About love

by Rev Anneli Sinkko, M.Phil

In the Greek New Testament there are several words associated with ‘love,’ two of which are philia – friendship love; and agape – benevolence and wilful delight in the object of love. And this is the kind of love we, followers of Jesus, should show to each other. When Jesus said, ‘Love one another as I have loved you’, He used the word agape.

What can we say about love?

1. Love is a costly affair - for God, for Jesus, and for us.

Many of us are familiar with the verse from John 3:16: 'God so loved the world that He gave up His only begotten Son so that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.’  We may say then, that to give up Jesus, His son, cost God – it caused Him pain. When Jesus called from the cross, 'My God, my God, why have you forsaken me', both Jesus and His Father must have suffered extreme pain. We do not know whether God cries, but we do know that Jesus did.

When Jesus died on the cross His pain and love were so great that it ripped the curtain of the holy temple in Jerusalem apart - thus opening the way to the Holy of Holies and to the mercy seat, where the atonement was no longer available to the people by the blood of bulls and unblemished lambs but by the blood of Jesus which cleanses us all from unrighteousness.

For Jesus and His Father, to love was a costly affair.

We also suffer because we have loved. When my husband died it was more hurtful than I ever experienced in my life. Many of you have also paid the penalty for loving too much.

Uganda Short-term Mission Trip – November 2028

Immanuel Lutheran Church Buderim will be hosting its 9th mission trip to Uganda in November 2028, having sent a team every two years since 2008.

The team will be involved in a build project with Watoto (www.watoto.com) and assisting in medical, micro-business and educational projects for SOUP (Support of Uganda’s Poor) – a Lutheran group working in the Kamuli district with Lutheran congregations and schools.

If you are interested in joining the team or just finding out more information, email the team leaders, Steve and Lyndal Mayer. (mailto:lyndalstevemayer@gmail.com)

🎨 SAVE THE DATE! The 5th annual LCAQD Synod Art Competition is coming in 2027! 🎨

Get ready to celebrate creativity, faith and the gifts God has given us! Our fifth annual competition will feature seven exciting categories for artists of all ages, including our brand-new People’s Choice Award.

🌾 2027 Theme: “The harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into his harvest.” — Luke 10:2

✨ NEW for 2027 – The Synod Art Soirée!

To celebrate five wonderful years of artistic expression, we’re introducing a special gallery-style exhibition showcasing all competition entries!

📅 Friday 4 June 2027
📍 Living Faith Lutheran College, Murrumba Downs
🕕 6:00 pm – 8:30 pm (exact time tbc)

Join us as we celebrate the incredible creativity of our community and the stories of faith behind each artwork.

More details coming soon! Stay tuned — we can’t wait to share this special celebration with you! 🖌️🌟

Training & communication sessions

In continuation of the District hosting regular training and communication sessions we will be focussing on the Reportable Conduct Scheme in November.  

While the LCAQD already operates under a comprehensive safeguarding framework, including Safe Church Training and the Safety Management Online (SMO) system, this mandatory scheme introduces strict legal obligations for how our leaders must handle and investigate child safety concerns under Queensland’s Child Safe Organisations Act 2024. This training session is designed to equip you with the practical knowledge needed to navigate the scheme confidently.

Sessions will be held on the following dates (choose one):

Thursday 12 November - 5pm to 6:30pm

Microsoft Teams meeting
Join: https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/446741722393124?p=dav6TVDsyVuDftvZKY
Meeting ID: 446 741 722 393 124
Passcode: ud6t6vW6

Sat 14 November – 10am to 11:30am

Microsoft Teams meeting
Join: https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/458857982430349?p=UrcrYdNSISLRoisSE7
Meeting ID: 458 857 982 430 349
Passcode: GL9RS3zf

Tues 17 November – 5pm to 6:30pm

Microsoft Teams meeting
Join: https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/479015902537053?p=i8njxXU8uGXpdJjDMG
Meeting ID: 479 015 902 537 053
Passcode: We7Ew7Sq

Mon 23 November – 5pm to 6:30pm

Microsoft Teams meeting
Join: https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/415389629626297?p=tkPT4ERtRnUGZyKzo7
Meeting ID: 415 389 629 626 297
Passcode: HU64Wj9H

We look forward to seeing you at the session to share in this journey of learning and growth in service to the Gospel.

Seeking board members, Queensland Lutheran Giving

by Trevor Ruthenberg, District Executive Officer at Lutheran Church of Australia, Queensland District

Dear Saints,

I bring to your attention a need in our church, and I seek your commitment to pray into this need please.

Queensland Lutheran Giving (QLG) needs up to five more board members. QLG provides support to vulnerable people in times of need, but it also has other opportunities that need to be developed. 

QLG is a Public Ancillary Fund and is a registered Charity (Not-For-Profit (NFP)), Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR), and registered with the ACNC, with the LCAQD as the sole member (making it wholly owned by the LCAQD).  We have several trusts set up under QLG with the option of adding more as the need arises.

The current directors have a plan to assist every congregation of the LCAQD to be able to help people in need in their own community, speaking directly into the LCAQD new Strategic Charter. The current QLG board needs support to develop QLG’s capacity to achieve this goal.

To this end we are asking you, the members of the LCAQD, to:

1. Pray for the Directors of QLG and
2. Consider joining the QLG Board and/or tapping someone on the shoulder who you think fits the profile of person we are looking for, to become a Director.