Hampers, Toys, and Gift Cards is happening again with Salvos Christmas Cheer 2022. This is a great way for us to bless others this Christmas as part of our involvement in the Together for Ryde network. The hampers will go to families in our community who have been struggling this year and bring a touch of hope to struggling lives.

Can you bless a family in need this Christmas through the gift of a Christmas Gift Box?

All the instructions are provided to help make it easy to pack your gift box and spread hope and joy this Christmas.

CLICK HERE FOR HAMPER INSTRUCTIONS

The 2022 ACR Christmas Catalogue is here!

Browse online for all your faith inspired gift ideas.

“Less stuff…more stories – give enriching experiences this Christmas.” So says an advert on a well-known website where you can purchase experiences to create shared memories. We love to immerse ourselves in experiences. But having an experience is more than just knowing about something, it’s immersing and involving ourselves in the heart of what the experience is. This year God invites you to really Experience Christmas. To immerse yourself and involve yourself like never before. To experience Christmas is to experience Jesus; to immerse yourself, involve yourself fully, totally in Jesus. Experience him as the Spirit of God unveils Jesus through his written Word. Experience all that Jesus is through a genuine encounter with the child in the manger who became the man upon the cross. Experience the wonder and the joy. Experience the hope and the fulfilment of all God’s promises. Experience Jesus and you will experience Christmas.

This year the Cambodia Christmas Appeal has two projects you can support:

PROJECT 1: Salary for Pastor Vibol and his family - $12,000

We are looking for 10 people who are willing to make a $100 monthly donation to support Pastor Vibol’s salary as he ministers to and builds a Gospel community.

PROJECT 2: LifeWay Cambodia Ministry costs - $10,000

Help support LifeWay Cambodia as we serve the community and reach them with the Gospel.

- Renting a premises on the main road that the school is

- on to run computer classes, English Classes and other events for young people.

- Run Gospel presentation events in primary, middle and high schools (we partner with Lutheran Hour Ministries in Cambodia)

- Support school students with stationary packs at beginning of each semester. (last year gave out 890 school packs)

- Run education and gospel presentations to husband and wives in villages to help grow their marriage but also to help them see the value of education for their children.

- Support elderly people in the community whose children have left the rural areas and moved to the city.

- Run education programs to improve sanitation and hygiene that especially affects adolescent girls.

- Purchase of 5 more computers for the computer program

- Give scholarships to young people in villages who for young people with difficult family circumstances to stay in school and get the chance to graduate from high school or university, positioning them for bright futures.

- Develop some agriculture projects as an income raising means for long term sustainability of LifeWay Cambodia.

Your acts of generosity, no matter the size, can have an eternal impact.

For donation details and to read stories download the flyer on this page

Or simply click the Give button above.

We have great news, the Church Central app update is now live in the App stores (iOS and android).

Before you update, please note the following:

IMPORTANT USER DATA CHANGES

The new Church Central app has consolidated the 'My Favourites' and 'Sermon Notes' features into the users' login (My Profile).

Previously it was located in the side menu and available to users that were not logged in, however users' must be logged in to access these features. If you have saved favourites and sermon notes in the side menu (without being logged in), you will need to copy any content and save it outside of the app to avoid losing this information.

Then log into your app store and upgrade to continue to enjoy all the great content provided to grow in your faith.

DOWNLOAD ON THE APP STORE

GET IT ON GOOLGE PLAY

NORTH EPPING CAROLS : Volunteers Required

With less than a month to go before the Carols, it’s important to keep the day free and to decide how you can help this year.

We need lots of helpers for the set-up on Friday December 9th.

At the Carols we need traffic marshals, popcorn sellers, snow cone sellers , drinks sellers. Plus we need lots of people to stay and help with the breakdown and bump-out after the fireworks. If you are able to help, put your name on a list at the church or online via the link below. Contact Ian Bittner on [email protected] if you'd like more information or to notify when you are available and what you would like to do. Indications are that the crowds will back in force for the live event this year.

SIGN UP TO VOLUNTEER HERE

Come and join us in person at LifeWay Epping on Thursday nights to have some of our Chinese members teach us conversation Mandarin as we seek to build bridges among each other here at LifeWay. It’s going to be lots of fun!

The course will run for 6 weeks beginning 3rd November, 7.30pm-9.30pm.

Please RSVP here if you plan to attend.

A fun interactive music session for parents and caregivers to enjoy together with their preschool aged children.

The morning includes a 30 minute music and movement session, where children develop gross and fine motor skills, language and imagination. Then children can socialise with others over morning tea (also for the adults) before play and craft time.

Cost per session is $6 for one caregiver & one child. Additional children or adults are an extra $2 each (newborns – 12 months are free).

Our sessions at Epping run each Friday of the school term, from 10am-12pm.

We don't have a waiting list at the moment. Come along for one session for FREE and see what we are all about!

After two yearsof online Carols, we’re back in person to celebrate Christmas Together! Invite your friends, and experience the joy of gathering together in community again.

Friday 9 December, from 6.30pm

at Epping Oval, Norfolk Rd

Carol singing begins at 7.15pm & finishes with fireworks ~ 9pm

Food, drinks & glowsticks available for sale

More information available at

northeppingcarols.com

You're invited to join us for a

Pre-Christmas Community Lunch

Sunday 18th December

after worship at LifeWay Wollongong (15 Burelli St)

Bring a plate of food to share. Hope to see you there!

All welcome!

Contact Karen Dobie for more information: [email protected]

The Salvation Army Christmas Dinner will be held on Thursday December 22nd from 12-3pm – please note not a Sunday this time – at the Ranch on Epping Road. We are looking for volunteers

- to sit on tables and connect with the 80 local guests.

- Kids table (face painting/craft)

- Musos for some carols (busking style)

Please sign up here if you can help.

Our next walk is Saturday November 26th November. Location - second leg of the Great West Walk, from Blacktown to Rooty Hill. It's 15km, 300m total elevation gain, about 4-4.5hrs. Meet at Blacktown train station at 8:30am. We may have lunch together afterwards.

See https://greatwestwalk.com.au for information.

Please contact John Klingberg if you plan to come along [email protected]