Conference Memes

If you  missed any bit of Conference, here's all of the 183rd Semiannual General Conference (Oct 2013).

You need to know what was said. It is the warning before we need a warning.

What I have learned from Oct 2013 General Conference:

More here on Twitter, here on the web, here on Pinterest and here on Facebook. Aw, why don't you Google 'em all?

RS Newsletter - October 2013

Presidency Message

Romans 12:2 "And be not conformed to this world; but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." 

Sometimes it is all-too-easy to take the simpler path, the mediocre path. How often have you heard yourself say, "I can't be bothered"? 

Are we not glorious beings with a grand destiny? Have we forgotten?  

Our Heavenly Father has greater things in store for us, not just in the Eternities, but here on earth.  

The brethren have a hymn that starts: "Rise up, O men of God!  Have done with lesser things." As Christ is our example, so should we conform ourselves to reflect our Heavenly Father. 

Meditation: what are the characteristics of Christ?  Do I reflect these in my little actions and daily choices?

Love,

Heidi Kneale

2nd Counsellor

We care.

Monthly Calendar

• Sun 6 Oct, 6pm - Relief Society General Broadcast at Rockingham Chapel
• Tues 29 Oct 12:30 - Friendship Picnic at foreshore. Bring goodies to share and friends.
• Sat 12 Oct - Temple Closed
• 12-13 Oct - General Conference Broadcast at Rockingham Chapel 
• Sat 10am, 2pm, 6pm (Priesthood session). 
• Sun 10am (includes prophet's message) and 2pm
• Oct 16-19 Ward Temple Week
• Thurs 24 Oct - RS Temple Trip. Carpooling departing:  
• 7:45am  Heidi Kneale's home for 9:30am session.  
• 10am at Chapel for 11:30 session.

Weekly Bread Run Schedule

Bread is available for pickups at the following times and places:

• Mon 6:30-7:30pm Hilary Gratwick's home 5 Tangaroa Close
• Wed 6:30pm  Dawn Hirama's Home 10 Ocean Place
• Thurs 6:30pm Debbie Cotterell's home 572 Safety Bay Road

Visiting Teaching Message - Oct 2013

Jesus Christ “created the heavens and the earth” (3 Nephi 9:15). He did so through the power of the priesthood, under the direction of our Heavenly Father (see Moses 1:33). 

“How grateful we should be that a wise Creator fashioned an earth and placed us here,” said President Thomas S. Monson, “… that we might experience a time of testing, an opportunity to prove ourselves in order to qualify for all that God has prepared for us to receive.”

When we use our agency to obey God’s commandments and repent, we become worthy to return to live with Him. Of the Creation, President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Second Counselor in the First Presidency, said: "We are the reason He created the universe! …“This is a paradox of man: compared to God, man is nothing; yet we are everything to God.”

 Knowing that Jesus Christ created the earth for us because we mean everything to Heavenly Father can help us increase our love for Them.

Be Inspired

This Month's Relief Society Challenge: "Reach Out"

Ring one sister in the ward you normally don't associate with. Call simply to say hello. 

Not sure who to call? Log onto our Ward Website (https://ward.lds.org) with your LDS Account (same one you use for NewFamilySearch).

Recipe Corner

  

Chicken Mole

This classic Mexican dish has spices, but isn't too spicy. This is what Mexicans think of when they think "Cocina de Casa" (Home Cooking). Serve as a casserole, over rice or as soft taco fillings.

Ingredients

1kg chicken (boned or boneless)

2 cans tomatoes

1 chili (optional)

1 litre of chicken stock or water

1/2 c almonds

1/2 c sultanas

8 peppercorns

1 tsp cumin 

5 cloves

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1/2 c sesame seeds

1 tsp anise

3 onions, chopped

2 cloves of garlic

1 c unsweetened cocoa powder

Place all in slow cooker and let simmer on low 6-8 hours.

Birthdays

3 - Alexis Tata

3 - Helen Temmen

4 - Chantelle White

4 - Margaret Wunsch

6 - Anne Bousfield

11 - Rochelle Cardell

13 - Marlene Percy

14 - Josie Johnson

16 - Ana Filitonga

29 - Diane McDermott

Bishopric Message: “Ye Shall be the Means of Bringing Salvation unto Them”

Bishopric's message for October. Please share with the sisters you Visit Teach.

We are sons and daughters of God. He is the Father of our spirits (Hebrews 12:9). We are created in the image of God, male and female (Genesis 1:26-27). Because we are the spirit children of God, we have inherited a divine heritage and potential to develop His divine qualities. Through the atonement of Christ we can become like our Heavenly Father, receive a fullness of joy and inherit, as heirs, all that our Heavenly Father has (Romans 8:17).

When our Savior Jesus Christ ministered to the Jews during His mortal ministry, the Jewish scribes and Pharisees often criticized him for receiving sinners and eating with them. On one such occasion He spoke this parable unto them saying…”What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost. I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in Heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.” (Luke 14:4-7).

Again when the resurrected savior, Jesus Christ, visited the Nephites on the American Continent, He continued His teaching regarding sinners, saying: “ye shall not cast him out from among you, but ye shall minister unto him and shall pray from him unto the Father, in my name…for unto such shall ye continue to minister; for you know not but what they will return and repent, and come unto me with full purpose of heart, and I shall heal them, and ye shall be the means of brining salvation unto them” (3 Nephi 18:30, 32).

In our day, our beloved prophet and president of the church, Thomas S. Monson, on behalf of our savior, Jesus Christ, has continued this message by inviting each of us to “go to the rescue”, that “we are the Lord’s hands” by which Jesus Christ brings salvation unto God’s children.

There are many that have gone astray that still believe in the gospel but they may be experiencing difficult trials that make them feel uncomfortable attending church. They also tend to have fewer friendships in the church, so they are less likely to feel they are among friends, when they come to ward meetings. Those who return to activity often do so when they see that something is missing in their lives. As a result, they realize that they need to make changes in the way they live. At such times, they need the love and friendship of caring, active church members who accept them as they are and show genuine personal interest in them.

Through the Lord’s inspired programs of home teaching, visiting teaching, organized rescue visits and splits with the ward and full-time missionaries, we can be actively engaged in regularly rescuing the Lord’s lost sheep. We will come to rejoice as the good shepherd did in bringing them back to the fold of ward meetings, strengthening and renewing friendships and participating in all the Lord’s saving ordinance, especially those found in the temple of our God.

May God bless you as you become the means of bringing salvation unto them is my prayer, in the Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Relief Society Lesson Schedule September - December 2013

Sept - Dec 2013

We encourage you to read through the lessons before each Sunday to enrich your Sabbath experience. Links to lessons available here. Alternatively download the magazines and manuals to your smartphone or data tablet device through the Gospel Library app. Subscriptions to hardcopies of the Ensign and copies of the Lorenzo Snow manual are available as well.

1st Sundays - Inspired Topics from the RS Presidency
2nd & 3rd Sundays - Teachings of the Presidents of the Church - Lorenzo Snow
4th Sundays - Teachings for Our Time - Taken from Conference Talks April 2013 General Conference and October 2013 General Conference.
5th Sundays - Bishopric's Messages

Accurate as of 15 Oct 2013. This information is subject to change.

____________________________________________________

1 Sept - Relief Society Inspired Message

8 Sept - Chapter 16: "That We May Become One"

15 Sept - Chapter 17: "Priesthood--'for the Salvation of the Human Family'"

22 Sept - TFOT: "Obedience to Law is Liberty" - Elder L. Tom Perry (Sunday AM session) -and- "Obedience Brings Blessings" Pres Thomas S. Monson (Sunday AM session)

29 Sept - Bishopric's Message

6 Oct - Relief Society Inspired Message

13 Oct - General Conference Videos

20 Oct - Chapter 19: "Missionary Work: 'To Reach Every Human Heart'"

27 Oct - TFOT: "Lord, I Believe" - Elder Jeffrey R Holland (Sunday PM session)

3 Nov - Relief Society Inspired Message

10 Nov - Chapter 21: "Loving God More Than We Love the World"

17 Nov - Chapter 22: "Doing Good to Others"

24 Nov - TFOT: "The Windows of Heaven" - Elder David A Bednar (Saturday AM session)

1 Dec - Relief Society Inspired Message

8 Dec - Chapter 23: "The Prophet Joseph Smith"

15 Dec - Chapter 24: "Reflections on the Mission of Jesus Christ"

22 Dec - TFOT: "Put Your Trust in the Lord" - Elder M Russell Ballard  (Saturday PM session)

29 Dec - Bishopric's Message

"Secret Sister" - Combined RS/YW activity

Young Women:  can you guess who is your Secret Sister?  

Relief Society:  did they guess right?

Come along to our Secret Sister night to test your skills, play a Guess Who game and join us for Sundaes.

When:  Wednesday 11 September, 7:00pm

Where: Chapel

Who:  Relief Society Sisters and Young Women

Relief Society Breakfast - "Sister Act"

It's time for our annual Relief Society breakfast.  Come join your fellow sisters for a morning of good food, delightful company, a fun craft and a song or two.

When: 14 September 8:00am - 10:00am
Where: Chapel
Bring: your good self, a sunny disposition and maybe a friend.

Food by assignment: See Sister Hirama for more info.

Meanwhile, here's a fun song for you:

Secret Sisters, Start Your Engenues!

Dear Secret Sister,
See below.
Love, Me.

Dear Everyone Else,

May I have a picture of your beautiful self?  You can PM it to me on FB or email it to me (my address is available on https://ward.lds.org).  I'd prefer pictures that are full of personality.  I'd also like a clue or three about you for our upcoming "Guess Who" game for the Young Women.  Feel free to contribute clues about other sisters (and how unique and wonderful they are).

If you don't send me a picture, I am not above taking a snap of you papparazzi-style. I cannot guarantee this will be flattering.

Thanks,

Heidi
----------------------------------------
Dear Secret Sisters,

Now's the time to start surprising your assigned Young Woman with a surprise this week.  Do something nice for her this week, as often as you feel comfortable.  We want to give the Young Women of our ward a better feeling towards Relief Society.

You know how wonderful our sisterhood is. Share that love.  Express to her "You are a beloved daughter of God" (our theme).

Don't let them guess who you are; that time will come.

Wednesday 11 September is our combined RS/YW activity, 7:00pm at the Chapel.  We will be playing "Guess Who".  (That's what the pictures and descriptions are for.)  Not only will our Young Women be guessing who their Secret Sister is, we're going to see if they can guess our many Relief Society sisters from the given clues.

If you are in need of further clues (like an address) regarding your assigned Young Woman, PM or email (or even use the old-fashioned telephone) to contact me. I'm happy to give you as many clues as I have.

Love,

Me