1. religion and spirituality
2. christianity

Sunday
15 th March 2015
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 !
Of all the pictures and descriptions of the bible I’ve ever heard, one stands
out to me. It’s such an awesome idea that I memorised the words years ago.
And even now, having recited it countless times and known it for decades, every time I sit and think (or
meditate) on this idea, it sits me down and makes me catch my breath.
From the Pastor
‘Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with
mockers. But they delight in the law of the LORD, meditating on it day and night. They are like trees planted
along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do.’
Psalm 1:1-3 (NLT)
People who seriously weigh into God’s word – so they learn it, study it, internalise it, and meditate on it – are
people of true stability, class, power, and meaning. They don’t get knocked over by life and, in the long run,
they’re the ones who win the race.
When he established monasteries and devised his “say-so’s”, sixth-century St Benedict of Nursia valued the
bible so much that he wove it intimately into his “rule”. Every day, his monks and nuns followed then and
follow now a daily rhythm rich with meditation on God’s word.
In the noisy, over-stimulated, option-plenty, fast-moving world we live in, we’re sorely tempted to – at best –
read God’s word quickly, cursorily, and spasmodically, or – at worst – not read it at all.
God’s idea, though – and it’s not just for monks and nuns, but absolutely for you and me – is that we’d be
people who just soak and bathe in his word, every day, every night.
A friend of mine has a tattoo of the words “Psalm 119:105” on his chest. Know what it says?
‘Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.’
See, to the degree that I think I can live without meditating on God’s word day and night (thinking about it,
mulling it over, talking about it, shaping it up against my life and values and priorities and decisions), I’ll be
making poor life choices and ignoring the uncomfortable fact that I simply don’t have what it takes to navigate my way through life.
Not sure about you, but I’d prefer to be like a tree that’s been planted by the river, roots reaching deep into
the fertile and luscious soil. I’d choose any day to be bearing fruit in life, and to have leaves that don’t wither,
and to prosper in everything I do.
What do you think?
Ps. Geoff Shepherd
Prayer
Diary Dates
FRIDAY MARCH 20
CARAT COFFEE CLUB
Third Place Café
286 Epping Road Wollert
@ church 9.30am to carpool
Or @ cafe at 10.00am
FRIDAY MARCH 20
ZONE KIDS CLUB
(Primary Students)
“Messy Games”
From 7.00 - 8.30pm
FRIDAY MARCH 20
RIOT YOUTH
(Secondary students)
Please pray for Joy, Craig & Abigail Johnson. Joy's brother-in-law passed
away recently. Pray that God may comfort Joy's extended family in their
time of grief.
Please pray for Steph & Kristie Mott this week. Steph has dislocated her
knee and Kristie has upcoming doctors appointments also. Pray for God’s
hand of healing, strength and peace for the Mott family, including Rachael
and Travis.
You might have noticed that some of our ladies are attending the Colour
Conference in Sydney this weekend. Pray for them as they gather to worship
and hear from God.
In church recently and at our Annual General Meeting we mentioned the
need we have in several areas of service – in particular in Kids’ Church and in
RIOT Youth. Many people at the AGM raised their hands in a commitment to
pray daily over these needs. We’d love all our church family praying with us
on this!
“Chalk Chase”
7.00 - 10.00
Church Camp is coming......
SUNDAY MARCH 22
When - 24-26 April 2015
(Anzac Day weekend – Friday evening to after Sunday lunch)
WORSHIP & PRAYER GET TOGETHER
FOR OUR PROPERTY & FACILITIES
@6.00 - 7.30pm
WEDNESDAY MARCH 25
KIDS HOPE MENTOR TRAINING
Here at MPBC from
9.00am - 3.00pm
Where - Upper Plenty Conference Centre (40 mins drive from MPBC)
Cost:
$85 per adult (Year 7 +), $75 per primary child, $ 0 per pre-schooler (free).
NOTE: Family Cap of $320 applies - this would cover Mum & Dad plus any kids still
at primary or secondary school.
Any young adults at work or uni living at home would pay an additional $85.
DIAMONDS VISIT CERES ENVIRONMENT PARK
The Whittlesea Council bus took most of the 12 participants to the park in Brunswick where we
checked out the organic market, enjoyed coffee checked out the visitor centre, nursery and shop
before wandering around. Some of us had a tour of the different areas including the Eco House,
gardens and propagation area and even adopted some orphan plants. This was our first event in
conjunction with the SOW program on Sustainability. We are choosing activities for the other 3
sessions. Stay tuned and join in. All 55+ ( or thereabouts) folk are welcome.
Contact Pauline : 0405 605 011 if you need further information or would like to include your
preferences.
Do you want some practical training and an Australian Govt recognised qualification in Teaching English to
Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL)? ITA is running a Cert IV in Teaching Conversational English TESOL
(30987 QLD) $1970 Wednesdays & Fridays 9 - 5pm 6 May – 19 June plus Saturday 23 May
In addition to the face to face hours, 25 hours of teaching prac and assessments is required.
The Wednesday class will be at St James Conference Centre (near Flagstaff Station) and the Friday class
at Canterbury Presbyterian Church, Canterbury. Both churches run conversational classes which are
incorporated into the course.
This course may also form the foundations of a Diploma of Language Teaching (10431 NAT) over
12 months $3900 (Fee Help available) For more info see www.itateach.com or call Marg on 0421 134 924
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
PROPERTY & FACILITIES
We’re “maxxed out” @ MPBC now, with all our extra
people from the last couple of years! Our Leadership
Group, in the midst of trying to discern the best way
ahead, is mixing around our Cultiv8 Groups now – we’d
love to have all our church family praying with us. We
don’t want to assume that the only thing we can do is to
“build on” – we’re asking God to show us what he wants
us to do! We’re inviting our whole church family (from
the youngest to the oldest and everywhere in between)
to get together next Sunday 22nd March, (please note the
date – not 29th March!) from 6.00-7.30pm, here at the
church, so we can worship, pray, and seek God’s face
together about this question!
FAITH PROMISE OFFERINGS
Thanks to all those who handed in Faith Promise pledges
the last few weeks! So far, we’re at 10 pledges
totalling $7,620! We’re planning on the biggest and best
ever so we’re hoping for many, many more pledges over
the next few weeks! Remember – every cent of this
money is passed on directly to missions! If you need a
form, contact Leanne in the office
(9436 8797 or office@millparkbaptistchurch.org.au)
and we’ll get one to you!
PASTORAL TEAM RETREAT
Our church staff spent the day together Wednesday this
week. They spent key time sharing in depth with and
praying for each other and our church. They’ve been
working recently on some greater definition and culture
ideas for our Sunday services and invested key time in
that discussion too. A really useful and fruitful day!
BOARD MEETING
We’ve welcomed Jono Prout onto our Board! The Board’s
due to meet this Wednesday (18th March) @ 7.45pm –
pray for our friends as they meet, pray, plan, and serve!
During the School holidays the Diamonds
plan to visit the Fire Brigade Museum in the
city, corner of Gibson Street and Victoria
Parade. Keep April 9th free. Please note this
is a Thursday when the museum will be
open. We will meet at the South Morang
station at 9.30 am, alighting at Parliament
and heading to East Melbourne for the visit.
Bring a picnic or buy lunch before heading
home about 2.00pm.
Need more details. Contact Pauline 0405 605 011
ATTENTION ALL WHO
LOVE BAKING!!
This Easter, Prison Fellowship will again provide
every Victorian inmate with 10 home-made
biscuits, together with a card that explains the
meaning of Easter. We need the help of the
Christian community in Victoria to do this.
Can you and/or your friends help us?
Help us show the prisoners of Victoria that
God loves them.....
Biscuits need to be home-made
(Anzac, Choc chip etc).
Please NO NUTS (or peanut butter etc)
are to be used.
Must be in sealed disposable container
(ice cream containers are ideal).
Ingredients are to be clearly listed on the
top of the container.
Biscuits need to be delivered to church office
by Sunday 22nd March or to the Prison
Fellowship Op Shop 252 Broadway Reservoir
by Monday 23rd March
.....recipes are also available on request.
Contact Leanne in our office!
“Effective Parenting in a Defective World.”
KID'S HOPE MENTOR TRAINING
will be held here on
Wednesday 25th March
9:00-3:00.
Would you like to find out more
about being a mentor?
Speak to David Dyer, Jo Bishop,
Pauline Longley, Margaret Brown,
Sheryl Parker or Lauren Grimes.
This is a parenting course that is God centred and
relevant for parents with children at all ages and stages.
The course will begin Sunday May 17th and will run for
11 weeks from 3-5pm. To register, forms will be
available at the information desk or you may also
register on line at the following link.
https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/G79MKVW
Those who have attended this course will agree that it is
well worth the time and effort. Also a reminder ….
“It Takes a Village”!
If you have any questions see
Andrew or Bronwyn Sexton or Kathy Adams.
MPBC...“to be a radically prayerful church, overflowing with the Holy Spirit.”
Mill Park Baptist Church
meets on Sunday at
10am for worship
ACTIVE CARE TEAM
David Dyer
Linda Dyer
Kath Huppert
Kathryn Jensen
Rachael Mott
Brent Mudie
Debbie Mudie
Sonja Schryvers
and for prayer
9.45am (front of auditorium)
on Wednesday mornings
10am - 12pm for prayer
(come when you can,
go as needed)
11 Morang Drive, Mill Park, 3082
Ph: 9436 8797
www.millparkbaptistchurch.org.au
office@millparkbaptistchurch.org.au
“Like” us on Facebook :
www.facebook.com/millparkbaps
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
Rosters
CULTIV8 GROUPS ON DOOR GREETING
22/3/2015: Longley
29/3/2015: Kim
5/4/2015: Parker
MORNING TEA
Today: D & L Dyer, S Loveday
22/3/2015: K Batten-Ernest, C Grimes, C Parker
29/3/2015: V Mason, D & L Dyer
5/4/2015: M Pozzebon, R Bishop, K Batten
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
Esther Cathie
9717 8574
Stewart Henderson
9434 7901
Bryan Keef
9712 2759
Pauline Longley 9437 6515
Murray Parker
9404 4589
BOARD MEMBERS
Chris Grimes
9401 4223
(Chairman)
Leanne Kelso
9431 0569
(Secretary)
Today: Romano
SENIOR PASTOR
Ps. Geoff Shepherd
ELDERS
birthdays
Mar 16
Mar 17
Mar 18
Mar 19
Mar 20
Jacqui Long
Carol Lee Tet
Neville Muir
Levi Longley
Phil Carbis
Colene Long
Tim Stokes
Jaymee Matthews
Shaun Creek
Ina Leung
9497 1878
Steve Matthews 9408 8029
Taryn Nelson
9009 0463
Jono Prout
0425 754 035
(Treasurer)
Andrew Sexton 9717 2290
Bryson Shearwood
0419 880 737
MINISTRY LEADERS
3 Up
Jo Bishop
Caring Hands (Craft)
Helen Skerry
Creative Ministries
Shaun Creek
Cultiv8 Groups
Ps Kathryn Jensen
Diamonds (55+)
Pauline Longley
Hospitality
Vicki Mason
Kids’ Church
Tim & Kathryn Stokes
Kids Hope
David Dyer
Little Cherubs
Cheryl-Lee Longley
Mission Support Group
Sheryl Parker
Active Care Team
David Dyer
Playgroup
Kathryn Stokes (enrolments)
Riot Youth
Ps Matt Withers
0437 426 611
Welcome Team
Ps Kathryn Jensen
kathy.adams@millparkbaptistchurch.org.au
Office days – Wed & Thurs.
Available otherwise – Sun
Women's Embrace
Linda Romano
CHURCH ADMINISTRATOR
Leanne Kelso
9436 8797
0431 475 548
office@millparkbaptistchurch.org.au
Office days - Mon to Thurs.
9 am - 4pm
Young Adults
Ps Matt Withers
Zone
Steve Nelson
MILL PARK
COMMUNITY CARE
(Professional Counselling)
0405 197 192