This is our 50th year Anniversary, and we are looking forward to our celebrations. This means that this is the year of Jubilee. Leviticus 25:1 says, “You shall sound a ram’s horn abroad on the tenth day of the seventh month; on the day of atonement you shall sound a horn all through your land. You shall thus consecrate the fiftieth year and proclaim a release through the land to all its inhabitants. It shall be a jubilee for you. (Lev 5:1-4, 8-10 NASB) It is a time of liberty, restitution and simple living. It was a time of rest from labour. In the book of Luke, Jesus “stood up to read and they handed him the scroll of the prophet Isaiah. Unrolling the scroll, he found the place where it is written, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight to the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.” (Luke 4:19)

The Jubilee is fulfilled in Jesus who has come to forgive our debts, restore relationship between God and people, provide freedom from sin and rest to all believers. This is the wonderful Good News – the message of New Life to our Community.

I cannot wait to see lots of friends – old and new – at our celebrations over the weekend of the 18th, 19th and 20th of October. It will be a wonderful time of sharing stories, reacquainting with old friends and honouring our church history. But just as importantly, it will be a time to look forward to our future and take hold of the vision set before us. I believe that God has given us all we need to fulfil the call he has on each of us individually, and collectively. This
anniversary is a pivotal time for us as God takes us into a new decade. May the years to come bring a time of growth, revival and new life to our community as many find their hope and salvation in Jesus.

Pastor Glenda

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Grand Final
There are two important things to note about September in Victoria— it is the first month of Spring — and it is Grand Final time!! Even if you do not play the game yourself, most of us have a team we follow – we dress up in their colours and cheer them on and try to watch the games as they move up the ladder to the semi-finals and on towards victory – and the winning team taking home the treasured silver cup.
Hebrews 12:1 speaks of “a great cloud of witnesses” who are there, cheering us on our way. They are those who have gone before us, many facing dangers, persecution and even death for their faith in Christ. They are encouraging us to “strip off every weight that slows us down”, and to “run the race God set before us with endurance.” We are heading for the last days, the “Grand Final” if you will. This is not the time to get discouraged or fall away. It is the time to encourage one another, to accept the discipline of the Lord, and allow the Holy Spirit to train us up, ready to bring our “A” game. There is much more at stake than just a medal or a cup, for there is a promise to every believer, “to the one who overcomes.” This is not an individual event, but a team effort, as it says in Hebrews 12:14-15. We are to live in peace with one another, working at living a holy life. We are asked to look after one another, so that no one fails to receive the grace of God. This is a lifestyle of self-discipline and commitment. It is allowing others to speak into our lives – not being critical or judgemental but encouraging and urging each other on towards the finish line.

So let us keep moving forward together – listening for the distant voices of the apostles as they cheer us on through the pages of God’s word – and through encouraging one another, and through the coaching, instruction and discipline of the Holy Spirit working with us, to bring us to holiness and godliness. . Let us run the race with perseverance, with discipline, and keep our eyes on the prize – Jesus, our champion, the author and finisher of our faith. I want to be there “when the final siren sounds”.

Pastor Glenda

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