Hi Southern Cross! It’s Ritchie here. It’s really cool to be back. We’ve loved being back in a place that feels like home. We’ve loved the warm welcome we’ve received. We’ve loved seeing the way God’s really grown and worked in the hearts of so many people in Lismore over the seven years we’ve been away. There’s a lot we’ve loved about being in Lismore, but in some ways it’s also been a difficult time to return, with the sudden spread of covid, and there’s so many unknowns about the future. 

I feel for a lot of us there’s been an undercurrent tension or anxiety over the last couple of years that’s probably only grown over the last few weeks with the increase in cases. 

I’ve got two things to say and they’re both in that space:

Firstly: from this Sunday we’re going to begin livestreaming the 9:45am gathering. We’ll still be meeting in person at 9am in Goonellabah and 9:45am and 6pm in East Lismore, but if you’re not comfortable attending one our gatherings in person due to covid concerns, there’ll be an option for you to join in by watching on the livestream on zoom at 9:45am. 

Now, with all the unknowns about the future and the rising tension in many of us, the second thing to say is this: God’s really still on the throne. 

Psalm 27:12 The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

David there talks about the Lord as his stronghold. When you’re in a stronghold, the enemy might try to get at you, but they can’t, the walls are too high, the gates are too firmly locked – it’s a stronghold, you’re safe. And God himself is our stronghold. Let’s keep finding real refuge in him no matter what we’re experiencing. 

This Sunday, Cameron Bryant will be preaching from the book of Joshua about finding true rest. Something I’m sure that will be well worth hearing. I hope you can be there in person or watching on via zoom.