Special Events for February

Wednesday 1st  Christianity Explored begins 7 - 9pm

                              Also February 8th, 15th, 22nd, 29th,

                              March 7th, Sat.10th (day away), 14th

Monday 6th         Listening for Life Course commences

                              (weekly for 4 sessions)

Saturday 11th      Marriage Preparation Course

                               begins 10am - 12noon

                               (once a month for 5 sessions) 

                               Youth Confirmation Classes begin

                                5 - 7pm (weekly for 10 sessions)

Sunday 12th         Interview with Samuel Koh (COH)

Sunday 26th         Mission Fair - after all three services,

                               SGC's Mission Partners will have

                               display tables set up in the courtyard

**Advance Notice - Listening and Prayer Ministry meeting will be held on saturday, March 10th

What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? Mark 8:36

Christianity Explored (CE) is a 7-week course that provides an opportunity to investigate some of the fundamental claims of Christianity in an informal group setting. It is an informal course for people who'd like to investigate Christianity, or just brush up on the basics. It explores who Jesus was, what his aims were, and what it means to follow him.

Developed by Rico Tice at All Souls' Church in London over a period of ten years, CE uses Bible studies, DVDs and discussion points to address issues that include:

• Who Jesus was, and what his aims were
• What it means to follow him
• The significance of his death and resurrection
• The problem of sin and the wonder of forgiveness

The course is based around Mark's gospel.  Participants won't be asked to read aloud, pray or sing. In fact, individuals are perfectly welcome to simply sit and listen.

A Day Away forms part of the course, giving the group the chance to further explore issues raised on the course, as well as any questions about the Bible, the Holy Spirit, prayer and the church.

CE is open to all, regardless of  previous experience of Christians or the Church. If you have questions about Christianity - this course might take you one step closer to the answers you seek.

For further information and registration, please contact the Church Office on 6473 2877 or email us at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Visit the official Christianity Explored website at www.christianityexplored.com

  February's Message by Canon Philip Sinden

Leadership is a hot topic today. In just about every bookshop we can find a selection of authors offering up the best of their considered wisdom on the subject. In the minds of many, a "good" leader is primarily one who is effective, who gets the job done. The primary focus is on results, successful outcomes, however these may be measured.

But an exclusive focus on effectiveness can miss an equally important and balancing focus on qualities of character, such as integrity and compassion, which the leader may or may not demonstrate - and without that balancing focus mere pragmatism may prevail. It has been suggested that over the past decades a more pragmatic focus has crept into the church, and along with it an increasing tendency to judge Christian leaders on their outcomes rather than imputs. "Has she actually achieved anything in her ministry?" "Has there been recognisable growth in the work/church under his leadership?"

Whilst we must never excuse laziness in ministry, or stubborn inflexibility and resistance to sound advice, we need to recognise that sometimes - (often?) - popular criteria are not an accurate measure of the validity of a person's ministry. In the First Letter to the Corinthians, it is clear that the ministry of the Apostle Paul himself was being judged - and rather negatively - by immature and misled Christian believers in the Corinthian Church. It wasn't that Paul was concerned about this for his own sake... "I care very little if i am judged by you or any human court," he writes to them (4:3). He describes himself and his fellow missionaries as servents and stewards who have been given a trust (ie. the gospel), and "those who have been given trust must prove faithful." (4:1-2).

In the end, that's what God requires of all of us - especially of our leaders. We are to be faithful to God, and to His Word, the gospel entrusted to us - we are to embrace it, proclaim it fearlessly and faithfully, and live it out in our lives. The 'results' - whatever outcomes there may be - are a matter for His sovereign hand to determine.

Yours Sincerely,

Philip Sinden

MOORE COLLEGE STUDIES

St. George’s offers training based on Moore Theological College’s Certificate in Theology Course.  This is a correspondence course which helps you understand the Bible better through:

• Tuesday class session (8:00 pm – 9:30 pm)
• Complementary Study Materials
• Networking with Fellow Students
• Optional Examination
• Administration with the College

From December 2011 - February 2012, we offer "Essentials of Christian Worship".  The next enrolment is in February 2012.  Course title will be announced.  For more information, please contact the church office on 6473 2877 or email us.