Our Life Together: 25th December - January 8th 2012

Sunday 25th
9:30am

Sunday 1st January New Years Day

10:00am Communion Service Speaker Jon Lambert 11:30am Morning Tea

Christmas Day Service

Speaker Warren Holman

Enjoying God, Blessing Others

Friday 30th
9:30am Walking Group - meet at Fawthrop Centre carpark (each Tuesday and Friday)

Monday 2nd
SUFM daily till 10th January 10:30am and 7:00pm on the Bentinck Street Lawns

~ Christmas & New Year ~

December 25th 2011 - January 1st 2012

Sunday 8th
10.00am Worship Service Speaker John Lambert 11.30am Morning Tea

A Joyous Christmas & Happy New Year

A very warm welcome to everyone as we celebrate Christmas, remembering anew the birth of our Saviour. As we also welcome the start of the new year, we are glad to greet visitors amongst us. If you are visiting Portland we hope you enjoy your stay.
Secretary:
Jim Blake 39 Patrick Street Portland Ph: 5523 2347 M: 0425 714 633 jim.blake@bigpond.com.au

Rosters for the first two Sundays of 2012

Roster: 1st January 2012
Door Greeting: Jill Goldsworthy Door & Offering: David Hein Downstairs D&O: Peter Malseed Childrens Talk: Michelle Keiller Media Desk: Steve, Roger, Shivaun Morning Tea: Malseed & L & D Oakley Communion: Michelle Harris Offering Counting: D Mitchell, D Hein Lawns & Garden: Cocks Ch. House Clean: Kath Lewis Church Cleaning: Cocks Hall/Kitchen Clean: Malseed

Roster: 8th January 2012

Door Greeting: Mieke Walker Door & Offering: Dallas Walker Downstairs D&O: Doug Smith Childrens Talk: SUFM Team Media Desk: Peter, Roger, Paul Morning Tea: Goldsworthy & Dalliston

Deacons:
Dianne Adams 5523 6202 Paul Adams 5521 1875 Jim Blake 5523 2347 David Hein 5523 3958 Bruce Honeybun 5523 6750 Nathan McLean 5526 5293 Doug Smith 5523 6950 Jan Westlake 5523 3639

Offering Counting: R Crouch & P Westlake Lawns & Garden: Adams Church Cleaning: Westlake Hall/Kitchen Clean: Adams

Our website: www.portlandbaptist.org.au

Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. Col. 4:2

OUR FINANCES
November total Offering: $12,307 Monthly Budget: $15,150 Weekly Target: $ 3,500 Weekly Average $ 3,221
(avg. from 1st July 2011)

Our Annual Christmas Day Offering

Every Christmas we give a special offering to Baptist World Aid to support those who do not have the many blessings which we take for granted. This year, as Christmas falls on a Sunday, a Retiring Offering will be taken up as we leave the service. Baptist World Aid brochures (which include envelopes) are still available in the foyer and downstairs.

Our thanks to Warren Holman who is our Guest Speaker for this A Farewell to Captain Sharon mornings speci al servi ce, Bywaters will be held at the Christmas Day. Next Sunday, New Years Day we welcome back an old friend - our Guest Speaker for the next two Sundays will be Jon Lambert.
Salvation Army Hall on Friday, 6th January at 7.30pm. The Portland Citizens Band will be playing and everyone is most welcome. If you are able to attend, a plate of supper would be appreciated. Thank you.

Please continue to pray for those with various health needs - Dick Hayman; Stuart Oakley; Matthew Harris; Daryl Hobbs, Judy Blake, Graham Adams, Neil Mitchell, Lees brother-in-law, Colin Pray for Jim Blake - recovering from Geelong hospital procedure Peter Berry - awaiting MRI results, plus a painful shoulder SUFM Portland Beach Mission the team and all those who attend Safe Travel - for all those travelling during the holidays Pastoral Search Committee trusting God for the right person at the right time Monday Paul & Jolene Adams Lucas, Eloise, Bianca Tuesday Camille Alexander Wednesday Kelly Armitage Thursday Alice Attwood Friday Lionel & Eileen Atwell Saturday Mark & Susan Atwell James, Joshua, Benjamin Sunday Michelle Axisa

Week Week Week Week Week

30th 6th 13th 20th 27th

October November November November November

$2,697 $2,591 $2,150 $3,671 $3,058

Direct Debit Payments for offerings and donations can be made electronically. Details are as follows:

Acc Name: Portland Baptist Church Direct Offering BSB 704 922 Account No. 100 006 869

Building Fund
November Donations:
$ 1,350 Total B/F to 30th Nov. $527,015 Purchase of Land $360,000 Other fees & costs $ 71,844 Current available balance: $ 95,171

Loaves & Fishes

A special Thank You
A certificate of thanks has been received from Loaves and Fishes. Many thanks to everyone for your generous and faithful support of this vital ministry throughout the year.

Music Practice
Note to worship team members: throughout December & January could worship team members check with Helen each Sunday regarding practice for the following Sunday, as practice will depend on who is available and when.

All gifts to the building fund are fully tax deductible. Please take the information sheets (blue & yellow) and envelopes are available in the porch. You can deposit straight into the building fund via internet banking using the following information: Acc Name: Portland Baptist Church Direct Building Fund BSB 704 922 Account No 100 007 044

Lets press on in faith!

News from the Bennetts

The latest newsletter from Douglas & Jeanette Bennett of Wycliffe Bible Translators is now available in the foyer or on the mission table Please note that this Christmas/ Boxing Day Bulletin is combined with downstairs.

The Bulletin: For Christmas & New Year

Portland SUFM
Monday 2nd - Tuesday 10th January
10:30am: singing, dramas, puppets, age group activities, crafts, lots of fun 7:00pm: different each night (see below) for all the family

For Your Directory . . .

These are new contact details which you may add to your church directory:

January 1st. If you have notices for Sunday January 8th please contact Wilma by 10:00am Thursday 5th January . Phone 5523 3595 or email crouchcastle@hotkey.net.au

Portland Baptist youth involved

Brad Holman Jared Goldsworthy David Sobey Olivia Sobey Lisa Shalders Karissa Malseed Ellie Hein David Axisa Camille Alexander Camden Drennan (visiting)

Evening Program
Mon 2nd - Make-it Race-it Tues 3rd - Carnival Night Wed 4th - Family Night Thur 5th - Cook's Night Off (No Program) Fri 6th - Bush Dance Sun 8th - COMBINED SERVICE Mon 9th - Giant Family Games Tues 10th - Concert Night

Ken & Elvie Douglas Phone No. (only) 5523 2301 Jon & Steph Lambert 17 Stirling St, Warragul 3820 Phone 5622 1232 Peter & Monica Berry 7 Moorhouse Crt, Portland 3305 Phone 55234357 Mobile 0428621251 Yvonne Simons 7 Moorhouse Crt, Portland 3305 Phone 55234357

PARENTS & TOTS ROOM

Parents are welcome to use the Parents room just off the foyer, with activities for children up to 2 years. It is sound-linked to the auditorium. The Preschooler Sunday School runs all year round during the service, with Bible stories, activities and crafts. For ages 2 years to Prep, downstairs (door just past side gate).

Directors: Renee Barnden, Camille Alexander and Tim Evans Treasurer: David Sobey

Congratulations Grandparents!
Congratulations to Peter and Jo Moyle on the arrival last Monday of their daughters first baby, Gemma Rose. And congratulations to her proud parents, Ruth and Brad Kyle! May God bless you all.
THANK YOU! to everyone for your donations to the Missions Month 5Cent Offering which raised the wonderful total of $450.45! All proceeds went to the SUFM Portland Summer Beach Mission.

Offering Envelopes
Sincere thanks to those who regularly use our offering envelopes. The fresh supply for 2012 is now available - please check your pigeonhole in the foyer if yours has not been picked up.

Donations toward Portland SUFM

Would you like to make a donation to Portland SUFM? It's as easy as 1, 2, 3! 1: Log onto www.suvic.org.au 2: Click on 'make a donation' (on the home page) 3: Enter your payment details, making sure to enter 'Portland SUFM' into the appropriate box. Methods of payment include credit card, bank deposit, and paypal, and all transactions over $2 are fully tax deductible. Contact Dave Sobey on 0427 762 466 or davidsobey@westvic.com.au for more info.

Membership Renewal
Church Commitment Cards with covering letters are also available in the foyer pigeonholes. Our annual Celebration Service will be held on Sunday 29th January. For more information or for additional cards please contact Secretary Jim Blake or one of the Deacons.