Dear Friends,
I trust that you are keeping well and in good spirits, despite the winter viruses circulating in our community. Our family has also been affected – Nathan was unwell earlier this week, missing school on Monday and Tuesday, and Angela is unwell today. Please do pray for her full and speedy recovery. My prayers are with all who are currently unwell; may the Lord, our Healer, grant you complete restoration.
I am grateful for the encouraging turnout at our Corporate Prayer Meeting last Saturday. Thank you to everyone who attended. During that time, we shared thanksgiving and testimonies of answered prayers, which was truly uplifting. Many of our church members have received healing, wellness and wholeness – reminding us that while life in this world is not promised to be pain-free, our God is always present to save and restore. Our next Corporate Prayer Meeting is scheduled for June 28th, with the theme: “Our Church: Making Disciples.” I look forward to praying and reflecting with you on this important theme.
In my previous updates, I mentioned that our Vestry’s Day Retreat held the other month was both fruitful and inspiring. One key activity was a one-hour “Problem-Solving and Priority-Setting Workshop,” which proved to be rich with insights and ideas. I’d like to share some of what we discussed. The first question asked the Vestry to identify three to five major challenges facing our church today. The consolidated list of responses includes: (1) lack of volunteers, (2) difficulty engaging and integrating different congregations/services, (3) overload from numerous initiatives and activities, (4) resource and support needs for Messy Church, (5) presenting the gospel effectively in an increasingly secular and unreceptive world, (6) insufficient attendance in Home Groups, (7) succession planning, (8) limited evangelism training opportunities, (9) decline in Wednesday service attendance, (10) families’ busy schedules reducing volunteer availability, and (11) need for effective pastoral care and volunteer support.
In response, Vestry has approved the following goals and priorities for the rest of the year to address the above challenges: (1) Strengthening volunteer engagement and support; (2) Consolidating and enhancing existing ministries; (3) Fostering unity across congregations; (4) Supporting and expanding Home Groups; and (5) Deepening spiritual growth and discipleship. In the document Vestry has approved, there are specific action plans listed under each of these priorities. I look forward to sharing these with you at one of our upcoming joint services.
One immediate step, with regards to priority #4, “Supporting and Expanding Home Groups,” is the appointment of Steve and Lindy Scaife as Home Groups Coordinators, effective immediately. Their role is to support St Christopher’s network of small groups to ensure they are healthy, well-led, and aligned with our church’s mission. Please pray for and encourage Steve and Lindy as they serve in this vital ministry.
We are also seeking a Coordinator for our Evangelism Portfolio, which was previously led by Keith Buck until last March. Please pray for someone with a passion for evangelism and ability to lead a team to be raised up. This role does not require Vestry membership.
Our special fundraising appeal for the Christian Blind Mission – to support cataract surgeries in countries such as Nepal, Zimbabwe, and Papua New Guinea – closes this week. I look forward to sharing a report on the total amount collected next Sunday (June 8th). Thank you to all who have generously supported this cause.
Upcoming Services and Events:
This Sunday is Ascension Sunday, and I will be preaching on the theme of the Ascension of Christ. The Ascension is the most neglected and least understood aspect of our Lord’s saving work. While Christmas and Easter dominate our annual celebrations, we seldom give proper attention to Christ’s return to the Father. This ought not to be the case. I hope you will join us this Sunday for this important service. Our readings will be Acts 1:1–11 and Luke 24:44–53. Additionally, I encourage you to meditate on other biblical passages that illuminate this theme, such as Psalm 47, Psalm 93 and Ephesians 1:15–23.
The Men's Breakfast will be held on Saturday, June 7th, at 9am in the Parish Hall. This is an excellent opportunity to enjoy fellowship with other men, savour a delicious fully cooked breakfast, and hear an informative talk by our speaker, Mark Rolston. Mark will share about his recent experiences travelling to the Arctic. The cost is $10 per person. To RSVP, please add your name to the sign-up sheet at the back of the church.
I encourage you to look forward with anticipation to Pentecost Sunday, June 8th. Pentecost is one of the principal feasts in the church calendar, celebrating the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the disciples and the birth of the church. The scripture readings for Pentecost Sunday will be Acts 2:1–21, Romans 8:14–17, and John 14:8–17.
Also on June 8th we will be celebrating the culmination of our Haere Mai Project. This project is our intentional effort to create welcoming spaces where people can explore the Christian faith through personal invitation, hospitality, and community. We have established five Haere Mai Home Groups, led by dedicated Hosts and Facilitators, using the Christianity Explored Course to introduce participants to the great hope we have in Christ. The groups are progressing well, and this week they are in week 6 of 7 weeks. There is much cause for joy, thanksgiving and celebration regarding Haere Mai. Given this, it will be fitting to gather as one combined congregation to celebrate. Therefore on June 8th, we will have a joint service at 10.30am, followed by a shared celebratory lunch. During the service, I will share a shorter Pentecost message, and five participants from the Haere Mai Home Groups will give brief testimonies about how they have been blessed through this course. I will also announce some important and exciting news about the next steps for some of these groups – so watch this space! Please make every effort to join us on June 8th, and if you’re able, please bring a plate of finger food to share.
As we head into winter, we can look ahead to Messy Church on June 15th, from 4pm to 6pm in the Parish Hall. This is a wonderful opportunity for parents and children to gather in a friendly, supportive, and safe space for worship, crafts, food, and fun. Our theme will focus on one of Jesus' "I Am" statements – “I am the light of the world" – a particularly timely theme during this season when daylight fades early. Please pray for the success and blessing of this event.
We can also look forward with anticipation to June 15th – Trinity Sunday. On that day, we will continue to hold our two separate services; however, please note that the second service will begin at the new time of 10:30am (instead of 11am). The 9am service remains unchanged, as does the shared morning tea at 10am, which continues to provide a wonderful opportunity for fellowship and connection between members of both congregations.
I would like to warmly promote our upcoming Prayer Morning Tea, scheduled for Saturday, June 21st, from 10am to 11:30am in the Parish Hall. This special event is open to everyone in our church, and I would be delighted and grateful to see as many of you there as possible. It will be a wonderful opportunity not only for fellowship and shared prayer but also to grow in our understanding and appreciation of prayer. Our speaker will be Rev Kevin Gwynne, who will share a message titled “The Power of Healing Prayer.” The Prayer Committee will also give updates on the exciting ways God is working through our church’s prayer life, and you’ll learn how you can be part of this vital ministry. There will also be an opportunity to receive personal prayer. I encourage you to mark your calendar and plan to join us for what promises to be an inspiring and uplifting morning together.
Finally, I encourage you to look ahead with anticipation to Mission Sunday on June 29th. As it falls on a fifth Sunday, we will follow our usual practice of holding a joint service at 10.30am. We are pleased to welcome Rev Richard Drury from Barnabas Aid, who will be preaching at the service. Following the service, there will be a Mission Luncheon. Please note that this is not a bring-a-plate event. Instead, it is a fundraising luncheon with a fee of $10 per person, with all proceeds going to support the important work of Barnabas Aid. I warmly encourage you to support this worthwhile cause. To RSVP, simply add your name to the clipboard at the back of the church.
Thank you for your continued commitment and prayers for our church family.
Warm blessings
Deo
