UNITING
CHRISTMAS is coming!
It feels like there is much anticipation about celebrating this year.
This first week of Advent is about hope, and it is timely to reflect on the hope that has kept us going as communities and a nation through the lockdowns.
We have a natural instinct to have hope.
It is what orientates us to look forward to a certain event or goal and in doing so it guides us to move through our present reality with a certain confidence and to make steps that will help us to achieve a goal.
The definition of hope from a Christian perspective is a desire for a future good, not just for ourselves but for others, and that we are able to attain this with God’s help.
Christian hope is an anchor for us.
It anchors us to our faith in Christ in the good times and the not so good times.
Hope has kept us focused on the next steps through a difficult time and hope will help us focus on better outcomes for the future.
At Swan Hill we have started back with Fellowship at the Riverside Park Café, Tuesday at 2.30pm and tai chi is in the Church foyer on Thursday at 10am.
Worship is back every Sunday at 10am and we are planning the Christmas Eve and Christmas Day services.
ANGLICAN
CHRIST the King was celebrated last Sunday, and as requested by the Boot Sale team, many stayed back after morning tea to help reorganise the stock in preparation for the last sale this year, on Saturday, December 18.
It was so good to see extra numbers at the services in church now that 46 are permitted.
Reading that a fourth wave of COVID-19 has started in Europe, hopefully most people may now have decided to accept the double vaccine for the sake of the community and maintain Australia’s safety record.
The Liturgical year for the church ended last Sunday, and now begins a new year, welcoming the season of Advent, as in “Christmas is coming”!
People are at last on the move, many planning for family reunions and meeting up with once-a-year friends.
The Holy Family began their journey to the first Nowell with a heavily pregnant young girl (as Mary is described).
In our hot Australian summer it’s hard to imagine winter in Jerusalem, even though we continue to see cards bearing snow scenes.
Increasingly, although we claim to be a Christian society, we tend to forget that holidays for Christmas and Easter began as “Holy Days”, celebrated joyfully and thankfully.
We do the celebratation bit quite well, but places of Christian community worship are largely neglected, save for what the Bible would call God’s Remnant.
Christians are found worldwide doing wonderful service in the name of Christ, especially in third world countries.
Many are persecuted, but there is always a ‘faithful remnant’ who will continue to follow Jesus’ example of loving others as oneself.
During the four weeks of Advent, while planning the Christmas feast, please take a quiet time each day to reflect on this and remember Jesus’ words to” feed the hungry”.
GRAIN SHED
AS borders open and summer is really on our doorstep, Pastor La’Mont’s message, ‘There is freedom in the Spirit and in Christ’, is a timely one, with all the different state restrictions going on.
Be encouraged to pray for our leaders – state, federal and worldwide – as they continue to navigate their ways through these unknown waters:
“For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.
“The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship.
“And by him we cry, ‘Abba, Father.’
“The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.
“Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.”
Romans 8: 14-17 NIV
Tonight our Grain Shed youth are at the Son Centre Christian Centre playing basketball.
I wonder how many slam dunks will there be?
I’m looking forward to hearing how much fun it was, and thank you Liz, Thomas and the team for all you are doing in this ministry, and your enthusiasm and dedication to our youth.
Church services are held at three different times.
On Friday nights at 5pm there is the recording of our online service, where you can get a behind the scenes view as well.
Then on Sundays at 9.30am and 11am Pastor La’Mont will be on the platform with God’s word, sure to stir within us.
All are welcome.
The empty Christmas tree is starting to fill as we partner again with Anglicare.
Bring your gifts and help bring smiles to the children in need in our community.
Thanks also to those who have already been online and made donations or brought food goods to our Christmas hamper appeal.
If you would like more information then please call us on 5032 9449 or check out this link https://www.thegrainshed.org.au/christmas-hamper-operation-2021/
Mainly Music are holding their break up 2021 at 9.30am on Monday.
We have had a rocky start to this amazing program due to COVID lockdowns, however we have finished the year with families and our team loving this time together.
A big thank you to everyone who has been part of it!
Our Craft Ladies are back on Thursday at 10am.
