Women In Ministry Australia

THE GREAT PHYSICIAN

2012-02-09T22:18:00.000-08:00

THE GREAT PHYSICIAN

She only touched the hem of His garment

As to His side she stole,

Amid the crowd that gathered around Him,

And straightway she was whole.

He turned with "Daughter, be of good comfort,

Your faith has made you whole!"

And peace that passes all understanding,

With gladness filled her soul.

- G.F. Root

The Great Physician now is here,

The sympathizing Jesus;

He comes the wounded heart to cheer,

O hear the voice of Jesus.

- J.H. Stockton

What is the reason for enforcing the fifth commandment -

"Honour your father and your mother..."?

The reason for enforcing the fifth commandment,

in these words, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you,

is an express promise of long life and prosperity,

to all who keep this commandment,

as far as it serves God's glory and their own good.

- Larger Catechism

It is not how many years we live,

but what we do with them.

- Evangeline Booth

AMEN!

gladness of a great assent –“so be it!”

Sometimes it should be shouted with a heart full of joy – Amen; so be it!

Sometimes it should be deliberately whispered – Amen; so be it. He calls: I follow – even unto death.

“True prayer, when it is that kind which asks, is for courage to endure, never for permission to survive.” That is to say Amen from a full heart.

“It is finished!” was our Lord’s Amen to the Father’s will. He who is the Amen thus said His Amen – Finished! Fulfilled!

PK HUMOUR

Proof that girls are evil:

First we state that girls require time and money.

Girls = Time x Money

And as we know 'time is money.'

Time = Money

Therefore:

Girls = Money x Money = (Money) ²

And because 'money is the root of all evil':

Money = ÖEVIL

Therefore:

Girls = (ÖEVIL)²

And we are forced to conclude that:

Girls = Evil

FOR THE NEW YEAR - Facing a Task Unfinished

2011-12-22T19:29:00.000-08:00

Frank Houghton penned this hymn to be sung to the tune AURELIA. (The Church's One foundation) He was the General Secretary of the China Inland Mission during WW2, and Bishop of East Szechwan. He wrote it as part of a campaign to recruit 200 new workers to China in 2 years.

Bishop Houghton plays a significant part throughout the story I have written of my missionary parents, 'My China Mystery', to be released in April 2012. http://mychinamystery.blogspot.com/

Facing a Task Unfinished
Facing a task unfinished
That drives us to our knees
A need that, undiminished
Rebukes our slothful ease
We, who rejoice to know Thee
Renew before Thy throne
The solemn pledge we owe Thee
To go and make Thee known

Where other lords beside Thee
Hold their unhindered sway
Where forces that defied Thee
Defy Thee still today
With none to heed their crying
For life, and love, and light
Unnumbered souls are dying
And pass into the night

We bear the torch that flaming
Fell from the hands of those
Who gave their lives proclaiming
That Jesus died and rose
Ours is the same commission
The same glad message ours
Fired by the same ambition
To Thee we yield our powers

O Father who sustained them
O Spirit who inspired
Saviour, whose love constrained them
To toil with zeal untired
From cowardice defend us
From lethargy awake!
Forth on Thine errands send us
To labour for Thy sake

NO ONE CAME TO CHURCH ON CHRISTMAS DAY

2011-12-15T23:22:00.000-08:00

NO ONE CAME TO CHURCH

ON CHRISTMAS DAY

(By Rev Peter Playsted when the RAAF sent him to Darwin for Christmas)

Well I got up Christmas morning, and I gave a little skip;

I was feeling quite excited, and indeed a little hip;

And the birds they were all singing, in a Territorial way;

In the olden days I could have said things were looking rather gay!

And the church it was all ready, so the carols we could shout,

I even printed extra sheets, so no one would miss out.

But it all came down to nothing, I am very sad to say,

Cause no one came to church on Christmas Day!

I couldn’t quite believe it, as I stood there by the door,

The church could seat four hundred, possibly a hundred more.

We had stained glass, we had organs, we had air-conditioning too,

We had everything a church could have, and then a thing or two.

A bloke could preach his heart out in all sorts of different places,

This building could have fitted in a dozen different races,

But it didn’t make much difference as I stood there and surveyed,

Cause no one came to church on Christmas Day!

Now I sort of have recovered, but not altogether so,

Cause I had no family either; it was such a bitter blow,

To be up here in the bush like, with the mossies and the ticks,

And the Death Adders and Taipans; just a hick up in the sticks.

NT, people say here means “Not today and not tomorrow,”

But an empty church of this size is a special kind of sorrow.

So brethren, think of Tindal, and do not forget to pray,

That we’ll need every bloomin’ seat next Christmas Day!

PRIORITIES

Make me to understand the way of Your commandments;

So shall I talk of Your wonderful works

Behold, I have longed after Your commandments;

In Your righteousness give me life.

Psalm 119:27,40

EARTH'S TRINKETS

God aims, in all His dealings with His children,

to bring them to a high contempt of,

and deadly feud with the world...

And for no other cause ...

does the Lord withdraw from you

the childish toys

and the earthly delights

that He gives to others,

but that He may have you wholly to Himself.

- Samuel Rutherford

God aims in all His ways

To bring His children here

To view this world with high contempt

Not worth a passing tear.

He seeks your unshared love

And for no other cause

Your Lord removes time's short delights,

Its childish toys withdraws.

As new-born princes weep,

Heedless of crown or throne,

So heaven's heirs, distressed forget

The heritage they own.

- Faith Cook

THANKFULNESS

God's people have a sanctified use of all their creature comforts ...

What they have, be it little or much,

they have it from the love of God,

and with His blessings;

and then, behold,

all things are clean and sweet to them.

They come from the hand of a Father,

by the hand of a Mediator,

not in the channel of common providence,

but by the golden pipes

of the promises

of the covenant.

And hence it is,

that "a little that a righteous man has,"

having a heart to be content with it,

and the divine skill of enjoying God in it,

is better to him

than the riches of many wicked are to them;

and that "a dinner of herbs, where love is,"

and the "fear of the Lord," is better,

and yields abundantly more satisfaction,

than a stalled ox,

and hatred and trouble with it."

- Matthew Henry

A THANKFUL MINISTER’S WIFE

The Manse,

Miles,

1965

My dear Marion,

You will be very thrilled to hear this piece of news, dear. I had a tremendous surprise on Saturday morning. A large carton arrived at the front door, ... with a note for "Mrs White". You'll never guess what it was? No less than 'a Mix-Master' - a gift from anonymous donors. I'm not supposed to know but I have an idea.

There are several women here and some from Dulacca. Wasn't that a wonderful present? You will be just longing to use it, like all the others. We already squeezed all the lemons and oranges into juice concentrated, and made scrambled egg, etc.

Now dear girl, just thank the Lord for all His goodness.

Love and prayers,

Your loving Mother XX

THE REV MR SCOTT

[L M Montgomery's Story Girl entertained her cousins and friends on long summer evenings. All the trees in the family orchard were named after someone. The plums they were eating were the "Rev Mr Scott's plums".]

"The Rev Mr Scott was called to this congregation, and he laboured here long and faithfully, and was much beloved, though he was very eccentric."

"What does that mean?" asked Peter.

"Hush! It just means queer," said Cecily, nudging him with her elbow. "A common man would be queer, but when it's a minister, it's eccentric."

"When he got old," continued the Story Girl, "the Presbytery thought it was time he retired. He didn't think so; but the Presbytery had their way, because there were so many of them to one of him. He was retired, and a young man was called to Carlisle. Mr Scott went to live in town, but he came out to Carlisle very often, and visited all the people regularly, just the same as when he was their minister. The young minister was a very good young man, and tried to do his duty; but he was dreadfully afraid of meeting old Mr Scott, because he had been told that the old minister was very angry at being set aside, and would likely give him a sound drubbing, if he ever met him. One day the young minister was visiting the Crawfords in Markdale, when they suddenly heard Mr Scott's voice in the kitchen. The young minister turned pale as the dead, and implored Mrs Crawford to hide him. But she couldn't get him out of the room, and all she could do was to hide him in the china closet. The young man slipped into the china closet, and old Mr Scott came into the room. He talked very nicely, and read and prayed. They made very long prayers in those days, you know; and at the end of his prayer he said, 'Oh Lord, bless the poor young man hiding in the closet. Give him courage no' to fear the face of man. Make him a burning and shining light to this sadly abused congregation.' Just imagine the feelings of the young minister in the china closet! But he came right out like a man, though his face was very red, as soon as Mr Scott had done praying. And Mr Scott was lovely to him, and shook hands, and never mentioned the china closet. And they were the best of friends ever afterwards."

"How did old Mr Scott find out the young minister was in the closet?" asked Felix.

Nobody ever knew. They supposed he had seen him through the window before he came into the house, and guessed he must be in the closet –

because there was no way for him to get out of the room."

"Mr Scott planted the yellow plum-tree in Grandfather's time," said Cecily, peeling one of the plums, "and when he did it he said it was as Christian an act as ever he did. I wonder what he meant. I don't see anything very Christian about planting a tree."

I do," said the Story Girl sagely.______________

TO GIVE YOU A SMILE

After digging to a depth of 100m last year, Scottish scientists found traces of copper wiring dating back 1000 years, and came to the conclusion that their ancestors already had a telephone network one thousand years ago.

So as not to be outdone, in the weeks that followed, English scientists dug 200m, and the headlines in the London newspapers read: "English scientists have found traces of 2000 year old optical fibres, and have concluded that their ancestors already had advanced high-tech digital telephone 1000 years earlier than the Scots."

One week later, the Irish press reported the following: "After digging as deep as 500m, Irish scientists have found absolutely nothing. They have concluded that 5000 years ago, their ancestors were already using mobile phones."

Some people give happiness wherever they go.

Others give happiness whenever they go.

LORD, WHAT ABOUT HIM?

2011-12-08T22:37:00.000-08:00

When Peter saw the disciple Jesus loved following them, he asked, "Lord, what about him?"

Jesus answered, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me."

- John 21:21,22

In his book The Unchained Soul, Calvin Miller describes his own struggle with envy and pride. Another church member sold his house in 3 days. It took Miller's house a year to sell. Miller confessed to reacting to this man's boast, 'I just put that house in the hands of God and the Lord sold it in 3 days.' Miller would remind God of the depth of his own spirituality, compared with the shallowness of the other man's.

Any one of us can be selfishly interested in the way God is blessing someone else's life. Envy and anger can be the result. When the apostle Peter became curious about John's future, Jesus said it was none of Peter's business. He told him, 'You follow me,'

- Our Daily Bread

At the end of The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, Lucy asks, 'Please, Aslan, before we go, will you tell us when we can come back to Narnia again? Please. And oh, do, do, do make it soon.'

'Dearest,' said Aslan very gently, 'you and your brother will never come back to Narnia.'

'Oh, Aslan!!' said Edmund and Lucy both together in despairing voices ...

'And is Eustance never to come back here either?' said Lucy.

'Child,' said Aslan, 'do you really need to know that?'

And towards the end of The Horse and His Boy, Aravis has some sobering lessons to learn. Aslan has inflicted punishment for her cruel treatment of her servant.

She asks, 'Will any more harm come to her by what I did?'

'Child,' said the Lion, 'I am telling you your own story, not hers. No one is told any story but their own.'

- CS Lewis

TIRED OF CLEANING UP

AFTER THE FAMILY

OR THE CONGREGATION?

Where no oxen are, the trough is clean;

but much increase comes

by the strength of an ox.

-Proverbs 14:4

QUESTIONS WE ASK

What do you do when you have no musician?

"The Rejoice Hymn Base has a melody line which can be played over and over. Other folk play choirs singing or instrumental music from CD's - a service without music to help the singing is not good - unless the congregation is made up of a lot of Welshmen or Pacific Islanders."

Who said, "He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose"?

It was Jim Elliot, martyred missionary to the Auca Indians of Equator. He was 22 when he wrote those words on his way to becoming a missionary. Seven years later in September 1955 he and his four colleagues were killed by the Aucas as they attempted to reach them with the gospel. Elisabeth and one or two of the other wives continued the mission and the Aucas were converted. I remember reading in a 'New Life' that one of the 'murderers' was bearing witness to Christ standing with a descendant of one of the martyred men at an Amsterdam Evangelists conference organised by Billy Graham. Elisabeth Elliot has written two books about it:- 'Through Gates of Splendour' and 'Shadow of the Almighty'.”

4.00

SUFFERING - KINDNESS IN CAMOUFLAGE

2011-11-17T23:15:00.000-08:00

Yesterday we drove across the Great Dividing Range and the New England Tableland on our way from Port Macquarie to Tamworth. It is a beautiful journey even in dry times. Lately, it has been particularly lovely with all the spring rain we have had. There is even a green haze like Ireland in places.

About midday we came to a gently sweeping hillside. As we came around the bend, I saw patches of brown on the slope. Now, in this part of the world, we are used to brown patches, whole plains and slopes of brown. The severity of drought has tested us for many years. But not now: the rains have come.

“How could this be?” I thought. “This hillside must have missed out on the rain.”

Then I looked closer and saw that patches of grass had grown so long that they were flowering, and the flowers were reddish-brown. Other patches had gold flowers while most of the pasture was different shades of green. How splendid it looked! How alive! – a little like military camouflage fabric, but much more delightful!

Suffering is really the kindness of God in camouflage. It does not seem like kindness as we come close to it. We only see the harsh severity. But eventually, as we go through it, Jesus makes plain the kindness and mercy intended in the trial. We begin to see the life and beauty he has brought into being. C.S. Lewis called the suffering of watching his wife die a painful death, "a severe mercy". That is the perspective of eternity.

Our individual trials and points of suffering may not be the same, and neither are our blessings. Still, goodness and mercy follow us all the days of our life. (Psalm 23) By faith we believe that "all things work together for good" and we do well to repeat Romans 8:28 to each other at every high and low point in ministry and our personal lives.

Weary in Well Doing

I would have gone; God bade me stay:

I would have worked; God bade me rest.

He broke my will from day to day,

He read my yearnings unexpressed

And said them nay.

Now I would stay; God bids me go:

Now I would rest; God bids me work.

He breaks my heart tossed to and fro,

My soul is wrung with doubts that lurk

And vex it so.

I go, Lord, where Thou sendest me;

Day after day I plod and moil:

But, Christ my God, when will it be

That I may let alone my toil

And rest with Thee?

- by Christina Rosetti

THE INTERIM MODERATOR

(from a wife’s point of view)

As far as ‘churches calling ministers’ is concerned, the hardest job I am sure is that of the Interim Moderator. He has to be everybody’s friend and nobody’s ally. He has to have the wisdom of Solomon and be as harmless as a new born baby. Whatever he does is sure to anger, hurt or distress people and please only a few. Yet still he holds his head high and says nice things at the new minister’s induction supper.

There are good things. Of course the latest incumbent of Presbytery, not the IM has the privilege of preaching at the induction and the longer you stay the more times you are Interim Moderator and the longer it is since any of your peers heard you preach! (All those evenings at Toastmasters are wasted on the desert air!) This is a good thing for them no doubt and has the added benefit of toning up your humility.

You get to drive for hours on beautiful frosty Sunday mornings to dispense the Lord’s Supper at your minister-less church: the longer the distances the fewer the ministers-emeriti to fill in. You and your congregation get regular breaks from each other! After a while they are glad to see you back! Another plus is that you can be heavy handed with the Committee about fixing up the buildings including the Manse, and insist on your own way with the organist and church secretary – things you can rarely do back home.

MISS MACPHERSON'S MINISTRY OF CORRECTION.

I refused to take that class in Sunday School the first time I was asked. It was not that I objected to teaching in the Sunday School. On the contrary, I rather liked the idea; but it was the Rev Mr Allan who asked me, and it had always been a matter of principle with me never to do anything a man asked me to do if I could help it. I was noted for that. It saves a great deal of trouble and it simplifies everything beautifully. I had always disliked men. It must have been born in me, because, as far back as I can remember, an antipathy to men and dogs was one of my strongest characteristics. I was noted for that. My experiences through life only served to deepen it. The more I saw of men, the more I liked cats.

So, of course, when the Rev Allan asked me if I would consent to take a class in Sunday School I said no in a fashion calculated to chasten him wholesomely. If he had sent his wife the first time, as he did the second, it would have been wiser. People generally do what Mrs Allan asks them to do because they know it saves time.

Mrs Allan talked smoothly for half an hour before she mentioned the Sunday School, and paid me several compliments. Mrs Allan is famous for her tact. Tact is the faculty for meandering around to a given point instead of making a bee-line. I have no tact. I am noted for that. As soon as Mrs Allan's conversation came in sight of the Sunday School, I, who knew all along whither it was tending, said, straight out:

"What class do you want me to teach?"

Mrs Allan was so surprised that she forgot to be tactful, and answered plainly for once in her life:

"There are two classes - one of boys and one of girls - needing a teacher. I have been teaching the girls' class, but I shall have to give up for a little time on account of the baby's health. You may have your choice, Miss MacPherson."

"Then I shall take the boys," I said decidedly. I am noted for my decision. "Since they have to grow up to be men it's well to train them properly betimes. Nuisances they are bound to become under any circumstances; but if they are taken in hand young enough they may not grow up to be such nuisances as they otherwise would and that will be some unfortunate woman's gain."

Mrs Allen looked dubious. I know she expected me to choose the girls.

"They are a very wild set of boys," she said.

"I never knew boys who weren't," I retorted.

"I - I - think perhaps you would like the girls best," said Mrs Allan hesitatingly ...

I thought Mrs Allan required a slight snub. Minister's wives are rather apt to think they can run everything and everybody, if they are not wholesomely corrected now and again.

"It's not what I like best that must be considered, Mrs Allan," I said rebukingly. "It is what is best for those boys. I feel that I shall be best for them."

"Oh, I've no doubt of that, Miss MacPherson," said Mrs Allan amiably. It was a fib for her, minister's wife though she was. She had doubt. She though I would be a dismal failure as teacher of a boy's class.

But I was not. I am not often a dismal failure when I make up my mind to do a thing. I am noted for that.

- from "Quarantine at Alexander Abraham's"

in "Chronicles of Avonlea" by LM Montgomery

TOP TEN THINGS ONLY WOMEN UNDERSTAND

10. Why it’s good to have five pairs of black shoes

9. The difference between cream, ivory and off-white

8. Crying can be fun

7. FAT CLOTHES

6. A salad, diet drink and a hot fudge sundae make a balanced lunch

5. Discovering a designer dress on the clearance rack can be considered a peak life experience

4. The inaccuracy of every bathroom scale ever made

3. A good man might be hard to find, but a good hairdresser is next to impossible

2. Why a phone call between two women never lasts under ten minutes.

AND THE NUMBER ONE THING ONLY WOMEN UNDERSTAND:

1. OTHER WOMEN!

- Thanks Katy!

A WOMAN’S PRAYER

Dear Lord;

So far today, I’m doing all right.

I have not gossiped, lost my temper, been greedy, grumpy, nasty, selfish or self-indulgent.

I have not whined, cursed or eaten any chocolate.

However, I am going to get out of bed in a few minutes and I will need a lot more help after that.

Amen.

FRIDAY MORNING AT ST STEPHEN’S – 11/11/11

2011-11-10T23:20:00.000-08:00

At 8.30 on Friday morning, my husband drops me at the door of the church office. I turn on the computer and open up this week’s Church Matters’ file. I check through the announcements and prayer points for corrections. Shortly, Pam will arrive and we will check through the songs and hymns. Our dear minister, my husband Stuart chooses hymns for their excellent and appropriate words, and that means the tunes may not be known. So we do our best to find well known tunes for the hymns, though even we don’t always get it right. St Stephen’s has an occasional choir and if there is a choir practice on Saturday morning, Pam will run through Sunday’s hymns with the choir. On those weekends, our congregational singing is full and enthusiastic.

At 9.20 we move around the table where two or more other women join us for a time of prayer for our congregation. We pray systematically for the people in each elder’s group, not forgetting urgent needs as they arise. We always thank God for the beauty of creation all around us and often plead with Him for rain. When any of us is unavoidably away, it is with a sense of gladness that we return for this time before God’s throne of grace and mercy.

Another musician arrives from his earlier job while we are praying and puts the kettle on. When the cuppa is made, we all sit round catching up on our week’s activities. This morning, we had chocolates and home-grown strawberries - something special for Remembrance Day. More people arrive, one to tidy the garden, another to get some copies of Church News and Pulse to distribute. You never know who will come to the office on Friday morning. All are welcome.

Then the musicians go to practise for Sunday, while Julie, Bev and I proof read, print and fold the ‘Church Matters’ for Sunday. Lots of other jobs get done as well.

This morning was different. It was Remembrance Day. We all gathered round the organ at 11am. Stuart thanked God for those who sacrificed their lives for our freedom, and most of all for our Lord Jesus and His great sacrifice.

Then we sang “God Save The Queen”. We had a special reason for this. It was two years on Sunday since Her Majesty presented me with the MBE* Badge my father was awarded by her father, King George VI in 1946. Because of the confusion at the end of World War II, my father never received this Insignia, and we never knew about it. He had been a China Inland Missionary who was seconded to the British Army 6^th Gurkha Rifles to arrange the distribution of supplies throughout Free China after the Burma Road was cut. His MBE was awarded for the manner in which he performed this task, culminating when he led a convoy of 60 trucks up the re-opened Burma Road towards the close of the war. We did not discover this until 2009, eight years after Dad went to glory!

Everyone at St Stephen’s has followed our quest that led to Buckingham Palace, and join in celebrating it with us. Hence, we sang fervently,

May she defend our laws,

And ever give us cause

To sing with heart and voice,

God save the Queen.

I don’t believe it was a coincidence that the 11^th verse of my Old Testament reading this morning was also a royal anthem:

Great David writing about his greater Son!

Yours, O LORD, is the greatness

and the power

and the glory

and the victory

and the majesty,

for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours.

Yours is the kingdom, O LORD,

and you are exalted as head above all.

- 1 Chronicles 29:11

This is the verse we read and pondered as we began our prayer time in the office for Remembrance Day, the 11^th day of the 11^th month 2011.

*MBE stands for Member of the British Empire, created by King George V and Queen Mary to recognise and acknowledge extraordinary achievements of ordinary people.

NEWSLETTER for Women in Ministry - No 21 First Quarter 2000

2011-11-03T22:35:00.000-07:00

A Ministry of the Presbytery of New England

THE QUESTIONS WE ASK

Is it possible to keep ministry and home life separate (especially when you live near the church)?

(Let us know what you think, and how you have handled this.)

What do you do when you don’t have a musician?

Pat Christian shares with us what happened at a small country service they visited on holidays.

“They answered this difficulty by appointing a person to tape songs that would be sung in church – probably chosen by the minister, but I didn’t ask.

They learned new ones for next week by playing it through and listening to it. For the service itself, they used taped songs and had the words on an overhead, and sang with it.

It worked as well as could be expected, and certainly better than singing a capella with a leader who could lead but not sing!

It also provided another person with a ministry – of putting the songs on the tape in the right order etc, and doing the words and generally coordinating the lot.

MISCELLANEOUS THOUGHTS

If we are too busy to spend time in God's Word then we are busier than God intends us to be.

The structures built by wise and foolish Christians both look the same to start with but they have different foundations. Those who would build their house on the rock must dig down to the point of self-denial to find the bedrock of Christ.

Active, energetic, living faith

bears natural fruits.

My grace

is sufficient

for you

2 Corinthians 12:9

MINISTER’S WIFE

OR

WIFE OF THE MINISTER

by Glenda Burke

(continued from 3rd Quarter, 1999)

3) On the subject of these TODDLERS. We all know that at the time of her husband's ordination these became no ordinary children. First, their numbers fluctuate depending on whether you need to squeeze them into a two-bedroom manse or whether you want the numbers of the Sunday School to swell.

As babies they never need to sleep or be fed during the morning service. As toddlers they like nothing better than to sit quietly at mum's feet while she chairs meetings, and they are always at their best at 9 pm at Presbytery Inductions, etc.

As Primary School children their greatest delight is to sit on the cold floor of a church hall on a Saturday afternoon while mum and dad attend a church meeting.

And what wonderful teenagers they make - always wanting to be involved in church activities, reliable enough to be left unsupervised for hours on end while mum and dad are out, and first to volunteer to lead Youth Group.

4) And now she is a FRIEND to all. She is the consummate politician. A gracious smile to anyone who even looks like darkening the church door. A warm interest in the most minute of their affairs, despite the fact that they have never told her their name.

And no sense of favouritism here: this woman doesn't need friends of her own. She doesn't need someone's shoulder to cry on, or someone to whinge to in those rare (very rare) moments of discouragement or annoyance.

After all this woman is a MINISTER'S WIFE.

Are you A MINISTER'S WIFE?

Of course not, for such a person does no really exist, not unless we kid ourselves.

What we are, of course, are the wives of ministers.

Just as we are married to men of great individuality, each called by God to exercise his own unique ministry, so we are all individuals each equipped to exercise a unique ministry that will complement our husband's.

In what I say, I am making the assumption that we are Christians, committed to taking God's Word seriously and committed to being obedient to it.

I am assuming that we are committed to our husband's call and sincerely want to support him in it.

I am also assuming that a fair percentage of us are repelled by what we perceive to be the traditional expectations of the wife of the minister, some of which I have parodied above.

If we are repelled (the biggest fear one hears from the wives of students for the ministry is they don't know how they will cope with being a minister's wife.) and I suggest most of us are: Why are we repelled, and what should we do about it?

I would like to suggest that we are repelled because we perceive (rightly or wrongly) that the traditional view of ministry in the Presbyterian Church would seem to swallow up the individuality of the man called

to minister, and possibly more so the individuality of his wife.

Where, before his entry into the salaried ministry, she may have exercised a ministry that was fitted to her talents and circumstances, now she seems to fill a role which may have very little to do with the cause of Christ, her talents or her circumstances.

What to do about this situation?

Before we continue, let's consider a 'minister's wife' in her entirety:

· She is a Christian with a relationship to Jesus Christ to be fostered.

· She is a wife with marital responsibilities to her husband and through him, to his work.

· She is often a mother with parenting responsibilities.

· She is a daughter and daughter-in-law with obligations to her wider family.

· She is a neighbour with opportunities in her street.

· She has many roles. How then do we work out what her role is within the church?

1. A PRINCIPLE

What is the Biblical role of the wife of a minister? Perhaps Biblically the best comparison can be made to that of the wife of an elder in the church.

What is the role of an elder's wife? Is it any different from the role of the wife of another Christian man in the congregation? Perhaps so, in that she shares in oversight and caring for those he is given responsibility for.

What do we realistically expect of a Christian woman (say with three pre-schoolers), the wife of an elder, who is perhaps studying part time at night?

What do we realistically expect of that same woman when her children are in their early teens and she is herself working?

What do we expect of that woman when her children have left home and her husband is retired?

Can you see the principle?

When we consider the role of the wife of the minister we need to consider not only her husband's "job" but the total context of her life - her capacity to cope, her abilities and her restrictions.

Unless a husband and wife together establish this principle, their ministry together may flounder in the area of their children, or ill health, or 'burn-out' caused by the family never having a break from "the job".

[To be concluded]

PK HUMOUR

Tips on love by kids aged 5-10

- thanks, Kate & Jenny

¨ What is the proper age to get married?

Once I’m done with kindergarten, I’m going to find a wife. (Tom, 5)

¨ What do most people do on a date?

On the first date, they just tell each other lies, and that usually gets them interested enough to go for a second date. (Mike, 9)

¨ When is it OK to kiss a girl?

You should never kiss a girl unless you have enough money to buy her a big ring and her own VCR, cause she’ll want to have videos of the wedding. (Jim, 10)

¨ Concerning why love happens between two particular people:

No one is sure why it happens, but I think it has something to do with how you smell. That’s why perfume and deodorant are so popular.(Jan, 9)

¨ On what falling in love is like:

If it’s like learning to spell, I don’t want to do it. It takes too long. (Leo, 7)

¨ Concerning why lovers often hold hands:

They want to make sure their rings don’t fall off because they paid good money for them. (Dave, 8)

THINGS YOU LEARN FROM THE MOVIES.

Large, loft-style apartments in New York City are well within the range of most people – weather they are employed or not.

· Should you decide to defuse a bomb, don’t worry which wire to cut: you will always choose the right one.

Most lap-top computers are powerful enough to override the communications system of any invading alien society.

When you turn out the light to go to bed, everything in your bedroom will be still clearly visible, just slightly bluish.

If you are blond and pretty, it is possible to become a world expert in nuclear fission by the time you are 22.

You’re very likely to survive any battle in any war unless you make the mistake of showing someone a picture of your sweetheart back home.

I N D N J C

Newsletter FOR WOMEN IN MINISTRY - NO. 20 Fourth Quarter, 1999

2011-10-27T20:17:00.000-07:00

A MINISTRY OF THE PRESBYTERY OF NEW ENGLAND

“Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus.”

Colossians 3:17

Time has flown. This newsletter is later than I wish. I was even tempted to leave it over till 2000, until I thought, “What a poor way to finish the millennium!” I do hope you all have a blessed and happy Christmas, and a safe and healthy New Year.

Thank you to all those loving people who responded to my problem with finance for the newsletter. I do appreciate your concern, prayers and contributions towards this ministry.

Thanks, too, to those who have expressed concern about my health. No, I was not well at Assembly in Sydney in July. I’m much better now. I know many of you have learnt that the right focus is not your state of health, but what the Lord means you to do with the measure of health and strength He has given. Working this out takes divine wisdom!

Love,

Marion.

STRESS-POINTS IN MINISTRY

By Leah Balzer

I recently spoke to a group of women in ministry – no, not Presbyterian, so you can quit trying to work out who’s who! I asked them to write about their chief negative stress-point in ministry and how they tried to relieve it. They were also asked to write about the highlight of it all.

The stress points I'm sure readers of the Newsletter can identify with. those mentioned were:

Ø learning to cope with unscheduled hospitality demands (no answer was suggested here. Do readers have any?);

Ø how to handle time and fatigue problems (improving communication between her husband and herself and working cohesively together also much prayer);

Ø being compared with the previous Pastor and his family (Admit to myself that I'm not them, and that God has put ME there for His purpose);

Ø tension between family and congregation needs and being shut out of confidential matters (better communication within the family and with God. No suggestion for the latter. Any Ideas?);

Ø finding it difficult talking to others about the Lord and not being concerned enough for others outside the church. (Allowing the Lord to work in my life and realising that it is only in His strength I can be a channel for Him to use.)

One older woman wrote that bad health problems - including a back injury- made it difficult for her to do visitation. She proceeds daily as God gives her strength and has discovered that God has used her to help others in the same boat. In times of enforced rest she is able to get closer to God and to pray for others. The big positive for her is that she has discovered that she has a great prayer ministry.

Highlights of ministry included seeing others grow in their faith, stepping out and doing new things; knowing that she is in God's place for her, even in the bad times; getting alongside people, becoming part of their lives and loving them. One lady spoke of her church, which has A Pleasant Sunday Afternoon once every three months for Senior Citizens. Through this one lady has come to faith and joined the church. This Woman in Ministry is rejoicing in this and in the opportunities to talk about spiritual things during the afternoon tea.

The choice contribution by far came from one woman who couldn't think of any negatives in her present congregation. I will quote it as she wrote it:

Because my church family is quite small (30-40), everyone is very loving, encouraging and supportive of one another. My husband and I encourage this positive affirming behaviour and this bore fruit when our son was in jail five years ago. Instead of judgment, we received love and support. Our church family is very supportive in the monetary sense, with individuals giving us gifts just when we need it (God's timing.) We praise God for giving us such a loving, supportive church family. I LOVE being a Pastor's wife!

Wouldn't it be nice if one could clone churches?!

GIVING THANKS IN ALL THINGS

Contributed by Mollie Duncanson. Written by her daughter Sue.

At the end of a Bible Study lesson was the challenge, “Stop and listen and give thanks for what you can hear.” Ah! I thought, That will be easy! I live in Kati Kati (NZ), a country setting. I’ll hear birds, or wind in the trees; maybe a tui or a fantail. It’s easy to hear something of God’s creation in the country and be thankful.

Well, it wasn’t a lion’s mouth God shut this time! There wasn’t a single twitter! What I heard was the washing machine. Yuck! I thought and listened harder – maybe there were other noises, but then God began to speak to me – only I didn’t recognise it yet. The dominant sound of the washing machine was all I heard.

I said to the Lord, “This isn’t fair, Lord – all I can hear is that washing machine and the pile of dirty washing still to be done. How can I give thanks for that. (Well – I asked – so He told me.)

I’m not sure of the exact sequence the following came in, but I know it started with water. Do you know how much water a washing machine uses? – I only know it uses a lot. A lot more than some women in Africa and other poor countries have. I wash dirty clothes in more than they have to survive on. I was thankful, but it didn’t stop there. The dirty clothes on the floor form three exuberant country boys! Grass stained knees, dirt, food, etc. I get cross at their dirtiness and messiness.

But wait. What about G and C. They can’t have children. I bet there’s tears and many prayers there. C. would envy my messy laundry floor on washing days. She’d love to wash stains from knees and shirts. I was thankful!

But it didn’t stop there either…

Those grass stains…

I thought about how they got there. Through having lots of fun! What about children in war-torn countries who can’t play in green fields? Perhaps there is no green, only stones, or if it’s green, it’s a mine field. How many limbs have been lost? (and lives) I bet those kids would love to have knees to get stains on – that’s if stains could be noticed on their filthy rags.

Oh! Yes Lord, I have much to be thankful for. I have electricity to run my washing machine on. It even has its own room! I wonder what an African would call a laundry? To them it would be a “Palace”.

Running water, glass windows, cupboards, a floor, a light.

Yes, Lord, I have so much to be thankful for – so very much!

HUMILITY

The thoughts in 1Peter 5:6-7 should be encouraging to us in times of adversity. The two verses say:

Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

On the one hand we are to humble ourselves under God’s mighty hand – an expression equivalent to submitting with a spirit of humility to God’s sovereign dealings with you. And on the other hand, we are to cast our anxieties on Him knowing that he cares for us. The anxieties, of course, arise out of the adversities that God’s mighty hand brings into our lives. We are to accept the adversities but not the anxieties.

Our tendency is just the opposite. We seek to escape from or resist the adversities, but all the while clinging to the anxieties that they produce. The way to cast our anxieties on the Lord is through humbling ourselves under His sovereignty and then trusting Him in His wisdom and love.

Humility should be both a response to adversity and a fruit of it. The Apostle Paul was very clear that the primary purpose of his thorn in the flesh was to curb any tendency of pride in him. He said, “To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me.” (2Corinthians 12:7) If Paul had a tendency to pride, surely we do also. Therefore we can put it down as a principle:

Whenever God blesses us in any way that might engender pride in us, he will along with the blessings give us a thorn in the flesh to oppose and undermine that pride. We will be made weak in some way through one or more adversities in order that we might recognize that our strength is in Him, not in ourselves.

We can choose how we will respond to such a thorn in the flesh. We can chafe under it, often for months or even years, or we can accept it from God, humbling ourselves under His mighty hand. When we truly humble ourselves before Him, we will in due time experience the sufficiency of His grace, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” (James 4:6)

- Jerry Bridges, Trusting God Even When Life Hurts [Scripture Press, Amersham-on-the-Hill, 1988]

PLIGHT OF WOMEN IN AFGHANISTAN
(Contributed)

The government of Afghanistan is waging a war upon women. The situation is getting so bad that one person in an editorial of the Times compared the treatment of women there to the treatment of Jews in pre-Holocaust Poland. Since the Taliban took power in 1996, women have had to wear burqua and have been beaten and stoned in public for not having the proper attire, even if this means simply not having the mesh covering in front of their eyes. One woman was beaten to DEATH by an angry mob of fundamentalists for accidentally exposing her arm while she was driving. Another was stoned to death for trying to leave the country with a man that was not a relative.

If you wish to protest to the treatment of women by the Taliban, please email

Mary Robinson,

High Commissioner,

UNHCHR,

PK HUMOUR

[from Dave E.]

Three churches - Baptist, Anglican, and Presbyterian - worked together to sponsor a community-wide revival.

After the revival had concluded, the three pastors were discussing the results with one another.

The Anglican minister said, "The revival worked out great for us! We gained 4 new families."

The Baptist preacher said, "We did better than that! We gained 6 new families."

The Presbyterian pastor said, "Well, we did even better than that! We got rid of our 10 biggest trouble makers!"

HOLIDAY DRIVING

If you must speed on the highway, please sing these hymns:

80 kph God Will Take Care of Me

90 kph Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah

100 kph Nearer My God to Thee

110 kph Nearer, Still Nearer

115 kph This World is not My Home

120 kph Lord, I’m Coming Home

Over 120 kph Precious Memories

NEWSLETTER FOR WOMEN IN MINISTRY - NO. 19 SEPTEMBER 1997

2011-10-20T22:52:00.000-07:00

A MINISTRY OF THE PRESBYTERY OF NEW ENGLAND

Dear Friends,

Isn’t our God good? He makes it possible for us to get to know Him better. “I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation so that you may know him better.” [Ephesians 1:17]

Do you remember how it felt when you first realized that the man you eventually married wanted to get to know you, and that you wanted to get to know him? Remember the thrill, the warmth and security of knowing that you both wanted to get to know each other better.

Is it possible that the Lord and Master of the universe wants me to get to know Him better? Do I really want to know Him better? How much am I willing to put aside for this quest?

May the Lord enrich you with knowing Him better,

Marion Andrews

PRAYER FOR MY CHILDREN

I lay the names of my children in Thy hands,

Engrave Thou therein with indelible script.

Allow nothing or no one ever to burn them out,

Even though Satan may try to sift them as wheat.

Hold Thou my children fast, when I must let them go,

And let always Thy power above their weakness stand.

Thou knowest how, merciless, the world will hate them,

If they do not walk or follow in its way.

I do not ask Thee to spare my children every sorrow,

But be Thou their comfort when lonely or afraid,

For Thy name's sake, keep them in Thy covenant.

Let them never be estranged from Thee,

never as long as life shall last

I lay the names of my children in Thy hands...

Amen.

Author Unknown - translated from the Dutch

BOOK REVIEWS

HEAVEN, Your Real Home by Joni Eareckson Tada [Zondervan, Michigan, 1995]

This book makes great bed-time reading: inspirational and not too heavy. It is widely researched, and full of stories and observations you can quote. “Once you’ve caught a glimpse of heaven, you’ll see earth in a whole new light.” [See the sample below.]

Temptations Women Face by Mary Ellen Ashcroft [IVP, Illinois, 1991]

This is compelling reading. Mrs. Ashcroft is an Anglican Minister’s wife. She talks about jealousy, anger, sex, money, food and pride. She is perceptive: for example her chapter on food covers body image, chronic dieting, believing what the world tells us about our bodies and the fretful “all I want is …” kind of gluttony. Her insights and strategies are helpful, especially where she puts Biblical principles to work. Her sources are eclectic so it is useful to identify the sections where she follows feminist and Anglo-catholic thought. Taking this into account, this book can be of value in dealing with the “sins which so easily beset us.”

The Fruit of Her Hands by Nancy Wilson and Reforming Marriage by her husband, Douglas Wilson.

[Review by Pam Vandenberg]

After a quick skimming of the chapters, the latter promises to be as good reading as the former, with good Biblical advice. Apart from reading them myself, I find such books useful to share with others, especially as an encouragement for young married couples.

P K CORNER

Once again, a vibrant group of 32 preachers’ kids gathered at “Morning Glory” near Campbelltown. This year it was the weekend after Assembly, because an affordable camp-site was not available before Assembly. The old hands agreed that the earlier weekend is better, because then everyone can go into the opening night of Assembly as a fitting end to the camp. Unfortunately, “Morning Glory” is permanently booked for that weekend now, so we are looking for another economical venue.

Those considerations aside, it was a great weekend meeting old and new friends, and learning from William Morrow how to capitalize on being a PK. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, these kids are the best! It’s a privilege to be with them, and I wish I’d had this opportunity as a stuffed-up teenage PK back in the sixties.

Thanks to Leonie Morrow and Doug McPherson for helping Stuart and me in the kitchen and as Camp Parents.

Some of the kid's comments on the Thank-you Card to the Camp Parents/Cooks are as follows:

· Thanks for the food and support.

· Thanks heaps. U R so beautiful.

· Thanks so much for helping out at this fantastic camp.

· Thanks for giving up your time to spend the time with us PK's.

· Thank you for a great time.

· Thanks for keeping a growing boy well fed.

MINISTER'S WIFE OR WIFE OF THE MINISTER

by Glenda Burke

I would like to introduce you to someone.

This young woman grew up in a non-Christian home but at the age of seventeen was converted through the work of her local Church.

After she became a Christian, she was active in her local church - both in learning and maturing in her own faith and in involvement in the mission of her local Church. For periods she taught in the Sunday School and was active in the youth group; she attended a Bible Study group of mixed ages. Outside her local congregation she became involved in the work of Beach Missions.

In her early twenties, she met a young Christian man and they 'fell in love'. After their marriage they moved to another Church and together led a Youth Group and were active in a 'young marrieds' Bible Study Group. When the parish was vacant, her husband's gifts of pastoring and preaching became obvious, and together they began to sense that God may be calling them into the ministry. The local church recognised their gifts, and the husband became an Elder.

Another happy event occurred - the birth of their first child. As with all couples, this changed the pattern of their lives. This baby seemed to need to feed during the morning service, and it was not always easy for them to be so involved in the Church's activities. To overcome the problem, they would take turns in attending the morning and evening services - a very common-sense and practical arrangement - only necessary until the baby was in a routine.

That persistent uneasiness about their direction continued, and eventually, after much prayer and consultation with mature Christians, they took the decision that the husband would study for the ministry.

What a great three years! Plenty of Christian fellowship, the thrill of learning more of and about God's Word, and the arrival of a new baby.

Finally came the night of the husband's ordination. We all know what that does for a man! But little is recognised of what it does for the woman who happens to be his wife!

- for she becomes A MINISTER'S WIFE.

What exactly does this entail?

1. She is expected to know EVERYTHING and to know NOTHING.

When you ring the Manse phone she will inevitably answer - because the Minister will be out - and she will be able to answer every question from who's on the flower roster in July, to why there's no sugar in the Hall kitchen, to why Presbyterians surely have adult baptism!

On the other hand, she will know nothing of the latest dispute in the church in which her husband's name is being slandered, or of the financial crisis in the Church. Not knowing these things, she can be unfailingly untroubled by them, and ever gracious to whoever is involved.

2. She will never need to SLEEP. Up early in the morning to follow a keep fit programme (for the minister's wife should never be over-weight) then into morning devotions, time for a quick breakfast with the toddlers before hanging out the washing and cleaning the house.

Then out to one of the PWA meetings, which she will chair, taking a beautifully arranged plate of sandwiches. On the way home, a quick shop, then lunch for the toddlers and bed them down for an afternoon sleep. She will prepare the evening meal (they're having visitors) and cook a couple of cakes (one for the supper that night and one for a sick family), get the washing in, iron it, get the toddlers up, play with them. Out to visit an elderly lady from the Church (the toddlers love that). Home to bath the toddlers, cook, serve and clean up after the evening meal. Toddlers to bed, lounge room tidied for a meeting. During the meeting, she will answer six phone calls for her husband, then serve and wash up after the supper. Make a dress for herself (preferably in beige), read the latest book on Christian Counselling for those who have Flat Tyres, then prepare a talk for an interdenominational meeting the next day (as Minister's wife she must be an accomplished public speaker!). Then time to be the warm and intimate friend of her husband. Before you know it, the first cry of the morning by one of the toddlers. Whew!

3. On the subject of these TODDLERS. We all know that at the time of her husband's ordination these became no ordinary children. First, their numbers must fluctuate, depending on whether you need to squeeze them into a two bed-room Manse, or whether you want the numbers of the Sunday School to swell (To be continued)

REWARDS IN HEAVEN

Once after a speaking engagement, a woman came up to me to tell me how much she enjoyed my message. In her enthusiasm, she exclaimed, "You're so wonderful. I wish I could be like you...you'll get a great reward in heaven!"

I appreciate her accolades, but I see it differently. God is my no means impressed that I can paint with my mouth, have written books, travelled all over the world, or am on speaking terms with Billy Graham. When He sees my name on a bestseller's list, He doesn't get all effusive and say, "Boy, am I proud of her, chalk up another one for the lady in the wheelchair."

I'm not discounting my painting or books or the exciting places I've served; I just feel I have received a lot of my reward here on earth... It's just when it comes to heaven, I'm convinced the highest accolades will go... to godly people who have labored loyally yet received no recognition. The grand and glorious purposes for my suffering are clear to all, but some dear saints have suffered for no apparent reason....

I can't wait for the Lord to honour the missionary in the back jungles of Brazil who spent fifteen years translating Scripture and then quietly moved on to the next tribe to do the same.

I want to see the Lord richly reward small-town pastors who faithfully preached every Sunday morning despite meager numbers in the pews. Better yet, pastors in China who are still suffering persecution and haven't seen the light of day from their jail cells in years...

These are the real heroes and heroines over whom we will be exceedingly glad to hear the Lord say, "Well done, good and faithful servant!" ...

Your reward will be your capacity - you capacity for joy, service, and worship. Jonathan Edwards described these capacities this way: "The saints are like so many vessels of different sizes cast into a sea of happiness where every vessel is full: this is eternal life, for a man ever to have his capacity filled. But after all, 'tis left to God's sovereign pleasure, 'tis his prerogative to determine the largeness of the vessel."

[Joni Eareckson Tada, Heaven - Your Real Home, Zondervan, 1995]

MRS QUIVERFUL MEETS MRS PROUDIE

So much has changed;

So little has changed!

Here's a snippet from "Barchester Towers" by Anthony Trollope.

Mr. Quiverful, Rector of Puddingdale, has just relinquished his claim on a better paid job as Warden of Hiram's Hospital, under duress from the Bishop's chaplain, Mr. Slope. This is not good enough for Mrs. Quiverful, who has fourteen children to feed and clothe. She goes straight to the real power behind the throne, the Bishop's wife! I hope you enjoy it.

"Fourteen children, Mrs. Proudie, fourteen of them! and barely bread - barely bread! It's hard for the children of a clergyman, it's hard for one who has always done his duty respectably!" Not a word fell from her about herself; but the tears came streaming down her big coarse cheeks, on which the dust of the August road had left its traces.

Mrs. Proudie has not been portrayed in these pages as an agreeable or an amiable lady. There has been no intention to impress the reader much in her favour. It is ordained that all novels should have a male and a female angel, and a male and a female devil. If it be considered that this rule is obeyed in these pages, the latter character must be supposed to have fallen to the lot of Mrs. Proudie. But she was not all devil. There was a heart inside that stiff-ribbed bodice, though not perhaps of large dimensions, and certainly not easily accessible. Mrs. Quiverful, however, did gain access, and Mrs. Proudie proved herself a woman...

She did not show it as other women might have done. She did not give Mrs. Quiverful eau-de-cologne, or a glass of wine. She did not say soft little speeches and coax her kindly. Instead of this, Mrs. Proudie slapped one hand upon the other, and declared "she wouldn't have it done."

The meaning of this was that she wouldn't have Mr. Quiverful's promised appointment cozened away by the treachery of Mr. Slope and the weakness of her husband. This meaning she very soon explained to Mrs. Quiverful.

"Why was your husband such a fool as to take the bait which that man threw to him? If he had not been so utterly foolish, nothing could have prevented your going to the hospital."

Poor Mrs. Quiverful was ready enough with her own tongue in accusing her husband to his face of being soft. But she did not like to hear him abused by others, and began to vindicate him, and to explain that he had taken Mr. Slope to be an emissary of Mrs. Proudie herself; and that Mr. Quiverful would have been failing in respect to her had he assumed to doubt what Mr. Slope had said.

Thus mollified, Mrs. Proudie again declared that "she would not have it done" and at last sent Mrs. Quiverful home with the assurance that, to the furthest stretch of her power and influence in the palace, the appointment of Mr. Quiverful should be insisted on. As she repeated the word "insisted," she thought of the Bishop in his night-cap, and with compressed lips slightly shook her head. Oh! My aspiring pastors, which of you would be a bishop on such terms as these?

ARE YOU MOVING?

When you move to a new parish, the focus of everyone in that congregation is on you. They all know your name, talk about you and prepare for your arrival in various ways. It is at this point of arrival that you can be seriously disadvantaged. They all know you, by name anyway, and can easily put your name to your face. On the other hand, you know nothing about them, and probably don't know more than two or three names, let alone faces.

A very good way of getting around this problem is to ask for a list of the members' names. In the weeks and months before you move, pray systematically for these people by name. When you arrive in your new place of ministry, only the faces will be unfamiliar. You will have quite a head-start if you are already familiar with people's names, and have been lovingly bringing them before the Throne of God in prayer.

I N D N J C

“Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus.” Colossians 3:17

It would be spiritually helpful if we followed the example of the musical genius Johann Sebastian Bach. Often at the bottom of a manuscript he would write the letters INDNJC, standing for the Latin words In Nomini Domini Nostri Jesu Christi, “In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ”.

- August23 1999, Our Daily Bread

GIVE GOD TODAY

Don't worry about giving God the next ten years of your life; just give Him today because that's all you have to give.

Whatever He tells you to do today, do it! If he says to "cross to the other side of the lake," then push off and don't worry about the consequences because He can handle storms.

If He says to "tell the King it won't rain for three years" then tell him, even if you will be touched by the drought too. Just remember that He has a brook Cherith prepared for you to drink, even though you don't
know where your food might be coming from.

Give God today, obey Him, and enjoy release from the slavery of tomorrow!

- Bob and Bev Harvey

Newsletter FOR WOMEN IN MINISTRY - NO.18 Second Quarter, 1999

2011-10-09T01:01:00.000-07:00

A MINISTRY OF THE PRESBYTERY OF NEW ENGLAND

TEN YEARS ON: A HAPPY PASTORATE

Anonymous

In August some ten years ago I moved to this city at the invitation of the church here to take up the pastorate, both my and the church's first. My duties began on September 1 and the first Saturday in October was taken up with my induction service. As I look back over the years, a number of things spring to mind. One is that my 'job' marks my longest single period of employment. I spent exactly ten years at a Comprehensive School but have been on the payroll here for ten years and one month. In similar vein, my wife and I have lived at this home longer than we have lived in any other property since we married in 1976. One obvious change is that we came here with two children, and gained a third during our first year of service.

On the whole I am agreeably surprised that I am still here. I entered the ministry acutely conscious that better men than I had left churches after brief and unhappy settlements. Others had seen productive ministries unravel almost overnight. Who was to blame? The pastor, the church or some combination of factors? Anyway, I have always thought it likely that you, would find me out sooner or later. You are either very gullible or very patient. Certainly our covenant God is very gracious.

In some respects, this church has changed in the meantime. Certain familiar faces are no longer seen among us. In pan, this is because the ranks have been thinned by death as valued friends have been taken from us, transferring their membership from the church militant here on earth to the church triumphant in heaven. I knew when I first came that, all things being equal, I would soon grow to love certain people only to have to bury them in due course. Others have moved to other parts of the country and some now live abroad. There has also been the sadness of seeing some put their hand to the plough, only to glance backward and then turn out of the gospel furrow altogether.

On the other hand, the church has been enriched by new arrivals. Some came to work; others to study; all have proved welcome additions. Twenty-five church members called me to this congregation. Certainly the church is larger now than it was then and although progress has not been uniform, when allowance is made for the Church plant project the general trend has been upwards. All of this has been gratifying and gives us much cause for gratitude to God. Nevertheless, I still find myself fretting over a number of things. What can I do to inject greater evangelistic drive and impetus? This city is a Niagara of human souls pouring in a huge cataract over the brink into eternity. What can I do to encourage a greater sense of dependence on God that will lead to a more consistently fervent corporate prayer life? And how do I square the difficult circle of being loyal to the faith of our fathers without being stuck in a time warp? And how do I exercise a ministry that is truly contemporary on the one hand without becoming shallow and cheap on the other?

Most of my ministerial frustrations are to do with myself. The temptations I grapple with today are the same ones which troubled me when I first came here. I do not feel an inch more sanctified or an ounce more holy, but I often feel battle-weary. I could not now do anything else for a living, but am constantly troubled by the thought that I do not actually do it all that well. A tenth anniversary provides me with an opportunity to offer the church here my heartfelt thanks. First of all, I still cannot get over your original invitation to come and he your teacher in the things of God. That in itself is a high compliment. Although it demands more than I can give, it is a lovely job. After all, I am brought face to face with the Scriptures on a frequent basis and have regular opportunities to commend a supremely attractive Saviour to the world at large. On my first visit to you, I noticed that the congregation listened well. I am pleased that this is still the case. It is one reason why I feel that I have found my niche here. It is a congenial environment for a man who wants to serve the Lord as a preacher.

I am also grateful that you have allowed me to he myself. All too many pastors are made painfully aware of the fact that they are continually failing to meet the expectations of different segments of their congregations. By and large, that has not been my experience. My own conscience can he a hard taskmaster, but you folks let me off comparatively lightly. Nobody has attempted to force me into a mould that I do not fit.

In the same breath, I am grateful for your treatment of my wife. Whenever I talk with men under consideration for pastorates I say: 'Make sure you find out exactly what they expect of your wife.' Some churches have wholly unreasonable expectations. You, by contrast, have allowed her to find her own niche as a church member. In the same way, some congregations seem to think that 'preachers' children' ought to have a special dispensation, which exempts them from the effects of the Fall. My children have been allowed to get on with being boys without the added burden of having to live up to an unrealistic ideal

of impossibly stringent piety. I am very grateful! I must add that the family have stood by me simply by being themselves. If I have achieved anything in my time among you, they deserve your thanks for keeping my sense of proportion reasonably intact.

Incidentally, I might add that I have always felt that I have had a square deal in financial terms. Throughout my time here the church has made a yeoman effort to manage its support for me along biblical lines. No minister of my acquaintance lives in the lap of luxury but some have the added burden of feeling that their churches are not really trying all that hard. You folks have done everything within your means to provide a decent level of maintenance for your pastor and it is very much to your credit.

You have also been generous in allowing me to serve the wider church in a variety of ways. When I first came here I never expected commitments to mushroom in the way they have. I expected to remain anonymous, buried in provincial obscurity for the foreseeable future. When I am fit and feeling on top of things, I actively enjoy being involved up to the hilt. Equally, I often feel that I am slowly sinking in a quicksand made of committees, paper and correspondence. Nevertheless, on balance, I feel that it is good for the church to be involved, through me, in support for the Christian organisations which

I have been called to help with. Believe it or not, I do sometimes say 'no' to invitations and am trying to do it with more firmness and frequency.

I have taken a lot of pleasure from the way that the church plant has made progress since its inception. Ten years ago, if anyone had predicted that a new church would he emerging in a nearby area, I would not have believed it - and to think that this outreach has been sponsored by a church which was itself just over ten years old! Let us ask the Lord to give us a sense of vision. Where next? Some other town nearby?

At my induction service, I said that I would like to be like Bunyan's portrait of a gospel minister. Do you remember him?

A very grave person ... He had eyes lifted up to heaven, the best of books was in his hand, the law of truth was written upon his lips, the world was behind his back. He stood as if he pleaded with men, and a crown of gold did hang over his head.

Only you can gauge whether I have come even close to resembling this ideal. One thing I can say is that ten years down the road, if you will still have me, I am still willing to try.

(With permission from The Banner of Truth Magazine, April 1999)

ANSWERS TO THE QUESTIONS WE ASK

WHAT'S GOOD ABOUT BEING A MINISTER'S WIFE? By - Jan Gorton

As I read that question I felt warmed to it and encouraged, as there is a lot good about being a minister's wife. As a person who loves the Lord Jesus very much I want to be used by the Lord Jesus. But in myself I can be fairly quiet and reserved, but being a minister's wife has thrust me into front- line service and I thank God that He has given me the ability, the strength, the joy to cope with this. This is good!

I see, sometimes daily, God working in me and I see Him working in the lives of others. Surely this must always be good. As a minister's wife I have been made much more aware of the whole spectrum of God's family. I now meet and get to share in what Jesus is doing in a whole lot of very different people's lives-from very young (I have just been with a mum and her 11 month old triplets), to the teenager and their struggles, to the newly wed working on all that involves, through to the very old.

For me, this would never have happened if I was not a minister' wife. And I believe this is good. As a minister's wife I get a much larger say (not always listened to or followed, but at least a say) in many things involving the church e.g. music, format of services, children in church etc. This would never happen for me, except that I'm married to the man who has a fairly big say. It means too that I am involved in the direction the church is taking, with all it's joys and frustrations.

Being married to a minister has meant that I and my children have got to know more missionaries, more people in up- front ministries, more Christian organisations, as many of these have come into our home. This has meant we have a much wider view of Christ's work in the world and has made our prayer lives more affective. This must be good. I have seen my children learn to communicate with these people, as well as the young Mum who is having lots of problems, or the older person who just needed someone to take the time to listen. I have seen them be involved in ministry and I thank God want to become more involved. This too is good.

I have been involved in people's heartaches, sorrows, despair and seen a God who understands and cares and who can use even broken vessels like me. I have been involved in the joy of seeing people come to know the Lord Jesus as their own Lord and Saviour and been there to encourage them on. What greater joy can there be? Of course it's not all rosy but for me the plusses far outweigh the negatives.

We have just recently moved and the uprooting is definitely a negative. But even in this there is something good. In heaven, because I have been a minister's wife, I will have so many more people to catch up with. People I have loved, laughed, cried and shared with.

Thank you Lord God that You called us into Your Service. Thank you that You equip us, mould us and are making us into the people You want us to be. Thank you for using even the likes of me.

ANSWERS TO THREE QUESTIONS by Barbara Bullen

DO I HAVE TO LEAD A BIBLE STUDY GROUP?

No, minister's wives do not need to lead Bible Studies. Some wives prefer to be in the study rather than leading it. I started a Ladies Bible Study in Dungog. I was the leader and I did this because we had a need in the parish and I filled it. I felt that God was guiding me through this learning experience and now I feel confident in doing this. My Bible knowledge has grown and in this way my understanding of God's word has grown. Another problem is that many wives with young families find it difficult to find the preparation time that is needed. I was fortunate that Derek would help me if I stumbled upon something I did not understand, and explained it so I could then give the ladies a better understanding.

WHEN IS THE BEST TIME OF THE YEAR TO GO ON HOLIDAYS?

When we had a child at school, of course school holidays were the best time. We mainly took them in January. The problem is that at this time everything is so much more expensive. Now we are going to have our holidays in two parts. Two weeks at the end of May and two weeks in August. We feel now that we do not need to have time off for school holidays and, after Christmas that us being at home we can have time to prepare ourselves for the coming year. Usually we get back and straight into it and just don't get time for organizing ourselves. We have holiday times planned for the next two years as we have many weddings and need a structured year to work with. The times we go on holidays are the times we do not have any special church functions on, so this works well for us.

WHAT'S GOOD ABOUT BEING A MINISTER'S WIFE?

We are very privileged that God has called us to this position, to be a help mate to our husband and doing His work. We have many privileges in being a Minister's Wife. Firstly, we are part of our husband's calling. We are part of that team. We then can bring up our children to know God in a very special way, in a practical way, but also a Godly way. They can then choose their pathway in life. We become part of a family when we are in a parish and have people that care for us and pray for us in our work. We have a chance to have a look at our talents at that time and allow God to work in our lives. Sure, there are many who say, "I did not marry a minister so this is not what I should be doing". But when I married, I gave my trustto my husband that his decisions would be the right ones. Wives support their husbandsin the secular world, so why not in the minsitry? I give thanks to God that this has been our calling to serve Him.

BATTER MY HEART

Batter my heart, three personed-God; for you

as yet but knock, breathe, shine and seek to mend;

that I may rise, and stand, o'erthrow me, and bend

Your force, to break, blow, burn and make me new.

I, like a usurped town, to another due,

Labour to admit you, but oh, to no end,

Reason your viceroy in me, me should defend,

But is captived, and proves weak or untrue.

Yet dearly I love you, and would be loved fain,

But am betrothed to your enemy:

Divorce me, unti, or break that knot again,

Take me to you, imprison me, for I

Except you enthrall me, never shall be free,

Nor ever chaste, except you ravish me.

- John Donne

The Son of God suffered unto death,

not that men might not suffer,

but that their sufferings might be like His.

- George MacDonald

You asked for a loving God: you have one.

The great spirit you so lightly invoked, the 'lord of terrible aspect' is present:

not a senile benevolence that drowsily wishes you to be happy in your own way,

not the cold philanthropy of a conscientious magistrate,

nor the care of a host who feels responsible for the comfort of his guests,

but the consuming fire Himself,

the Love that made the worlds,

persistent as the artist's love for his work and despotic as a man's love for a dog,

provident and venerable as a father's love for a child,

jealous, inexorable, exacting as love between the sexes.

- C.S.Lewis

WAITING FOR ANSWERS TO PRAYER

"I called Him, but he gave me no answer." Song of Solomon 5:6

Prayer sometimes tarries. The Lord, when He has given great faith, has been known to try it by long delayings. He has suffered His servants' voices to echo in their ears as if from a brass sky. They have knocked a the golden gate, but it has remained immovable, as though it were rusted on its hinges. Like Jeremiah, they have cried, "You have covered yourself with a cloud, that our prayer should not pass through."

Thus have true saints continued long in patient waiting without reply, not because their prayers were not vehement, nor because they were unaccepted, but it so pleased Him who is a Sovereign, and who gives according to His own pleasure. If it pleases Him to bid our patience exercise itself, shall He not do as He wills with His own! Beggars must not be choosers either as to time, place or form.

But we must be careful not to take delays in prayer for denials: God's long-dated bills will be punctually honoured; we must not suffer Satan to shake our confidence in the God of truth by pointing to our unanswered prayers - they are not blown away by the wind, they are treasured in the King's archives.

This is a registry in the court of heaven where every prayer is recorded. Tried believer, your Lord has a tear bottle in which the costly drops of sacred grief are put away, and a book in which your holy groanings are numbered. By-and-by your suit shall prevail. Can you not be content to wait a little? Will not your Lord's time be better than your time? By-and-by He will comfortably appear to your soul's joy and make you put away the sackcloth and ashes of long waiting, and put on the scarlet and fine linen of full fruition.

- C.H. Spurgeon

READING

Does Godliness with contentment bring great strain?

Kathy Collard Miller, FINDING CONTENTMENT IN A DISAPPOINTING WORLD (1988)Colorado, NAVPRESS

“Several years ago, discontent was my middle name. I hated my life and thought I could never be content. The mother of a newborn and a two year old, I didn’t like being just a mother. I looked around my house and thought, ‘Why can’t I be out evangelizing the world for You, Lord, instead of keeping house…’”

Kathy Millar has found answers to her own discontent by a thorough study of God’s Word. She has read many well-known writers on women, family and relationships. A good read, if you need to learn to be content.

THE MIDDLE COUNRTY

2011-09-27T18:32:00.000-07:00

The Middle Country

When we were children

we all had breakfast

together,

We made cubbies

together,

We went swimming

together.

When we were children

the middle country was home.

Distant lands were

the school

and the shops

and the creek

where we swam.

We travelled to them

as tourists.

We knew we would

always come home.

I wrote this in a fit of nostalgia when our children were small. The character for China – the Middle Country – inspired me. Of course, the symbolism for me was the certainty of my home in heaven with the Lord Jesus.

It is many years now since our children left home to study, find work and set up their own homes. And yes, they do return from afar to see us.

As I read through the prophets each year, I am gripped by the oft-repeated promise that your sons and your daughters shall come back from distant places. As a member of the true Israel of God in Christ, I feel free to claim these promises for myself. As our years increase and our energy decreases, I pray that the Lord will send our children back to help us build his kingdom. And He is so gracious! He does hear and answer prayer.

My husband has had a cough that has troubled him for several months now, especially in the evening service. Now this is not good for a preacher. One of our sons came home for Father’s Day and offered to preach for his father. What a double blessing! It was wonderful for my husband to have a break, and it was brilliant to hear our boy proclaim the gospel.

Now our other son is coming home for the October Long-weekend, and is pleased to preach in his father’s place. How abundantly God has blessed us!

But God does not seem to be answering my prayer in the way I would like. I would like them all to find good jobs in Tamworth and move here permanently. My concept of home is a self-centred one. My concept of ministry is that Tamworth is the centre of the Kingdom of God.

Then last night I read:

"Then fear not, O Jacob my servant, declares the LORD,
nor be dismayed, O Israel;
for behold, I will save you from far away,
and your offspring from the land of their captivity.
Jacob shall return and have quiet and ease,

and none shall make him afraid.

[Jeremiah 30:10]

Suddenly the truth startled me. Here in Tamworth, I too am far away from home. The Pilgrim’s Progress flashed across my mind. All of us are returning home, and that Home is somewhere else. Tamworth is not the centre of God’s kingdom or God’s Middle Country. The Middle Country is Zion and Home is the Celestial City.

My perspective has changed, literally overnight. I will no longer pray that my children will come home to Tamworth. That is not important. The important thing is that they are on the same journey, from the captivity of this life to the freedom and joy of that Life. And so the perspective for my prayers will now be:

“I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.” [3 John v.4] and that we are all “marching upward to Zion, the beautiful city of God.”

WOMEN IN MINISTRY NEWSLETTER No17 First Quarter 1999

2011-09-22T23:19:00.000-07:00

READING:

HOW SWEET THE SOUND - the absorbing story of John Newton and William Cowper by Noel Davidson C 1997 Ambassador Productions, Belfast. ISBN 1 84030 005 1. Reviewed by Annette E.

This book provided very enjoyable holiday reading as I followed the lives of the former slave trading sea captain, John Newton, and the gifted poet, William Cowper. (pronounced Cooper) Many will know the story of John Newton's conversion and his later calling as a Curate in the Church of England. It was in the parish of Olney that William Cowper came under the ministry of Newton and the two became close friends.

Olney was famous for its lace making. While the women worked at their lace, they would chant rhymes. John Newton saw this as an opportunity to share the Gospel. Each week, he and William would write hymns on the topic of the coming sermon. John would teach the new hymn to the congregation and the lace makers would take it back to their work-place, able to share the truths of Scripture with their fellow lace makers.

Those of us in ministry will relate to John's distress when, after a period of tremendous growth the church members at Olney became indifferent to the teaching they were receiving. The upper classes were also critical of the time John spent with the poor and illiterate. Eventually, John and Mary Newton felt it was time to leave Olney. It was only after they'd gone that the people realized what a gem they had lost.

William's life was marred by tragic episodes of mental illness. After one particularly dark period his hymn writing ceased. He struggled with his own unworthiness and lack of assurance, yet his poems reveal a depth of spiritual insight few enjoy. When William died in 1880 his struggles of mind and body were over. His cousin, with him at the end, described his face as "one of calmness and composure, mingled, as it were, with holy surprise".

This book quotes extensively from Newton and Cowper's hymns. Several pages of colour photos show scenes of Olney. An absorbing story - this book will be enjoyed by those who are interested in the lives of two hymn writers whose works were greatly blessed by God.

FATHER, HEAR US WE ARE PRAYING,

Hear the words our hearts are saying,

We are praying for our children.

Keep them from the powers of evil,

From the hidden, secret peril,

Father , hear us for our children.

From the whirlpool that would suck them,

From the treacherous quicksand, pluck them.

Father, hear us for our children.

From the worldling’s hollow gladness,

From the sting of faithless sadness,

Father, Father, keep our children.

Through life’s troubled waters, steer them,

Through life’s bitter battle cheer them,

Father, Father, be thou near them.

Read the language of our longing,

Read the wordless pleadings thronging,

Holy Father, for our children.

And wherever they abide,

Lead them home at even-tide.

- Amy Carmichael

(Amy Carmichael was famous for her life's work of rescuing unwanted baby girls.)

ALLSORTS

by Meredith T.

Jesus' disciples were drawn from many and varied backgrounds - poorly educated fishermen, socially despised tax-collectors...You and I, as wives of ministers also come from many and varied backgrounds - some are first generation Christians, others 4th generation; some with professional training, others with none; some with talents directly competing with Tonia Todman, others with no interest in painted ducks at all.

And like the disciples, you may not feel that you have been called to be a leader of a church, but simply called to marry and follow the person you love, who now happens to be a minister.

There is no set role for a minister's wife - but there is a mindset to develop.

1. Be wholehearted in our commitment to our Lord Jesus Christ and to ensuring that our relationship with him is growing and maturing.

2. Be committed to our husbands - support them where they need support, be it playing the piano and leading the choir or simply being available when they come back from Presbytery - available to help them unwind, [Sounds interesting?! M.] making sure they take their cholesterol-lowering tablets, and making sure they don't have to decipher the 20 messages on the answering machine!!

3. Be there for our children. Their needs are constant, and not necessarily diminishing with age. In fact, as they progress through to being young adults their former needs, of grazed knees, hungry tummies and losing at soccer on Saturdays, are replaced by less-easily solved problems, in the realm of 'I just can't fit it all in', 'I'm forced to do this subject which I hate', 'Nobody understands me'.

4. Be committed to serving God's people where he has placed you. Again this may be leading the PWA, the choir and the craft group, but it may also simply involve praying with an individual each week, being available to go for coffee, or following up a neighbour's inquiry regarding the Christian faith.

Looking at the different paths each of the above may lead us, keep in mind that just as each of us has been uniquely called to and known by Christ, so too, each of us are unique as minister's wives. Be content that you are unique. Do not let people mislead you into believing you should be doing A, B and C. You alone are accountable to God.

During our visits to different parishes over the past 8 months, I've been delighted at the wonderful group of women in ministry I've met - seeing them step in where their husbands were lacking, supporting them through times of want and trial, seeing them relate to each other in love even though exhausted, seeing them relate to parish situations with perseverance and sensitivity.

We are not all poured into the same mould.

Let's delight in our uniqueness and the special ministries the Lord has laid before us.

Let's focus not on what we do, but how we do it.

...Set an example

for the believers

in speech,

in life,

in love,

in faith

and in purity.

...flee from all this,

and pursue righteousness, godliness,

faith,

love,

endurance and gentleness.

WOMEN IN MINISTRY NEWSLETTER - Fourth Quarter, 1998 No. 16

2011-09-15T22:12:00.000-07:00

Life of Lady Grissel Baillie - The Four Loves by CS Lewis - Ministers' Family Camp 1998 . . .

WAITING FOR REASONS

Tho' darkness deepens

and my heart bleeds,

I will not question the way He leads,

This side of heaven we know in part,

I will not question a broken heart.

We'll talk it over in the bye and bye,

We'll talk it over, my Lord and I,

I'll ask the reason, He'll tell me why,

When we talk it over

in the bye and bye.

I'll hide my heartache behind a smile,

And wait for reasons till afterwhile:

And tho' He try me I know I'll find

That all my burdens are silver-lined.

- I. Stamphill

BOOKS TO READ

"WOMEN IN MID-LIFE CRISIS" by Sally Conway, Paternoster Press. [Contributed by Jan L.] Are you around the 50 mark? Here is an excellent book to help you and your family understand the particular stresses of this age group. The author's husband has also written "Men in Mid-Life Crisis", and this is recommended for ministers, pastors and their wives. Mr. Conway is a Baptist pastor.

"THE FOUR LOVES" by C.S. Lewis [Collins]

In November, 1998, the Christian Church celebrates the birthday of C.S. Lewis one hundred years ago. His writings have blessed many people and his books have become classics. One of my favourites is "The Four Loves". In this, Lewis starts with Affection. This is the humblest of all loves. "It gives itself no airs, and usually needs absence or bereavement to set us praising those to whom only Affection binds us. We take them for granted." Perhaps this is the sort of love many parishioners have for their minister, and vice versa! We see it in people who wouldn't admit friendship, like Hyacinth and Onslo (Keeping Up Appearances).

The second love is Friendship. This is a problem for people today, especially in the work-place, as enduring friendship between people of the same sex has been redefined as a homosexual relationship. More than ever, we need to absorb Lewis' clear and healthy definition, so that we are not ashamed of our capacity for the sort of God-given friendship that David and Jonathan enjoyed.

Next, Eros means "being in love". Eros is more than sex. "Sexuality may operate without Eros or as part of Eros...Without Eros sexual desire, like every other desire, is a fact about ourselves. Within Eros it is rather about the Beloved". Eros must not only be other-centred, but controlled by God, so that it does not become a consuming demon. Lewis recommends we read Anna Karenina... as an example of Eros the destroyer - "and do not fancy that such things happen only in

Russia

The fourth love is Charity. This is the Godly Love as defined in 1Corinthians 13, and not to be confused with Life Line or Vinnies! This is supreme love, and the context for all other loves. "When God arrives (and only then) the half-gods (Affection, Friendship, Eros) can remain. Left to themselves, they either vanish or become demons. Only in His name can they with beauty and security wield their little tridents."

We live in an age where people pursue or worship half-gods, little idols in the name of love. The message of this book is that there is a Greater Love, and unless this is the source of all other loves, we shall never be satisfied.

"THE PUNDIT'S FOLLY - Chronicles of an Empty Life" by Sinclair B. Ferguson [Banner of Truth]

This commentary on the ancient writing, Ecclesiastes, is the most up to date book I have read for a long time. Do you have friends who try to laugh their way through life? Or are you impressed by those who pursue education, pleasure, a good drink, work, or success? In contrast, Wisdom seems a tame and unprofitable pursuit.

We are reminded of the poor but wise man who saved his people from destruction but has been forgotten - who other than the Lord Jesus? The Pundit progresses in his thinking until he arrives at a point where he no longer makes man the measure of things. His focus moves from "under the sun" to beyond the sun. "To know God is to be stunned by His presence!"

These 88 pages wrapped in a fascinating cover are great as a gift or for personal profit.

Quotes from “The Pundit’s Folly”:

Even though we will never know everything about this world,

we do know something about everything:

God is its Creator and he is our heavenly Father.

To know God is to be stunned by his presence.

THE LIFE OF GRISSEL BAILLIE

Good Breeding,

Good Humour,

Good Sense

were her daily ornaments.

"Lady Grissel Baillie aged about 60..." stated the caption beside the portrait. "I don't believe it!" I thought. "She looks no more than 40, and such red lips and rosy unlined cheeks couldn't be natural." The tourist book said that her father-in-law had been executed as a Covenanter, and that she became a famous character of 'the killing times' in Scotland. "She was beautiful and accomplished, a devoted wife and an excellent household manager. She kept a 'Household Book' which has come down to us as a classic of social history." I had to find out more, and consulted Alexander Smellie's 'Men of the Covenant'. Here's his account:-

“A captivating gaiety and an invincible brightness and a sprightly charm gleam from the features of that lady of the Covenant who was Sir Patrick Hume's daughter and later Sir George Baillie's wife. She refutes the delusion that the Covenanter must be splenetic and sour-faced. She sang - "Werena my heart light I wad die," and translated it into the irrepressible lilt of her lovely and pleasant life.

Born in 1665, she was no more than twelve when the chance came to prove her courage and wit. Sir Patrick bade her carry a letter to Edinburgh to his friend, Robert Baillie. But Baillie was closely shut up in prison. How was his girl-helper to gain admittance to his cell without awakening the suspicion of the gaoler? She did it somehow, delivered her letter, and took home with her what her father wanted to know. This has its fit and romantic climax. In the Tolbooth prison, she saw for the first time young George Baillie, and the two fell in love. It was a small distress to Grissel Hume that she had to wait patiently for thirteen care-crowded summers before she could be married to the man she described as -

'the best of husbands and

delight of my life

for forty-eight years,

without one jar betwixt us'.

In 1684, it was Sir Patrick Hume himself whose head was endangered; and who but the high-spirited daughter of the house was his defender? When the troopers were in search of him, Grissel got Jamie Winter, the carpenter, to come to her aid. Under the screen of darkness, they carried from Redbraes a bed and the bed-clothes to the empty vault beneath Polwarth Church, and there, for a month, she kept her father in safe hiding. He had no light to read by, but would recite to himself the Psalms, which he knew from beginning to end. And every mid-night, Grissel stole out from the castle to visit him. After a lonely mile walk, she could still cheer her father with her hearty laugh in the gloom. The gravestones in the churchyard gave her many a fall, and the rustling of a leaf suggested the redcoats in pursuit, and the minister's dogs barked so loudly that she imagined herself detected, until her mother coaxed him to hang them all in case there was a mad member in the pack. And then she had the perplexity of catering for the captive's hunger, when the servants must be told nothing of his whereabouts, and the younger children could not be trusted to guard the secret! Sheep's head, that homely and wholesome fare, was a favourite dish with her father; and once, while the nine brothers and sisters were intent over their broth, she conveyed most of one into her lap. But, by and by, Sandy missed it, and was bewildered and horrified by such shameless voracity. "Mother, will ye look at Grissel? he cried, "She has eaten up the whole sheep's head!"

Other devices had to be tried soon. Again, Jamie Winter was summoned, and was set to the task of constructing a great wooden box. Meanwhile, in an unused room on the ground floor of the castle, Grissel was busy; she was digging out in the earth a hole, both wide and deep, in which the carpenter's chest was to be laid. So silently her work must be accomplished that she would not risk using tools. Her own lithe and shapely hands were her knife and mattock and spade. She laboured at her strange love-darg until there was not a nail left on her fingers. Then, in the night time, the father was hurried across from the vault below the church, and imprisoned in the spacious casket got ready for him. He breathed air through the openings bored in its lid, and spent some weeks in this curious resting-place. But in the hole in the earth the water deepened daily, till he could remain no longer. Once more he fled, to London, and Bordeaux and Holland.

Grissel Hume followed him, though not until her mother and most of the children had gone in advance of her. She stayed behind to take special care of Julian, who was sick. For three and a half years she was the angel in the little house in Utrecht, Holland, working hard and praising God for provision in their poverty.

Eventually, William and Mary became King and Queen of England, and the Hume family could return. Two years later, Lady Grissel could wed the lover for whom she had been proud to wait since she was twelve. While in exile, they had told no one of their engagement. The trouble was that at least two other gentlemen wanted to marry Grissel, and her parents could not understand her refusals. As Lady Grissel Baillie, she had a long and happy marriage. When at last God called George from her side, she lived 'with but half a heart'.

It was written of her at the time: She was middle-sized, well made, very handsome, with a life and sweetness in her eyes most uncommon and a great delicacy in all her features; her hair was chestnut, and to the last she had the finest complexion, with the clearest red in her cheeks and lips that could be seen in one of fifteen". So the portrait was right after all!

[If you ever go to Scotland, look for it in the front hall of Mellerstain, Gordon, Berwickshire]

MINISTERS' FAMILY CAMP 1998 - MEROO, NSW

QUOTES FROM THE SPEAKER - KEL WILLIS

What you focus on will govern your life.

Gospel focus is on God and His work, not man and his sin.

Go to the wall for Gospel principles alone.

Opposition is the natural consequence of preaching the gospel. If you're going to die for a cause, die on a mountain, not on a molehill!

Godliness that flows from the resources of God takes the strain out of ministry.

Poor self image may be a jail whose bars are made of what we think others think of us.

"I am determined not to let friendships slip again." [Spoken at the end of the NSW Minister's Family Camp, by someone who had missed two camps.]

THE QUESTIONS WE ASK

F Is it possible to live on one income?

Carole wrttes: I was very interested to read the article by Cathleen Sherry in the last Newsletter. I agree with most of what is said (being at variance with the last paragraph)...to quote: "It's the desire to have two cars, expensive holidays and dinners out..." As Carole points out, there are many other reasons women in ministry go into the workforce. Some of us also supplement our income working at home. The articles in the SMH were written by and for career women on large incomes, which hardly applies to most of us. These articles are remarkable in that what they are saying has been considered heresy by the Women's Movement for decades!

Two questions for you to discuss and answer:-

F Why do bad things happen to God's people?

F What's good about being a minister's wife?

When they were but few in number,

few indeed,

He allowed no man to oppress them;

For their sake He rebuked kings:

Do not touch My anointed ones;

Do My prophets no harm.

- I Chronicles 16:19-22

Katy was interviewing her friends for a uni assignment on how people treat their own physical ailments, rather than seeing a health care professional - doctor, dentist, nurse, etc. It's called "The Proletariatization of Medicine". The funniest story was the reverend gentleman who broke his front tooth off, one Saturday afternoon. He was stripping electrical wire with his teeth. Not wanting to trouble the dentist late on Saturday, he glued his tooth back on with Araldite, and proceeded to take the Sunday Services with no disfigurement. Unfortunately, the visit to the dentist next day cost $700 - an expensive alternative to getting some pliers.

I sat and I thought of my shattered plans

and the things I had meant to do.

For disappointment at every turn

had followed me through and through.

An angel came and whispered,

"Put an H where you have the D

For disappointments in earthly things

are His appointments for thee."

- Anon

Newsletter FOR WOMEN IN MINISTRY - NO.15 - Third Quarter, 1998

2011-09-08T22:39:00.000-07:00

A MINISTRY OF THE PRESBYTERY OF NEW ENGLAND

RETREAT

Ever felt in need of a retreat? Did you know that retreats are available for the wives of ministers and home missionaries? These retreats are held under the auspices of our church and John Mark Ministries.

Last year I went to Minnamurra on the South Coast for a four day retreat with seven others. What did we do? We learned to listen and be still. We shared and cared for each other. We shared in the knowledge that there would be complete confidentiality, and we loved and respected one another.

Several times during the year, those within driving distance of Sydney met together for part of a day to catch up and pray for each other. I was too far away to go to these meetings, but other members of the retreat contacted me by ‘phone at various times, especially when we were threatened by floods three times in the past month (it’s now five!), and also by bushfire at the end of last year.

Perhaps this could be a great time of support and refreshment for you, as it was for me.

Nancy Hocking,

- Narrabri.

THE QUESTIONS WE ASK

English fiction, especially in the murder-mystery shelves, often portrays the “dear vicar” - a lovable and forgetful clergyman, with kindly disposed parishioners. The “Miss Marples” of the parish always make allowances for his foibles! Why is this not our experience? Is this figure mythical or simply not Australian?

Can a minister’s family live on one income? [The question of living on one income is being examined more closely in the secular media. Below is a summary of what is being said. Thanks to Pat Christian for these cuttings from the S.M.Herald.]

MOTHERS IN THE WORKFORCE

Cathleen Sherry believes that mothers should spend les time at work, and more with their children. She is a law lecturer at the University of NSW, and is making a name for her forthright views on the family. Some of her controversial conclusions are:

· There is more than a dollop of hypocrisy in the fact that men who spend excessive hours in the workplace and little time with their children are considered substandard parents and yet women who do the same are considered “supermums”.

· Once we have made the decision to have children we should be prepared to alter our lives sufficiently to actually care for them ourselves. Why have children if you are simply going to pay someone else to care for them for the majority of their week.

· Child care provides a wonderful service to adults in allowing them to be part of the work force. Child care is a service to children, among other things in the provision of friends to play with, activities and games. However children, particularly young children, do not need adult working week’s worth of this. Young babies, arguably, do not need it at all.

Cathy Sherry points out a glaring anomaly: “In maternity hospitals it’s no longer the thing to have newborn babies lined up in a nursery with a couple of nurses to look after them. That’s seen as terrible. Mothers are strongly persuaded to keep their babies with them 24 hours a day. Yet six weeks later it’s fine to put them in a creche - 10 babies with just two carers. It doesn’t make sense.”

What about the income? Ms. Sherry points out that there are many families in Sydney who do exist on a single income. What it boils down to is lifestyle and mortgage choices.

It’s the desire to have two cars, expensive holidays and dinners out. According to Ali Gripper, many younger women wish they could say some of these things, but lack the courage. “Why can’t women say they’d like to have their children and watch them grow, without being pilloried?

Those who pray do well,

Those who read and pray do better,

but those who sing,

and read and pray

do best of all.

- Matthew Henry

Underneath are the everlasting arms.

- Deut 33:27

(This is a devotional piece of encouragement for those in ministry. I have taken the liberty of changing he and him to she and her, seeing we are all of the feminine gender.)

God, the eternal God, is our refuge at all times, and especially when we are sinking in deep trouble. There are seasons when the Christian sinks very low in humiliation. Under a deep sense of her great sinfulness, she is humbled before God till she scarcely knows how to pray, because she appears in her own sight, so worthless. Well, child of God, when you are at your worst and lowest, yet, underneath you are the everlasting arms. Sin may drag you ever so low, but Christ’s great atonement is still under all. You may have descended into the depths, but you cannot have fallen so low as the uttermost, and to the uttermost He saves.

Again, the Christian sometimes sinks very deeply in sore trial from without. Every earthly prop is cut away. What then? Still, underneath her are the everlasting arms. She cannot fall so deep in distress and affliction but what the covenant of grace of an ever-faithful God will still encircle her. The Christian may be sinking under trouble from within through fierce conflict, but even then she cannot be brought so low as to be beyond reach of the everlasting arms - they are underneath her, and, while thus sustained, all Satan’s efforts to harm her avail nothing.

This assurance of support is a comfort to any weary but earnest worker in the service of God. It implies a promise of strength for each day, grace for each need, and power for each duty. And further, when death comes, the promise shall still hold good. When we stand in the midst of the Jordan, we shall be able to say with David, “I will fear no evil, for Thou art with me.” We shall descent into the grave, but we shall go no lower, for the eternal arms prevent our further fall. All through life, and at its close, we shall be upheld by the everlasting arms - arms that neither flag nor lose their strength, for the everlasting God faints not neither is weary.

- Spurgeon

The Universalists think all the world is going to be saved,

but we Presbyterians hope for better things.

- L.M.Montgomery

God allows a thornbush to grow at the door of every Manse,

to keep its occupants humble and prayerful.

These thornbushes are usually two legged ones!

ADVICE

FOR NEWLY-WEDS

Be quick to say “I’m sorry,”

Avoid, “I told you so.”

Speak freely when your words are praise.

When finding fault be slow.

Confide in one another,

But not the closest friend;

For privacy once broken

Is very hard to mend.

Discussion solves most problems,

If you keep an open mind.

Maintain a sense of humour,

For that helps, too, you’ll find.

When giving, sharing, doing,

Don’t measure out the dose.

And if you feel like fighting,

Do it standing close.

- Libbie B. Shultz

WOMEN IN MINISTRY NEWSLETTER - JUNE 1998

2011-08-25T21:03:00.000-07:00

I waited patiently for the Lord;

and he inclined to me,

and heard my cry.

He brought me up also

out of a horrible pit,

out of the miry clay,

and set my feet upon a rock,

and established my goings.

And he has put a new song in my mouth,

even praise unto our God:

many shall see it,

and fear,

and shall trust in the Lord.

Let them be ashamed and confounded together that seek after my soul to destroy it;

Let all those that seek you rejoice

and be glad in you:

But I am poor and needy;

yet the Lord thinks upon me:

you are my help and deliverer;

make no tarrying,

O my God.

Selections from Psalm 40 - Photo Ian Irwin

THE QUESTIONS WE ASK

What can we do about music in our church? There is no life or joy. It's very hard to rejoice when the music is a slow dirge!

Annette E considers the best long-term solution for young parents is to train your own children to be useful musicians, as part of their training in godliness and discipleship. When they're old enough, their youth and enthusiasm will automatically move things along!

Another solution is to develop a team of musicians who can share the responsibility and the criticism!

Is it possible to have strong beliefs without being dogmatic and divisive?

IS YOUR HOME REALLY CHRISTIAN?

by Phyllis Mercer

Is it possible to define a Christian home? If both husband and wife claim to be Christians, will that mean their home is really Christian? If one of the parents is a true Christian, can that home be Christian?

It appears that Paul defines a Christian home for us, in the advice he gives Timothy:

"and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2Tim3:15-17

Acts chapter 16 explains that Timothy was a young believer, whose mother was a Jewess and a believer, but whose father was a Greek, with no profession of faith. Timothy had a good reputation, in both Lystra and Iconium, for the brothers there spoke well of him.

Paul had not succeeded in keeping the young man Mark with him on his first missionary journey, but now near the commencement of his second missionary journey, he was anxious to enlist the services of this young man whose Christian mother had such an important part to play in his present standing. Yet, in respect for his father, he had not been circumcised, indicating that his mother did not attempt to dominate him but that she too respected her husband, while giving first place to the Lord. Her knowledge of the Scripture was first hand, for she passed it on to her son from his childhood. If her own appreciation of the Scripture was half-hearted, then it would have been apparent in the life of her son and his reputation would have suffered accordingly. The Scripture makes it patently clear that belief and behaviour are linked together. Faulty belief results in faulty behaviour as far as God is concerned. However, this godly mother had succeeded in providing an environment where the Holy Spirit could work, using the Scriptures and the example of her Christ-centred behaviour, which were essential for her son to be wise for salvation and to manifest true godliness in his lifestyle.

From this little cameo of home life we can deduce the basic essentials for a true Christian home. The Holy Scriptures are to be read, learnt, taught, believed and practised by those who profess to believe in Christ.

Timothy's mother was not merely an intellectual who could pass on head knowledge. She was a practicing believer whose life, conduct and plans all pointed to the Lordship of Christ in her own life and her desire that her son should be a true Christian. She knew the secret of a successful Christ-like walk and she wanted her son to experience the same for himself. God in His great mercy had worked in the heart of this young man and he had been well settled in his Christian faith, upon the Word of God. Now he was ready for service in the King's army and gladly enlisted to become part of the team to travel with Paul the Apostle. He was not a novice. He had been under the Lordship of Jesus Christ from childhood and knew the debt he owed to the Saviour. He knew the privilege which was being entrusted to him to serve His Master.

Timothy's mother, supported by her mother, had been single-minded in her walk with the Lord. Are we single-minded in following Christ? If we are, our home will be truly Christian, for the Word of God will be our guide, the Spirit of God our Director, making Christ known to us and those we contact.

WHEN JACK AND JILL TOOK A HAND

by LM Montgomery

Dick is our minister. He hasn't been it very long. I shall never forget how surprised Jill and I were that first Sunday we went to church and saw him. We had always thought that ministers had to be old. But Dick was young - and good looking. Jill said she thought it a positive sin for a minister to be so good-looking, it didn't seem Christian.

Dick and father had been friends at college, so we became acquainted. He taught me to skate that winter and fence with canes and do long-division.

Dick preached great sermons. They were so nice and short. It was such fun to hear him thump the pulpit when he got excited; and when he got more excited still he would lean over the pulpit, his face all white, and talk so low and solemn that it would just send the most gorgeous thrills through you.

Aunt Tommy is the prettiest girl I ever saw. If Jill is half as good-looking when she gets to twenty - she's only ten now, same age as I am, we're twins - I shall be proud of her for a sister.

We went to church with Aunt Tommy the first Sunday after she came, one on each side of her. She looked fine that day. She had on a gorgeous dress, all thrills and ruffles, and a big white floppy hat. I was proud of her for an aunt, and I was anxious for Dick to see her. When he came up to speak to Jill and me after church I said, "Aunt Tommy, this is Mr. Richmond," just like grown up people say. Aunt Tommy and Dick shook hands and Dick got as red as anything. It was funny to see him.

The very next evening he came to our place, and I couldn't get a word in edgewise. I got so disgusted, I went out, and came across Jill.

"Dick's in there talking to Aunt Tommy," I said. "I don't see what makes him want to talk to her."

"What a goose you are!" said Jill in that aggravatingly patronizing way of hers. "Why, Dick has fallen in love with Aunt Tommy!"

I jumped. I never was so surprised.

"How do you know?" I asked.

"Because I do," said Jill. "I knew it yesterday at church and I think it is so romantic."

"I didn't think ministers ever fell in love," I protested...

BOOKS

Women in Ministry

by Douglas and Joan Milne

A clearly written and useful booklet - good to have an extra one to give away. Copies may be ordered from South Yarra Pres. Church, 621 Punt Rd. South Yarra, 3141

$2.50 per copy + 50c P&P.

In the Faithful Hands of Another

The Biography of Rev. John William Searle - the second Principal of Melbourne Bible Institute - by John Mercer.

A great Pastor is not measured

by the size of his congregation

but by the willingness of his heart .

The Heart of a Great Pastor by HB London is produced by Focus on the Family, PO Box 5210, Clayton V 3168

T.C. HAMMOND

"Get a sense of humour or get out of Christian work:

without a sense of humour it will be the death of you"

"It has been said that whereas America had been colonized by the Pilgrim Fathers, Australia was colonized by 'Prodigal Sons'!"

"...frequently when referring to learned authorities he would say: 'Professor X says this, and Doctor Y says this, but the truth is...' or 'So-and-so in his book says such-and-such, but he is in heaven now and knows better!'"

- from the biography of TC Hammond by Warren Nelson published by Banner of Truth.

[TC Hammond was an Irishman who came to Australia in 1936 and put Moore College on the map. This book starts with the best thumbnail sketch of the Irish question I have read. -MA]

Have you ever wondered what the general public thinks Easter is all about? Narelle has a sewing shop, and makes patchwork quilts. She was making a quilt depicting the death and resurrection of Christ, with the words, "He is risen" to display for Easter. One shopper asked her what she was doing, and Narelle took the opportunity to explain. "Well," said the lady, "that's a new line on Easter!"

The fellowship of His sufferings

Do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though some strange thing were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ...

H e was despised and rejected...

WOMEN IN MINISTRY NEWSLETTER NO. 13 MARCH 1998

2011-08-18T22:30:00.000-07:00

Some of us grew up loving the Authorised Version. In the interests of clear communication, I usually use a modern translation, but every now and then, I can't help reverting to the AV. The beauty of this verse is enhanced by the cadence of the old phrases. Listen!

Fear thou not;

for I am with thee:

be not dismayed;

for I am thy God:

I will strenghten thee;

yea, I will help thee;

yea, I will uphold thee

with the right hand of my righteousness.

Isaiah 41:10

God's Humour

When God had finished the stars and whirl of coloured suns

He turned his mind from big things to fashion little ones,

Beautiful tiny things (like daisies) he made, and then

He made the comical ones in case the minds of men

Should stiffen and become

Dull, humourless and glum:

And so forgetful of their Maker be

as to take even themselves - quite seriously.

Caterpillars and cats are lively and excellent puns:

All God's jokes are good - even the practical ones!

And as for the duck, I think God must have smiled a bit

Seeing those bright eyes blink on the day he fashioned it.

And he's probably laughing still at the sound that came out of its bill!

- F.W. Harvey

Growing Up in the Manse - Bane or Blessing

One correspondent asked, “I’d be interested to know which manse children presented talks on ‘Growing Up in the Manse’ at the Luncheon mentioned in your November ‘97 issue - and whether the overall feeling was ‘blessing’ or ‘bane’.”

Many women, who do not like housework for its own sake, find great satisfaction in creating order out of chaos. Housework becomes a legitimate means to an end, especially if other members of the household show appreciation.

- Home Loads - S.M.H. - 29.1.98

THE QUESTIONS WE ASK

In the last newsletter, several experienced women shared answers to questions we ask. We really appreciate this ministry, and ask your opinion of the following:

What do you do about Christmas Cards and gifts from parishioners? I don't like to give only to a selected few, and I can't afford to give to all!

Can a Christian ever be insulted?

What about Clerical Poverty? Some parishioners seem to expect it. Some, who are quite well off themselves, seem to promote this form of asceticism for their ministers.

Much of the Newsletters for December 1997 and March 1998 were taken up with personal news and with the story of my mother’s life as a missionary and minister’s wife. You can access the latter at http://womeninministrypca.blogspot.com/2011/02/my-life-by-ella-white-1915-1985.html

WOMEN IN MINISTRY NEWSLETTER NO. 11 SEPTEMBER, 1997

2011-08-11T22:07:00.000-07:00

A MINISTRY OF THE PRESBYTERY OF NEW ENGLAND

I appeal to you, brothers,

in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,

that all of you agree with one another
so that there may be no divisions among you,

and that you may be perfectly united

in mind and thought.

1Cor.1:10

Dear Friends,

If this is your first Newsletter, and you don't know why you've been singled out to get it, it is probably because I met your husband at SMBC for Assembly, or your child at PK Camp. I hope you find it worthwile. I do.

For some of us, State Assembly has come and gone. For all states, comes the excitement of the GAA in Sydney in September. For the women making the pilgrimage from other states, don't forget to come and meet us at the Minister's Wives Luncheon. What a blessing to be able to meet other servants of Christ from all over the nation!

Not long after the June Newsletter, I received a call from Victoria about what I called "The Pearsby Concept". Victoria has recently set in place a somewhat different concept, with the same intention - to provide minister's families with a low-cost, seaside holiday. In response to a survey, two beach houses, in different locations are leased for the time most people want holidays. Thank-you for providing me with this information, which can be taken into account in any NSW discussions.

I wonder if anyone else read an article in "New Life" called "A Nazarene teenager revolutionizes womanhood" by Sandy Wilson. [12.6.97] The other day, I was just about to use the paper to wrap up a Pyrex dish I had smashed, when the subject caught my eye. The key verse was Mary's statement, "I am the Lord's servant ... May it be to me as you have said." [Luke 1:38] I have really left Mary alone in my thinking, seeing she is over done by one large part of Christendom. However, this article made me take a better look at her. I'm glad I did. I'll share just a few quotes from the message with you:

Vocation is all of life...

The calling to be a wife, or a pastor, or a musician, or a plumber, is partial, inferential, fallible, and revocable. The calling to be a saint is comprehensive, immediate, infallible, and irrevocable...

...the greatest satisfaction must always come from our calling to fellowship with Christ. This was Mary's great discovery. God was everything. Joseph was only something.

We rarely stop to think of the price of her obedience to the Lord: a seemingly certain divorce from her beloved husband-to-be, unparalleled public disgrace, disqualification from decent society, life-long poverty and loneliness ... She renounced her privileges and comforts and prestige for the sake of Christ.

The only way to break through today's confusion in the issues concerning women's roles and rights is to forsake self and embrace Christ.

The most complex and emotional gender debates of our day were solved by a teenager from the backwoods of Galilee because she possessed a radically Christian frame of reference and because she was ready to offer full obedience. Regardless of our position on the issues of our day, the calling is clearly to be His servant ... according to His Word.

Some serious meditation on Mary's response is highly recommended in this age of confusion.

This could be the start of a beautiful friendship! Could I suggest a double register of City women willing to take billets and country women requiring accommodation for Assembly? I would be happy to advertise those offering and those needing accommodation. City ladies, please consider whether you have room for children, too, as this is what keeps many women in the back-blocks during this significant week of our Church life. A quick phone call to me will put your name on either register. I am happy to do this for any of the State Assemblies if required. I can pass on requests by phone for the 97 GAA, as there will not be another Newsletter before that.

-Marion Andrews

OUR FAMILY MATTERS

"You have to be cruel to be kind".

Fifteen years ago, "Lucky Luke" was a favourite cartoon in the Andrews household. In one episode, Billy the Kid holds the town to ransom. From the Mayor to the little old lady, no one stands in his way, no one stops him getting what he wants. Everyone is careful not to upset him. Only cocoa can be served from the bar. Enter Lucky Luke, who orders Lemonade. "Oh, no. We've just got him calm. Whatever you do, don't upset Billy the Kid," says the barman.

Now, I know many situations like this. Parents, relatives, teachers tip-toeing around little Billy, careful not to upset him, in case he throws a tantrum.

Luke's solution was to become meaner to Billy than Billy was to everyone else.

Isn't this what "Spare the rod and spoil the child" means? I would encourage parents to go back to the Bible for their child-rearing practices. Those who honour God and His ways, will be honoured by Him.

BOOK REVIEWS

George Eliot -

"Tales of Vicarage Life” These stories give detailed descriptions of the people who lived in Anglican Vicarages last century. Many of the stories are sad, with clerical poverty ever present. They are laced with George Eliot's dry humour throughout. Interestingly, Eliot, a rebel of her time, has one of her characters in "Mill on the Floss" recommend Richard Baxter's writing. Baxter was a noted Puritan, and one of his poems is found below.

Edmond Smith: -

“A Tree By A Stream.”

A biographical book describing the devotional lives of six noted Christians, Baxter, Flavel, Bunyan, Mather, Calvin, M’Cheyne, Newton, and Lloyd Jones. Do you wish you would spend more time in private communion with your Lord? This book could help. All of these were busy people; five in ministry. [Christian Focus Publications, Scotland, 1995]

Lord,

it belongs not to my care

Lord, it belongs not to my care,

Whether I die or live;

To love and serve thee is my share,

And this thy grace must give.

If life be long I will be glad,

That I may long obey;

If short - yet why should I be sad

To soar to endless day?

Christ leads me through no darker rooms

Than he went through before;

He that unto God's kingdom comes,

Must enter by this door.

Come, Lord, when grace has made me meet

Thy blessed face to see;

For if thy work on earth be sweet,

What will thy glory be!

Then I shall end my sad complaints,

And weary, sinful days;

And join with the triumphant saints,

To sing Jehovah's praise.

My knowledge of that life is small,

The eye of faith is dim;

But 'tis enough that Christ knows all,

And I shall be with him.

-Richard Baxter

P K CORNER

What a beautiful lot of young people gathered at "Morning Glory" near Campbelltown for the last three days of June! How refreshing to see their deep love for Jesus, their passionate defence of their parents and their bonded concern for each other! I know this is a blanket generalization, but the calibre of those kids can only give us joy for the future of the church.

A new adult PK at the camp was Mairi Girgis. She has an enthusiastic handful of young writers ready to start a PK Newsletter. Look out for notice of this.

Here are some of the questions the young people discussed:

Why do people treat you differently?
Why can't they pick on doctor's kids, or lawyer's kids?
Why are we always last to leave church, even when it isn't our church?
How do I stop people believing I'm nice when in reality I'm only that nice for 1 1/2 hours on Sunday morning?
Why is telling your friends about Jesus hard?
Why can't I use certain words that are in the dictionary, yet my parents think they are swear words?

I would ask you to pray specially for Pks - your own or someone else's. They, too, with their parents, are in the firing line for Satan's arrows. They, especially, need to learn to put on the full armour of Christ at an early age.

THE QUESTIONS WE ASK

These are questions that have been put to me by others. What do you think?

Should younger ministers' wives be expected, or feel obliged to attend elderly 'happy hours' and such like? Will it help the ministry? Will it stop critical people being critical? Are there more immediate things to focus on? What is your focus?

"Prime", "at risk" times for ministers' wives are if they are newly married or having babies at the same time as starting manse life. How can these women be supported/ encouraged? What are some other "at risk" times for stress in the Manse?

If you were a mother of young children, fairly reserved by nature, with a new baby in your first Manse, how would you respond to people using the Manse, yard and family toys as public property? What if breakages became more than just an accident? Just how do you cope?

Smiling

A minister was asked his secret for surviving ministry. His secret was: Do all the weddings, funerals and baptisms that come your way; say a few words and prayers on Sunday; find a good fishing spot where you can hide your car, and spend the rest of the week there!

Our church hall is used for recreation as well as worship, with youth groups meeting to play snooker or darts, or just to chat. After a recent evening service, the minister questioned the organist about her unusual choice of hymns. She replied that she thought that he had chosen them, as the numbers were written on the board. She had been playing the darts scores.

INSCRIPTIONS IN AN OLD BIBLE

2011-08-03T01:11:00.000-07:00

Teach us, Good Lord, to serve thee as thou deservest,
To give and not to count the cost,
To fight and not to heed the wounds,
To toil and not to seek for rest,
To labour and not to ask for any reward
Save that of knowing that we do thy will,
O Lord our God,
Amen.

Matthew 24:35
Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.

Preparation for God’s Work

1. Start reading Scriptures meaningfully – looking for principles.
2. Get a prayer partner in a missionary situation. Show intelligent interest.
3. Start Savings Bank Account: “Marion White Training Account”.
4. Why going to be a missionary? To win souls. Ask God to help me to win souls here firstly.

WHATEVER HE SAYS TO YOU, DO IT! John 2:5

God said it.
I believe it,
That settles it!

EXCASTY AND THE FILLING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

Reason is King
Will is Prime Minister
Emotions are the subjects, most superficial, easily swayed and changing.
Does the Holy Spirit do His deepest work in the shallowest part of us?

Prayer life is an indication of spiritual state.

Let me burn out for Thee, dear Lord,
Burn and wear out for Thee.

Don’t let me sink to be a clod,
Make me thy fuel flame of God.

AUTHORITY OF SCRIPTURE
What ever has its origin in the Holy Spirit always has its culmination in our glorious Saviour . . . e.g. Scripture, Creation . . .

Old Testament – Behold! Jesus is Coming!
Gospels – Behold! Jesus died!
Acts – Behold! Jesus lives!
Epistles – Behold! Jesus Saves!
Revelation – Behold! Jesus reigns!

Sow a thought – reap an action;
Sow an action – reap a habit;
Sow a habit – reap a character;
Sow a character – reap a destiny.

Suggestions For Bible Study

1. Learn whole chapters – 1 per month for 2 years then revise.

Exodus 20:1-21
Joshua 1
1 Samuel 2:1-10
Psalm 1
Psalm 23
Psalm 51
Proverbs 20
Isaiah 40
Isaiah 53
Malachi 3
Matthew 5, 6, 7
John 3
John 14, 15, 16
Romans 8
1 Corinthians 13
Galatians 5
Ephesians 6
Philippians 3
Colossians 1
Hebrews 12
Revelation 21

2. Read a passage daily in at least two different translations.
3. Take an energetic hike through the Scriptures – read an entire book in one sitting
4. Read through the whole Bible, colouring in meaningful verses as you go.
5. If you want to get through the Bible in one year, divide the number of pages in three and read through approximately one from each of the three sections a day depending on the number of pages in your Bible. This way your will read two pages from the Old Testament and One page from the New Testament a day

WOMEN IN MINISTRY NEWSLETTER NO. 10 JUNE, 1997

2011-07-28T23:44:00.000-07:00

SERVE HIM WITH A PERFECT HEART

AND A WILLING MIND.

1Chronicles 28:9

THE ANDREWS FAMILY AT MILES 1982

Stuart and Marion with Stuart James, Katy, Laura and Baby Duncan

Dear Friends,

Pastoral care of Ministers and their families has become an urgent issue. I have seen no research that says people are leaving the ministry more than they have ever done. However, it tugs at our heart-strings if even one of our friends and colleagues says, "Enough is enough. I'm getting out!"

All sorts of helpful suggestions are being put forward for the pastoral care of those in ministry. In N.S.W. discussions are being held regarding the use of the "Winifred Evans Estate" moneys which have been left to provide ministers' retreat. This is wonderful. Various suggestions are:-
• renewal retreats for ministers;
• ministers' wives retreats using Berrycourt or Glenbrook;
• a coastal property or a multi-purpose facility.

I am about to tell you what I think is the best idea. If you have an idea, I'm sure M&M would like to hear it.

THE COMPASSION OF JOHN ROGERSON

About 30 years ago, a Queensland grazier, John Rogerson, got to know a minister's family in the outback. The children had never had a seaside holiday. Just like Steel Rudd's "Poor Parson", here were people of intelligence, wit and self-sacrifice, distressed that they could not give their children what most of their peers took for granted.

The Spirit of God moved Mr. Rogerson to provide a solution. He bought a former Mater Prize Home in Beach Parade, Surfer's Paradise, named it "Pearsby" and gave it to the Presbyterian Church of Queensland so that Manse children could have a free seaside holiday. Provision was made for the payment of expenses, and country families were to have first preference in school holidays.

My parents, and indeed we children too, were most grateful to Mr. Rogerson, as every year or two, we enjoyed the luxury of a holiday home, the surf, and even the TV Dad hired for a treat. Here was a spacious house with five bedrooms - each of us had to share a bedroom with only one sister. Just one of the five Manses we lived in provided such space! And Mr and Mrs Rogerson invited us round for afternoon tea in their canal-side mansion on the Isle of Capri! What delicious treats we tasted!

As far as I know, Queensland is the only state with a "Pearsby". [A new 'Pearsby' was bought after Church Union, with nothing like the ambiance of that first seaside home!] I can vouch with certainty that such a provision in other states would provide abundant relief from stress - stress of ministry, stress of finding a place, stress of paying for it, stress of providing activity for energetic children, and so on. The "Pearsby" concept is the most practical therapy anyone could devise for the way-worn and weary!

[2011 update: New South Wales decided to put its money into providing Retreats for ministers. I know my husband enjoys his retreat and that there are benefits for those who attend. However, I remember all those years of raising and educating children when we took our tent and pitched it at Sheba Dams near Nundle - a free mountain camping spot - because that is all we could afford. How thankful we were when Stuart's mother gave us seaside holidays as a gift! I'm sure there are others out there who struggle to afford a seaside holiday for their children while others who do not serve behind the Great Dividing Curtain take the beach for granted.]

Growing up in the Manse

Bane or Blessing

N.S.W. Preacher's Kid's Camp is on the calendar again, and Stuart and I have the privilege of being Camp Parents. This happens over the weekend before July Assembly. A few days later, at the Ministers' Wives luncheon, our Moderator's wife, Laurel B, is arranging a forum entitled "Growing Up in the Manse - Bane or Blessing." Because it is so topical, this Newsletter may seem to be pre-occupied with PK issues. I'm sure you will all agree that it is important enough to warrant some attention.

A LETTER FROM TEENAGE PK’S TO THEIR PARENTS

The 1989 P.K. Camp,
Tunbridge Wells,
Orange, NSW

Dear Mum and Dad,

At the PK Camp we had a great time. We discussed heaps of things and discovered that all PK's are a bit eccentric.

We thought we would like to say some things to you about how we feel about being PK's. Overall we discovered that being a PK isn't too bad. We might complain a lot at times but we are thankful that we have had a unique opportunity to hear the Gospel. We are fortunate that our families are not like many others we hear of. We are confident that you love us, care about us and try hard to be good parents. We have had lots of opportunities to meet people and live in a variety of places. In doing this we have learnt to handle difficult situations and have been respected by many people because of who you are (but not by everyone).

Although there are good things, we would like to take this chance to tell you about a few things that bother us. One of the most difficult of these is that you always seem to be working and it's hard to get a chance to talk to you about things. Maybe we could try as a family to set aside some time to be together and it would be great if you could sometimes take Saturday off.

We know that it is not always possible to arrange moving to suit us, but we would appreciate it if we could discuss it as a family beforehand, especially when our schooling is likely to be affected.

Some other little things that irritate us are that whenever you talk about us in your sermons everybody knows and this can be embarrassing for us. Also when you are introducing us to people, could you use our names: hopefully this will give the congregation a hint. Sometimes we like to do Bible Readings in Church, but sometimes we don't, and it would be nice to be able to say "no thanks" without feeling guilty.
One of the best things about PK Camp was that we weren't expected to be leaders or set an example. We could talk to people we related to, who were in the same situation and who had shared similar experiences common to PK's, good and bad.

Thank you for letting us go on the camp and for reading this letter,
Your loving PK's

[Signed by 24 young people.]

BOOKS

PK - HELPING PASTORS' KIDS THROUGH THEIR IDENTITY CRISIS
by Cameron Lee. The author surveyed 100 American PKs. He organizes his material along the lines: The Drama, The Stage, The Script, The Players, The Reviews. He seems to use the language of sociology, rather than Scripture for his presuppositions. The biographical sketches are of value, though often tragic and bitter. A lot of pain is expressed. I would recommend this book for research, but not for someone needing encouragement.

A VICARAGE FAMILY
by Noel Streatfield. This work is autobiographical. Despite her name, the author is female. The book improved for me the more I read. One is left with the impression of a misfit PK who never had nice clothes, didn't get on with her mother, and was expelled from school. Yet, at the end, all these problems pale in the horror of The Great War, and the loss of a beloved cousin.

SUCH A STRANGE LADY - A BIOGRAPHY OF DOROTHY L. SAYERS
by Janet Hitchman. Here's another PK who was a true eccentric. She starts life as a rebel raised in solitude and adult company, becomes an outrageous extrovert at Oxford, uses her incisive mind to support various relatives by writing detective yarns, finally abandoning her lucrative creation, Lord Peter Wimsey, to devote herself to religious writings, including a brilliant translation of Dante's Heaven and Hell trilogy.

BIOGRAPHIES are a good source of information about PKs, although the accounts of ministers' families will be strongly coloured by the prejudices of the writers. Some famous PKs include The Brontes, Jane Austin, Robert Frost, Bob Hawke, Manning Clark, Bushranger Captain Midnight and Actor Lorne Green. In the survey of Christian families I undertook some years ago, the question was asked, "It has often been said that preachers' kids and missionaries' kids are misfits. What have you observed?" The responses to this question were remarkable for the contrast they presented. I believe that this reflects the contrast that preacher's kids themselves present.

CHURCH HUMOUR

• Don't let worry kill you - let the church help.

• Thursday night - Pot-luck supper. Prayer and medication to follow.

• Remember in prayer the many who are sick of our church and the community.

• For those of you who have children and don't know it, we have a nursery downstairs.

• This being Easter Sunday, we will ask Mrs. Lewis to come forward and lay an egg on the altar.

• The ladies of the church have cast off clothing of every kind. They can be seen in the church basement Saturday.

• At the evening service tonight, the sermon topic will be 'What is Hell?' Come early and listen to our choir practise.

[These quips are taken from “This England” Magazine.]

OUR FAMILY MATTERS

Money -you can't live without it these days! How often has a parent groaned when little Jimmy comes home with shoes that have fallen apart. I have found providing shoes for four pairs of growing feet is a most expensive provision.

Not only must a child have a pair of good leather walking shoes, he must have a variety of sports shoes. Pat C. has told me many helpful things. One of the best was that her boys wore $20 Dunlops for sport. Advantage No.1 - they didn't get stolen like the $150 brands. Knowing Pat's qualifications as a physiotherapist, I realized that she would not be doing this at the risk of her children's posture or health.

As if to reinforce this practice, I read an article about one of the world's top triathlon coaches, Dr. Phil Maffetone. He recommends and trains in cheap "Dunny"-type athletic shoes. He says, "The more cushioned a shoe, the more the risk of injury."

This may seem trivial advice, but there are times in family life when every dollar counts. However, such a practice has to start young. I wouldn't try it on teenagers already used to expensive brands!

[As a sequel to Pat's policy, when we visited Scots College Glengarry Campus last year, what did we see lined up outside the gym, but dozens of pairs of $20 canvas shoes!]

EVEN SO SEND I YOU

Peace be unto you: as my father has sent me, even so send I you.
Is not this the fast that I have chosen -
to loose the bands of wickedness,
to undo the heavy burdens,
and to let the oppressed go free,
and that you may break every yoke?
Lovest thou me?...
Lord, thou knowest all things;
thou knowest that I love thee...
Feed my sheep!
You shall go to all that I shall send you,
and whatsoever I shall command you, you shall speak.

So send I you to labour unrewarded,
To serve unpaid, unloved, unsought, unknown,
To bear rebuke, to suffer scorn and scoffing -
So send I you to toil for me alone.
So send I you to bind the bruised and broken,
O'er wandering souls to work, to weep, to wake,
To bear the burdens of a world a-weary -
So send I you to suffer for my sake.
So send I you to lonliness and longing,
With heart a-hungering for the loved and known,
Forsaking home and kindred, friend and dear one -
So send I you to know my love alone.
So send I you to leave your life's ambition,
To die to dear desire, self-will resign,
To labour long and love where men revile you;
So send I you to lose your life in mine.
So send I you to hearts made hard by hatred,
To eyes made blind because they would not see;
To spend - though it be blood - to spend and spare not -
So send I you to taste of Calvary.

AS THE FATHER HAS SENT ME, SO SEND I YOU.

As I was with Moses, I will be with you:
I will not fail you, nor forsake you...
Be strong and of a good courage...
Be strong and very courageous
that you may observe all the law...
turn not from it...that you may prosper wherever you go.
Have I not commanded you?
Be strong and of a good courage;
be not afraid, neither be dismayed:
for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.

[John 20:21, Isaiah 58:6, John 21:17, Jeremiah 1:7, E.M.Clarkson, Joshua 1]

REPORT ON MINISTERS' WIVES MEETING AT NSW ASSEMBLY 2011

2011-07-25T19:46:00.001-07:00

On Thursday 7^th July the Annual get-together of Ministers’ and Home Missionaries’ Wives took place at PLC Croydon, in conjunction with the NSW General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church Australia. The meeting was hosted by Barbara Bullen and Kathy Thurston. Kathy welcomed the ladies, especially four wives of newly-ordained ministers.

“Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus” was the introductory hymn and Ngaire Moore thanked God for the lives of Carolyn Williamson and Irene Campbell who went to be with the Lord since the last gathering.

Karen McMillan was introduced as the Moderator’s Wife. She commented how the Church is the only place she knows where 18 and 88 year-olds meet together under the one roof.

At this point, Jan Gorton prayed.

The theme for the day was “The Titus 2 Woman” and the book reviewed by Karen was “Feminine Appeal” by Carolyn Mahaney. The challenge is for Christian women to be counter-culture. Our culture devalues older people. Even in church life, we provide separate services for older people, families and youth. This generational structure fits the mould of our culture. We should be seeking to bring the generations together. Titus 2 is clear – older women are to teach younger ones.

How are older women to teach? They are to make God’s Word attractive by the grace of God.

They are to teach younger women

to love their husband and children
to live self-controlled and pure lives
to be busy at home and not lazy
to be kind

An example of pro-active women working counter-culture is the Annual Dinner arranged at St Aidans, Wagga Wagga. It is called the “Silver Threads Among The Gold” Dinner. Every woman in the Church receives an invitation to dinner at a restaurant. Tables are arranged so that women from each of the three services sit together and younger women interview older women during the meal. Older women embrace the opportunity to mentor younger women.

In line with this teaching, Pam McKean interviewed her mother-in-law, Audrey McKean and testified to the “Ruth and Naomi” relationship they have had over the years.

Audrey spoke of how much she enjoyed her ministry to children and the joy of finding someone coming to the Lord. Things she found hard was missing her friends – Doug and Audrey went into ordained ministry later in life - and when people were not happy with her husband.

“People aren’t all going to think the way you do!” she said. “We are all made in God’s image and they’ll know we are Christians by our love.”

Audrey’s advice to younger women is to “keep your eyes on the Lord” and to pass this on.

Kathy then interviewed Karen. Karen’s week consists of one-to-one ministry with three younger women, weekly Bible Study and occasional Women’s Ministry Team Meetings. She is involved in children’s ministry and opens her home for people to come to the evening meal on a regular basis. Karen works two days a week as a social worker. She has found Naomi Reed’s book about the seasons of life, “My Seventh Monsoon” helpful.

Karen and Sandy have remained in the same place, Wagga Wagga, since Sandy exited from PTC. Karen finds this good as they can share intimately in the lives of those they minister to. The hardest thing is seeing people drift away, choked by the weeds of this world.

What does Karen wish she knew when she started out in ministry?

To make clear priorities of her own relationship with God and to love her husband. She has learnt not to be critical of her husband, quoting Ruth Graham: “It is my job to love Billy; it is God’s job to change him!” Another priority is to love her children, and to be content with God and what He has given.
To pursue faithfulness rather than success.
To expect disappointment but focus on what is good and encouraging.
To make a day off something precious.
To be a blessing to her husband and not a curse.

After Karen had spoken, Christine Coleman interviewed Melinda M. Melinda is paid 20% to work as a Deaconess and George is paid 80% as the Minister at Mullumbimby. Melinda is involved in Music Ministry and Pastoral Care. Outside church, she is involved in a playgroup and exercise group. Family is important and she takes care that little Alexandra is not sidelined. She puts aside 'brain space' for herself.

What Melinda finds hard is patience and to remember that difficult people need God’s grace and our love. The best aspect of ministry is to see God doing things. What she wished she knew was some of the technicalities. She described George and herself as going into ministry something of pessimists and they have been pleasantly surprised. She would like to pass on to others to “hold things lightly”.

Kathy then announced

The Ministers’ Family Camp at Merroo the first week in October and Karen recommended this gathering to everyone.
The Ministers’ Wives Retreat Groups. Women may put their names on a waiting list for the next round in two years time.
Pray for at least two minister’s wives who are battling cancer.

After this, the women broke up into small groups, shared and prayed with each other. This was an emotional time for some.

After prayer and a final hymn, the women moved to a hot lunch supplied by student ministers and their wives. Several husbands and sons from Assembly joined their womenfolk to enjoy left-overs.