In Touch Online Edition - November 2008
O Little Town of Bethlehem
O little town of Bethlehem how still we see thee lie!
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep the silent stars go by.
Yet in thy dark street shineth the everlasting light;
The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.
For Christ is born of Mary, and gathered all above,
While mortals sleep, the angels keep their watch of wondering love.
O morning stars together, proclaim the holy birth,
And praises sing to God the King, and peace to men on earth.
How silently, how silently the wondrous gift is given;
So God imparts to human hearts the blessings of his heaven.
No ear may hear his coming, but in this world of sin,
Where meek souls will receive him still, The dear Christ enters in.
Words – Phillips Brooks 1867
Music – Lewis H. Redner 1868
Redner was Brooks' organist at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church in Philadelphia. The tune came to him on Christmas Eve, and was first sung the next day.
A Message from Jan Dobson
It was good to have so many ladies together at Wynyard for Sharing Day. Listening to the buzz of conversation as people shared with each other was encouraging. Our next "get together" will be at "Time Out" at Newstead on March 21/ 22. Hope to see you there.
I guess that at this time of the year, we are all beginning to think about Christmas and there is much to think about.
Have we bought presents for everyone?
Have we done enough cooking – cakes, puddings, biscuits? Have we ordered the turkey, ham, etc for Christmas Dinner?
We become so busy doing all the things that we think are necessary that we lose our focus.
Christmas shouldn't be about how much or how good the food is, the presents under the tree, the fancy lights and decorations, or even about families being together (although this is good and I am looking forward to it this year).
Christmas should be about being thankful that God loved us enough to send His Son. He gave us a precious gift. We should focus on this and share this joy with our families and friends.
Something I recently read and thought it worth sharing.
God invented Christmas.
He gift-wrapped the first Christmas present in swaddling cloths
He sent the first Christmas greetings by an angel host.
Jan Dobson
Sharing Day 2008
Sharing Day at Tulip Farm
Tuesday 14 October at Wynyard Baptist Church.
What a beautiful experience we had this day. We travelled by coach to Wynyard, leaving Launceston at 7.45 am and collecting ladies along the way. We arrived at the Baptist Church before eleven and were welcomed by Jan Dobson (director TBWM). About 80 women enjoyed a sumptuous morning tea prepared by the Wynyard ladies. It was a time to meet with old friends and new.
We then travelled by bus to the Tulip Farm at Table Cape where we were able to enjoy the variety and beauty of many gorgeous coloured tulips. After spending time making purchases and walking amongst the flowers we then returned to the Wynyard church for lunch.
The afternoon speaker Mrs. Loris Roberts Thomson brought a message entitled "Lessons from the Tulip Bulb". She explained that the bulb although not very attractive and buried in the ground is the most important part of the process of creating a beautiful tulip. This was likened to the importance of prayer in the life of a Christian. The heart of a Christian needs to be grounded in prayer so that God can work through him/her. We are grateful to Loris for her words of wisdom.
The day concluded with afternoon tea before the journey home.
Olive Dowling – City Baptist Church
State Project Offering 2008 for Sarah in Thailand: $1,000.
South West Pacific Baptist Women's Conference
Friday 1 May to 4 Monday May 2009
Cairns Colonial Resort
Join with women from Australia, Fiji, New Zealand, Papua, and
Papua New Guinea
to celebrate another 5 years of ministry to women and families across this vast area.
Further information contact Marion Williams ph. 6249 9225
Missionary News
Margaret – South East Asia
"Every day there are opportunities to interact with people, whether it is in the marketplace, a local shop, waiting for and traveling on public transport, teaching, spending time with students and colleagues either at campus or in my home or sending and receiving text messages. There is always something happening! And more importantly, people are always watching. Personal space is not a part of this culture.
In the midst of all these activities there are key moments when the opportunity arises to show concern and interest in the lives of my friends.
Pray that I will be sensitive to the needs of my friends and share with them in a way that will be beneficial rather than a distraction to them."
Sarah – Thailand
"I am learning a lot. I have left behind what is comfortable for an exciting journey further afield. I have always loved children and care a lot about people, I see this experience being one in which I will get opportunities to serve and give but will gain go much as well".
Despite a Christian presence for almost two centuries, few ethnic Thai people have heard the Gospel in ways that are meaningful for their cultural perspective.
Pray for Sarah as she builds relationships with teachers and students as she teaches on Mondays and Tuesdays especially that the organisation of teaching times will fall into place.
Bruce and Carole – Central Asia
are settling in well to their new home. They had to adapt quickly to the teaching routine, but are thankful for the support of the rest of the team. Pray that as they continue to get to know their students and colleagues, they will find opportunities to share about their relationship with Jesus
Cooking Culturally - Thai Chicken and Cashew Nuts
Buy it
- 2 tbl spoons oil
- 200g raw cashew nuts (unsalted)
- 4 cloves garlic, finely chopped
- 600g chicken thigh fillets, cut into thin strips
- 2 cups broccoli, cut into small florets
- 1 red capsicum, roughly chopped
- 2 celery stalks, sliced on the diagonal
- 2 tbl spoons fresh basil leaves, shredded plus extra leaves for garnish
- 2 tbl spoons oyster sauce
- 2 tbl spoons fish sauce
- 1 tsp sugar (palm or white)
- 1-2 tsp minced chilli (to taste)
- 1/3 cup water
Do it
- Heat oil in electric or gas wok (use less oil if non-stick) and fry the cashew nuts until they are golden brown.
- Remove cashews from heat and put to one side
- Add garlic and chicken to wok and stir fry in batches until chicken is brown
- Return all chicken to wok and add onion, broccoli, capsicum and celery. Stir fry for a few minutes
- Mix in shredded basil leaves, oyster sauce, fish sauce, sugar and water
- Add chilli and cashew nuts and stir fry for a few more minutes before serving
- Garnish with basil leaves.
Variation
Substitute snow peas and Asian greens such as bok choy for celery or broccoli. For a low carb version serve the stir fry without rice or noodles.
Ross – GIA South East Asia
Report of the Australian Baptist Women's Conference
Jan Dobson and Muriel Winter represented Tasmania at the annual conference of Australian Baptist Women in Canberra at the end of August 2008.
The WA Women's Ministries Coordinator Karen Wilson conducted the main sessions and had us all examining ourselves and our attitudes.
The council meeting was led by Jenni van der Moezel the national director.
• Reports were given on ABW activities all around Australia, including the positive results of the PNG birthing huts project.
• ABW will nominate Lorraine Walker for president of the Baptist World Alliance Women's Department in 2010.
• There may be a project for all of the States to support.
• Living Life magazine may be published as an e-zine.
it was a good opportunity to meet and exchange ideas with others from around Australia and be encouraged that we are part of a larger family of Baptist Women.
Muriel
The Story of The Prodigal son in the key of F
Feeling footloose and frisky, a feather brained fellow forced his fond father to fork over the family finances.
He flew far to foreign fields and frittered his fortune feasting fabulously with faithless friends. Finally, faced with failure, and fleeced by his fellows in folly, he found himself a fruitless feed flinger in a farmer's filthy farmyard.
Fairly famishing he fain would have filled his frame with the foraged foods of the fodder fragments.
"Phooey, my father's flunkies fare far fancier", the frazzled fugitive found, frankly facing facts.
Filled with foreboding, he forthwith fled to his family. Falling at his father's feet he floundered forlornly. "Father I have flunked, and fruitlessly forfeited family favour". But the foresighted father, forestalling further flinching, frantically flagged the flunkies.
"Fetch forth the finest fatling and fix a feast".
But the fugitive's fault finding frater frowned on the fickle forgiveness of the former falderal. His fury flashed. But fussing was futile, for the foresighted father figured that filial fidelity is fine. But what forbids fervent festivity? The fugitive is found! Unfurl the flags. Let fun and frolic freely flow. Former failure forgotten, folly forsaken, forgiveness forms the foundation for future fortitude!"
Important Chocolate Rules for the Holidays
If you have melted chocolate on your hands you are not eating fast enough
Store chocolate on the top of the fridge; calories are afraid of heights and will jump out.
Next Issue of "In Touch" February 2009
Please send your contributions to
Carol Bell
21 Olive Street
Newstead 7250
6334 8384 or cazbell@bigpond.net.au
