Ministers Desk 15th June 2014

So far we have covered four of our six topics in our Fearless series.   We’ve looked at fear of death, fear of disappointing God and fear of not mattering.  We’ve also asked ourselves the question why we fear at all.  After all we follow a God who is strong and powerful, intimate and protective.  What is there that could possible overwhelm us when the God of creation, who has defeated sin and death is with us always?

Ultimately, what we find in Fearless is that the secret to conquering life’s fears begins and ends with Jesus Christ.  Without Jesus, we are hopeless to conquer fears.  Thankfully, Jesus wants every single person to know him and find peace through knowing him.  Only by trusting Jesus will our fears be stilled and our striving cease.  As a congregation our purpose is to be Growing Disciples who Exalt, Explore, Embody, Engage.  This is about a growing relationship with Jesus where we trust him more as we face the difficult and scary things of our life.

There is more to Fearless than the six topics that we’re studying in our Explore Groups and worship.  I’d encourage you to read the whole Fearless book and not just the six chapters we’re studying.  Topics like fear of violence, fear of not protecting our kids, fear of God not being real and fear of worst case scenarios are dealt with.

Max Lucado has such a comfortable way with words.  His stories are thoughtful and provoking, yet easy to read.   He has a comforting way about him, even as he discusses difficult life and death situations he does so with care and compassion always pointing back to the truth in the Bible.  He even candidly shares his own personal experiences throughout the book, his heart problem and subsequent surgery, the death of his brother, his daughter’s upcoming marriage and how keeping his eyes fixed on Jesus and keeping an eternal perspective helped him find peace during the storms of life.

Some of the topics he addresses won’t resonate with you, they certainly don’t resonate with me.  I’ve tried to imagine being scared of some of these things and just can’t imagine it.  But by reading about some other topics I’ve learnt new things about myself.  I’ve discovered that there are fears that lurk down deep within me and cause me to act and react in certain ways.  At other times as I’ve read I’ve been aware of fears that I hold and I’ve learnt ways to overcome them and live the courageous life that Jesus wants for me.

Life is an ongoing lesson about who we are and who we’re meant to be in Jesus Christ.  Be excited about what Jesus has to teach you through excellent resources like this book.

Grace and peace

David Fender

Ministers Desk 8th June

Last week David shared with the congregation that I have received a call from Albany Creek Uniting Church to join them as their minister in September this year. For Amy and I this has been a long journey and it’s actually a great relief to finally be able to share it with you all.

I’m excited about the things God has in store at Albany Creek but I also know that finishing at Emmanuel will be difficult.

Emmanuel will always be my first placement, where I shared in my first funeral, my first wedding, lead my first camp. So much of my ministry here has been a first for me and I’m sure at times this was painfully obvious. With that in mind I will always be grateful for the opportunity Emmanuel has given me to grow into my ministry and the grace you’ve shown me along the way.

There is much more that needs to be said but I’m going to save that for August when I actually leave, because it’s still three months until I go. I’m sure that time will pass all too quickly and there is still much to do.

It has, and continues to be, a privilege to serve at Emmanuel Uniting Church. I’m excited about the things God has in store for Emmanuel and I’m looking forward to still being a part of that until it is my time to leave.

Grace and Peace

Harlee Cooper

Ministers Desk 1st June 2014

Have you spent some time reading some of the books in our church library?  The main part of the library is in the foyer near the Laurel Street entry.

On the top shelf of the bookcase are a number of books relating to evangelism.  As you think about engaging with a pre-Christian friend to share your faith, you might want to read some one of these books or use some of the resources.  For some of us, reading a book about evangelism might be the next step that we need to take.  It might help reduce our anxiety and open us to possibilities that we hadn't thought of.  Here are some of the resources that we have.

Starting point – a study resource to help people find their story in the midst of God’s story.  The book includes discussion and reflection questions.  It is designed to be used together with others.  Perhaps you could work through the book with your Brian (pre-Christian friend) and share your story within God’s story.

Out of the salt shaker – a book that highlights how evangelism is a lifestyle we live, not something we do.  Our lifestyle, choices, relationships and conversations are all used by God to bring people to faith.  This is a challenging book that goes to the heart of who we are.

How to talk about Jesus without freaking out – sometimes what holds us back in sharing faith is not knowing what to do.  This book provides a framework for having faith conversations.  Being prepared with what we may say in faith sharing conversations can give us the courage to enter into them and help make them more meaningful.

Just walk across the room – we studied this as a congregation a couple of years ago.  It may be time for some of us to revisit it.  The premise is that a life transforming encounter with Jesus for someone could start with us simply walking across a room and starting a conversation.  There are books, a study guide and DVD available.

Personal Disciple making – the point at which a person makes a personal commitment to Jesus is not the end of our faith sharing, it merely marks a significant milestone.  The new believer still needs to grow in their understanding of faith and the life Jesus calls us all to.  This book provides a step-by-step guide to how we may help our friend grow as a disciple.

Please take the time to look through the library and borrow one or more of these books.  As you read please be encouraged and moved to continue sharing your faith.  The news that we have is the best news of all, love and life with Jesus, forgiveness of sin and the promise of eternity.

Grace and peace

David Fender

Ministers Desk 25th May 2014

“Better is a single day in your courtyards than a thousand days anywhere else! I would prefer to stand outside the entrance of my God’s house than live comfortably in the tents of the wicked!” Psalm 84:10

As Christians, we have experienced a God inspired welcome that is hard to describe.

In some ways, we are like the tax collector, Zacchaeus who was up in the sycamore tree hoping he’d see a quick glance of Jesus (Luke 19:1-9).  Each of us knows we have shortcomings and may sometimes struggle to do what is right.  So we too go up a tree trying not to be noticed yet hope that someone will see that we can use some assistance too.  There becomes a time though when we get noticed and included with the extraordinary welcome of Jesus Christ.

The way that we welcome people at our three Sunday worship services is incredibly important.  When we greet people with genuine warmth we are expressing to them that they are important and that we are pleased that they are part of our church and by extension part of the kingdom of God.  This is true for the people who are existing members of our congregation and even more important for those who are guests and newcomers.  When we create an atmosphere of hospitality and inclusion we continue people’s preparation for worship and deepen their sense of community and connectedness with fellow worshippers.

We live in a world that is becoming more and more disconnected and isolated.  Many of our interactions with others take place anonymously without any real sense of personal connection.  The church is one place where we can, and should, withstand this growing trend. Each one of us have the capacity and the task to make personal connections with others on Sunday.  This can be as simple as providing a friendly smile, warm greeting and handshake that communicates to another person that they are welcome.  Experiencing God’s love through people’s actions and the entire experience can be just as meaningful or more so to someone than anything that may be said during a worship service.

This is particularly important when it comes to greeting guests in our services.  Already they are in unfamiliar territory and are feeling exposed and uncomfortable.  As regular worshippers here it is our responsibility to remove any obstacles that may prevent these people from finding a spiritual home in this congregation.  Our congregation’s purpose is Growing Disciples who Exalt, Explore, Embody, Engage.  This is an invitation to journey deeper into life in God.  Welcomers play an important role in helping people see the delight that God takes when his people enter his building of praise.

Grace and peace

David Fender

Ministers Desk 18th May 2014

As we enter the month of May we may stop, draw breath and ask the “where has the year gone.”  I certainly did this when someone made an appointment for me for 1 May.  Many things have happened during this first third of the year in our church life and in our own personal lives.  As the year moves forward it sometimes becomes hard to assess where we have been because of the need to look where we are going.

Our congregation’s purpose Growing Disciples who Exalt, Explore, Embody, Engage places an emphasis on ongoing personal spiritual growth.  Our faith is a living part of us and as with any living organism it is either growing or dying.  To ensure that our faith is alive and leading us further into the life of Christ Paul encourages us in 2 Timothy 1:6 to “…..fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you ……”.  Our faith is the gift of God that he speaks of.

Three months ago many of us undertook a spiritual growth assessment.  In this we asked ourselves some questions about our life of faith and the areas in which we were strong and not so strong.  As the year goes on I encourage you to reflect again, how are you ensuring that you continue to grow in your discipleship?  To be growing in our discipleship means that we are loving God more fully and completely, faithfully following the call of Jesus in more parts of our lives and being more intentional in listening and then acting on the whispers of the Holy Spirit.

To help you in your reflection, consider the following questions:

1. Where have you experienced the wonder and glory of God in our worship services and in doing so experienced the transformation that the Holy Spirit brings? (Exalt)
2. As you’ve been part of an Explore Group how has the life you live being informed by the bible? (Explore)
3. How has the privilege of being used by God in service been a challenge and helped you rely more on the inspiration of the Holy Spirit? (Embody)
4. What action have you taken in engaging with your Brian that has helped them come closer to a personal relationship with Jesus and encouraged you to see the Holy Spirit working through you? (Engage)

Each one of us is on a journey of discipleship; however we are all at different stages of that journey.  All that is asked of us is that we each take the next step in our journey and remain faithful to him who calls us. 

Grace and peace

David Fender

Ministers Desk 11th May 2014

Today is Mothers day. Even though our oldest Sally is almost three this will actually be the first proper Mothers day that I will spend with my wife Amy. Technically Amy missed her first Mothers day, it was the day we lost as we crossed the international timeline and for Amy’s second Mothers day I was out town attending a conference. So, in some way this will be our first Mothers day as a whole family.

Mothers day will mean different things for different people so it’s important that we acknowledge that as the church. To that end I thought that this prayer would be a helpful reflection for us on this day.

Mothers Day Prayer

Mothering God,

On this day set aside in our nation to praise mothers and motherhood,
   help us to give thanks to you for our mothers
   and for those who have been like mothers to us.
Support all who have entered into the joyous calling of motherhood,
   especially those who raise children alone or in the face of great trial.

Do not let us forget about those who might feel left out on this day:
   those who do not know their mothers,
   those whose mothers are far away or have died,
   those mothers whose children are far away or have died,
   those who do not or cannot know the joy of children and motherhood.

Help all your people to know the gift of a mother’s love
   in and through whatever manifestation you offer it,
   and continue to show us your love through all who are mothers to us.

In the name of Christ,

Amen.

This Mothers day prayer was found at the webpage LiturgyLink (http://www.liturgylink.net/2011/05/04/prayers-for-mothers-day/)

Ministers Desk 4th May 2014

On ANZAC Day Boys, Girls and Officers of our Brigade companies marched in parades at Gaythorne and the City.  Rachel Pegg, one of our officers in training read the prayer at the Gaythorne ceremony.

 

As they embodied their faith through participating in these national days of remembering and honouring is another example of the church being salt and light in the community.  Our boys and girls remind us that the church is sent to be in the community giving testimony to Christ’s healing presence and peace.