---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Noel Rowlatt
From: Noel Rowlatt
Australian Restoration News June 2020
June,
2020.
.
Around and About the Centre Place by
High Priest Paul J. Gage, Independence, Missouri. Greetings Dear Ones in Australia,
I don't
have to tell you all that 2020 has been the most unique year of our lives. The
virus is all over the world. As it seems to be receding, keep in mind that the
Lord's Spirit has never stopped supplying the needs of God's people.
As we
enter the sixth month of 2020, may we recall all the scriptures and hymns that
remind us of the power of God. One such scripture is Romans 8:31-39 where we
are reminded that NOTHING can separate us from the love of God which is in
Christ Jesus. The only thing that can separate us is our own choices. Also the
great hymn, "O God Our Help in Ages Past, Our hope for years to
come, Be Thou our guard while troubles last and our eternal home." We
have the assurance that God is in control of all things and has promised His
blessings to those who obey His commandments. You may have seen the
following: COVID-19. CHRIST OVERCOMES VIRUS
AND INFECTIOUS DISEASES, JOSHUA 1:9
The
Conference of Restoration Elders (CRE) and Pastors of Zion (PO)Z
Restoration Branch Family Reunion and Conference of Restoration Elders to be
held June 21-26, 2020 will be in the format of the Zoom ministry that has been
provided for the last few months. All information about this event can
be found on the CRE website. Just go to eldersconference.org. A number of other
reunions and camps have either been cancelled or modified according to
directives from local officials, much like what is happening in Australia.
All the
schools, including CPRS have been closed for three months, but have been
completing assignments on line or some other system.
Some
Branches, including Waldo Avenue RB are opening back up. Waldo had its first
Sunday morning service since March 22 on May 24, 2020. Many have been meeting
in small groups in compliance with local directives.
The current
issue of Tidings of Zion # 131 is in process. It should be in the homes by mid
to late June.
As you
may know, the Restoration Branch High Priests have asked the Saints to
designate each Sunday as a day of fasting and prayer for the Kingdom of God. We
encourage the Saints of Australia to join us in that effort.
We should
keep in mind that many Christians in other parts of the world are always in
danger of living for Christ. We should not expect to be spared from hard times
which test our faith. Read I Peter 1:3-9
God's
Spirit is moving, all over the world though all missionary efforts have been
curtailed. Local ministry however, continues to carry on the Lord's work. God
Bless each of you.
Riches from the Scriptures by Elder Neil Kerswell, Queensland, Australia. Vol 4
Chapter 10 “Alma Blesses & Counsels
His Sons Helaman and Shiblon”
I would like to share some gems from our family
church study last Sunday, every week we come across beautiful passages and I
often think, I should share that one, but don’t always do it. I hope you enjoy
these. The first is some counsel to Alma’s son Helaman.
Alma 17:68-80[Alma
17:68] O remember my son, and learn wisdom in thy youth; yea, learn in thy
youth to keep the commandments of God; yea, and cry unto God for all thy
support;
[Alma 17:69] Yea, let all thy doings be unto the Lord, and
whithersoever thou goest, let it be in the Lord; yea, let thy thoughts be directed
unto the Lord; yea, let the affections of thy heart be placed upon the Lord for
ever; counsel the Lord in all thy doings, and he will direct thee for good:
[Alma
17:70] Yea, when thou liest down at night, lie down unto the Lord, that he may
watch over you in your sleep; and when thou riseth in the morning, let thy
heart be full of thanks unto God; and if ye do these things, ye shall be lifted
up at the last day.
My parents would often quote
this one to me growing up, it covers every aspect of our lives and counsels us
to include God in everything we do and to thank him in all things and God will
be active in directing us for good, and comes with promise of being lifted up
at the last day.
[Alma 17:71] And now my son, I have somewhat to
say concerning the thing which our fathers call a ball, or director; or our
fathers called it liahona, which is, being interpreted, a compass; and the Lord
prepared it.[Alma 17:72] And behold, there cannot any man work after the manner
of so curious a workmanship. [Alma 17:73] And behold, it was prepared to
shew unto our fathers the course which they should travel in the wilderness;
and it did work for them according to their faith in God;
[Alma 17:74] Therefore if they had faith to believe that God
could cause that those spindles should point the way they should go, behold, it
was done; therefore they had this miracle, and also many other miracles wrought
by the power of God, day by day;
[Alma 17:75] Nevertheless, because those miracles were worked by
small means, it did shew unto them marvelous works.
[Alma 17:76] They were slothful, and forgot to exercise
their faith and diligence, and then those marvelous works ceased, and they did
not progress in their journey:
[Alma 17:77] Therefore they tarried in the wilderness, or did not
travel a direct course, and were afflicted with hunger and thirst, because of
their transgressions.
[Alma 17:78] And now my son, I
would that ye should understand that these things are not without a shadow; for
as our fathers were slothful to give heed to this compass, (now these things
were temporal,) they did not prosper; even so it is with things which are
spiritual.
[Alma 17:79] For
behold, it is as easy to give heed to the word of Christ, which will point to
you a straight course to eternal bliss, as it was for our fathers to give heed
to this compass, which would point unto them a straight course, to the Promised
Land.
[Alma 17:80] And now I say, Is there
not a type in this thing? For just as surely as this director did bring our
fathers, by following its course, to the Promised Land, shall the words of
Christ, if we follow their course, carry us beyond this vale of sorrow, into a
far better land of promise.
I love the comparison of
the Compass Ball to the Ministry of Christ. The Liahona was a truly remarkable
piece of workmanship and through faith miraculously gave them directions in
many things like, which direction to travel, where food and water could be
found, how to avoid dangers. All they had to do was give diligent heed to it
through faith. Sadly they became slothful and slowly but surely their situation
in life decreased until they wanted for everything and stagnated in their
Journey to the Promised Land, until they repented and exercised faith again. It
is just as easy to give diligent heed unto the words and life of Christ and
like the Compass Ball we can become slothful needing to repent and consecrate
our lives to God again. If we will do this the words of Christ will carry us to
a better land of promise.
[Alma 18:1] My son, give
ear to my words; for I say unto you, even as I said unto Helaman, that inasmuch
as ye shall keep the commandments of God, ye shall prosper in the land; and
inasmuch as ye will not keep the commandments of God, ye shall be cast off from
his presence.
[Alma 18:2] And now my son,
I trust that I shall have great joy in you, because of your steadiness and your
faithfulness unto God; for as you have commenced in your youth, to look to the
Lord your God, even so I hope that you will continue in keeping his
commandments: for blessed is he that endureth to the end.
Alma gives his Son Shiblon the key to success in
the land of America. Keep God’s commandments and you shall prosper, keep not
the commandments of God and you will be cast off. This promise and warning are
often quoted in the Book of Mormon and have already come to pass numerous
times. The Jaredites thought they were too great and mighty to be swept off the
land however as they fell, and moved away from God’s commandments they were
weighed in the balance of God’s Justice and having refused His mercy offered to
them many times they paid the price of disobedience as a nation and were
removed. The Nephites also believed they were a great people and neglected the
Lord their God, refusing his arm of mercy when offered many times through God’s
prophets in admonition. They too paid a heavy price and were removed. Today
people who study the ruins of their cities left behind, are bewildered as to
how such a magnificent culture could just cease to exist as if one day they
just up and walked away never to return. This counsel is very applicable to us
today. Do our nations uphold God in spirit and in truth? Do our nations as a
whole keep the commandments of God? Do we keep the commandments of God? Take a
minute to sober up spiritually and answer these questions to yourself honestly.
I will join you. Alma had great hope for Shiblon because in his youth he was
making a real effort towards God. But reminds him of the importance of Enduring
to the End.
[Alma 18:5] And now my son Shiblon, I would that
ye should remember that as much as ye shall put your trust in God, even so much
as ye shall be delivered out of your trials, and your troubles, and your
afflictions; and ye shall be lifted up at the last day.
[Alma
18:6] Now my son, I would not that ye should think that I know these things of
myself, but it is the Spirit of God which is in me, which maketh these things
known unto me: for if I had not been born of God, I should not have known these
things.
Verse 5 is great counsel
for any of us, as much as we shall put our trust in God, in the same ratio we
shall be delivered from our troubles, trials and afflictions and once again we
have the promise of being lifted up at the last day. Alma was humble and didn’t
take honour unto himself for knowing these things, but rather he received it
from the Spirit of God. Which Spirit became a living part of his life when he
was Born of God. This why we are told the World without God cannot know these
things, they can only be understood and discerned by the Spirit and Power of
God.
[Alma 18:13] And now, as ye have begun to teach
the word, even so I would that ye should continue to teach; and I would that ye
would be diligent and temperate in all things.
[Alma 18:14] See that
ye are not lifted up unto pride: yea, see that ye do not boast in your own
wisdom, nor of your much strength; use boldness, but not overbearance;
Counsel was given about
teaching the word of God, we are to be diligent and temperate in all things,
put simply this means to be mild in manner, without extremes. Many have been
chased away from the Lord’s work over the years because this simple counsel was
not adhered too. It’s the only way to get through to an intelligent, thinking,
questioning person. We must not be lifted in pride, we must never boast in our
own strength or wisdom, because our wisdom is foolishness before God. We can
speak in boldness (eager with a sense of confidence and fearlessness) but not
with Overbearance (to overpower somebody).
[Alma 18:16] Do not say, O
God, I thank thee that we are better than our brethren; but rather say, O Lord,
forgive my unworthiness, and remember my brethren in mercy; yea, acknowledge
your unworthiness before God at all times.
I consider these words to
be of the greatest importance, if we cannot achieve this gift and discipline in
our lives there is a stumbling block in our way, keeping us from the Kingdom of
God, because we have not as yet learnt our place and therefore do not
understand God. In order to be truly healed we need to understand first that we
are sick and in need of God’s blessings even for the air we breathe. I leave
you with these words to consider them in your own minds according to your own
understanding and relationship with God, may you be blessed is my prayer in
Jesus Name.
Amen
A Testimony by Sr Janice Kerswell,
Kingston Branch, Queensland, Australia.
I had several days where anything that could go wrong, seemed to.
I have my husband to care for (He has cancer), and I was feeling so low &
sorry for myself. That evening when my husband was asleep, I was sitting on the
lounge praying. I talk to God like he is my best friend. All of a sudden it
came to my mind all the blessings I had had over the last few days, some small
some special, I found myself thanking Him for always being there. He is my
constant. I asked for his forgiveness for the way I had felt. Al had
injured himself and was in excruciating pain, when he had to sit on a seat that
was too small on the transport coming home from the hospital. I said I would
pray and ask God to be with him in his pet/.ct test the next day and that the
seats in the transport wouldn’t hurt him. When our transport turned up it was a
sedan car. I said to Al “what a Blessing” and said out loud
“Thank you God”. He blesses us more than we are aware of. He helps us find
misplaced things. He prompts us. When you stop and look back over your day It’s
amazing. I love the poem Footprints. It is so true. When things become
overpowering, it’s then that he carries us.
I was so
blessed when I was young that I had my Grandma Rowlatt and my Mum mightily bear
their testimonies of the miraculous blessings they both had which gave me a
great foundation. When I was a young girl grandma would give me a cup of warm
milo and bear testimonies before I went to bed. My mum would sing to us and
bear her testimonies as she ironed. How I loved those times. I used to think I
can’t wait till I am old enough to have my experiences. The lord has been with
me throughout my whole life. He has spared my life. He has performed many, many
miracles on my husband, myself and our 4 children. He has blessed us with 15
wonderful grand children and 3 great grand children who are our joy and riches.
I feel I
am a very blessed woman. I love my Lord and am so glad he is a part of my life.
A very uplifting scripture is James 1:2-3. My brethren, count it all joy when
you fall into many afflictions. Knowing this, that the trying of your faith
worketh patience. May God bless you . Your sister in Christ-
Janice Kerswell.
God Will
Forgive and Restore You. submitted
by Sr.Monique Hummel, South Australia.
Have you
ever heard of the Great Boston Molasses Flood? On January 15, 1919, a steel vat
containing 2.3 million gallons of molten molasses burst. A 30-foot-tall wave of
hot syrup drowned people and horses, destroyed buildings, and crushed freight
trains, wagons, and cars. The enormous tank, 50-feet tall and 240-feet around,
had been poorly designed. Company officials had reacted to the constantly
leaking cracks by repainting the tank to match the colour of the molasses;
their philosophy was ‘out of sight, out of mind’. These officials knew the vat
was dangerous but they did nothing about it. The disaster, described by one
author as the ‘Dark Tide’, killed 21 people and injured 150 others. There are
two important lessons in this story. First, pay attention to the cracks in your
character; what you ignore today, you may drown in tomorrow. Second, no matter
how badly broken you may be, if you turn to God, He’ll restore you. Isaiah
said, ‘A bruised reed He will not break.’ These words portray the gentleness
and grace of God as He stoops to restore and make us whole. Maybe you think
your sin is too great and you’re too far gone. No. God said, ‘I am slow to
anger and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness’ (Exodus 34:6). ‘I will
heal their backsliding, I will love them freely, for My anger has turned away
from him’ (Hosea 14:4). ‘He does not retain His anger forever, because He
delights in mercy. He will again have compassion on us…[He] will cast all our
sins into the depth of the sea’ (Micah 7:18-19). Today God will forgive and
restore you.
* From Christian Broadcasters *
****************
Important Message For All Church Members and Friends Australia
Wide.
Here is a great opportunity for Congregations and Isolated Saints
to create an Online Congregation to Worship and Fellowship together and get to
know each other.
Introducing a new program that will allow all church members and
friends in Australia to share in Sunday Services and Wednesday night Prayer
Services from their own homes. It evolved in exchange of ideas between Priest
Peter Churchill & Elder Gary Melling, both from Queensland, at the
commencement of the Corona Virus Restrictions, and with the know how of Elder
Danny Archer of Sydney making it a reality. Here is information submitted
by the team
We have started online services via Microsoft
Teams. We commenced our first prayer meeting held by Danny Archer
on Wednesday 20/5/20 at 7pm, where a moderate amount of saints gathered
together online fellowshipping. On Sunday 24/5/20 a Service was held by
Danny and Peter Archer, where we had a few more saints meet online. We are
really hoping that our numbers keep growing and that we are able to reach more
of our isolated saints in the comforts of their own homes.
We are currently in the initial phases of online church and are
ironing out a few bugs.
Feel free to
join us on Sundays at 10am for Sunday Service; or Wednesdays at 7pm for
prayer meeting. Meetings go for approximately 30-45 mins at this
stage.
If you
would like the links to join in fellowship – please feel free to email Danny
Archer:
danny@inbeta.org
To hook into this great service you must have
access to the internet .
We look forward to
seeing you all online.
Testimony. I had the very pleasurable experience of being connected on the
internet for the Preaching Service at 10am on Sunday 31st May. This was the first time I was able to avail myself of this
program. To say I was impressed would be an understatement; as well as hearing
an excellent and challenging sermon by Elder Neville Churchill, we could see
and exchange greetings with the others who were also on line. At Prayer
Meetings on Wednesday nights we can also see each other and participate in the
sevice. Elder Noel Rowlatt (Editor)
Tamworth
News
Reported
by Sr. Helen Archer
Hi everyone! Hope you are all going okay. Elder Peter Archer was going and
meeting with Brother Bob Wilkinson for a short Service out on his back porch
and then going to Deacon Roy and Sister Daphne Schubert for a short Service on
Sundays while the Coronavirus restrictions were on when we were able to do this
by law. Last week as the Restrictions had eased Brother Bob's daughter
came to visit him from Port Macquarie and he went home with her and stayed for
a week.
Sunday 17th May we had a Sacrament Service at Elder
Peter and Sister Helen Archer’s with Elder Peter giving the message.
Wednesday the 20th of May we had a Prayer Service
on a video conference. Priest Peter Churchill asked Elder Danny Archer
could it be done and Danny looked into it and we had our first
Prayer Service and it was very successful with eleven people sharing in
Prayer and Testimonies.
Thursday 21stof May We
celebrated Deacon Roy’s 87th Birthday with just five of his family as that
was the amount we were allowed to have over. He enjoyed coming and having
some of his family celebrate.
Sunday morning 24th May we had
another Service online with Elder Danny giving the message and 21 people
joining the meeting.
*****************
Church of Jesus Christ Restoration Branch--Kelvin View,
Euroa. Reported by Elder Murray Broughton
For the past month, my wife Delma and I have been
meeting every Sunday in our home and having a service. Sr.Delma video taped
many of them and put on Church of Jesus Christ Restoration Branch web site .I
also put scripture on nearly every day,
April 19 2020 . Church in Home in Euroa. Reading John 20:
24--31.
Sermon John 20; 18--31 John Chapter 21
Poem -- Footprints.
April 26 2020.
Church in Euroa in our Home.
Reading
- Acts Chapter 1: 1-8 Sermon Acts Chapter 1 .Acts Chapter 2.
May 3 2020 .
Church in our Home -Euroa.
Reading
Matthew 3: 27-32, & 40–46.. Sermon on Baptism.
[
Baptism of Water, Baptism of the Holy Ghost.] Mode of Baptism.
May 10 2020. Church
in Euroa - In our Home.
Hymns,
singing of hymns from church in Independance Missouri. Prayers.
Reading
Genesis Chapter 18: 1-14. Text: “Is anything too hard for the Lord?” Gen
18: 13.
Sermon
Genesis 18: 1-14, Genesis 21: 1--9.
May 17-2020.
Church in Kelvin View Hall.
Reading Luke Chapter
22: 14-22 & 30-34.
Sermon
Luke Chapter 22 Chapter 23. followed by the Sacrament..
Prayers needed. Jane Broughton, Kimberly, Dennis and Jan DeUray
in Geelong & Kevin Dowell. And in the Philippines: Jarome and Mary Jane
Natino’s child is taking fits; we sent money to help; been to Doctor, has to go
to Neurologist.
Scripture to conclude
with: Luke Chapter 21: 36 . And what I say unto one, I say unto
all, Watch ye therefore,and pray always,and keep my commandments, that ye may
be counted worthy to escape all these things which shall come to pass,and to
stand before the Son of man when he shall come clothed in the glory of his
Father.
11 Chronicles Chapter 7:
14. If my people which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and
pray,and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from
heaven, and will forgive their sin,and will heal their land.
Your Bro. In Christ, Elder Murray Broughton. Pastor.
****************
Please include in your
daily prayers the following people who are in need of a blessing
Gwen Whately,
Alma & Janice Kerswell Audrey Kerswell
Michael &
Patty Fulton , Gary Rowlatt, Ellen Sheppard,
Olive Melling, {plus those on Elder Murray Broghton’s list above)
The
Australian Government is gradually lifting restrictions that were placed on us
in an effort to curb the spread of the Covid 19 virus that has infected
the world and claimed so many lives. It has been announced that from the 12th June that Churches here can hold Services with a maximum
attendance of 20, provided that social distancing is observed. On that basis
the following schedule of activities for Kingston Branch has been planned.
CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST RESTORATION BRANCH, KINGSTON
17-19
Juers Street, Kingston, Queensland. Pastor: Elder
Alma Kerswell. Phone 07 3800 1151
ACTIVITY SCHEDULE. JUNE, 2020.
Sun.
14th. 10.00
a.m. COMMUNION SERVICE. Elder N.Rowlatt asstd.by Priest
G. Kerswell
Musical Item for Service.
Linda Myers
A Finger- Food Fellowship Lunch will follow. Please
bring suitable food
(We will still have
to observe social distancing)
Sun. 21st. 9.50
a.m. Hymn
Sing: Linda Myers
Flowers: Rebecca Melling
10.00 a.m. PREACHING SERVICE. Elder G. Melling
asstd.by Elder N. Melling
Musical Item for Service. Glenn Kerswell
11.10 a.m. Class: Priest G.Kerswell
Sun. 28th. 9.50 a.m. Hymn
Sing: Rebecca Melling
Flowers: Del Churchill
10.00 a.m. PREACHING SERVICE. Elder N. Churchill asstd.by Priest G.
Kerswell
Musical
Item for Service. Gary & Rebecca Melling
11.10
a.m. Class. Elder A. Kerswell
BRANCH
NEWS and ANNOUNCEMENTS for Kingston Branch..
Wedding Anniversary
Congratulations.
George & Sue Parker will have their Wedding Anniversary on the
13th June.
***************
As we move towards this new
phase of world history ( Post Corona Virus ) let us be challenged by these very
familiar and stimulating words of scripture to move forward striving to help
make Zion a reality.
D.& C.23a And the Lord God spake unto
Moses, saying, The heavens, they are many and they can not be numbered unto
man, but they are numbered unto me, for they are mine; and as one earth shall
pass away, and the heavens thereof, even so shall another come;
23b and
there is no end to my works, neither to my words; for this is my work and my
glory, to bring to pass the immortality, and eternal life of man.
D.&.C.4:
Now, behold, a marvelous work is about to come forth among the children
of men, therefore, O ye that embark in the service of God, see that ye serve
him with all your heart, might, mind, and strength, that ye may stand blameless
before God at the last day; therefore,
if ye have desires to serve God, ye are called to the work, for, behold, the
field is white already to harvestand lo, he that thrusteth in his sickle
with his might, the same layeth up in store that he perish not, but bringeth
salvation to his soul; and faith, hope, charity, and love, with an eye single
to the glory of God, qualifies him for the work. Remember, faith, virtue,
knowledge, temperance, patience, brotherly kindness, godliness, charity,
humility, diligence. Ask
and ye shall receive, knock and it shall be opened unto you.
John 8: 31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye
continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;
32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you
free.
Conributions to the Australian Restoration News
need to come by the 20th of the month and must be submitted by email if possible.Email
details are nandjrow@bigpond.com.au Phone contact: 07 3824
8386
We would
love to have contributions from isolated members in Australia; articles or
testimonies or just greetings. We would also like to hear from American saints
who have ministered in Australia.
Postal details are as follows: Noel
Rowlatt, 6 Wetheral Place, Alexandra Hills. Q4161
Editor Elder Noel Rowlatt
Assistant Editor Gary Rowlatt
No comments:
Post a Comment