On Sunday during Mission Prayer we took some time to pray for the amazing work the Lord is doing in Ethiopia (Addis Ababa).

Pastor Riley and Pastor Dave Taylor (Lead Pastor of SG Sydney), are currently serving in Addis Ababa teaching on the topic of ‘Planting and building Sovereign Grace Churches’ at the SG Pastors college.

Please continue to pray for:

1. Pastor Riley & Dave - Equipping of the saints for the ministry of the Gospel (Eph 4:12)

2. Spiritual protection - To take up the shield of faith (Eph 6:16)

3. For the 10 students in the College - That the Lord would strengthen their souls and enable them to grow in the grace and in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:18)

4. For Pastor Josh Pannell and Trinity Fellowship - That this church and college would live out the great commission of making disciples of all nations (Matt 28:18-20)

May God be glorified through the work being done in Ethiopia.

The 14:1 ministry is meeting at 7.30pm this Friday, 21st October at 27 Iron St.

The night is open to all our church members and Starting Point members. Whether you are new to spiritual gifts, or are seeking to discern which gifts the Lord may have given you, or you are desiring to grow in your pursuit and practice of them then this night is designed for you!

We will spend time worshipping together, hearing from one another about how the Lord has worked through the gifts in our church recently (and He has!), and praying for one another. There will also be some teaching on the gifts and an opportunity for Q&A about the gifts.

See you there, Lord willing!

-Matt

It’s Ladies Growth Groups this week! Your LG leader will have all the details you need.

Over the past couple of months, Riley has been visiting Arcare Aged Care Oatlands, serving them by sharing the gospel and being served by their joy and faith!

Although at SG Parra we are a young demographic church, it is good to be reminded that Gods people is multi-generational and it our longing that our church will increasingly be comprised of people from every walk of life.

The gospel is our only hope in ‘life and death’, and so this wonderful message must be clearly an carefully expounded and applied to people of all ages and stages of life.

There’s opportunity to sing hymns (thankfully Youtube leads that session rather than Riley), and compared to Riley’s 50min sermons on Sunday, here at the Aged care, he only has 15mins!

It has been such a joyful moment to be able to partake in this ministry and as a church, I ask that we take a moment to pray that by God’s power they would be guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time (1 Peter 1:5).

Last Sunday we had our Mid-Year Church Family meeting.

It was a great time of remembering the wonderous works the Lord has done within the past 8 months - Praise God!

And as we look towards the remaining months ahead of 2022 - Refocusing our eyes on the Cross and keeping that the center of all that we do!

For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen. (Romans 11:36)

For those who missed out and would like to hear the recording of the session, please contact Pastor Riley.

Also, janitor@sgparra.org.au is now live! So if you’d like to help Richard Kapoor with all things care, maintenance, cleaning of Iron St, please reach out to him, you can also suggest possible things that need doing/attention.

Elvanto is a church management software we have implemented to help manage our rostering in a efficient, and simple way for all of us :) Moving forward, all roster swaps and replaces must be finalised in Elvanto :)

If you’re new to Elvanto, to get yourself started, please download the Elvanto App and read through the attached FAQs.

If you’re still having issues - never fear, our helpful SG Parra Elvanto Support Team will guide you through the process -> Link: https://chat.whatsapp.com/HS4A7Kt9HMA3Saa0nzAfU3

We are back with Life Groups this week! Your LG leaders will send you all the information you need!

As parents it can be very tricky to know how to navigate our children and our families through complex ethical situations that arise in community. We are called to be in the world and not of it. We are called to love our neighbour with compassion but not love sin. And we are called to train our kids to know what is right and wrong.

This article from the The Gospel Coalition Australia will help you think through how to best deal with the increasingly common ‘Rainbow/Purple/Diversity’ days that may happen at school, workplace, university.

Responding to Rainbow Days at School by Harriet Connor

Your LG leaders will let you know all the details!

Ever had difficulties with the process of finding a replacement to serve on Sunday? or perhaps looking for a quick and efficient means of determining what ministry you are serving on this week and who you are rostered on with?

Well, Elvanto is a church management software we will be rolling out in the next few weeks, which will help manage our rostering in a efficient, and simple way for all of us :)

Arbie will be providing more details on this during the upcoming Church family meeting - be excited!! More details to come.