Here is a short video from one of our pastors, Matt, as he talks about life at SCPC this week.
Hello Southern Cross, welcome to another Pastors’ Post.
Well it’s hardly breaking news, that we (in the Lismore area) are in at least another week of lockdown. Not breaking news, but it is heart breaking that we can’t gather together.
The events around the world and indeed in our own town at the moment are heart breaking – just as many other seasons throughout history have been heart breaking – we pray for strength and courage to persevere through this difficult period. A few days ago, we were super excited as we were organising gatherings for this Sunday – but it wasn’t to be.
As followers of Jesus, we share HIS heart for people, we care for others and love them even if we disagree on important issues. Even as our circumstances are quickly changing around us, love for all people is an unchanging characteristic of Jesus. A characteristic which grows in us, as we grow into likeness of our Lord. These are tricky times, and we’re thinking about things now, that we may have never considered before. But sharing the love of Christ, by pointing others to him and loving like him, is part of our DNA.
Something that’s recently come into focus for us is vaccination passports. Now, you may be wanting to know exactly what our plans are around this issue. Right at the moment, we just don’t know. Over the coming weeks, there will be many discussions being held between the government and church representatives (including our denomination). Within our church family and the wider community, our opinions about what action we should take will no doubt differ. I hope that in all of this, we will treat each other with love, grace and respect in these conversations.
Please pray for our government, our denomination and our SCPC Leadership Team as we carefully navigate our way through these issues, never losing sight of our mission to proclaim the gospel, the message of hope to the world, and specifically to those in our neighbourhood.
As followers of Jesus, we have the assurance of faith in Him. An assurance which our world so desperately needs. We may be struggling to be creative in our efforts to reach out to others with the gospel – I know I am. But let’s pray that God will give us the opportunities to show the world the love of Christ, and the opportunities to speak the wonderful truth of the gospel which is cause for us to celebrate with joy under all circumstances.
So with no gathering this Sunday, please join us on Zoom on Sunday morning at 10am or in the evening, Sunday evening at 6pm. We’re back into our holiday series in 1 Samuel. Just click on the link on our website to join from 9:45am on Sunday morning, or 5:45pm on Sunday evening.
Let me leave you with these words of encouragement from 1 Corinthians 15:57-58.
57 But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
58 Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
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