Parramatters - 12th November 2021

Hi everyone!

This week is our final week of our series The Good Work - focusing on the book of Nehemiah. If you haven't already, check out the resource booklet below and spend some time reading the book of Nehemiah in the coming days. We hope you feel encouraged to start or continue the good work God is calling you to! 

CHURCH UPDATE - DECEMBER 
Following the recent amendments to the NSW Government Roadmap for re-opening we have received some additional advice from The Salvation Army. As such we are pleased to advise that we are still able to follow our plans and join together in person for worship on 28^th November, 9.30am for our Kids Celebration.

This will be a great morning of celebrating the younger members of our community where we will hear from them and also be part of the Junior Soldier Renewal Day. Everyone is welcome to attend but we ask that you register for this service using the following link.

You will recall that from the 5^th December our plan throughout Advent had been to have two services again, 9.30am and 11am. However, with the changing of the government guidelines and the lifting of some restrictions now not happening until the 15^th December (or 95% fully vaccinated) we have made the decision to only have one service, 9.30am, during December and January.

Please note that this is not a final decision on how we will be moving forward with worship times for 2022, but rather a more practical way for us to gather with current limitations on the number of musicians we are permitted to have.

We are pleased that all fully vaccinated people will be able to sing, wearing masks, and that we will also be able to share in tea and coffee following the services. There will be no need to register your attendance in December.

Everyone is welcome to attend and we would encourage you to invite your friends and family to join with us as we celebrate the birth of Jesus. 

Bless you each as you continue to love and serve,

Kylie & Sarah
(Corps Officer Team)

Prayer Meeting
We had such a fantastic time meeting together online for prayer each Wednesday night over the past few months. Our prayer meetings will take a break from now until the new year, when we hope to launch a new prayer ministry as part of our Local Mission Plan. If you attended the prayer meetings, and would like to continue gathering in this way, we invite you to fill in this short survey to help us plan for 2022. 

Kids Ministry Sunday
We are excited to let you know the details of our Kids Ministry Sunday! We will be able to gather in person on Sunday 28 November at 9:30am to celebrate our children at Parramatta Salvos and support our Jr Soldiers as they renew their promises. 

As some restrictions will still be in place on this date, registrations are essential, and everyone must wear a mask and adhere to social distancing requirements. If you would like to join us in person on Sunday 28 November, please register here:
https://parramattasalvos.churchcenter.com/unproxy/registrations/events/1039567

Christmas Cheer
We are very excited to invite you to participate in our Christmas Cheer project in a variety of different ways. 
1. You can volunteer to help distribute toys/vouchers on our distribution days. We need volunteers on 20, 21 & 22 December from 9:30am-2:30pm. Lunch and morning tea will be provided to volunteers on these days. 
2. You can join us for our set up and toy unwrapping/sorting evening on Thursday 16 December at 7pm. A light supper will be provided. 
3. You can contribute to our 'Gift Card Offering' at our 'Carols by [electronic] Candlelight' event on Sunday 12 December at 6pm. Purchase one (or more) gift cards suitable for teenagers and bring them along on the night.

If you are interested in volunteering for items 1 or 2, please email Sarah at sarah.walker@salvationarmy.org.au with your availability. 

Christmas Calendar
As our December calendar begins to be filled, we invite you to check it out and save dates in your diary. The corps calendar can be found here: https://www.salvationarmy.org.au/parramatta/calendar/

This is a live calendar and will be updated regularly!

Christmas Appeal Collection
We have been given the opportunity to collect this year at Carlingford Court for our Christmas Appeal. Rosters will be out from the 28th of November, and we are currently seeking a coordinator for this static location from 11-17 December. We are in need of a volunteer who is willing to set up (10am) and pack up (4pm) each day. If you are able to help in this way, please contact Sarah at sarah.walker@salvationarmy.org.au

National Creative Arts Camp
The decision has been made to postpone the National Creative Arts Camp, due to be held in NSW in January 2022. The Worship Arts team will look for alternative ways to connect our creative people over the coming year, with a view to the National Creative Arts camp being held in January 2023.

Furlough
Lt. Sarah will be on furlough from 18-27 November. If you need anything during this time, it is best to get in contact with the Office or with Mj. Kylie. 

Len's Dolls
A message from Len Cross: I am considering giving away part of my Procelene doll collection that consists of approx. 12 dolls I have accumulated over the years. They are hand made and cost quite a bit of money to make in the day. Actually they were made by my daughter Sharlene and she is making room for other things and she wants them to go to a good home.

Click below to view the dolls and get in contact with Len if you are interested: leonardcecil1@gmail.com

Ben & Elise
Elise Paull and Benjamin Eden (who is now living in Canberra) would like to share the exciting news of their recent engagement!

Congratulations from everyone at Parramatta Salvos, Elise and Ben! We are so very happy for you both.

Commissioning 2021
Once again, Commissioning in Australia will be online in 2021 as our cadets are dispersed around the country and unable to gather in one location. Nevertheless, these are significant events and we will mark them in both sacred and joyous ways.

You are invited to participate in the online premiere of Commissioning on Saturday 4 December at 7pm (AEDT) where you will be able to view the Ordination, Commissioning and Sending Out of the Messengerss. A link will be provided shortly.

Hand Sanitiser
We have been gifted a very large quantity of hand sanitiser from a local business. We have been giving it away to local schools and other community groups, however we have plenty to spare. If you would like a box for your work place or community group, please contact the office at parramatta@salvationarmy.org.au 

Youth
Let's pray for our youth who are leading our Sunday morning service next Sunday. We also continue to remember our HSC students - Adam, Zoe, Natasha and Sebastian - as they began exams this week.

Kids
We invite you to pray for our children at Parramatta Salvos as they also prepare to lead us in worship in the coming weeks!