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Author Archive: Jim Warland
Cursillo Sponsors ‘Tasmania Revealed’
FROM 21st TO 27th FEBRUARY 2019 – An interesting innovation for a Tour of Northern Tasmania (‘Tasmania Revealed’) has been sponsored by Tasmanian Anglican Cursillo. The tour also allows participants to meet local Cursillistas.
Anyone interested can download the Brochure here: Cursillo Tasmania 2019
You can also check it out on the Tasmanian Cursillo website at: http://www.cursillotasmania.org.au/
Australia takes Cursillo to Hong Kong
From 12th to 14th October Australian Anglican Cursillo sent a Team to Hong Kong at Archbishop Paul Kwong’s request to run the first Cursillo there. It was a mixed Cursill
o and in addition to the Team there were 14 locals who attended.
It was held at the Silesian Retreat on Cheung Chau Island which is about 6 km south west of Hong Kong and 45 minutes by slow ferry (or 20 mins by fast ferry). There are 3 members from Newcastle Diocese who were in the Team.
Please pray for the contiued development of Cursilloin Hong kong – the theme was “Fan into Flame the Gift of God in You”
Attached are some photos and a short report to read
Encourager Winter 2018 Newcastle Anglican Cursillo
Open Lines of Communication – For any relationship to prosper, the lines of communication must be clearly open. Although GOD had spoken directly and audibly with Moses and Joshua, His spoken word became rare during the 3 centuries of rule by the judges. By Eli’s time – during the 1100’s BC – no prophets were speaking God’s messages to Israel. Why? People were either refusing to listen to GOD; or allowed greed to get in the way of their relationship with Him.
Eli judged Israel for 40 years. The recognition and respect he earned in public did not extend to his handling of his private affairs. He may have been an excellent priest, but he was a poor parent. He responded weakly to situations rather than solving them. He had become more concerned with the symbols of his religion than with the God they represented.
Download Encourager here Encourager 100 Winter 2018.3
Listening and responding is vital in a relationship with God. Although GOD does not always use the sound of a human voice, He always speaks clearly through His Word. To receive His messages, we must be ready to listen and to act upon what He tells us. Like Samuel, we must be ready to say: “Here I am” when GOD calls us to action.
It would normally be expected that an audible message from GOD be given to the priest Eli and not to the child Samuel. Eli was older and more experienced, and he held the proper position. But GOD’s chain of command is based on faith, NOT age or position. In finding faithful followers, GOD may use unexpected channels – so we must be prepared for Him to work at any place, at any time, and through anyone He chooses.
When we witness to others, we need to tell them what CHRIST has done, not about our own abilities and accomplishments. People must be introduced to CHRIST, not to us. Serving people requires a sacrifice of time and personal desires. Being a follower of CHRIST means serving others, even when they do not measure up to our expectations. GOD has given us His Holy Spirit to proclaim His Good News to others.
Our Gospel passage for Pentecost 2 tells of the Disciples picking wheat on the Sabbath and JESUS healing a man’s hand on the Sabbath. The Pharisees, of course, were more concerned about the Sabbath laws being broken than with any positive outcomes. The Pharisees interpreted the actions of JESUS and His disciples – the picking of grain and of the eating of it as they walked through the fields – as harvesting; and so, they judged JESUS as a law-breaker. But JESUS and His disciples clearly were not harvesting the grain for personal gain; they were simply looking for something to eat.
The Pharisees were so focussed on the words of the rule that they missed its intent – and JESUS used the example of David and his men eating the Bread of the Presence to point out how ridiculous their accusations were. GOD created the Sabbath for our benefit. We are restored both physically and spiritually when we take time to rest and to focus on GOD. For the Pharisees, Sabbath rules had become more important than the Sabbath REST. and others.
Both David and JESUS understood that the intent of GOD’s law is to promote love for GOD and others. That makes love the highest rule, but it also moves us as Christians toward personal sacrifice, discipline and responsibility – which are scarce in today’s world. When confronted with rules other than those of God’s making, they need to pass 4 tests:
1. Does the rule serve God’s purpose?
2. Does the rule reveal God’s character?
3.Does the rule help people to come into GOD’s family or keep them out? 4. Does the rule have biblical foundations that can be supported in the context of all of Scripture?
GOOD RULES PASS ALL FOUR TESTS.
The Religious Leaders of the time were jealous of JESUS because of His popularity, His miracles, and the authority in His teaching and actions. This had caused them to idolise both their standing in the community and their personal gain instead of pointing people towards a relationship with GOD. It also probably caused them not to recognise JESUS as their Messiah. When JESUS exposed their attitudes, He became their enemy instead of their Messiah and they began looking for ways to kill Him – thus breaking God’s law by plotting murder.
The Pharisees, like Eli and his sons, had allowed their faith to become more about them than about JESUS. Standing in the community and power and wealth had become their gods rather than the true God. Our lives need to be transformed into becoming more like JESUS and love must be the representation of our relationship with Him. De Colores—Fr Steve
Encourager Autumn 2018
THE TRANSFIGURATION: A word that is sometimes mentioned concerning God’s nature is TRANSCENDENCE. When we speak of “transcendence”, we talk about that aspect of God’s nature and power that is wholly independent of – or beyond – the known material universe or physical laws; beyond our common human experience. It is a difficult concept to grasp, so we tend to concentrate on the physical aspects of our faith. Yet, as Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 4:5 “For we do not proclaim ourselves; we proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord and ourselves as your slaves for Jesus’ sake. 6 For it is the God who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness’, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ”. God gives us the gospel, the good news of Jesus Christ, so that we can begin to grasp something of what is beyond our human existence.
Download Encourager here: Encourager 99 Autumn 2018.3
We say that God moves in mysterious ways – beyond what we can think of or imagine.
The fiery chariot which carried Elijah to heaven; the burning bush in Exodus and the dazzling
brightness of Jesus on the mountain are biblical examples of the awesome nature of God.
We need not shy away from transcendent experiences like these, but should welcome them –
even seek them since, throughout history, God has spoken in and through them.
Almighty God steps into our lives to give us an awareness of His amazing power and authority.
In Mark’s description of the transfiguration of Jesus, we hear how some quite ordinary people
were completely amazed by the greatness of God. It’s a bit like a crash course in learning
things about God. If you’ve ever been on a crash course for anything you soon come to realize
that it’s no good going on any kind of course unless what is learnt is put into practice.
Jesus had gone up the mountain with Peter, James and John and was transfigured right there
in front of them. His disciples did not know what was happening, or why. Peter was so terrified
when Moses and Elijah appeared on the mountain that he started to say things he did not quite
understand. He was scared. The transfiguration was something of a crash course.
On the way down from the mountain, Jesus explained to the disciples that they were not to tell
anyone what they had seen; not until after He had risen from the dead. He was preparing them
for His own death – something they could not understand. It only began to make sense after
Jesus had died, risen and returned to heaven. For now, they were aware that there were things
they had to do, and so went on expecting Jesus to do great things. God does not do what we
expect. Peter, James and John were caught up in awe and wonder at His power and might – at
what we might call “transcendence”.
God is bigger, greater and more amazing than the limited pictures we have of Him and He
wants to communicate wonderful things to us.
The top of a mountain is an awesome site and offers an unforgettable vista. In the transfiguration
account it was a place of revelation of God to human beings. The transfiguration shows us
the splendour of heaven. We can only imagine what such an amazing encounter would have
been like. Thankfully, we are the beneficiaries of this event – we have been called into a relationship
with Jesus, the beloved Son of God. By listening to His word, and applying it to our
lives, we are transformed. May our lives be transfigured by God this Lent.
Revd Steve niland
Cursillo in Church Growth
There is a role for Cursillo in Church Growth: A proposal was tabled at Secretariat from Bruce and Helen Fraser suggesting that Cursillistas from the Diocese donate to a fund to sponsor the attendance of interested Ordinands at Cursillo weekends.
We are all no doubt conscious that trainees can be under much pressure, and how incredible it would be for them not to have one more payment to make.
Perhaps many of you do give additionally to your annual $20 contribution; but many more might be prepared to take on a commitment to give an additional sum to be set aside for such Apostolic Action. The contribution might even be sent to thank God for the life of a past stalwart of Cursillo, a family member or a friend.
This would encourage some of our newer Clergy to understand the benefits of Cursillo in their Parish. It was felt that this, initiative would create greater support from our clergy to the benefit of the Cursillo Movement, for Cursillo Weekends, for our Parishes and our Diocesan family.
Bishop Peter has sanctioned and embraced the idea with his blessings.
A motion was passed re the establishment of this fund and that all Fourth Day Communities should be encouraged to support it.
Donations of any amount would be gratefully accepted :
Cheques should be made out to: Newcastle Anglican Cursillo and sent to PO Box 174, Waratah, 2298; or direct deposit BSB 032501 a/c 130926; reference Ordinand Sponsorship donation.
In addition could our new treasurer Colleen Read be e-mailed and notified of the deposit at colleen.read@bigpond.com
Thanks – De Colores and Ultreya
Lyn Carter and Bill Nicolle
Diocesan Co Lay Directors
Men’s Weekend 2018
2018 Men’s Weekend at Tahlee which was sponsored by Cursillo. Good golf – Great talks – & witness Speakers.
It was open to all men whether affiliated with the Church or not. Our main speaker Archdeacon Arthur Copeman gave a very positive impetus to our theme Ecclesiastes: Living in the Real World. The supporting speakers were :
- Rob Marsh (witness speaker) Tea Gardens
- Rev Peter Adkins (evangelist)
- Graham Johnstone (counsellor)
- David Deane (apologist)
Check out photos from the weekend (courtesy of Grant Killen) at:
http://newcastleanglican.org.au/anglican-mens-weekend/
If you missed this year’s event – keep an eye out for next year.
2018 Apostolic Action Diary
Our 2018 Apostolic Action Diary can be downloaded and either printed in book form by selecting the 1st link below
OR downloaded in Digital read Format – 2nd link below – (for use direct from computer, iPad, iPhone or Android):
1st Link – DOWNLOAD BOOK FORMAT: Apostolic Action diary 2018 Print Format
If you have a double-sided sheet printer – select “Flip on Short Edge” to print a booklet
2nd Link – DOWNLOAD DIGITAL READ FORMAT: Apostolic Action Diary 2018 Read
Use the Diary to pray your way through 2018.
Blessings from Newcastle Secretariat.
Special Thanks to Dorothy Harman for her patient work in editing the Diary.