€¦ · Web viewPastoral Letter #7 Thames Baptist Church That felt like the weirdest Easter...

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Pastoral Letter #7 Thames Baptist Church That felt like the weirdest Easter weekend I think I have ever had, either as a Christian and in my pre Christians life. I missed the services on Good Friday and Sunday, and spending time with the Union church congregation on Good Friday as we normally do. I missed all the theatre of Good Friday, where we can be creative in the presentation. I missed the Sunday greetings of “He is Risen” and the reply “He is risen indeed”. I missed the time with family, with kids and grandkids and going to the beach and other treat venues. Apart from sitting together in our bubble and watching the sermon video, where was Easter? Making and eating home made hot cross buns, making and eating homemade chocolate eggs was fun, but where was the joy of little children finding their eggs. I had callouts from Civil Defence on Good Friday and Easter Sunday to provide food parcels from the Foodbank for homeless people whom the Police had placed in motel units. On reflection now, that is really what Easter was all about. Christ came to give his life, and us doing our bit to help those less fortunate is Easter. It was a weird Easter but a good lesson about what Easter is all about. I have an apology to make. I suddenly realised that even though I have been sending out the verse of the day during this lockdown, I did not have all the church cell phone numbers listed. I have rectified this this weekend and now the daily verse reaches 67 people. Sorry to those who missed out on the earlier ones. From the congregation :

Transcript of €¦ · Web viewPastoral Letter #7 Thames Baptist Church That felt like the weirdest Easter...

Page 1: €¦ · Web viewPastoral Letter #7 Thames Baptist Church That felt like the weirdest Easter weekend I think I have ever had, either as a Christian and in my pre Christians life.

Pastoral Letter #7

Thames Baptist Church

That felt like the weirdest Easter weekend I think I have ever had, either as a Christian and in my pre Christians life. I missed the services on Good Friday and Sunday, and spending time with the Union church congregation on Good Friday as we normally do. I missed all the theatre of Good Friday, where we can be creative in the presentation. I missed the Sunday greetings of “He is Risen” and the reply “He is risen indeed”. I missed the time with family, with kids and grandkids and going to the beach and other treat venues. Apart from sitting together in our bubble and watching the sermon video, where was Easter?

Making and eating home made hot cross buns, making and eating homemade chocolate eggs was fun, but where was the joy of little children finding their eggs.

I had callouts from Civil Defence on Good Friday and Easter Sunday to provide food parcels from the Foodbank for homeless people whom the Police had placed in motel units. On reflection now, that is really what Easter was all about. Christ came to give his life, and us doing our bit to help those less fortunate is Easter.

It was a weird Easter but a good lesson about what Easter is all about.

I have an apology to make. I suddenly realised that even though I have been sending out the verse of the day during this lockdown, I did not have all the church cell phone numbers listed. I have rectified this this weekend and now the daily verse reaches 67 people. Sorry to those who missed out on the earlier ones.

From the congregation:

The Dyer homegroup used their lockdown Easter to remind passersby of the reason for the season.

One of our people Hazel Thorp whom some of you will know had to have her little companion of many years put down at Easter because of his health problems. Please pray for Hazel. Not only is lonely living by yourself hard but now without her furry friend.

Page 2: €¦ · Web viewPastoral Letter #7 Thames Baptist Church That felt like the weirdest Easter weekend I think I have ever had, either as a Christian and in my pre Christians life.

From Rose and Adrian: We have been blessed with chestnuts and several neighbours have joined us to forage for them. It's great seeing the little kids out there looking for them....they come prepared with strong footwear and gloves! I reckon those spikes could puncture my bike tyres!

The 24/7 homegroup found this wonderful picture for homegroups: A cross made by joined hands.

Elizabeth sent this wonderful clip about listening to God. Copy and paste it or click on it, and be blessed.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zf_0jzPQ8lo&authuser=0

Lockdown and lack of face-to-face contacts has allowed me some pondering time. When Karlene and I were at our last church in Invercargill, we were in a very community ministry focused church. Our mission field was the identified socially deprived suburb around the church – a sink hole of poverty surrounded by affluent suburbs. And we reached out to similarly deprived suburbs in the south of the city. Thames does not have an area as well defined as an area of social deprivation.

We as a church are called to minister to the lost, least, disenfranchised, poor and broken hearted here. Community ministry is not something defined by Ebenezer Trust but is defined by us as the church (the Trust is under the church). So my question to you, and I really do want to hear from you, who are the lost, least, disenfranchised, poor and broken hearted here in Thames that we are called by God to bring the light of Christ to bear on. We can be a scattergun and try to reach everybody but then we would be spread so thin that we could not be effective. So where do you think that our ministry to the community should be targeted?

A Prayer for the Financially Hurting

God, You know what we’re going through. And we’re thankful You can take the hardest circumstances and turn them around for our good and Your glory. You can restore all things—so we’re asking You to restore lost jobs, finances, relationships, resources, and hopes. Show anyone struggling financially that You hold them close, and surround them with people who will help them through this time. Please meet their immediate needs as they trust You for long-term solutions. Turn fear into faith as Your good plans for them unfold. As they wait on You, renew their hope and give them the courage to dream again. Remind them of their value, and fill them with peace. Our God, come and do what only You can do. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Keep on trusting God. Ring me if you need a talk, I am just a phone call away.

Bless you, Chris