The Lakes Admin Committee, key ministry leaders, and building committee members have been listing some building features that will be important to “building a place to gather & grow”. This is not meant to be an “exhaustive” list nor a “wish” list because our God answers our unselfish prayer (James 4:1-3). However, the Building Committee would like to give you the opportunity to post further comments below this blog at the bottom of the page in order to help ensure they consider as many aspects of the design as possible. These comments will be considered while formulating the brief to potential architects. Please comment by the 31st of May to ensure that your points are considered for this initial stage of the planning. This method of collecting ideas has been chosen so that you can view how others have replied and can avoid repeating the good ideas that others have already posted.

If you would like to discuss your ideas further feel free to contact Grant Cawley, Craig Ayling, Peter Linnet, or Paul Edwards.

Main Building Auditorium -600 seat with potential to expand to 1000 seat

o Allow movement area to accommodate 2 services
o Storeroom adjoining auditorium and other storage for cleaning and maintenance equipment.
o Cry room adjoining auditorium (not big)
o Raised area for stage
o Tiered seating in back rows
o Back of house loading/unloading dock
o Commercial kitchen (that also can service secondary hall)
o Kitchenette for morning tea/coffee area
o Two Toilet blocks
o Two change rooms with showers (Local theatre, GNW etc)
o Large entry & foyer area
o Covered drop off area
o Allow easy movement to second hall to accommodate two services
o Climate control- heating, cooling

Secondary Hall/ Sunday school room area

o Seat 150-200 or able to accommodate say 200 kids
o Able to be split in 2 sections
o Indoor games area
o Cafe style tables/chairs for morning tea use
o Adjoins outdoor areas to access outdoor seating

Breakout/ Sunday School rooms (10)

Large Entry area

o Casual seating/ coffee area
o Display area
o Book/gift shop
o Open space (with potential to partially cover in inclement weather)
o Playground area visible
o Signage visible and able to be updated, facing Wyong Rd

Administration

o Open plan room with 8 desks
o 2 Meeting rooms (both to hold 12)
o 3 Small offices/ work rooms
o Copy/ collating area
o Reception area
o Kitchenette/ lunch room
o Staff toilets

Outdoor Areas

o Open plan room with 8 desks
o Kids play area- visible
o Casual outdoor seating area for coffee/BBQ
o Gardens/landscaping providing shade
o Large grassed areas

Garbage area

o Rubbish & recycling, industrial bin area.

Car Park

o Covered walkways

Anything else? We look forward to reading your reply below. Be sure to click the blue “Leave Comment” button to submit your comment. After the administration approval it will appear on the website below this blog. Alternatively, you could email me at office@thelakes.net.au and I will do it for you. Feel free to be unrestrained with your ideas at this point realizing that the prioritizing  and evaluation of means is yet to come.

You will also note that we are in need of some people from 10.30am church to learn “pack-down” and at 8:30am church to learn “set-up”. Training will be provided.

There is also a need for those willing to be on playground duty between meetings.

Please let Stewart know if you can help.

Feel free to swap with anyone else on your roster should it not be convenient over that period. However, please check that your swap does not clash with other rosters you may be committed to already.

Thank you for serving us this way.

You will also note that we are in  need of more people to learn how to be a sound setup and operation technician at 8.30am church, a general setup person at 8.30am church and someone to be willing to help pack-down at 10.30am church. These rosters are typically on a 2 weeks in 6 rotation. Training will be provided.

There is also a need for those willing to be on playground duty between meetings.

Please let Stewart know if you can help.

Feel free to swap with anyone else on your roster should it not be convenient over that period. But please check that your swap does not clash with other rosters you may be committed to already. Also, if you do make a swap, please let me know who you have swapped (preferably by email) with so that I may send the appropriate person an email reminder in the week proceeding.

Thank you for serving us this way.

m: 0406 678 293
e: tandjham@gmail.com

Or you can email Jo at
e: joham0901@gmail.com

CMS gift catalogue

Tear useful gift catalogue

Compassion gift catalogue

Once again we come to the last quarter of the year and it is time to plan for next year.

God has revealed a plan for all those who have a heart to know him better and be one of his family. So he calls people from every national, political, social and educational grouping. He has no prejudices. Such people need to be rescued from their sin and its consequences, which he achieves through Jesus Christ. Jesus calls them my ‘people’, my ‘family’, my ‘bride’, my ‘church’ and foreshadows the day in a new creation where we will be gathered together as one – his mission complete.

Our local gathering at The Lakes Evangelical Church is a sign that Christ is progressing with his mission. It shows signs of being his new creation while still existing in the old creation.

The amazing thing is that Christ has a purpose for us, his family here. “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do”. Ephesians 2:10

Our church’s goal for serving is that as people grow in their knowledge of Jesus, we will challenge, facilitate and help resource them to serve one another and the community with love.

The purpose of this booklet is to encourage us in such acts of service through The Lakes. Of course we serve our Lord in many ways, some of which do not occur at The Lakes. However, Christ calls us to serve especially the members of his body that he has already gathered here and to take his call to those who have not yet responded and who are within our reach.

Please use this booklet and response form to consider how you may serve in 2012.

Ian Mears

Serving Pastor

Sunday 18th September will be a Focus on China Mission Day at The Lakes. We’ll be hearing about Christianity in China and the struggles that believers continue to face.

Lydia from our 10:30 congregation grew up as a Christian in China. She will be sharing her story of the difficult times of being unable to profess her faith in Jesus publicly, not having a Bible and the secret underground church meetings. Although much has changed in China in the last 20 years, Christians in China still face great battles and we’ll hear about the important work being done in China, in particular that of the missionaries which The Lakes Church supports there. We’ll also enjoy a ‘taste of China’ over morning tea!

Get Involved

• Don’t miss our Sunday Services on 18th September.
• Get along to the next Missionary Prayer Breakfast. Saturday 1st October, 8.00am at the Church Office. You can RSVP using the welcome slip at Church.

The Lakes also seeks to reach Chinese people living locally on the Central Coast.

For more information contact Lydia m: 0413 238 609

BIBLE STUDY

Held each 7.30pm each Tuesday evening at The Entrance. Simple English with Mandarin Translation.

MONTHLY CHINESE CHURCH SERVICE

This bilingual service is held on the fourth Tuesday of each month at The Entrance Community Centre. Everyone is welcome.

Contact the church office for more information.

You can also view an interesting Foreign Correspondent story here.

There are also some informative facts and prayer video from Operation World.