Announcements:
Next Sunday is our Presidency message and we will be concentrating on the Saviour and our relationship with Him. Sisters, over this coming week we would ask you to take some time to consider your own relationship with Christ. Think about what ties you to Him and what have been those precious moments in your life. There will be some time in our lesson to share your testimony of Him if you would like to.
Tuesday 9th September is our Europe Area Sisters Conference which will be transmitted from Germany. It will be shown between 6pm-8pm followed by refreshments. This is for all sisters 8+.
Cleaning team this week is: Pentreaths, Ros Lafevre, Rumbolds and Jason Sycamore.
Lesson:
We had a wonderful Sunday where we were able to hear from our Mission President Jordan and his wife both in Sacrament and again in our Joint RS/PH lesson as well as hearing beautiful testimonies from some of our new members.
In the lesson President & Sister Jordan expanded on the message with specific emphasis on retaining our new converts.
We began by watching a section of the following talk from President Gordon B Hinckley:
CLICK HERE (We watched from 7:41 on the video where he began to talk about the new converts to the end of the mans letter)
Many of us will have heard before the three things President Hinckley said each and every new convert needs and President Jordan challenged each of us to think what can I do to help this happen?
The thoughts shared were as follows:
1. A FRIEND - Introduce yourself / Attend each baptism / Sit next to converts at church and help explain things that arise in class / Be aware of who the missionaries are teaching / Invite them into our homes / Connect with them / Show an interest in them.
2. A RESPONSIBILITY - Take them VT or HT with you / Give assignments to them within a lesson / Assign them prayers / Take them to the temple grounds / Help them prepare names to take to the temple / Teach them about preparing FHE / Assign them to bless and pass the sacrament / Serve them and invite them to serve with you / Teach them how to get involved / Say thank you for what they do.
3. NOURISHING WITH THE GOOD WORD OF GOD - Share quotes and interact over Social Media / Invite them to our FHE / Help them start new traditions / Be a good VT/HT to them / Help them find scriptures during lessons / Fulfill our callings / Help with after baptism lessons.
Sister Jordan said we as ward members can truly stop the sadness of these new converts drifting away.
Then President Jordan posed an interesting question - if we so clearly know the answers, then why don't we always do it !!!??? It is time every one of us assumed this responsibility and stopped assuming someone else will. It needs every one of us.
There was a lovely spirit as President Jordan called Fernando, and then Liam and Lois up to the front where they shared how they had felt the wonderful hand of friendship within the ward family. Lois specifically spoke of the wonderful help Gloria Watson has been to her, the welcome she received, the explanations given when she didn't understand, and the arm around her on a Sunday. This is something every one of us can do!
President Jordan planned on showing the following video but it wouldn't work - but here we go:
New and Returning Members Progress
Brothers & Sisters each Sunday we have the opportunity to keep our covenants to be fellow citizens with the Saints. And President Jordan promised us that as we continue to do that, our wonderful new converts will stay and not wander away. What a blessing.
What do YOU intend to do about it?
Sunday, 31 August 2014
Sunday, 24 August 2014
Announcements & Lesson - 24 August 2014
Announcements:
Tomorrow we have our ward fun day activity. This will begin at the Chapel at 10.30am, please bring a picnic for your family. Ice cream will be provided :)
On Tuesday September 9th from 6-8pm there will a Europe Area sisters meeting to which all sisters 12+ are invited. There will be refreshments afterwards. Please invite the sisters you visit teach. This will take the place of the YW activity that evening.
Kim Spencer has a friend who has a single divan bed with mattress, free to anyone who would like it. Please speak to Kim if this is of use to you.
Lesson:
What a wonderful lesson we had today with Sister Ashlea Sousa, who taught from Elder Nelson's April Conference talk - Let Your Faith Show.
The talk can be seen HERE.
Elder Nelson shared the following story: "On a recent flight, our pilot announced that we would encounter turbulence during our descent and that all passengers must fasten their seat belts securely. Sure enough, turbulence came. It was really rough. Across the aisle and a couple of rows behind me, a terrified woman panicked. With each frightening drop and jarring bump, she screamed loudly. Her husband tried to comfort her but to no avail. Her hysterical shouts persisted until we passed through that zone of turbulence to a safe landing. During her period of anxiety, I felt sorry for her. Because faith is the antidote for fear, I silently wished that I could have strengthened her faith. Later as passengers were leaving the aircraft this woman's husband spoke to me. He said 'I'm sorry my wife was so terrified. The only way I could comfort her was to tell her that Elder Nelson is on this flight, so you don't need to worry.
"I'm not sure my presence on the flight should have given her any comfort, but I will say that one of the realities of mortal life is that our faith will be tested and challenged."
And that is one thing we can all be sure of - our faith will be tried whilst here on earth. It may not happen in a life and death situation but the world we live in can threaten all we hold dear and believe if we do not consistently live our lives with faith. We discussed it being an action word, that the Lord requires to do something, to faithfully act out our lives.
Ashlea shared that the word religion means 'to tie back' to God and posed the question we could all consider 'Are we securely tied to God?' or in life do we become tempted to tie ourselves to something else more worldly, money, power, popularity.
We looked at how we do live with faith in our lives, and Ashlea had each sister share one thing they had done that week which showed their faith....these were the responses:
* Remembering I am a Latter Day Saint and choosing to pray and read the scriptures.
* Helped a friend by giving hope
* I told the exercise class that I would be away for two weeks, they assumed it was a holiday but I told them I would be serving in the temple.
* Missionary Work - Trying to help people that want to know about the gospel. And praying to the Lord for help with my finances
* Every day I pray for faith to cope with the days events - and it works!
* I had some spare money left this week and felt it would be well spent buying things from the LDS site to help my children learn and understand the Lord's way. I have faith in these things and in the lord to show me how to teach them.
* Visit to hospital and faith to follow their counsel
* Showing patience in the Lord's timing
* Having family scripture time even when the children were pushing each and every button!
* Gospel conversations at work
* Faith shown by asking the Lord for help in the daily life activities, and believed to receive help.
* Standing up for my standards regarding the Word of Wisdom and telling others why I live those standards
* Faith that God would answer my prayers to help me have strength for the day and to help me at work through the spirit to make the right decisions and say the right things.
We then reviewed Isaiah 5:20 and discussed how the world can confuse us if we are not truly tied to the Lord, it can give very convincing arguments about what is right and wrong...Just as Ashlea did as she said we could have grapes and then produced a tub of strawberries, trying to convince us to believe her they really were grapes! We talked about the dangers of allowing our faith to lessen and what we can do to try and keep strong and close to the Lord.
We ended the lesson by watching a beautiful video...Faith to move mountains.
As you watch this Sisters, think about your own faith, what will you do to strengthen it? How will you build on the faith you now have to help protect not only yourselves but your families also?
Faith to Move Mountains
As Elder Nelson stated: "I please with you my brothers and sisters, Day after day, on your path toward your eternal destiny, increase your faith. Proclaim your faith! Let your faith show."
Tomorrow we have our ward fun day activity. This will begin at the Chapel at 10.30am, please bring a picnic for your family. Ice cream will be provided :)
On Tuesday September 9th from 6-8pm there will a Europe Area sisters meeting to which all sisters 12+ are invited. There will be refreshments afterwards. Please invite the sisters you visit teach. This will take the place of the YW activity that evening.
Kim Spencer has a friend who has a single divan bed with mattress, free to anyone who would like it. Please speak to Kim if this is of use to you.
Lesson:
What a wonderful lesson we had today with Sister Ashlea Sousa, who taught from Elder Nelson's April Conference talk - Let Your Faith Show.
The talk can be seen HERE.
Elder Nelson shared the following story: "On a recent flight, our pilot announced that we would encounter turbulence during our descent and that all passengers must fasten their seat belts securely. Sure enough, turbulence came. It was really rough. Across the aisle and a couple of rows behind me, a terrified woman panicked. With each frightening drop and jarring bump, she screamed loudly. Her husband tried to comfort her but to no avail. Her hysterical shouts persisted until we passed through that zone of turbulence to a safe landing. During her period of anxiety, I felt sorry for her. Because faith is the antidote for fear, I silently wished that I could have strengthened her faith. Later as passengers were leaving the aircraft this woman's husband spoke to me. He said 'I'm sorry my wife was so terrified. The only way I could comfort her was to tell her that Elder Nelson is on this flight, so you don't need to worry.
"I'm not sure my presence on the flight should have given her any comfort, but I will say that one of the realities of mortal life is that our faith will be tested and challenged."
Ashlea shared that the word religion means 'to tie back' to God and posed the question we could all consider 'Are we securely tied to God?' or in life do we become tempted to tie ourselves to something else more worldly, money, power, popularity.
We looked at how we do live with faith in our lives, and Ashlea had each sister share one thing they had done that week which showed their faith....these were the responses:
* Remembering I am a Latter Day Saint and choosing to pray and read the scriptures.
* Helped a friend by giving hope
* I told the exercise class that I would be away for two weeks, they assumed it was a holiday but I told them I would be serving in the temple.
* Missionary Work - Trying to help people that want to know about the gospel. And praying to the Lord for help with my finances
* Every day I pray for faith to cope with the days events - and it works!
* I had some spare money left this week and felt it would be well spent buying things from the LDS site to help my children learn and understand the Lord's way. I have faith in these things and in the lord to show me how to teach them.
* Visit to hospital and faith to follow their counsel
* Showing patience in the Lord's timing
* Having family scripture time even when the children were pushing each and every button!
* Gospel conversations at work
* Faith shown by asking the Lord for help in the daily life activities, and believed to receive help.
* Standing up for my standards regarding the Word of Wisdom and telling others why I live those standards
* Faith that God would answer my prayers to help me have strength for the day and to help me at work through the spirit to make the right decisions and say the right things.
We then reviewed Isaiah 5:20 and discussed how the world can confuse us if we are not truly tied to the Lord, it can give very convincing arguments about what is right and wrong...Just as Ashlea did as she said we could have grapes and then produced a tub of strawberries, trying to convince us to believe her they really were grapes! We talked about the dangers of allowing our faith to lessen and what we can do to try and keep strong and close to the Lord. We ended the lesson by watching a beautiful video...Faith to move mountains.
As you watch this Sisters, think about your own faith, what will you do to strengthen it? How will you build on the faith you now have to help protect not only yourselves but your families also?
Faith to Move Mountains
As Elder Nelson stated: "I please with you my brothers and sisters, Day after day, on your path toward your eternal destiny, increase your faith. Proclaim your faith! Let your faith show."
Thursday, 21 August 2014
Exciting Invitation
Sisters, we have just heard that there is to be a special Sisters' meeting for all Young Women and Relief Society members in the Europe area. It will be on Tuesday 9th September at 6-8pm.
This will be streamed live from Germany and will be shown in Ipswich, Cambridge and Chelmsford chapels.
Please come along and join us. We will be hearing from Elder M Russell Ballard, Elder David A Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve and Elder Donald L Hallstrom from the Presidency of the Seventy.
This will take the place of the Young Women activity that evening.
Also sisters, a huge thank you for all those who came to our annual fish and chip evening last night. What fun we had :) It was a beautiful late summer evening.
This will be streamed live from Germany and will be shown in Ipswich, Cambridge and Chelmsford chapels.
Please come along and join us. We will be hearing from Elder M Russell Ballard, Elder David A Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve and Elder Donald L Hallstrom from the Presidency of the Seventy.
This will take the place of the Young Women activity that evening.
Sunday, 17 August 2014
Announcements & Lesson 17 August 2014
Announcements:
A big welcome to lovely Eliza who is the newest member of our Relief Society after being baptised yesterday. She is a wonderful, happy sister with a beautiful smile.
This Wednesday we have our annual Fish and Chip evening. We will be meeting outside the Felixstowe Leisure Centre at 7.30pm. If you would like to come and need transportation to Felixstowe, please let Sara, Miriam or Yvonne know.
The cleaning team for this week is: Mervyn Holmes, Mel Holmes and Yvonne & Graham Holmes.
There is a Ward Fun Day activity on Bank Holiday Monday which will be at the park near the chapel. Please bring a picnic for your family.
Lesson:
Raquel taught our lesson today on Chapter 16 of The Teachings of President Joseph Fielding Smith: Bringing up Children in Light and Truth.
It was a wonderful lesson where Raquel had the sisters share reasons why we need to raise our children to love the Lord and the people who are involved in that process. Whilst the main responsibility is of course the parents, we discussed how no matter the position we are currently in, we can have a great influence, for good or bad, to the children in our lives.
As President Smith stated: "There are many great and real dangers to be reckoned with and those which concern us more than all others combined have to do with our children. The only real protection or adequate defense can be afforded by the home and its influences."
Raquel reminded us of the talk given by Sister Linda S Reeves in the most recent General Conference where she told us the "only real filter that will ultimately work is the personal internal filter that comes from a deep and abiding testimony". So for the remainder of the lesson in groups we discussed the HOW. How do we ensure we are raising children with those kinds of testimonies. This is what was suggested:
1. Set a Righteous Example:
Be honest in all YOUR doings / Don't be hypocritical in your actions / Work side by side with your children / Serve together / Don't criticize others / Put forward your best efforts / Go to church activities WITH your children / Encourage and teach them to do things, even if it is easier or quicker to do it yourself / Let them see you living the gospel, praying and studying / Take them to the temple / Be positive about your calling / Take them to tithing settlement with you.
2. Begin Teaching Children when they are young:
Our example begins from Day One / Involve them from birth in FHE, prayers and scripture study / Build an open relationship with your children so they can approach you about anything / Discuss lessons and their days over dinner / Find teaching moments everywhere / Teach them about their 'inner filter', so they start choosing the right and have the responsibility / Teach them the dangers of the internet from the start / Become their friends and get to know their friends and their parents.
3. Teach Children to Pray:
Be an example / Use Primary songs / Teach them who we pray to / Start with small and simple steps / Use encouragement and praise / Include them as much as possible in Family Prayer / Have a daily routine with prayer / Get the young children to repeat what you say / Teach them to say their own prayers / Have a positive attitude and cheerful heart when it comes to prayer.
4. Introduce Children to the Scriptures:
Use Cartoon scripture videos and LDS scripture story books / Have family, daily scripture study / Act out and role play stories / Use Internet resources eg Mormon Channel / LDS.org / Use the Friend magazine / Read to them until they can read themselves / Show pictures.
5. Hold Family Home Evenings:
Choose gospel topics relevant to your family / Make it a special together time / Be constant / Learn together / Get everyone involved / Invite friends and family / Serve one another / Grow in love / Utilise technology.
6. Teach Children Virtue, Chastity and Morality:
Follow For The Strength of Youth / Be an example / Learn from others mistakes / Be open so your children can come to you / Answer questions honestly, even when it is not easy / Dress modestly.
7. Prepare Children to be Witnesses of the Truth and to Serve Missions:
Talk about missions from Day One / Talk about your own mission experiences and those of your extended family / Read the Book of Mormon and other scriptures / Start a mission fund / Show integrity and honesty in all aspects of your life / Provide children opportunities to work / Invite the missionaries into your home for meals / Serve with the missionaries / Encourage boys 14+ to go Home Teaching / Dress modestly / Have FHE / Invite returned missionaries into your home / Write to the missionaries / Help your children to know and recognize the Spirit / Study Preach My Gospel / Understand the Atonement / Give children opportunities to lead scripture study / Encourage participation in Seminary, Institute and the youth programme.
8. Help Children Prepare to have Eternal Families of their own:
Show them photos of your own Temple wedding / Have pictures of the temple in your home / Practice the principles from The Proclamation of the Family / Take your children to the temple to see wedding parties emerge / Hold FHE, family prayer and scripture study / Teach them basic principles and then help them to see the blessings of it in their lives / Encourage dating within the church.
Our children and youth are precious - let us follow the counsel of President Smith:
"Let us try humbly to keep our families intact, to keep them under the influence of the Spirit of the Lord, trained in the principles of the gospel that they may grow up in righteousness and truth...Children are given to us that we might train them in the ways of life, eternal life, that they might come back again into the presence of the God, their Father."
A big welcome to lovely Eliza who is the newest member of our Relief Society after being baptised yesterday. She is a wonderful, happy sister with a beautiful smile.
This Wednesday we have our annual Fish and Chip evening. We will be meeting outside the Felixstowe Leisure Centre at 7.30pm. If you would like to come and need transportation to Felixstowe, please let Sara, Miriam or Yvonne know.
The cleaning team for this week is: Mervyn Holmes, Mel Holmes and Yvonne & Graham Holmes.
There is a Ward Fun Day activity on Bank Holiday Monday which will be at the park near the chapel. Please bring a picnic for your family.
Lesson:
Raquel taught our lesson today on Chapter 16 of The Teachings of President Joseph Fielding Smith: Bringing up Children in Light and Truth.
It was a wonderful lesson where Raquel had the sisters share reasons why we need to raise our children to love the Lord and the people who are involved in that process. Whilst the main responsibility is of course the parents, we discussed how no matter the position we are currently in, we can have a great influence, for good or bad, to the children in our lives.
As President Smith stated: "There are many great and real dangers to be reckoned with and those which concern us more than all others combined have to do with our children. The only real protection or adequate defense can be afforded by the home and its influences."
Raquel reminded us of the talk given by Sister Linda S Reeves in the most recent General Conference where she told us the "only real filter that will ultimately work is the personal internal filter that comes from a deep and abiding testimony". So for the remainder of the lesson in groups we discussed the HOW. How do we ensure we are raising children with those kinds of testimonies. This is what was suggested:
1. Set a Righteous Example:
Be honest in all YOUR doings / Don't be hypocritical in your actions / Work side by side with your children / Serve together / Don't criticize others / Put forward your best efforts / Go to church activities WITH your children / Encourage and teach them to do things, even if it is easier or quicker to do it yourself / Let them see you living the gospel, praying and studying / Take them to the temple / Be positive about your calling / Take them to tithing settlement with you.
2. Begin Teaching Children when they are young:
Our example begins from Day One / Involve them from birth in FHE, prayers and scripture study / Build an open relationship with your children so they can approach you about anything / Discuss lessons and their days over dinner / Find teaching moments everywhere / Teach them about their 'inner filter', so they start choosing the right and have the responsibility / Teach them the dangers of the internet from the start / Become their friends and get to know their friends and their parents.
3. Teach Children to Pray:
Be an example / Use Primary songs / Teach them who we pray to / Start with small and simple steps / Use encouragement and praise / Include them as much as possible in Family Prayer / Have a daily routine with prayer / Get the young children to repeat what you say / Teach them to say their own prayers / Have a positive attitude and cheerful heart when it comes to prayer.
4. Introduce Children to the Scriptures:
Use Cartoon scripture videos and LDS scripture story books / Have family, daily scripture study / Act out and role play stories / Use Internet resources eg Mormon Channel / LDS.org / Use the Friend magazine / Read to them until they can read themselves / Show pictures.
5. Hold Family Home Evenings:
Choose gospel topics relevant to your family / Make it a special together time / Be constant / Learn together / Get everyone involved / Invite friends and family / Serve one another / Grow in love / Utilise technology.
6. Teach Children Virtue, Chastity and Morality:
Follow For The Strength of Youth / Be an example / Learn from others mistakes / Be open so your children can come to you / Answer questions honestly, even when it is not easy / Dress modestly.
7. Prepare Children to be Witnesses of the Truth and to Serve Missions:
Talk about missions from Day One / Talk about your own mission experiences and those of your extended family / Read the Book of Mormon and other scriptures / Start a mission fund / Show integrity and honesty in all aspects of your life / Provide children opportunities to work / Invite the missionaries into your home for meals / Serve with the missionaries / Encourage boys 14+ to go Home Teaching / Dress modestly / Have FHE / Invite returned missionaries into your home / Write to the missionaries / Help your children to know and recognize the Spirit / Study Preach My Gospel / Understand the Atonement / Give children opportunities to lead scripture study / Encourage participation in Seminary, Institute and the youth programme.
8. Help Children Prepare to have Eternal Families of their own:
Show them photos of your own Temple wedding / Have pictures of the temple in your home / Practice the principles from The Proclamation of the Family / Take your children to the temple to see wedding parties emerge / Hold FHE, family prayer and scripture study / Teach them basic principles and then help them to see the blessings of it in their lives / Encourage dating within the church.
Our children and youth are precious - let us follow the counsel of President Smith:
"Let us try humbly to keep our families intact, to keep them under the influence of the Spirit of the Lord, trained in the principles of the gospel that they may grow up in righteousness and truth...Children are given to us that we might train them in the ways of life, eternal life, that they might come back again into the presence of the God, their Father."
Sunday, 10 August 2014
Announcements & Lesson - 10 August 2014
Announcements:
Our next RS Activity will be on Wednesday 20th August where we will have our traditional Fish and Chip night. We will meet outside Felixstowe Leisure Centre at 7.30pm as usual. If you require transport please speak to either Sara, Yvonne or Miriam.
We have a baptism of Barry Smith on Saturday at 6pm. This is the husband of Sister Carolyn Smith who was baptised last year. It would be great to have lots of support for them in this exciting occasion.
FSY - the coach will be leaving the chapel at 6.45AM tomorrow (prompt!) please ensure the youth are at the chapel by around 6.30am to avoid missing the coach.
Lesson:
Graca taught the lesson today from President Joseph Fielding Smith on the topic of 'Eternal Marriage'.
We began by thinking about triangles. Just as Les taught us in his sacrament talk today, triangles are the strongest structure there is and reflects well the principle that marriage is a three way relationship, between a man, a woman and God.
President Joseph Fielding Smith had personal experience with the blessings of marrying within the covenant. He was married three times and sadly lost each, but took great comfort to the fact that life and marriage relationships can last for eternity.
Graca shared her own story, of dating Jorge for 4 years before being married and sealed for eternity in the Switzerland Temple. She shared her Sealing Certificate and how special this has been to her throughout her life and what a blessing her marriage has been in her life. It is only through eternal marriage that we as sisters can reach the full potential.
We split into groups and discussed various aspects of marriage:
1. The worlds view of marriage compared to the gospel view of marriage:
The worlds view of marriage is that is simply a contract which can be annulled and put away if desired, but the gospel teaches us this is an eternal principle, a scared covenant, timeless. It is vital for us to commit ourselves to our marriages and ensure our children also learn the Lord's view and the importance of this covenant.
2. Relationship with spouse:
It is essential to spend time with your spouse and let them know you love them. Focus on the covenant of marriage as you build trust into the relationship.
3. Teaching children:
There is so much we need to ensure our children learn and our own example in our marriages is a huge part of that, let them see how you love and treat your spouse. We need to ensure they learn what standards are correct to the Lord, take them to the temple and teach them to love it as you do.
4. Marriage grows sweeter:
Living the Gospel is a big part of this, as the principles such as forgiveness, help us grow stronger as individuals and as couples. Make a space for Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ in our lives and our marriages.
President Joseph Fielding Smith shared his feelings:
"If a man and his wife were earnestly and faithfully observing all the ordinances and principles of the gospel, there could not arise any cause for divorce. The joy and happiness pertaining to the marriage relationship would grow sweeter, and husband and wife would become more and more attached to each other as the days go by. Not only would the husband love the wife, and the wife the husband, but children born to them would live in an atmosphere of love and harmony. The love of each for the others would not be impaired and moreover the love of all towards our Eternal Father and his Son Jesus Christ would be more firmly rooted in their souls."
Our next RS Activity will be on Wednesday 20th August where we will have our traditional Fish and Chip night. We will meet outside Felixstowe Leisure Centre at 7.30pm as usual. If you require transport please speak to either Sara, Yvonne or Miriam.
We have a baptism of Barry Smith on Saturday at 6pm. This is the husband of Sister Carolyn Smith who was baptised last year. It would be great to have lots of support for them in this exciting occasion.
FSY - the coach will be leaving the chapel at 6.45AM tomorrow (prompt!) please ensure the youth are at the chapel by around 6.30am to avoid missing the coach.
Lesson:
Graca taught the lesson today from President Joseph Fielding Smith on the topic of 'Eternal Marriage'.
We began by thinking about triangles. Just as Les taught us in his sacrament talk today, triangles are the strongest structure there is and reflects well the principle that marriage is a three way relationship, between a man, a woman and God.
President Joseph Fielding Smith had personal experience with the blessings of marrying within the covenant. He was married three times and sadly lost each, but took great comfort to the fact that life and marriage relationships can last for eternity.
Graca shared her own story, of dating Jorge for 4 years before being married and sealed for eternity in the Switzerland Temple. She shared her Sealing Certificate and how special this has been to her throughout her life and what a blessing her marriage has been in her life. It is only through eternal marriage that we as sisters can reach the full potential.
We split into groups and discussed various aspects of marriage:
1. The worlds view of marriage compared to the gospel view of marriage:
The worlds view of marriage is that is simply a contract which can be annulled and put away if desired, but the gospel teaches us this is an eternal principle, a scared covenant, timeless. It is vital for us to commit ourselves to our marriages and ensure our children also learn the Lord's view and the importance of this covenant.
2. Relationship with spouse:
It is essential to spend time with your spouse and let them know you love them. Focus on the covenant of marriage as you build trust into the relationship.
3. Teaching children:
There is so much we need to ensure our children learn and our own example in our marriages is a huge part of that, let them see how you love and treat your spouse. We need to ensure they learn what standards are correct to the Lord, take them to the temple and teach them to love it as you do.
4. Marriage grows sweeter:
Living the Gospel is a big part of this, as the principles such as forgiveness, help us grow stronger as individuals and as couples. Make a space for Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ in our lives and our marriages.
President Joseph Fielding Smith shared his feelings:
"If a man and his wife were earnestly and faithfully observing all the ordinances and principles of the gospel, there could not arise any cause for divorce. The joy and happiness pertaining to the marriage relationship would grow sweeter, and husband and wife would become more and more attached to each other as the days go by. Not only would the husband love the wife, and the wife the husband, but children born to them would live in an atmosphere of love and harmony. The love of each for the others would not be impaired and moreover the love of all towards our Eternal Father and his Son Jesus Christ would be more firmly rooted in their souls."
Sunday, 3 August 2014
Announcements & Lesson 03 August 2014
Announcements:
We are pleased to share some lovely news from the Periera Family - Carina had a little baby girl last night called Megan. Congratulations to all the family !!
Our next RS Activity will be our traditional August Fish and Chip night on Wed August 20th. We will meet outside the Leisure Centre as usual at 7.30pm. If anyone needs transport from Ipswich please speak to Sara, Miriam or Yvonne.
FYI we are this week losing one set of our Elders. Please keep feeding our 4 remaining missionaries who appreciate your support greatly.
A reminder that the Family History Centre is open on the 2nd Sunday each month - please speak to Alison Pentreath if you would like to come in and receive some help.
Please can we have your VT figures for July ASAP if you have not already passed these to your VT supervisors.
Sister Pam Talbot-Ashby has a large crop of blackberries at the bottom of her garden if any sisters would be interested in picking some, please contact her.
Lesson:
Our lesson today was given by Sara - who posed the question, what would you love your relationship with your Father in Heaven to be like?
Suggestions from the Sisters included: Loving and Kind / Encompassing love / Personal / Close / Understanding / Friend / Honest / Faithful / Strengthening / Two Way / Protective and Safe / Grateful
Sara made the proposal that to have this kind of relationship with the Lord there is one thing we need to be doing right in our lives, which we may not think of automatically. That is observing the Sabbath Day. Since the recent Sacrament Meeting on this topic Sara has studied the subject and found some wonderful insights on the difference this one thing can make.
We watched the following video by Brother John Bytheway a wonderful and popular youth speaker in the church:
CLICK HERE
We discussed the idea of the Sabbath being viewed and treated differently from Holy Sabbath - Sabbath - Sunday - Weekend and began to think about how WE treated it. Not with the words we use so much as with the attitude and actions we bring to it, remembering in particular that the Sabbath is far more than the three hours we spend at church each Sunday.
The Sabbath was instituted on the earth right from the Creation and throughout the Bible we see the Lord consistently asking his children to live this law, to observe His day. And we decided we wanted to know why it was so important. If we could understand WHY, it becomes so much easier to live the law.
We turned to a scripture in D&C 59:9 where the Lord continued to exhort his children in the latter-days to observe the Sabbath Day - where he told us why. We need to keep unspotted from the world. So what does that have to do with our relationship with the Lord? Sister Sheri L Dew summed it up perfectly in one sentence:
Coming unto Christ means walking away from the world. It means placing the Lord at the centre of our lives.
THAT is what the Sabbath allows us to do. To walk away from the temptations of the world and remember and move toward what it is all about - the Lord. It is that choosing and deciding which enables us to become the people that will be close to the Lord both here and in the eternities.
We compared two quotes - we have a choice!!!
Elder Bruce R McConkie: "It is in no sense an exaggeration, nor does it overstate the fact one wit, to say that any persons who keeps the Sabbath according to the revealed pattern will be saved in the Celestial Kingdom."
President Joseph F Smith: "Persons who habitually desecrate the Lord's day and do not remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy, will become weak in the faith and spiritually sickly and will lose the Spirit and favour of God and ultimately forfeit their standing in the Church and their exaltation."
Back to the video we learnt of Eli Herring, who was an amazing American football player who was offered millions of dollars to play in a top team but turned it down as he didn't want to play on the Sabbath.
What became of Eli Herring? He went on a mission, married in the temple and became a teacher - earning a lot, lot, lot less than millions of dollars. And did he regret the decision? Not a bit!
But what was even more impressive is how he became the man who could turn down the world in favour of the Lord. When a little boy he liked to creep into the spare room on a Sunday and watch football on TV. One day his father caught him, Eli panicked expecting anger. But his father wasn't angry, he was disappointed. He said Eli turn it off. Eli did and never watched Sunday football again.
His father (the one who spoke of the Holy Sabbath - Sabbath - Sunday - Weekend) taught his family in his everyday life he was one who believed in the Holy Sabbath. He knew and loved the Lord. And by making those choices and being that example his children became men who could knew and loved the Lord too.
By observing the Sabbath Day we are allowing ourselves to have the relationship with the Lord we desire but more than that we are allowing our children and our families that relationship too. That's what Sara learnt about the Sabbath day. What did you learn? And what difference will it make to you and your family?
We are pleased to share some lovely news from the Periera Family - Carina had a little baby girl last night called Megan. Congratulations to all the family !!
Our next RS Activity will be our traditional August Fish and Chip night on Wed August 20th. We will meet outside the Leisure Centre as usual at 7.30pm. If anyone needs transport from Ipswich please speak to Sara, Miriam or Yvonne.
FYI we are this week losing one set of our Elders. Please keep feeding our 4 remaining missionaries who appreciate your support greatly.
A reminder that the Family History Centre is open on the 2nd Sunday each month - please speak to Alison Pentreath if you would like to come in and receive some help.
Please can we have your VT figures for July ASAP if you have not already passed these to your VT supervisors.
Sister Pam Talbot-Ashby has a large crop of blackberries at the bottom of her garden if any sisters would be interested in picking some, please contact her.
Lesson:
Our lesson today was given by Sara - who posed the question, what would you love your relationship with your Father in Heaven to be like?
Suggestions from the Sisters included: Loving and Kind / Encompassing love / Personal / Close / Understanding / Friend / Honest / Faithful / Strengthening / Two Way / Protective and Safe / Grateful
Sara made the proposal that to have this kind of relationship with the Lord there is one thing we need to be doing right in our lives, which we may not think of automatically. That is observing the Sabbath Day. Since the recent Sacrament Meeting on this topic Sara has studied the subject and found some wonderful insights on the difference this one thing can make.
We watched the following video by Brother John Bytheway a wonderful and popular youth speaker in the church:
CLICK HERE
We discussed the idea of the Sabbath being viewed and treated differently from Holy Sabbath - Sabbath - Sunday - Weekend and began to think about how WE treated it. Not with the words we use so much as with the attitude and actions we bring to it, remembering in particular that the Sabbath is far more than the three hours we spend at church each Sunday.
The Sabbath was instituted on the earth right from the Creation and throughout the Bible we see the Lord consistently asking his children to live this law, to observe His day. And we decided we wanted to know why it was so important. If we could understand WHY, it becomes so much easier to live the law.
We turned to a scripture in D&C 59:9 where the Lord continued to exhort his children in the latter-days to observe the Sabbath Day - where he told us why. We need to keep unspotted from the world. So what does that have to do with our relationship with the Lord? Sister Sheri L Dew summed it up perfectly in one sentence:
Coming unto Christ means walking away from the world. It means placing the Lord at the centre of our lives.
THAT is what the Sabbath allows us to do. To walk away from the temptations of the world and remember and move toward what it is all about - the Lord. It is that choosing and deciding which enables us to become the people that will be close to the Lord both here and in the eternities.
We compared two quotes - we have a choice!!!
Elder Bruce R McConkie: "It is in no sense an exaggeration, nor does it overstate the fact one wit, to say that any persons who keeps the Sabbath according to the revealed pattern will be saved in the Celestial Kingdom."
President Joseph F Smith: "Persons who habitually desecrate the Lord's day and do not remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy, will become weak in the faith and spiritually sickly and will lose the Spirit and favour of God and ultimately forfeit their standing in the Church and their exaltation."
Back to the video we learnt of Eli Herring, who was an amazing American football player who was offered millions of dollars to play in a top team but turned it down as he didn't want to play on the Sabbath.
What became of Eli Herring? He went on a mission, married in the temple and became a teacher - earning a lot, lot, lot less than millions of dollars. And did he regret the decision? Not a bit!
But what was even more impressive is how he became the man who could turn down the world in favour of the Lord. When a little boy he liked to creep into the spare room on a Sunday and watch football on TV. One day his father caught him, Eli panicked expecting anger. But his father wasn't angry, he was disappointed. He said Eli turn it off. Eli did and never watched Sunday football again.
His father (the one who spoke of the Holy Sabbath - Sabbath - Sunday - Weekend) taught his family in his everyday life he was one who believed in the Holy Sabbath. He knew and loved the Lord. And by making those choices and being that example his children became men who could knew and loved the Lord too.
By observing the Sabbath Day we are allowing ourselves to have the relationship with the Lord we desire but more than that we are allowing our children and our families that relationship too. That's what Sara learnt about the Sabbath day. What did you learn? And what difference will it make to you and your family?
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