Lent and then Easter… Advent and then Christmas… Time away and then coming home… Time in the office and then time at home… Time at home and then time at church…

We spend lots of time preparing for things and then (hopefully) getting to enjoy the fruits of that preparation.

Right now we are busy preparing or the Lay Workers Conference coming up in September.  See the story further on in this e-news.  I’m excited!  The team in the Church Worker Support Department hope that you will be able to join us for what is shaping up to be an exciting, stimulating, and spiritually nourishing time.

The Lay Workers Conference will be another in a series of firsts for me!  This time last year I had never been to a Synod – now I’ve been to 4!  The range of issues that has flowed past my desktop (wherever that has been) is staggering.  I’ve had the wonderful privilege of speaking to and spending time with some wonderful people, in great times and in some challenging times.

Through all of this I have been acutely aware that God is with me.  How reassuring to know that He will always be with me.   With you too…  As we prepare for Easter my mind turns to the suffering Jesus endured for me.  It brings me to tears sometimes – that He would do this for me.  And you too…  I didn’t give anything up for Lent this year, I thought about giving up Facebook but just couldn’t do it!  I have however made a conscious effort to spend more time dwelling in The Word of God.  It’s hardly a sacrifice though, as the deeper I dig the more rewarding it becomes.

I pray that you have space to spend time sitting with God in the Lenten period and that you are fully prepared to celebrate the joy of the Good News on Easter Sunday.

May the peace of the Lord be with you always,
Chris

Expectations
We often live under the weight of expectations from others and the world around us.  Sometimes the weightiest ones are those we place on ourselves.

I know this because there was a ‘super woman’ phase of my ministry life when I (and others) thought I could do anything. It turns out I was wrong. You can’t do everything or be everything that others want you to be.

I used to be a people pleaser. However, the more you care about what people think of you, the more you try to live the way others want you to live. The truth is that you can’t live according to other people’s expectations. If you try to you will always end up disappointing them and yourself.

Your expectations and the expectations of others shape your reality. They can be good and motivating. They can change your life for the better. But they can also be unrealistic, and sometimes they can crush you. Be aware of the expectations that you are living under as the wrong ones make life unnecessarily difficult.

Some Tips For Dealing With Expectations

1. Reflect the expectations you try to live up to and work out which ones are valid and which ones are unrealistic.
2. Get out your Job Description (you know you put it somewhere) and rediscover what you are really meant to be doing. This actually gives you the power and release of knowing what to say yes to and what to say no to.
3. Keep the main thing the main thing.
4. Work out what expectations come from the world, others and yourself versus what God is calling you to be and to do.
5. Don’t live to please people, live to please God.
6. Give the weight any expectations, good and bad, to Jesus. He came and died to set us free. He promises “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28
Or as the Message puts it…
“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”

Written by Verena

“God did not make a mistake when He chose you to bear Christ's name at this hinge of history. He knew exactly whom He wanted to carry the light of the gospel in the twenty-first century. He wanted you.” ― David Shibley

New
Calder Sarah – Luminate Coordinator, Lutheran Youth of Queensland
Evans Mike – Cross Cultural Ministry Youth Worker, Cairns Trinity Congregation, Qld
Schilling Rachel – Resource Curator & Congregational Mentor, LCA Grow Ministries

Interns
Luminate – Lutheran Youth Queensland
Alcock Peter
Altmann Harry
Carrier Josh
Noll Hannah
Stock Kaitlyn
Volejnikova Anna
Wain Coriena

Accreditations
Calder Sarah – Luminate Coordinator, Lutheran Youth of Queensland
Schilling Rachel – Resource Curator & Congregational Mentor, LCA Grow Ministries
Wallis Vickie – Voluntary Pastoral Carer, Murrumba Downs Living Faith Congregation, Qld

Registrations Opening Soon!!

4th to 7th September 2017

Maroochy Waterfront Camp & Conference Centre, David Low Way, Diddilibah Qld

Cost will be $460 all inclusive twin share (not including travel)

SafeWork SA has developed a series of information sheets for a number of industries.

They provide practical tips and useful information about safe working conditions and risk factors, as well as links to more details on their website.

The information sheets (see links below) can also be printed for distribution in the workplace.

• Burns and scalds in kitchens
• Burns and scalds are serious risks in the hospitality and tourism industry, and has accounted for the most frequently reported serious injury in this sector in the past three years.

Everyone in the industry should know how to prevent burns and how to administer first aid.

View the Burns and scalds in kitchens information sheet.

For tips and advice on work health and safety, SafeWork SA offers a free workplace advisory service for workplaces in South Australia.

An experienced WHS advisor can visit your workplace to help you to identify hazards and risks to put in place practical safety systems that will suit your specific circumstances.

Our advisors have no inspector powers at all under the WHS Act so you can feel comfortable inviting them in to help.

To request a visit go to safework.sa.gov.au/freeadvice or call 1300 365 255

LPNI has an annual scholarship program that makes funds available to current or prospective Parish Nurses to enable them to participate in one of its annual international study tours.  Five Australians have registered to attend an upcoming study tour to England and there are still three places available.

Click here for: Tour Information & Registration Form

Grants of US$250 each to enable up to four Parish Nurses to attend national conferences or seminars are also available.

Further information is available from Robert Wiebusch

We all have a ministry story of hope to share and more often than not they come from the ashes of hard lessons learned. Like to share your Lay Ministry story? Just contact us!

We can help with:

• ministry plans
• setting up prayer/support teams
• training options
• developing a ministry team
• employment agreements
• a listening ear