Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas to all,

This is not always a happy time of year for everyone, some of us may have lost loved ones or experienced family break downs. The news is seldom happy and mankind seems to always be at war. The world is broken and messy.

Jesus was born into a world in turmoil - occupation by foreign forces , a  narcissistic king ruling the people and poverty, fear and hopelessness was common place. Jesus knows what pain is like, Mary and Joseph knew what gossip felt like, the shepherds understood the struggle to survive and the wise men knew how difficult it was to wait patiently for God’s leading.

Into this broken messy world came Jesus, Emmanuel “God with us”. God entered our pain, he lived it and he experienced it. He knows our struggles and pain and hurt. Our God is not some distant engineer tinkering with his machine. He is Emmanuel! “God is with us” and wants to guide us in our daily lives. 

I pray that no matter the situation you find yourself in this Christmas, that you find a way to experience “Emmanuel” God with us, the God of hope, joy, love and of restoration (peace).

God is restoring this broken up world one person at a time.

May the God of Peace and Restoration bless you this Christmas. 

Pastor Markus Schmid

Christmas and pain

Here is a link to another Great post by Melinda Cousins on Christmas.

Some questions about......

Grief

I recently read this article 10-things-you-should-say-to-a-grieving-person I beleive we all need to be better at this. So please take the time to read the article and the companion piece 10 things you should say to a grieving person .

Almost there!

The renovations on our new building are progressing very well and we are on schedule to be ready for our first service. This Sunday 23 November is our last service in the Cornerstone Stadium. Sunday 30 November we will begin meeting in our new premises at 65 Owen Terrace Wallaroo.  We would love to see you there feel free to pop in for a visit. We will have an official opening in February 2015 so stay tuned for details.

It is official !!!

We now have a building! Settlement was completed on Friday afternoon and we now have the keys for 65 Owen Terrace Wallaroo SA 5556. Work has already begun on the refurbishment.

Our planned schedule for the next few weeks is:

Saturday 15th of Nov working bee!

Friday 21- Sat 22 Nov 24 hr prayer vigil.

Sunday 23 Nov last service Cornerstone Stadium

Sunday 30th Nov first service 65 Owen Terrace Wallaroo (also 1st Advent).

God has provided for us tremendously and we give him all the glory for this wonderful phase of our development as a church.

Do you need pruning?

Todays message was inspired by the story "the Gardener and the vine" By Andrew McDonough

Details here!

It is a great reminder that we need to stay connected to the vine to flourish.

This weeks sermon "Do you need pruning?" can be downloaded here!

Echidnas-Spiky but loveable.

Todays sermon was inspired by the story "Echidnas on Everest" by Andrew McDonough.
details here

It is always good to be reminded (even through a children's story), that love for one another is central to being the church in the world.

Buy from here

Echidnas-spiky but loveable listen to sermon