September 2009 Newsletters

• 27th September 2009 - click on image to view

• 20th September 2009 - click on image to view

• 13th September 2009 - click on image to view

• 6th September 2009 - click on image to view

Bishopric Message September 2009

Welfare Month: Prepare for the Unforeseen

Brothers and Sisters,

Under the direction of our Stake Presidency, September 2009 has been designated ‘Welfare Month: Prepare for the Unforeseen.’ During this month, each ward has been asked to focus meetings and activities on practical ways to prepare for the unforeseen.

Sometime during this month, we will each be invited to participate in a Mock Emergency Day. Phone calls will be made on a Friday night to notify everyone of an ‘unexpected emergency’ and a safe gathering place. At the meeting place, we will be able to fellowship together and attend classes that will help us to prepare for the unforeseen.

Further details on this month’s activities will be shared today in a special combined Priesthood / Relief Society meeting.

We testify that the most important preparation for each of us as we face the uncertainties of life is to be spiritually prepared. President Henry B. Eyring has taught:

“What we will need in our day of testing is a spiritual preparation. It is to have developed faith in Jesus Christ so powerful that we can pass the test of life upon which everything for us in eternity depends…

“The great test of life is to see whether we will hearken to and obey God’s commands in the midst of the storms of life. It is not to endure storms, but to choose the right while they rage. And the tragedy of life is to fail in that test and so fail to qualify to return in glory to our heavenly home…

“However much faith to obey God we now have, we will need to strengthen it continually and keep it refreshed constantly. We can do that by deciding now to be more quick to obey and more determined to endure. Learning to start early and to be steady are the keys to spiritual preparation. Procrastination and inconsistency are its mortal enemies.” (Ensign, November 2005).

Brothers and Sisters, we pray that each of us can prepare early – and be steady in that preparation – both temporally and spiritually. We are grateful for all you do and are thankful for this opportunity to be in your service.

Love and best wishes,

Daniel Shine - Bishop

Bob Howden - 1st Counsellor

Rei Singsam - 2nd Counsellor

Bishop’s Youth Discussion – August 2009

In our August Bishop’s Youth Discussion, we discussed the importance of receiving a HIGHER EDUCATION – a spiritual education – through seminary and institute. We committed to do the following during September:

1. Read the article from Elder Paul V. Johnson, ‘A Higher Education’ from April’s New Era magazine:
http://www.lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=024644f8f206c010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD&locale=0&sourceId=3ed85e8d52440210VgnVCM100000176f620a____

2. Study our scriptures every day.

3. Attend Seminary every day (if we are old enough!)

Youth Etiquette Night

On Tuesday 11 August, our youth combined with Helensvale ward youth for an Etiquette Night at the Watermark Hotel. Our youth were taught the finer points of etiquette by Bishop Skipps (the ‘a’ and ‘b’; how to eat soup; and how to eat a bread roll!) A great night was had by all, as shown by the pictures.