Good Shepherd Toowoomba – Annual Social Morning Tea Fund Raiser

On Tuesday, August 25^th, 70 – 80 Ladies and gentlemen met for our annual social fund raiser. Fellowships of the Zone were invited plus members of Good Shepherd Congregation. Over morning tea and much chatter and fellowship, which was great to hear and see, ladies also purchased cakes, biscuits, jams and hand towels etc. from the sale table.

Vice-President Bev Pile, welcomed everyone and introduced the Theme for the day, ‘Sewing the Seed’.

The first seeds came in the Garden of Eden, we want to sew the seeds of faith.

Good Shepherd’s Pastor Mark Blackwell opened with Prayer then Bible Study titled ‘Where Love’ How God generously sows and gives beyond measure based on a number of Bible verses, each introducing God’s goodness……Feeding Generously, Jesus is generous and compassionate, he gives abundantly, Giving Generously, gave his Son, where love came to die, nothing greater could he give.

Forgiving Generously, we receive forgiveness like the prodigal son was forgiven by his father.

Nourishing Generously, take and eat, this is my body, this is my blood. Saving Generously, by his grace, God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him. ‘For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God not by works, so no one can boast. He closed the study with prayer.

Hymn ‘I Come to the Garden’, was sung.

Janelle Turner spoke about Trees of the Bible. Trees are mentioned from 200 to over 300 times. At least 25 different species, including CEDARS of LEBANON used to build the temples and palaces of David and Solomon. ACACIA the wood used to build Noah’s Ark. OAK, SYCAMORE/FIG both trees were very widespread in Biblical times. PALM/DATE PALMS placed on the road as Jesus rode into Jerusalem. TAMARISK/SALT TREES this tree reminds us of God’s faithfulness, strength and provision. GOPHER WOOD also listed as Cypress, sometimes said to have been used to build the Ark.

Song ‘For the Fruits of His Creation’ was sung. Lois Schultz read a Poem by Jana Pollard ‘The Seed’.

Sue Boddington introduced our Guest Speaker, Corin Donges from Warwick. Corin and her husband Colin, have served with Gideons for over 30 years in many capacities, including State Director for Corin. She shared how they have shared their faith in everyday life, including at a service station, check out register at the local supermarket etc. They always carry New Testaments with them. Both were born into Lutheran families and was excited to see many relatives during the morning.

‘The Gideons International is an Association of Christian business and professional men dedicated to telling people about Jesus through associating together for service, sharing personal testimony, and by providing Bibles and New Testaments. Many wives of Gideon members have also felt called by God to join and be part of the ministry work of The Gideons International.’

While they are often recognized for their work with hotels, they also place and distribute Scriptures in many strategic locations throughout our communities so they are available to those who want them, as well as to those who may not know they need them.

A couple video testaments were shown of how a Gideon placed Bible helped save a man from suicide, another found scattered pages along a road from the New Testament. He pieced them together and read the word and eventually became a Pastor. Sometimes the seed can lay dormant for many years. God gives us the opportunity to sew the seed and share the Good News of the Gospel. Corin also shares the good news in schools. When her local Sunday School closed, another door was opened when a request came, needing Religious Instructors in schools. Corin had us all doing the actions as she demonstrated how she helps the students to learn and remember a Bible verse.

Her prayer is that these verses will come to mind for the students in years to come, in times of trouble.

All God asks of Corin and all of us is to sew the seed.  God can help us and wants us to share the good news. Corin is so inspiring and enthusiastic in spreading God’s word.  $600 from the entry fee for the day, was donated to Gideons which will be used to buy Bibles.

Shirley Ciesiolka gave the answers to puzzle game that was worked on during the morning and 3 lucky door prizes were drawn. The morning closed with prayer and the singing of “Bringing in the Sheaves’.

It was a wonderful morning of fellowship and nourishment from hearing God’s word and how others are sewing the seed of God’s Love.

Lois Schultz (Good Shepherd Toowoomba)