It is too early in the week to make a call for this Sunday. Please stay tuned!
On Sunday we had the joy of ‘gathering’ again on Zoom to sing, pray, hang out, and hear the word as a scattered church! Thank you all for joining in so enthusiastically and joyfully. It truly gives me joy as your pastor to see your faces and to see you participate in the service, despite all the weirdness of online!
We looked at Matthew 13:1-23 and saw that the parable of the sower is here to: train us as messengers and test us as hearers.
It’s trains us that as we go forth in mission we are to go forward confidently knowing that God is in control, and that even if we don’t see the fruit we want, to know that the message of the gospel and the messengers of the gospel are not the problem, it’s the hearts of the hearers.
It also tests our hearing of the word. Jesus warns us to beware of the devil, beware of our temporary feelings, beware of the cares of this world, as we hear the word.
So friend, how is your hearing?
A big congratulations to:
Ben Bridges
Georgia Lick
Abella Lick
Mel Khoh
For being the first people to send in their bible memory verse challenge for Revelation 21:1-5!
And…as a special introductory offer…ANYONE who sends it in to me will receive a prize!
Start memorizing Deuteronomy 6:4-5!
Deut. 6:4 “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. 5 You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. 6 And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart.
That’s all I am going to reveal!
Tune in on Sunday to hear it!
We are back on Zoom again this week for our worship service!
To log on to Zoom:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85405451754
Meeting ID: 854 0545 1754
Or www.sgparra.org.au/zoom - at the bottom of the page are instructions on how to use Zoom.
We will send out a service order for you to print out, so you can sing along, OR we will have the lyrics on the screen for you.
We will then go into breakout groups afterwards for community hang out time.
And…this week there is going to be FRESH SG KIDS TV! Head here to watch it once it’s updated: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZiy2Gu-9Pl_KIxqxzWNL-OAEE1tO-nYg
Good Evening Church!
Well, here we are again! Locked down again! On Zoom again!
But again the Lord will meet us as we come with an open heart and a joyful spirit.
Let us tune in as a church family tomorrow, screens on if you can, and be ready to sing, pray, and hear God’s word preached.
To log on to Zoom:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85405451754
Meeting ID: 854 0545 1754
Or www.sgparra.org.au/zoom - at the bottom of the page are instructions on how to use Zoom.
Attached is a service order for you to print out, so you can sing along, as we haven’t yet organized slides for zoom.
If you would like you can watch re-runs of Abi’s awesome SG Kids TV here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZiy2Gu-9Pl_KIxqxzWNL-OAEE1tO-nYg
Hey Church, as the situation unfolds we will continue to modify our plans as and where needed. As it stands with the latest health order we have made a decision as a Core Team to brave the cold again and head outside for our service, with kids in the hall, which means we are still able to sing!
Here are the requirements:
Masks must be worn, even outside, at all times, unless eating or drinking.
Stay home if unwell
Continue to sign in
Bring your own mask if possible please
We will postpone morning tea
Dress for warmth!
You can view the current restrictions here. If you have any questions please feel free to contact me.
Let’s come ready, expectant, and joyful!
Psalm 27:4
One thing have I asked of the LORD,
that will I seek after:
that I may dwell in the house of the LORD
all the days of my life,
to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD
and to inquire in his temple.
Hey Church,
Firstly, As you may be aware there is are some further restrictions on our meeting imposed by the NSW Government due to the recent cases of coronavirus.
This Sunday we will need to wear face masks whilst indoors at church. So please help us by bringing your own mask. And be diligent with signing in!
We will endeavour to have masks supplied for those who forget or visitors.
At this stage, we are not aware of any further restrictions and so we will plan on going ahead with things as normal.
Secondly, we will be having morning tea together after the service! So please plan to stick around :) The Burnett group are kindly bringing the goods!
This Sunday we will be introducing a new song, ‘Lord Have Mercy (For What We Have Done)’.
This song takes the theme from an ancient confession of sin, kyrie eleison (which means, Lord have mercy).
It’s designed to walk us through our own personal and corporate sins and confess them to the Lord, crying out for his mercy and grace upon us!
If you are wondering why we take time each Sunday to corporately confess sin (and sometimes steal prayers and ideas from the Anglican Prayerbook), it’s because:
a) the bible says to! James 5:16 ”Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.”
b) it is good for our souls to be reminded that we don’t just need forgiveness once when we are converted but we need his mercy every day for all our sins
c) it is good for our souls to release the burden of our sin and not hold onto it, but instead confess it regularly
d) it is good for our church community to be a place where we all are admitting with humility that we are sinners. There are no ‘good’ or ‘bad’ Christians, we are all bad!
Take some time to listen to it in our playlists (add our playlists and listen to our church songs during the week so you can be more familiar with our songs!) or here
Check out the lyrics:
Verse 1
For what we have done and left undone
We fall on Your countless mercies
For sins that are known and those unknown
We call on Your name so holy
For envy and pride for closing our eyes
For scorning our very neighbor
In thought word and deed we’ve failed You our King
How deeply we need a Savior
Chorus
Lord have mercy Christ have mercy
Lord have mercy on us
Lord have mercy Christ have mercy
Lord have mercy on us
Verse 2
For what You have done Your life of love
You perfectly lived we praise You
Though tempted and tried You fixed Your eyes
You finished the work God gave You
And there on the tree A King among thieves
You bled for a world’s betrayal
You loved to the end Our merciful friend
How pure and forever faithful
Bridge
For hearts that are cold for seizing control
For scorning our very Maker
In thought word and deed we’ve failed You our King
How deeply we need a Savior
Your LG leaders will let you know all the details!
