We're three months into ministry in Batemans Bay on the South Coast of NSW and learning lots! We are enjoying being part of the great team at Southland Church - whose initiative it was to launch out with The Olive Tree Art and Coffee House where we spend our Thursdays to Saturdays serving and chatting (and you know which one of us does what, don't you!?). It is within the walls of the Olive Tree we get to share life with so many, adding strength, hope and love to their dreams, empowering people to rise, cheering some on, helping others up, delighting in the joys of life and sharing grief with those who mourn. It is highly charged, and we feel God's enabling and empowering constantly. God's abandoned love for His kids never ceases to amaze us - to walk in it, to SWIM it in with others, is just so beautiful! GOD LOVES US. WOW. Let that sink in.... no matter what we've done, no matter what we haven't done - GOD LOVES US. Its uncomplicated, free and brings truth, light and LIFE to all who experience His delight in us. It never ceases to amaze us what Love can do. ... Perfect Love casts out all fear and Love covers a multitude of sins! God's LOVE brings FREEDOM!!
ENJOYING LIFE MAXIMUM STRENGTH
We call Monday-Wednesday our weekend - as The Olive Tree takes up the three latter days of the week and Sundays are filled with churchlife - you know; services, picnic lunches, sermons to prepare and preach, kiddies to dance with during worship, that kinda stuff! So on our 'weekends' we slip away in Buzz... (one of the essential things we're learning is TIME MANAGEMENT - which means TIME OUT is as crucial as TIME IN) so off we go... to Thirroul to spend time with my 93 year-old nan; ... to visits with brothers, sisters and their new grandchildren; ...and even an extravagant stint at Murramurang Resort where kangaroos who lay back for a good neck-rub and a mouse-waitress made the time memorable; ... sleeping on beaches and in parks; ... Chrissy has joined 'The Tea Bags' who are a group of mad surfers who basically 'dunk' themselves in the ocean at 7am every day of the year! They have taught Chrissy to bodysurf and its a new thrill she is skiting about; ... Steve has a new wetsuit (thanks to many generous friends and family at his 50th birthday in September), so is back surfing the waves on his ancient board - often with his sons-in-laws.
EARTH ART
We completed a Cert IV in Small Business (with the certificate to prove it) so our Earth Art is official and registered. Now we just need customers to buy it! haha We are busy many nights, in our little room we rent, creating wristbands, headbands, necklaces, mobiles and collectable frames out of all the treasures we find. It is a lovely life. Seeing the beauty in simple things. Appreciating nature and the Creator of it all.
CHRISTMAS
The Olive Tree - Beach Road, Batemans Bay - is holding a Christmas day service for EVERYONE in the community from 9.30 to 10.30am so if you are around - please join us in celebrating the birth and life of Jesus Christ our Saviour! JESUS IS THE REASON FOR THE SEASON woohoo happy Christmas and a prosperious, generous New Year to all xxx blessings, love, joy and happy vibes - the Guinoz xx