This Sunday
On Sunday Brent Faulkner will be speaking across all our gatherings on 2 Timothy 1:15-2:7 about running the race of the Christian life. 

Term Booklets
We are seeking to reduce paper and are planning on doing a smaller print run of our term study booklets. If you would like to guarantee a paper copy please email our Ministry Coordinator via office@scpc.org.au

6pm Gathering
From next Sunday (May 1st) our 6pm gathering will return to meeting regularly at our Park Avenue premises. 

AGM
Our church held our Annual General Meeting on Sunday April 10th. We heard that our church finances have been significantly affected by the flooding. Some churches from outside the region have very generously offered to provide financial gifts to help us get through this year. We don’t know what the future beyond this year holds. We need to keep praying and trusting God as he grows his kingdom in Lismore and beyond. 

At the AGM our lead pastor Stew spoke from Psalm 121. It’s well worth reading and reflecting on. 

1 I lift up my eyes to the mountains —   
where does my help come from?
2 My help comes from the Lord,   
the Maker of heaven and earth.

3 He will not let your foot slip —   
he who watches over you will not slumber;
4 indeed, he who watches over Israel   
will neither slumber nor sleep.

5 The Lord watches over you —   
the Lord is your shade at your right hand;
6 the sun will not harm you by day,   
nor the moon by night.

7 The Lord will keep you from all harm —   
he will watch over your life;
8 the Lord will watch over your coming and going   
both now and forevermore.

James Ritchie,
Families Pastor

Welcome to The Pastors’ Pen, an update for life at Southern Cross.

Do you have much energy!? It’s a tiring time, isn’t it? This week I heard a Christian leader from QLD encourage us to ‘take it easy’. There is a long way to go for recovery in our city. It will not be a sprint; it will be a marathon and take years to come out of this tragedy.

Somewhat appropriately, we begin our new holiday preaching series this weekend in 2 Timothy, with the series titled, Run the Race. It is the apostle Paul’s last words to Timothy. He will remind Timothy that the Christian life is a marathon. It is hard, long, gruelling, painful, but so so so worth it! On top of that, our caring father God grants us the resources for this race, God’s word, which equips us for every, yes every, good work.

But how do we have the energy to receive this word when we are so so so tired!? Be creative. Call a Christian friend from outside the Northern Rivers. Let them speak God’s word into your life. Listen to Christian music. Grab one verse for the term and just rest in it. Listen to the Bible being read on Audio. Grab a devotional by a beautiful Christian teacher. Whatever you do, get fuel for this marathon. Pick up a friend from your Gospel Community and bring them along as we gather on Sundays if they are just finding it all too hard to be motivated to come.

We have a long road ahead. We saw that on Wednesday night at the CoM meeting. Weekly giving is down. Properties need restoring. We will meet for our AGM. We don’t want it to be a marathon meeting. We want to provide what we know, inform you all, and then pray for the road ahead. We are thankful for pledges from some Sydney churches to assist us in getting through 2022. But this pathway ahead will take a number of years to recover. So we look to our faithful shepherd to guide us on this challenging journey ahead.

1 The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
3 he refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths
for his name’s sake.
4 Even though I walk
through the darkest valley,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.
Psalm 23:1-4

SP