Three exciting things!

It’s been an exciting week at St Philips! There is quite a lot happening.Firstly, I love opening the Vision 52 box on Tuesday morning and finding cheerful little notes adopting weeks for James Duff and the family. St Philips people are so generous-spirited - (but we need more;  don’t stop yet).  I think it is a perk of the admin job to start my week in celebration as I unfold your contributions. Thank you.On Tuesday evening we had a visit from Baroness Cox of Queensberry, who as well as being a politician in the House of Lords in Britain, has founded and operates an organization  called The Humanitarian Aid Relief Trust (HART). She is an amazing woman who travels to far-forgotten corners of the earth spreading the hope that comes from Christ to those without hope and help. She is an advocate for the defenceless and she has a sense of humour. She made us all laugh, explaining that her peerage is such an asset but a surprising thing - “I didn’t know one other baroness until I became one myself!”  The other amazing thing about HART is that it only has four staff. Instead of employing people, it works with the people on the ground, the local people in these forgotten places. It is a brilliant economic model and seems so godly somehow.Then there is Relationship Central - What is that? Well St Philips has been invited to host Nicky and Sila Lee, the founders of the Alpha Marriage Course and Parenting Course. They are holding a one day seminar in Perth and they want to do it at St Philips on 3rd November!  This couple are amazing. They really walk the walk and through their ministry to couples, have changed the lives of men, women and children  all over the world.We rarely have the chance to be taught by the creators of the course and plumb the depths of this amazing ministry to couples and families. It is so valuable to interact and share experiences with people who are in touch with couples all over the world. St Philips has been running these courses for the past five years and they are impacting couples from all sorts of backgrounds and stages of their relationship, from the to-be-married to those celebrating a golden anniversary!A number of St Philip-ians are trained advocates for The Marriage Course - Malcolm & Cheryl, the Protters, Neils, Brans, Ladymans, the list goes on. If you haven’t been to one of the Marriage Courses or Parenting Courses, then Nicky and Sila are making an offer to the people of St Philips to have an early bird discount of $10 off the registration fee. Contact me, office@stphilips.net.au if you want to take advantage of this unique opportunity.It can be really exciting following Jesus!Margaret (Church Administrator)