Blackwood Church Of Christ

Nina Corlett-McDonald is a member of the Blackwood Church of Christ with extraordinary talent. She has a degree in education and a masters degree in theology. She is a teacher, Christian Pastoral Support Worker at the Hawthorndene Primary School and co-ordinates the church Kids Hope program in the same school. Nina helps lead the music and worship at Blackwood and is a gifted speaker.

This Sunday March 7th atr 10am, Nina will not only bring us the sermon but she will also share songs from her latest album released in November 2009, “Handemade with love”. Friend Liz Young will accompany Nina on piano. Here’s a snipet from her promotional flyer:

Handmade With Love is the latest offering by South Australian singer/songwriter, Nina Corlett-McDonald. Continuing from her debut album Deep Inside My Heart (2000), Handmade With Love celebrates love, loss and the everyday in one woman’s journey. With simple musical arrangements and harmonies, each song feels live and real. The lyrics are fresh and raw; a refreshingly honest journey of life and love that any listener will relate to and enjoy.

Nina’s musical journey began when she was child. She was writing songs and performing in her teens about her life and faith experiences. Her passion for writing about life has encouraged and inspired many. She continues to write and perform and has worked collaboratively with John Hayles on several of his projects, including an Easter event, King of Palms, King of Thorns. Nina wrote and recorded a chant and anthem for the South Australian Special Olympics. She also released a children’s CD, Kookaburra Laughs, containing 12 original children’s songs. Proceeds from this go to Breast Cancer Research and Khayelihle Children’s Village.

You can find Nina on Facebook if you’re interested in finding out more about her music.

CD’s will be available for purchase on Sunday morning for $20

This Sunday our children and youth are taking the lead with our Sunday service. They have put a lot of work into it and we are looking forward to encouraging them and learning more about what God has to say to us throiugh them.

Come along and support our young people at 10am this Sunday morning.

They will lead the music for worship. The Sunday nigth jam sessions have paid off and they fill the band as well as leading us in singing. The kids will also lead our prayers, communion, morning announcements and bring to us the bible reading. They’re even doing the message! The youth have developed a dramatized message according to Luke 5:1-11

Support the leaders and disciples of today, join us for worship this Sunday. Then stick around for morning tea and have a fairtrade espresso coffee over a friendly chat

Please consider giving to the Careworks food appeal. This came through from the Careworks office

‘CareWorks pantry shelves are almost empty. Can your church help them in their time of need to help the needy and disadvantaged?Help in the form of financial donations is always good because our buying power in bulk can be an even better way of filling the shelves…. However, the items we need help with most are:Cereal and spreads = breakfastNoodles, tuna, pasta and pasta sauces, tinned vegetables, meals in a can (eg steak n veg)Tinned fruit = dessertsThis would be a great start because CareWorks pantry is almost completely bare and our client lists are full each day with people seeking our help.Thanks in anticipation for you assistance to them.’

Please bring items to contribute to our Careworks donation stand in the foyer. Thankyou

Verity Skye is a singer/songwriter at Blackwood Church of Christ. Married to our minister Mark, Verity has her own creative ministry through music and art.

On Saturday February 27th at 7:30pm, Verity will launch her debut album ‘ADVOCATE - songs that will not be silenced’. The themes of Advocate containg a call to respond to the poor and needy. Each song is written out of an encounter and personal experience covering issues regarding assylum seekers, refugees, slave trade and more. These songs call us to recognize the stranger in the street and not to just move on but to care for and know our neighbour.

It’s a powerful CD recorded locally with Pilgram Arts studios here in Coaomandel Valley. Musical styles include classical jazz, Congolese soukus, folk, rock, pop, blues. Verity sings, plays flute and guitar and musicians from all walks of life have also contributed to the CD. It has a real ecclectic feel and each one is a Verity Skye original.

The Cd is selling for $25 and will only be available at the launch. From March check your mainstream online stores and some physical stores for a copy of teh CD. Part proceeds will support UNOH, CKS, TEAR Aust and World Vision Aust. On the night of the launch part proceeds from each CD sold will go to the GMP Haiti earthquake relief fund. Matt Anderson from World Vision will launch the CD at Blackwood.

The following week John Smith from God Squad and Concern Aust will launch the CD at the UNOH open night on Thursday March 4th. Then Verity will play at Surrender:10 conference over the weekend March 5-8, and preforming on the main stage after Bart Campolo speaks on the Sunday night.

If you’re in Adelaide watch out for the Messenger Press article on Verity Skye promoting the launch and in Melbourne listen for an interview with her and preview of her CD played on air on 89.9 Light FM

Mark is blogging on the themes of here songs here. Interact with the discussions if you can

You can also find Verity Skye on Myspace and Facebook

Launch posters for download below

Adelaide launch poster

Melbourne launch poster

Blackwood Church of Christ are offering an opportunity for a guided spiritual retreat led by Churches of Christ spiritual director Keith Ridge. This retreat will be from March 12th-14th at a beach house retreat run by the Christian Brothers at Middleton.

If you can find the time for a full 2 days retreat then we highly recommend you book in. However if you are a busy person or prefer to sleep at home we have organized day visit options. Come just for Saturday or just for the day sessions. Accomodation is limited to 7 people and the retreat is only open to a maximum of 12. So get in quick if you want to come along. Further details available and booking form at the link below. Download the form and send it in. Forms required to be in by March 5th

Spiritual retreat