Monday: This will be a week with a number of pastoral emergencies. Steve goes into the week encouraged by a lovely email; “I participate in your faith community at Opawa by entering into the worship experiences as I read [them on the internet] and agree in my spirit. Your creative use of symbol in visual and audible ways is powerful (to the soul.) Thank you for continuing to share with the rest of us.” It is amazing the way that the use of the internet is enabling Opawa to bless the world.
Tuesday: It’s a busy day at church. The pastoral staff are needing wisdom and flexibility as they deal with various community contacts suffering from excessive alcohol consumption and financial crisis. As the espresso congregation concludes in the foyer at 9:20 pm, the Sunday morning worship team gathers to rehearse.
Wednesday: Another busy evening with people everywhere; the youth are re-decorating the youth centre, Side Door are worshipping and the church finances are being discussed. The consensus is that; the Board are encouraged to set up a Home Mission ministry; the church Budget needs to express generosity and mission for those not at Opawa; equally this requires wisdom so that our mission heart is not expressed by cutting our own ministries.
Thursday: Conversational English and Crafts are underway. In the evening the Life Party happens, with 25 people gathering in the foyer to sip on lattes and sparkling grapejuice and leave cheese and biscuit crumbs. Stories of how Growth coaching has grown people are shared and God is honoured. A good number enquire about Growth Coaching and being Growth Coached. Steve and Jason talk about the Life party as an annual event, celebrating growth in people’s lives at Opawa.
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Friday: Rachel Wilson, Judy More and Elizabeth Brown are preparing to share at the Sunday service, of how they, as part of Opawa, are part of Opawa growing, blessing, birthing.