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Midweek News
Sunday
9am: So easily we think of Christmas as nice and pleasant. Apart from the busy-ness of these hectic days, Christmas does give many of us warm feelings, and all that.
But there is much more to the story of Christ's birth, and via Zechariah we realize that there is plenty of doubt, pain and grief. The only thing that enables him and us to go on is a strong focus on the faithfulness of God. His promises are sure!
5pm: We all know how we can get impatient, waiting for Christmas morning to see what Santa brought us this year. Sometimes the suspense gets the better of us so we try to guess what it is. We might shake it, poke it, drop it, do whatever we can to get an insight into what the mysterious thing could be. This Sunday night we'll be looking at a mysterious gift that people were poking for 5,000 years or so. What could it be? And how was it finally revealed. Come along and find out! Read ahead in Hebrews 1:1-4 if the suspense gets the best of you.'
Christmas Day
We'll be meeting as church family to celebrate the birth of Jesus, our Saviour at 9am. This will be a rare opportunity for AM & PM congregations to celebrate the grace of God together! And what a blessing that Clinton will be preaching that morning! It promises to be a very special time indeed! We'd love to see you, so make a point of coming, and be here early, it may well be a full house!
Newsletter (hard copy) over the Holidays...
Coming Sunday will be the last newsletter for a number of weeks. It will contain a bumper edition of the rosters (please check to see when you're on, and arrange for a replacement with someone else if you can't make it). There will still be eNews broadcasts into a Inbox near you, so we can keep most posted with the latest developments. If you want to put something in this week's newsletter, please make sure to email it to office@redlandscrc.org.au by 9am Friday morning (if you could do it before then, it would be really great...). The next hard copy newsletter will be Feb 03, and we may issue one on Jan 13, but we'll wait and see whether the need is there.
Can I also direct a special words of thanks to Ingeborg and Joyce, whose labours are evident every week. They give their time as volunteers freely and gladly, and they do an outstanding job: well done, girls!
Today Devotional books
Some will already be taking the small devotional books called "Today" from the information counter. For those who would like to receive this in their Inbox every day, you can sign up for free at http://www.btgh.org/subscribe.php
Blessings to all...
Finally, Leonie and I would like to say a big thank you to the church family! It has been a very eventful year for us, personally and as a church family. I am reminded of the reality that God leads us into places of struggle and hardship so we may learn to trust and rely on him and not on ourselves. My belief is that we are still to earn more of that lesson. My confidence is that God has always remained faithful to his people, and has never gone back on his promises. Tonight, at the prayer meeting, we heard the 2000 year old testimony of Mary, who said, He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful to Abraham and his descendants forever, just as he promised our ancestors (Luke 1:55). Followers of Jesus enjoy a wonderful sense of connection: they are one with those who have been faithful through the ages, and they live in the comfort of the Lord's faithfulness which continues to all generations (see Luke 1:50).
I count it a wonderful privilege to serve the Living God with all of you. With the testimony and shared servanthood of the Carols so fresh in my mind, I look forward to many, many more years of service with you all. And may God in his rich mercy grant that these are years we share also with Clinton, Tracy and the boys.
Lord, your faithfulness reaches to the heavens. Let you love, grace and power be seen in us in 2008!
December 30, 5pm service
We have a treat planned for you! We have a DVD of a sermon preached by John Ortberg, from Menlo Park Presbyterian Church, California. Ortberg challenges his listeners to consider what actually rules them and governs the decisions they make on a daily basis. Working from the book of Ruth, Ortberg's message is just what we need to hear as we enter into a new year. Love to see you there...
Summer in the Park
You are all invited to join us for a time of sharing and fun.
When: Wednesday 9th / 16th / 23rd January 2008
Where: Wellington Point BBQ picnic area
Time: 5.30pm onwards
What to bring: BYO BBQ or picnic, chairs, family and friends
This will be a time of sharing and getting to know one another, so bring along your bbq or picnic supper and lets enjoy our summer in the park together.
We look forward to seeing you there.
"Lets start making a difference together"