Seabrook Avenue
Church of the Nazarene

August
Newsletter

From the Pastors desk
The Bible says, "and without faith it is impossible to please." Many an expert has written, preached and even sung about this short but powerful truth. Over the years I have heard both lengthy and brief explanations. Few illustrations quite like the donkey however, bring home the fact that to live by faith means to never give up. The Bible and modern history are crammed with examples of everyday people who just refused to bow to the circumstances. What follows may be light hearted but let it remind and prompt you to never give up...for without faith it is impossible to please God.

The Donkey
One day a farmer's donkey fell down into a well. The animal cried piteously for hours as the farmer tried to figure out what to do. Finally he decided the animal was old and the well needed to be covered up anyway, it just wasn't worth it to retrieve the donkey. He invited all his neighbours to come over and help him. They all grabbed a shovel and began to shovel dirt into the well. At first, the donkey realised what was happening and cried horribly. Then, to everyone's amazement, he quieted down. A few shovel loads later, the farmer finally looked down the well and was astonished at what he saw.

 With every shovel of dirt that hit his back, the donkey was doing something amazing. He would shake it off and take a step up. As the farmer's neighbours continued to shovel dirt on top of the animal, he would shake it off and take a step up. Pretty soon, everyone was amazed as the donkey stepped up over the edge of the well and trotted off!

Life is going to shovel dirt on you, all kinds of dirt. The trick to getting out of the well is to shake it off and take a step up. Each of our troubles is a stepping stone that can prove our faith. We can get out of the deepest wells just by not stopping, never giving up! Shake it off and take a step up! Trusting that God will give us what it takes with every bold step.

Remember the five simple rules to faith:
1. Free your heart from all and any unconfessed sin
2. Free your mind from worries that you cannot solve.
3. Live simply. Faith never complicates.
4. Think, act and react with generosity... that is also called love.
5. Expect God to work with you and for you in ways beyond your imagination!
Missions Offering for Bangladesh - a fantastic result.
Our missions offering for Bangladesh was just a few dollars short of $1700. This was a great result and thank you for giving from your hearts. How wonderful to be able to show such support to the Varleys as they return to the teeming population of Dhaka.

This month on the Avenue

Ladies Coffee breaks
Tuesdays 10 am on Aug. 6th, 20th and Sept.10th. Sept. 24th at 7.30pm

Mum's in Touch Prayer Groups...
Wednesday mornings 5:30am and Tuesdays 2:30pm. There is an invite to Mt.Albert Baptist on Thurs.15th August, from the Mum's in Touch International. See Anita for details.

Kid's Club Fridays...
3:30pm "Sunday School on Friday."

Youth Bible Study
Every second Sunday at 5pm, and the

Youth Event...
August 24th Waiwera Hot Pools. Cost $15 covers transport, entrance fees and a meal break ...
departs the church car park 9.30am

Prayer Team this month at...
Lynley's 4th, Polglases 18th, and Stott's 1st Sep at 6.30pm.

Travellers this month
Joyce Arimtage heads to Brisbane for some winter sun.
Collean Stott heads to Brisbane to attend two special functions, and
Glenn Stott is enrolled in a course at the Bible College on New Testament Theology and can be contacted on 021 1598-710

Alpha Course
is a 12 week course that offers the basics in Christian living and discipleship. Our current course is almost over. Glenn and Collean are keen to start another course in September. We have met for dinner Wednesday nights and had a great time getting to know one another. We have great food and a few laughs and have learned so much If you have a friend you would like to bring to an Alpha Course or attend yourself, please take a registration form from the Information table at the back of the church.

 Just to get you thinking...
Every Christmas for the past years we have had really great Christmas events. These have usually been musicals and carols nights. This year our board has a new idea that will we hope be a simple but effective way of touching lives. Christmas-on-the-Avenue will be a series of 2 special Christmas dinners. Cooked onsite in Bob's newly created mobile gas oven, it is our hope that we can present a Christmas Dinner for people who may be alone, recent arrivals to Auckland, or just can't quite afford a real Christmas Dinner. Many details are still in the planning stage but if you would, start to imagine turning our car park into a stylish restaurant with uniformed waiters and waitresses, some live music, amazing food, light entertainment, a Christmas atmosphere and genuine way of saying to people... our church cares about you!

Goes without saying that we will need much help to make this more than just a dinner but an outreach to people of all and any background. We are a church that anyone can come to and a church we hope people will always want to come to. You may have some really good ideas so please jot them down as soon as they come to mind and pass them to any Board member... Glenn Stott, Wayne Wessel, Lynley Gordon, Noel Simon or Bob Gordon.

Baptised and Blessed
in a special way this past month were Mike Aherne, Trevor Polglase and Jessica Stott. The water was cold but their hearts are not. We congratulate you on your commitment.

Mike and Jo Foley
want to say thanks to those who have been faithfully praying. Officially in remission but with several serious complications, Mike is spending time in hospital but has been out on day home visits. Their hearts are strong but their bodies weak so lets keep praying for these people.

Don't throw out...
sheets, blankets and pillows. There is a need to supply these to new arrivals to our country. If you have any thing you think could benefit, please phone your info in... it can be used.

Short term loan of a computer...
is required from September. The church will have a volunteer worker who will be loading many years of the pastor's notes and will create an archive. If anyone has a PC with Word and can loan this would you please let us know.

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      http://seabrook.orcon.net.nz
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