The Building Healthy Relationships program is the next stage in the General Church Journey program and will begin world wide on October 5, 2008. This seven-week program is a journey to learn about the deeper meaning of the Sermon on the Mount and how to apply what you learn to your life.

Although at this stage the Hurstville Society has not planned to participate as a society (only finding out about the program by browsing the website) details are provided at the link below so people can participate as an individual. On the next page there is an excerpt from the New Church Connection magazine on the same theme with 101 practical ways to strengthen your relationships.

http://www.newchurch.org/resources/buildingHealthyRelationships

It is easy to forget that there are many different ways to work on our relationships. This list of 101 ideas includes things (many of them fun and easy) that you can do on your own, or for or with other people (a sibling, co-worker, child, parent, spouse, or friend...you decide!) to help you build stronger, healthier relationships. (Don't try to do them all in one day!)

1. Pray for hope.

2. Do anonymous acts of kindness.

3. Tell people the things you appreciate about them.

4. List things you are grateful for in your relationships.

5. Share your gratitude list with another person.

6. Send flowers for no reason.

7. Turn off the Television.

8. Dedicate quality time together.

9. Use kind words.

10. Do service work together.

11. Speak positively about others when they are not present.

12. Send a thank you or gratitude card to someone.

13. Have the difficult conversation you have been avoiding.

14. Ask for forgiveness.

15. Walk together.

16. Cook a special meal for a friend.

17. Put yourself on a judgment free diet.

18. Surprise someone with a picnic or special outing.

19. Look to the Lord for support.

20. Start conversations with a positive focus.

21. Offer help.

22. Support others on their spiritual walk.

23. Accept help.

24. Give each other space.

25. Respect the ideas of others.

26. Pray for joy.

27. Offer praise.

28. Own your role in conflict.

29. Speak from your heart.

30. Commit to communication.

31. Respect other people's time-be on time.

32. Honour others' past experiences.

33. Respect your differences.

34. Talk in person or on the phone before emailing.

35. Foster open communication.

36. Choose to be silent instead of gossip.

37. Be direct.

38. Assume positive motives.

39. Work through resentments.

40. Be gentle in offering guidance.

41. Offer advice only when asked.

42. Empower and support others.

43. Respect confidentiality.

44. Be honest.

45. Do what you say you will do.

46. Make eye contact.

47. Smile.

48. Be helpful.

49. Fulfil a request without complaining.

50. Give hugs.

51. Offer a handshake.

52. Worship together.

53. Pray together.

54. Laugh together.

55. Cry together.

56. Ask people how their day was and pay attention.

57. Remember important days, anniversaries, and milestones.

58. Acknowledge the suffering of others - but don't take it personally.

59. Acknowledge the anniversary of difficult events.

60. Notice body language.

61. Acknowledge what is unspoken.

62. Say hello and goodbye.

63. Turn off your phone for visits.

64. Invite people into your home.

65. Share your faith journey.

66. Share your thoughts.

67. Share ideas.

68. Share your worries.

69. Share hopes.

70. Play games together.

71. Hike together.

72. Be in nature together.

73. Listen to music together.

74. Do spiritual work together.

75. Spend time one on one.

76. Spend time in silence together.

77. Read a book and discuss it together.

78. Work together.

79. Prepare a meal together.

80. Offer to handle a chore/job/responsibility.

81. Reflect back when listening.

82. Ask clarifying questions.

83. Wait for other people to finish their own sentences.

84. Be patient.

85. Make relationships a priority in your schedule.

86. Reach out and help a stranger.

87. Offer a kind word to someone you don't know.

88. Send a card to someone you have lost touch with.

89. Share stories from childhood.

90. Dine together.

91. Deliver an unexpected treat.

92. Exercise together.

93. Pray for acceptance.

93. Go with someone to a place they have always wanted to go.

94. Consider another person's perspective.

95. Call to check in on a friend during difficult times.

96. Ask the Lord to show you how to be loving.

97. Let your light shine.

98. Turn your relationships over to the Lord.

99. Do your own personal work.

100. Participate in a spiritual growth group together.

101. Enjoy the blessings the Lord is giving you!

Here in this moment of our lives how can we enjoy the blessings the Lord is giving us? How can we reach out to others from the Lord's love? How can we express the Lord's love in our daily living? What can we do to come to terms with our duties and responsibilities?

When we turn to the Lord's Revelation we learn that there is no happiness except in an active life. (See AC 454). To the angels in heaven, being useful to others is the primary aim of their lives. Even though it may seem a long and arduous movement for us to make, we, too, have to become engaged in being useful. In the moment of making an effort to perform a use for the benefit of others, it is that effort that puts us on the pathway of being useful.

For example, we all know from personal experience that if we sit down and mope about the errors and mistakes of the past, that we are not making an effort to perform a useful endeavour for the welfare of the neighbour. The Lord said, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free." (John 8;31,32). So we see that every moment of every day we need to have a plan of usefulness in our intentions as a specific task we intend to do during this very day. This means we have to learn the truth and then to live the truth we have learned.

In the midst of our activities we have to acknowledge that the Lord is the Master of our lives, that the Lord is leading us toward heaven and away from hell, and that our duty to the Lord is to look to the Lord and to live the truths we have learned from His Word.

So we come to see that our lives are not meant to be haphazard and full of uncertainties. No. The Lord wants us to follow a definite pathway every second of every day of our lives. This pathway can be summed up as putting the Lord's wishes in the first place in our lives, and secondly by serving the neighbour as well as we can. When we follow these truths, we are not thinking of ourselves but of the Lord and of the neighbour. Then we are always conscious of the blessings we are continually receiving from the Lord and from the neighbour.

Let us reach out every moment of every day of our lives to put the Lord's wishes first and to serve the neighbour as well as we can. Then our lives will become a radiant expression of the love and wisdom the Lord is continually providing for us. All doubts and uncertainties will be cast aside. Then we shall step forward each moment of our lives with the conviction that what we are doing is from the Lord and not from ourselves. Then we shall know peace and joyfulness all the days of our lives.

Let us not dwell on our past transgressions, nor on the transgressions we may have received from our neighbour. Let us rejoice that the Lord gives us the freedom to move forward with our lives, forever free from resentment toward others and toward ourselves.

May we always be willing to be guided by the Lord's good and truth all the days and moments of our lives and thus to truly enjoy the blessings the Lord is giving us every second of our lives.

"But let all those rejoice who put their trust in You; Let them ever shout for joy, because You defend them; Let those also who love Your name be joyful in You."

Psalm 5:11

"The Lord's Divine Providence is present within the smallest details of a person's life."

Bill Hall, September 16, 2008

It turns out it was the work of Norman Heldon who at 91 never ceases to think of new ideas.

Proverbs 12:18

Dear Sir,

Attempts by scientists to discover how the world began, such as the experiment in Switzerland, will always fail for they do not acknowledge that creation is the work of the infinitely loving, infinitely wise God. Revelation shows this and it agrees with reason. Ample proof is given in the Bible. The Lord's Prayer begins, "Our Father Who is in heaven." This tells us that He is the Father of all, and that there is another world. He wants all to go to heaven. There are conditions of course, like the Ten Commandments.

Further the actual way creation took place is described by scientist and theologian Emanuel Swedenborg in his book Divine Love and Wisdom. Section IV begins: The Lord from Eternity, who is Jehovah created the universe and all its particulars from Himself and not from nothing." Exactly how creation took place is explained. Briefly put it was by a series of atmospheres becoming denser and denser till finally settling in the matter of the natural world.

Swedenborg was guided by the Lord Himself, so it was Revelation. And it does make sense.

Norman Heldon
Loftus NSW

The above letter wasn't published. Getting a letter published in the newspaper is a tough call at the best of times and when it involves religion, especially claims of Divine Revelation, it is even tougher still.

Perhaps readers might like to suggest an alternative approach that might have had a better chance. Norman did get a couple of things right. The letter is topical (very important) and not too long (though it wouldn't hurt if it was a bit shorter) but perhaps he is hitting them out of the blue with too many assertions of Divine Revelation. Ed.

As a follow on to the letter from Angela Allen published last issue further information is contained in the Around The New Church publication which some of you will have received recently. This is the program that Angela is part of. To quote from the issue:

"The General Church's new program NewChurchLive.tv launches early next year. The Mitchell Performing Arts Centre (part of the Bryn Athyn College) will serve as the venue for this additional contemporary service. Its primary use is outreach to those who have not yet heard the message of the Lord's Second Coming, but it will also serve our small congregations and isolated people in a way never before possible.

The service will be filmed live and will be broadcast in two ways. The first is via satellite to societies and other groups; this will be especially useful to congregations without a resident pastor and weekly services.

The second kind of broadcast is over the Internet. These computer services including music, aim to spread New Church teachings worldwide."

It would seem that Hurstville may soon have several choices: the traditional lay services currently used, making use of the NewChurchLive.tv or making use of the DVD services currently being recorded by Rev Julian Duckworth (see overpage). And of course we may use all three at different times.

Footnote: There is already a NewChurchLive.tv website. However David Childs who is running the project assures us that this domain name belongs to the General Church and will become our as soon as we are ready..

Bookings - or definite commitments are needed by 1st October. This is very important for the organizers of the camp, the Melbourne New Church. Phillip Island is an excellent location with great facilities. Full details and forms are available from the Hurstville New Church or Rev Chris Skinner.

Our Friday tea and class on 5th September featured the showing of two church services on DVDs recorded by Rev Julian Duckworth. Due to time constraints only about half of each service was shown but this was enough for the group to give a favourable response. The DVDs could of course be used in small groups as a discussion starter but if they are to be used in the church on occasions additional equipment will need to be purchased. Further enquiries will be made regarding the requirements of the NewChurchLive (see above) and hopefully any equipment will be able to be used for both types of services.

Did you know you can have a short daily reading emailed to you each day? An example is shown below. In a busy world this facility can help you to pause and reflect for a minute or two on one of Swedenborg's quotes. Sign up on the General Church Web page:

http://www.newchurch.org/news/dailyinspiration

Rev Doug and Christine Taylor will be staying at Baringa from 21st to 28th October and Doug has kindly offered to take the service on Sunday 26th .

In addition we are moving the Friday Tea and Class to Friday 24th October. This will further facilitate opportunities to meet and catch up with Doug and Christine. As far as the class is concerned it is planned at this stage to take a couple of the Joseph story commentaries by Rev Julian Duckworth and read and discuss them on that evening. If successful we may continue them on a regular basis. (They can be done by people individually of course if unable to come to a class.)

There will be one of our twice a year Society Meetings after church on 12th October. Among other items please consider what we might do for Christmas.

Kathryn Kennedy and Andrew Rolles will be married on Sunday 26th October 2008 at Trinity Grammar School Chapel, 119 Prospect Road, Summer Hill, commencing at 1.30pm. Merv and Gai extend an invitation to any of their friends from Hurstville who would like to attend the service.

Dylan Johnson, Sam & Kristen's little boy, was baptized on Saturday 27th September, Rev Julian Duckworth officiating.

Jan Lindsay is doing it tough at present. She is experiencing a lot of pain and is undergoing tests to try to determine why. Thinking of you Jan.

Happy Birthday to Robert Ridgway (7th), Vera Buck (8th), Stuart Heldon (10th), Murray Heldon (13th), Darren Kermond (20th), Cameron Walsh (20th), Sonja Hicks (22nd) and Shirley Taylor (27th)

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.
Saturdaay	4th October	Daylight Saving Starts
Sunday	5th October	NO CHURCH AT HURSTVILLE
Sunday	12th October	10. 00 a.m. Worship followed by Society Meeting
Sunday	19th October	10. 00 a.m. Worship
Friday	24th October	7 00 p.m. Tea and Class
Sunday	26th October	10. 00 a.m. Worship (Rev Douglas Taylor)