Parramatters - 4th March 2022

Hi Parramatta Salvos, 
 
We hope that you have had a good week! Last Sunday, we launched our new series 'Keep the Change - Cultivating the Generous Life'. We hope you all got the chance to pick up your planned giving renewal letter and pledge card, or received it in the mail this week.

If you are yet to receive these items, please take an unaddressed envelope from the foyer this week. 

We would invite you to pray and seek God on the amount you would like to pledge in our upcoming planned giving renewal. The opportunity will be given in our meetings next Sunday 13 March to renew your commitment to generous giving at Parramatta Corps. 

This week during Sunday worship, we explore what it means to be generous in the church - uncovering biblical lessons of giving. We can't wait to see you and share with you this weekend!

Kylie & Sarah
(Corps Officer Team)

NCLS 2021/2022
Thanks to all who participated in the National Church Life Survey last week. If you are still wanting to participate, please complete the survey below.

You can do this in two ways, either by clicking the link below then completing the Attender Survey using the code SA121500
https://attendersurvey.ncls.org.au/

If you took home a paper copy last week, please return the completed copy this Sunday.

Thank you for your willingness to be part of this important research!

Youth & YA Supper
Our first Youth & YA Supper for the year will be at the West's house on Sunday 13 March from 5pm-7pm. All youth and young adults are welcome to come along. Bring a soft drink to share and a gold coin donation for supper. You can pack your swimmers this time too!

Community Event
Save the date for our next Community Event at Parramatta Salvos! On Saturday 19 March we will be meeting at Lake Parramatta at 1pm for a picnic. BYO chair or picnic rug and food/drinks. This event is for EVERYONE at Parramatta Salvos - please come along and connect with one another.

Officer's Fellowship
Lt. Sarah and Mj. Kylie will be away at Officer's Fellowship this coming week. Sarah and Kylie will be out of the office from Monday-Thursday, however, all staff will be present and available for support if needed. We ask that you pray for the officers of the NSW/ACT Division this week as they gather to be encouraged, to refocus and to spend some time in retreat this week. We also invite you to pray for Anthony who is offering tech support for the officers at fellowship this week as well. 

Band Trip to Orange 
Our brass band will be making their way to Orange on the weekend of 26/27 March. Please pray for this great opportunity for ministry for our band, and for the people of Orange. Due to the absence of the band and family members on this weekend, there will be no 11am service on this date - Sunday 27 March. Please plan instead to join us for our 9:30am service in person or online. 

SAES Trainiing
There is training available for people interested in joining the Salvation Army Emergency Services (SAES) volunteer team or for current members wanting to refresh or renew their volunteer accreditation. This will take place on Saturday 12 March 9:30am-3:30pm at Rouse Hill Corps. Click here to for more information and to register.

Youth & YA Worship Night 
Last Sunday night almost 90 people gathered for worship and supper at Parramatta Salvos. It was a great evening of worship and teaching from our guest Mj. Bill Geracia. Thanks to Jayne and the team for their work in bringing many young people across Sydney together!

Craft Group
We are excited to let you know about a new weekday group starting at Parramatta Salvos! We will be holding a weekly craft group on Fridays from 10am-1pm in our multipurpose room (next to the kitchen). This group will begin on Friday 25 March. Anyone is welcome to drop by and share skills/learn new crafts. BYO craft materials, tea and coffee will be provided. Denise Thomas will be coordinating this group and is available to answer any questions. 

Self Denial Appeal 2022
The Self Denial Appeal started in 1886 when General William Booth called Salvationists to give sacrificially and to deny themselves so that they could offer God’s love to a hurting world.

The theme for the Self Denial Appeal 2022 is ‘The Ripple Effect’. It reminds us that small actions taken in Christ’s name can become big, life-transforming outcomes for the Kingdom of God. Over the coming weeks, we will see how God uses Salvation Army corps and programs to have a ripple effect through communities for his glory.

We encourage you to join with Salvationists across the country in read through the devotional below that will help prepare our hearts and minds for giving. 

Giving letters and envelopes will be available on March 20 for collection.

Ukraine
As the conflict in Ukraine continues and the violence intensifies, hundreds and thousands of people – mostly women and children – have fled into neighbouring countries for safety.

The Salvation Army in Eastern Europe is assisting some of the more than 160,000 people who the UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees) estimates have escaped into countries including Poland, Romania, Moldova, and Hungary. The number of those fleeing continues to rise, with the UN warning the number could grow to five million or even more, if fighting escalates. The situation has been described as a humanitarian catastrophe.

If you would like to support The Salvation Army services that are responding to the conflict in Ukraine, you can do so by visiting The Salvation Army World Service Office by clicking this link.

Flood Appeal 
As damaging weather ravages the east coast of Australia and thousands of Aussies have become displaced from their homes, we join together in prayerful support for all who are impacted. We also have the opportunity to help in practical ways through The Salvation Army Australia's appeal for fund relief efforts in flood-affected areas.

The Salvation Army 2022 Flood Appeal is aiming to raise $10 million which will directly support the estimated 18,000 homes expected to be impacted during these unprecedented floods. The Salvation Army is releasing $1 million immediately from our Red Shield Appeal funds in support of communities along the east coast of Australia.

If you would like to give, please click on this link. 

Connect Site
07/03/22 - Keith Humbley/Mildred
09/03/22 - Help needed
11/03/22 - Ann Lingard

Car Park
05/03/22 - WSW v Sydney FC - 6:15pm - Martin Bust
12/03/22 - Tigers v Storm - 6:30pm - David & Annette Duncan
13/03/22 - Eels v Titans - 2:30pm - John Acocks & Loretta Carger

Coffee (Cafe)
27/02/22 - Caitlyn Young & Maryanne Cleary

Morning Tea
06/03/22 - Loretta Carger

Welcomes
06/03/22 - 9:30am: Montana Sandercock-Brown & Barbara Browning
06/03/22 - 11am: Ray Haule