3rd June 2022

Greetings to all our church family and mission partners in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord! Be assured that our love and prayers IN Christ accompany you each day. We start this week’s news with URGENT UPDATES for events and opportunities that are pending.

  • COMBINED NORTHERN ILLAWARRA CHURCHES PRAYER GATHERING – the first one of these in a while. We have been invited to gather with other brothers and sisters from local churches between 5pm and 6pm THIS SUNDAY 5th JUNE @ City Life Church Centre in Jardine Street (West) Fairy Meadow. Let Graeme know if you think you’d like to join with him.
  • IMPORTANT HOPE COLLEGE UPDATE – just repeating last week’s message that there will be NO COLLEGE FACE TO FACE SESSIONS ON FRIDAYS AND OR TUESDAYS – until we sort out how best to match opportunities for training with potential students’ responsibilities / calendars etc.
    • The exciting news is that we have launched a College Podcast station so VERY SOON we will be able to provide content for subjects via podcasts with study guides. More next week ….
    • Graeme will complete first workshop assignment marking and gift survey evaluations over the coming week to Friday 10th so if you want something marked from the first session of workshop content which happened on April 30th and was released via email in the first week of May, please send that now via the secretary email OR via the Contact Us page. If you aren’t sure about any of the above but you’d like to be included in the journey, please contact us ASAP.

The Following is a Brief Summary of THIS Sunday’s Gathering and Confirmed Upcoming Calendar Events so You Can Save Some Dates and share a few details with those you know ……

SUNDAY 5th JUNE – Last week, Graeme wrapped up the THREE Message series on the theme of ‘INTIMACY’ with his reflection on what it might mean to have Intimacy for and with the Lost. THIS WEEK, the team will host a Q&A type presentation to wrap up the series, with each preacher available for message summaries and to receive questions about anything that came up for people as we engaged the May messages, and our mate Bob will help us facilitate. It’s PENTECOST Sunday so come and celebrate ‘the church’ with us face to face at the Augusta Street Hub IF YOU CAN, or ONLINE via our Live-Stream from 10am THIS and EVERY SUNDAY … (see our Facebook page link OR our YouTube Channel for online access).

PS: As mentioned above in the urgent updates, let Graeme know if you’d like to accompany him at the Combined Churches Prayer Meeting, 5pm to 6pm at City Life Church Fairy Meadow THIS Sunday (5th)

Use our Contact Us page if you’d like to register for, or get more details about any of the following

  • Women’s Monday Fortnightly Study and Prayer (Julie) 13th June – 10.30am @ the HUB
  • General Bible Discussion (Beverley) 15th June on the verandah at Judy’s place
  • Scripture Board PIE DRIVE 2022 (see details above) The order form is available HERE or in hard copy at HUB reception for your annual pie orders. Orders taken up until 5pm 5th June. Pies available for Pick Up on June 20th and 23rd. (details on order form) NB: If you order for pick up on June 20th and you’d like Julie to pick up your pies (as she is going out on 20th) let her know when you see her.
  • National Day of Thanksgiving presentation to TEACHERS in our schools. We are offering gifts of thanks to teachers at Corrimal East Public School and Corrimal High School as soon as we hear back from the schools and can organize a suitable time ….
  • Northern Illawarra Churches Combined Prayer Evening (details above) 5pm to 6pm on Sunday 5th June @ City Life Church Centre – Jardine Street (West) Fairy Meadow. (talk to Graeme if you are interested in attending)
  • Scripture Board ‘COFFEE & DESSERT NIGHT 2022‘ 7-9pm 8th June @ the Northern Illawarra (Bulli) Uniting Church Centre (more details on the Scripture Board website landing page)

The HOPE Project Mission Situation Reports (Sit-Reps) and Equipping/Training Updates

Blokes Event was so hot it was ‘smokin’ – our blokes ministry bi-monthly gathering was held last Tuesday in blisteringly cold conditions (for Wollongong). It was a night of warm connection with old and new friends, hosted wonderfully by Mick (who spent all day smoking various meats) and Heather (who provided dessert). Andrew and Bob shared and the conversation was lively and thoughtful, underpinned by the ad-hoc acoustic rock stylings of ‘The Elastic Band’. God is moving in our midst.

The Sanctuary Illawarra – Our southern hub church is starting to develop its God-shape. There are still online opportunities regularly, including Sunday’s weekly at 3pm. Stay tuned to their their YouTube channel and or Facebook page for updates as they come to hand. Things are starting to grow around the Thursday face to face opportunity so please pray for our ‘Backyard Missionaries’, Jono and Nicky – for God to work through their faithful service, for the Lord to move miraculously in the lives of those who are connecting with them from time to time AND give The Sanctuary connection details to anyone you know in the Southern Illawarra that would benefit from the ministry of this Targeted Mission HUB, particularly with regard to their ‘Soul Recovery ALL Addictions’ weekly meeting 8pm Monday’s at Central Church Hall, 4 Fitzwilliam Street Port Kembla.

Weekly Pastoral Prayer Update (designed so you can spread points for prayer out over the week)

  • Firstly, we are THANKFUL for all the answered prayers that often go unnoticed. Thank you, Lord, for Your faithfulness.
  • Secondly, each and EVERY week we pray for each other and our brothers and sisters representing the Illawarra region’s body of Christ through other local churches who meet around us. And as Jesus prayed 15 My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. We know this is a season when we will need to be combat ready and so we pray for each other that we would stand firm in the victory Christ won for us … AND that the Lord will add daily, those who are BEING SAVED! We particularly pray for the upcoming Illawarra Prayer Breakfast, that the churches of the Illawarra might be ‘In ONE-ness accord’.
  • Thirdly each week we pray for the New Season of Mission Effort – We thank you for the catalyst to our Pillar of ‘PREPARE’ that Brian and Nola’s ministry with us brought recently. We are now working towards the FIRST PHASE of the time we are referring to as ‘The SEED of Sustainability’ (2022-23) so a strategic plane for the 2nd half of 2022 will be released for prayer and response at the end of June. PLEASE PRAY AS WE PREPARE (Pre-Prayer)
  • Fourthly, here following are the MOST RECENT prayer requests that we have been given permission to share across our praying network … (please talk directly with the source of the request if you want more info)
    • We have been asked to pray for Oliver who is the grandson of close friends of the Fisher’s. Oliver is fighting to thrive and he and his family need a touch from heaven. There are some good signs but equally there is concern that medical personnel can’t clearly identify the issues.
    • Our June’s hip replacement surgery went well and she is now being cared for by her daughter Danielle. She is seeking prayer for a quick and effective rehabilitation.
    • Please continue to pray for Her son and our mate Craig Blanch – for increased good health and June’s friend Mim for her recovery after an accident and subsequent surgery. June has asked to convey her deepest gratitude for the prayers of our faithful, praying church family.
    • Jono’s Dad Richard – we praise you Lord for answered prayer and we ask for your continued peace and protection as Richard prepares for a pacemaker to be inserted.
    • For Jono and Nicky as they continue to work out life and church planting with Jono’s new employment and Nicky changing employers in her field of work.
    • For Christine seeking prayer for wisdom and strength for her and her two sisters and the aged care consultants helping them care for their Mum in her own home, also for her family members who have been inundated with water during recent rains and their daughter with a broken arm.
    • Julie B sends her love to the church family and asks for prayer for her Mum (a little frustrated with her dependence on others) and her sister recovering from long -covid. Julie asks us to pray also for all people to experience peace in these troubled times.
    • Emma has asked us to pray for her kids Keo, Sonny and in particular Kalani who is struggling with some stuff currently. Pray for enduring peace and wisdom for Em and Tim as they work things out for their family. We Praise the Lord for some positive indications during the week.
  • Please Keep Praying for these Brothers and sisters and situations –
    • We continue praying for Murray and Julie and the Food for Life Community Care team as they work tirelessly to provide affordable groceries to people trying to make ends meet across the Illawarra and Shoalhaven. We pray for our support team who work with the hamper truck on Thursday mornings.
    • We pray for the people doing it tough that our Food for Life volunteers come across weekly when they serve hampers off the truck; in particular we pray for Mich and Hamish at this time.
    • We continue to petition our Lord Jesus for Heaven’s answers to the needs of so many who have lost significantly in these floods up and down the east coast.
    • For all of the wonderful people connected with our church family as we stand together during this new season of the battle for souls. We thank God for His encouragement, His healing touch and His mercy, grace and protection.
    • We pray for Dot and her family, Gwen, Jason, Evelyn, Maree and Jacki and their families.
    • We pray healing for Maggie, Alex and Carol, and quite a few others in our family who are each dealing with a variety of ongoing health issues currently, including Andrew and John who have undergone routine but important procedures recently, and the growing number experiencing cold and flu symptoms.
    • We continue to pray for Harry, Joy and Greg, Elsie and Carolyn’s family, and for Kylie and her family and friends’ needs.
    • We pray for complete healing from recent COVID symptoms for John, Beverley, Nick, Diana, Christian, and others affected across our network.
    • We pray for our mission partner Mark Beaton and his wife Lou. We thank God for good initial results from his tests and an effective correction plan that is about to be engaged. We continue to pray for good outcomes. Mark is Julie, Donna and Sandi’s cousin.
    • Grant Wilson (Kiama Baptist Minister) whom Graeme saw recently. He is now back at home in Kiama and has started a minor regime of work. Pray for his continued good recovery, his family and the church as they deal with challenges in this time of transition. Grant has asked to pray that he has more grace for the long haul.
    • We pray thanks to God for the work of the Northern Illawarra Scripture Board and for answered prayer. We pray that we are empowered to play our part in this kingdom advancing work as it increases across the northern Illawarra churches network. We ask for the Holy Spirit’s leading and empowering as the team facilitates TWO fund raising events over this next couple of weeks.
    • We pray both thanks to you God and ask for exceeding abundant blessings on all the new people who are determining whether or not to partner with us in the mission You have called us to.
    • We also pray with thankfulness for the wonderful and consistent giving and investment that our family and partners offer to enable this mission to thrive.
  • The World needs our Faithful Prayers –
    • We continue to pray for people in the Ukraine and Russia, for peace, for unity, for a sense of purpose together for the future, instead of the divide and the misdirection that seems evident currently. LORD HAVE MERCY!
    • We pray for this hepatitis and monkey pox outbreaks around the world and ask for You intervention Lord, bringing about a speedy restoration of health. LORD HAVE MERCY on those affected and those working out what’s happening.
    • Please pray for the people who are hungry and helpless. Pray for the church (under persecution in many of these countries mentioned below) that they along with World Aid organizations will be able to be God’s effective hands and feet in that desperate scenario.
    • Pray for the people in many other countries who are dealing with political, religious and military unrest and or are being subjected to violence and persecution; in particular this week we pray for senseless violent attacks on people in Togo and Ghana, Kenya, Myanmar, Papua (Indonesia), Eritrea, Burkina-Faso (particularly in the East where Jihadists seem hell bent on eradicating Christian facilitated education), Algeria and Indonesia, Nigeria, India, Iran, the Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
    • PLEASE add any concern you have for our world HERE and pray LORD HAVE MERCY!
  • Of course if you have any thing you feel confident to ask us to SHARE in prayer for, please call, send a text or email Gary Padwick if you know his contact details, otherwise via our Contact Us page. We can help connect you and Gary will faithfully engage our prayer-network.
  • Thank you for continuing to uphold each other and the lives and circumstances of our partners everywhere, in life-empowering prayer.

Love & blessings
The CCC HOPE Project Communications Team