Whose Name do you bear?

19 Nov Whose Name do you bear?

What a great question to start with…let’s do some ‘business’ first & then think about it!

1. Zoom Bible Study Catch-up (Genesis 1:27-2:2, Ecclesiastes 2:24-26, & John 15:5-17)
   Friday – 22nd November 2024 @ 1:00 p.m.
   Join Zoom Meeting  —  https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83006349720  —  Meeting ID: 830 0634 9720
2. Advent begins! Sunday 1^st December! We’ll explore the VIP invitation we’ve received from the Father in celebration of the birth of the Son. Don’t miss a Sunday!
   • Christmas Morning Tea – think festive!
   • Giving Beyond Ourselves for Australian Lutheran World Service
3. If Advent is nigh upon us that means Christmas is right around the corner…
   • Christmas Eve is Tuesday, 24th December – Worship is at 7:00 p.m. Ask Liz or Philippa how you can help out!
   • Christmas Day is Wednesday, 25th December – Worship is at 9:00 a.m. A few more hands here too would be great! Talk to Liz and Philippa.
4. Let’s talk 2025…
   • As I’ve mentioned a few times here, we’ll be praying our way into 2025 with a Saturday Morning Prayer Time @ our place on Saturday 4^th January @ 10:00 a.m. We’ll pray with thanksgiving for all that God has given us in 2024 & to be ready to receive & share his gifts in 2025. I’d like us to start a pattern of praying ourselves into each new season. Let’s fill the house!
   • UnEarthed: Uncovering stories of Faith in Australia – Thursday 27th February 2025 – This citywide multi-church evangelism event will be a FREE event for you, your families, and friends held at the Range Function Centre. Please note that date! This is going to be HUGE for our city as many of the churches are finally working together to see Christ’s kingdom reach wider than any individual church can stretch. It’s going to include Karl Faase, Colin Buchanan (and his adult country repertoire) and special guests from the Faith Runs Deep documentary interview series. All-Australian stories of faith in Christ from the length & breadth of this sunburnt country…the Great Southland of the Holy Spirit.

Now…about that “Name” question… I’m reading through Ezekiel at the moment. Zeke is another of those prophets for whom I feel sad. His bringing of God’s word to God’s people never seemed to produce anything but resistance…so God was forced to punish Israel & Judah at the hands & sword-blades of their enemies. But there is this promise that just resonates so deeply… “You will know that I am the Lord, O people of Israel, when I have honoured my name by treating you mercifully in spite of your wickedness. I, the Sovereign Lord, have spoken!” – Ezk 20:44

As God’s chosen, his Name rests on us as surely as it did on the people of Ezekiel’s day…and God’s mercy is not about our need but his Name & his honour. Human wickedness is great enough to approach the infinite, but the honour of God’s Name printed on us turns God toward us in mercy not wrath. And according to the New Testament, that undeserved mercy alone is enough to transform us into those who more fully reflect the honour of God’s Name: “So we keep on praying for you, asking our God to enable you to live a life worthy of his call; & by his power fulfil your every desire for goodness & your every deed prompted by faith.” – 2 Thess 1:11

I pray that for you this week

See you Sunday…or somewhere else along the way!

John