1. religion and spirituality
2. christianity

Sunday
19th October 2014
We exist as Jesus’ followers to know, love and serve God in our world.
Welcome….to
Mill Park Baptist Church this morning for our family time together – of worship,
celebration, teaching, and friendship. We hope you really enjoy this time, and we’re trusting and praying
it’s deeply meaningful for you.
If you are visiting or new with us here this morning, you’re extra welcome!
You don’t need to do, say, or be anything to fit in! You’re welcome, just as you are!
We'd love our visitors to drop by the Welcome Lounge, located in the foyer just outside the main auditorium
door. Look out for our Information Desk where you'll find a welcome pack just for you, and someone to answer
your questions. If you'd like to let us know you've visited, please fill out a visitors card (inside our welcome pack)
and let us know if you'd like to attend an upcoming Newcomers Lunch. Thanks for spending time with us today !
From the Pastor
I love it when things work. It’s even better when I’ve faced a challenge, wondered
if I’d have what it took to solve it, chipped away at it using the resources, abilities, and know-how I had, and
come out the other side with an answer. That’s a satisfying experience.
Same time, I get frustrated when things don’t work. It’s even worse when I perceive obvious reasons why it’s
not coming together – things like dysfunction, poor systems, sub-standard organisation, or weak leadership.
I end up shaking my head and lamenting why it’s this way, especially when, by my reckoning, it doesn’t need
to be.
In the pain-filled, evil-present, tragedy-stained world we’re living in, God set up an answer, an avenue of his
awesome hope. He offers this hope to everyone, no matter how bad their plight – past, present, or future.
What’s more, the church is his primary and most treasured means to bring that message and experience to
the world. The church – Mill Park Baptist Church absolutely, vitally included!
He didn’t leave the church with a jaw-dropping responsibility and just expect it to somehow get the job
done. Instead, he set out an inspiring blueprint which maps out the way he designed it. You can read about
it right through the New Testament in your bible, but nowhere more crystal-clear and straightforward as in
two different chapters – Romans 12, and 1 Corinthians 12.
Grab a New Living Translation bible (or, if you can’t, grab a contemporary translation) – and read these two
chapters through a few times, slowly, and thoughtfully. You’ll see the blueprint when you do!
The Holy Spirit – the subject of our Spirit|Life series in church and Cultiv8 Groups this month – gifts every
single Jesus-follower (with no exception whatsoever!) with at least one special ability, and expects the whole
group together (which he calls “the body”) to have everyone using their ability.
And that’s when it all works!
This morning, as Ps. Kathryn Jensen unfolds a bit of this, especially the way some
of these gifts might look in practice, it’ll all make a little more sense to us. We’re
confident we’ll see even more of God in, around, and through our church family as
the Holy Spirit uses people’s “gifts” to express God.
And then, as that happens – and it works  – we’ll be doing a better-yet job of
communicating God’s awesome hope in our world. It doesn’t get any better than
that!
Geoff Shepherd
Diary Dates
Tonight 6pm
EVENING SERVICE
Followed by pizza dinner
($5 each for dinner)
October 24, Friday
RIOT YOUTH
“TRIBAL WARS”
7-10pm
Prayer
Gary Hough's father, Bill, passed away last Friday (10th Oct) at the age of 96. Please be
praying for Gary and Karen and their extended family at this time of loss.
Andrew Longley will continue his radiation therapy through to this Tuesday (21st Oct).
After that, he is expected to return home and await further test results and the next step
in treatment. Please pray for effective treatment, pain relief and good rest.
Mariam Sharobeem is in Egypt visiting family after the recent loss of her mother. Pray
that this will be a special time of family connection and shared memories.
Rhonda & Craig Richter sincerely thank Mill Park Baptist for their much needed prayers
during Rhonda’s recent illness. Rhonda is excited to have returned to work and is in the
process of recovering. We thank God for His amazing provision, sustaining strength and
love.
October 25, Saturday
LEADERSHIP COMMUNITY
MEETING
October 26, Sunday
Church Anniversary Picnic
We’ll be celebrating our 25th Church Anniversary
on 26 October (NEXT Sunday after church!!!)
Join in the celebrations with a BYO picnic at Bundoora Park
CHURCH ANNIVERSARY PICNIC
Bundoora Park,
after church
BYO
November 9, Sunday
QUARTERLY MEMBERS
MEETING
After morning service
November 21, Friday
ZONE Kids Club
“Fort Night”
7-8.30pm
TONIGHT
6pm
It is going to be a great night including
vibrant worship & a great message from Stewart Henderson
Bring $5 for Pizza Dinner (or $20 for a family)
It is going to be a great night & we’d love for everyone to come be
a part of it!
Contact Matt Withers for more info
You are invited
To a special Day of Prayer
Join us for a time of thanksgiving for the past,
and prayer for the future.
Melbourne Cup Day, Tuesday 4 November
Wycliffe National Centre, 70 Graham Road, Kangaroo Ground 3097
Come anytime between 9am till evening
Wycliffe Prayer Chapel dedication 3pm
Celebration & Covenant Service 4-5:30
BBQ dinner available for purchase from 5:45pm
BYO packed lunch (Devonshire tea available for purchase during the day)
For further information contact: Deb Tan 0432 578 184 Email: events_australia@wycliffe.org
To include something in the Memo for next week, please email memo@millparkbaptistchurch.org.au or
phone/SMS Lisa Walton on 0432 726 816 before Wednesday evening.
News & Updates
NEW MPBC MEMBERS
Our Elders would love to accept Titus & Olivia Katiyo
as new MPBC members! Any feedback please to an Elder or
Pastor by next Sunday 26th October!
We love welcoming new members!
If you’re not yet a MPBC member, talk with any of our
Pastors or a Cultiv8 Group leader and find out more!
BRAD SEXTON – OUR INTERN
We love and appreciate Brad Sexton – in the second year of
his internship with MPBC and also serving selflessly, skilfully,
and vitally in our church, especially in youth ministry. Brad’s
had a break, but as of last week is now back in action!
Enquiries for RIOT Youth can be taken to Brad again now.
Thanks Brad!
MPBC LEADERSHIP COMMUNITY
Our Leadership Community – Cultiv8 Group Leaders,
Ministry Team Co-ordinators, Elders, Board & Pastoral Team
– are together for their quarterly get-together next
Saturday (25th October).
Thanks to all the community for your attendance,
and we’d appreciate the prayers of the church family for
our leadership training, info-swapping, churchunderstanding, and prayer together.
MEMBERS’ MEETING
Our final Quarterly Members’ Meeting is due on
Sunday 9th November (after the morning service).
Relevant papers will be emailed and available for
hard-copy collection by next Sunday!
We’d highly value all our church members either
being at the meeting or registering an apology!
OUR CHURCH FINANCES
We have reported to the church family
consistently over 2014 that we are not
meeting our Giving budget. We fell
behind budget in January, and since
then, we have only met our monthly
Giving target twice!
It is vital that our church family is
praying for our church Income.
Did you know that our weekly giving
target is $7,299, which equates to only
$41.27 per week per church member –
and this doesn’t include those in our
church family that are not yet members!
To all the Mill Park Family,
We would just like to say how great it is to
have such a great family at Mill Park.
As you know I recently was unwell.
I have had so many cards and prayers
not only for me but also for my
family.
Thanks everyone for your love and
support it is truly appreciated.
Love and blessings,
Tony & Linda Romano
PASTORAL TEAM
Our Pastoral Team will be attending the Willow Creek
Association Global Leadership Summit – at Crossway Baptist
Church – this Friday (24th October) and Saturday
(after the Leadership Community gathering).
Great opportunity for learning and growing in leadership
together as a team!
CHURCH TREASURER
As we let you know last week, our much-loved Treasurer,
Taryn Nelson, is stepping down from the role
(but will remain on our Board).
We’re in need of a new Treasurer as of the beginning of
2015. We ask all our church family to be praying about this
need, and our Pastoral Team or Board would love to hear
from anyone with thoughts, ideas, or suggestions!
AN INVITATION
The Diamond Valley Evergreens group
have invited our Diamonds (age 55+) to join them
on the first Wednesday in November @ their
church on Diamond Creek Road
for a time of fellowship and sharing something precious and/or important in your life
Wednesday 5 November @1.30.
Hope you are able to join in. They are going to
share and provide afternoon tea.
Please let Pauline know if you can join in.
Mobile 0405 605 011
MPBC...“to be a radically prayerful church, overflowing with the Holy Spirit.”
Mill Park Baptist Church
meets on Sunday at
10am for worship
and for prayer
9.00 - 9.30 (in meeting room)
& 9.45am (front of auditorium)
on Wednesday mornings
10am - 12noon for prayer
(come when you can,
go as needed)
11 Morang Drive, Mill Park, 3082
Ph: 9436 8797
PASTORAL CARE TEAM
David Dyer
Linda Dyer
Kath Huppert
Kathryn Jensen
Carol Lee Tet
Andrew Longley
Rachael Mott
Deb Mudie
Brent Mudie
are available to pray with you today, just ask!
www.millparkbaptistchurch.org.au
office@millparkbaptistchurch.org.au
Rosters
“Like” us on Facebook :
www.facebook.com/millparkbaps
CULTIV8 GROUPS ON DOOR GREETING
SENIOR PASTOR
Ps. Geoff Shepherd
9717 2990
0409 240 639
geoff.shepherd@millparkbaptistchurch.org.au
Office days – Mon, Wed, Thurs.
Off-site preparation day – Tuesdays
Day off – Fridays
Available otherwise on Sat & Sun
ASSOCIATE PASTOR
(YOUTH)
Ps. Matt Withers
0410 308 799
matt.withers@millparkbaptistchurch.org.au
Office days – Wed, Thurs, Fri.
Days off – Sat, Mon, Tues.
Available otherwise – Sun
ASSOCIATE PASTOR
(CARE & CONNECT)
Ps. Kathryn Jensen
0438 370 363
kathryn.jensen@millparkbaptistchurch.org.au
Office days – Mon, Wed, Thurs, Fri.
Days off – Tue, Sat.
Available otherwise – Sun.
ASSOCIATE PASTOR
(CHILDREN & YOUNG
FAMILIES)
Ps. Kathy Adams
0437 426 611
kathy.adams@millparkbaptistchurch.org.au
Office days – Tue & Wed
Available otherwise – Sun
CHURCH ADMINISTRATOR
Leanne Kelso
9436 8797
0431 475 548
office@millparkbaptistchurch.org.au
Office days - Mon to Thurs.
9 am - 4pm
INTERN (YOUTH MINISTRY)
Brad Sexton
0468 815 486
brad.sexton@millparkbaptistchurch.org.au
Today : Nelson
26/10/2014: Romano
2/11/2014: Longley
9/11/2014: Kim
ELDERS
Stewart Henderson
9434 7901
Bryan Keef
9712 2759
Pauline Longley 9437 6515
Murray Parker
9404 4589
Tony Romano
9717 1709
BOARD MEMBERS
Chris Grimes
9401 4223
(Chairman)
Leanne Kelso
Ina Leung
Steve Matthews
Taryn Nelson
9431
9497
9408
9009
0569
1878
8029
0463
(Treasurer)
Andrew Sexton 9717 2290
Bryson Shearwood
0419 880 737
MINISTRY LEADERS
3 Up
Jo Bishop
Caring Hands (Craft)
Helen Skerry
MORNING TEA
Today : L Walton, S Parker, N Yanny
26/10/2014: R Bishop, L & D Dyer
2/11/2014: Y Ouchie, S Loveday, M Pozzebon
9/11/2014: N Yanny, L Walton, S Parker
Creative Ministries
Shaun Creek
Cultiv8 Groups
Ps Kathryn Jensen
Diamonds (55+)
Pauline Longley
Hospitality
Vicki Mason
Oct 19
Oct 21
Oct 23
Oct 24
Oct 25
Barb Ackland
Judith Lecompte
Maria Kupczynski
Nermeen Makari (Elmasry)
Tylah Kirwan
Dowan Zearwie
Kids’ Church
Tim & Kathryn Stokes
Kids Hope
Andrew Longley
Little Cherubs
Cheryl-Lee Longley
Mission Support Group
Sheryl Parker
Pastoral Care
David Dyer
Playgroup
Kathryn Stokes (enrolments)
Riot Youth
Brad Sexton
Welcome Team
Ps Kathryn Jensen
Women's Embrace
Linda Romano
Young Adults
Ps Matt Withers
Zone
Steve Nelson