Every year Easter can sneak up on us and pass us by without us really making the best use of this season. We can get distracted by bunnies, chocolate, public holidays, and totally miss the chance to focus our hearts and lives on the real meaning and significance of Easter. In order to help us walk through the journey to Calvary, Christian Churches for years have participated in Lent. Lent has been celebrated in many different ways, some good, some not so! But my hope is that we can capture this 40 day period as a chance to follow Jesus on the road to Calvary, focus in on our sin, his death, our salvation, and the hope of resurrection.

Lent begins Feb 26th and goes through to Maundy Thursday April 9 (the night before Good Friday).

To help us, I have found a few Lent Devotionals that will help you to walk through this seasons well.

• The Beauty of the Cross - Tim Chester - $10

• The Glory of the Cross - Tim Chester - $10

• To Seek and To Save - Sinclair Ferguson - $10

• The Wonder of Easter: Family Devotional - $10

Additionally, here is a good article from Chuck Colson:

https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/why-bother-with-lent/

I am looking for a volunteer to take on updating elements of our website so that it is current and informative. This would involve: adding calendar items, helping with the blog, making sure all the information is relevant and current across the site. Let me know if this is a way you could serve!

For any ladies in the church who are free and keen, every Friday during term we gather from 10am-12pm either at a park or someone’s house. This week we are at Dundas Park, 10am-12pm, corner of Quarry and Yates Avenue. Feel free to bring along friends and kids. Maddie Spring

If you are new to our church and would like to join the music team (even if you aren’t yet a member yet!) you are invited to attend an information lunch for all prospective new team members at the Burnetts house after church on Sunday 8 March  (19/6A Ingleby Street, Oatlands) to go through the wonderful theology of singing, team expectations, a chance for you to ask questions and me to hear each of you play (don't worry not solo!). 

Please RSVP to Henry (henryjoshuaburnett@gmail.com)

Also, you are welcome to join our monthly rehearsal on Tuesday nights at the Girls House, 7:30-9:30pm!

Sovereign Grace Parramatta is joyfully part of a global family of churches, Sovereign Grace Churches. We are involved in many countries around the world, training, equipping, and planting. If you'd like to hear more about the pioneering work of Sovereign Grace Churches around the world then please sign up for our monthly e-newsletter below:

https://mailchi.mp/44bad787442f/emergingnations

This week we are heading back to Philip Ruddock Water Park for lunch (weather permitting!)

There is a café and store down the road + bring swimmers for the kids, see you there!

We are heading to the Wahroonga church offices for our first combined Men’s Breakfast of the year! There will be bacon, eggs, coffee, and a message on ‘Having A Vision For Manhood’! Put the date in your diary and please RSVP so we can cater for you by emailing rsvp@sovgrace.org.au.

Time: 8am-10am

Location: 21/7 Sefton Road Thornleigh

Date: Sat 22nd Feb

The Sovereign Grace Wahroonga Young Adults Group is coming to Parramatta for their first teaching night! I’d love for our church to come along as well and hang out!

Young Adults is for anyone who thinks they fit that category! ;)

Details:

5pm-7pm: hang time… finska, boardgames, chill

7pm-8pm: dinner

8pm-9pm: message: Community

On March 8, we will be having our first Baby Dedication Sunday.

These Sunday’s are very special to us as a church as we set aside time to thank God for the lives of our children and dedicate ourselves and our child(ren) to the things of the Lord.

So please mark your calendars and plan to join us.

Now if you’d like to dedicate your child on the 8th March or if you have more questions, please email Riley at rs@sgparra.org.au by the 1st March.

Psalm 127:3 - ‘Behold children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb a reward.’

Starting Point is our 7 week newcomers course which helps you understand who we are, what we believe and how we practice it!

Please  sign up for it here

It will run Tuesday nights during Term, 7:30-9:30pm at Pastor Riley’s house.

Please forward this on to anyone you know who may be interested!