THANK YOU!

30 Sep THANK YOU!

Let’s start with that…THANK YOU!

Thank you to the intrepid crew who did such an amazing job with the water station for the Intersport Lake Fun Run & Ride Sunday morning. If you haven’t taken time to be part of that experience in serving…you are genuinely missing out. It isn’t unbearably difficult nor physically exhausting. We even took chairs & sat down to rest our bones from time to time. AND…it matters. Maybe eternally in the long run. When servants of Jesus serve in his name it makes a noticeable impact. Don’t believe me…?

Hand to my heart I had a conversation with a lady at ALDI today about that. Somehow she recognized my voice…Imagine that. She let me go in front of her at the checkout because her cart had more stuff in it than mine & as we chatted she asked if I had been handing out water during the Run & Ride. I said “Yes” wondering if she’d had a bug in hers or something & I was about to catch a hiding. But she smiled & said her 8-year old son thought I had a great accent…Imagine that. Then she quoted what I said in a pretty fair “Australian doing a Texas accent.” I fell out laughing. She had me nailed. So I told her our church was there every week. And if I didn’t see her before I’d see her again next year at the Lake Run & Ride.

So…don’t ever think our serving goes unnoticed…OR that simple encouragement doesn’t make an impact. “Ride hard. Have fun!” was what I said to her little boy & he remembered that as a highlight of his very active day. When you talk to people & add value to their day with your words…it matters. Don’t tell me, “I’m an introvert I don’t talk to people.” Paul hated followers of Jesus & look how God redirected his zeal. Allow God to redirect yours toward the not-yet-believers all around you.

THANK YOU too to the great crowd who joined in for lunch & worship after the Run & Ride. We had to set up another table & the food was wonderful! Thank you for the extra efforts there as well. I know there are those who just aren’t comfortable in a worship format that doesn’t look like what we usually do. All I can say is that worship with God’s Word around God’s bounty through the hands of  God’s people looks more like the early church…those first communities of Jesus followers…than anything we do sitting in little rows listening to a pastor & sticking to a pre-set liturgical format. AND…the not-yet-Christian world is more likely to feel at home around a few sandwiches, egg & vegetable slices, chicken wings & desserts than they are in a “normal” service. So we may have to adapt our mindset to become more effective in mission here in the 21^st century. Be ready!

Be ready too for the great things in store over the coming weeks…

1. Zoom Bible Study Catch-up
   Friday 4^th October 2024 @ 1:00 PM
   Join Zoom Meeting —  https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83006349720  —  Meeting ID: 830 0634 9720
2. Sunday 6^th October – Living Water Fellowship AGM – Immediately following worship. We’ll grab some morning tea & lean into our essential business. Reports are available & we’re going to take some time during the budget discussion to really talk through our looming large scale financial shortfall. When you see the reports, the Treasurer’s Report will have some “prime the pump” questions that we might use to get the conversation going. They’ll be good to pray through & think through before the day.
   • Please remember to set your clock ahead one hour Saturday night when you go to bed. Daylight Savings time begins.
3. Giving Beyond Ourselves is also this Sunday 6^th October – For the Tamaris Pfeiffer-Tait Bursary Fund at the Riverina Conservatorium of Music. Those funds truly help young people who can’t otherwise afford music tuition. Our girls were recipients for a while way back in the early days. It makes a difference, so as always, be generous
4. Sunday 3rd November – Living Water Church Picnic at the Botanic Gardens immediately following worship. Think how much fun you’re going to have riding the little trains!!!! Details will be forthcoming.

Saturday morning I read these words…they’re familiar, but for some reason they had a special impact in my heart: “Everyone will hate you because you are my followers; but not a hair of your head will perish! By standing firm you will win your souls.” – Luke 21:17-19 — This is getting near the end of Jesus’ life…between the palm & praise-saturated entry into Jerusalem & the last supper. Jesus reminds us that all who are planted deeply within life in him will be opposed in this world, but that opposition is assuredly defeated because of his resurrection victory. The day before I had shared with some others 1 John 2:17 – “This world is fading away along with all human cravings & desires. But whoever does the will of God will live forever.”

Maybe it’s an age thing…but more & more I see the hard truth that only those rooted & built up in Christ get to see him beyond the last day. Nothing & no one survives this life outside the embrace of Christ’s death & resurrection.  Jesus’ preaching & teaching is filled with warnings about the great division between all who trust in him & obey his commands and those who hate him, hate his people, & persist in their rebellion against God the Father. A large part of that “rebellion” is hate directed against those who stand firm in Christ, but for those faithful souls, not a hair is lost & the reward is to enjoy Christ’s presence forever.

So…Thank you…every firm-standing servant among you! Thank you.

See you Sunday…if not before.

Peace

John