Blaxland Presbyterian Church N.S.W. Australia

ST. MARGARET'S PRESBYTERIAN
CHURCH BLAXLAND

PARISH OF THE LOWER BLUE MOUNTAINS

15A Wilson Way, Blaxland N.S.W. AUSTRALIA 2774
Postal address: PO Box 3115 Blaxland East NSW 2774

LOCATION

Blaxland Presbyterian Church is located 60 km West of Sydney
in the beautiful Blue Mountains, between Penrith and Springwood.

Blaxland Presbyterian Church and Hall

	OUR PURPOSE STATEMENT
	"To Present Christ to everyone and to grow together in Him"
	OUR CORE VALUES
	WHAT WE BELIEVE
	+ We value most of all the fact that Christ died for our sin, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring us to God. + We value the Bible, which speaks to us with all the authority of God himself. + We value prayer, as we recognise God's authority over all things, and we seek to pray according to His will.
	HOW WE MINISTER TO OUR CHURCH FAMILY
	+ We value clear, concise Bible teaching that impacts on our life situation and leads us to ever increasing obedience to, and faith in, the Lord Jesus Christ. + We value every member of our church family, and encourage them to develop their talents and use their gifts in God's service. + We value practical demonstrations of love towards one another. + We value small groups as a means of better knowing, loving and serving both God and one another as we learn the Bible together.
	HOW WE REACH OUT TO PEOPLE WHO DON'T KNOW CHRIST
	+ We value all people and seek to win unbelievers to Christ through God's grace and authentic friendship. + We value life in the 21st century, and seek to understand and relate to contemporary society in fresh ways, without compromising our commitment to obey the Lord Jesus. + We value church activities that are welcoming and understandable to unbelievers.
	WHAT WE VALUE IN OUR RELATIONSHIPS AND OUR LEADERS
	+ We value Christian integrity in life and relationships. + We insist on Christian integrity in the lives of our leaders. + We value leaders who serve the church by leading and lead the church by serving.

PASTOR - Graham Self

Jenny and Graham Self with Matthew (6),
Julia (7) and Nicholas (10)

ORGANISATIONS Bible Study Groups, Prayer Breakfasts, Craft Group, Music and Movement Group, Presbyterian Women's Association, Presbyterian Youth Group and Sunday School.

Sunday Morning Service - 8.45 am, Family Service with Sunday School and Creche - 10.00 am (a Combined Morning Service occurs once a Term at 9.30am), and Night Church - 6.30pm.

( ALL WELCOME )

HISTORY

Blaxland Presbyterian Church had its beginnings as a Sunday School class in the garage of Mr Norm Hutchinson's home. This work grew to become an active church, housed in a relocated R.A.A.F. Mess Hut on the present site. This building was officially dedicated as a place of worship on Sunday 28th February, 1959. On completion of the present Church building, the Mess Hut became the Church Hall. It was subsequently demolished and replaced by our modern Multi-Purpose Hall and Church Complex.

The congregation was small at first and comprised of some families with small children, working men, and some elderly people. It has since grown to become an active body, taking in about 100 family groups, who are growing in their christian faith.

WHAT WE BELIEVE

Along with other Christian churches, the Presbyterian Church of Australia upholds historic Christianity as given in the Bible and held through the ages. We believe in one God in the Trinity of the three persons of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. We affirm the real historic events of Jesus Christ's death and resurrection and look to him for forgiveness of sins and a sure hope of eternal life. We see ourselves as now being part of the one true church of Jesus on earth and eagerly look forward to the return of Jesus and His eternal kingdom. We receive the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament as the Word of God and look to them as the rule of faith and life.

The Presbyterian understanding of Christianity is summarised in the Westminster Confession of Faith of 1646, as understood in the light of the Declaratory Statement adopted by the Presbyterian Church of Australia in 1901. The Westminster Confession contains what might be called a "reformed" or "Calvinist" outlook. That is, Presbyterians tend to emphasise God's initiative and activity in such important matters as knowing God and being saved. God's initiative is not taken as lessening the need for human responsibility and action, but rather as meeting the conditions under which the human response occurs. The Declaratory Statement seeks to safeguard the church against mis-interpretations of the Confession and acts as an official commentary to it.

The sites listed below are not endorsed by this church, or The Presbyterian Church of Australia. They are simply provided for your interest and convenience. Therefore, it should not be implied that The Presbyterian Church of Australia necessarily agrees with the views and/or doctrines expressed on these pages.