20 Jun Baby it’s cold outside!
Wow! Winter has arrived in earnest! And it looks like it’s going to be colder still!
So I trust you’ve got the fire stoked, the warm woolly socks on & a hot cup of your favourite beverage close to hand while we get this week under way.
As always…first things first…
- Zoom Bible Study Catch-up
Friday – 23 June 2023 @ 1:00 PM
Join Zoom Meeting — https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83586782734 — Meeting ID: 835 8678 2734
We’re following up on Sunday’s teaching from Exodus 4:1-17 & 27-31. Have a quick read through the texts and click that link! Always lots to learn & enjoy among the folks who log in with us.
- As we mentioned Sunday, Les Neumann’s son-in-law, Neil Sutton’s funeral will be held at the Alan Harris McDonald Chapel on Friday, 23rd June 2023 commencing at 2:00pm. If you can make it to support Doreen & Les’ daughters that would be most gracious & kind. They’ve got a crew to handle the afternoon tea requirements, but if you can be there…you’d be a welcome presence.
- 10th Anniversary Thanksgiving Celebration – Living Water is using Sunday the 25th of June to thank God for our 10 years in Christ’s mission together. There’ll be a bit of a difference to the service & lunch together following. What a great day to bring a friend with you…and it’s a great time to think about making a special thank offering gift to Living Water…Get us into our 11th year on the front foot.
- I’ve got my knee replacement scheduled… So if you get asked to help out in some way while I’m out of action, please say “Yes.” And…what a great time to show extra support for our lay leadership during my brief absence…pray for the Steering Team & offer your tangible help in keeping our mission flourishing.
This morning I was reading Colossians 3 in my daily devotions. Colossians would be one of my favourite books of the New Testament. This part hit me:
Colossians 3:12-16a – “Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful. Let the word of Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives.”
It struck me that vs 12 & 16a are like bookends repeating the same assurance. Because you are chosen, loved & made holy by God (no part of you is excluded)…13-15 then are the way we show vs 12 to the world, then vs 16 reiterates that by reminding us that Christ’s promises are to “fill” our lives…no part of us is exempt from his claim on us. I love that. Every part of us, every relationship, every interaction with another person, every thought, word, deed…every attitude, belief, and value…every moment of every day…all of it claimed by God in Christ. And Christ leads me in how his claim is made visible & effective in my interactions with the people I meet in any given day. Every one of the behaviours listed is one way Christ in me makes himself visible to someone else…especially those who aren’t yet part of his family. It seems a tall order until I remember it’s him at work in me, not me muscling up those character traits in myself. It’s not about me showing my best “me” to the world, it’s about Christ showing himself to the world through ordinary old me. That…I can manage.
I may have more later in the week…but do make plans to join us Friday & Sunday!
God bless you until I see you again! (and then some more after that)
John
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