We are off to see spring in the country this Saturday. Looks like we missed the best of the blossoms, but still a lot of nice stuff to see and gorgeous weather.
Volunteering starts again on 26 January. With the new year now begun all of the cell groups are getting back into action and some new groups have started. We urge and exhort everyone to join one of the mid-week groups. There are daytime and evening groups on various days, so we are sure you can find a comfortable place somewhere. Talk to Simon about joining a group.
The leavers party is set for 23 Feb. This is a sad time when we bid farewell to those brothers and sisters moving on to God's next task. But we look forward to the English speakers arriving in Jinju who will be looking for a place to call their spiritual home. Jinju International Christian Fellowship would love to see you.
21 October 2012 at 7pm. Evening service in the main Korean-speaking congregation is the special devotional service for the English-speaking congregation. We will lead the servvice and our pastor will preach the sermon in English.
Much to our own surprise, our team won the church-wide song contest on 07 October. It was great fun and we hope a testimony to God.
11 August 2012. A day of prayer. We will go away into the countryside and spend time talking, thinking, meditating and praying for the church. We hope you can come with us.
God is good and merciful. So far the monsoon rains, which the farmers really need, have not washed out our Sundays. But in truth we need to pray for rain as Korea is having its worst drought in over 100 years.
April 14 visit to Dinosaur Expo with spring blossom viewing. Leave from church at 8.30am. Tickets 10,000krw each. There will also be expenses such as admission. Free lunch.
Good Friday service at 7pm. 6 April.
Easter Sunday service with communion at 11am, followed by lunch. 8 April.
Traditional nine lessons and carols service at 11am on Christmas Day. Potluck lunch to follow.
Alcoholics Anonymous meets every Sunday at 2.30pm (except the third Sunday of the month). Take the elevator to the sixth floor, room 603, of the Jinju Church annexe (Vision Center) in Bongrae Dong.
Sunday 9 October a North Korean Christian will give testimony in the 11am service. We shall have time for open discussion with our guest after lunch.
Another North Korean comes to Jinju on 29 October to testify in public at GNU Global Cafe at 2pm. This event will also be a fundraiser for North Korean orphans, to buy coal to heat their orphanage through the winter. There will also be entertainment by local musicians.
When the crowds have left we are going to the beach. The weather will be perfect for a trip to Sangjo Beach on 3 Sept, join us for a fun day.
Off to Namhae to view the cherry and other blossoms on Saturday 9 April.
We had a great time in the countryside with God. Came home deeply refreshed.
We have created a video page here Online video
The generous people at our Christmas Carol service gave 405,000 Korean won. This money will go to Helping Hands, a Seoul-based charity assisting North Koreans.
We had a great day. Hope you like the video.
On Saturday 13 November we shall go away up into the mountains for a
day devoted to prayer and worship. We'll spend time meditating upon how
awesome our father God is. We shall spend time raising our voices in
praise and crying out in prayer. We'll ask Father God for guidance and
seek to draw closer to him.
It will be a day for letting his spirit wash us clean, and filling
our hearts and minds with his presence. It will be wonderful. And you
are invited.
On Sunday 3 October we had an exciting visit from the grandchildren of the first missionaries, who brought the gospel to this part of Korea.
It was absolutely wonderful to have this link with the recent past,
with the people who started the church in the city of Jinju. And who
brought Christianity to this part of Korea. It was great to see how the
memory of what their forebears did and how much they sacrificed was
honoured by the Korean Christians. It was also sobering for those from
long-established Christian nations to be reminded how recently this
happened.
We are starting a Bible Study group (home group, cell group) on Thursday evenings at 6.30. This is in addition to the Bible Study on Sunday after lunch.
We are also trying to start a mid-week morning group for all the people who work in the evenings.
Please let the pastor know if you would like to be part of any of these groups.
We are planning a couple of get-togethers for any expats in Jinju over the Chusok break 21-23 September with a trip to Jinju Castle and a picnic at Jinju Lake.
From September we start at 11.10am. Apologies to everyone who struggles with the journey to church.
Great BBQ on Saturday 14 August with swimming and lots of food.
Jinju Church members went to Hamyang Wild Ginseng Festival at the
end of July, and had a great time exploring the area.
We are planning more outings so keep your eyes out and join us if you
can.
Jinju Church has begun work on an education centre it calls Vision
Hall.
