Unfortunately, we've had to make the sad decision to cancel this years Retreat. As a team across Parramatta and Wahroonga, we felt it 'highly unlikely' that the government were going to be ok with us gathering in a group of 300-400 come early August, and so we've made the decision, in the current climate, to cancel retreat this year. This is saddening! Retreat is definitely a major highlight in our year and it was going to be our first combined one as SG Australia.

The good news?? We’ve rebooked for next year - July 16th-18th, 2021!! So get out your diary now!

Ladies, please mark your diary for the 5th of June, for a Titus 2 web discussion about, ‘Thriving Not Surviving - Redeeming the Time in a Pandemic’ . 

More details to follow, but the time will be from 8:00pm - 9:30pm. Please plan on joining us, we love gathering around God’s Word together. 

Join us for Friday prayer to commit our church and the world the Lord. Join for as long as you can, pop in and out.

Please share any prayer requests even if you can’t come, we’d love to pray for you.

As it is often said, “the church advances on its knees”.

As I mentioned on Sunday, there are emergency needs across many Sovereign Grace Churches around the world and as a Core Team, along with Wahroonga, we have decided to dedicate a generous portion of our church budget to meet these needs. This is only possible because of your faithful and consistent giving. Thank you SG Parra!

If you so desire, you can give personally to this as well. Send your $$$ to our bank or contact Rach (rp@sovgrace.org.au)

Account: Sovereign Grace Parra

BSB: 032-170

ACC:419142

Desc: COVID-AID

2Cor. 8:8-15  “I say this not as a command, but to prove by the earnestness of others that your love also is genuine. 9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich. 10 And in this matter I give my judgment: this benefits you, who a year ago started not only to do this work but also to desire to do it. 11 So now finish doing it as well, so that your readiness in desiring it may be matched by your completing it out of what you have. 12 For if the readiness is there, it is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have. 13 For I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened, but that as a matter of fairness 14 your abundance at the present time should supply their need, so that their abundance may supply your need, that there may be fairness. 15 As it is written, “Whoever gathered much had nothing left over, and whoever gathered little had no lack.””

Church, it has been almost two months since we first had to suspend our Sunday Gathering! It has been a mixed season for us all. At this stage, there are no official changes to what we will be doing as a church, everything will remain on Zoom for the time being. We will be following the State’s guidelines for gatherings. So when we can gather again safely, we will.

But now that some of the restrictions have been lifted, we can experience more fellowship and friendship again, so i encourage you, if you are able and feel comfortable, to start meeting together for meals, coffee, and fellowship. Read the scriptures in person with someone. Catch up. Share your struggles. Pray together…1.5 metres apart…for the glory of Jesus! And keep looking up!

Col. 3:1 -4  “If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. “

We will still be doing ‘Zoom’ for Life Groups. Hopefully soon we can meet together again!

On Sunday we had the joy of celebrating Mother’s Day by addressing the fathers in the sermon! In God’s providence we found ourselves in Ephesians 6:1-4, and saw that: “God is calling Fathers to embrace their God-given role of discipling and disciplining their children in the Lord”. When we do this, families will flourish and children will be blessed. Head to our Sermons page to listen to it.

This article from John Piper is very helpful for outlining why it’s so important to teach obedience to our kids.

Thank you to the events team who helped make and distribute the beautiful Mother’s Day gifts! We honour and respect you mums! This article from TGC, 'When Motherhood Feels Like Death'. may help you mums as you consider your difficult but privileged calling from God.

We had a problem with the audio file for the message: Wives and Husbands Part 1. It is now fixed! You can listen to it here or watch it below! Main point: wives are called to embrace and practice respectful submission.

On Sunday we joyfully welcomed in eight new members: Mak P, Ruby K, Scott and Emma L, Bijoy and Sharon C, and John and Clare C! What a joy!

I preached on Ephesians 5:22-33 (re-listen to the message here) and unpacked what the role of a husband is, as biblically defined. We saw that husbands are called to embrace loving sacrificial headship. John piper helpfully defines headship as follows:

“Biblical headship for the husband is the divine calling to take primary responsibility for Christlike, servant-leadership, protection and provision in the home.”

True flourishing only comes when we as husbands embrace our calling and practice our duties. We are called to lead our wives and we are called to do this with love.

Sacrificial love.

Sanctifying love.

Satisfying love.

And if we do this, we will flourish and thrive. It isn’t easy, but we aren’t alone. We have the power of the Spirit to help as walk as new creatures in Christ.

Desiring God released a very helpful article that picks up on many of these themes, read it here: Headship Crowned with Thorns by Greg Morse.

From Pastor Brendan at Wahroonga:

“Last Sunday night we had a wonderful time chatting all things humility as the Walkers joined our zoom hang out. In two weeks time we’ll be back on again, this time looking at the topic of “Walking with God through Pain and Suffering.”

In this broken world, it’s not a question of “if” you will go through pain and suffering but “when”. As Christians God’s word gives us loads of resources not just to survive in the midst of suffering but to thrive. The real question we need to ask ourselves is not “will I face suffering?” but “Am I prepared for when suffering strikes?”.

On Sunday May 17th we’ll be joined by a couple that we’ve had the privilege of watching thrive in the midst of some significant suffering and that is Glen & Donny Jones. We’ll be trying to get a feel for life in their shoes and how they’ve managed to find real joy in the midst of a difficult season.

We’ll also be reflecting on the introduction to Tim & Kathy Keller’s book, “Walking with God through pain and suffering” which you can read here.

To join the zoom meeting simply click here.

Walking With God Through Pain & Suffering - Zoom HangOut
When: May 17, 7:30PM”