It’s been frantic for many families this week with kids all returning to school at varied days across the week. And for some new kindies, it’s not until next week. This can be such an anxious time and parents
and carers need to be emotional coaches [1] for the small (and big) kids!
This Sunday, for Southern Cross Goonellabah (SCG), is also a very anxious moment. For many a real
heaviness and genuine fear. For others from SCG, a real mix of emotions, a curiosity about what God
is doing in this moment, a sense of loss – yet wrapped up in a pang of excitement. How do you handle
that bubbling emotional load? Cast your cares on him. [2]
The other real and present conundrum is that for many at East Lismore with the pressures of the new
term beginning, health concerns or financial challenge, the reality of SCG’s combining and continuing
this Sunday may have been lost on you. We understand the pressures. However, what happens if these two parties from above, meet on Sunday? One member unaware, one member in deep thought and heartache. How will that conversation go? I think we can have legitimate concerns. Don’t you!?
So please pray.
Pray for this unique and important GO! Sunday as East Lismore welcomes our dear sisters and
brothers from SCG as we combine this weekend. We have a brand new start time in the morning for
everyone, 9:30am at Lismore High (our 6pm gathering retains its time).
Now, like a normal GO! Sunday, we will have a commissioning which celebrate Christ’s gifting to the church. [3] This will of course include all of us too, as we all GO forth as commissioners of our King. [4]
Over the weekend please do pray for the many and varied emotions in the room, particularly on Sunday morning at 9:30am. I think a beautiful item that could help to calm the room is for us to anchor ourselves in the incredible Christian virtue of joy. Joy, can allow us to move through the rollercoaster of emotions, but keep us centred, content and stable in Christ’s extravagant strength.
Therefore, I just think it is so appropriate to end with a large slab from Philippians 4 – a book we all will be journeying in this term…
4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
10 I rejoiced greatly in the Lord that at last you renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you were concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. 11 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength.
See you at 9:30am this Sunday (or at 6pm)!
Love, Stew
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[1] This phrase comes from John Gottman’s helpful work: How to Raise Emotionally Intelligent Children
[2] Psalm 23
[3] Ephesians 4:11-16
[4] Matthew 28:18-20
