Jodie McNeill lives in Jamberoo, NSW, Australia, and is the Senior Minister at Jamberoo Anglican.
Home: 20 Tate Place, Jamberoo NSW 2533 Australia. Email: jodie@jodiemcneill.com Phone: +61 425 222 338
Here’s an additional positive outcome from doing Year 13 that’s often overlooked. Read the full article here: http://www.sydneyanglicans.net/news/stories/year_13_growing_families_as_well/
A special welcome, too, to Andrew Nixon in his new role heading up this ministry. I’m praying it’s a great year of ministry with his awesome team.
If you, or someone you know, is thinking about Year 13 this year, then there’s still time to enrol. Don’t miss out on a year that changes lives forever.
Last week I addressed the new Mission Areas leaders of our Diocese to discuss the place of church camps as a tool for mission in our community.
In my presentation I made that point that our church houseparties (as we commonly refer to them) are often considered to be events that primarily develop community, rather than outreach.
Yet, thinking that defines an activity of the church as achieving only evangelism or discipleship is unnecessarily narrow.
Read my full thoughts in my latest article at www.sydneyanglicans.net
I have a confession to make. I had been in church-based youth ministry for twenty years before I had any idea about the opportunities of outdoor ministry.
I, like many of my ministry colleagues, was aware of the school camps that were run by organisations like Crusaders, Teen Ranch and Youthworks. I knew these ministries had contact with thousands of school students each year.
But I didn’t understand the two major benefits of outdoor ministry.
Firstly, outdoor ministry is of great benefit for the school students.
Secondly, outdoor ministry is of great benefit to the outdoor minister.
Do you know anyone who loves Jesus, the outdoors, and youth ministry? Might that person be you? Don’t bypass this opportunity to connect with thousands of kids in this Word ministry, whilst enjoying cutting-edge training in theology and outdoor recreation… whilst getting paid to train!
And don’t forget that applications close this Friday for our 2011 intake of the MTS Outdoor Ministry Apprenticeship! Details here.
Read the full article at sydneyanglicans.net
Over these past few days I’ve had three independent reminders of the significance of gap years.
Firstly, whilst directing an HSC Study Conference last week, I was overwhelmed with the popularity of gap years for students finishing their Year 12 study.
Secondly, an article in yesterday morning’s Australian Financial Review made the observation that the gap year concept “is taking hold†in Australia, and that “research suggests students who take a gap year come back better prepared for study.†(p. 27)
Thirdly, and what was the primary motivation for me to write on this topic, was the recognition by our Archbishop during last night’s Presidential Address of the importance of our own Sydney Diocesan gap year program.
Read my full article at www.sydneyanglicans.net.
As a result of many attempts to ‘contemporise’ our services of corporate worship, we have ended up with a casserole of theology and a soup of subjectivity.
Yet, attempts have not gone smoothly as we have sought to restore liturgy to its rightful place as a common word from a common people. There is still resistance to having our prayers pigeon-holed and pre-fabricated by prayer book poets.
Ironically, our latest generations are happy to sing pre-written words and tunes with feverish repetition, but are not comfortable speaking pre-written prayers. Even praying prayers from the Bible is seen as rigid and uninspiring.
Yet, if people are happy to express their feelings to God through pre-written song words, then why are they unhappy to express their feelings to God through pre-written prayer words?
Read the full article at sydneyanglicans.net
