What an awesome time we had with all those that could make it for our first SG Parra Retreat! It was a great time of bonding, worship, relaxing, and war (SG Cup!)! We were served so well by Dave Taylor as he preached through Colossians 1:15-29, spend some time this week looking through your notes and if you missed the sermons they will be uploaded soon! A massive thank you to all who helped pull Retreat off in all the various ways, you all served so well! Thank you!
We are back with Life Groups this week! Your LG leaders will send you all the information you need for your first week back in person!
Make sure you have listened to Richard’s helpful sermon, ‘Who’s Your One?’ in preparation: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/sovereign-grace-church-parramatta/id1479361917?i=1000550494539
On Wednesday 23rd March, we will have no Life Group’s so that all our church can attend this important seminar hosted by SG Wahroonga with guest speaker Andy Farmer from Covenant Fellowship Church (a SG Church in the US).
The topic is one that affects us all wether personally or with people we know and love: ‘Dealing with the Realities of Mental Illness’. Please put it in the calendar (it should already be there if you have the church cal!), get your baby sitter, and come ready to learn and ask questions.
Every Friday during the school term ‘Ladies Coffee Morning’ is on for all who are free and available at that time. They meet one week in a house and the next week in a park, so please contact Rebs if you’d like more information.
It’s been nearly three months since we sadly sent out Abi to the US for her yearlong internship at Covenant Fellowship Church in Philly and we all miss her so much! I asked Abi to give us a bit of an update on how it’s all going…so please read and enjoy!
“Hello from America!!
I just wanted to reach out and give a little update on life over here across the pond :)
Firstly - I miss being at Parra and doing life with you guys! But, in God's kindness, it has been so special to experience a Sovereign Grace Church family connection over here that I am extremely thankful for, that makes it feel like home. A lot of people have asked about SG Parra and it's been really encouraging to tell them about my home church. They think we are so cool because of our promo video at JBrewers - though the disappointment is real when I tell them that no we don't meet in a coffee/music shop anymore haha.
Secondly - I have been SO blessed and so loved by people here and I'm continually blown away by God's provision and kindness to me!!! There are so many stories already but a big answer to prayer that just happened recently is that someone has lent me their car for the whole year ... which is INSANELY generous and a huge answer to prayer! It's so cute and probably the nicest car I'll drive. I have gotten into the car on the wrong side plenty of times already and have gone around a-round-about the wrong way - haha oops - but other than that, no dramas praise God!
Thirdly: I have started serving in the Kids Ministry and Youth Ministry over here, which has been a lot of fun, a little scary at times, but I feel like I've already learnt a lot in how things are run and I look forward to continuing to grow in my knowledge and understanding of both ministry areas. I'm helping out with running a VBS in June - which ironically is based off Australia 😂 guess who gets to be the MC and the Australian character in the drama skits 🙋🙋haha! I'm honestly so excited, and I think it's going to be so much fun!! I'm also helping them with their youth camp that's in August which sounds crazy and epic, but that will also be an awesome time of serving, learning and growing.
My schedule at the moment is 2 days a week in the office but now that I have a car I'll be able to go in on extra days when needed, which will help open up other opportunities to serve and other ministries to get involved in that have come up in the past couple weeks. I'm also currently helping with things like: kids care for different seminars, youth instagram, photos, film editing, bookshop, and the extra little things you give to the Intern haha - which I actually love helping with!
God has already blessed me with some really sweet and solid friendships and peers, which has been a huge gift and encouragement to me already, so I'm thanking the Lord imminently for answering those prayers so quickly!
I have been praying for you guys and for the church! I hope your first SG Parra retreat is a blast, and just a real sweet and encouraging time together as a church! I can't wait to hear about it and hear about what the Lord!!
Oh! And lastly ... snow is beyond magical!!! My goodness, it's just spectacular and I love it!
God bless you Sovereign Grace Parramatta!
Much love and prayers”
This Friday we go away on our first Retreat as a church and I cannot wait! There will be a final email coming around later this week with all the information you need, so please look out for that!
Reminder: no Sunday gathering @ Tara, we will be Crusaders Galston Gorge @ 10am on Sunday, please feel free to join us!
On March 1, our very first day of leasing Iron St, we are having a Music Team Night for all involved in the worship team and for anyone interested in joining serving in this team: music, PA, projector, song writing.
Also, for anyone who wants to come and see Iron St, and begin to dream and plan for how the Lord might use this space, please come!
Details: 7:30pm @ 27 Iron Street North Parramatta
Your LG leaders will let you know all the details!
The Spring’s Life Group is on this week and Jo and Prav have kindly offered up their house for a BYO lunch in Old Toongabbie (address given on Sunday).
Jo will have his BBQ ready so feel free to bring some meat! Drinks and some snacks provided.
See you there!
We are back with Life Groups this week! Your LG leaders will send you all the information you need for your first week back in person!
Make sure you have listened to Richard’s helpful sermon, ‘Who’s Your One?’ in preparation: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/sovereign-grace-church-parramatta/id1479361917?i=1000550494539