What was your first impression when you walked into church for the first time? Were you greeted at the front door with a smile or was there some confusion as to where you should sit and where everything was? Did anyone come up to you after the service and have a chat? Were you followed up later on in the week with a message or phone call?

Welcoming new people into our church is a vital ministry not just for those who are the designated welcomers for that day, but for all of us who attend a service. Sarie King, the writer of a research paper into welcoming and integrating newcomers, described welcoming as “…not about greeting people, it’s about churches and congregation members practicing a ministry of hospitality and inclusion to believers and unbelievers alike, it’s about connecting them in relationship with other believers, and engaging them fully in the life, growth and ministry of a congregation.”

Our welcoming is much more than the hour or two we spend with newcomers on a Sunday. It is also the time we spend during the week reaching out to those who have come for the first time. The effectiveness of this follow up can be seen in the following quote:

“The basic finding is summed up in the ’36-hour principle’:

When lay- persons (aka not ministers) visit the home of a first- time worshipper within 36 hours, 85% of them will return to worship next Sunday. When the visit is delayed for 72 hours, only 60% return; when delayed five to seven days, 15% return… if the minister makes the first visit percentages were then cut in half.”

Last year we ran some training events over a few weekends and one of those was focused on Welcoming and Newcomers Integration. Over the following months we will be running follow up training, looking at what we have been doing well, what could be improved and any changes people may have in mind. The first training session is for Wilton 5pm congregation and will be Sunday 15th September 3:30-4:30. If you are interested in attending please let me know ASAP. We will send out more information for those who are interested for Picton 9am and Wilton 10am later.

Yours in Christ,

Jake

God’s incredible plan is to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ! (Ephesians 1:10).
We are part of something so much bigger than just Picton and Wilton (although Picton and Wilton are part of God’s great plan too).  Our partnership with the Church Missionary Society (CMS) is one way we take part in God’s universal plan for his creation – as CMS strives for a ‘world that knows Jesus’.
The Church Missionary Society (CMS) is a fellowship of Christian people and churches committed to global mission. CMS works with churches to set apart godly people as long-term cross-cultural gospel workers.
Our Churches partner with CMS in supporting Craig and Lisse in the Middle-East – you can sign up to their newsletter and/or support them financially here: https://cms.org.au/missionaries/clvn/
On Saturday 7th September I’ll be attending the CMS Southern Highlands Mission Expo at Moss Vale in the afternoon.  I’d love you to join me – you need to register by 4th September to attend and then let me know so I can give you a lift in our van.  At the expo, we’ll hear from CMS Executive Director, John Lovell aswell as from missionaries going to Taiwan and returning from South East Asia. 
Register here: https://www.cms.org.au/event/cms-southern-highlands-mission-expo-2024/.
Then on Sunday 8th September we’ll be hearing from guest speaker Graeme, from CMS in our regular Church services.
Yours in Christ,
Ben

All of us need to take care of our mental health, just as we do our physical and spiritual health. Our mental health will go through ups and downs and we’ll need to get professional help sometimes, just as we do regarding our physical health.

Whether it be anxiety, depression or other manifestations of poor mental health there are a range of ways we can get help, but the best first step is to connect with others. Healthy relationships with one another and with God gives us resilience to cope and are a good first line of defence.

On Sunday afternoon we were blessed to have Trinette Stanley, from Anglicare, present to us from both a medical and biblical perspective. She shared that with the right help and care someone with a life-long mental illness can live with good mental health and participate fully in life. She also introduced us to Rev Prof John Swinton (via Youtube), and encouraged us to think in terms of healing, not in terms of seeking a cure. Even though we may be suffering from illness (physical, mental or other) we can experience ‘healing’ or ‘shalom’ by being in right relationship with God, the creation and one another.

Trinette’s seminar has given us some tools and encouragement to help us in our mental health journey’s, and to support those among us suffering poor mental health or mental illness. I’ve already spoken to several people who have benefitted personally, including finding the courage to seek professional help.

If you want to find out more, please let me know. One great place to start if you want to get help and/or think some more about this topic is the Mental Health Resource Hub (https://www.anglicare.org.au/church-partnerships/mental-health-resource-hub/), which aims to equip you to navigate mental health and wellbeing challenges within your Church community.

Yours in Christ,

Ben

God has spoken by his Word, and we are encouraged to read and meditate on it.
In Deuteronomy, Moses tells the Israelites that God’s commandments should be on their hearts, impressed upon their children, talked about when sitting at home and when walking along the road, tied as symbols on their hands and foreheads, written on the doorframes of their houses and more (Deuteronomy 6:4-9).
The Psalms begin with a declaration of blessing to the one whose delight is in the law of the LORD, and who meditates on his law day and night (Psalm 1:1-2).  The longest chapter in the Bible is an extended meditation on the word of God: ‘How can a young person stay on the path of purity?  By living according to your word.’ (Psalm 119:9).
When faced with temptation, Jesus reached for the word of God: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God. (Matt 4:4).
So I want to urge you to read, meditate on and memorise God’s Word. 
As we begin studying the gospel of John – I’m putting out the challenge (and the opportunity) for you to memorise John 1:1-14.  Each week in Church there will be an opportunity for someone to recall these verses by memory in front of the congregation – and if they successfully do so, they’ll win a box of chocolates.
Yours in Christ,
Ben

Kate and I went to the movies yesterday on my day off to see ‘Unsung Hero’ – and it was brilliant.  So encouraging to see a well produced Christian movie that deals with the reality of struggling with sin and pride and adversity and learning to pray and depend on God for everything.
It’s the true story of the Smallbone family – whose kids grow up to be famous Christian musicians ‘Rebecca St James’ and Joel and Luke Smallbone (‘For King and Country’).  The family are actually Australian and there are some great Aussie culture moments and jokes.  They move to America when the economic downturn of the 90’s makes it impossible for David (the Father) to find work in Australia.
My favourite moments in the movie were when one of the kids asks God to make things cheaper and seeing the Father figure humbled and forced to depend on God and others (in a healthy way).
I recommend you go and see the movie at the Theatre if you can, or when it comes out in other formats.
There’s a fuller review on the Sydney Anglicans website or in the May-June edition of the Southern Cross magazine from Church…
Yours in Christ,
Ben

“This is good, and pleases God our Saviour, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.” (1 Tim 2:3-4) 

Who doesn’t want all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth!? 

By the time the suburban sprawl around us is winding down – we’ll be the local Anglican Church for over 50,000 people! If you too feel the weight of gospel and love for your neighbours, then let’s join together in our biggest challenge and in the adventure of our lives. 

Let’s not shy away, comfortable in our own homes and church buildings, and quiet about our wonderful life in Christ. Let’s embrace the all-of-life mission that God has called us to. Let’s decide now, to strive together in God’s work to make the meaning of Christ’s death and resurrection known to all 50000 people.

So, what do you say? You in?

– Scott Williams (assistant minister)

In January a group of our teenagers and some of our youth leaders went away to the Leaders in Training Conference (LIT). They came back enthusiastic and equipped to serve at Church, to teach the Bible and to encourage others in their life in Christ.

One of the youth was so excited about a seminar on youth and kids ministry that she wanted everyone else at Church to experience it for themselves. So we’ve invited Amanda Grace, the children’s minister at Shellharbour Anglican to run her seminar at Wilton Anglican Church this Sunday afternoon (16th June). We’ll be having lunch together at 12:30pm, followed by the seminar 1-3pm.

Amanda is passionate about children’s ministry and will be running a very practical seminar with lots of tips and tricks to help us in our ministry to children and youth. It’s so important for us to be investing in the next generation of disciples of Jesus Christ and I’m super proud of the team of leaders running our Kids and Youth Ministry: from SRE teachers, to mid-week group leaders to our Kings Kids programme! It’s a big effort and I know many of you put in a lot of hard work preparing and leading each week – thankyou! I pray you see the fruits of your ministry in a new generation of disciples growing up to know and follow Jesus Christ as Lord!

Everyone is welcome to the training seminar, but you need to RSVP to Jake so we can cater for everybody.

Yours in Christ,

Ben