Relief society and Priesthood were combined this week with the Young Men and Young Women as Bishop Smith taught us about goals.
The Stake Presidency receive directions from the Area Presidency on a particular area of focus, and the world wide focus this year is Saving the Rising Generation.
The Ward Council then discuss other goals that they would like the ward to achieve and this becomes the Ward Mission Plan.
2011 Stake/District Goals
Save the Rising Generation
a. Teach them to be Virtuous
b. Increase the number of young men/young women serving missions from * 2 to 4.
c. Increase YSA attendance from *25 to 40.
Strengthen the Family
a. Strengthen Husband/Wife relationships and teach daily prayer, scripture study, and family
home evening.
b. 3 Couples sealed in the temple
c. Increase number of temple recommend holders from *72 to 80.
Save the One
a. Every leader and member rescues in 2011
b. Increase the number of active Melchizedek Priesthood holders from *31 to 41
c. Increase sacrament meeting attendance from *143 to 155.
Share the Gospel
a. Every member prepares someone to be taught by the missionaries.
b. Every ward council prepares and maintains 15 names for the missionaries to teach.
c. Increase number of convert baptisms from *9 to 20.
How to Accomplish These Goals
Save the Rising Generation
a. EQ lessons on serving missions and teaching the Gospel.
b. Bishopric Youth firesides on Virtue and For the Strength of Youth.
c. Encourage Priests to teach with Missionaries.
d. Positive Home Teaching experiences for Young Men.
e. Quality YSA activities.
Strengthen the Family
a. Well planned Sacrament Meetings.
b. PPI's
c. Specific questions asked to support and encourage families
during home teaching visits.
d. All families have and use church magazines.
e. 15 names maintained in Ward Council.
Save the One
a. Review Ward Goals regularly in presidency meetings, speaking assignments and lessons.
b. Home Teaching Interviews.
c. Priesthood service and activities.
Share the Gospel
a. Families to plan Family Mission Plans.
b. All members to pray for missionary experiences.
c. Families to have and use Preach My Gospel in the home and individually.
d. Maintain a monthly missionary focus.
________________________________
The assistant Ward Mission Leader Aaron then discussed the importance of a Family Mission Plan 2011 and we were given a template
Family Mission Plan (Template) - 2011 & Ongoing
1. Family Mission Goals (These are the goals your family chooses to set)
• (Example only) Number of friends to refer to missionaries: .
• ..............
• ..............
2. Areas of Focus
a. Faith - to receive opportunities & assistance from the Lord
b. Desire - to share the gospel
c. Courage - to open our mouths
d. Skills - in how to share effectively
e. Community Involvement - to meet new people
3. Monthly Focus
Monthly Focus:
Month and Year:
Pick a focus from section 2 and write it in the "Monthly Focus" box above. Fill out
the specific things you will do to fullfil that focus in section 4 below (e.g. if your
focus is "Faith," a specific action might be "Pray for opportunities to share the
gospel"). This focus should be reviewed monthly, but does not necessarily need to
change every month.
4. Specific Actions
A. Faith:
...................
B. Desire
..................
C. Courage
.................
D. Skills
.................
E. Community Involvement
..................
(ask your home teachers for a copy if you need).
Aaron suggested we keep it on the fridge so we can see it often.
The Relief Society President Blanche suggested ways Relief Society would contribute to achieving the ward goals. Sisters would do this through working together on activities and lessons. This would filter down and strengthen our families. Individually we can do things to help by prayer and scripture study this should also help strengthen our families.
Bishop Smith finished by telling us that this is a good and honourable thing to do as it benefits other people and is a benefit to us. We become better people and the Lord's Gospel is spread further.
February Announcements
4th-6th Single Adult Weekend Activity
11th Stake Activities evening at Cornelian Bay Soccer Ground
11th-13thth Stake Conference
Monday, January 31, 2011
Monday, January 10, 2011
Sunday Snippet
Emi taught our lesson this week from the Gospel Principles manual chapter 24 "The Sabbath Day".
We began by reading and discussing Exodus 20:8-11. "Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work; But the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day and hallowed it."
It was mentioned that we should not focus on what we cannot do on the sabbath but on what we can do.
Joy, Amy, Mary and Nicole read from the manual the section on "Keeping the Sabbath Day Holy"
In a revelation given to Joseph Smith in 1831, the Lord commanded the Saints to go to the house of prayer and offer up their sacraments, rest from their labours, and pay their devotions to the Most High( see D&C 59: 9-12)
He asks us to rest from daily work. Our prophets have told us that we should not shop, hunt, fish, attend sports events or participate in similar activities on the sabbath.
President Kimball cautioned that if we lounge about doing nothing we are not keeping the day holy.
The Sabbath is a time to attend church, perform church service, visit extended family members, and the sick and house bound, also to visit with our friends in the gospel. It is a day to listen to uplifting music, to read the scriptures and church magazines and to write letters to loved ones and missionaries. It is a time to appreciate nature and the beauty of the world.
The Sabbath is a state of mind.
In deciding what activities we could engage in on the sabbath we could ask: Will it uplift and inspire me? Does it show respect for the Lord? Does it direct my thoughts to Him?
If we are required to work on the Sabbath we should still maintain the spirit of the Sabbath in our hearts as much as possible.
"If we honour the Sabbath Day, we may receive great spiritual and temporal blessings. the Lord has said that if we keep the Sabbath day with thanksgiving and cheerful hearts, we will be full of joy. He has promised: D&C 59 :16 "Verily I say, that in as much as ye do this, the fullness of the earth is yours..."
Thank you Emi for this wonderful lesson.
In five minute music we listened to Ave Maria by Caccini played by David Stanhope
We began by reading and discussing Exodus 20:8-11. "Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work; But the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day and hallowed it."
It was mentioned that we should not focus on what we cannot do on the sabbath but on what we can do.
Joy, Amy, Mary and Nicole read from the manual the section on "Keeping the Sabbath Day Holy"
In a revelation given to Joseph Smith in 1831, the Lord commanded the Saints to go to the house of prayer and offer up their sacraments, rest from their labours, and pay their devotions to the Most High( see D&C 59: 9-12)
He asks us to rest from daily work. Our prophets have told us that we should not shop, hunt, fish, attend sports events or participate in similar activities on the sabbath.
President Kimball cautioned that if we lounge about doing nothing we are not keeping the day holy.
The Sabbath is a time to attend church, perform church service, visit extended family members, and the sick and house bound, also to visit with our friends in the gospel. It is a day to listen to uplifting music, to read the scriptures and church magazines and to write letters to loved ones and missionaries. It is a time to appreciate nature and the beauty of the world.
The Sabbath is a state of mind.
In deciding what activities we could engage in on the sabbath we could ask: Will it uplift and inspire me? Does it show respect for the Lord? Does it direct my thoughts to Him?
If we are required to work on the Sabbath we should still maintain the spirit of the Sabbath in our hearts as much as possible.
"If we honour the Sabbath Day, we may receive great spiritual and temporal blessings. the Lord has said that if we keep the Sabbath day with thanksgiving and cheerful hearts, we will be full of joy. He has promised: D&C 59 :16 "Verily I say, that in as much as ye do this, the fullness of the earth is yours..."
Thank you Emi for this wonderful lesson.
In five minute music we listened to Ave Maria by Caccini played by David Stanhope
Monday, January 3, 2011
Sunday Snippet
Happy New Year
Fiona Rea taught us this week from a talk of elder Jeffery R Holland, "The Best is Yet to Be", Ensign Jan. 2010,
The start of the new Year is the traditional time to take stock of our lives. In Luke 17:32 the Saviour cautions us to "Remember Lot's wife". We discussed who Lot's wife was and what she did that was so wrong. Lot's wife was reluctant to leave her home and it is possible that she looked back with resentment toward the Lord for what He was asking her to leave behind ... so it isn't just that she looked back; she looked back longingly. Her attachment to the past outweighed her confidence in the future.
"As a new year begins and we try to benefit from a proper view of what has gone before, I plead with you not to dwell on days now gone nor to yearn vainly for yesterday, however good those yesterdays may have been. The past is to be learned from not lived in. We look back to claim the embers from glowing experiences but not the ashes. And when we have learned what we need to learn and have brought with us the best that we have experienced, then we look ahead and remember that faith is always pointed toward the future. Faith always has to do with blessings and truths and events that will yet be efficacious in our lives."
Lot's wife did not have faith to know that the future could be as good if not better than the past.
"There is something in many of us that particularly fails to forgive and forget earlier mistakes in life -- either our mistakes or the mistakes of others. It is not good. It is not Christian. It stands in terrible opposition to the grandeur and majesty of the Atonement of Christ."
We need to be gentle on ourselves and on others and take advantage of the Saviour's atonement.
"Let people repent. Let people grow. Believe that people can change and improve. Is that faith? Yes! Is that hope? Yes! Is that charity? Yes! Above all, it is charity, the pure love of Christ. If something is buried in the past, leave it buried. ... Such dwelling on past lives, including past mistakes, is just not right! It is not the gospel of Jesus Christ. In some ways it is worse than Lot's wife because at least she only destroyed herself. In cases of marriage and family, wards and branches, apartments and neighbourhoods, we can endup destroying so many others."
"Perhaps at the beginning of a new year there is no greater requirment for us than to do as the Lord Himself said He does. 'He who has repented of his sins, the same is forgiven, and I, the Lord, remember them no more.' (D&C 58:42)"
Fiona gave out paper and we wrote down the things we didn't want to take with us into 2011; things like impatience, lack of understanding, inability to use computers etc. and we played Jenga as we shared what we had written. (Fiona was expecting the structure to come crashing down but it had been built into an extraordinary thing.)
Elder Holland counseled us to keep our eyes on our dreams. Live to see the miracles of repentance and forgiveness, of trust and divine love that will transform our lives today, tomorrow and forever. That is a new years resolution to keep.
Thank you Fiona for our lesson.
No Announcements this week
I have included the poem from Fiona Cluff's lesson a couple of weeks past if you are interested go to that Sunday Snippet.
Fiona Rea taught us this week from a talk of elder Jeffery R Holland, "The Best is Yet to Be", Ensign Jan. 2010,
The start of the new Year is the traditional time to take stock of our lives. In Luke 17:32 the Saviour cautions us to "Remember Lot's wife". We discussed who Lot's wife was and what she did that was so wrong. Lot's wife was reluctant to leave her home and it is possible that she looked back with resentment toward the Lord for what He was asking her to leave behind ... so it isn't just that she looked back; she looked back longingly. Her attachment to the past outweighed her confidence in the future.
"As a new year begins and we try to benefit from a proper view of what has gone before, I plead with you not to dwell on days now gone nor to yearn vainly for yesterday, however good those yesterdays may have been. The past is to be learned from not lived in. We look back to claim the embers from glowing experiences but not the ashes. And when we have learned what we need to learn and have brought with us the best that we have experienced, then we look ahead and remember that faith is always pointed toward the future. Faith always has to do with blessings and truths and events that will yet be efficacious in our lives."
Lot's wife did not have faith to know that the future could be as good if not better than the past.
"There is something in many of us that particularly fails to forgive and forget earlier mistakes in life -- either our mistakes or the mistakes of others. It is not good. It is not Christian. It stands in terrible opposition to the grandeur and majesty of the Atonement of Christ."
We need to be gentle on ourselves and on others and take advantage of the Saviour's atonement.
"Let people repent. Let people grow. Believe that people can change and improve. Is that faith? Yes! Is that hope? Yes! Is that charity? Yes! Above all, it is charity, the pure love of Christ. If something is buried in the past, leave it buried. ... Such dwelling on past lives, including past mistakes, is just not right! It is not the gospel of Jesus Christ. In some ways it is worse than Lot's wife because at least she only destroyed herself. In cases of marriage and family, wards and branches, apartments and neighbourhoods, we can endup destroying so many others."
"Perhaps at the beginning of a new year there is no greater requirment for us than to do as the Lord Himself said He does. 'He who has repented of his sins, the same is forgiven, and I, the Lord, remember them no more.' (D&C 58:42)"
Fiona gave out paper and we wrote down the things we didn't want to take with us into 2011; things like impatience, lack of understanding, inability to use computers etc. and we played Jenga as we shared what we had written. (Fiona was expecting the structure to come crashing down but it had been built into an extraordinary thing.)
Elder Holland counseled us to keep our eyes on our dreams. Live to see the miracles of repentance and forgiveness, of trust and divine love that will transform our lives today, tomorrow and forever. That is a new years resolution to keep.
Thank you Fiona for our lesson.
No Announcements this week
I have included the poem from Fiona Cluff's lesson a couple of weeks past if you are interested go to that Sunday Snippet.
Monday, December 27, 2010
Sunday Snippet
This week Peta gave our lesson based on the May 2010 Ensign "That the Children Might See the Face of the Saviour" by Sister Cheryl C Lant, former Primary General President. "Seek the face of the Lord always, that in patience ye may possess your souls, and ye shall have eternal life." (D&C 101:38)
Christs invitation to seek Him is an invitation to know who He is, what He has done for us and what He has asked us to do.
There were three points that we focused on:
1. Love the Lord and our families - and all children.
We do this by knowing God and learning who He is and what He would have us do.
By reading scriptures and praying
By being obedient
By serving our families and others
2. Be good examples.
We can be worthy examples for all children by these qualities
Smile and be friendly
Kindness - having a kind manner
Happiness
Approachable and easily entreated
Patient and gentle
3. Teach the Gospel.
Find the joy of living the gospel
Going to church
Develop our personal relationship with Heavenly Father
Help children develop their relationship with Heavenly Father by using the scriptures and saying their prayers
Help children recognise the Holy Ghost and how He removes hatred and malice from us
"It is our sacred responsibility as leaders of this rising generation of children to bring them to the Saviour so that they might see His face and the face of our Father in Heaven as well. As we do this we also bring ourselves."
January Announcements
Saturday 1st
2pm at 34 Jenkins Street Taroona
BBQ @ 5pm
Bring your bathers and towel if its warm
RSVP on blog
Sunday 2nd
Meetings begin at 9am
please arrive early
Christs invitation to seek Him is an invitation to know who He is, what He has done for us and what He has asked us to do.
There were three points that we focused on:
1. Love the Lord and our families - and all children.
We do this by knowing God and learning who He is and what He would have us do.
By reading scriptures and praying
By being obedient
By serving our families and others
2. Be good examples.
We can be worthy examples for all children by these qualities
Smile and be friendly
Kindness - having a kind manner
Happiness
Approachable and easily entreated
Patient and gentle
3. Teach the Gospel.
Find the joy of living the gospel
Going to church
Develop our personal relationship with Heavenly Father
Help children develop their relationship with Heavenly Father by using the scriptures and saying their prayers
Help children recognise the Holy Ghost and how He removes hatred and malice from us
"It is our sacred responsibility as leaders of this rising generation of children to bring them to the Saviour so that they might see His face and the face of our Father in Heaven as well. As we do this we also bring ourselves."
January Announcements
Saturday 1st
2pm at 34 Jenkins Street Taroona
BBQ @ 5pm
Bring your bathers and towel if its warm
RSVP on blog
Sunday 2nd
Meetings begin at 9am
please arrive early
Monday, December 20, 2010
Sunday Snippet
Fiona Cluff gave the lesson this week on "The Sacrament" chapter 23 from our Gospel Principles manual. Fiona began by telling us of a conversation with her cousin who asked why does Fiona take the sacrament often? Fiona found this hard to answer and was grateful for the opportunity to teach this lesson and learn about why we need to partake of the sacrament often.
We listened to a recording of sacrament hymn 196 "Jesus Once of Humble Birth". When it had finished she asked us what we had been thinking about while it was playing?
Had we been thinking of the Saviour?
"The sacrament is a holy priesthood ordinance that helps remind us of the Saviour's Atonement. During the sacrament, we partake of bread and water. We do this in remembrance of His flesh and His blood which He gave as a sacrifice for us. As we partake of the sacrament, we renew sacred covenants with our Heavenly Father."
We were divided into four groups and we analysed and discussed the sacrament prayers in Doctrine and Covenants 20: 77, 79
We covenant to take His name upon us and always remember Him and keep His commandments and He covenants that we may always have His spirit to be with us.
Taking the sacrament often helps us to remember Him and gives us the opportunity to repent and to do better.
We were asked how we can help the children be reverent while partaking of the sacrament. Tina suggested small books showing the sacrament kept especially for when the sacrament begins. Sisters Pat Barwick said to practice sitting still and taking the sacrament and Sister Elaine Watson said to discus it at home where there is an opportunity to talk about what is going on and what it means.
Fiona read a poem about what we might be thinking about when we take the sacrament.
Sacrament Poem
There was envy in the glances that a lovely woman cast,
At the hairdo of a neighbor while the Sacrament was passed.
And a teenaged girl I noticed, though a timid lass & shy,
Watched a youthful priest intently through the corner of her eye;
As he sat behind the table where the water trays were spread.
She was not remembering Jesus nor the prayer the priest had said.
There was nothing reverential in the things the cub scout drew,
on the pages of the hymn book till the Sacrament was through.
Not a thought of Jesus' passion entered careless elders' minds,
As they whispered to each other & the girls they sat behind.
And the high priest's brow was furrowed as he stole a secret glance,
At his checkbook's dismal story of his failures in finance.
There were hundreds in the chapel but the worshippers were few,
And I couldn't help but wonder what the Lord Himself would do.
I couldn't help but wonder what the Lord Himself would say,
Had he walked into a meeting where His saints behaved that way.
Would His loving eyes be saddened, would His countenance be grim;
While He there observed & listened to a meeting meant for Him?
Author: O. Willard Pilling
It is important to focus our thoughts on the Saviour as we take the Sacrament and Pat mentioned how there is a painting of Jesus Christ our Saviour administering the sacrament to the congregation.
"During the sacrament service we should dismiss from our minds all worldly thoughts. We should feel prayerful and reverent. We should think of the atonement of our Saviour and be grateful for it. We should examine our lives and look for ways to improve. We should also renew our determination to keep the commandments".
Thank you Fiona for reminding us of the importance of the sacrament and also for the gifts.
December Announcements
Merry Christmas everyone
Thank you for the contributions to Elder Shoobridge's Christmas box
Relief Society is scheduled for Boxing Day
In January we switch to mornings
We listened to a recording of sacrament hymn 196 "Jesus Once of Humble Birth". When it had finished she asked us what we had been thinking about while it was playing?
Had we been thinking of the Saviour?
"The sacrament is a holy priesthood ordinance that helps remind us of the Saviour's Atonement. During the sacrament, we partake of bread and water. We do this in remembrance of His flesh and His blood which He gave as a sacrifice for us. As we partake of the sacrament, we renew sacred covenants with our Heavenly Father."
We were divided into four groups and we analysed and discussed the sacrament prayers in Doctrine and Covenants 20: 77, 79
We covenant to take His name upon us and always remember Him and keep His commandments and He covenants that we may always have His spirit to be with us.
Taking the sacrament often helps us to remember Him and gives us the opportunity to repent and to do better.
We were asked how we can help the children be reverent while partaking of the sacrament. Tina suggested small books showing the sacrament kept especially for when the sacrament begins. Sisters Pat Barwick said to practice sitting still and taking the sacrament and Sister Elaine Watson said to discus it at home where there is an opportunity to talk about what is going on and what it means.
Fiona read a poem about what we might be thinking about when we take the sacrament.
Sacrament Poem
There was envy in the glances that a lovely woman cast,
At the hairdo of a neighbor while the Sacrament was passed.
And a teenaged girl I noticed, though a timid lass & shy,
Watched a youthful priest intently through the corner of her eye;
As he sat behind the table where the water trays were spread.
She was not remembering Jesus nor the prayer the priest had said.
There was nothing reverential in the things the cub scout drew,
on the pages of the hymn book till the Sacrament was through.
Not a thought of Jesus' passion entered careless elders' minds,
As they whispered to each other & the girls they sat behind.
And the high priest's brow was furrowed as he stole a secret glance,
At his checkbook's dismal story of his failures in finance.
There were hundreds in the chapel but the worshippers were few,
And I couldn't help but wonder what the Lord Himself would do.
I couldn't help but wonder what the Lord Himself would say,
Had he walked into a meeting where His saints behaved that way.
Would His loving eyes be saddened, would His countenance be grim;
While He there observed & listened to a meeting meant for Him?
Author: O. Willard Pilling
It is important to focus our thoughts on the Saviour as we take the Sacrament and Pat mentioned how there is a painting of Jesus Christ our Saviour administering the sacrament to the congregation.
"During the sacrament service we should dismiss from our minds all worldly thoughts. We should feel prayerful and reverent. We should think of the atonement of our Saviour and be grateful for it. We should examine our lives and look for ways to improve. We should also renew our determination to keep the commandments".
Thank you Fiona for reminding us of the importance of the sacrament and also for the gifts.
December Announcements
Merry Christmas everyone
Thank you for the contributions to Elder Shoobridge's Christmas box
Relief Society is scheduled for Boxing Day
In January we switch to mornings
Monday, December 13, 2010
Sunday Snippet
This week Amy King taught our lesson on the Gifts of the spirit.
It was very confusing at first as Amy and Lisa were teaching us the lesson in Japanese. This was to give us a taste of what it is like for international members and investigators. Amy said when she was overseas everyone including the Bishop came up to her and said Hello and this made her feel welcome and she encouraged us to welcome our international members.
We were then given a gift with a scriptural reference and we had to find the sister that had a match to ours and look up the scripture and discuss it.
With help from Chelsea the gifts were written on the board.
The Gift of Tongues (D&C 46:24)
The Gift of Interpretation of Tongues (D&C 46:25)
The Gift of Wisdom (D&C 46:17)
The Gift of Knowledge (D&C 46:18)
The Gift of knowing that Jesus Christ is the Son of God (D&C 46:13)
The Gift of Believing the Testimony of Others (D&C 46:14)
The Gift of Healing (D&C 46:19,20)
The Gift of Working Miracles (D&C 46:21)
The Gift of Faith (Moroni 10:11)
To develop our gifts we must find out which gifts we have. We do this by praying and fasting. In Doctrine and Covenants 46:9 The Lord said "They (gifts) are given for the benefit of those who love me and keep all my commandments and him that seeketh so to do."
We all have been given at least one spiritual gift to use for the benefit of others as well as ourselves. We can find out what gifts we are given when we receive our Patriarchal Blessing.
Doctrine and covenants 46:27 {"And unto the Bishop of the church and unto such as God shall appoint and ordain to watch over the church and to be elders unto the church are to have it given unto them to discern all those gifts lest there shall be any among you professing and yet be not of God." This is because Satan can imitate the Gifts of the Spirit and can deceive us with false prophets.
Our Spiritual Gifts are sacred and not for us to boast of, neither to speak of them before the world, for they are given for our profit and salvation.
Thank you Amy for the awesome lesson.
On Tuesday night at the Relief Society Activity many sisters attended (but if you didn't make it we missed you) and we had fun putting the hampers together. Kelly organised some games and Pictionary Christmas Carols was a lot of fun. We finished with a lovely supper including delicious plum pudding.
The High Priest Pot luck dinner on Friday was also fun and the food was yummy. It was an opportunity for Inga and Ian to enjoy a social dinner and we all enjoyed the beautiful surroundings. Another dinner is planned for early/mid January. The date to be advised.
DECEMBER ANNOUNCMENTS
Sat 18th Dec - Stake Back to Bethlehem Activity 3-5pm
Please dress up in Biblical fashion, bring a blanket or quilt to sit on and also a contribution of non perishable food.
Please check notice boards for further details or contact auxillary leaders
It was very confusing at first as Amy and Lisa were teaching us the lesson in Japanese. This was to give us a taste of what it is like for international members and investigators. Amy said when she was overseas everyone including the Bishop came up to her and said Hello and this made her feel welcome and she encouraged us to welcome our international members.
We were then given a gift with a scriptural reference and we had to find the sister that had a match to ours and look up the scripture and discuss it.
With help from Chelsea the gifts were written on the board.
The Gift of Tongues (D&C 46:24)
The Gift of Interpretation of Tongues (D&C 46:25)
The Gift of Wisdom (D&C 46:17)
The Gift of Knowledge (D&C 46:18)
The Gift of knowing that Jesus Christ is the Son of God (D&C 46:13)
The Gift of Believing the Testimony of Others (D&C 46:14)
The Gift of Healing (D&C 46:19,20)
The Gift of Working Miracles (D&C 46:21)
The Gift of Faith (Moroni 10:11)
To develop our gifts we must find out which gifts we have. We do this by praying and fasting. In Doctrine and Covenants 46:9 The Lord said "They (gifts) are given for the benefit of those who love me and keep all my commandments and him that seeketh so to do."
We all have been given at least one spiritual gift to use for the benefit of others as well as ourselves. We can find out what gifts we are given when we receive our Patriarchal Blessing.
Doctrine and covenants 46:27 {"And unto the Bishop of the church and unto such as God shall appoint and ordain to watch over the church and to be elders unto the church are to have it given unto them to discern all those gifts lest there shall be any among you professing and yet be not of God." This is because Satan can imitate the Gifts of the Spirit and can deceive us with false prophets.
Our Spiritual Gifts are sacred and not for us to boast of, neither to speak of them before the world, for they are given for our profit and salvation.
Thank you Amy for the awesome lesson.
On Tuesday night at the Relief Society Activity many sisters attended (but if you didn't make it we missed you) and we had fun putting the hampers together. Kelly organised some games and Pictionary Christmas Carols was a lot of fun. We finished with a lovely supper including delicious plum pudding.
The High Priest Pot luck dinner on Friday was also fun and the food was yummy. It was an opportunity for Inga and Ian to enjoy a social dinner and we all enjoyed the beautiful surroundings. Another dinner is planned for early/mid January. The date to be advised.
DECEMBER ANNOUNCMENTS
Sat 18th Dec - Stake Back to Bethlehem Activity 3-5pm
Please dress up in Biblical fashion, bring a blanket or quilt to sit on and also a contribution of non perishable food.
Please check notice boards for further details or contact auxillary leaders
Monday, December 6, 2010
Sunday Snippet
Yesterday Blanche gave us a special lesson on Christmas. "Merry Christmas" was written on the board, the table was filled with presents and there was tinsel! We were given catalogues to browse through and paper to make out our wishlist.
Then Brother Sayers came and gently sang a "Away in a Manger" accompanied with a guitar for us which totally altered the spirit of the room. Mary (Sister Carmen) entered and told us about the night she went to Bethlehem.
Blanche then took down the tinsel, rubbed Merry mas from the board leaving "Christ". The presents were removed and under a large box was hidden the true meaning of Christmas; a nativity scene. Blanche had demonstrated how easily it is for us to be distracted from the true meaning of Christmas. The sisters then read from Luke 1:26-33, 2:1-19. We heard testimonies of Jesus Christ from Sister Dalton and Sister Stokes. We then wrote another wishlist which was quite different from the first one. This was the true meaning of Christmas. Merry Christmas everyone.
DECEMBER ANNOUNCMENTS
Tues 7th 7pm - ward RS Christmas activity
Friday 10th Pot luck dinner at the Oates'
Saturday 11th Glen Huon Carols BBQ at 5pm and Carols at 7pm
Sat 18th Dec - Stake Back to Bethlehem Activity 3-5pm
Please dress up in Biblical fashion, bring a blanket or quilt to sit on and also a contribution of non perishable food.
Please check notice boards for further details or contact auxillary leaders
Then Brother Sayers came and gently sang a "Away in a Manger" accompanied with a guitar for us which totally altered the spirit of the room. Mary (Sister Carmen) entered and told us about the night she went to Bethlehem.
Blanche then took down the tinsel, rubbed Merry mas from the board leaving "Christ". The presents were removed and under a large box was hidden the true meaning of Christmas; a nativity scene. Blanche had demonstrated how easily it is for us to be distracted from the true meaning of Christmas. The sisters then read from Luke 1:26-33, 2:1-19. We heard testimonies of Jesus Christ from Sister Dalton and Sister Stokes. We then wrote another wishlist which was quite different from the first one. This was the true meaning of Christmas. Merry Christmas everyone.
DECEMBER ANNOUNCMENTS
Tues 7th 7pm - ward RS Christmas activity
Friday 10th Pot luck dinner at the Oates'
Saturday 11th Glen Huon Carols BBQ at 5pm and Carols at 7pm
Sat 18th Dec - Stake Back to Bethlehem Activity 3-5pm
Please dress up in Biblical fashion, bring a blanket or quilt to sit on and also a contribution of non perishable food.
Please check notice boards for further details or contact auxillary leaders
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)