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AN INTERESTING WORLD RESEARCH STUDY OF EVERY CHURCH IN ONE SAMPLE CITY, FOR ANYONE WHO WANTS TO SEE INFORMATION ABOUT CHURCH.
LuL
*** - Three asterisks means it's the most important sentence
to read.
** - Means it's quite important.
* - Means it's interesting.
(Not to be confused with "Bethlehem Lutheran Church at
Glencoe" which are main stream Lutherans. This Bethlehem is not mainstream.)
(30 people separated from main denomination. It's one of 13 small churches which
are mostly in the country.) Address: Bridge St past Airport.
1. # of people: 29.
2. Empty chairs: 56 chairs thus ½ full.
3. Type of person: All Tim the Toolman Taylor types. (Blue-collar farmers, grounds
men etc.)
4. Socio- Economic Status: Working.
5. Kids: Good percentage including teens.
6. Ages: 2-70.
7. Men: 50%
8. Offering: Not given.
9. Late arrivals: 0(!)
***10. Interesting info: Holiday relief Pastor told me
"There are 1000 followers in 13 congregations - 2 in SA, 1 in Vic, 10 in
Qld and one soon coming up in Brisbane which make up "The Australian Evangelical
Lutheran Church." "Some decades ago there were a formation of the
Evangelical Lutherans with the main stream Lutherans. In 1992 we separated from
the LCA after unresolved debate over humanistic teaching, women being ordained,
but mainly because they have sided with the Catholic church when they don't
disagree that salvation is not by faith alone but works as well. An ex-seminary
LCA teacher and now Pastor in Oakey has formally taught 4-5 others to be Pastors.
Their building comes from an Army barracks in Warwick which is privately owned
with land by a group which is rented to the AELC. Each congregation is independently
owned." (Hymnals, orders of service and Pastoral dress are all Lutheran
C A.)
11. Date & Time spent: 10am- 10.05am 9/00. 15/10/00 7.40am-9.35am.
12. When service finished. 8.43am (!) Only a 43 minute long service.
13. This & other service times: 8am.
14. Preacher: Normal minister is Ps Phil Mueller who's in his 30's.
15. Feeling: Not cold at all, warmly received, comfy seats.)
16. Their belief: Not Charismatic. Do uphold Authority of Word & that evolution
is false etc...
17. Dress: Smart to casual.
18. How to get there: Go west along Bridge St past Airport. Turn South at Cecil
Plains turn off. Church is shortly on the left.
1. NUMBER OF PEOPLE: 237.
2. NUMBER OF CHAIRS: 272.
3. Type of person: -.
4. Socio-Economic Status: Medium.
5. Amount of kids: -.
6. Ages of people: -.
7. % men.
8. Weekly offering published: -.
9. Lateness of people getting to church: -.
10. Any other interesting information: -.
11. TIME THERE AND DATE OF VISIT: Some 10 times 2000- 2002.
12. Length of service: Allow 1hr 15 mins and cup of tea time.
13. This and other service times: 8.30am every Sunday; Since circa 1986, on
the third Sunday of each month they have TWO services, one at 8.30am AND an
additional service at 10.30am.
14. Preacher: Rev Michael Steicke BTh on Oct 2007 (Pastor Paul Smith 2000- 2002).
15. Feeling of building: Standard.
16. Estimate style of belief: -.
17. Dress code so as not to stand out: Bit more on the casual side.
18. How to get there: Travel along Ruthven St, turn up or west along James St
and the church can be seen just past Clifford Gardens shopping centre.
8.30am (this 3rd Sunday of the month has also a 10.30am service) GOOD SHEPARD LUTHERAN Tor and James St.
1. NUMBER OF PEOPLE: 173. (Numbers are for the 8.30am service
on the THIRD Sunday so numbers will be a bit down compared to a normal 8.30am
service.)
2. NUMBER OF CHAIRS: 272.
3. Type of person: -.
4. Socio-Economic Status: Medium.
5. Amount of kids: 30.
6. Ages of people: Six were 60+.
7. One third or 24 men out of 72 adults were men.
8. Weekly offering published: $1748 for previous Sunday. (Newsletter said "LAST
SUNDAY. Attendance 237 (meaning the church head counts - my count and their
count only differ by 3 in one counting.); Holy Communion 195 (meaning 42 were
under age children with some people who did not take communion); Offering $1748.60
(the money the congregation gives to support the church); Rent $200 (Perhaps
the income for renting the hall); Budget total $1948 (rent plus offering); Koojarewon:
$5.00 (Lutheran camp at Highfields) Total $1953.60 (Koojarewon plus budget total)
9. Lateness of people getting to church: -.
10. Any other interesting information: .
11. TIME THERE AND DATE OF VISIT: 8.45am- 9.00am 17/11/02.
12. Length of service: -.
13. This and other service times: 8.30am every Sunday; Since circa 1986, on
the third Sunday of each month they have TWO services, one at 8.30am AND an
additional service at 10.30am. (Probably because the church is a bit too full
and they had to make room.)
14. Preacher: Pastor Paul Smith. (Ps Hartwhich left 2/12/01.)
15. Feeling of building: Standard.
16. Estimate style of belief: -.
17. Dress code so as not to stand out: Bit more on the casual side.
18. How to get there: Travel along Ruthven St, turn up or west along James St
and the church can be seen just past Clifford Gardens shopping centre.
10.30am (Third Sunday of month only) GOOD SHEPARD LUTHERAN Tor and James St.
1. NUMBER OF PEOPLE: 102.
2. NUMBER OF CHAIRS: 272.
3. Type of person: -.
4. Socio-Economic Status: Medium.
5. Amount of kids: 30.
6. Ages of people: Six were 60+.
7. % of men. One third or 24 men out of 72 adults.
8. Weekly offering published: -.
9. Lateness of people getting to church: -.
10. Any other interesting information: -.
11. TIME THERE AND DATE OF VISIT: 17/12/02 11.20am- 12.50pm (Had free BBQ lunch
after church.)
12. Length of service: Service finished 11.47am so Allow 1hr 15 mins and perhaps
BBQ lunch.
13. This and other service times: 8.30am every Sunday; Since circa 1986, on
the third Sunday of each month they have TWO services, one at 8.30am AND an
additional service at 10.30am.
14. Preacher: Pastor Paul Smith.
15. Feeling of building: Standard.
16. Estimate style of belief: -.
17. Dress code so as not to stand out: Bit more on the casual side.
18. How to get there: Travel along Ruthven St, turn up or west along James St
and the church can be seen just past Clifford Gardens shopping centre.
1. NUMBER OF PEOPLE: 86. (I recorded 86 in 2 Sept 2001 as well,
with Ps Edgar Mayer)
2. NUMBER OF CHAIRS: 155.
3. Type of person: Dairy engineer, farmers, business owners.
4. Socio-Economic Status: Mostly retired.
5. Amount of kids: Seven aged 0 to 15yo.
6. Ages of people: Virtually no 15 to 25yo. About 10 26yo to 45yo. Most above
60yo.
7. 30% are men. Approx 8 men to 18 women.
8. Weekly offering published: -.
9. Lateness of people getting to church: -.
10. Any other interesting information: Ps Edgar Mayer left this church to form
Living Grace Lutheran. Apparently he wanted to change the worship style from
hymns with the service order (Where one repeats dialogue back and forth to the
preacher and the congregation.) The leadership suggested two services, contemporary
and old style. So Edgar Mayer held the new style service at the Lutheran school
and preached at both churches. Living Grace then seperated from St John's.
11. TIME THERE AND DATE OF VISIT: 24 Aug 2003 10.20am- noon.
12. Length of service: -.
13. This and other service times: 9.15am for "Come and see Jesus" and 10.15am for communion in Oct 07. (It was 8.15am or 10.15am in 24 Aug 2003.) Sunday school is 9.15am
during school term. (Only 2 of the 8 or so in Sunday school do not go to the
church.)
14. Preacher: Pastor Mark Henderson. (From Brisbane originally.) (Arrived Jan
2003 and till past late 2007.)
15. Feeling of building: A bit cool. This church began in 1889 and it shifted
from Perth St. A small concrete slab with a metal cross, east of the church,
is all that remains of the previous large wooden white church.
16. Estimate style of belief: Probably quietly conservative.
17. Dress code so as not to stand out: Casual to smart.
18. How to get there: Travel west along Bridge St, cross Tor St and it's before
Greenwattle St on the right (or the north side).
The 10am service is with choruses and has a band.
Below is a report when there was just one Sunday morning service - not 2.
1. # of people: 187.
2. Chairs: Seats 550.
3. Type of person: Lutherans who appreciate less formal styled worship.
4. Socio- Economic Status: Panel Beater Business, Gardening business are some.
5. Kids: Many.
6. Ages: Many 18-22yo; mostly young families.
7. Men: Some 50%
8. Offering: $270.
9. Late arrivals: -.
10. Interesting info: This Lutheran Church started the 17/9/00 and numbers began
at 220 and went to 180, 136, 97, then steadily climbed over a year to 129.
***A female hospital chaplain shared a very interesting
message how chaplains give emotional and spiritual support and it's not a social
visit when they visit people in hospital.
11. Date & Time spent: 187 people on the 30 Sep 2001; 103 on the 23/9/01;
129 on the 14/7/01. 98 on the 17/9/00. Also 14/7/01; 17/9/00 When service were
at 10.30am- 10.00am- 12.10pm
12. Length of service. 1hr 35m.
13. This & other service times: 10.00am as of Oct 2007 and other services include 8am and 6.30pm Sundays. (Used to be 6.30pm Saturdays 2001; Livet use to be on 2nd
Sunday each month 6.30pm in 2001.)
14. Preacher: Rev Dr Edgar Mayer (DTh BTh GradDipMin)
15. Feeling: Good.
*16. Their belief: Pastor held a conference in 2007 "Holy Spirit Seminar" - an example goes like this "Thus, a person who was confronted with the spiritual gift of speaking in tongues muttered to the Lord while standing in front of the bathroom mirror, brushing his teeth: "Now, God, the gift of tongues doesn’t really interest me." According to his testimony the Lord’s response was intimate and penetrating. He said: "Bob, I’ve talked to you all these years in your language. Won’t you talk to me now in mine?" He forgot all about the toothpaste drooling out of his mouth and down the cheeks. He laughed, then cried, and a heavenly language poured out from his heart. ………"Must everyone speak in tongues?" The answer is: "No!"
17. Dress code so as not to stand out: Casual to smart.
18. How to get there: Travel to south of the city to South St along Ruthven
St or West St. Turn west (Oakey side) going up South St, pass Harristown school
on the left.
6.30pm SUNDAY NIGHT SERVICE AT "LIVING GRACE LUTHERAN" - Discipleship groups with worship, 2 services per month on the 2nd Sunday of each month at 6.30pm. 2 services per month on the 2nd Sunday of each month at 6.30pm. (at the Concordia Lutheran Secondary school Chapel) South St. Updated late 2007.
"LIVE IT" LIVING GRACE LUTHERAN, (THIS SERVICE WAS CANCELLED IN 2003. The below report is from 2000.) (ON SECOND Sunday every
month only.) Address: Concordia Chapel South St. (THIS SERVICE WAS CANCELLED IN 2003. 2003 - 2007+ AND IS replaced by discipleship groups with worship, 2 services per month on the 2nd Sunday of each month at 6.30pm.
1. # of people: 220 (240 14/5/00).
2. Available chairs: 550.
3. Type of person: Mostly offspring of Lutheran teachers and church leaders
but are committed to their church.
4. Socio- Economic Status: Middle.
5. Kids: Mostly.
6. Ages: 4yo-70yo (Mostly 15 to 21 yo.) (20% 22 - 50yo, 20% 5-14yo; 60% 15-21yo.)
7. Men: 50%
8. Offering: $500.
9. Late arrivals: -.
**10. Interesting info: This service had modern songs done in a unique
flavour including half Hillsongs. Puppets; Drama; Short preaching by Lutheran
Pastors only; Prayers; Skits; Each service had a different theme. e.g. Skits
about the Olympics and people running.
*This was the program content- (generally) A. 2 songs sit and stand. B. 3rd song "Muppet Show theme" C. Lights off. Torch to Jesus. D. Jesus lit. E. Overhead confession. F. Minister pronounces forgiveness of sins. G. "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet" song. G. Leader talks. H. "Oh Lord my God" (stand). I. Bible reading Mrs B. J. Bedtime Story Tale of 3 trees simulated to PowerPoint slides on big screen. (Story of chopped wood used to build Jesus' boat and his cross.) K. Preacher 7.15pm-7.33pm D.K. L. Song - our response is "Beautiful Lord." M. More preaching about gun getting held to head by Russian army. 7.37-7.48pm (Started at 6.30pm) N. Offering. O. Song "Before the world began." P. Song "Buck, buck, buck". Q. Overhead prayer. R. Puppets and story. S. 3 people prayed. T. Announcements- no Macas (McDonalds). U. Redeemer lives. ($2 steak, coleslaw on bun, $1 sausage on bread.) 14/5/00
11. Date & Time spent: 10/9/00 6.30pm-10pm; also 14/5/00,
had gone for about 4 years 1999-2003.
12. When service finished. 8.30pm
13. This & other service times: 6.30pm 2nd Sunday of the month only.
14. Preacher: Always a different Lutheran Pastor.
15. Feeling: Funny, exciting, warm, bit cool after service if your new.
*16. Their belief: Founded by Ps Edgar Mayer. Most Lutherans are not spirit
filled but here they recognise others who are spirit filled. They do have full immersion baptisms for adults and baby sprinkings and pre-confirmation sprinklings. You cannot be baptised twice. Arms raised in worship is ok to do. In Oct 07 they have 3 female "Pastoral Assistants".
17. Dress code so as not to stand out: Casual to smart.
18. How to get there: Travel to south of the city to South St along Ruthven
St or West St. Turn west (Oakey side) going up South St, pass Harristown school
on the left.
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NEXT (In one recent National Lutheran youth camp, there were 20 pregnancies and one Pastors son got 2 girls pregnant said one Lutheran.)