From: Noel Rowlatt
MAY, 2021
Around and About the Centre Place by High Priest Paul J. Gage, Independence, Missouri
A lovely G'DAY! and May day greetings to all the lovely Saints in Australia,
As they say, "Time waits on no man," and here we are with one fourth of the year now history. In April, of course, we observed HIS STORY, the crucifixion and resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus the Christ.
He is the only One who gives us strength, faith, and hope to go on in this life with all its turmoil, struggles, and uncertainties. I believe I can assure you that there is not one family on this earth that is not experiencing some kind of problem. Whether spiritual, physical, mental, emotional, family, marital, occupational, trouble in the church and out of the church, you name it, we each have a great need for the Lord in our lives. Paul speaks to this in 2 Corinthians 4:8-15.
In May, actually Sunday, May 9th is designated as, "Mother's Day" It is observed in over 40 countries around the world and of course in Australia and the USA. The concept is to honor our mother's by reminding them of our love and appreciation for all they have done for us, but hopefully we do this every day in some way.
Someone once said that, "God couldn't be everywhere, so He created mothers." Of course we know that is not true, because God is the Creator of all things and thus is everywhere all the time. Remember some of the scriptures in the "Father's Love Letter," that He knows when we stand up and sit down, how many hairs are on our head, when a sparrow falls to the ground, WOW! My mother was a great mother and handmaid of the Lord, but she couldn't do all those things. At the same time though, mothers do have their special place in God's plan for us, so we praise Him for our mothers.
There are many mothers mentioned in the scriptures and many more we don't know their names. There was Eve, Ruth, Hannah, Elizabeth, Mary, Sariah, the mothers referred to in Alma 26:56, 57, 95, and 96, Lucy Mack Smith and Emma Smith. What a tribute to those mothers! The origin of Mother's Day in Australia is similar to the USA, but I'll let you look that up for yourselves, if you don't already know. I read that the Chrysanthemum is the traditional flower given to mothers in Australia and since it ends with "MUM", that phrase has become an affectionate shortening of the word, mother, in Australia. So, HAPPY MUM'S DAY TO ALL THE MOTHERS OF AUSTRALIA!
In the Centre Place, there were many events and activities in April. A special "Heritage Night" was held on April 6 with CRE Historian Danny Hight providing ministry. This service was live streamed and can be seen on the CRE website which is eldersconference.org. A Friday and Saturday, April 9,10 "Spring Gathering" was held at Waldo Avenue RB/Center Place Restoration School. There was lots of great ministry provided. All services may also be viewed on the CRE website. Information, topics and ministers can be found on the website and in the latest issue of Tidings of Zion. There was a great report from Doug Smith, in Kenya, regarding the Clinic that he, Judi and many others are involved in. It is a very successful endeavor which has been richly blessed by God.
The Pastors of Zion (POZ) Summer Preaching Series will run from June 13 through August 15, 2021. Services will be held at Waldo Avenue/CPRS. These services will also be live streamed.
The annual Restoration Branch Family Reunion and Conference of Restoration Elders will be held June 20-25, 2021. Preparations are well under way for that. All we need is for some Saints from Australia to join us.
All spring and summer events will hinge on the virus restrictions now in place.
Though the missionary boards of the CRE are active, actual mission trips abroad are at a standstill. Local ministers around the world are carrying on the work in their home areas, as is the case in Australia. A wonderful ministry is being provided through the Teams system. Keep up the great work, Saints!
Centre Place Restoration School is completing its 29th year of operation with the end of the school year being in late May 2021. New school board members will be elected in April and assume their duties on July 1, 2021.
*******************
Riches from the Scriptures by Elder Neil Kerswell, Queensland, Australia.
Vol 5 Chapter 2 Church and Spiritual Gifts
Spiritual gifts -- Their object -- The unity of the body of Christ, and the officers of the church.
19th April 2021. Spiritual Gifts is one area of our church that has been in my opinion and view point, weak and lacking power for the whole of my life thus far. Please don’t misunderstand, most in the church have had God speak or witness to them, had spiritual dreams, or seen miracles from time to time throughout their days, Put simply God has not left us comfortless. However we would be lying to say God’s Spirit is as active and manifested in power like is recorded in scripture and in the early restoration church history. It is my belief that what we face today is a direct result of what happened as the Church Leadership/Priesthood fell into apostasy and began from the top down to change the doctrines of Christ to the doctrines of men and women. Order was slowly lost and the love of the saints waxed cold as a result, offending God’s spirit, which brought about slowly but surely a weakened experience when the church met together. God has however over the years since the 1980’s recognised individuals, families and branches wherever there is still faith, hope and charity and a desire to get things right, preferring to choose God first and hold onto his doctrines and never let go, seeking to keep God’s commandments no matter what persecution from within and without the church came their way. For the church to be truly healthy and strong and functioning perfectly there must be again the full complement of priesthood, prophetic leadership, membership, families and enthusiastic new comers that are united in Love and Spirit under Christ as the head and chief cornerstone. Sadly for those of us who are holding on, we have been through much Spiritual warfare over the years, which meant at times standing against our brothers and sisters in the faith who were going a different way to Christ. My personal experience was always hearing of people of powerful faith in the church of bygone years, but actually living in the times of decline with hope. Instead of having incredible apostles, guiding us as youth to wisdom, and teaching us to have great faith, and giving us the keys to unlock our gifts and calling in God’s work. My cousins and I attended reunions where we spent time trying to convince apostles and appointees to return to the church we were baptised into. We quoted scripture and experiences hoping to bring back to the fold those, who should have been strengthening and nourishing us for a rich and prosperous future in God’s work.
I thank and praise God that we were not lost or discouraged by our warfare.
I am sure that you along with me look forward to a time when Christ moves again in power, bringing order, structure and an eye single to the glory of God. I am not saying there is not authority amongst us now, there most definitely is. It is clear though from Scripture and church history that when the church is firing on all cylinders, it is perfect and complete with all the gifts of the spirit at all prayer and testimony meetings, sacraments and ordinances of the church.
[1 Corinthians 12:1] Now concerning spiritual things, brethren, I would not have you ignorant.[1 (Corinthians 12:2] Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led.[1 Corinthians 12:3] Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed; and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.
[1 Corinthians 12:4] Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.
[1 Corinthians 12:5] And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord.
[1 Corinthians 12:6] And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.
[1 Corinthians 12:7] But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.
[1 Corinthians 12:8] For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;
[1 Corinthians 12:9] To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;
[1 Corinthians 12:10] To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues;
[1 Corinthians 12:11] But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.
[1 Corinthians 12:12] For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body; so also is Christ.
[1 Corinthians 12:13] For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
[1 Corinthians 12:14] For the body is not one member, but many.
[1 Corinthians 12:15] If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?
[1 Corinthians 12:16] And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?
[1 Corinthians 12:17] If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling?
[1 Corinthians 12:18] But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.
[1 Corinthians 12:19] And if they were all one member, where were the body?
[1 Corinthians 12:20] But now are they many members, yet but one body.
[1 Corinthians 12:21] And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee; nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.
[1 Corinthians 12:22] Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary;
[1 Corinthians 12:23] And those members of the body, which we think to be less honorable, upon these we bestow more abundant honor; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness.
[1 Corinthians 12:24] For our comely parts have no need; but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honor to that part which lacked;
[1 Corinthians 12:25] That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.
[1 Corinthians 12:26] And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honored, all the members rejoice with it.
[1 Corinthians 12:27] Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.
[1 Corinthians 12:28] And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.
[1 Corinthians 12:29] Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles?
[1 Corinthians 12:30] Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?
[1 Corinthians 12:31] I say unto you, Nay; for I have shown unto you a more excellent way, therefore covet earnestly the best gifts.
This beautiful piece of Scripture paints a picture of a large body of people who are truly one but also filled with wonderful diversity and uniqueness when moved upon by the power of God within the body to edify the body as a whole. Because it is the same God that causes all parts of the body to function, never will any part of it, cause sickness or harm to another part, because all are nourished strengthened and directed by the one true and living God. Bringing common understanding and purpose although coming through many and varied sources and many and varied ways.
This oneness is borne out by the words “That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another. And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honored, all the members rejoice with it.”
The likeness drawn between the Church and a body helps us to see that when the Spiritual head, eyes and ears of the church are not there the body suffers. This is why we need the complete complement of Priesthood, Leadership, Families, and membership, all functioning in the light of God’s Spirit in order for the body of Christ to be truly a healthy church here upon the earth.
Most of us know this and some have tried to run before the Lord over the years which has brought confusion, distrust and caused many to walk away from the church. Every time Christ has truly moved in his work amongst mankind throughout history it is always associated with manifestations of divine power that cause his people to rejoice and tremble under His divine majesty and power.
None of us can make this happen, those who try and force it to happen, will only reap misery and woe. It can and will only happen when it is the will and Timing of God. Abraham was a stranger in his day seeing Zion afar off and being persuaded of it but never having it realised in his day. However, his heart was of the kingdom in life and is now of the kingdom in Spirit. Waiting for the time in the creation story when the hearts of the children shall turn to their fathers and the hearts of the Fathers be turned to the children. We have the responsibility now to live every day in the hope of Christ’s kingdom here upon the earth, teaching and living as if today is the day of Christ’s coming, being persuaded of the kingdom and having a heart thereof.
May each and every one of you be blessed in your life, may you be healed in your hearts, may we all of a oneness throughout the world hear the voice of God and may we all have a desire to see the kingdom come and God’s will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Is my prayer in Jesus name, Amen.
****************
for the scattered saints of australia
‘Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt.’
In Watchman Nee’s book “The Normal Christian Worker”, he devotes a whole chapter to our words, and how we communicate with others. He says: ‘Because of unrestrained speech, the usefulness of many Christian workers is seriously curtailed. Instead of being powerful instruments in the Lord’s service, their ministry makes little impact on account of the constant leakage of power through their careless talk.’
This reminder that we can hurt the impact of our efforts for God by talking carelessly is a stark one, and it really is that serious.
As Proverbs 18:21 tells us, ‘the tongue has the power of life and death’. It can be so easy to be careless with our words, to speak without thinking. We can also betray ourselves with our tone, our gestures, and our facial expressions. We have to remember, though, that all of those things can dramatically change the way that people see us and, by extension, the way they see God.
It’s time for us to echo David’s prayer in Psalm 141:3-4: ‘Take control of what I say, O Lord, and guard my lips. Don’t let me drift towards evil’. Those verses are worth memorizing and repeating when we feel our words veering towards negativity. It’s also very worthwhile to check our attitude.
Our words are fuelled by our thoughts, and our speech can’t run out of control unless our mind goes there first. That’s really where we need God to step in. We need His help to challenge our thoughts. Each time we find our mind or speech drifting towards negativity, we should stop ourselves and pray to God for ‘the renewing of [our] mind’ that we read about in Romans 12:2.
This reading comes from “The Normal Christian Worker” by Nee - ..
WHAT NOW? - Spend some time looking into the numerous verses in the Bible that deal with our words. Pick one or two to memorize and use when you need it.
*****************
ON LINE PRAYER MEETING at 7.00 p.m. EST Time on EACH WEDNESDAY
Zone Times:
PRAYER SERVICE & PRIESTHOOD MEETING: NSW/VIC/ACT 7-00 pm; QLD 7-00 pm; STH AUST 6-30 PM; W.AUST 5-00 pm
SUNDAY: NSW / VICTORIA / ACT 10-00 am; QLD 10.00 am; STH AUST 9.30 am; W.AUST 8-00 am
Streamed on-line Church Services Scheduled for MAY, 2021.
Sunday Services at 10.00 a.m..EST......................................................Prayer Services 7-00 p.p. EST
Sun 2nd Sacrament.....LOCAL AREA SERVICES........................................Wed. 5th Elder Danny Archer
Sun. 9th Preaching Priest Peter Churchill.....................................Wed. 12th Elder Peter Archer
Sun. 16th Preaching Elder Gary Melling.........................................Wed. 19th Elder Murray Broughton
Sun. 23rd Preaching Elder Noel Rowlatt.........................................Wed. 26th Priest Glenn Kerswell
Sun. 30th Preaching Elder Peter Archer ……………………………
To join and share in this group activity all you need to do is email Elder Danny Archer in Sydney danny@inbeta.org and register and he will give you the instructions on how to get connected. You must have internet to access this service.
Sr. Gwen Whately has had a stroke while in hospital in Perth to recover from a punctured lung and 3 cracked ribs which resulted from a fall at home. The stroke has not impaired her speech noticeably but has caused her eyesight to be not as good and her short term memory has been effected. Gwen had to have an operation to remove blood clots from her left arm. She is in the Rehabilitation Ward at the present time in the Rockingham General Hospital
Phone: (08) 9599 4000 Gwen has a phone alongside her bed.
Bereavement. We were saddened to hear of the passing of Sr.Marge Holmes in the USA recently. Sr. Marge and her husband Gary were in Australia on a missionary assignment many years ago. Our sincere sympathy is extended to Bro.Gary and Family.
****************************************************************************
Tamworth News Reported by Sr. Helen Archer
We continue to meet online each Wednesday night and Sunday mornings.
Over Easter Peter & Helen Archer and Danny and Kris Archer travelled down South to visit with the Saints and friends and family along the way.
First Peter and Helen travelled from Tamworth to Kellyville to Danny and Kris's and stayed the night at their home. Then Peter, Helen Danny and Kris travelled to Canberra, visiting on Thursday night with some friends that we had not seen in years.
On the Friday morning we visited and had a Worship Service and a meal with our Nepalese family, then travelled on to Tumut to visit Helen's brother and all his family.
Saturday we travelled to Benalla to our Motel and then on to Brother Murray and Sister Delma's where
we visited and had a lovely evening meal prepared by Delma, returning to Benalla for the night. On Sunday we went back to Euroa to the Broughton’s for an online Service with Priest Peter Churchill presiding.
Then we proceeded for an Easter Service at Kelvin View Church which is a Historical Building up in the hills from Euroa.
Elder Peter Archer gave the message for a Sacrament Service that was held. We then went back to Brother Murray and Sister Delma's for a lovely lunch.
Sunday afternoon we travelled to Melbourne, finding our Motel which was in the heart of the city and then going for an evening meal at Kris's bridesmaid’s home.
Monday we went on a boat trip on the Yarra River with Kris's bridesmaid giving us a guided tour. Peter and I had not visited Melbourne before.
We left for home on Tuesday and made it back in one day to Sydney to Danny and Kris's home. We all enjoyed our time spent together.
Birthdays
May 21st Roy Schubert will have his 88th Birthday.
****************
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, Daphne Schubert.
CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST RESTORATION BRANCH, KINGSTON
17-19 Juers Street, Kingston, Queensland. Pastor: Elder Alma Kerswell. Phone 07 3800 1151
ACTIVITY SCHEDULE. MAY 2021.
Sun. 2nd. 10.00 a.m. COMMUNION SERVICE. Elder N.Churchill asstd.by Priest G. Kerswell
Musical Item for Service: Linda Myers
No Service to follow Communion Service.
Monday 3rd.May. PRIESTHOOD MEETING on line
Wed 5th. Prayer Meeting. Elder Danny Archer
Sun. 9th. 10.00 a.m. PREACHING SERVICE. Priest Peter Churchill
(Live streamed in)
11.10 a.m. Mothers’ Day Service. Sr. Catherine & Elder Norm Melling
.
Wed 12th. Prayer Meeting. Elder Peter Archer
Sun. 16th. 10.00 a.m. PREACHING SERVICE. Elder Gary Melling
(Live streamed out)
11.10 a.m. Sermonette. Priest Glenn Kerswell
Wed 19th. Prayer Meeting. Elder Murray Broughton
Sun. 23rd. 10.00 a.m. PREACHING SERVICE. Elder Noel Rowlatt
Musical Item for Service: Gary & Rebecca Melling
( Live streamed out)
11.10 a.m. Class. Elder Gary Melling
Wed 26th. Prayer Meeting. Priest Glenn Kerswell
Sun. 30th. 10.00 a.m. PREACHING SERVICE. Elder Peter Archer
(Live streamed in)
11.10 a.m. Class. Elder Neville Churchill
BRANCH NEWS and ANNOUNCEMENTS for Kingston Branch..
Birthdays Happy Birthday Wishes. To Gary Melling for 10th. May
Wedding Anniversary Congratulations to Gary & Rebecca Melling who celebrate theirs on the 3rd..May.
Contributions 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