The Lord is a Shepherd to us all. He is our Shepherd, and we are His sheep. Like a shepherd, the Lord watches over us day and night. He feeds us, providing natural and spiritual nourishment. The Lord takes every opportunity to show us the way to heaven and lead our footsteps upward, but He also gives us the freedom to reject His love, His truth, and His leading.

We can choose to go our own way, becoming lost or threatened by the serious problems we must face. But the Lord is always with us, always loving us. No matter how lost we become, the Lord reaches out to us, seeking to rescue us. He leads "as if by the hand . . . as far as a person is willing to follow in freedom" (Apocalypse Explained 1174:2).

How can we become like lambs or sheep, willing to follow where the Lord leads? First we must realize that all good and all truth are from the Lord, not from ourselves. If we really grasp this spiritual reality, then we will be more willing to trust the Lord's leading. And to know how to follow Him, we must read His Word and obey His teachings. For the Divine truths of the Word serve as a shepherd's rod and staff, guiding and protecting us.

The way in which the Lord leads us is called Divine Providence. Through His Providence, the Lord leads each individual in the best possible way, always leaving him or her in freedom to accept or reject His love and wisdom. When we follow the Lord's leading and cooperate with His Divine Providence then we are led toward the heavenly states of peace and contentment. Having confidence in the Lord, that He will save us, helps us to endure those dark valleys through which we must traverse.

From New Church Vineyard publication May 2002

In many places in the Word we are urged to fear God. How do we fear God, and why? We certainly do not fear Him as we would fear an intruder in our home wielding a gun. It seems strange to be asked to fear God, when He is Love itself and wants all people to love Him and live happily in heaven forever. So what do we learn from the doctrines about fear?

The fear of God means worship either from fear, from the good of faith or from the good of love. But the more fear there is in worship the less faith there is and still less love, and on the other hand the more faith there is the less fear.

The fear can be a holy fear, and holy fear is not so much fear of hell and damnation but is aversion to doing or thinking anything against the Lord and the neighbour. (see Arcana Coelestia 2826)

We are celebrating the life of a lovely person and a dear friend, Audrey. Her life in this world is now complete and she has gone forward to eternity, to join her husband Trevor and to be with her loved ones.

For this reason we feel glad even while we still miss her. Audrey was - and still is now - a delightful and gracious person, with so much vitality and energy, and yet in recent years and for many years she has lived with the physical limitations of a major stroke. Wonderfully, she is now free from that restriction and is in mind and spiritual body renewed and with all her own energy and spark given back to her. She will use it well.

Each person is a person to celebrate and be glad about. Each and every person is a child of their heavenly Father, the Lord of us all. We share in the experience and use of the Lord's gift of life and our purpose in life is to give the Lord's life out in service to others.

So we're told that real spiritual life and real holiness is at its best when it is shared in community, in family, among friends. It's good to realise too that when we give our love out to others, we have little or no idea how much this helps and benefits them. We are instruments of the Lord's purpose and that is enough for us to know.

We also make use of this life for ourselves, in coming to know who we are, learning more about ourselves, about what we love and can do well. Part of that growing knowledge of ourselves involves some reflection and careful appraisal, as we see things that need putting away and leaving, and recognise parts of our make-up that can sometimes spoil the use and beauty of life. In that way, life here is a preparation and a school.

Equally, we live here to discover the love that unites us all, which is the Lord's love. It is planted in us even before we are born; it is carefully nurtured both by the Lord and by the people who love us. It is like the Lord says, the pearl of great price, something so precious that we cannot set a value on it, but it is something which asks much of us in making it our way of life and working to become a loving person.

Such is life here. And we grow to be ready to leave this life and move into eternity, taking this love and all that it has made us with us. And in eternity which is without end we have every scope to express and use this love. We become angelic; we become who we truly are. And we are then fulfilled and happy and content. Then we join others - all others - who know their heavenly father and who seek to do his will, as in heaven so on earth.

Heaven, that greatest and best of communities, which has room for all, is made richer and more perfect as each person becomes part of it. When we farewell someone we love, like Audrey, let us think of her making the kingdom of heaven a nicer better place.

I would now like to say just a few personal words about Audrey. I know Chris will be speaking to you shortly so my remarks only concern the later years of Audrey's life when she and Trevor were part of our society here and then the years following her stroke in 1995 which were spent in the Nursing home.

First however, as it seems appropriate at this point I want to quote from an email we received a few days ago from Rev Douglas Taylor, a former pastor here in Hurstville. He says:

"Audrey has now joined Trevor! How wonderful that they can now be together in the spiritual world, where there are no time and space limitations and no health problems. They were and no doubt still are a devoted couple. What a joyous reunion for them.

At the end of their earthly sojourn, they were kept apart by physical constraints. But that is mercifully all over now. The spiritual body has no such impediments.

Audrey was ever the gracious lady. Now we can picture her in her youthful beauty. The Hurstville New Church Society was indeed enriched by the presence of the Favells and their willing service."

Those words were from Rev Doug and Christine Taylor.

Audrey and Trevor were just the sort of people you hope will join your church. They said they felt at home here and the feeling was mutual. They were a lovely couple, wonderful company, extremely helpful and keenly interested in the church's teachings. They quickly found close friends and even took holidays with the Sandows and the Kirstens. (And I might add, Chris, that John and Lenore Sandow who now live in Queensland, send their regards to you.) And my Dad recalls happy evenings with his wife Ruth, Audrey and Trevor playing canasta.

It was such a sad day when following her stroke Audrey had to go into the nursing home where she spent the last 13 years of her life. But during those years Audrey's strength of character and determination ensured she did her best to overcome her disability.

My wife and I and occasionally our children visited her from time to time and remember how much she enjoyed visits. I must mention my Dad here. He visited her constantly over these years. He would often come down to our place and ask for pictures to take on his visits (pictures of say a holiday, a birthday party, some event at the church). And Audrey would love to see them - pointing at people she recognised with animation.

I have to admire both my Dad and Audrey. He can't hear and she couldn't talk but they communicated - often and well. And later after Chris has spoken it is lovely that my Dad will speak a few thoughts he has written.

I also must mention that when we visited Westfield's at Hurstville it wasn't unusual to meet Audrey on her motorised wheelchair. She certainly refused to be beaten.

Sometimes the question is asked "Why does God let such things happen to people?" Well one of the answers I think is shown by the inspiration and example that Audrey showed us all - do your very best with what you have.

I want to close with a reading from the work Heaven and Hell (414). When we think about Audrey being reunited with Trevor in the spiritual world these words seem to ring very true.

"Those who are in heaven are continually advancing towards the spring of life, with a greater advance towards a more joyful and happy spring the more thousands of years they live; and this to eternity, with increase according to the growth and degree of their love, charity, and faith. Women who have died old and worn out with age, if they have lived in faith in the Lord, in charity to the neighbour, and in happy marriage love with a husband, advance with the succession of years more and more into the flower of youth and early womanhood, and into a beauty that transcends every conception of any such beauty as is seen on the earth. Goodness and charity are what give this form and thus manifest their own likeness, causing the joy and beauty of charity to shine forth from every least particular of the face, and causing them to be the very forms of charity. . . . In a word, to grow old in heaven is to grow young."

Delivered by Owen Heldon. The assistance of Rev Julian Duckworth in preparing the resurrection service is greatly appreciated.

I have recently read: "It's not life's events which are important BUT it's our attitude to those events which matters. We can't directly choose our circumstances, but we can choose our thoughts and attitudes to those circumstances."

Mum was a great example of a person who made the most of life's dealings. She was bound to her wheelchair for the last fourteen years of her life - some of you would only know her as the little old lady in full make-up heading up to Hurstville shops in a rush. When you compare her restricted lifestyle to her previous life, it serves to demonstrate mum's strength of character.

When she was growing up as a 'girl' in Adelaide, mum showed the characteristics we later came to expect from her - she was musically talented with a trained operatic voice which enabled her to take leading roles in musicals over the years; she had artistic and decorating skills; she was very particular with detail, strong willed and organized. My uncle later confided that the family knew they had a different sort of person on their hands, but had no idea where she came from.

Mum married in Adelaide and then moved to Sydney. Several years later she found herself alone and bringing up a small, but perfect child. For her it was a difficult time, but her character brought her through and she later married Trevor, the love of her life. He put her on a pedestal from which she did not descend.

Mum was a wonderful wife and mother. She was initially concerned for my artistic and musical education, but after trying for about twenty-five years without much success, she was pleased to see that some of the hoped for characteristics had filtered through to the granddaughters.

While talented in many aspects, driving with mum was something of an experience. I don't believe she ever received a road safety award. There are many stories, but this is my favourite:- Mum was driving me to school one morning, along Belmore Road, a four lane carriageway. We were late as usual, and mum proceeded to overtake two side-by-side northbound vehicles by using one of the southbound lanes. As she performed this manoeuvre, she leaned over to me and said: "next month, when you get your licence, I don't want you to be doing this sort of thing - it takes years of practice."

Mum enjoyed a wide circle of good friends and she always endeavoured to exchange support with these people. Over the last fourteen years in the nursing home her friends have given her tremendous support.

Mum and Dad enjoyed being a part of the New Church for many years. Even in the nursing home she avidly followed the newsletters, visits and reports of the activities within the church.

Prior to the Nursing Home, mum had achieved a great lifestyle. When her life changed, it became a case of 'when the going gets tough, the tough get going'. She never relented in attempting what she thought she could manage and she was always determined to enjoy life to the best of her ability and circumstances.

She was a great mum.

One couldn't help noticing how well and tastefully dressed Audrey was in coming to church. Also that she took great care over her appearance. There's a saying, "not a hair out of place," that seems to fit her. And she had a friendly smile for everyone. Perhaps it is fitting to say about her that she was "good outside and good inside."

One of the books of our church tells of the love between husbands and wives in Heaven. One of the wives is described, and her "hair' is mentioned. I might add that the appearance of this angel wife and the way she is clothed beautifully represents or pictures the wonderful love she has for her husband.

Quote: "Hence her beauty - a beauty which no painter can emulate or portray in its form, there being no such sparkle in his colours, nor is such beauty expressible by his art. Her hair was gracefully arranged in correspondence with her beauty, and in it were inserted flowers consisting of diamonds. She wore a necklace of red precious stones from which hung a rosary of chrysolites; and she had bracelets of pearls. She was arrayed in a flowing robe of scarlet under which was a girdle of purple clasped in front with rubies." (from Married Love 42)

It is a wonderful thing that this young lady and her husband lived on the earth centuries ago and now he's a handsome young man and she is a lovely young woman. That's heaven. Life is forever.

Farewell Audrey, dear friend. We'll be seeing you.

Beginning in April, the Development Office will produce new monthly publications, alternating between the General Church and the Academy each month. These 4-8 page publications will be more timely and relevant than the Bishop's Newsletter and Alumni Update, which they will replace.

The General Church has committed to meaningful contact with at least one million people over the next 30 years. The Academy has adopted an ambitious strategic plan committed to growth, especially in the College. We will use these publications to keep you up to date with the progress of both institutions in meeting their goals.

We also invite you to share stories of what is being done to advance the Church and the Academy - to spread the truths of the Lord's Word and encourage living those truths. We want these publications to reflect what is happening all over the Church. Your questions, suggestions and response are welcome at development@anc-gc.org.

During his visit at Easter Bishop Brian Keith mentioned that he was hopeful that he could send a theological student in his final year to assist with the running of our Society. We are pleased to announce that Coleman Glenn will be arriving before Sunday 22nd June and staying till after Sunday 3rd August (seven weeks). Coleman's parents come from the Glenn and Pitcairn families, royal blood in New Church lineage you could say!

The first weekend Coleman is here (22nd June) we plan to celebrate New Church Day with a banquet lunch. This will be based on the successful format of last year which included an address by Rev George McCurdy. We plan to invite Coleman to do something similar. So put this date in your diary and give a warm welcome to Coleman.

A Work Day is scheduled on Sunday afternoon 18th May. There are a few jobs that Norm Heldon would appreciate some assistance with.

Karen Lockhart has started work for the same company she previously worked for and is doing project management work, similar to what she had been doing in London. Kerry and Mike say they have finally eliminated the chaotic mess created while having the interior of their house painted.

Also having the interior of their house painted were Lori and Murray Heldon, just in time to welcome Lori's mother Endrede here for a two week visit. And of course a special attraction for this visit is to get to see the new great grand child Dylan Michael born on 7th April to proud parents Kristen and Sam Johnson. Congratulations Kristen and Sam.

Also visiting from the Toronto Society of the New Church in Canada were Richard and Gillian Parker who stayed in Baringa for a few days before heading to Canberra and the Gold Coast to visit more New Church friends.

Huiling Sun sends some news from China where she and Matthew have spent an extended visit with Huiling's family. Huiling has been doing quite a bit of translation work and has translated Married Love (Conjugial Love), You Can Believe by Grant Schnarr and After Life by Rev Don Rose. This has been made possible by two wonderful babysitters (the grandparents). Huiling also says there are Chinese people quoting from Heaven and Hell in articles published on the internet. Heaven and Hell was a book she previously translated and put on the internet. Huiling and Matthew plan to return to the USA in May. Huiling's husband Robert Cooper will be glad to see them. Huiling has been learning to drive and now that Robert has bought a car the family will be able to get around a bit better.

Matthew in China!

Shane & Lina Heldon's younger son Kyan, soon to turn 1 year old is in hospital and has been very ill with fluid building up on his brain. We all pray that the impending operation will prove successful.

Patricia Walsh has had a knee operation which was successful though the after effects of the anaesthetic have been most unpleasant. John Hall is also due for a knee operation. Our best wishes are with Patricia and John.

We are very pleased to announce that Rev Brian O'Neill will join us on Monday 5th May for dinner after which he will give us a talk or workshop.

Happy Birthday to Brandon Hinds (10th), John Sandow (18th), Naomi Heldon (20th), Daniel Walsh (27th), Brian Walsh (31st)

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	4th May	10 00 a.m. Worship followed by Property Trust Meeting
Monday	5th May	7 00 p.m. Dinner followed by Presentation by Rev Brian O'Neill
Sunday	11th May	10.00 a.m. Worship (Mother's Day)
Friday	16th May	6.00 p.m. Young People (at Roseville)
Sunday	18th May	10.00 a.m. Worship followed by Theta Alpha Guild & Work Day
Sunday	25th May	10.00 a.m. Worship