18 Nov More Thanksgivings!
Happy Tuesday Y’all!
A friend asked me last week if we were celebrating Thanksgiving this year. The 4th Thursday in November in the US is the official “Thanksgiving Day;” complete with turkey dinners (roasted or fried as you decide), mashed potatoes, green beans, pumpkin pie (not my favourite thing), stuffing or dressing (depending on where it’s cooked – inside the bird or in a separate pan), & whatever other fine things you choose for your table. I said, we were not celebrating a particular day, but that Living Water was observing the whole MONTH with 10,000 Reasons to give thanks…10,000 Reasons for the hope & joy we receive in Christ. One more Sunday to go & we’ll share even more thanksgivings as God flings wide the door of his Kingdom to welcome our newest little brother saint into the family of Christ by baptism. Don’t miss this one…it’s going to be grand!
One of the “traditions” that sadly has leapt the ocean from the US & landed in Australia is the “Black Friday Sale.” Some background…The Thursday of Thanksgiving Day in the US, is a holiday & most often so is the Friday following. BUT all the shops are open on Friday & that particular day marks the start of the Christmas shopping season. It has historically been the day that retailers counted on to lift their yearly sales from loss to profit…or from “red ink” to “black ink.” Hence, “Black Friday.” The hope is that all who are not at work will go on a shopping extravaganza…binge their credit cards to the max in an orgy of spending. I’ve asked some shop employees around here if they knew the origins of “Black Friday” & almost none did. “Black Friday” is one of those celebrations of irresponsible affluence that leave me feeling quite sad about the state of our world. By all means, be generous with your friends & family this Christmas…but too often, “Black Friday” & the run-up to Christmas becomes a frenzy of spending money we don’t have on things no one needs & giving them to people who already have everything. I am always thankful for the generous people in my life who shower me & our family with tangible expressions of their love. I try to imitate the best of them. I also look for ways in this season to be generous beyond my own circle of interest. Living Water will Give Beyond Ourselves December 7th for Australian Lutheran World Service. That’s exceptional!
As we move toward Christmas & the end of 2025…
- Zoom Bible Study Catch-up
Friday 21st November 2025 @ 1:00 p.m.
Join Zoom Meeting — https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89674789066 — Meeting ID: 896 7478 906
2. Organ Recital – Enoch Fandrich @ St Michael’s Cathedral
Saturday 22nd November 2025 @ 7:00 p.m. (Free admission…$0.00 cost)
3. Advent begins! Sunday November 30th.
Living Water Fellowship’s Christmas Morning Tea is Sunday 7th December
Along with the Advent Wreath our Morning Tea is also to be FESTIVE! SO…wear something Christmasy
4. Christmas with the Con
Saturday 13th December starting with Carols at 6:00 p.m. (or so)
Followed by the finest Christmas music you’ll hear this season…from our very own local Conservatorium talent.
Our Steering Team meets tonight. Along with other critical matters, we’ll pick up the major issue from our AGM; rearranging our finances & especially salaries to address our persistent financial decline. Pray for our wisdom, pray for us all to find ways to grow our giving, pray that God will provide in ways we don’t yet expect. I spent a good bit of time yesterday in conversation with some folks from a group that helps faith families like Living Water steer into the future beyond what seems a place of being “stuck.” It was a very encouraging conversation. At one point I asked, “Do you ever tell a group of ‘stuck’ Christians, ‘It’s time for you to close up shop & worship elsewhere’?” Their answer was “No.” They make suggestions that are often difficult…and require great change in how churches function & see their ministry…but they always start from a position of hope. They always assume God is big enough to move his people in his desired direction…and the vast majority of churches they serve do that. We’ll see…pray, serve, be generous, never give up our vision of bringing God glory by his work in our lives all over this city.
I’ve been reading Ezekiel of late…I’ll share part of this tonight with the Steering Team:
“Do you think that I like to see wicked people die? says the Sovereign Lord. Of course not! I want them to turn from their wicked ways and live.” That’s Ezk 18:23…God does not delight in seeing sinners suffer. That’s God’s character…as we read all over the Bible, “gracious & merciful, slow to anger & abounding in steadfast love.” The prophet continues: “Repent, and turn from your sins. Don’t let them destroy you! Put all your rebellion behind you, and find yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. For why should you die, O people of Israel? I don’t want you to die, says the Sovereign Lord. Turn back and live!” God’s call is always to repentance…to turn our lives fully toward him & to turn over the operation of our lives completely to him. It’s a call to life…restoration…renewal…And it’s a call for each of us today.
See you Sunday, or somewhere in between!
John
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