Parramatters - 10th March 2023

Hi Parramatta Salvos, 

This Sunday we continue our new sermon series - "David: the making of". We'll be focusing on David's early life in the book of 1 Samuel. We're looking forward to hearing Sarah preach this week about "approach". 

Sadly, this Sunday we say "goodbye for now" to Jayne. We hope you can join us in either our 9:30am service or 11am service as we farewell and pray for Jayne, and then for lunch following the services.

We are excited to see you and gather in worship together this week!

Kylie & Sarah
(Corps Officer Team)

Parra YAYA
Our next Youth & Young Adults social night for 2023 from 7pm-9pm is on Friday 17 March and is a "Murder Mystery" night. Everyone from yr 6 and above is welcome to join!

Corps Retreat 2023
We will be joining together at the Tops Conference Centre from Friday night 30 June to Sunday 2 July under the leadership of Lt. Cols. David and Sandra Godkin. All are welcome to attend as full delegates or day delegates (prices listed in registration link below).

We don't want the cost to be a barrier for anyone, so please let us know if you would like to receive sponsorship. To make the camp more affordable for families, under 18s will be able to attend at a discounted rate (50% less for full delegates).

We would also ask that if you are able, you consider giving a little extra to sponsor another delegate.

The weekend will be a mix of sessions (worship, prayer, teaching), fun activities (theme night, board games, walks and coffee) and time to hang out and relax. 

We need registrations ASAP, so please follow this link to register: https://forms.office.com/r/xiTWnxV99n
Please note that no payment is required upon registrations - we just really need to know numbers! Also, paper registrations forms are now available in the foyer. Please place them in the 'letterbox' in the foyer. 

Flourish
Our first Flourish for 2023 is this Saturday! We'll be enjoying a "Balcony Brunch" from 10am to 12pm. Cost is $15, and all women are welcome to join. We have a few additional places left, so if you would like to attend you will need to contact Jayne by close of business today.

Jayne's Farewell Lunch
As previously stated, we will be farewelling Jayne in our 9:30am and 11am services this Sunday March 12. We will be holding a special 'pot luck' lunch following our services to celebrate Jayne. If you would like to attend, please bring a plate of food to share with everyone for lunch. Drinks will be provided. 

Ladies Fellowship
This Wednesday we will be joining for a special morning with Andre Charlton MP, Member for Parramatta. This week we would like to extend the invitation for anyone to come along and join with our Ladies Fellowship members for this event!

Self Denial Appeal 
We launched our self denial appeal for 2023 in recent weeks, and have challenged everyone to consider their contribution to our bold goal of $55,000 this year. We ask you to pray about your contribution, and please pick up your envelope from the foyer before our Altar Service on Sunday 26 March. 

New Concierge Position and Opening Hours!
We are very excited to let you know, that this week Ajies (or AJ as he is known to many) started in our Concierge Position! AJ has been volunteering with us for more than 6 months, so may be familiar to you. AJ will be working from Monday to Friday from 9am-4pm each day. Part of AJ's role is to answer the phone and intercom, do some admin and building set up, but mostly it's to make people welcome in our building! AJ is already doing a fantastic job, and we look forward to introducing AJ to you all in the coming weeks. 

From Monday 6 March, our building will be open every day of the week from 9:30am-1pm. We are really excited that we now have the capacity to do this, and look forward to the community connections that will be made as a result. Check out our new building hours poster below for more information. 

Faith Stories
Please read and support this project from Jonathon Hide.
"For a while now I have had an idea to create a book or some sort of medium that will help communicate stories of peoples faith. I believe that during these hard times with wars, conflicts and severe negativity we need to share our stories of faith and how it has positively affected us.

If you feel led, I would like some assistance with putting this idea together. What I will require is a story from yourself or from someone else you know about your story of faith.

It could be anything to do with your faith, how it was tested and its result. How it has helped share the love of God. Or how it has produced an outcome that was totally unexpected and a true blessing.

If it could please sent to me in a email that can be as long as you wish (I may edit it down depending on the way I present it). Depending on the replies I may not only make it a book but we’ll see how we go."

Please send your stories to: faithstoriesjh@gmail.com

Brass Band in Maitland
Our Band and many other corps members travelled to Maitland for the 'Harvest Festival' last weekend. Thank you to David and the band for their ministry throughout the weekend! Here is an except from a report written about the weekend by Ian & Jan Roberts: 

Brass band music was appreciated and shared as Maitland City Corps Band and Parramatta Corps Band individually and together used their gifts to glorify God through the rich messages and variety of the music. The musicians shared their musical gifts individually and as members of a team, to focus listeners’ attention on God who loves, gives and saves.

It was Parramatta’s hope to be a source of blessing musically to the Maitland Harvest weekend, However, it was the music harvested by both Maitland and Parramatta Bands from composers from so many generations that really blessed us – names such as Marshall, Phillips, Himes, Blyth, Ballantine, Redhead, Gregson and Creamer indicate the richness of the musical harvest that was ours.

To the extent that we were able to assist our Maitland friends in this celebration, this was our privilege and blessing.

Doug Hutchinson - Promoted to Glory
It is with sadness that we inform you of the Promotion to Glory of our friend, Doug Hutchinson. 

Doug will be deeply missed by his family, and his many friends at Parramatta Corps. 

A funeral service to celebrate and remember Doug will be held at Pinegrove Memorial Park today, Friday 10 March at 12:30pm. All are welcome to join for the service led by Mj. Ian Henry. 

Please pray for Doug's family, and those closest to him at this hard time. 

Jayne
We ask that you continue to uplift Jayne in prayer in the coming days as she prepares to head home, before beginning her new adventure in London. 

Jayne, be assured of our prayers and support as you begin this new adventure!

We would like to share this poem written by Mj. Margaret Sanz, inspired by Jayne.

JAYNE

A few years ago
A girl from Switzerland came
We were glad to welcome her arrival
And get to know this Jayne.
 
She seemed to settle easily
As she enrolled to study
And at the Corps her sweet presence
Brought pleasure unto many.
 
Over the years as study progressed
She encouraged all around
Both young and old found joy
As her Christian life did abound.
 
We’re glad that Jayne came here to share
Encouraging the youth so fair
The time they had together each week
Bringing growth from their Lord to seek.
 
We wish her well as she departs
And pray that God will bless her
At home and then throughout her future
In places and challenges for Him.
 

Rosters

Sunday Cafe
12/03/23 - Maryanne C & Montana SB

Sunday Welcomes
12/03/23 - 9:30am Maryanne C, 11am Ray H

Salvos Connect
13/03/23 - Cafe: Will & Kerry, Vouchers: Jan R
15/03/23 - Cafe: Will & Kerry
17/03/23 - Cafe: Marg P, Vouchers: Montana

Car Park
10/03/23 - Eels v Sharks - 4:30 - 6:00pm - John A, Loretta C