Anglican
HOLY week and Easter are several days of sensory stimulation.
On Maundy Thursday, nearly 30 people gathered in the Anglican Function Centre for a Seder meal with succulent roast lamb and vibrant conversations as they enjoyed the fellowship together.
Good Friday is of course more sombre and reflective.
A rugged cross provided a visual focal point.
For the folk gathered at Nyah West for the Stations of the Cross, we were treated to a gracious gift of song and a prayer from our Fijian brothers and sisters in Christ who had concluded their worship and then joined us.
It was a great gift of encouragement.
In the early dawn, before the first rays of sunlight hit the tops of the trees by the river at Nyah, the Easter Dawn service was accompanied by the first calls of the kookaburras in the trees.
Then the candle and torchlight gives way to sunshine and the smell of hot cross buns toasting over the coals of Mallee roots in a fire pit.
As Easter day progresses to the main morning celebration, the ear and heart is filled with the joyful sounds of hymns of praise and contemporary songs proclaiming all that God has done in Jesus’ death and resurrection. Easter is not over.
While the public holidays are gone, and soon schools will be back in class, for Christians the Easter season lasts until the beginning of June. In this season of resurrection, we continue to reflect on the hope, forgiveness and new life that is God’s gift to us through Jesus. Indeed every Sunday is a day of resurrection and so every Sunday of the year is a mini Easter for people of the resurrection.
Grain Shed
HOW Great is our Lord and how wonderful it was to see all that rain fall earlier this week, bringing smiles to so many faces, especially after a wonderful Easter break.
The hope of a plentiful harvest later this year not only affects farmers, it flows onto our local businesses, the community and further.
“You care for the land and water it; you enrich it abundantly. The streams of God are filled with water to provide the people with grain, for so you have ordained it. You drench its furrows and level its ridge; you soften it with showers and bless its crops. You crown the year with your bounty, and your carts overflow with abundance.” Psalm 65:9-11
We were so blessed to see many familiar faces and visitors at the Last Supper, Good Friday and Easter Sunday services.
Regardless of where you were, the reason we celebrate Easter remains that Jesus died and rose again for us so that we could enter into a relationship with him, living abundantly today and eternally in heaven.
If you don’t know Jesus and would like to know more please come by the Grain Shed as we would love to share the Good News with you.
This Sunday at 10am, our doors are open to all with Pastor La’Mont bringing us another inspiring message to reflect on and as we are still on holidays, no Grainshed kids, it starts back on Sunday, May 1.
This Anzac Day, as we pause to remember, honour and give thanks to the service, sacrifice and commitment that our defence forces and their support teams have done over the years and continue to do, pray for peace, protection and provision for all families past and present and for peace in Ukraine.
Let us also pray for all the frontline workers around our country who work so hard keeping us safe and healthy.
Next week some of our activities start back up with our Craft ladies on Thursday at 10am and Grain Shed Youth starting their term 2 program on Friday, April 29.
