthly
allowance. Camps in most instances are self-catered. However, in cases where the
caretaker undertakes the catering, the caretaker will be allowed to recover a “fee for
service” from the booking party. A current appointment agreement can be forwarded
to applicants for their perusal upon request.
All correspondence should be addressed to:
Rev P. J. Barson
Director of Christian Education
PO Box 1508
FORTITUDE VALLEY Q 4006
Or emailed to mailto:dirhmpce@pcq.org.au
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New Directions
readers
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the universe and renew all things by
regenerating people like us.
(Ezekiel 36:25-27; 2 Corinthians
5:17)
In the Philosophy Department at
UTAS in Hobart they teach a course
in “time travel”. Regeneration is time
travel, it’s “back to the future”, except
that you don’t go there yet, it comes
here. The future is brought into the
present and we get to experience the
“powers of the age to come” at work
in us now. Matthew Arnold defines
God as “a power not ourselves making
for righteousness” - that is a pretty
inadequate definition of God but a
good description of regeneration.
When we are born again, “a power not
ourselves making for righteousness”
comes into our lives.
If you want to be good you must be
born again from above.
Second: He justifies us by His
Grace (vs. 7)
Justification is the verdict of the
last day brought into the present.
By faith in Christ I am declared “not
guilty.” To know that, frees me up to
live a useful and productive life now.
William Wilberforce lived such a life,
full of good works. Interestingly he
only wrote one book in his lifetime
and it wasn’t on social reform, it was
on the doctrine of justification by
faith apart from works. Matt Perman
in “Christianity Today” writes,
“Wilberforce realized that the way
to produce a life of good works and
social reform is not to focus on good
works and social reform but on the
source of those good works – which is
the gospel” That’s how you get from
verse 3 into verse 8 - God regenerates
you, God justifies you.
Third: He gives us a future
and a hope (vs. 7)
He makes us “heirs, having the
hope of eternal life”.
George Bernard Shaw is reported to
have said on his 90th birthday:
“Our conduct is influenced not so
much by our experience as by our
expectation.” I suspect he meant
that as an excuse. By all accounts,
he was a cantankerous old man and
perhaps one of his relatives had told
him “you ought to know better at your
age.” And this was his reply. You see
he was an atheist, he had nothing to
look forward to at the age of 90 and
therefore no reason to live well, but
you and I do. Whether we live to 90 or
not, we have a future and a hope. And
it’s not a forlorn hope, it’s a hope that
is grounded in the Resurrection of
Jesus from the dead and sealed to us
by the Holy Spirit whom he has given
us as a deposit guaranteeing what is
to come. So we have every reason to
live well, every incentive to get out of
verse 3 into verse 8 to live productive,
useful lives.
Many today are concerned about
a decline in moral standards. Some
advocate the teaching of Christian
values in schools. Others want to
replace scripture with ethics. But you
can’t have Christian values without
Christianity. Ultimately, neither
education nor legislation can change
people’s behaviour. Australians need
to hear the gospel; they need to hear
these grand old gospel doctrines
of regeneration, justification and
glorification. That’s what changes
things.
Roy Hattersley, a former deputy
PM of Britain and an avowed atheist,
says “it ought to be possible to
live a Christian life without being
a Christian or, better still, to take
Christianity a la carte… Yet men and
women who, like me cannot accept the
mysteries and the miracles do not go
out with the Salvation Army at night.
The only possible conclusion is that
faith comes with a packet of moral
imperatives that, while they do not
condition the attitude of all believers,
influence enough of them to make
them morally superior to atheists like
me. The truth may make us free but
it has not made us as admirable as
the average captain in the Salvation
Army”.
Tsunami ravaged Japan needs prayer for
spiritual renewal
AS THE second largest unreached
people group in the world, tsunamiravaged Japan is a country that
desperately needs the Gospel.
Mr Jones urges Christians to pray
for all Japanese people in the wake
of the earthquake and tsunami which
has left more than 10,000 people
dead, around 600,000 homeless and
1.4 million without power and water.
“The suicide rate in Japan averages
90 per day”, he said. “There are very
few Christians. I urge Christians
to pray that the Japanese people
will hear the voice of God in the
earthquake and tsunami and that in
the midst of their devastating loss
they will receive that ‘kingdom which
cannot be shaken’.”
National
Director
of
the
Presbyterian Church of Australia’s
mission arm, Mission Partners,
Kevin Murray, was having lunch with
some recently returned missionaries
from Japan when the news broke
about what has been described in
the mainstream media as Japan’s
greatest humanitarian crisis since
World War II.
“Naturally I felt stunned by the
magnitude of the disaster”, Mr
Murray said. “I was immediately very
concerned for the one missionary
we have serving in Japan and how
the very small Christian population
would cope.”
Thankfully, Mr Murray was soon to
hear that the female missionary, who
is serving with OMF, was safe.
“There is a lot to be done to bring
the Gospel to Japan”, he said. “In a
society where only 1.5 per cent of the
population claim to be Christian and
the suicide rate is appalling, it is only
the gospel of God’s grace in Christ
that can provide any answers.”
Mission Partners is currently
in the process of helping a couple
from Queensland leave to serve in
Japan from 2012, and a couple from
Chatswood who plan to serve in
Japan in the next few years.
Mr Murray said he did not expect
their plans to change as a consequence
of the tsunami. However, getting
information has been tricky.
“In Japan we work with the
Presbyterian Church of America’s
missions arm, Mission to the World,
so as far as up-to-date information on
the tsunami relief goes, we are relying
on information from team leader Dan
Iverson”, he said.
“In the first few days after the
disaster, the MTW team rented a
truck and distributed aid, but the full
effects of the damage to property and
life are yet to be realised.
“They were seeking to mobilize and
relieve incredible suffering and pain in
the name of Christ to the five million
people of the devastated areas and
praying that this will bring a turning
to the true and living God, and to
Christ and His grace and love. Japan
really needs true hope that does not
disappoint.”
Mr Murray said Mr Iverson had
emailed to say that while Japan
had grown strong economically and
educationally and had “made it”,
with 100 per cent literacy, longest
life expectancy in the world, and so
on, like in Ecclesiastes 2, so many
Japanese people who sought the
`abundant’ life had found that “all is
vanity”.
“The areas affected by the
earthquake and tsunamis of Miyagi,
Fukushima and Ibaraki are some of
the most spiritually needy places in
Japan”, he said.
“With more than 4.9 million people,
yet only about 9000 active Christians
(about 0.15 per cent which is 1/6 of
one per cent), Fukushima has the
lowest average worship attendance in
all of Japan with only 19 per church.
“There is one city and 44 towns
with no church at all”, he said. “There
are 86 missionaries (adults, including
husband and wife) assigned to these
prefectures.
“One town in Ibaraki has over 46000
people with no church and several
others have over 24000 people with
no churches. Average attendance for
all the churches in Japan is the lowest
in Fukushima prefecture. Ibaraki
prefecture has the least number of
people claiming to have any religious
beliefs.”
For information on how to
financially support the team, contact
Mr Murray by phone on 02-9792
1373 or 0421 366 720 or email him at
kevinmurray@missionpartners.org.
au
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New Directions, April/May 2011 - Page 14
PresCare vision
built on Church
values
News in brief ...
Aged sector review under
PresCare spotlight
THE PRESCARE Executive team
has been working hard on the
organisation’s strategic vision for
the next five years – and the result
is a plan built on Presbyterian
Church values, partnering with other
organisations and developing current
business opportunities.
CEO Greg Skelton said the plan –
which reflects 80 years of providing
services to the elderly, disabled and
other vulnerable members of the
community – would place PresCare
in a strong strategic position to meet
the challenges of the future.
Importantly, the plan recognizes
that “Christ-like servant leadership
is, and remains at, the core of who we
are and what we do”, he said.
The plan also addresses the ongoing
needs of PresCare clients in several
areas, such as:
• Improving the affordability of
housing for disadvantaged people
in the community;
• Reviewing and refreshing existing
services so they meet future needs;
• Increasing access for Presbyterian
Church of Queensland congregations to PresCare services
available in their community.
Mr Skelton said PresCare was
committed to reducing the social
isolation of Queensland’s elderly.
“Strategies to achieve this include
expanding our volunteer numbers
and increasing networks within
communities in which we serve”, he
said.
“Above all, our plan is driven by our
Christian culture. We recognise that
our people are important. Without
their dedication PresCare would not
be the organisation it is today.”
Mr Skelton said it was critical
PresCare progressed in a strategic
direction to ensure sustainability
and quality of current services to the
Queensland community, progress
partnerships and add value to the
mission of the Presbyterian Church.
Newly announced executive management team (L-R) Lee Martin, David Green and John Gilmour
New team set to tackle challenges
CEO GREG Skelton has confirmed
a restructured PresCare Executive
Management team to take the
organisation into the future.
Key appointments to the Executive
team are:
• Director of Chaplaincy John
Gilmour
• Executive Manager Corporate
Services David Green
• Executive Manager Care Services
Lee Martin
John Gilmour will continue to
oversee all pastoral areas across
PresCare. David Green will oversee
Sharyn Sawyer
• Group Manager Property &
Maintenance – Ken Howatson
• Group Manager Projects – Debra
Ricks
• Manager Information Technology
– Peter Bonarrigo
• Manager Board & Executive
Function – Jo Johnson
Mr Skelton congratulated the new
appointments. “PresCare has a very
strong, cohesive and skilled team
dedicated to supporting our people in
the field to deliver quality aged care to
the community”, he said.
Helping hand for our flood victims
Praise for PCQ gift
Mr Skelton said PresCare was
blessed to receive a substantial
donation to its staff and volunteer
flood appeal (see separate story).
“I again take the opportunity to say
thank you on behalf of all of our people
who have been so badly impacted by
the floods.”
John’s one word describes
the flood tragedy
THE REALITY of the Queensland
flood disaster was brought home to
Church and community leaders by
PresCare Director of Chaplaincy John
Gilmour at the ‘Service of Prayer for
the people of Queensland, New South
Wales and Victoria’ held at The Scots
Church, Collins Street, Melbourne on
Monday, 24 January 2011.
He told the audience of 300 people
that the Queensland floods were truly
‘awful’ – a theme he used throughout
his presentation which started with:
“We know that our God is sufficient,
but this is awful’.
John had ‘borrowed’ the phrase
from a friend and he felt it summed
up what many Queenslanders were
experiencing.
He described the carnage and deaths
as ‘awful’ – sending a clear message
Finance, Human Resources, Fleet,
Property and Maintenance. Lee
Martin will oversee Residential and
Community Care.
Mr Skelton also expanded the
Executive Leadership Team to
include:
• Financial Controller - Vicki
Mannion (also to oversee new role
of internal control and risk)
• General Manager Residential –
Helen Watkins
• General Manager Community - Sue
Buchanan
• Group Manager Marketing –
that nature can pack a devastating
blow on communities.
John was the only person from
Queensland invited to make a
presentation on the floods to the
gathering, which he described
as a humbling experience given
the prominence of the audience.
(Coincidentally, Victoria was about to
experience its own flooding disaster
in coming days.)
“I was really trying to get the
message across that floods on this
scale affect everyone in some way.
Nothing is spared – from life to
financial ruin”, he said.
“It was awful on all accounts –
awful by deaths and missing, awful by
volume of water, awful by area, awful
for the people affected and awful by
duration.”
The
proposed
overhaul
of
Australia’s aged care system by the
Productivity Commission will come
under the spotlight of PresCare CEO
Greg Skelton on 28 March.
Mr Skelton will be meeting with the
Commission and Presbyterian Aged
Care NSW to discuss key aspects of
the report, which is proposing wide
ranging reforms of the sector.
The report found gaps in service
coverage within the total industry,
different charges across the sector
and a workforce under pressure.
Mr Skelton said he agreed that
changes needed to be made as the
Australian population was expected to
care for more than 3.6 million elderly
people by 2050.
“I am keen to meet with our
counterparts in NSW and to discuss
our views on the report with the
Commission, which has invited
feedback before the final report is
handed to the Federal Government
in June this year.” Mr Skelton said
PresCare was an ever-increasing
provider of aged-care services in
Queensland and it was important the
views of PresCare were put before the
Commission.
New Cairns office to start
NQ expansion
Meanwhile, Mr Skelton announced
PresCare community services would
expand into Cairns in early April – a
move he described as an important
step in meeting aged care demands in
the future across the State.
The Cairns office will consist of a
coordinator of community services,
a registered nurse and a business
development manager.
Mr Skelton said the Cairns office
would provide a base to increase
the PresCare ‘footprint’ in North
Queensland, with future expansion
plans in place for Townsville and
south to Mackay. “This is an exciting
development for PresCare and I am
sure our Church community in North
Queensland will welcome the extra
provision of community-based aged
care in their region,” he said.
Home aged care boost
for PresCare
When there are no trains, planes or automobiles ... try canoeing to
work! PresCare dedicated staff managed to keep the ‘care factor’
top of their mind with creative modes of transport during the recent
Rockhampton floods.
MORE THAN $60,000 has been raised
for PresCare staff and volunteers who
were significantly impacted by the
flood disaster in January.
PresCare CEO Greg Skelton said
the Presbyterian Church had made
the most significant contribution to
the appeal and thanked the Church
for its unstinting support of PresCare
staff and volunteers.
He said the funds would be
distributed to those in PresCare who
needed financial assistance to ‘get
back on their feet’.
“I would also like to thank the
PresCare community, clients and
their families and friends who have
contributed to the appeal”, he said.
“Given that several appeals were
underway across Queensland at the
time from various organizations, it
is generous of our contributors to
also think of PresCare in our time of
need.”
Mr Skelton said the PresCare Staff
and Volunteers Appeal would remain
open until 31 March 2011.
For Community Services enquiries
call 1-800-PRESCARE (1-800 773 722)
or visit www.prescare.org.au
PresCare has received increased
support for in-home aged care across
South-East and Central Queensland
and North Queensland as part of a $6
million Federal funding package.
CEO Greg Skelton said the funding
provided a total of 166 in-home low
care, high care and dementia care
packages for elderly residents in the
Brisbane South, Logan, Beenleigh,
Gold
Coast,
Mt
Tamborine,
Caboolture, Sunshine Coast, Wide
Bay/Hervey Bay, Rockhampton and
Cairns districts.
Mr Skelton said: “What this means
is that more elderly people can remain
at home rather than be accommodated
in hospital or a nursing home, which
is great news.”
He said the funding would provide
additional respite time for carers,
which was critical for them to maintain
support for an elderly person living at
home. The funding would also provide
nursing services, equipment, advice
and other care as required.
“This is really about providing
a quality of life for the elderly in
Queensland.” Mr Skelton said the
Federal funding boost increased
PresCare’s
community
in-home
services by 40 percent to more than
580 clients across the State.
“Importantly, it also provides for
employing more local people in the
aged care sector in which PresCare is
building a rewarding career structure,”
he said. “The increased recognition
of our services by the government
speaks volumes about our direction,
standards, practices and training,” he
said.
For Community Services enquiries
call 1-800-PRESCARE (1-800 773
722) or visit www.prescare.org.au
New Directions, April/May 2011 - Page 15
What’s on ...
briefly
TELEPHONE DIRECTORIES
Any charges wishing to make changes
to their entry in the White Pages should
contact Church Office on 3251 4100 or
email churchoffice@pcq.org.au
MODERATOR’S CHAPLAINS
Chaplains to Rev. Graeme McKay
(Moderator-Elect) will be Rev. Bill Lutton
and Mr Keith Booker. If you wish to book
Mr McKay for an event at your church,
contact details are The Secretary, South
Toowoomba Presbyterian Charge, PO
Box 641, Toowoomba 4350. E-mail:
minister.southtoowoomba@yahoo.com.
au Tel. 07 4635 4560
DOES YOUR
CONCREGATION NEED A
NEW ORGAN?
DAY WORKSHOPS
Saturday 2nd July 2011
8:30 am – 5:30 pm
Dalby Presbyterian Church Hall
Featuring:
Morning, Afternoon and Full Day Craft Workshops
Cost $30
Includes Lunch
Enquiries: Val Griffiths
ph 46685555
PS: Due to changes in circumstances Be Creative
Country Camp is unable to be held in 2011 but will
be back in 2012!!!
Be Creative Country Camp 2012
Friday 29th June -Sunday 1st July
Fairholme College Toowoomba
grow
twenty eleven
assurance
Saturday 23 July 2011
GROW is a day event for women of
all ages with the purpose of building
each person in Christ through the
faithful teaching of the Bible.
For more visit
www.qcca.org.au or
grow@qcca.org.au
UPCOMING
CAMPS
27 June-1 July, SEQ Launch
Camp, D. Mitchell, Director
2 July, Be Creative Country, C.
Milne, Director
4–8 July, Megasportz Netball
Camp, Moogerah, Mrs J Teale,
Director
4-8 July, NQ Launch Camp, D.
Hopper, Director
For more information, contact
Presbyterian Christian Education
on 3251 4150.
Following the recent flood events over
much of Queensland, there may be a
country church that needs to replace
their church organ. One is available
in Brisbane, looking for such a new
home. The instrument is a two-manual
keyboard and a ten-note pedalboard. It
is primarily a “theatre-type” organ, but the
range of stops and settings enables it to
accompany hymns most admirably. The
organ has its own stool, and both are in
very good condition. For further details
you may email campbellclan@powerup.
com.au or phone (07) 3273 2159.
UNIT TO LET
CALOUNDRA holiday unit, 2 bedroom,
pool, 100m from Kings Beach, from $390/
week. Phone Ray on 0427 990 161.
CHANGE IN MODERATOR
AND CLERK OF MORETON
PRESBYTERY
The new Moderator of the Presbytery
of Moreton is Mr Bill Lewis and the new
Clerk is Rev. John Nicol.
KEEPING TRACK OF THE
MODERATOR
Follow the State Moderator, Rt Rev.
John Langbridge, on his blogsite www.
moderator.blog.com
New Directions, April/May 2011 - Page 16
PWA of A (QLD UNIT)
2011 ANNUAL SERVICE
OF DEDICATION AND
COMMUNION
by Heather Burton
Anton’s Antics - Lost and
Found DVD
Introducing children to Jesus made fun and easy!
AUSSIE OUTFIT, Kidzlink, has expanded
into the development of DVDs to assist
churches and schools to share the good
news with children. Kidzlink’s Director,
Stephen Shearsby, saw a gap in the
market for high quality, engaging and
entertaining gospel presentations for
children that pastors and teachers could
use for outreach.
“Often churches and schools are aware
of the opportunities they have to reach
children for Christ, but are challenged by
a lack of resources to do it. Sometimes
it’s a lack of volunteers or a lack of knowhow. Ideas that work and ready-made
content will hit the mark. Television is
such a popular and growing medium
for children that we also wanted to give
people something of a high standard for
that medium”, says Stephen. Thanks to
Kidzlink’s new resource DVD series called
Anton’s Antics, sharing the good news
with children just got a whole lot easier.
The first episode is called Lost and
Found and includes a feature presentation
of the story of Zacchaeus that is taught
using a mixture of drama, colourful
sketching and storytelling. The DVD also
contains fun revision segments such as
learning a new song with guest presenters
Taryn and Gra Gra the sheep dog, rapping
to a memory verse and interacting with an
on-screen quiz. Lots of bonus features
also round this resource out to make a
comprehensive and powerful arrow in
anyone’s evangelistic quiver.
Whether it’s a Scripture assembly,
Easter service or family event, Lost and
Found will provide everything you need
to confidently share the good news. With
Easter approaching, it’s sure to be a big
hit!
Anton’s Antics is available at www.kidzlink.
com.au
Author: Stephen Shearsby
Mobile: 0425 65 9966
Email: stephen@kidzlink.com.au
THE PRESBYTERIAN Women’s
Association of Australia (Qld Unit)
Annual Service of Dedication and
Communion was held at Ann Street
Presbyterian Church on Tuesday 1
February 2011 at 10.30 am.
Praise God for the beautiful sunny
day He gave us to attend this service.
Our President, Mrs Betty Gadsby,
welcomed the Moderator, Rt Rev.
John Langbridge and his wife Jan
to the service. She thanked them
for coming, the Elders of Ann Street
for preparing the church and the
elements for the service and to
everyone for attending.
There were 29 people in attendance
with apologies from Mrs Heather
Ross, Miss Barbara Arnold and Mrs
Evelyn Hoyle.
The Moderator called us to worship
with a reading from Psalm 105:1-4,
prayer and the singing of the hymn “O
sing a new song to the Lord”. A Bible
reading from Colossians 1:15-23 and
prayers of adoration and confession
followed.
The service continued with the
singing of “Spirit of God, Unseen
as the Wind”, a Bible reading from
2 Corinthians 5:16-21, the taking
up of the offering and a prayer of
thanksgiving.
The ladies of the PWA of A (Qld
Unit) stood and prayed the prayer
of dedication together and this was
followed with the singing of the hymn
“God, Whose Almighty Word”.
Mr Langbridge preached on the
theme of “Reconciliation”. Right from
the beginning with Adam and Eve,
people have rebelled against God’s
law, disrupting our relationship with
God and His creation. Reconciliation
is entirely the work of God,
accomplished at the cross of our Lord
Jesus. Only Christianity encompasses
this. Beware of other religions which
offer another road. Reconciliation
equals facing sin, facing God, facing
Jesus Christ.
The communion hymn “When on
that Night” was followed by the Lord’s
Supper.
The service concluded at 11.40 am
after the singing of “My Hope is Built
on nothing less”, the pronouncement
of the benediction, and the singing of
the Threefold Amen.
Mesdames Barbara Wixted, Muriel ???, Betty Gadsby, ???, Jan
Langbridge and Rt Rev. John Langbridge