Inviting the Spirit of Christmas

It was the week before Christmas & all through the room, sisters were gathered to help spread good cheer. Smiles of sunshine were easy to find, in the hope that brekkie would soon be prepared. Out came the platters of fruit & the likes & pancakes & more for our delight. A prayer was offered & soon it was clear that sisters were now ready to share. With oohs & ahhs & yum yum yum, it wasn't long before tums became full ones. On with the sharing in spirit & love. Oh what a morning of christlike love.

We Three Aunties.....Danika, Sam & Chelsea

Carol, Chris, Sarah & Maxine

Myrle, June & Felicite

Felicite, Merilyn, Kylie, Ros & Merran

Once in Royal David City..........

Archie, Sam, Chelsea, Kristen, Danika & Cathy with Levi

Kym, Annette, Sam & Archie

Karina gearing up for brekkie

Mouth watering pancakes..................mmmmmmmmmm

and more delicious brekkie before consumption

After a delicious scrummy yummy brekkie, stories, testimonies, poems & songs were shared inviting the true meaning of christmas to each others hearts & minds.

Jess's baby shower

Where are they????

Up close & personal with Chris



I said Pet, I said love, where's Wally

Lisa showing us how you can talk on the phone, hold baby, wait.... can't see the baby Lisa & hang out the washing
Hmm where are those safety pins in the rice bowl

Jess in conversation on the phone, holding bub & doing her stuff

clothes drying???????what style


Cousin It, alias Lisa doing it all

Oh the games that girls play. Jess & Kyle left at the weekend to move to Geelong, boo hoo. Wishing & praying all the very best on their new adventure & look forward to hearing the news of the birth of baby 'Andrews'. Luv ya Jess & Kyle xx

In memory of a beloved sister, Jenny Sewell July 1963 - Nov 2009
Pictured at a Ward Service Project on 14 Feb 2009 at Campbell Town.
Jen we love & miss you & know you're still smiling. We smile back at you :)

Workshop Snippet

Your body doesn't lie..........................let your body answer the question. Sis Ellen shared some facts with us & we were able to experiment with each other, using techniques she showed us.

Visiting Teaching Roster as of June 2009 has changed, so if you have not been notified of a change please contact the Presidency for further information.

Sunday Snippets

As it is the 5th Sunday, we were combined with priesthood. Before we get into the bishop's lesson let's do the business. 

• April 1st Book Club at Gugliotti's home 10 - 12pm. 
• Reminder please report your visiting teaching to Ingrid or Jess as soon as possible.
• General Conference Broadcast will be held 11-12th April. All sessions will be shown. Times to be advised.
• Daylight savings ends next weekend so don't forget to adjust your clocks back one hour!!! 
  
• Saturday at 2pm David takes a very important step, being baptised. Please come and show your support.
  
• A Ward Cleaning Roster has been put together with West Ward. The chapel is cleaned each Tuesday but to ensure the meeting house is clean and tidy for Sunday meetings we are asked to volunteer for one Saturday for 2 hours to ensure the meeting house is ready for Sunday. Please see the notice board for the sign up sheet with available times. 
• Please prepare before hand what you require from the library and contact Sis Jack during the week if possible so your class needs will be ready with out the morning rush. This enables Sis Jack to serve us on Sunday mornings more efficiently and smoothly.

BISHOPRIC INSTRUCTION

Today the Bishop outlined how to register on the stake/ward website on the Australian Official LDS website.

You will also find a link under Useful Links on our blog page.

Once you have clicked onto the site, you will be required to register.  To do this you will need your record number which you will find on either your Temple Recommend or contact Bro. Spilling for your record sheet.  Once you have entered this information a user name and password will be required for you to access the Stake & Ward websites.  Once you have registered an email will be sent to you to confirm before accessing.  If you require any assistance please contact Sis Olendrowsky, our Ward Website Administrator. 

For the Bishop's lesson we focused on SERVICE.  He used the word service as an acronym with various quotes to highlight the importance of service and the benefits to all.

               Search

              sElflessness

         appReciation

           loVe

   somethIng    

               Charitable

             rEwarding

Search:  we need to look beyond our social circle and at times we really need to search, look around for opportunities to serve.

Selflessness: by serving we learn to serve. when we concern ourselves with others, our problems come into perspective.

Appreciation: Those who labour unselfishly in behalf of others, with no thought of remuneration, will be physically and spiritually refreshed and renewed - David B. Haight.

Love:  if we have the love of the saviour in our heart we can serve with his help 

Something:  we can do or be something for others, it may be just a smile or a call that we missed you that could make the difference

Charitable:  the world would look upon a man's outward appearance; the Lord's standard is different. He measures our heart; the capacity to bless and serve others.

Rewarding:  rewards in a spiritual sense; seek joy and find it outside ourselves; in service we find true joy

Service blesses us.  It can be difficult and time consuming.  As a ward, as we look after each other we can be unified.  Bishop recognised there is lots of good work and service being done. We are encouraged to lengthen our stride in serving our fellow man.

    

Photo gallery from RS Overniter

Let the games begin

game of fruit salad..........where's a seat

for some it was a fight for the seat



I'm a little teapot..................................

.........the winners


& the winner is Launceston East's cake made by Helen Fitch


candles dedicated to those who have been/are wonderful examples


Enter the Drama Queens...................
Just hanging out together

mmmmmmmmmmmm dessert


beep beep...............
choir of high hopes

harvest time at Sassafras

Time Out at Camp Banksia

Stake RS Overniter was held at Camp Banksia, Port Sorell at the weekend. Friday night after feeding the multitudes there were games & way too much laughter. The fruit salad game proved to be hilarious as we each were assigned a fruit & you had to swap seats when your fruit was called out and of course a seat would go missing now & then, so sisters were scrambling everywhere & colliding with one another or the floor to get a bottom on a seat. NOT A PRETTY SIGHT, really. To honor those who have & are great examples to us, a candle lighting ceremony was held, before close of the evening & retiring to our cabin.

Saturday it was up with the birds for some with walks along the beach to watch the sun rise. Absolutely beautiful. God has truly blessed us with beautiful scenery here in our wonderful state & the peace that we find in being able to take time out to enjoy this, is heaven.
Following breakfast & devotional we had time to play outdoors or relax. Some chose to play a little tennis or other games, some went on a treasure hunt along the beach where we had to take photos and some clues were cryptic.
After all that fun, more was in store. We had a choice of 2 workshops, Choir or Drama Queens. The choir sounded beautiful, very inspirational song & sound. The drama queens, well I'll say no more, they were really drama queens. I think there's been some practicing going on.

After all the drama & song lunch was served, BBQ & salads & left over birthday cakes & TIM TAMS, then it was time to close the time out, clean up & pack up & head on out to our various destinations.

Photos to follow later, so stay tuned for those.

Breakfast @ Cassa's

Here's what you've been waiting for!!!!!


Our aerobic team

Oh what a glorious morning, oh what a beautiful day. Breathe in, breathe out......eat a little, share a little, this is what our Ready Set Go Breakfast entailed. Sisters enjoyed a yummo breakfast in the morning sunshine, followed by some goal sharing & an aerobic workout, well I think that's what you call it. There seemed to be way too much laughing going on & I don't know why. Our special guest, the aerobic (queen) instuctor had a lot to contend with............................

check out the instructor

just look at those gals

move those hips


getting in the groove

happy little vegemites

The CHALLENGE to BECOME

Just when I thought I'd handed over the blog reigns, the're back in my hands, just for a short while. Carol O.

Sis Chris asked the sisters today what is Relief Society? What is it that they, as a Presidency & us do???? Charity, lead, guidance, stewardship, sisterhood, love, unity, to bring sisters closer to Christ. Visiting teaching is a great way of being able to share the love, sisterhood, help to bring those sisters closer to Christ if we accept the calling to do Visiting teaching & know that we are doing what the Lord has asked of us.
In a talk given by Eld Dallin H. Oakes (Nov 2000 Ensign), he talks about the challenge to become. "The gospel of Jesus Christ challenges us to become something. The gospel of Jesus Christ is the plan by which we can become what children of God are supposed to become. Now is the time for each of us to work toward our personal conversion, toward becoming what our Heavenly Father desires us to become".....end quote
Sisters it is up to each of us to 'become what we say we are'. Our purpose & promise to the Lord is to do what we do for the pure love of Christ. If you think/know you need some refining now is the time Sisters to start that process. Sis Silvia H. Allred 1st Couns RSGP stated, "The Lord has blessed women with divine attributes of love, compassion, kindness and charity. Through our monthly visits as visiting teachers, we have the power to bless each sister as we extend our arms of love and kindness and give the gifts of compassion and charity. No matter what our individual circumstances are, we all have the opportunity to edify and nurture others." quote from Nov 2007 Ensign..
Time is ours Sisters to apply this challenge, so go go go go go go go

Don't forget next weekend is Multi Stake Youth Convention & sisters if you have been asked to do soup or sandwiches for Sunday night meal for the youth, PLEASE DON'T FORGET. Also if you have spare beds/floor space billets are required for youth & leaders travelling from Hobart Stake & the North West for the weekend. Please let Bro. Jason Rowlings know if you can help with accommodation.

RSVP for Bec's baby shower is 8 March to Marlene

For those who remember Sis Christa Smith who served here approx 15 years will be able to catch up with her at an afternoon tea at the Clark's 2pm Sat 7th March & please bring a plate of afternoon tea to share.

29 Mar - 4 April a billet is required for a Single Adult male who is competing in the Masters Games, so if you can help let the Presidency know.

Next week's lesson is Ch. 26 Elijah and the Restoration of the Sealing Keys

Sunday Snippet

Pray Always

In Maxine's lesson today we looked at Elder Bednar's talk from November 2008 Ensign. Worth a read if you haven't already. The focus was on three principles 

1. Prayer becomes more meaningful as we counsel with the Lord in all our doings, 
   
2. Prayer becomes more meaningful as we express heartfelt gratitude, and
3. Prayer becomes more meaningful as we pray for others with real intent and a sincere heart.

Announcements:

Don't forget Saturday morning, bright and early to READY, SET, GOOOOOOOOOOOO! 

See you at Cassa's place for breakfast and goal sharing!

Please hand in your registration form & deposit for the Stake RS Overnighter as soon as possible to Chris Kaye.

It will be heaps of fun for all!!

Multi Stake Youth Convention - Launceston 6 - 9 March.  

Billets are required for youth & leaders for the convention weekend & some transport, so if you have spare beds, bedding or floor space to accommodate; this would be very much appreciated. Please let the Presidency know if you can help (our youth).

Sisters our help is also needed with providing the evening meal for Sunday 8th in the form of soup-n-sandwiches, so if you can assist with this request please let the Presidency know.  The meal is required for 5:30 pm.

WARNING - BABY SHOWER RE-SCHEDULED

Change of plan for Bec's baby shower.

Time: 7 pm
Date: Friday 13th March
Where: Marlene Jacks 
Please bring a plate of supper to share, thank you.

Just as a handy hint, colours and items suitable for a bouncing baby BOY would be good.

WAIT THERE'S MORE

Stake Single Adult Activity - Sat 28 Feb - 1:30 pm - Grindelwald Resort

All single adults & their family/friends are invited to share an afternoon of relaxation & fun together at Grindelwald.

BYO lunch or you may like to delight your taste buds from a purchase at the bakery.
BBQ's are available but a cost is involved, as they are no longer free. Drinks to be provided. Bring a chair or rug to sit on just in case seats are not available.

Single Sisters as the baby shower has been rescheduled no excuse for you not to come. Fun was had last year at this event, no wait, let me re-phrase that, too much fun was had last year so you'd better come along. Activities at the resort are available but at a cost to you.

Please let Carol O know if you are able to attend & how many.

Speaking of Stake, don't forget the Relief Society Overniter at Camp Banksia 20-21 March 2009.
Get your registration form & deposit in & delivered to Relief Society President, Chris Kaye.
The overniters are always uplifting, spiritual & fun. Sooooooooooooooooo do yourself a favour & make it a date with yourself to have ME TIME OUT.

But wait, there's more on Sat 28th.........Baby Shower Invite

Yep, it's all happening on Sat 28th Feb, not only do you have a breakfast date but you have an afternoon tea date, HOWZAT!

Bec & Una are awaiting the arrival of their little one in the coming months.

You are invited to a Baby Shower

When: Sat 28 Feb
Time: 2 pm
Where: Marlene Jacks

Please bring a plate of afternoon tea to share & something for baby 'Ota 'Ota

Hope to see you there with the usual games & laughter

READY set GO!

Are you ready Sisters??? Ready for what????? Well come to breakfast at Cassa's Diner.

When: Saturday 28 Feb
Time: 8:30 am
Dress: Comfortable casual but also wear or bring something that reflects your own personal
goal/s for 2009, comon' be imaginative.
Where: Cassa's Diner 60 Benwerrin Cres, Norwood
RSVP: PLEASE 26 Feb - 63431473

Comon' don't miss this event on the calender, good company, good food, good fun what more could you ask for on a Saturday morning............see you there. Oh, be prepared for anything goes!!!

Changing of the Guards

Welcome, welcome to our New Relief Society Presidency, Chris Kaye & Counsellors Susanne Baldock & Karina Johnstone. We extend our love & support to them & look forward to their leadership. Also we extend love and support to the new YW Presidency, Bonnie and her counsellors, Tania H & Kym. And wait there's more we have a new 2nd Counsellor in the Bishopric, Mark Tripptree, who we sustain & wish him well along this path in life.

It has been an honor, blessing and a pleasure to serve with Bonnie, Annette & June. I am very greatful for their friendship, love, guidance & support and I thank them sincerely for them being my rock & their dedication to serving you, our sisters, & serving our Lord. Many, many thanks & love extended to Kym, Aletia, Ellen, Lisa W., Maxine, Collette, Bec, Bronwen, Jenny J. & Marlene & all of you who have accepted assignments & served with love. We have all grown in the gospel & as we know this process continues each and every day, so keep on, keeping on.
Thank you for your support and love extended to me; I have truly been blessed immensely.

Friendship - Friends are the flowers in my garden - Sisters you are the flowers in my garden xo


Our lesson this week was on "be thou an example". Read the Relief Society Declaration & also the 13th Article of Faith, see what you find are similar.

Pres Thomas S Monson has a 3 part formula for the Apostle Paul's challenge "be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity."1 Tim 4:12

1. Fill your mind with truth (searching, studying having faith and living the gospel)
2. Fill your heart with love (Read Acts 9: 36-42 good works i.e. fundamental responsibilities of
Relief Society, loving mother, #293 Each life that touches ours
for good)
3. Fill your life with service (serving the Lord, having a good influence on those around you)

Pres Monson stated that a believer is someone who follows and knows the teachings of Christ not only in his mind but also in his heart and whose actions are a witness of that belief. It isn't easy to be an example of the believers. We don't usually wake up in the morning and say, "today I'm going to be an example of the believers!" Yet we can say, "today I will be kind and thoughtful, or considerate or honest or whatever quality I need to work on and then we will try hard all day to make a conscious effort to do so. That we can do!...End quote. I know Sisters that if you pray about the things that you find challenging & you really try that you can make a difference.
Being a Latter Day Saint & mingling with those who are not yet ready to accept the gospel; these people are watching us all the time, so we need to make sure that we are always in our words and deeds to "be thou an example".

Sisters Never under estimate yourself for the example you are to others.
As the hymn #308 states, "As I have loved you, love one another, this new commandment, love one another, by this shall men know, ye are my disciples, if you have love, one to another".

......on the beach

Mrs Australia 2009........who is she?


Beach Babes...........................woohoo, lets go surfing now......

.....................each for their own here
............................and splash they all fall down

Australia Day & lots of fun was had by all the kids (of all ages as you can see in the pics) hanging out at the ole pier at Bridport. As well as the playing in the water, lots of digging was done in the sand & picnicing under the shade of the cooly shade trees. This is a day when it's not safe to attend without a change of clothes as sometimes people go in for a dip even if they weren't planning to as a little help is usually given from friends to get you wet wet wet.

2 Weddings and a Baby

Yesterday 2 of our sisters married their sweethearts, Chelsea Honey married Adrian Scott at the beautiful Brisbane Temple & Shannon Tripptree married Jarom Taylor in the beautiful grounds of Brickendon, Longford & then to top it off there was news of Clare & Sam Horsman's arrival of little Chloe. That's a pretty fantastic day & our congratulations extended to all those families.

Here are some pics from the Tassie Wedding.


Announcing Mr & Mrs Jarom Taylor
Gorgeous Sisters


Bridal Party