Dear friends,
This past month has been a time of joyful mission. As I look at the photos from our activities, I am amazed and grateful at the way our church , our “community hub” is coming alive.
In August we had the winter warmers to raise funds and much needed provisions for Uniting SA.
Recently we had our Frontier Services barbecues and guest speaker Janet Woodward, who gave us insight into the valuable work they do.
The fashion parade was a huge success and people are still talking about it.
The Bunnings BBQ was also very successful and an amazing amount of money was raised.
The Women’s Fellowship Service last week was greatly appreciated.
We have certainly sprung into Spring.
Cath our delightful coffee shop co-ordinator is working well with the Connections Team and volunteers to make delicious food and coffee on Fridays when the OP Shop is open. We see new people every week and everyone is given a warm welcome. Hospitality is at the heart of God’s mission and so it must be at the heart of our mission also. This is evident throughout the gospel of Luke.
Henri Nouwen described hospitality like this “ Hospitality is when the host creates a space for the stranger, so that relationship can develop”.
From this we can hear the gospel imperative to welcome the stranger. Recently I went with Joan, Jackie, Lyn and Vera when they provided a delightful morning tea to OLV. The staff were most appreciative and made us feel very welcome and I experienced this kind of hospitality from them. As Christians we are called by Jesus to follow him and provide hospitality to the stranger.
May God strengthen us all in service and enable us to pastorally care for our community through Jesus Christ.
May I offer these words from Helen Steiner Rice to encourage us, in the service of our Lord .
Fill your heart with Thanksgiving
“Take nothing for granted,
For whenever you do
The joy of enjoying is lessened for you –
For we rob our own lives much more than we know
When we fail to respond or in any way show
Our thanks for the blessings that daily are ours
The warmth of the sun, the fragrance of flowers, the beauty of twilight, the freshness of dawn, the coolness of dew on a green velvet lawn,
The kind little deeds so thoughtfully done,
The favours of friends and the love that someone Unselfishly gives us in a myriad of ways,
Expecting no payment and no words of praise-
Oh great is our loss when we no longer find,
A thankful response to things of this kind,
For the Joy of Enjoying and the fullness of Living
Are found in the heart that is filled with Thanksgiving.”
May we remember to give thanks to the Lord in all circumstances, trusting in his grace, for new life.
With a big thank you. Shalom
Rev. Frances