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Jun 30
Love0

Village Church Morning Service Proposal

By community, news, updates

Over the past couple of years we’ve floated the idea of a morning service a number of times in a number of different forms. We considered a morning service in Kelvin Grove, Southbank, New Farm and most recently partnering with St Paul’s in Spring Hill. For various reasons these didn’t eventuate or we didn’t feel the time was right.

With some big upcoming changes, and where Village is at, the staff and elders have become convinced that the starting of a morning service in the near future is something that needs serious consideration. So we’re going to have an informal congregational meeting after church on 12 July to outline the proposal, answer your questions, then ask you to think and pray about it. We’ll get back together two weeks after that (26 July) to vote on whether we move forward.

The idea of a morning service is neither new nor radical, but because of other circumstances we’re looking to move quickly. To help you think it through, here’s the thinking of the leadership. If you’ve got other questions, feel free to email us, or come along to the meeting on 12 July.
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Apr 28
Love0

Music, Prayer & Praise Night

By community, news
[ut_one_half] As part of the never ending search to do stuff that’s creative, different and engaging, tonight (29 April) is our first Music, Prayer & Praise Night. So if you’re planning on coming, here’s some background so you can know what to expect.

As Village Church has grown over the past few years, we’ve been privileged to have people from a number of different Christian backgrounds and denominations join us. Some might be used to Sunday meetings that are similar to Village, while others might be used to more music, more extended prayer times, and more moments of quiet reflection.
[/ut_one_half] [ut_one_half_last] praise and prayer night poster
[/ut_one_half_last] While these are good things, they’re not part of our Sunday gathering. Our desire has always been to keep that moment (5pm Sundays) as something which anyone can come along to and not make too great a culture shift in order to hear the Gospel and come to know Jesus. At our Sunday gathering, we have two aims; Firstly, to make it edifying for regulars at Village as we meet around God’s Word, pray and encourage each other; Secondly, to make it accessible & understandable for those who might not know God but come along. This filters down to the language we use, the way we explain God’s Words, how we pray, how many songs we do and how we do them. We want to protect those goals, while keep making sure we’re achieving them.

But one of the beauties of the Gospel is that there is diversity even in our unity. While we have the same God, and we know He speaks to us in the same way through His Word & His Spirit, we also know that we’re all wired differently. So while Sunday is a moment aimed at bringing together the whole Village Church community as a declaration to the world of what God is doing, other events are aimed at appealing to different people who are wired differently.

The Music, Prayer & Praise Night is one of them. It’s an experiment, just as beSpoken was. But our hope is to recognise there are many within the Village Church community who long to sing together more, mixed with having more extended times of praying and thanking God for what He’s done for us in Jesus, as well as ministering to each other through this. So while it’s not something that will appeal to everyone, we’re sure it’ll be a great night for many who are wired this way, as well as many others who aren’t!

So if you’re keen on checking it out, it’s at Ithaca Presbyterian Church tonight, 7:30-9pm.

(Note – as Ithaca are generously letting us use their building, we’ll just be asking people for a small donation as a gift to them. They didn’t ask, but it’s just the generous thing to do.)

Mar 23
Love0

Preaching, Teaching & Christian Leadership

By news

We’re starting up monthly meetings for those who want to develop their abilities & gifts in teaching the Bible, and be stretched in their thinking about Christian maturity & leadership.

If that’s you, join Derek on the 4th Sunday morning (9-11am) of each month this year, starting April 26. Each meeting we’ll do two things:

  1. We’ll spend some time discussing a common set reading we had for the previous month. These readings will be a mix of articles and books on preaching, teaching or doctrine.
  2. We’ll hear 2-3 of the group give a bible talk they’ve worked on with Derek or Mitch over the previous month. As a group, we’ll then give feedback & encouragement so that we can spur each other along.

If you’re interested in getting more information so that you can decide whether this is for you or not, contact Derek (form below).

Mar 22
Love0

Vanuatu Appeals

By community, news

We’ve been hearing about the devastation in Vanuatu due to Cyclone Pam, and I know that many people are wondering what they can do. One of the quickest & most practical things we can do to help those affected begin to rebuild is donate.

If you’re looking for an avenue to do this, below are three options. Let your situation & generosity guide you.

Option 1 – Through Australian Presbyterian World Mission (APWM). A fund setup to get money directly to those affected.

Option 2 – Through the Samaritan’s Purse.

Option 3 – Through World Vision.

Feb 27
Love0

Krosswerdz Update

By community, news
[ut_dropcap style=”one”] S [/ut_dropcap]ince it’s nearly March, I thought it would be good to post another Krosswerdz update. Time flies.

Krosswerdz Brisbane is in our 5th year, praise God. I remember sitting in my Browns Plains office with Warren 5 years ago, the week before our first service. We were scared, confused and wondering if we were worthy or capable of running Krosswerdz. We didn’t know what it would look like, who would come and how things would go. All we knew was that we wanted to share the Gospel and we were surrounded by young people who needed to hear it.

[ut_one_half] 5 years on we can see more then ever how good God has been to us. We ran our first event last Saturday (21/2/15) and it was great to see old and new faces show up. We had people from all different cultures (some believers and some not) all coming together to hear rap and to hear from the Bible. We broke bread and had an incredible time of fellowship and building new relationships throughout the day. We have around 6 services planned out this year as well as UPROCK and we’re also performing at EASTERFEST (although I think we are going to sneak in a Toowoomba ‘Krosswerdz’ service on stage as they’ve given us an hour).

[/ut_one_half] [ut_one_half_last] nat-kw
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But for me personally, God has provided me with some incredible opportunities in the Brisbane Youth Detention Centre (BYDC), which I find myself drawn to. Believe me, it’s hard to get in there, yet I have been gifted beautiful opportunities which I hadn’t even been seeking out. Praise God.

Last year I was running music workshops in the centre, which was great but this year I have been handed a program, which is incredible (check out MMAD, they are the amazing organisation who got me in there). We are now running a radio show called ‘Breakfree’. It’s too much to explain here but please hit me up if you want to find out more. It’s beautiful, empowering for the young people and I have seen so many positives come out of it already).

[ut_one_half] Now I’m in the centre two classes a week and I have been praying for more time in there. God has provided that. We are so excited (and nervous, and a touch numb, but good numb) to announce that ‘BYDC’ has accepted a Biblical Ethics program for the young people. This program is called ‘Life Matters’ and it’s aim is for young people to look at some questions (like ‘What is a Father’ and ‘What is the point of life and who decides that for us’) and to hear what the Bible says about these questions. It’s got a mix of Hip-Hop, I am Second testimonies and relevant scripture passages that focus on the question at hand. It runs for 6 weeks and it looks like I have been given 1 to 2 classes per week depending on numbers. This is officially a Krosswerdz/Village partnership in delivering this program to the youth.
[/ut_one_half] [ut_one_half_last] lm-ethics
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I’ve typed too much. Please keep this in your prayers. This is really exciting and a great opportunity for young people to hear how much God loves them and how important they are in his eyes. Please also pray for me because this is new territory but I’m very comforted by knowing that God will use everything (especially my flaws) to bring Glory to him. If you would like more prayer points then please ask, it is greatly appreciated and I am so thankful for the support that I constantly receive from the Village fam.

Cheers,

Nat

Feb 20
Love0

VC Community Team Update – Feb 2015

By community, news
[ut_one_half] [ut_dropcap style=”one”] J [/ut_dropcap]esus calls us to love our neighbours, and to love our neighbours we need to know them!

Our local community in Kelvin Grove is home to a large number of people from diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds, with a mix of those who have moved here for study and those who have migrated permanently from across Brisbane or across the globe. We want to love our local neighbourhood in Kelvin Grove, by forming relationships with them and serving them practically.
[/ut_one_half] [ut_one_half_last] exchange
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Plans for the Community Team this year:

International Women’s Day – Morning Tea

We’re partnering with The Exchange in the Kelvin Grove Village to host a morning tea for International Women’s Day. Our hope is that Kelvin Grove women from diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds can come together, get to know each other and build community as we get to know our neighbours. We would love Village Church women to come and be part of it! Kids are welcome!

Thursday 12 March – 10am
The Exchange, 81 Musk Ave Kelvin Grove.
All women and kids welcome!

Community Garden

We have applied for a community garden plot in the Kelvin Grove Community Garden in Kundu Park. Village Church is currently on the waiting list, but once we get our spot we would love a team of avid gardeners or those with a wannabe green thumb to make our garden grow, and chat to others who are part of the community garden who are doing the same!

English Conversation

One important way we can serve the people of the urban village is to be involved with English conversation buddy program, facilitated through The Exchange. The program builds friendship and mutual understanding between friendly locals (us!) and those new to Australia who are wanting to improve their English and make local friendships. Many people in the Village Community have been involved with this program in the past, and we want to encourage people to get involved again!

Become a regular

But you don’t need to wait to be involved in an organised program to get to know our neighbours! Commit to spending time in our local Kelvin Grove community and forming relationships through becoming a regular at a cafe or restaurant in the area, join the Urban Village choir, kick the ball around in Kulgun Park before church, or any other way that enables forming relationships with those around our neighbourhood.

There is also lots of space to identify potential new serving projects and activities for involvement in our local neighbourhood, so get involved in loving our Kelvin Grove neighbours through the Community Team and bring your ideas! For more information sign up here or talk to Bridget on Sundays.

Dec 12
Love0

Krosswerdz Update

By news, updates

Krosswerdz

Since the end of 2014 is approaching, I though I would summarize Krosswerdz (Sth East Qld) year in a few short paragraphs.

This year saw a shift in focus as KW decided that we function most efficiently as a Para-church ministry. This means that we work ‘along side’ the church rather then acting ‘as a’ church. Our vision is for people to hear the Gospel and for them to be surrounded by a positive ‘God-loving’ network. Our end goal is for them to be planted in a Church where they are greatly surrounded by Christians who can help support them in their walk.

The following are events we held this year:

Mitchelton Presbyterian Church Krosswerdz Service
Salvo’s Fortitude Valley Krosswerdz Service
Salvo’s Forest Lake Krosswerdz Service
Brisbane Youth Detention Centre Krosswerdz Service x 2 (Around 75 kids each time)
Keperra Retirement Village (That’s right, my Nan hooked me up) – Shared about Jesus and Hip-Hop
Kruger Parade Baptist Church Youth Group
Mitchelton Presbyterian Youth
Dalby Presbyterian Youth
Inala Multicultural Baptist Outreach
Redbank Plains High School
Annerley Church of Christ Service
Forest Lake Baptist Church Combined Multi-Cultural Day
Goodna Salvation Army – Youth Week Performances
‘Rockup for Uprock’ Fundraiser
QTC College – Share with the ‘Ministry in a Youth Setting’ class
UPROCK Sydney trip

When you look at it, that’s quite a big year of events and relationship building. When Warren and myself got together recently to talk KW we decided it was time to plant something dedicated to Brisbane North.

This leads me to 2015.

Last Tuesday I had a meeting with Youth Outreach Services in Fortitude Valley and this Tuesday I’m meeting with Adam from ‘Cup From Above’ to talk about possible opportunities for the future. I would love for Brisbane North to have what we are running currently at Forest Lake. Our vision is to create an area where people feel safe to come and record their stories, a place where they will be surrounded by positive role models. This could grow into an opportunity for a Bible study and a bridge to KW services and outreaches where they can meet more and more people whose lives have been transformed by Jesus.

Secondly (popping back to the South Side) by the Grace of God alone, we have been asked to run a 6-week program in the Brisbane Youth Detention Center. This program will use Hip-Hop as a way of discussing faith and life with the young people. Please pray that God helps me to write up something that is relevant to the young people’s lives. A clear Gospel message that shines a light of hope despite some of the incredibly tough circumstances that they might find themselves in.

VILLAGE CHURCH!!! Thank you so much for supporting me in my traineeship the past few years. Thank you for the prayer and thank you for the servant hearted approach to KW.

I want to finish on this. When I walked into the Youth Detention center to share with 70 people about how Jesus transformed Zacchaeus’s life , I was nervous. I was nervous because I constantly doubt my skills in being about to share such a message. But it was then that I was encouraged by how great our God is. It was then that I was reminded that God is in control of all things and that I want to do this because of what he has done for me through Jesus. It was then that I remembered that the spirit is at work to cover all my needs. And it was also then that I was reminded of my Village family who has my back as a brother in Christ. That day I imagined all of us walking in there. I was well provided for. Praise God. How good!!!

Jun 29
Love0

Some thoughts on Compassion

By community, news

This week I’ve been reminded of the 2 extremes of those coming to our countries from other shores.

On the one hand, I’m so incredibly happy to say that our favourite Canadians – Mitch & Steph – were recently granted their work visa here in Australia after long months of paperwork and angst. Along with the guys doing traineeships at Village, I’m so thankful for having them, and for God’s goodness in bringing people to Village who love Him, have a heart for His people, and long to see others know Him.

The other extreme has been as I’ve been readying for a 2-week holiday where I’m not worried about being persecuted, tortured, running into rebel fighters, or my kids coming into harms way, is the increasingly disturbing stance the Australian government has made towards those seeking asylum and a new life. We have the concern of doctors for children in detention and here, the cutting of finances for those who advocate for those who cannot advocate for themselves, and most recently the bill that seeks to change the parameters by which those fleeing hardship are assessed. Read More

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