Archive | March, 2009

What are you doing to reach me?

Research has shown that sufferers of mental illness with low or limited literacy experience significant obstacles in gaining access to and use of health care services and I wonder how many of them experience obstacles in gaining access to the Word of God?

reading huh

Literacy among those with mental illness has gone relatively unnoticed throughout the years for it is often assumed that patients read adequately and thus they are almost never formally test literacy skills. Often presumption is made that the last grade of school completed accurately reflects the individual’s reading ability. This presumption is also fed by a distorted self-perception. Most patients with low literacy skills describe themselves as reading and writing English well; however, such self-estimates are highly unreliable. For example, a 44-year-old patient with schizophrenia reported that he had obtained a college degree many years ago. He confidently indicated that he read “very well.” However, testing showed that he was reading at the fourth- to sixth-grade level.( http://psychservices.psychiatryonline.org/cgi/content/full/49/1/7 )

Monthly on Mondays, we have commenced a group called Connect Café. It is time to have a cappuccino, some tasty treats and enjoy friendship. There is also time for a bible study that aims to engage with those who can read but find it tiring, effort, or unenjoyable. The way we have tried to achieve this is by using a series of studies I had previously written for you called “The Gospel According to the OC”. We watch a snippet of the OC that illustrates gospel truths. It opens up the theme and topic for discussion and complements the passage of scripture that we read through together. It also gives them confidence to talk about the ideas as it is something they have visually comprehended.

e.g. Read Ephesians 2:1-10, is accompanied by the opening pilot episode of season one of the OC, where Ryan Atwood’s vulnerability and despair is revelled as he has a whole list of crimes and disadvantages stacked against him and is at the mercy of his attorney Mr Cohen, who ends up inviting him into his home in the hills of California. Ryan goes from the trailer to a mansion. Spiritually this is our state described in Ephesians.

What are you doing to reach those who struggle with reading?
Are your churches full of Academic English or Easy English? Remove things that act as obstacles to the gospel. This is hard as we worship a God who speaks and gave us the Word, so we want words but perhaps there are some ways you could include or change an element of your services to be more friendly and accessible.

Dear Artist & Creatives,

picture-3

23rd – 31st May 2009

We think a beautiful suburb, a unique and thriving community and a fascinating history are worth celebrating and we’re sure you can see our point of view.

CALL FOR ENTRIES

You are invited to participate in the 2009 ‘I Heart Kirribilli’, Art Exhibition and Prize (Exhibition) organised by Church by the Bridge (CBTB) as part of our 125th Anniversary Celebrations for our church building on Broughton St, and the Kirribilli community.

Subject Matter & Categories
I Heart Kirribilli aims to profile artworks that have been created by techniques of painting, photography and drawing/sketch, to capture some special aspect of its unique character and identity whether it is the spectacular places, people, history and/or spirit of Kirribilli and surrounds.

We are seeking works that represent or symbolize life within Kirribilli. Artworks may portray ay aspect of community life; a particular place or moment, a regular or one off event, a celebration, special meeting place, an interesting character or big personality, a sub culture, the natural or man made environment. We are looking for striking works that will engage and intrigue locals, tourists and passers by.

Artworks must address this brief and themes for your chance to win in the following categories:
• Painting Prize $1,000
• Photography Prize $700
• Drawing/Sketching Prize $700
• Youth Prize (12 to 18 yrs) $250
• Peoples’ Choice Award $350

Cash prizes are sponsored by CBTB and additional prizes are sponsored by businesses in the local Kirribilli area. Judges will include well-known members of the Australian art community.

Materials, Specifications & Format
Each entry MUST:
• explore the subject matter of the competition;
• be between an A4 size and a total size of 1.2 square metre, including frame (over this size will count as two entries);
• be the original work of the artist and not a reproduction or joint creation;
• be framed or mounted to a reasonable standard (no clip frames), with a method of hanging (eg be strung with picture wire). Where possible, entrants are encouraged to supply their own display stands to ensure safety and best presentation of works. Any special display or hanging requirements must be discussed and agreed with organizers at the time of entry.

Submission & Return of Works
Please submit your works by no later than 4pm Saturday 9th May (up to 2 per Artist) to the Church by the Bridge, ( cnr Broughton St & Bligh St).

Artworks must be submitted together with an ENTRY FORMS & FEE of $5.00 per work (Under 18 yrs free entry).

Works not received by Saturday 9th May, will not be accepted.

Artworks may be dropped off in person on Friday 8th or Saturday 9th May between the hours of 10am and 3pm. Please contact hayley.neal@cbtb.org.au to arrange a drop off time.

Return of works: Please include with your entry a return address and pre-paid postal stamp for the return of your work. The Exhibition and Church by the Bridge will not cover the cost of the return of your artworks. If works do not include pre-paid postal return with entry and are not collected by Saturday 6th June, the organizers of the Exhibition will dispose of the works at their discretion.

We will display all selected works in the Exhibition that will run between Saturday, 23 May and Friday, 29 May 2009 – over the period of our 125th Anniversary Celebrations.

Prizewinners will be announced at our evening function on Thursday, 28 May 2009, which will be held at Church by the Bridge, Kirribilli.

You are also encouraged to send us an electronic photo of your work (hayley.neal@cbtb.org.au) by the time of delivery so that we can consider using it to advertise the Exhibition (and you)!

All works must be delivered with a completed and signed entry form below. All entries are subject to the Conditions of Entry.

Conditions of Entry
1. No correspondence will be entered into regarding these conditions or the decision of the selection and judging panel. The Art Show is open to all artists over 12 years of age. Youth Prizes entrants must be between 12 and 18 years on the 1 January, 2009 and may enter a painting, drawing or photo.
2. The Judge/s of the competition will selected by the organizers and will inspect all entries. All decisions of the Judge/s are final.
3. Artists may enter a maximum of two exhibits and the entry fee of $8.00 must be paid for each entry at the time of delivery.
4. ENTRIES MUST:
• explore the subject matter of the competition;
• be between an A4 size and a total size of 1.4 square metres, including frame (over this size will count as two entries);
• be the original work of the artist and not a reproduction or joint creation;
• have been completed within 2 years of May, 2009;
• be framed or mounted to a reasonable standard (no clip frames), with a method of hanging (eg be strung with picture wire). Where possible, entrants are encouraged to supply their own display stands to ensure safety and best presentation of works. Any special display or hanging requirements must be discussed and agreed with organizers at the time of entry;
5. Entries must be available for display throughout the Art Show and may not be removed by the Artist or any other person during this time.
6. The Art Show is for the purpose of displaying the works to the public and will not involve any selling of any entries. No prices may be displayed on the entries. Artists may give consent in writing on the entry form to organizers providing their contact details in response to sales inquiries.
7. All reasonable care will be exercised in the handling of submitted works. However, no responsibility whatsoever will be accepted by the organisers for the loss or damage of any works while in the custody of the organisers or their agents. It is recommended that suitable insurance cover be effected by the artist for the duration of the event.
8. The organisers reserve the right to reject any entry or to not display a work for any reason, to limit the number of exhibits and to not award a prize in a particular section if the Judges consider that no work of sufficient merit has been entered. The Entry Fee of $5.00 is not refundable under any circumstances.
9. THE FOLLOWING ARE NOT ACCEPTABLE ENTRIES: Non original works (copies or reproductions); works inadequately framed or with inadequate means of hanging, works damaged on arrival, oversized, collages, offensive (as so judged by the selection panel), 3D,or otherwise failing to comply with these Conditions of Entry.
10. Delivery of entries: All entries must be delivered, free of charge, to the Church by the Bridge, Kirribilli, Cnr of Bligh St and Broughton St, Kirribilli, NSW 2061, on Saturday 16th May between 1pm – 5pm OR Monday 18th of February from 9am – 5pm. Late delivery of works will not be accepted.
11. All entries must be collected on Saturday 6th June between 2:00pm – 4:.00pm
12. The Artist hereby indemnifies CBTB its officers, employees, agents and affiliated entities against any costs, damage, fees or other liability incurred by any parties in relation to the entry and any exhibition of the entry, including claims of defamation, intellectual property infringement, bodily injury and/or property damage (including damage to or loss of the work itself).
13. Artists by entering work in the exhibition hereby authorise CBTB, at their discretion, to allow any work to be reproduced in newspapers, magazines, the Art Show Catalogue, web pages or by television for the purposes of promoting the Art Show and/or the 125th Anniversary celebrations of CBTB and Kirribilli. Should the work be reproduced, the Artist will be acknowledged as its creator.

ENTER ONLINE
www.cbtb.org.au

Clean Up Australia Day

CUAD09

We met 26+ locals today as we Cleaned Up Kirribilli. About half came up to the church courtyard afterwards for a feed – sausage sizzle, fruit & drinks. The boys from the Street Teams @ council who were out and about picking the collected rubbish even joined us.

Praise God for great weather and the start of friendships with our neighbours. (I now know three locals on my street.)


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