Bishop’s Youth Discussion – November 2009

BISHOP’S CHALLENGE TO YOUTH

Over the last three months in our Bishop’s Youth Discussions, we have been discussing the power of INFLUENCE – as it relates to friends, to the Holy Ghost and this month, as it relates to this year’s mutual theme: 'Be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity' (1 Timothy 4:12). As we come to the end of the year, we committed to BE DIFFERENT in each of the areas identified in the Mutual Theme:

Word: we will be examples in word by mastering our language – by speaking positively and avoiding swearing.

Conversation: we will be examples in conversation by monitoring our conduct and behaviour.
Charity: we will be examples in charity by reaching out to one another in genuine love and concern.

Spirit: we will be examples in Spirit by being optimistic and friendly.

Faith: we will be examples of faith by believing and doing as the Saviour would have us do.

Purity: we will be examples of purity by living clean and virtuous lives.
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December 2009 Newsletters

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• 27th December 2009 - click on image to view

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• 20th December 2009 - click on image to view

• 13th December 2009 - click on image to view

• 6th December 2009 - click on image to view

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Bishopric Message December 2009

“LAY HOLD ON THE WORD OF GOD”
Helaman 3:29

Brothers and Sisters,

We are grateful for your participation in our combined Priesthood / Relief Society meeting last Sunday. In that meeting, we discussed our ward goal for this year – to “lay hold upon the word of God” (Hel 3:29). During the meeting, we were invited to do the following:

1. Lay Hold on the Words of Living Prophets: Elder Neil L. Anderson asked the following:

“Think how you would respond to the following questions: Could you tell me the names of the three members of the First Presidency and the names of each of those who comprise the Quorum of the Twelve? These are the 15 men you and I sustain as prophets, seers, and revelators.

“If we were to hold up a picture of these Brethren, would you recognize each of them?.... Could you share with me the counsel given by the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles from last October’s general conference?

“Perhaps more important, could you share with me a recent decision where you changed something in your life because of counsel received from one of these 15 men?” (CES Fireside for Young Adults, 4 March, 2007.)

2. Lay Hold on the Scriptures: we talked of the blessings that come from setting aside regular time for scripture study. In particular, we were encouraged to go to the scriptures with questions. President Henry B. Eyring has taught:

“Going to the scriptures to learn what to do makes all the difference. The Lord can teach us. When we come to a crisis in our life… we should go looking in the scriptures for specific help. We will find answers in the scriptures. The Lord seemed to anticipate all of our problems and all of our needs, and He put help in the scriptures for us—if only we seek it.” (Ensign, July 2005.)

For those who didn’t receive them last week, handouts from this meeting are available on the front table in the foyer.

In this Christmas season, we pray that each of us, as individuals, families and as a ward family, will “continually hold fast to the rod of iron” (1 Nephi 8:30). We testify that as we do this, we will witness great blessings and miracles.

Brothers and Sisters, we are grateful for all you do and are thankful for this opportunity to serve alongside you. We pray that you will have a blessed Christmas and feel again the reality of the Saviour’s life and love for each one of you.

Love and best wishes,

Daniel Shine...............Bob Howden............Rei Singsam
Bishop........................1st Counsellor.........2nd Counsellor
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Ward Christmas Party

It was great to be together as a Ward Family for our Christmas Party this year, held at Evandale Park, behind the Arts Centre on Saturday 21 November 2009. Over 150 members spent the night, under the stars, eating and watching a movie on the big screen...

Helping Hands Activity

Helping Hands Activities are an opportunity to get out and do some service in the Community. This year, we did some garden work at Benowa State Primary School on Saturday 31 October 2009... thanks to all who attended!!

Bishopric Message November 2009

Coming “Forth Out of Obscurity, and out of Darkness”
Doctrine and Covenants 1:30

Brothers and Sisters,

As you will hopefully recall, earlier this year, our Ward Mission Plan was presented. Our hope this year was to come “forth out of obscurity, and out of darkness” by doing the following four things:
• Inviting all to “come unto Christ” (Moroni 10:32);
• Implementing our Ward Mission Plan by working effectively with the full-time missionaries, the ward council and ward members;
• Teaching the doctrine of missionary work; and
• Testifying of the blessings of missionary work.

In doing these things, we hoped to see 16 people enter the waters of baptism during the year. Last weekend, Yolanda Liao was baptised as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and was the 16th person baptised in the Isle of Capri ward this year.

Brothers and Sisters, we are grateful for all of your efforts this year to help this work go forward. We are thankful for the many people who have assisted in opening their homes and hearts to investigators and new members. We are also grateful to Heavenly Father for blessing us with these precious new converts to strengthen and fellowship with.

Even though our goal has been reached, the work is by no means done! We hope that we can continue to live each day as “full-time finders”, as Elder David A. Bednar teaches (Ensign, May 08). Sometimes we think that we haven’t got time to be member missionaries or we don’t know how or we may lack desire. Elder Quentin L. Cook has taught:

"Missionary work is not just one of the 88 keys on a piano that is occasionally played… It is a major chord in a compelling melody that needs to be played continuously throughout our lives... What we desperately need is for member missionary work to become a way of life; for the Savior's mandate to share the gospel to become a part of who we are." (BYU Devotional, 13 March 2007).

We pray that each of us will have the courage, faith and determination to open our mouths and know that they will be filled (see Moses 6:32). We know that as we do this, great blessings will come to each of us, individually and collectively. We are grateful for all you do and for the blessing it is to serve alongside each of you.

Love and Best Wishes,

Daniel Shine Bob Howden Rei Singsam
Bishop 1st Counsellor 2nd Counsellor