Connections Archive

Kerry Arbuckle
Connections editorial intern

"Are you really living?" was the question recently splashed on posters around Avondale's Lake Macquarie campus. The posters were promotions for last Friday's (September 25) 7:28 worship service organised by ladies residence.

The question was the theme of Friday night's program and Saturday morning's worship service at Avondale College Seventh-day Adventist church. While the theme may have been the same for the two services, they were approached differently by the student speakers.

Shona Clarke, a Bachelor of Education (primary) student, reminded listeners at 7:28 "we need to run our own race, know the shepherd, [and] dare to step out and be more than those around you." Residence assistant Erika Gamundoy, also a Bachelor of Education (primary) student, challenged Saturday morning's congregation to "go from a black and white life to colour." Both services featured clips from the movie Pleasantville.

Hannah Orman, a residence assistant, played an important part in the program. "Students connect with students," says Hannah. "An act of service makes [College Church] more of a home." She proved this by leading the volunteer "Airhostesses" of Andrella Airlines, an alias created through the combination of the names of ladies residence (Andre and Ella Boyd). Hannah and the airhostesses 'readied' their audience passengers for 'take-off', then took up the offering.

Avondale College Seventh-day Adventist Church invites both men's and women's residences to take the worship service every semester. College Church pastor Bruce Manners described last weekend's service as "great." He "particularly liked the message that you didn?t quite get until Erika spoke."