Author: david graham

February
2025

Thank you for visiting St. Luke's at Cockatoo. We are happy that you have joined us for our services in our lovely mudbrick worship centre.
Feel free to join us after our Sunday service for morning tea and a chat. On the next page you will find all details for our Church if you wish to make further contact. You can also complete the information sheet on the back page and either leave in the red post box or place in the offering bowl.

Contact Information:

Vicar: Sandy Solomon: 0403 362 003
vicar@stlukesatcockatoo.com.au
ADDRESS: 1-3 McBride Street Cockatoo, 3781
POSTAL ADDRESS: PO Box 281 Cockatoo, 3781
TELEPHONE: 03 5968 8459
Church Admin: David Graham—admin@stlukesatcockatoo.com.au

WEB: www.stlukesatcockatoo.com.au
EMAIL: admin@stlukesatcockatoo.com.au
ELVANTO: https://stlukesatcockatoo.elvanto.com.au
SERMONS: https://soundcloud.com/stlukesatcockatoo
BLOG: https://www.stlukesatcockatoo.com.au/blog
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/groups/41528318136

If you would like to direct debit your offering , our banking details are:
St. Luke's Cockatoo
BSB: 633 000 Acct Number: 125 471 292

Professional Standards
The Anglican Diocese of Melbourne takes all complaints of misconduct very seriously. If you want to make a complaint please telephone Kooyoora ltd on
1800 135 246

“Sandy Says”

Dear Friends,
I trust that you experienced the goodness of God over the Christmas season. Many approached me to express joy and thankfulness at seeing God at work in our midst. Many from our broader community were delighted with the Carols events, provision of hampers and food, Alpha sessions and services. It was fantastic to have many of our youth volunteer in playing, singing and acting and to be working in closer partnership with organisations such as the Scouts [Joeys]. I felt we were really able to provide many positive connections and spaces for celebration of the coming of Jesus. Well done everyone!
The inaugural Blue Moose drop in centre at Cockatoo kicked off wonderfully and continued to build every night. Current youth, new youth and young adults connected in. There were life changing conversations and positive connections developed. Praise God! And massive thanks to all of you who prayed. This is the start of the journey to faith for many, and the work of love, trust prayer and sharing our lives and stories continues.
If the dust of 2024 is still clinging to you at all… then I hope this word from God is of great encouragement to you. I believe it is God’s word to us for the new year.
Awake, awake, people of God and put on the garments of beauty that God gives you. You are a people to be holy to God.
Shake off your dust, rise up and sit enthroned, O church.
Throw off the chains on your neck [Jesus has broken their hold over you]…
For this is what the LORD says: Come out from your captivity and be pure, [you who carry the words and love of Jesus]. The LORD will show the strength of his arm in the sight of all peoples and the ends of the earth will see his deliverance… Walk knowing that the Lord will go before you and the God of Israel will be your rearguard. From Isaiah 52
2025 is shaping up to be an exciting time in the life of our church community. Parish Council have yesterday spent some time in retreat, prayer and planning for how we will have young families connect in with us. Please ask the LORD for at least 6 new Young families with children to join us this year. Pray also for families with youth to join us. People of any age are unlikely to join us unless they feel connected and valued. It’s not only up to ‘everyone else’ or the youth/HCSI leaders’. There’s a role for everyone in this adventure, whether it involves prayer, friendship or practical support.
In March, Wayne will be offering a 4 week workshop: How to share with your friends about Jesus.
If you lack confidence in sharing about your faith with others then this workshop is for you!
It‘s crucial for the growth of our church that we all learn how we can each play our unique part in this primary ministry Jesus has given us.
Sessions [1.5 hours] will be held every Sunday in March [except the 9th] from 12:30pm. Lunch will be supplied. I cannot recommend this course highly enough. If you have any further questions about it please grab Wayne over January.
I’m so looking forward to doing life with Jesus, and you all, in this year to come. Gra and I will be praying for you and yours, that this year is one that exceeds your expectations of what God can do in your life, and the lives of others in our midst.
Every blessing in Jesus
Sandy.

Cont. P4

Sandy Says Cont:

Parish Council for 2024-25
Sandy Solomon— 0403 362 003 (Vicar) Naomi Dewar—0418 382 857 (W)
Andrew McLean—0427072078 (W)
Coral Belrost— 0417 010 497 Michael Hancock - 0448714277
Fiona van den Acker - 0438 432 341 Simon Bryant—0437 957 667
Bruce Calway—0400847822 (Treas) Gary Wong - 0433535227

About us
Built soon after the Ash Wednesday bushfires, we meet in a rustic mud brick building located next to Cockatoo Creek. St Luke’s is a gospel based church that has strong links with the community and a heart for outreach and care.
During the week members of St Luke’s serve our community lovingly at Food Store and many other informal ways of helping each other out. There are also playgroups and programs for primary aged children as detailed in the calendar . We have our Multi generational worship on Sunday mornings @10am. There’s also a Friday night program for Youth [Year 6-12] during term time, and Youth focussed evening worship on Sunday evenings.
We’re a diverse bunch of people committed to living according to Jesus’ ways and words; to serve and transform our community for the good of the world. We seek to look after each other as we face life’s challenges and encourage one another to grow through our experiences with the care of others, and the faithfulness and provision of God. We are a church that is continually reminded again and again that we’re here in this place going about Jesus’ business.
Looking forward to journeying with you!

HOW TO BE PRAYING IN FEB 2025 …
GIVE THANKS
For God working in our midst over Summer with Blue Moose and SUTS - pray for the participants
For Luke and all our Youth team - pray for them as they prepare for Term 1
For Mary and the Foodstore team - pray for them as this ministry grows
For extra musicians serving us in the band - pray they are encouraged and have fun!
For our Parish Council and God providing all we need to follow his lead
For our HCSI team - pray that great relationships develop this term
For Wayne leading our Evangelism training - pray for him as he plans and leads us
Ask the Lord
To reveal Himself personally to each person participating in Alpha
For every protection and provision for leaders and participants at the Alpha retreat
That many will participate in the Evangelism training and that it will be amazing for each
For Wayne and Sandy in planning for the Evangelism training sessions and next steps
That every person will be blessed by our teaching series on Body ministry
To guide Sandy as she plans for the workshops and process for Discerning Spiritual Gifts
For many to be baptised following Alpha
For funding provision for Foodstore
For provision for wages for our staff team
For us to get better at Connecting with and Following up visitors.

Evangelism workshops

We want St Lukes to thrive in its desire to reach and love our communities. I will be coordinating four one-hour workshops after church in March. The intent is for us to rally together, focus on evangelism and seek Gods guidance on how we can each use our giftedness to serve the people of Cockatoo and Gembrook, the people God has placed in our care.
We'll wrestle with the gospel and God's great story, learn how to identify where people are at in their journey toward knowing Christ, how better to proclaim the truth of Christ resurrected in a post Christian world and plan a way forward together.
I'm really excited and I would love to have you come on this journey with me. You can contact me at waynecollins1@live.com.au to register your interest; whether you can attend one workshop or all four, the choice is yours.
Have a great day and God bless,
Wayne Collins

Calling for Your Stories
If you have a story about how you or someone you know has been encouraged by God in your life (this week or at a previous time) and are happy to share, we would love to hear from you so we can include it in the Bulletin for all to see. You can be anonymous or not if you are more comfortable with that. Please speak with Sandy if you think this is you!

Child Safe Links
Here you will find links to our Child Safe Policies

Anglican Dioceses of Melbourne Child Safety Policy for Children

Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy

Child Safe Standards

Key Safe Ministry Documents

Reporting Obligations & Person of Concern process

Kooyoora recently conducted a training session regarding the above topic and we would like to make available to you, resources and information from the Melbourne Anglican Diocese . The QR code here will take you to their Key Safe Ministry Documents, which are frequently updated. All are encouraged to make yourselves familiar with its contents.

ELVANTO
Elvanto is the church database. You will find rosters, contact details, the
church calendar, etc. Please check Elvanto regularly to stay updated. If
you are new, please sign up at https://stlukesatcockatoo.elvanto.com.au
or see Dave Graham for more information.

WORKING WITH CHILDREN CHECKS
This is a great time to check your paperwork. All members of the church are required to have a current WWCC. To apply or update your WWCC go to http://www.workingwithchildren.vic.gov.au/
.

REMINDER!
To all user groups to make sure that all of the lights & heaters are off and doors are locked when you leave the building.

PLAYGROUND REMINDER
Parents be aware that the bikes go
back in the store room and the
sand pit lid needs to be closed when
you leave the playground. Thank you.

CHURCH BOOKINGS
For all bookings of church facilities, events (even if held off site), equipment & HCSI equipment, please email admin@stlukesatcockatoo.com.au or Naomi Dewar for HCSI equipment (naomi.dewar@echo.org.au)

Got something for the next monthly Bulletin?
Please email David by the 25th of the month with any notices/articles for the next edition.
Church Library
Located in the meeting room off the worship area Feel free to borrow any books, etc. Any donations of Christian books please leave in front office.

Connect with us— place this page in the collection plate or the red post box in the foyer

Welcome Slip!

Please join us after the service for a chat and a cuppa…..

You can find more about us at WWW.stlukesatcockatoo.com.au
OR
Email: admin@stlukesatcockatoo.com.au

Name:
Contact Number:
Email:

à I am visiting today and wanted to say “Hi”
à I am visiting today and plan to come again
à I would like some more information about the Church
à I have somethings I would like to talk about
I have a prayer request

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