From the Pastor’s Pen 19 Feb 2012
Sometimes and it seems increasingly in these times, there are days and weeks when you don’t get a chance to catch your breath. The year has started like that for many of us. Whether it be the pressure of economic uncertainty and income security, the concerns of aging and declining health, the business of young children, or merging two churches together and launching a new year; there are times when you don’t seem to be able to catch your breath.
It is during these times that we are called to focus on God. Psalm 46 puts it so well, “Be still and know that I am God!” Can I encourage you in the midst of what is going to be another busy year, a year of uncertainty for many, to be still! Please take the time to focus on Christ, take the time to dig into the Scripture passages that we are looking at in our sermons. For in stillness and understanding there is opportunity to know the great “I AM”, only in Him will you find security and peace.
Pastor Stephen
From the Pastor’s Pen 12 Feb 2012
Grasping the Lordship of Christ!
We have celebrated the merger of two churches into one Church, two Campuses. We have caught a glimpse of what God has in store for us … and it is very exciting. To experience all that God has for us, to see that glimpse of what is ahead actually become our daily experience; we need to be sure of who it is we serve, what he will do for us, ask of us and do through us.
This week we begin the series titled The Seven “I AM” Claims of Jesus. My hope is that you will be challenged and inspired over these coming weeks to grasp the true implications of Christ’s Lordship over your life and how His Lordship will work through you in all you do. Can I encourage you to participate in the services and become part of a home group, so that you can explore the incredible claims of Christ on your life and make His Lordship your daily experience.
We begin the series this Sunday morning and will hold our “Launch Service” on Sunday evening with a fellowship meal at 5.30pm followed by the Service. During this time we will share in the Induction Ceremony for Warren Kercher as Campus Pastor Woodford / Teaching Pastor. Please join us for this evening of celebration and inspiration as we begin our first home group series for 2012.
Pastor Stephen
January 2012
Dear Church Family
I want to share with you my excitement about the coming year. The Lord has done amazing things in revealing to us the opportunity to combine forces. He has shown us his heart for the people of this valley, people who need to see the gospel lived out and communicated in a manner which they can understand and respond to.
As we begin the process of joining together we will come to a place where we can be far more effective in taking the gospel to people who are far from him. This process will take time and it is important that we take one step at a time and understand that all we do is for the cause of Christ and his gospel.
We will launch the New Year on January the 22nd with a short series on the Mission of the Church and celebrate our merger on the 5th of February with a special service at Kilcoy. We are inviting special guests to this service and fellowship lunch, and we will hold an induction ceremony for Ken Rutherford as he takes on the role of Campus Pastor for Kilcoy. A service will also be held at Woodford as normal on this day.
On the 12th of February at the morning services we will begin our first home group series for the year where we will look at the Seven Claims of Jesus in the Gospel of John. On the evening of the 12th of February we will hold our home group series launch service where we will also invite special guests and hold an induction ceremony for Warren Kercher as he takes on the role of Campus Pastor for Woodford.
After Easter we will begin another home group series where we will look at the message of 1 Corinthians for us today and then after the June / July School holidays we will have a third series on the topic of Growing Together where we will take a look at mentoring and accountability and how we can help each other grow to be more Christ like.
In September we have a special guest in Andy Collier from Baptist World Aid; Andy will help us to explore how we can more effectively support the missionaries we have a relationship with and how we can use short term trips to provide practical support to our missionaries whilst building the faith of our own people.
Our senior teenagers are working on exciting plans to grow our youth ministry and we are working on a plan to more effectively minister to children.
These things are the start of an exciting future where we will see God at work as we focus on his mission. I want to encourage you to take hold of the opportunities to grow in your relationship with Christ and each other, so that we will each be equipped to serve and glorify the name of Christ across this valley and beyond.
In service of Christ
Pastor Stephen
