Barneys Seven Churches Walk

This coming Saturday our church is holding a walk to help raise funds so we can build a new Barneys.  I am passionate about our church - it has been our church family for twenty years and we have seen many people come to know and love Jesus during this time.  We have watched young people come and be challenged about what they do with the rest of their life and leave equipped to serve God in other churches either in a full-time paid capacity or as fully functioning members of their new family.  My whole family will be walking, as will numerous others - both young and old.  I am looking forward to it immensely.

I know that we could continue meeting without a church building, but there is so much that we could do with a place of their own.

If you would like to sponsor someone you know at Barneys, can I encourage you to do this - every cent counts.  You can sponsor someone online and even leave a message of support.

Peter Fitzsimons mentioned our fundraising last Sunday in his article  "Bitter whine a case of sour grapes, 12 September 2010, SMH - there was this excerpt:

  On a mission

'MEMBER when that famous old church on Broadway – St Barnabas, burnt down four years ago? The one that used to always have the amusing exchanges on its noticeboard with the pub over the road?

"Jesus bowled over death" was met with "And Lillee bowled overarm."

"This church is only for sinners" received the reply, "This pub is only for drinkers."

"Money does not make you happy," was met with "I'd rather be rich and happy than poor and happy." And so on.

Well, they're finally starting to rebuild it. The church has been a part of the fabric of Sydney for more than 150 years. It was built by a rogue English evangelist in what he described as "the worst place in the colony" and it was later the church of Arthur Stace, otherwise known as "Mr Eternity". Anyhoo, on Saturday, as part of its fund-raising, the church is holding its inaugural Seven Churches Walk to raise money for the rebuilding. See www.barneys.org.au

Pink

Pink, originally uploaded by kasia-aus.


There is a woman at my church who has breast cancer and is undergoing fairly aggressive treatment.    We have been praying for her over the last few weeks, since the diagnosis was made.  She has the most beautiful long chestnut hair, but the chemo is going to make her hair fall out.  As she has so much hair, this was going to be rather messy, so she decided to act first.  After church last Sunday, she asked a friend to cut and shave her beautiful crop of hair publicly and asked us to give money either to our church building fund or a charity of our choice.  A large number of us gathered with this brave woman while her hair was chopped.  
What emerged was a beautifully shaped head - in fact she radiated beauty.  One of those watching, was Steve, who lost his wife to cancer four years ago leaving him to raise their two little girls as a single Dad.  It was almost a time of celebration, as we prayed for her, as she undergoes months of horrible treatment.  Amazingly, five and a half thousand dollars was raised as collectively, we wanted to show this woman that she is not alone and that we walk with her.
This morning she arrived at church, newly shaved, her head uncovered and she looked beautiful.  She had a pink rose on her necklace and wore a soft pink scarf around her shoulders.  
Having walked with my Mum with breast cancer six years ago, she lost her hair also, and has been given the all clear every six months since, and more recently, my Mother-in-law who had radiotherapy treatment late last year,  I appreciated the opportunity to demonstrate in a practical way my support for this woman. 
I found this photo on flickr, and it captures how sometimes out of the bleakness of life, a surprise emerges, as we see people survive the difficult times they face - they are able to smile and walk bravely trusting that they have their God with them and they are not alone.

Barneys - memories

This painting of our church was done by a very dear friend of mine. It captures something of the beauty of the building and the community who met there. Coincidently, I just happened to be giving a farewell speech at the time that my friend did the sketching, so it is me standing at the front.

It was a sad day when our church building burnt down just over two years ago. I had had a mild stroke three weeks earlier and this hard shaken me and my family. We got a phone call at about 6 am to tell us that Barneys was on fire. We walked around in a state of shock all day, in fact all week.

For a while, I thought that the structures that held my life in place - including my health which I had taken for granted and my church which I had certainly taken for granted had come unstuck. What else would move or change? This event again turned me to God - who remains unmovable and unchangeable - like a solid rock.

I love my friend's artwork. I am so glad that I have a copy of this picture in photo form. I have it hanging on a cupboard in my kitchen. I have so many memories of events that have taken place in this church building. It is only a building, but it carried much history - not only for me but for many.

At present we are meeting at Moore College - a great place for our church in many ways, but it doesn't mean that I don't miss our old building. I am thankful for what was and for all God's work that took place there for nearly 150 years.