About Passover – Sunday 29th January

This week’s sermon is all about the Passover, which in a sense was the foundation of Israel as a nation.  Whereas Australia Day looks back to an event only a little over 200 years ago, the Passover looks back over three thousand years, and has been celebrated regularly by the Jews for that entire time!  Not only that, but as Christians we have been celebrating Jesus’ reinterpretation of the Passover (the Lord’s Supper) for two thousand years.  Most exciting of all is that this feast looks not only back, but also forward.

We’ve reached that time of year when things start to feel busier again in church life.  Various of our weekday ministries are starting up this week (see below).  It’s also the time of year to think about joining a Bible study group.  I am a big fan of Bible study groups, because they are the perfect combination getting to know people better (through meeting in a small group) and God better (through Bible discussion and prayer).  I still think they’re the best way to deepen Christian community.  Please sign up, even (especially) if you’ve never been in one before.

Next week is Vision Sunday, when we commission various ministries and get inspired for the work of the gospel this year.  While I realise we face some challenges, we do have the command to “preach the gospel in season and out of season” and Jesus’ promise, “Surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:20).  I intend to hang onto that promise this year.  As a follow up to Vision Sunday, I’d like to invite everyone to a Prayer Meeting for the work of the gospel this year, on the following Monday night, 6^th Feb, 6.00-7.00 pm.

Please keep thinking and praying about how you could serve in the mission of the church this year.  Next week will be an opportunity to indicate how you’d like to help.

Brief news and some key dates for this week:

• Exodus journals are available for a limited time, $15 in the porch.
• Playgroup commences for the year this Tuesday, 31^stJan, 9.30 am
• Kids’ Club kicks off this Wednesday, 1^stFeb, 3.00 pm
• KYB starts this Friday with an introduction to Revelation, 9.30 am
• The year’s first Ramble is also this Friday, 3^rdFeb, at 10 am.
• A Ten Commandments movie night is coming soon!

Yours,
Andrew Schmidt,
Rector