At our AGM on the 6^th April we had a great discussion around finances, staff and also the role all of us can play in encouraging children and young people in their growth in Christ.

In this notices you will see a summary of our budget and finances to date. I thought I would supplement this information by reminding us of the decisions we made last year regarding staffing.

In the light of Glen finishing with us last year, we spent over 3 months as a church praying and discussing the way God was shaping us for the future. This took place in life groups, focus groups, leadership community and through individual responses. As a result we made the decision not to fill Glen’s position as it stood but to reshape our leadership model. The conclusion we came to was that instead of replacing Glen we would put on 2 more part time staff (a part time office secretary and a part time youth worker). 

This would allow us to move the Resource Pastor position to that of Executive Minister (giving the role a more strategic, systems, organisational dimension) and to have Tim Robinson focus on the discipleship life of the church (particularly through life groups and IFFF’s). The 3^rd member of the Senior Leadership team would focus on the gathered life of our church (corporate worship, prayer, spirituality, care etc.). In this way the 3 dimensions of LUC – the institutional; scattered, organic discipleship; and the gathered, would be further enhanced.                                            

Our model will look something like:

Evangelism-Discipleship Minister – Tim R –                                           Associate Minister  

Congregational Life Minister (across all campuses)                               Snr Minister

Executive Minister/Manager                                                               

Other Staff

Children and Families Pastor (17 hrs per week)                                      current

Springwood Music and Creative Arts Coordinator (15 hrs per week)      current

Secretary/admin support (24 hrs per week)                                             new

Youth/young adult (16 hrs per week)                                                        new

Spiritual Director, Calvary Christian College

(fulltime placement – funded by the College)                                           current

Recovery Pastor (18 hrs per week – funded through couns centre)       current

Pitstop (15 hrs per week – government funded)                                      current

Note: this model is approximately $15,600 cheaper per year than the staffing model we were using until Glen finished (which included 3 Ministerial placements and a fulltime Resource Pastor).  

A few years ago I did some research on staffing ratios in churches (within the Uniting Church and beyond) and discovered that for a church our size and complexity you would expect to be funding the equivalent of about 4.5 to 5 fulltime staff. We are currently funding (through tithes and offerings) the equivalent of 3.8 fulltime staff and with the restructure would be funding the equivalent of 4.8 fulltime staff (although the cost financially is approximately the equivalent of 4.1 fulltime stipends as the Pastors, Youth worker and Office secretary receive less than the stipend for an Ordained Minister).

It is also worth noting that the first priority is to find a new Senior Minister. The above model may change a little depending on the gifting this person brings.

It is also vital to remember that the role of Ministry staff is not to “do the work of ministry” but to be the connection, resourcing, support people for the “work of ministry” God is doing through every one of us.

Please pray for the Joint Nominating Committee as they look for our new Senior Minister. Also please seek God regarding your tithes and offerings. We, the church, function only because of God’s grace working through each of our faithfulness.

Yours in Christ

Graham Keech

A clear call

 Over the last 2 weekends I had the privilege of engaging in 2 conferences focussed on mission and evangelism. The first was the “Fire” conference which we co-sponsored with Springwood Church of Christ – featuring Paul Gibbs and Lindsay and Myk McKenzie. The second was the Uniting Church “A Clear Call” conference in Adelaide – featuring John and Olive Drane who are very involved with the “fresh expressions” movement in the Church of England, UK.

There were 3 things that struck me out of these weekends:

1. Encouragement. I was greatly encouraged regarding the journey we have been on in shaping church around incarnational mission and relational discipleship.

Incarnational Mission = instead of trying to get people to join us we go and serve and witness where people are at. Examples through LUC are: people participating in building God’s kingdom in their workplaces; people caring for neighbours or people they meet at the gym or on the bus or …; providing breakfast at the local schools; going out on street vans and serving homeless where they hang out etc.

Relational Discipleship = recognising that discipleship requires “life on life”: that is, discipleship involves engagement in relationships that are genuinely honest and encouraging. Such relationships include reflecting together on the bible and what God is saying to us personally, being honest about how we are or aren’t participating in God’s purposes, encouraging each other in incarnational mission; working together and supporting each other through life issues etc.

2. Disciples of Jesus disciple others. I have been reminded of the need for all of us to take responsibility for discipling others. One of the mistakes we can make is that when someone shows any interest in God we think the next step is to invite them to a Sunday service and/or to try to connect them with others who can help them grow. In reality, if we have a relationship with them then we need to own the responsibility of seeking to disciple them. Our IFFF questions and the Discipleship Pathway offer some tools that can assist us in this.

3.Be ready to try innovative things as God makes us aware of the need. At the conference in (Cont  P2)

Adelaide we heard the story of a 70 plus year old lady who recognised that physically she couldn’t do as much as she once did but after 50 years as a follower of Jesus she could pray for people. In her village in England there was regular “spiritual fair” and she decided to set up a little booth and offer free prayer for people. The response was amazing as young mums, in particular, sort her out. In another story a church in rural England was dying with a congregation of 6 people all over 80 years of age. There was nowhere in their village for young mums and children to meet so they converted their church building into a children’s indoor play gym with coffee etc. The relationships developed through this have become “church” for many.

We are seeing these innovative responses taking place through the life groups and ministries of LUC as people take initiatives in connecting with the YMCA school at Kingston (serving the students and families); as a life group takes responsibility for connecting with and encouraging another ministry of LUC; as people become aware of a neighbour in need and involve their life group or IFFF in helping them out; as member of LUC takes the initiative to help a mate who lost a child through Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytis  by organising a group of people to get involved in “tough mudder” and raise money for the leukaemia foundation – bringing a sense of community and purpose to his friend and others; and so on.

I am greatly encouraged by the incredible gift we have at LUC of people who are willing to continue to grow and stretch as disciples of Christ who make disciples.

Yours in Christ

Graham Keech

Priorities

Happy New Year

Many years ago a friend said to me that the most important voices are often the quietest. I have found this to be true; particularly with God and my family. For all of us, the demands of work, life, mortgages, sport, church, other people etc. can be very loud and constant; whereas God is often the still small voice. At times our spouse’s or children’s voices can also seem less important and not as loud as the other pressures and demands on us.

A couple of years ago I was talking with a colleague who was struggling with the demands of the church and the needs of his wife and children. My advice was that, “more often than not you will not be able to avoid disappointing someone; so make sure you deliberately choose who it will be. And whatever you do, don’t disappoint your wife and children too often. Choose to disappoint other people more often than them.”

My encouragement for 2014 is to regularly stand back and check your priorities and ensure God and your Spouse/family are at the top of the list AND that your actual allocation of time reflects this.

Yours in Christ

Graham Keech   

As I look back at this year the thing I celebrate most is the way in which you/we ARE being the church of Jesus Christ. For a few years now we have been moving strongly away from seeing church as an event on Sunday but rather living church as “3 or more people in a covenant commitment to grow in Christ and make Christ known.” 

I remember in 2011 when we pushed into this through the “What is Church – Really?” series, that it was an unsettling and confusing time for many people. What is fantastic is that we are seeing the good fruit of what it looks like to be church in this relational way of being, rather than simply coming to church as an event on Sunday.

I can tell you story after story after story after story of the way in which individuals and groups have cared deeply for others (both within the church and beyond) in costly and powerful ways. At times this has involved assisting financially (into the thousands of dollars); helping out practically; listening well; going the extra mile; showing God’s love through little and big acts of kindness; taking risks in sharing Christ with others; making a positive difference in the     workplace or community; helping people move from a belief in God to a living relationship with Christ; and so on. PRAISE GOD – AWESOME JOB CHURCH!

In the December Rochedale SS & Springwood SS Chaplaincy Newsletter the following paragraph highlights this:                                                                                                                                             

“One family from Springwood Central have really done it tough this term. After losing their house and almost everything they owned in a fire, they have struggled to get back on their feet. Fortunately, our Springwood Central and wider community    (especially Logan Uniting Church) has rallied behind them and donated many items of clothing, toys, food and furniture to help them out…”                   

Just last week one of our life groups also ran a free sausage sizzle at the Springwood Central School Christmas Concert. This is just a very small example of the way in which you as Logan Uniting Church are serving the wider community.

I have also appreciated the clearer understanding of the place of our Sunday worship gathering that has been lived out this year. Sunday is when we gather as church to celebrate God and His goodness; to      celebrate what God has been doing in and through us; to be encouraged and equipped in our discipleship; to be reminded of our call to “draw people into a life transforming relationship with Jesus Christ”. 

It has also been important to remember that we don’t come as spectators, sitting back like judges on “Australia’s Got Talent”, giving a tick to what we like and a cross for what we don’t. Rather we come as participants who are seeking to bring joy to God and others.

As we drive home the conversation should not be about what we did or didn’t like but about the way/s in which we blessed God and/or someone else. I have to say that for me the sense of God’s grace and presence is continuing to grow – and it will continue to do so as we gather as participants not   spectators.

All in all I want to say a HUGE THANK YOU for your faithfulness to Christ. It is an incredible privilege and joy to live and serve alongside you.

Merrett and I pray you become increasingly aware of God’s presence, love and activity this Christmas.

Yours in Christ

Graham Keech

X Men

On the 1^st December we begin our first week of Advent. Advent is a time of expectant waiting for the coming of Christ. This includes celebrating his coming over 2000 years ago as a baby born in Bethlehem and also Christ’s coming again at the end of time.

In preparing our theme for advent we bounced around a whole lot of ideas including “Putting the ‘X’ back into Xmas” (X is the first letter of the Greek Xristos – meaning Christ - and has been used since the earliest days of Christianity as an abbreviation for Christ; and in fact the abbreviation Xmas was first introduced centuries ago by Christian scholars) or “The X-Factor”; but settled on “X Men - Days of Christmas Past”.

This is a take-off from a movie that will come out in 2014 called “X-Men Days of Future Past” based on the comic book version written in 1981. For those who don’t follow the X-Men series it is the story of people who have mutated genes that give them extraordinary powers. The people we will look at throughout Advent didn’t have extraordinary powers but they did play a significant role in preparing us for the coming of Christ – they were truly X (Christ) men. As we allow Isaiah, Zechariah, Joseph and Simeon to speak to us, I pray we will become more open to allowing the Holy Spirit use us in making Christ known to others.

During this Christmas season there are numerous opportunities for you to invite your pre-Christian friends to participate in fun, friendship and faith. Our Carols night on the 8^th Dec will be very family friendly; the Fishers of Men dinner is a great opportunity to invite your pre-Christian friends to be involved in serving others; and our Christmas Eve and Christmas Day services will call us to the centre of all things – Christ our Lord.

Don’t come alone this Christmas – bring your friends and help them experience the gift of God’s love – Christ.

Yours in Christ

Graham Keech

Caring Well

“Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.” (1 John 4: 7-8)

This verse and so many like it in the bible have been the inspiration for our series on “Caring Well”. There is only one true expression/test of genuine spirituality and that is love (see also 1 Cor 13).

On Sunday the 3^rd November, Graham Hill presented this diagram as a model for understanding the different dimensions of care: 

I found this incredibly insightful and helpful.

On Sunday the 10^th November, I shared that for me the twin skills of listening well and asking helpful questions are the “wings that fly the plane of love”.

People feel incredibly accepted when they are listened to: “Being truly, seriously listened to feels like a welcome and precious gift” (Mackay H. 2010, “What makes us tick? The ten desires that drive us.” Sydney, NSW: Hachette; p. 29).                                                        

To love well ultimately means seeking what is best for the other and this happens when we listen well and ask open ended questions that invites the other person into a journey of discovery.

Listening well and asking helpful questions also ensures that whatever practical help we offer is truly an expression of love that does what is best for the other and not simply what we think they need.

Below are 2 simple exercises that you can practice with your spouse, friend, children, in your life group etc. When we practice these skills we are better prepared at the right time in conversations to reflect back what we are hearing in a way that is empowering to the other; and/or to ask the right question at the right time that helps them indentify God’s grace at work and a possible way forward for them.

1. Set aside 10-15 min. Agree that one person will speak and the other person will reflect back as best they can what the other person is saying.

Begin by asking: “What is impacting you most at the moment and how does that make you feel?”

From this moment on you can ONLY reflect back what the other person says and perhaps ask one of the following 2 questions: what else is happening for you? OR how does that make you feel?  

DO NOT COMMENT, PROBLEM SOLVE, OR DO ANYTHING OTHER THAN REFLECT BACK WHAT YOU HEAR

When the person seems to be finished ask them: “What is the most important thing you would like me to remember from this conversation?”

My wife and I regularly engage in this exercise and find it creates a sacred space of honouring the other. I have also found by doing this I am better able in conversations with others to, at the right time, reflect back something significant I have heard and in doing so watch the other person’s eyes light up because someone has listened and understood.

2.      2. Set aside 10 to 15 min and agree that one person will speak and the other will ONLY ask open ended questions (How...? What...? In what way...?) The person speaking simply begins talking about their day and the one listening asks questions that seek to explore more about the day and what was happening for the person in the events that happened - What drew them closer to God? What moved them away from God? etc.

DO NOT PROBLEM SOLVE, OR DO ANYTHING OTHER THAN ASK QUESTIONS

 As a listener don’t be afraid of silences in this exercise. If you get stuck simply acknowledge that and say to the person “I am not sure what to ask next – what would be helpful for you to explore further...?”

When I do this exercise in groups I often put people in 3’s. The third person observes and at the end of the conversation reflects back what they saw happening; which questions were closed or open; which question/s led to the most energy or insight from the other person etc. People then swap roles until each has had a turn.

Whilst asking open ended questions that invite discovery sounds easy; my experience with the above exercise is that all of ask more closed questions than we realise. Closed questions are not wrong and people rarely answer them with a yes or a no. If you observe closely, however, you will notice that the answer given to a closed question stays on the surface and rarely goes deeper into discovery.

Doing these exercises may at first seem strange but I can guarantee they will be life giving; AND you will be better equipped to love well. Loving well more fully honours God and blesses others than anything else does.

Have fun

Graham Keech

The importance of quiet (Guest Post from Tim Bennett)

I don’t really like being quiet.  I am not a huge fan of sitting still for long periods of time.  I like to do things…talk to people…read the news…watch movies….listen to LOUD music….check Facebook.  But I am learning that God’s design for us is that we need what the Bible calls a “Sabbath” – time to be quiet and to rest.  This is when God seems to meet us – and in the world we live in, achieving this is really hard.

Last Saturday 18 people attended a workshop with Dr Jane Simon where they learned some of the skills we need to be able to sit quietly, pray and meditate.  Then on Tuesday, the staff from LUC spent a day on Coochimudlo Island on a spiritual retreat where we learned and practiced these disciplines as well. (with our leader “Keechie-mudlo”).

One of the activities I chose to do was to reflect on the passage of Scripture in 1 Kings 19 where Elijah finds God in the still, small voice.  I wrote some things down and finished before the time allotted.  I stood up to walk to the other side of the verandah where I was sitting and this is when God really started to speak to me.  I spotted a Kookaburra sitting on the fence next door waiting for a storm to pass.  He was perfectly still and perfectly quiet.

I realized that the Kookaburra – more than any other creature in Australia – loves to laugh and be noisy.  He has a good noisy laugh with his friends every morning and another one every evening.  However, the Kookaburra relies on total silence and total stillness for his very survival.  If the Kookaburra cannot remain still and quiet, he cannot catch his lunch and he starves.

I heard the still small voice of God challenging me with the same thought…there is nothing wrong with laughter, talk and activity – but - without times of necessary quiet, my busy-ness will make me sick and tired and I will slowly starve.

One of the things that you are going to keep hearing from us as a church is the concept of “living to a different rhythm.”  It’s counter-cultural…it goes against the prevailing wisdom of “always be busy.”  God was serious enough about a Sabbath rest that in the Old Testament that He didn’t just recommend it – He commanded it!  As a community we are slowly rediscovering the necessity of some form of Sabbath where we are quiet and still.

I am not good at this.  I am learning along with you to rest and be quiet and still.  My prayer for you this week is that you find that place of stillness and quiet; that God meets you there and that you find the rest and peace that you need to continue engaging with your day to day responsibilities.

Tim (Bennett)

Ps.  There is another half day prayer and meditation retreat coming up on Saturday Nov 23 from 9:00am to 12:30pm.  Call 3387 5777 or email info@luc.org.au for more information.