| | News from Barney’s February 2019 | | |
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| From Andy and Liz...So once you enter into February, it is probably too late to be wishing people a Happy New Year, but at Barney’s the beginning of Feb marks the start of our new year as a community as we restart our regular Sunday gatherings and missional communities kick off, so Happy New Year! We hope you enjoyed some rest and restoration over the summer period, and were able to spend time listening to God and reflecting on the coming year whilst we met in more informal ways throughout January. Taking the time to abide in Christ and allow God to replenish us is an important precursor to launching into all the kingdom work he has for us to do this year as we seek to work from a place of rest, rather than the other way around. This month in our Sunday gatherings we will be hearing from a few different people about what God was getting their attention with over the summer, as we have been resting and reflecting ready for the year ahead. We encourage you to be asking one another the same question over coffee when you have the opportunity. Hearing what God has been saying to our brothers and sisters often encourages and inspires us, as well as building community, so let’s take time to hear each other’s stories. Also, don’t forget that if you miss any of the talks on a Sunday morning, you can download them from our website at www.tasbarneys.org/talks. Here’s to a fruitful, vision-filled and Spirit-led 2019! “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.” (John 15:1-4). | |
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| Praying for the Barney’s Youth Missional Community | |
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2018
was a huge year for Barney’s Youth. Camps, bushwalks, people learning about God
and asking awesome questions, combined youth events, and even representing
Barney’s at the Brooks High School Mental Health Day. We watched films, played
messy games, cooked pizza, and generally got messy. We even hosted a clothes
swap that resulted in 9 bags of clothes being donated to City Mission shops!
2019
is going to look very different for Barney’s Youth. Due to many circumstances,
the team are no longer able to offer Youth as a regular event on Friday
evenings. As team leader, I (Emily) am still very passionate about connecting with the young people in our community, and will be seeking to do this in new, simpler and more lightweight ways into the new year. I would like to say a huge thank you to Simon, Gabi, Harvey, Tom and Chay who all gave up their time, resources, and energy to bring the love and light of Jesus into the lives of our youth. | | |
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| | I pray a huge blessing for those who are being called onto other things by God. Please also pray:
- for wisdom for the remaining team as they figure out how they can continue to connect with young people in our community in 2019.
- For protection over the regular Barney’s Youth members as they head back into school.
- For the team members who are being called by God into other areas of ministry.
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| | News…Summer of RestMany thanks to all those who helped with and went along to our informal Sunday gatherings throughout January. Our season of rest culminated in a camping trip to Myrtle Park over Australia Day weekend, where we once again ran a bush dance for all those camping. It was a lot of fun, with lots of children joining in! Here are a few photos for you to enjoy!!
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| | From our Missionary Partner heading to Southeast Asia
As a church community, we at Barney’s are supporting a missionary heading this year to serve in South East Asia. For security reasons, we will call this partner ‘Clare’ (not her real name) and will not be using her photo in our newsletters. If you would like to receive updates directly from her, please let Liz know by emailing liz@tasbarneys.org As she was reflecting on the new year, Clare wrote a poem, and she wanted to share it with all of us: Old Twenty-eighteen Strange to call it old. It still lies, shimmering, in my hands – full of lessons, hopes and fears, Conflict & Peace, both outside and in, but Rest prevailing, and Waiting, like chrysalis, in stasis. Yes, some striving, chafing at the bit – Yes, sad farewells. But Trust and Courage come from those: light springing from shadows. Collaborating, co-creating, quiet metamorphosis: no longer caterpillar, show me my wings… | | |
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| | New twenty-nineteen Strange because unknown. It stretches out, not shimmering future, rather, myriad “nows” of lessons (learning doesn’t stop for chrysalis escapees – or me!) May light keep springing from shadows, Trust and Courage multiply as Confidence is challenged in the new land then grows. May I mature in hope & humility, flexibility & forgiveness, peacemaking, riding motorbikes and flying! Clare has now reached her financial support goal, and will be leaving Australia on 11th February. She is feeling excited but daunted by all there is to do before her departure.
Please rejoice with Clare: - for quality time with friends and family over the summer - for provision of visas, flights and 100% of her support goals And be praying with her for: - prioritising wisely in the last few weeks - family as she says goodbye - the team she’s going to; that they will adapt to each other well. | | |
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| | | Coming up…Christoph Ochs Ordination service Saturday 2nd March St David’s Cathedral, Hobart
As you may know from previous newsletters, this year, Christoph is taking the step of becoming ordained in the Anglican Church (if you want to know more about why he would do such a crazy thing, read what he wrote about it in our November 2018 newsletter here). The service of ordination will take place on Saturday 2nd March at 10am at St David’s Cathedral in Hobart. The service will include testimonies, a children’s segment, worship, preaching and Holy Communion and will be followed by a BBQ lunch on the cathedral lawns. If you are able, please do go along and support Christoph and his family as he takes this step. | | |
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| | | Introduction to Video Production Saturday 23rd March St John’s, Launceston
In this age of techno-centrism, it is important that the church continues to adopt methods of communicating the gospel of Jesus in ways that connect with people. With this in mind, the Anglican Diocese in Tasmania have partnered with BCA and Ridley College to provide an introductory training event on video production, led by Wayne Chan, Digital Content Producer at Ridley College. Video production equipment has been purchased by the Diocese and will be made available to church members who have undertaken the training. If you are interested in developing skills in this area that may serve the church in the future, please check out further details here. | | |
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