Welcome to Illawarra Lutheran Parish

Welcome

Welcome to the Illawarra Lutheran Church on line.

The Illawarra Lutheran Church is a multi-campus ministry comprising St Johns Lutheran Church, Wollongong, Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Oak Flats and Joy Fellowship, Nowra. As a part of the Lutheran Church of Australia we are here to serve all people of the Illawarra and South Coast region, not just Lutherans, as we seek to live and proclaim the good news of Jesus who has come to give all people fullness of life and hope through his life, death and resurrection.

On this site you will be able to get information about our worship times and places in the Illawarra as well as information about other ministries and groups that go to make up who we are as the Lutheran church here. You will find resources for your family worship and devotions in 'Taking Faith Home' which is updated weekly along with Bible readings and Prayer points for personal devotions. There are also photo albums from some of our church camps and worship. A link is provided to 'The Southern Cross Reformer', our blog spot.

Please come in and make yourself at home. If you have any ideas or suggestions as to how we can improve this site or provide you with information that you want or need, please feel free to contact us.

Parish Annual General Meeting

On Sunday March 21, 10.30am - 1.30pm the worshipping communities from St Johns Wollongong, Holy Cross Oak Flats and Joy Fellowship Nowra will gather at Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Old Lake Entrance Road, Oak Flats for our Parish Annual General Meeting(AGM).

The day will commence with a worship service at 10.30am as we celebrate our community in Holy Communion. Following a brief time for a cuppa and chat
after the service we will gather to work together as community at our Parish AGM.

At the AGM we will hear reports from the Parish Chairperson, Treasurer and Pastor, and there will be opportunity to ask questions and discuss issues related to those reports. There will also be the election of the Parish Council for 2010...Chairperson, Vice-Chair, Secretary, Treasurer and 3 extra members. The main item of discussion on the day will be the restructuring of the parish administration and accompanying processes which will enable us to better carry out the work of the Kingdom that God has called us to do. Please make every effort to attend as your participation and input is appreciated and needed. Please also consider how you might serve in the Kingdom work we have been given to do in order that the good news of Jesus might reach into our surrounding communities and the lives of those who are part of them.

Finally, we will finish off the day with a shared lunch and fellowship time. Please food to share on the day. See you there.

Taking Faith Home March 7

Faith Talk: Discuss in your household or small group:
• Are you a patient or an impatient person? What do you find it hard to be patient about?
• Read Jesus’ parable about the fig tree (Luke 13:6-8). Where do you see patience shown in this story? How is God patient with us?
• How do you think God would like to see you grow or change in the next year of your life?

Devotional Practices: The theme of repentance runs through the Bible readings for March 7. God gives us the Ten Commandments to show us his
will for us, and to lead us to examine our thoughts, words and actions. In your home devotion times this week, listen together to the Ten
Commandments and talk about what they mean.

• You shall have no other gods.
• You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.
• Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.
• Honor your father and your mother.
• You shall not kill.
• You shall not commit adultery.
• You shall not steal.
• You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
• You shall not covet your neighbor's house.
• You shall not covet your neighbor's spouse, or their manservant, or their maidservant, or their cattle or anything that is your neighbor's

Service:
Isaiah 55:1-2 says “Come all you who are thirsty, come to the waters.” Commit to drinking only water at home this week. Estimate what you will save as a result and donate it to a worthy cause. Use this opportunity to reflect on God’s gift of water and our new birth through the waters of baptism.

Rituals and Traditions: Make crosses from bars of hand soap as a reminder of Jesus’ sacrifice to cleanse us from our sins. Draw a cross shape on each bar of soap, then carefully carve away the excess soap using a table knife. Place soap crosses in your bathroom and kitchen soap dishes, or in the kids' baths. You could also place soap crosses in small gift bags to give away to friends and relatives.

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