Well, here we are in December. Exams are over for our high school students, the year is winding down, and preparations for Christmas are getting under way. It is going to be a different type of Christmas celebration this year for many of us, I am sure. So whether we have our tree up yet, or have finished our Christmas shopping, let’s keep focused on the real meaning and message of Christmas. We began the year with he message of “keeping our eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.” And this is how I want to finish the year out – keeping our eyes focused on Jesus. He is the King of Kings, and Lord of Lords. In Australia, we elect a Prime Minister every three years. It is an important day for our nation, and sometimes highlights the deep divisions in our society. In between times, we elect our state premiers, and then our local government representatives. As we draw near to Christmas in this Advent season, no matter what political party we vote for, or how divided we might be over our political leanings, or even our religious affiliations or denomination, this is a time for Christians to unite in worship and adoration and with the highest allegiance to our King Jesus, His life, message and ministry, His death and resurrection. This is a season to put aside the things that divide us, and look instead to the One who unites us with His love and kindness. Jesus the Messiah, the Christ, the King.
Isaiah prophecies of a king who would come and reign in justice and righteousness. We see this hope in this well-known passage from Isaiah 9:6-7 (NLT) “For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulder, And he will be called: Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. His Government and its peace will never end. He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David for all eternity.”
The passionate commitment of the Lord of Heaven’s armies will make this happen!
The gospels of Matthew and Luke both want us to know from the start that Jesus has come as the anointed one. The Christ, the promised King. Not born to nobility, not rich, or powerful. But born to a humble family and raised by a carpenter. He came to establish His kingdom here on earth, not by force, but through love, forgiveness and sacrifice. He calls us to yield our lives to him and offer Him our meagre gifts and talents for His service. Let all that we do honour Jesus, the Messiah, the King, and may we all receive a fresh vision for God‟s Kingdom coming here on earth as it is in Heaven.
Glenda Noordam
This week I think we are all feeling a little lighter as restrictions are eased, and life has some semblance of returning to normal. This means that as a church, we are able to begin re-grouping and gathering, even though numbers are still restricted, as a church community for worship services. Our Sunday services will return to being live streamed from this coming Sunday. We can accommodate about 30 to 40 people, with covid-safe distancing, signing in and sanitising. Masks still must be worn inside if distancing is not possible, but we hope to be able to provide enough space to allow some freedom. Please let us know if you are coming as there are limited places, but we look forward to seeing as many as are able to make it. Let us celebrate our faith as we worship together. “I was glad when they said to me, let us go to the house of the Lord!!”
This month, we are raising funds for the Bible League, providing Bibles for persecuted Christians. The gift of $10.00 will provide one Bible for each family. Please use MNLCC bank details to make your donation, using the word “Bible” as your reference. Thank you so much.
We are also getting ready for our Christmas celebrations. Our main Christmas event will be on Sunday evening, December 20th. This will begin at 5.00 pm with a barbeque tea, the Love Gippsland Coffee van, and games and activities for the children. The service will begin at 7.00 with a children’s program followed by carol singing and lighting the Christmas tree. This year, the Christmas tree will hold some special ornaments – Christmas stars that represent the 14 children supported by the Murle Education Foundation. This year has been a struggle to raise the necessary funds for maintaining their school fees and requirements, food, clothes and accommodation. We are asking for families to commit to sponsoring one child for the next twelve months. We hope you can join us in this worthwhile project. As a special Christmas “bonus” we would love to send the students some “pocket money” in a card. This would be a treat they would rarely experience – having some money of their own to spend however they wish. We would like to send about $20 to each child in a Christmas card. The youth and girls group are helping with this project, so if you would like to give towards this, please either deposit through the MNLCC bank details, or you could drop off a cash gift to MNLCC on Friday evenings.
This newsletter seems to be full of projects that are calling to us for donations. I pray that you will prayerfully consider these requests, as each one will mean so much to the recipients, and your generosity is an expression of God’s love. This week Thanksgiving is celebrated in America. I am so glad that we do not need a special date to remind us to be grateful and give thanks for all of God’s abundant blessings. May God bless you as you give – pressed down, shaken together and running out all over.
God bless you each one and keep you in His loving care.
With love,
Glenda
Last Sunday, believers gathered at the Civic Park in Warragul to pray and worship together. It was a milestone event – and a hopeful glimpse into the not too distant future when we can see our normal church services begin again. It was good to see different churches represented with a crowd of around 200 gathered in small groups scattered across the park. Testimonies were shared, and a simple gospel message presented. It is good when God’s people dwell in unity, because there, God’s anointing flows, and he commands a blessing and life is the result. It has also been good to take part in worship sessions that have been available on zoom and will continue over the month of November. Churches from all over Victoria have been represented by different worship leaders who have praised and prophesied, declaring freedom, and ushering us into God’s presence, praying for an end to the pandemic, and for God’s people to rise up and churches to reopen. Those who have joined these sessions have witnessed to a real sense of unity, even though we have not been in the same location. I believe the church is gearing up for a great surge forward as the troops begin to reassemble, and I think that Gippsland and other regional areas will lead the way through prayer and worship as congregations gather once more.
I think there is a great sense of tiredness over people as this year comes to an end. I hear people sighing. I see anxiety on their faces and hear tension in their voices. It has been a long year. I believe that Jesus is calling us back into action – but not out of duty or expectation. It is more about that He is calling us to action from a place of peace, rest and safety. As we worship, pray and respond to God’s Word, together we will find that our strength returns. We will find our energy replenished, and our enthusiasm restored. He is our strength. He is our encouragement. He is our joy. That is why we must respond to Jesus’ invitation to yoke together with him and find, as it says in the Message translation of Matthew chapter 11 “you’ll recover your life”. He says he will show us how to take a real rest, and that we can learn from him “the unforced rhythms of grace.” I want to encourage you to be intentional about finding quiet moments to just sit with Jesus. Listen to His voice, be encouraged by His word. Trust and obey as my Nana used to sing. Jesus wants us to walk and work in rhythm with Him… but more about that on Sunday.
I pray that as I write this, “all is well with your soul.” We cannot always control the things that happen around us, but we can choose to breathe, to rest in Jesus, and put our trust in Him. May God bless you and give you His peace.
Getting ready for Christmas – don’t forget to start organising your Christmas display for our “Nativity” competition. Also, we need helpers to set up and pack up our Christmas service on December 20th. Please register by calling 51261569 if you are available to help put up lights, decorate Christmas trees or pack our goodie bags.
We apologise for the issues with our online service on Sunday morning. No one is sure what happened between recording and uploading, but we hope you were able to catch the replay on You Tube. Thanks to the tech team who do such a wonderful job. In short … you can’t win ’em all!!!
We are still offering to view the online service together at MNLCC on Sunday mornings. Please book ahead if you would like to be there. It is a treat to be able to worship, pray, sing and take communion together.
Glenda Noordam
Dear friends and family,
November 11th 1918, after four years of continuous warfare, the guns of the Western front fell silent. During this time, 330,000 Australians served overseas, and more than 60,000 died. This was a huge price to pay for the victory, and for the freedom we now enjoy. This day continues to be dedicated to Australia and the other allied countries, commemorating those who have fallen in war. For just a minute at 11.00 am we stop and bow our heads in remembrance of those brave men and women. We should be ever grateful. Lest we forget.
I am forever grateful for our military services-the brave men and women who gave their lives for our country. They gained our freedom, and today we live in a safe and free nation. But I am also forever grateful for what Jesus accomplished for us on the cross. As we see the chaos and fear and negativity around us, I pray that today we will remember who we are and what we have in Christ. We have every spiritual blessing in Jesus Christ. We are positioned in Christ, we are people of the resurrection, living in the power of the Holy Spirit. Let us live like we believe this. Let us remember the goodness and kindness of God and let us remember that we are sons and daughters of the Living God, seated in heavenly places with Christ Jesus. We are kings and priests in His Kingdom. Let us remember who and whose we are this day. Let us remember that whatever happens in the realm of politics or crisis, or famine or fire, Jesus is the Lord. He is on the throne. We are part of His kingdom. So, on Remembrance day as we pay respects to those who have gone before – and yes, we respect and honour them – let us also remember that today we can celebrate our Christian heritage – celebrate our Spiritual kingdom and all Christ has gained for us. Kings and kingdoms will all pass away, but Jesus is our King forever, and all he has gained for us is ours eternally. This is our hope. This is our song. This is our battle cry – Jesus is Lord! Let us never forget.
Glenda Noordam