Dear SG Parra!
Thank you for your amazing generosity! We have raised $37,600 which will be used to build locally and help globally! I cannot wait for this money to be going out and blessing people! If you’d still like to give, please email me at rs@sgparra.org.au and we can add you into the total.
Join us again for our Zoom Friday prayer and fasting at 12pm. You don’t have to stay the whole time but we’d love to be praying together in this season. Join here: https://zoom.us/j/199220859
Sovereign Grace Wahroonga has just launched their “SG Care” Ministry. This is an awesome initiative and one that we want to join with them in prayer for and if you know anyone who may need help they may be able to help us help them! See below for more detail:
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Crisis Support:
Short term support with immediate needs such as providing food in for of non-perishable food or cooked meals - Providing clothes (second-hand donations) - Support with practical needs such as domestic support or shopping support (subject to current social distancing limitations)
Case Management Type Support:
Support with referrals to services (domestic violence services, disability services etc) - Applications to services such as Centrelink, Department of Housing or NDIS - Advocacy
Mental Health Support
Support with informing clients about mental health support options available in their local community - Referring clients to appropriate mental health services.
Counselling
Counselling support is provided by qualified biblical counsellors or social worker for the following areas: Depression & Anxiety - Marriage - Parenting issues - Grief & Loss - Crisis.
Debt Help
SG Care works together with CAP (Christians Against Poverty) and supports people in the local community who have significant financial debts.
Befriending Service
Support to people who feel isolated and struggle to build relationships within the community. This can be in form of meet- ups, phone support or support with linking in the church community.
Skill Training & Capacity Building
Some people would like to improve their skills and capacity to better manage with life challenges and SG Care provides 1:1 support for clients who would like to learn skills in things like: Budgeting - Managing personal paperwork - Improving daily routine - Work readiness - Daily activity such as cooking and housework - Communication.
If you or someone else you know needs helps, then please contact our Christina Williams, our SG Care Coordinator, on cw@sovgrace.org.au. We would love to hear from you!
On Sunday I will be teaming up with Brendan Willis from Wahroonga for their Young Adults Night, you all are welcome to jump in and join. See the invite below:
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Young Adults is back on Sunday 19th of April with our first hang out on the topic of “Purity, Porn & Pandemic”.
Walking in purity is hard enough under usual circumstances but in the age of COVID-19 when you’re surrounded by devices, stuck at home and struggling with boredom it pays to have a plan.
Come and join us as we live stream from the church offices with a panel formed by Riley & Brendan.
We’ll be talking about John Piper’s chapter from the book “Kill Joys” on the defeat of lust. You can download it here.
You can join our livestream by clicking here.
Bring your Qs and get ready for a great night!
The following is a note from Oliver Pearce, Core Team Member, & Chair of The Finance Committee for our Sending Church in Wahroonga:
Hello Church
Given the economic climate we find ourselves in, there can be a lot of uncertainty with what the future holds. We know that none of this is a surprise to God, that He has us, He has a plan for us and He is good.
There has also been a lot of media noise around what the Government has proposed and is offering in light of the economic uncertainty that we are encountering.
Following is a brief (by no means conclusive) summary of what might be available to you if you need it.
- Job Seeker Payment: If you loose your job, the Government has increased the ability to access the Job Seeker payment. The payment is means tested. Information can be found here -> https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/individuals/services/centrelink/jobseeker-payment
- Additional income support: With a special Coronavirus supplement for eligible income support payments. More information here, along with further initiatives the Government is undertaking -> https://treasury.gov.au/coronavirus/households
- Early access to Superannuation: If you have lost your job, or see a decrease in earnings by at least 20%, you may be entitled to access $10,000 of your superannuation this financial year, and next financial year. More information can be found here -> https://www.business.gov.au/Risk-management/Emergency-management/Coronavirus-information-and-support-for-business/Early-access-to-superannuation
- Help for business: Businesses may be entitled to receive Job Keeper payment where income has dropped by more than 30%, could also be entitled to cash payments to assist in retaining staff, investment incentives and may be entitled to government guaranteed, short term loans.
In all of this, know too that you are not alone. If you find yourselves in difficulty, please reach out to your Gospel Community Group leaders and your Pastors. We’re keen to help.
We're running this race, wherever it takes us, together.
Your brother
Oliver
Originally, we were planning on running another Starting Point for Term 2. If you are interested or know someone who is interested in joining our Zoom Starting Point, please email rs@sgparra.org.au so that we can organise it!
Though we are isolated we are still keen to see our family continue to grow! So, on Sunday 3rd May we will be having our next “New Member Sunday” to welcome in those members who have joined from the last Starting Point! It will be a joy to see our church family grow!
This week there will be no life groups but stay tuned for a social life group next week + for new members to be joining soon! Keep in touch with each other and keep looking to encourage one another daily!
We had an awesome Easter over Zoom! It was a sober joy to read through the last week of Jesus’ life leading up to the cross. On Thursday night we gathered for a reading and prayer time, on Good Friday we sung and celebrated the cross, on Easter Sunday we gloried in the Resurrection. Let us not leave Easter too quickly. May the word of God give us perspective for our current season! And we hope you love your gift bags!
Head to www.sgparra.org.au/sermons for the messages.
You can watch the Zoom’s here:
The amazing Abigail, and her trusty team (Maddie L, and the sisters!) have made a fantastic Easter video! Check it out! Send in your ‘Spring Break’ challenge to Abi! P.S. the challenge is for all the church not just the kids!