NO SERVICE AT HURSTVILLE ON 6TH JANUARY: As the pastor and a number of the congregation will be attending the Summer Camp at Mangrove Mountain for the week ending Sunday 6th January there will be no service at Hurstville. However you are welcome to come to Mangrove Mountain to attend the Drama of God which will take place as the final worship on this day. If you are intending to come contact Owen or Margaret Heldon for more information.

Several students completed studies in 2007. Congratulations to Michelle Heldon on completing her honours year at the National Art School graduating with distinctions in each of her subjects. Congratulations also to Angela Heldon in gaining a Diploma of Aromatherapy and Certificate 4 in Bowen Therapy. These qualifications complement her Diploma in Remedial Massage obtained previously. Congratulations also to Phillipa Horner in completing her Higher School Certificate.

Stuart Heldon's company The Watertank Team has won a contract to supply every Scout Hall in Australia with a water tank. Now that is one way to make it rain, Stuart.

A resurrection service was held on Thursday 13th December for Trevor Favell who passed into the spiritual world on 7th December. Those who were able to attend found the service by Rev Alain Nicolier both moving and inspiring. It was also a pleasure to be able to meet and get to know a little Trevor's son Chris, his wife Dianne and other members of the family. A full article on Trevor will be published in the next newsletter.

The Journey Program: When this was discussed in November a preference was expressed by those present to run the program on Monday evenings each week for eight weeks. If we start on Monday 21st that will mean that Alain can lead the discussions for 4 weeks. To recap this is the program being undertaken by a number of societies around the world considering the application of the Journey from Egypt to Canaan in our own lives. (Due to the public holiday the second week is scheduled for Tuesday 29th)

Are you going through difficult times in your life now regarding your relationship with yourself, your relationship with your partner, with your children or anyone else?
If yes is the answer, counselling is available in order to reflect and find solutions to deal with the pain.

For more details call (02) 95944205 or (02) 95801589 at meal time or in the evenings. A certified counsellor will answer all questions and make an appointment if necessary.

Alain

We are told in the Writings that man is created for heaven and that heaven is a kingdom of uses. The purpose of the New Church is to promote the Lord's Kingdom in the hearts and minds of people in enabling them to be useful and thus to be of use to the suffering humanity.

In this perspective there will be a meeting on 13th January after church to discuss a project of opening a spiritual retreat centre in the country. Bring your lunch.

This centre is not to replace any existing church activities but would be in addition to them.

Why a New Church Centre in nature?

• To share and present the Heavenly Doctrines in a concrete and holistic way
• To adapt to a larger audience with a universal and therapeutic approach
• To offer a form of spirituality addressing the needs of the soul, the mind and the body
• To enable New Church and other people to be hosted in such a retreat centre to take a break from worldly worries in order to reflect on and enrich their spiritual and physical health and to enrich their relationship with God, other people and themselves. Activities such as: spiritual growth groups, marriage counselling and enrichment, farming, gardening, doctrinal studies, individual therapy, massage, prayer, meditation, etc . . . could be developed there.

We need your input on this and also help in prospecting for a good place to create such a centre.

If we agree on the "WHY", the "HOW" will follow if it is in the Lord's Providence. Come and bring anyone you think would be interested in this.

Alain

Happy Birthday to Margaret Heldon (9th), Rachel Heldon (15th), Kerry Lockhart (24th), Kaye Macfarlane (30th),

Note: All events are located at the church at 22 Dudley St, Penshurst 2222 (off Hillcrest Ave) unless otherwise stated. Contact the Hurstville New Church on (02) 9580 1589 for more information or email us at newchurch@optusnet.com.au All are welcome and refreshments are served after church each Sunday.
Sunday	6th January	No Church at Hurstville (Invitation to Drama of God at Summer Camp)
Sunday	13th January	10 00 a.m. Worship (followed by Meeting to discuss Australian Retreat)
Sunday	20th January	10.00 a.m. Worship
Monday	21st January	7.30 p.m. The Journey
Sunday	27th January	710.00 a.m. Worship (Lay Service - Pastor in Canberra)
Tuesday	29th January	7.30 p.m. The Journey