Today is our chance to share with you a small portion of what happens at Girls Brigade each Tuesday night. It's a privilege to be able to work with these girls and to watch them grow and mature each year.
We value those people who support us with their time, skills, prayers and money. We are always on the lookout out for extra hands to help on a Tuesday (especially when we do crafts!) or for someone who has a different practical skill or interest they can teach the girls.
Please continue to pray for us. We do have some girls who like to "push the limits" and please continue to pray for the leaders, that they will have good energy, fresh ideas and be able to show God's love to the girls each Tuesday.
The Christchurch web site mentioned in church today: www.fluinfo.org.nz
Dear Friends,
I want to tell you about the exciting journey that ICONZ has been on over the last six months. As many of you will know, the resignation of three leaders at the end of last year brought with it a number of challenges. The largest of these was the reality that ICONZ may no longer be able to continue.
Over the Christmas holiday period and into the New Year I had a number of people praying and seeking God in relation to 'where to now?'. The boys' ministry needed at least two more leaders that are adult, more financial support and more boys. As the term progressed, my concerns remained the same.
However, half way through term one God answered our prayers. Four adults volunteered to help lead, financial gifts were given directly to the ministry and four new boys began to attend.
God had truly come to the party and WOW what an amazing answer He had given us.
Thank you for your prayers and support in the past and over the term. We have been visiting a number of congregational members' workplaces in recent weeks and the boys have loved it. For me personally, it is such a blessing to be involved in a church that is embracing a ministry that I feel passionate about. God has again proved His faithfulness to us. What a neat Father we have!
Take Care
Tony Palmer
A number of services over this week allow us to reflect on God as Spirit. The church has been busy all week with numbers of people, putting time and talent into making possible what will be for us a highly memorable Pentecost. All the activity emerges from a simple prayer "Come Holy Spirit, surprise us with Your Life."
Evangelicals and Protestants have at times been accused of forgetting God's Spirit. In contrast, listen to some words from the Nicene Creed (381), a widely accepted and well-used brief statement of the Christian Faith:
"I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the Giver of Life; who proceeds from the Father and the Son; who in unity with the Father and the Son is worshipped and glorified; and has spoken through the prophets."
These words remind us that as Christians we worship one God, made known to
us in the three Persons (Father, Son and Spirit), of the Tri-unity of God.
While we at Opawa have historically put emphasis and energy into our celebrations of Christmas and Easter, Pentecost gives us an opportunity to reflect on God as Holy Spirit.
How might God, the Spirit, the Giver of Life, become real to us this Pentecost? How does this God, this Giver of life, speak to us this year? What do the prophets of God tell us about this Giver of life?
This is an "unauthorised" posting! The Church's Bible Days for the rest of the year are (highly recommended) for us ordinary people. Do try to get to them if at all possible. Teaching is by people who have a passion for the book they introduce. There is a $5.00 charge for non-Opawa-ites:
July 25: Acts
Aug 15: 2 Samuel
Sept 19: Ecclesiastes
Oct 3: Mark
3.30 pm - 5.30 pm on a Saturday afternoon. Just bring a Bible and a pen.