July 28, 2006
Pastor's para
Last week - in the church notices, through email and verbally - all of us were invited to wear our “work clothes” to church this Sunday morning.
Why? Because all of us are engaged in a variety of “work” during each week …. whether it is paid employment, voluntary work inside or outside the home, we all “do stuff”, so we were invited to wear something that symbolises that work.
Why? Because Christians are in danger of a heresy that separates the spiritual from the everyday. Wearing our “work” clothes stands against this heresy and affirms God’s interest in every moment, in every part of our lives.
Why? Because it is part of worship. In the words of Gerard Manly Hopkins;
“It is not only prayer that gives God glory but work. Smiting on an anvil, sawing a beam, whitewashing a wall, driving horses, sweeping, scouring, everything gives God glory if being in his grace you do it as your duty. To go to Communion worthily gives God great glory, but a man with a dung fork in his hand, a woman with a slop pail, give him glory too. He is so great that all things give him glory if you mean they should.”
----- poet Gerard Manley Hopkins, in The Principle or Foundation
As a way of Opawa further growing in this area, this week we are commencing a three week course; Where’s God on Monday? It promises to equip and inspire you in serving God in everyday work.
The course is running at two different times (you choose one);
Wednesdays 7.30-9 pm (2, 9, 16 August) or Saturdays 4-5:30 pm (5, 12, 19 August)
July 21, 2006
Pastor's para
Ken writes:
Sundays at 3.30pm, on both 18 June and 16 July, found 35-40 people gathered for the hymn service. Led by Janice and Jeff and a group of able musicians, they sang the songs that they grew up with.
These are the songs that shaped this generation’s faith; that opened their hearts to Jesus and brings their past back into focus, reminding them of experiences that were so rich for them.
This doesn’t mean that they don’t value the experiences of other generations who have found their entry into faith in other ways. But for them it has opened doors to a past full of God that they can draw on for the present and on into the future.
After some preaching from yours truly, we are all invited to a meal of soup, rolls, tea and good fellowship. Although the weather has been cold on both occasions it hasn’t dampened the spirits of those who came nor prevented Fred or Glad who shared some aspects of their Christian lives, enthralling us all and adding another dimension to our gathering.
We thank everyone who contributes to the success of these times of fellowship.
Next month, on August the 20th, there will be a Communion Service and what was a winter programme will become a monthly fixture in the life of the church.
Put it in your diary and come and share this extra dimension of Opawa’s life. You’re most welcome.
Where's God on Monday?
A three week course that seeks to equip and inspire you in seeing
your everyday work
as an essential part of God's big picture.
Wednesdays or Saturdays in August.
More info to follow...
July 16, 2006
We continue with the challenge of Self Denial.
Last week we opened Jeremiah 19, a Bible text that portrays us as clay. But rather than crafting a nice clay jar, the scripture suggested God was going to smash a clay jar.
Why?
Because God holds good people who do nothing accountable for the death of the innocent.
It was a tough, tough piece of Scripture.
During the sermon people were given clay and invited to express how they might respond to the challenge of injustice in our world.
Perhaps the tears on the cheek say it all…
May we continue to experience God’s heart of love for the poorly treated of our world.
We will be collecting Self Denial monies from next Sunday, July 23.
July 09, 2006
Pastor's para
This is the second week of Self Denial, our annual examination of our lives and lifestyles in light of the global world around us.
Last Sunday all households and family groupings were invited to take home a clay pair of hands. (If you missed out, there are still clay hands in the foyer).
As I looked at the clay hands during the week, I pictured the hands as God’s hands, and myself held in God’s hands; for God so loved the world. Equally I pictured all people in our globe held in God’s hands; for God so loved the world. I then wondered what it means for me to share and extend to others the love of God’s hands.
The Self Denial challenge is not to swap the giving of money to Opawa by instead giving money to Self Denial. Rather the challenge is to spiritual renewal by considering God’s love for all people in our world, us and others.
Last week we were invited to consider denying ourselves, perhaps by going without coffee or a special treat. In the act of denying ourselves, we are invited to prayerfully consider God’s hands of love, open to the world. We are asked to consider how the claim - that we are Christ’s one’s - shows practically in our lives and our lifestyles.
July 02, 2006
Another lovely boy!
Congratulations to Megan and Logan
on the safe arrival of Toby Noah.