Narrabri Christian Fellowship Christmas Eve Service

Narrabri Christian Fellowship hosted a delightfully traditional, yet modern Christmas Eve service, featuring carols, video displays, a skit highlighting the true meaning of Christmas and an item by Carly Watt and Katherine Bell.   As usual, a delicious supper was given at the end which was enjoyed by all.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Scripture of the Week - Proverbs 24:10-12

Proverbs 24:10-12

New International Version (NIV)

  
 ¹⁰ If you falter in a time of trouble,
   how small is your strength!
¹¹ Rescue those being led away to death;
   hold back those staggering toward slaughter.
¹² If you say, “But we knew nothing about this,”
   does not he who weighs the heart perceive it?
Does not he who guards your life know it?
   Will he not repay everyone according to what they have done?

Israeli Speaker at the Narrabri COC - Report

by Lizzy Ainsworth

Jewish issues would not be something that one would think would impact a small town such as Narrabri, but in fact, journalist and the Chief Executive of the New South Wales Jewish Board of Deputies, Vic Alhadeff, came to speak at the Christian Outreach Centre on the night of the 29th November.

While Israeli issues are not something that necessarily confront us on a local level, Vic, came to speak to numerous groups around our area, including the mayor of Gunnedah, about different issues affecting the Jewish community within NSW and further abroad.

His role in his position as Chief Executive of the New South Wales Jewish Board of Deputies is to be proactive in bringing a good public outlook to Jews, an outlook that is severely tainted, from even further back than the Holocaust.   This includes bringing together high school children such as Jews, Muslims and Christians to be able to explore each others cultures in a neutral environment, along with speaking in schools to promote a positive image of Jews.

In other cases, his job is to react to blatant defamation of Jews both in NSW, Australia and abroad.  While the Australian government as a general whole is supportive of the Jewish community, there are many attempts in the media and community to defame and degrade the name of Israel. 

While this may not be an issue of which you were previously aware, it will never hurt to broaden our horizons to include the people of a nation that is so often in the news, and to dig deeper for the truth on an often misunderstood and rejected people.

As Christians, our responsibility goes even deeper.  Israel is the most mentioned country in the Bible, and the place where Jesus walked and lived.  Without the Jews we would not have our rich heritage and many of our traditions.

Israel is a nation close the to the heart of God, and it is a topic well worth delving into for our own study of what God has to say about this nation.  If you have never studied this topic, it is well worth the look, for we need to ‘study to show ourselves approved,’ searching the scriptures so that we may know for ourselves the truth of the matter.

Acts 17:11 and 2 Timothy 2:15

New South Wales Jewish Board of Deputies: www.nswjbd.org

Photo: Vic Alhadeff, 3rd row, far right in suit, with the group he spoke to at the Christian Outreach Centre in Narrabri.

Israeli Speaker at the Narrabri COC

Speaking at the COC church in Maitland Street in Narrabri, on Tuesday 29th November, at 7pm, will be former journalist Vic Alhadeff.  This man is currently the chief executive officer  of the New South Wales Jewish Board of Deputies, and will be speaking about Israel and his journalistic experiences in Narrabri.  Come along to hear his story.

Upcoming Events at the Narrabri Anglican Church

26th Nov - Gingerbread House Night @ Anglican Church. Contact Natasha Baxter for more details

18th Dec - Carols on the Lawn - Anglican Church - Time to be confirmed.

Carer's Dinner - Anne Andrew Reports

Recently an invitation was issued to the local church community to have a representative attend a Carers' Dinner organised by Community Health. I volunteered to attend and speak as both a member of the Christian community and as a carer myself. After seeking the Lord for His message, I spoke on the need for every carer to have care and that my care had come from Jesus, the ultimate carer. Carers find themselves dealing not only with the physical demands of looking after a loved one, but also with their own responses - desire to do their best but falling short; tiredness; guilt; feelings of abandoning their loved one should they need to move from home-based to community care. Many carers become more and more isolated as the demands of their role consume their energy. The joy of the Christian in these circumstances is that they have Jesus' promise to meet every need, to never leave us or forsake us; He is our joy, our wisdom and our hope no matter how difficult a situation we may face

Girls Night In

Hayley Kinstler & Julie Mahony, prize winners of the evening for the 

Prettiest in Pink and Most Creative in Pink

 Jess Campbell, Hayley Kinstler, Joanne Westman, Kate Dhu and Lizzy Ainsworth.

Jess Campbell

 Margaret Burns

 Below: Carly Watt, Kat Milburn & Vanessa Charton

27th October
Are You In?
The Girl's Night In at the Narrabri Christian Fellowship was a gorgeous evening from the moment you walked through the door and were greeted by men in suits, handed your raffle ticket and offered a 'pink' drink by a number of waiters.   The theme of the evening was to raise money and awareness of cancer in women.    This was done in a variety of forms including a gold coin donation at the door, a stand of Cancer Council products such as pens, keyrings etc and a silent auction with beautiful goods and vouchers donated by various businesses in town.   This silent auction was an amazing success with over $800 dollars raised for the Cancer Council.
Also on the program for the night, were prizes for the Prettiest and Most Creative in Pink, an item by flautist Jess Campbell, a very informative talk by health nurse Margaret Burns and an encouraging testimony by a cancer survivor.    To finish the evening, Katherine Milburn, Carly Watt and Vanessa Charton performed an item, after which a cascade of bubbles fell from the ceiling. A beautiful supper was enjoyed by all as people collected their 'prizes' from the silent auction and returned home after and a fun, informative and encouraging evening.

International Day of Prayer for Persecuted Christians

This Sunday 6th November and next, the 13th are the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church.
The Word of God says to pray for those who are persecuted so keep this in mind especially at your next two church services.
http://www.opendoors.org.au/

Quote of the Day

"Don't put the key to your happiness in someone else's pocket -- keep it in your own."   

Unknown Author

Bible College Training Centre

Christian Outreach Centre

Bible College Training Centre (BCTC)

The COC Training Centre began in 2006 with one Course one night a week. This Course is part of a three year, six module series. Each module may also be studied independently during Term 1 and 3 of each year.

Additional training was soon added. These included Emerging Leaders and Coaching Accreditation Processes. Then in 2009 the accredited Course Certificate IV in Christian Ministry and Theology was introduced as the BCTC was recognised as the NW COC Regional Training Centre.

Being an atypical Bible College Training Centre, many ½ day and 1 day practical hands on Workshops have been held over the six year period. These have included Benefits of Coaching, First Impressions (Usher training), Connect Awareness (small groups), Effective Leadership as well as New Foundations for new believers and those who have not had an opportunity to complete a basic Discipleship Course.

All training is on a coaching style with much discussion and participation of students. Statements of Achievements are awarded as students successfully complete any Workshop or Course.

Students from other denominations have participated in some of the Courses and are welcome to make enquiries.

Marlene Morphew
COC BCTC Director Handmaiden7@westnet.com.au
(02) 67925292/0429018620

Upcoming Events and Services of the COC congregation

COC upcoming & regular events:

Men’s breakfast 1/month. Contact Kevin 0427255330

WOW (Women of Worth) every Thursday 10am. Contact Belinda:0429924089

Funzone (Children’s Church) Christmas party 18^th Dec Contact. Cathy 0439462444

Bible College Training Centre – various Courses throughout the year. Contact Marlene 0429018620. Recruiting for 2012 Internships in January – Certificate IV in Christian Ministry & Theology (ACOM)

Xtreme Youth – every Friday 6.30pm Contact Josh 0428187202

Connect groups meet in various locations, various days. Contact Anne 0427005154

Sunday service and Children’s church – 9.30am Contact 67924106 (crèche available)

Rotary Chicken and Champagne

CHICKEN & CHAMPAGNE LUNCHEON

Narrabri Rotary Club Partners Project

Targeting Mental Health Research

Sunday 13^th November 2011

12 Noon @ 35a Selina Street, Narrabri

Tickets: $15 pp

on sale at Narrabri Prosound – phone 67925544

RSVP by November 7, 2011

Guest Speakers

Meg Perceval, Centre for Rural & Remote Mental Health

Nadine Street, Mental Health Counsellor at Narrabri Community Health

Meg Perceval will discuss FARM-LINK, a project funded under the National Suicide Prevention Strategy NSW.

Farm-Link provides Mental Health First Aid to front line Agricultural workers to assist them to identify and refer farmers who express mental health problems. Farm-Link staff acts as brokers for farmers seeking assistance with mental health issues.

Nadine Street will discuss Mental Health issues and how to access help.

Over the years Australian Rotary award grants for interesting and significant areas of research.   In 2011 grants totalling $705,649 were awarded for Mental Health Research Projects.

A New Era

So the Narrabright has entered a new era.  No longer a newsletter or magazine, it has now reached further into technology.  All the same articles, interviews and reviews will be available here along with a new feature called 'Pastor Profile' and updates on all the upcoming Christian events in the shire.
I pray that this will be bless you all greatly.  Check back as I update the layout of the page and content of the blog.  Also check out the Narrabright facebook page where updates on events will be posted for immediate access.