What do you believe? And why do you believe what you believe?

Most people like to think that they believe certain things because

they’ve carefully weighed up the facts, and those facts seem to point

in a certain direction. But knowledge doesn’t work that way. We all

have deeply held assumptions about how the world works. Many

atheists simply assume that God doesn’t exist, and they construct a

story to make sense of the world enlisting certain facts to prove

their point. Similarly, Christians assume that God does exist, and

they construct a story to make sense of the world enlisting certain facts to prove their

point. Atheism is often characterized as the absence of belief. But in reality, being an

atheist is choosing one belief system about the world over and against other belief

systems.

As for me, I find the Christian story compelling. It makes sense of beauty, our desire

for relationship, our quest for meaning and purpose, the existence of evil, our instinct

toward spirituality and transcendence in a way that I don’t think atheism or other

belief systems do. Also, there is something so incredible about Jesus, his life, death

and resurrection that makes me feel alive and hopeful that this isn’t all there is, but

that God is indeed still active and at work in our world today. While I may not be

able to ‘prove’ the existence of God or ‘prove’ that the Christian story is true, I can in

confident faith say—along with Lesslie Newbigin—I have ‘heard and answered the

call that comes from the God through whom and for whom all things were made:

“Follow me”.’

Seb

Sebastian Murrihy

Associate Pastor

Welcome to the service 5 May 2019

Speaker: Martin Macaulay

Series: What is Worship? Scripture: Psalm 119:9-16 & 97-104

www.etchurch.co.nz ph: 489 6308

East Taieri Church

12a Cemetery Rd,

Mosgiel

Services at 10am &

2pm

Fuel Breakfast Café

78 Main Rd,

Fairfield

Term time only

8.30am

EPIC service

Cnr Gladstone &

Cemetery Rd

Term time only

7.00pm

Shop on Taieri

The fashionable little op shop at 135 Gordon Rd, …..Are looking for winter

goods—hats, scarves, knitwear, jackets, boots etc. You can drop

your donations into the shop or pop them into the green wheelie bin

in the foyer at ET, at the Hub or at FUEL.

Mission Fellowship Tuesday 7th May, 2 p.m. in Oak Lounge.

Guest Speaker: Mrs Marian Gray

from Bellyful – our Special Project. Non-perishable items, used

stamps, Market table please.

All welcome.

Mosgiel Aglow Monday 6th May

7pm for coffee,

meeting at 7.30pm

Coronation Hall,

Gordon Rd, Mosgiel

Guest Speakers:

Drew & Abigail Butcher

FUEL

Starters for ages 2-4 and Pitstop for Year 1-7

Justice League for Year 7-10

Children’s Ministry

East Taieri

Under 2’s area in the Fellowship room where parents can hear the sermon

Bubbles for ages 2-5 in the Kiwi Room

Kidzown for Year 1 to Year 6 in Oak Lounge. Contact Philippa Lord 486 2730

Plunge for Year 7-9 Sunday mornings 10.15am during term time at the HUB.

Contact Jordan 489 6308 jordan@etchurch.co.nz

Youth For Year 9-13 Friday nights 7:30-9pm term time

Contact Tim: yetworker@etchurch.co.nz

For Year 7 & 8 Fortnightly Friday nights 7.30-9pm term time

Contact Jordan: jordan@etchurch.co.nz

Youth discipleship service 7pm at the Hub

Dessert and hot drinks to start

Confidential Prayer Chain available at all times.

Please phone Adrienne Watson 489 3753 or Christine McKinlay 489 3149

Help Wanted: Can you spare an hour

or two to help us make button holes

for Mothers Day, the flower ministry

team is currently short staffed and

needing help to provide button holes

for Mothers Day. If we can find some

extra helpers we will do these

Saturday 11th May, 9.30am in the

Vestry, these are very simple and

everything is supplied. Please let

Nicola Merrett know if you can help,

027 589 0500 or 489 0500.

A huge thanks to the ET Cares helpers who

contributed baking for the Holiday Hub. Your

generosity helped put smiles on the children’s

faces and made it such a successful outreach

programme. Aroha, Leanne Shaw

South Island Ministry Conference

14 & 15 May 2019

Onga Project Fundraising Auction and Dinner

Your Global Missions team is seeking donations of quality, desirable

goods for the auction that is part of our World Vision Onga Project

fundraiser.

Do you have a service you could gift?

Could you simply donate a quality good/s?

We are seeking about 20 quality items for the Onga project auction.

Please contact Marilyn Mundy on 027 665 2555 if you are able to

help this worthy project.

Global Missions Our next distribution to our missional

families goes out at the end of May. Those who wish to add to the church allocation for a specified family or to give generally (which means the money will be evenly spilt between the missionaries), please

place your gift in the offering in a nominated envelope as soon as possible.

Please continue to pray for our missionaries, this is the greatest gift for

them.

Presbyterian Support Otago Chief Executive Following a period of leave to undergo treatment for acute leukaemia, Michael Parker will not be returning as Chief Executive at Presbyterian Support Otago. Michael is continuing to undergo experimental treatment, and would not be in a position to return to work until 2020, at the earliest. PSO Board Chair David Richardson said, “While Michael was only with the organisation for a short time his passion and enthusiasm for the work of the organisation was very evident. We continue to pray for his return to good health.” In part of his farewell letter to staff Michael stated “I am fully supportive of this decision, in the interests of the organisation going forward...I would like to thank all staff and management for their support over the past few months, it has meant a lot - you are all in my prayers.” David has also announced his decision to step down as Board Chair, and from the Presbyterian Support Otago Board, as his term was about to end. An incoming Board Chair is now being appointed, who will lead the Board in the recruitment process for a new Chief Executive. The recruitment will commence shortly. At this time, Gillian Bremner will continue as Interim Chief Executive at

Presbyterian Support Otago. Kind Regards and thank you for your prayers and support for Michael in recent months.

Infoodle East Taieri is now using a new church database called Infoodle which enables us to manage information with ease. However, it is important for us to have accurate information to ensure that the details we have for each person within our congregations is correct and up to date. This will enable us to communicate effectively and streamline processes each year including tax receipts. The information on Infoodle is confidential and is not available for everyone to view. A form will be coming out in the next week or two with your tax receipts, in the bulletin and will be available on the website (www.etchurch.co.nz). We would really appreciate you taking a minute or two to fill in this form when you receive it and returning it to the East Taieri office.

Please check the lost property

basket at ET It’s located by the door to the

playground.

What’s on?.....

Check out our noticeboard at ET (located on the wall

beside the information centre) for events and

important notices.

Pray.

Join us at 9.45am on the window seats in

Fellowship to prepare our hearts for worshipping

God. We will pray for awesome,

vibrant worship that honours God and inspires and transforms people.

Your offerings can be made by one of the following methods:

• Payment by Telephone/Electronic Banking to our BNZ Bank Account, Mosgiel Branch: 02 0938 0018236 00

• Automatic Payment forms are available at the office • By using the Envelope supplied. If you would like to subscribe to this giving contact the

office for a Confidential Envelope number • By EFTPOS-available at the Information Centre following the 10am service

Check out our

Classifieds

in the News tab on our Website and contact the office if you would like to

advertise in our classifieds:

office@etchurch.co.nz

The Molly Burns Trust provides

financial assistance in meeting the cost

of education and cultural activities

directly relating to ET Church and its

members. To have your application

considered pick up an application from

the Office.

Please pray for the Prison Ministry

Team—that the word of the Lord does not go out null and void but bears good fruit.

The Prison Team is now running 2 services at the prison, on the 3rd Sunday

of every month.

Sugar and Spice Tuesdays (fortnightly) during term time 6pm—7.30pm @

The Hub All girls aged 7—10 years

are welcome Cost $3.00 per night.

The programme includes Games, Crafts and Devotions

For more information

contact Lorraine 488 2096.

The Global Missions Team meets regularly at ET

Church. All welcome.

Contact Elaine Scurr 486 1863 for more

information

Here at East Taieri Church, situated on the wall in the foyer beside the office, we have a Automated External Defibrillator. To watch a short video on how the use the AED please go to http://www.etchurch.co.nz/

resources/health-and-safety and click on the link.

www.faceboook.com/EastTaieri

To keep up to date with news and information check out our website:

www.etchurch.co.nz

Turning Point Christian Counselling Service Professional and Affordable Counselling

At ET Church we have three experienced counsellors: Paul Reet , Deborah Taylor & Gill Eastgate

Turning Point offers: Counselling & Psychotherapy Community Education Workshops Professional & Clinical Supervision Supervision for those in Christian Ministry Grief Care/Coping with Loss

And is available for adults, children, youth, couples and groups.

Each session is private and is around 50-55 minutes long. Go to our website www.etchurch.co.nz or pick up a brochure from the foyer by the office for more information.

Counsellors are also available to run interactive workshops for church and community based groups on a wide variety of topics. For more information contact Joy: email joy@etchurch.co.nz or phone 489 6308 ext 703