THIRTY DAYS OF THANSKGIVING

As a church we have so much to be thankful for, we thought why not have a whole month of expressing how thankful we are. So for the month of November we are going celebrate everyday with Thirty days of Thanksgiving. We would love for you to join us by adding your stories in the comments below.

DAY 1: 
We are so thankful for our wonderful God.  He continues to change lives, bless our church and lead our path.

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DAY 2: 
We are so thankful for our pastors Steve and Liz and their beautiful family.  They lead us in step with God's heart for our church; they love us and pray for us; and they live a life of example to all of us.  We love you guys and are so very thankful that God called you to lead our church.

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DAY 3: 
We are so thankful for IgNite.  IgNite has really gone after equipping the saints in hearing from God, prophecy, and praying for the sick. We are thankful to Mark & Annette and the team who have done an incredible job in leading people to Come Alive in their faith. It’s been exciting. We'd love to hear some choice stories of things God has done from our IgNite members.

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DAY 4: 
​We are thankful for Church Family Holiday. This year our holiday was one of the best times away as a church that we have had, with lots of food, laughter, and getting to know each other better. Don't miss out in 2018.

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DAY 5: 
​We are so thankful for the Elders and Leadership Team that God has placed in our church. Words are not enough to express how incredibly gifted and servant hearted they are in partnering in our mission to leading people to come alive in their faith in Jesus.

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DAY 6: 
​We are so thankful for the gifts and commitments made towards extending God’s kingdom, through our KingdomCome Missions projects. They raised well over $10K more than what we budgeted for. Even more exciting, we had over 30 commitments, representing over 30 family groups in our church. We are also thankful for each of the mission projects that we are able to partner with through KingdomCome.

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DAY 7: 
​We are very thankful for our Pastoral Care Team. They have combined the efforts of the Support Team, Hospitality Team, Welcome Team and Counselling Ministry, and brought a great depth of support to helping those in deeper needs.

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DAY 8: 
​Today we have so much thanks for what God has done at our Vineyards church plant in Cessnock. Pastor Amanda has done an incredible job of leading people to faith, and providing a place where people are growing in their faith in Jesus. They have doubled their numbers in the last twelve months. And, they are beginning to make an impact in the local community. They are a big drive behind the community CAP program, helping people find financial freedom, and have anchored the support of some local well known businesses.

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DAY 9: 
​As a church we are so thankful for our first ever conference in July this year. The Healing and Impartation Conference was such an impacting conference. Not just with growing in healing, but also in the amount of prophetic words that came out of it.

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DAY 10: 
​We are thankful for the Depression and Hope Group. This group has come out of the Pastoral Care Team, caring for those who suffer with anxiety or depression, or have a relative they care for that suffers. Jeff initiated it, and facilitated others growing into this ministry, and it has been well received. Jeff led our first person to the Lord in this ministry in the last few months. God is so good.

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DAY 11: 
​We are so thankful this year for an increase in the focus on family. We have loved our family services, and how they have become a real celebration point in capturing the hearts of the young and the old together in the one room. There are not many places we get to do this. Families really do matter. We am so thankful for each parent in our church who we get to partner with and cheer on in their role as parents in raising godly, faith-filled, and passionate kids.

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DAY 12: 
​Today and every Sunday we are so thankful for our Setup Team. Every Sunday they are up early, first to arrive at church and the last to leave. We love you guys and really appreciate your heart to serve. You are helping to create an environment for life changing relationships.

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DAY 13: 
​We are thankful that so many are coming alive in their faith in Jesus. We love that a number of people have stretched out in faith to deliver a prophetic word, or to pray for healing - and have seen God move in this. We would love to hear your story of stepping out in faith this year in the comments.

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DAY 14: 
​We are thankful for God’s provision in the facility that we have in Valentine Public School and how He brings favour in the school. We love being a part of the Valentine Community.

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DAY 15: 
​We are so thankful for Life Groups. We are thankful for all of our leaders, who provide an environment where group members can grow and come alive in their faith. We are also thankful for those who host life groups in their home each week. Thanks for all of the love, prayers, support and encouragement from those in life groups. If you haven't been in a Life Group this year, make sure you join one in the new year.

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DAY 16: 
​We are thankful for sharing fellowship around 'food'. Sharing food and fellowship has been a great way to build relationships which build faith. We are very thankful for those who provide and serve morning tea each Sunday and to those who have provided and served lunch at some special events this year. Many of you have also cooked meals for others or invited people into your homes. Thanks for helping to grow relationships.

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DAY 17: 
Today is Friday, Lighthouse Youth Day! We are especially thankful for our team of leaders at Lighthouse Youth and all of the young people who come each week. We love our young people. They are passionate about Jesus, and are leading the way in a lot of ways, with worship, with evangelism, with seeking God’s Presence. We are so blessed church.

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DAY 18: 
We are so thankful for our Carols Team. Last year, Liz and I(Steve) took our family on a camping holiday the two weeks prior to Carols. We came back to an incredibly professional carols that reached over 250 people. Liz and I loved that we didn’t know half the things that were going to take place that night; we had very little to do with the success of the night; and that we have such an incredible team of people in our church that blow us away with their passion, skills and abilities.

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DAY 19: 
We are very thankful for our children's ministries. For those who volunteer to lead, disciple and teach our children. For our children who are making commitments and showing tangible signs of spiritual growth.

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DAY 20: 
We are so thankful for changed lives at the recent New Vine Youth Camp. Many of our youth came away from youth camp changed dramatically by encounters with God.

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DAY 21: 
Today we are thankful for our first year of soccer. We are so thankful for all of the players, our coaches and supporters. It was a great season, the girls winning their grand final!

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DAY 22: 
We are so thankful for strengthened relationships in our Women's Ministry this year. For our women's ministry team who have created a space for women to grow in their relationships and faith. We are also so thankful for everyone who helped to raise funds for our KingdomCome project in Nigeria at the recent 'Fashion for a Cause.'

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DAY 23: 
We are really thankful for Ernie. Ernie loved people well, and behind the scenes sowed into a number of young men in our church who either had no father figure, or something similar. About this time last year, Ernie and George joined the choir for our Vineyards church plant, to help them out with a Christmas Carols item. We miss him. We are also thankful for how as a church you surrounded Di and Ernie with love and continue to do so. The love that was shown around Di & Ernie was unlike anything I have experienced in a church.

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DAY 24: 
We are very thankful for the recent trip to West Timor. Many of the West Timor Team came back with a bigger heart of compassion. Especially our youth, finding confidence for the future as they found purpose to move forward in. So many lives have been blessed by the Compassion Partnership.

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DAY 25: 
We are thankful for our Production Team who create an amazing environment every Sunday morning for us to Come Alive in our faith. This year we have seen some extra special environments - clouds hanging from the ceiling, a lounge room in the hall.

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DAY 26: 
We are so thankful for all of you who have followed the call of God on your life to serve at New Vine Lakes. Thank you for using your gifts and giving of your time. Every contribution is valuable and much appreciated. Together, each of you are leading people to Come Alive in their faith in Jesus.

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DAY 27: 
We are so thankful for God's direction and the journey we are on towards purchasing land. God continues to point us back to the land at Croudace Bay through words given from those outside our church and building new connections with those who can help us on the journey.

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DAY 28: 
We are thankful for your generosity. So many of you have willingly given to support others in need. Providing hampers for those in need in our community; partnering with other groups supporting those in need; reaching out to our own church family; supporting the work of Depression and Hope; reaching out to family and friends in need.

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DAY 29: 
We are really thankful for the amazing team of musicians, sound guys and AV people who lead us in amazing worship each week. You provide a great atmosphere where the Holy Spirit can move in people's lives as they worship. Thank you to our worship leaders who oversee the team. We are thankful for the time and practice that goes into worship on a Sunday.

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DAY 30: 
We are so thankful for you, the people who make up our church family at New Vine Lakes. We love you all and are so thankful to be a part of journeying with you and leading you to come alive in your faith in Jesus. 
Wow, what a month of thankfulness! Our prayer is that each of us will be thankful everyday, in everything.  Bless you.

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