St Peter's Lutheran Church Lavington in Lavington, New South Wales | Lutheran Church

St Peter's Lutheran Church Lavington

Locality: Lavington, New South Wales

Phone: +61 2 6066 9590

Address: 367 Urana Rd 2641 Lavington, NSW, Australia

Website: http://www.lca.org.au

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25.01.2022 ‘I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe’ (Ephesians 1:1819). Read Ephesians 1:1823 Most of us are confined to our homes in some shape or form still. We appreciate those who go to their workplace each day at risk we thank you. Some are working from home, are home schooling, or are reti...red. We are all missing family contact and are blessed that these restrictions are gradually easing. But we are still deep in the ‘during’ phase of this pandemic. So, what’s happening with your faith in this ‘during’ time? Is it on hold like so much else? Have you coasted and not given it much effort? Is your faith richer as you depend more on prayer, reading, meditation, and one-on-one contact with God? How do you maintain faith without a weekly church service with the add-ons of music; friends; touch; prayer for others or yourself; the noise; a cuppa during fellowship; and the people you don’t really know well but find you are strangely missing their faces? Are online services working for you? In a nutshell, are you enlarging your faith in this space of ‘during’? How are you going without holy communion? Is it a good thing that you can’t commune presently? Are you deliberately finding ways to feast with Jesus, read his word, sing songs of praise, enjoy deep quiet time, rest in his presence, and converse with him in your aloneness or loneliness? May this be a time of renewal of your faith with God, and your community. Jesus, as I do the dishes, school work, my job, housework, deal with online connecting, or hide in the toilet for five minutes of peace from the children or my partner, bless me and take my mind to the rooftop, to contemplate the sunset with you Jesus, to imagine the breeze, smell and gentle waves at the beach with you, Holy Spirit, by my side. Show me the beauty and bounty of you, Father, in all ordinary moments of my days. Bring your words, songs that lift my spirits, forgotten hymns, favourite psalms, and mostly, your presence to my being. Amen. by Barb Niczynski

25.01.2022 This is the fifth devotion in a series of seven based on Psalm 91:18. ‘He will cover you with his feathers. He will shelter you with his wings’ (Psalm 91:4). Read Psalm 91:18... What a wonderful picture! We are his chicks, running to him like to a mother hen for protection, scrambling up in under his wings, tucking in under his feathers. Have you ever watched chickens do that? I have. Those chickens are very intentional and determined, squawking all the way if they are afraid! At other times, the mother hen calls them, and they come. They know their source of protection and provision. I have read of a mother hen giving her life to protect her chicks during a fire. Although she died, the chicks ran out from under her feathers and wings. That’s dedicated covering and protection! And that is how the psalmist describes the Lord covering you and me. We can tuck in close, feel his warmth, and listen for his heartbeat. He loves you and me even more than a mother hen loves her chicks. After all, he has given her that instinct for her young. He invites us to trust him, to grow in knowing deep closeness with him at such a time as this. Then this time of testing, of clarifying our focus, is not wasted! ‘In everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding’ (Philippians 4:6,7). Lord, thank you that we find shelter in you! Amen. by Ruth Olsen

24.01.2022 This is the first devotion in a series of seven based on Psalm 91:18. ‘Those who live in the shelter of the Most High ’ (Psalm 91:1). Read Psalm 91:18... Where do you live? The NIV uses the word ‘dwell’ in this verse. The Macquarie Dictionary has the associated meaning of ‘live’ as ‘to dwell or reside’, and for ‘dwell’ it says ‘to abide as a permanent resident’. To ‘dwell’ has a sense of engaging more fully and deeply, with roots that go down, permanent, anchored. I have lived in many different locations, but it has taken time for my ‘roots’ to start going down before I could say that I ‘dwell’ there. My Study Bible has a cross-reference from ‘shelter’ to Exodus 33:22. Moses asked the Lord to show him his glory (Exodus 33:1223). The Lord said, ‘OK but no-one may see me and live I will put you in the cleft of the rock and cover you with my hand until I have passed by ’ (Exodus 33:18,20,22). The Lord provided and gave shelter to Moses. There is trust and intimacy in that relationship. He does the same for us in and through his beloved son, Jesus! Now in these times of current upheaval, we have opportunity to grow in trusting, and thereby knowing, the Lord as our shelter in and through Jesus. I join in Paul’s prayer, ‘that Christ may dwell in our hearts through faith that [we] being rooted and established in love may grasp and know ’ (Ephesians 3:1619). Lord, help my roots go down deeper in you. Amen by Ruth Olsen

23.01.2022 I will carry you (Isaiah 46:4b). Read Isaiah 46:1-7 Forgive me the indulgence of writing this devotion on my birthday. On this particular birthday, which I suppose is a ‘maturity milestone’ (it ends in a zero), I wanted to share with you my favourite scripture of all time.... I will be your God throughout your lifetimeuntil your hair is white with age. I made you, and I will care for you. I will carry you and save you (Isaiah 46:3-4 NLT). To understand why this is my all-time favourite, you need to know something about me. I’m not who you think I am. I’m not that person with the trusting childlike faith, or the one who recites the Creed every Sunday without ever a blink of doubt, or the one who’s always bubbling over with the joy of their salvation. I’m not that person. Ever since I can remember, I’ve been a questioner, a doubter, an interrogator. Answers have never been able to settle my ever-inquiring mind. Nor has the kindly intended encouragement, ‘just trust in God’. For much of my life, immersed in a church of faith-overflowing family and friends, I was sure my relentless questions and doubts condemned me to hell. Then, in the middle of the day I have a dream. There is a shepherd and twin newborn lambs on a bank of a fast-flowing stream. The mature sheep have crossed over it, but the newborns are too small. The shepherd will carry them across, one at a time. He picks up the first lamb and right away it snuggles into the crook of his arm and gets comfy. He carries the dozing lamb across the stream and reunites it with its mother. He returns for the other lamb, wild-eyed and baa-ing its head off, terrified of what is going to happen. The shepherd picks it up and wades across the stream, as the lamb bucks and bleats and struggles to leap out of its saviour’s arms. The shepherd merely tightens his grip and holds the frightened lamb close to his heart. He puts it down on the bank next to its calm, trusting twin. My arrival safe to the shore has nothing to do with the measure of trust I have in the Shepherd. It has everything to do with the Shepherd’s strength. And his relentless love for me. I am carried. Jesus, my Good Shepherd, when I am strong and when I am not, thank you for carrying me. When I can trust in you and when I cannot, thank you for carrying me. When I can cling to you and when I cannot, thank you for carrying me. Amen. by Linda Macqueen

22.01.2022 ‘The Lord your God in your midst, The Mighty One, will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing’ (Zephaniah 3:17). Read Zephaniah 3:1420 What an amazing image this is! God is rejoicing over us, rejoicing over us with singing! What a contrast to images many people have of a stern or distant God. It reminds me of that passage in Luke 15:10: ‘There is joy in heaven over one sinner who repents’. I have a...lways imagined the angels and saints rejoicing, but here God rejoices with gladness and song. But how can God rejoice over me, with all my imperfections and lack of love? I am reminded of an illustration I once heard in a sermon. The pastor had young grandchildren and one of them had drawn him a picture. To look at it, it was just squiggly lines. So, he said, ‘Tell me about your picture’. The child answered, ‘This is you and me and we are holding hands’. The grandfather replied with tears in his eyes, ‘That is a beautiful picture’. Similarly, God looks at our frail faith and our feeble works of love, like squiggly lines, and he rejoices over us as a loving Father who has given all that he has, his only Son, for us. Not only does he see into our hearts, but he gives us his Holy Spirit to strengthen our faith and support us as we, in love and gratitude, try to do his will. When he looks on his beloved children, he sees them clothed with the righteousness of Christ. He is glad to call us his children and to hold us close in his family. What an encouragement to us as we worship, immerse ourselves in God’s word, pray, and perform acts of love. As we do these things, God is happy and rejoices over us. What a truly wonderful Father! Loving Father, thank you that you look on us with gladness as we live our lives as your children, and in your service. Amen. by Norma Koehne

21.01.2022 This is the fourth in a series of seven devotions on the theme of Seven Great Stories to Tell One Day. ‘So Pilate released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder’ (Luke 23:24a,25a). Read Luke 23:1325... In the midst of this Coronavirus pandemic there are lots of stories of pain, sorrow and heartbreak. But in the midst of the stories of pain are great stories stories of healing, hope, and love. Now that we are on the other side of Easter, we can look back and see some of the stories that we may have skipped over in the crucifixion of Jesus. And because he lives in us, his story becomes our story. One of the stories we read in the crucifixion is the story of the last-minute reprieve of Barabbas. It is amazing how Barabbas gets to go free. He hasn’t done anything to deserve going free. He just happens to be there. He just happens to get caught up in the life of Jesus. We have no knowledge of his repentance, or his gratitude. We don’t hear the next steps in his story. The story is simply there. Some of us are less affected than others during this time. We are all affected to a degree, yes. And some of you reading this will be experiencing something quite devastating, and for you, we pray. But others of us have stories of surprising grace, unexpected reprieves, suffering that should have happened, but didn’t. We, of course, all have this story in Jesus taking our place on the cross. Let us tell those stories, and then let us build on them with stories of thankfulness, gratitude, worship, and service. Let’s pray. Heavenly Father, thank you for the last-minute reprieve of Barabbas. Thank you that you have also saved us by your death and resurrection, and the giving of faith. Help us to be thankful for all reprieves, and help us to live a new story. Amen. by Pastor Chris Mann

20.01.2022 ‘But Esau ran to meet Jacob and embraced him; he threw his arms around his neck and kissed him’ (Genesis 33:4). Read Genesis 33:111 My sister, Danielle, is an emergency room nurse in Minneapolis, Minnesota. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Dani had to leave her three children with my parents to keep them safe during her long hours of taking care of sick patients in the ER. This separation was horrific for her, and the loneliness that assailed her was a heavy weight of darkness.... Six weeks into their necessary separation, my parents drove to meet Dani and decided to surprise her by bringing Dani’s kids along. The excitement made the kids squirm in the back seat of the car. Unfortunately, my sister called and said that she’d be late she had been struggling very badly. Finally, when she arrived at the meeting place, she parked away from my parents’ car, and as she approached, the kids’ heads popped up from the back seat. Instantly, the ache of mother’s love overtook Dani and she began to weep. To be separated from family is a very, very difficult thing. If you were going to meet someone, who would you love to have pop up? Would family, friends or neighbours with whom you’d disagreed come to mind? In the text, Jacob never expected Esau to pop back up in his life. The way they had parted, Jacob deceiving Esau, taking both blessing and birthright, would have caused a rift between the brothers. Perhaps Jacob would have not wanted to see Esau. But in the midst of reconnection, time had changed Esau for the better. Gone was the sibling rivalry and the need to impress parents (and even each other). What replaced it was a desperate desire to be reunited with his brother. Maybe in this time of separation, isolation and loneliness, someone unexpected will pop back up into your life. Will time have changed them? You? Is this time a perfect one for reconciliation? Heavenly Father, thank you for the opportunities you give to us to reconcile with our brothers and sisters. Help us to reconnect and find a common point again. Amen. by Pastor Reid Matthias

20.01.2022 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble though the waters roar and foam the Lord of hosts is with us’ (Psalm 46:1,34). Read Psalm 46 Many years ago, I prayed portions of this psalm over and over again as I was on a mission boat, buffeted by strong trade winds as it travelled from Siassi to Lae across the notorious Vitiaz Strait. There were times when the boat was hit side-on by waves and it heeled over, and I wondered if it would come upright again.... Most worrying was that my two young children were with me. God kept us safe, and we finally reached Lae. It is reassuring to us all that God is protecting us as we are buffeted by the vagaries of physical life here on earth, whether it be danger from the elements, sickness, or problems with work and careers. God gives us the strength to face them by standing with us through these trials. More reassuring is that God is protecting and strengthening us as we are buffeted in our spiritual life by doubts, depression or anxiety about the future. The Holy Spirit stands with us and supports us through word and sacrament and the love of fellow believers. We can trust God to be with us and never let us go. I am reminded of a time when I was driving past a pine forest in Mt Gambier, and my three-year-old grandson wanted us to stop and go into the forest. I said, ‘You might get lost’. He replied, ‘No, I wouldn’t because I would be holding your hand’. God grant us such child-like trust. How blessed we are that we have such a strong base in our life one that will never fail us but will keep us safe and secure all our days and into eternity. Thank you, God, that you are always with us to guide and support us through all the trials of this life. Amen. by Norma Koehne

19.01.2022 This is the last devotion in a series of seven based on Psalm 91:18. ‘Do not be afraid of the terrors of the night, nor the arrow that flies in the day. Though a thousand fall at your side, though ten thousand are dying around you, these evils will not touch you’ (Psalm 91:5,7). Read Psalm 91:18... When we dwell in trusting the Lord, especially so in during any time of upheaval and testing such as now, we will discover for ourselves the reality and truth of what the Bible says about him. He is our rock, our anchor in stormy seas. Yes, although there’s uncertainty, threat, death or trouble around us, by holding onto him and his promises, he enables us to learn to become an overcomer. When he brings us through again, we will realise we have learned to know both him and ourselves in new ways. Testing times like these are opportunities for growth. They are times to practise giving our fears to him, receiving his peace, beginning to recognise his presence with us and his sustaining and enabling power at work in us and through us. The Lord’s desire is for all people to come to know him and his promises in Jesus (1 Timothy 2:4). We all need his mercy and forgiveness, for without Jesus all of us sit in the ‘wicked’ camp! Let’s pray urgently for others, that this current ‘season’ may become a turning point for many, to experience the truth of him who does not condemn but forgives any who ask him (John 3:1617). We represent him to others. Let’s give our fears to him, and in exchange, receive his love for others. Lord, thank you for your Spirit at work in us and through us. Amen. by Ruth Olsen Hi, This is the last for this series of devotions as we now head back to church. But if you wish to keep up with a daily devotion I'll invite you to subscribe to https://www.lca.org.au//comm/enews-single-subscribe-form/ or another excellent site is https://www.lhm.org/podcasts/

19.01.2022 Then Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me’ (Matthew 16:24). Read Matthew 16:21-28 Jesus requires his followers to be completely different from what we would expect from a worldly perspective. Knowing Jesus causes a paradigm shift in us. The world promotes self-fulfilment, focus on self and a right to follow your dreams and desires. Jesus teaches self-denial. Does this attitude come easy to you...? You are not alone. As we are filled with the Holy Spirit daily, it isn’t us living but Christ living in and through us. Also, Jesus never said that following him would be easy. Instead, he asks us to pick up our cross daily. What is your cross? Jesus carried a gruesome, heavy cross up a hill to his death. Through it, he freed us from condemnation forever and restored us to the Father. The way of Jesus is full of obstacles and hardship, but Christ also promises to walk with us and carry our burden, our crosses, with and for us if we come to him with them. 1 Peter 5:7 reminds us to ‘cast all our anxiety [burdens] on him, because he cares for us’. Jesus wants us to follow him. Let’s walk with him along the path of life. What is your greatest joy in following Jesus? Tell him in prayer now. Holy Jesus, my greatest joy in following you is To walk the road with you isn’t easy, but please strengthen and guide me every day as I long to follow you. Give me courage to deny myself and put my focus on you and what you want me to do in a situation. Please help me carry my burdens when they seem too hard to bear. I know you are always with me. You are the Good Shepherd who comforts and sustains me forever. In your precious name I pray. Amen. by Maria Rudolph

19.01.2022 This is the second devotion in a series of seven based on Psalm 91:18. ‘Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty’ (Psalm 91:1). Read Psalm 91:18... What happens for you when you live somewhere for a longer time? For me, I start to feel ‘at home’ and a sense of belonging as some relationships grow. A process of time and being ‘real’ is needed for any relationship to grow and deepen and for us to then find rest there. One thing I have learned is that the Lord has ‘big shoulders’! I can be honest with him about whatever scares me, or is annoying, painful, or causing me grief. The psalmists would often ‘let it all hang out’, and that did not scare the Lord away. He is not shocked by our thoughts and feelings, although we might be! Instead, when we are real and honest with him, that’s where we will discover his faithfulness. There we grow in resting and ‘sheltering’ in him and his promises. Isaiah speaks of the Lord Almighty covering his people with the shadow of his hand (51:16; 49:2). It is a description of protection that is now opened to us by Jesus. We will see more of the Lord’s assurance of protection as we journey through Psalm 91. The more we settle in and dwell in the shelter of the Most High, the more we will be enabled to rest in trusting him! Lord, cause me to find rest in your shelter and shadow. Amen by Ruth Olsen

18.01.2022 This is the last in a set of four devotions on the theme of Trust, which have been published approximately weekly. Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight (Proverbs 3:5). Read Proverbs 3:1-12... In the book of Hebrews there is this wonderful reassurance from God: ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you’ (verse 13:5b). God wants us to know he is absolutely trustworthy, no matter what our circumstances may indicate. He wants us to firmly hold onto his promise that he has not left us to the mercy of fate or any other fearful circumstances. God says to us in the words of Jeremiah 29:11: ‘For I know the plans I have for you’ ’plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future’. But human energy runs out. Often after a time of trial, hurt, pain, struggle with fear, or uncertainty about the future, we don’t seem to have any energy left. Human endurance and willpower runs out. In the dark valleys of life we need a power and energy source bigger than ourselves. If we think we are going to make it through all the valleys of life on our own power, then we will be sadly disappointed. When all else fails God calls us to rely on his strength, his power and his care. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you, says 1 Peter 5:7. If you look at the world, you’ll be distressed. If you look within, you’ll be depressed. If you look at Christ, you’ll be at rest. Heavenly Father, you are our true and certain hope when our energy runs out. We will trust in you. Amen. by Pastor Kevin Bell

18.01.2022 This is the fourth devotion in a series of seven based on Psalm 91:18. ‘For he will rescue you from every trap and protect you from deadly disease’ (Psalm 91:3). Read Psalm 91:18... I can imagine that, as a kid, you experienced that sinking feeling of having been trapped. A kids’ game is one thing; deliberate deception and entrapment is another. The NIV translation of the Bible calls it ‘the fowler’s snare’, a metaphor for danger from an enemy. That’s no fun! From an enemy is one thing, but betrayal by a friend is another as Jesus experienced from Judas, a disciple who wanted to force Jesus into action through not understanding that God’s ways are different from those of the world (Isaiah 55:89). Troubles, traps and temptations happen in life. But there, because he knows where you are, look for the way out that the Lord provides so you can hold steady and trust him in that situation (1 Corinthians 10:13). For example, take any deadly disease, such as the current invisible intruder. The NIV uses the word ‘pestilence’, to which the Macquarie Dictionary has ‘a deadly epidemic disease; that which produces or tends to produce epidemic disease’. It’s infectious, destructive to life, and injurious to peace and morals. You get the picture. These things happened in the psalmist’s era as well. His response: as you live and dwell in the Lord’s shelter, surely, he will protect you! Even if there is a second wave, and even if we die from the coronavirus, we are still safe in God’s hands. Lord, thank you that our lives are in your hands! Amen. by Ruth Olsen

18.01.2022 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever (Hebrews 13:8). Read Hebrews 13:1-8 Tried out a new takeaway cafe? Read a new author? Found a new series to binge watch on Netflix? Bought new shoes online or changed your mobile plan? All these changes are deliberate choices, self-motivated and informed by our emotions, thoughts, research and desired outcomes. Is this normal? On their own, each one is a small change, and not unsettling.... Has time in ‘Iso’ helped you discover something new? How has it shaped your new and emerging normal? But is everything changing? No! It is in our nature to question every aspect of life, especially our faith. It’s actually a healthy thing to do this; it helps us to continue exploring and growing in Christ. The gospel assures us that no matter how often we turn our back, doubt or walk away, our loving and living Lord keeps coming to us through the free gift of his love, mercy and grace. As we change, God is right by our side, walking each step with us. He listens. He forgives. He loves. We can lean into God and rest in his comforting embrace. Social distancing does not mean spiritual distancing. Jesus is the same, yesterday and today and forever. He is always with us, and his faithfulness to us never changes. Lord of life, thank you for walking each step of our journey with us today. Help us to rest in your loving embrace, to live in your hope, and to trust in you. Amen. by Darren Pope

15.01.2022 ‘Martha, Martha you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are neededor indeed only one’ (Luke 10:41,42a). Read Luke 10:38-42 Are you a victim of shoulds? I should tidy the garage. I should top dress the lawn. I should set up a better email filing system. I should spend less on shoes. I should eat a healthier diet. I should do more exercise. I should sleep more. I should keep up with the news. I should watch less news.... If you answered yes, you’re not alone. In Numbers 11, Moses was a victim of shoulds. ‘These people are wailing and demanding meat. I should take responsibility for their needs.’ This was an emotional burden God never asked Moses to bear. Martha was a victim of shoulds. ‘I invited Jesus into my home. I should make a fuss and prepare dinner.’ Martha was distracted and worked up by things she deemed important, which took her focus away from Jesus. We are easily hung up on trivial matters and insert ourselves into situations that are none of our business. We try fixing problems that are not our responsibility, and we adopt emotional burdens that are not intended to be ours. When we do this, we are acting as though we know how to run the world better than God himself. We find ourselves undertaking meaningless activity that serves no eternal purpose. We essentially put God on hold, in order to contend with self-imposed stresses. But God created us as human beings, not human doings. He is a God of grace. He gives us peace, he gives us rest. He doesn’t give us shoulds. God’s burden is light and it’s there for the taking if we want it. We need only to be still. God of peace, rest and stillness; forgive me when I insert myself into situations that take my focus away from you. Forgive me when I adopt unnecessary stresses, claiming they are in your name. Help me to recalibrate. Show me how to sit quietly in your presence and to surrender to your will alone. Amen. by Jane Mueller

15.01.2022 Church is open this Sunday 9:30am ( No need to book)

14.01.2022 This is the third devotion in a series of seven based on Psalm 91:18. ‘This I declare about the Lord: he alone is my refuge, my place of safety ’ (Psalm 91:2). Read Psalm 91:18... Try speaking that out loud, so that you hear yourself say it. Do so again and again. Let it move from you just saying it, to you actually declaring it out loud, right where you are. Pause for a moment and consider: what has happened through you doing what you just did? Why not talk with him out loud about that? For you are speaking, and declaring, words of faith, relationship, and taking him at his word. Why can you do this? Because, as the psalmist says, and we can join in: ‘He is my God, and I trust him’. By your speaking and declaring, you have moved your focus away from thoughts of fear, anxiety, or uncertainty regarding the current upheaval of life in our world, and you have fixed your attention to him who holds you in the palm of his hands. Jesus says that no one, nothing, can snatch us out of his hand, nor out of his Father’s hand (see John 10:2730). Can you picture yourself resting back and relaxing in his hand or leaning against his chest? That’s the nature of the close relationship that Jesus offers us, to know his personal love and care (like the psalmist knew), as well as his corporate love and care for people. Lord, I bless you that you are my refuge and place of safety! Amen. by Ruth Olsen

13.01.2022 ‘Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you’ (Matthew 7:7). Read Matthew 7:712 A popular memory verse even for the youngest of children, it takes a lifetime to comprehend these words and try to understand how to pray. How to ask our Father in heaven for our heart’s desires in prayer and to understand how that dovetails with the answers that we do and don’t see on this earth.... Discernment is key and something that mature Christians can still struggle with. You may have many examples from your own life of doors that have, and have not, opened as you called on the Lord frequently and fervently, or sometimes just once and simply, in prayer. It’s a mystery. Recently as a family, we have prayed so hard into a hoped-for overseas school trip. Around November last year, we prayerfully admitted defeat and resigned ourselves to the fact that it was not God’s will for our family. We had been ‘body-slamming’ against that door it was a trip that no doubt honoured God, was a Christian school camp, and ticked so many boxes. It could have easily been God’s will for us. Instead, I went to the UK on an emergency trip alone. We had no hope of raising the money and accepted it wasn’t God’s will. Then came COVID-19. I have no idea whether if we had continued body-slamming against that door it would have eventually opened. If it had, we would be sitting here now, with a cancelled camp, probably losing thousands of dollars on the cancelled airfares and accommodation. Other testimonies exist in our family of gently tapping on the door in prayer with amazing results. These are all part of our Matthew 7:7 story. The lesson for us, for now, is to be discerning as we thankfully were. Don’t push too hard a door that doesn’t want to open. Father God, thank you for faithfulness to our prayers and for hearing everyone. Help us to be discerning about how to pray in line with your will. Help those of us who are parents or mentors to teach the importance of discernment in prayer and help us not to be discouraged when doors won’t open. Thank you for having a plan for our lives and for sometimes giving us an insight into why doors do and don’t open, when we call on you in Jesus’ name. Amen by Sal Huckel

13.01.2022 This is the last devotion in a series of seven devotions on the theme of Seven Great Stories to Tell One Day. ‘Jesus called out with a loud voice, Father, into your hands I commit my spirit. When he had said this, he breathed his last’ (Luke 23:46). Read Luke 23:4449... In the midst of this Coronavirus pandemic there are lots of stories of pain, sorrow and heartbreak. But in the midst of the stories of pain are great stories stories of healing, hope, and love. Now that we are on the other side of Easter, we can look back and see some of the stories that we may have skipped over in the crucifixion of Jesus. And because he lives in us, his story becomes our story. The biggest story we see is Jesus’ story of trust in his father in heaven. Even though he feels abandoned, he expresses trust that he has not been abandoned, seen as he calls out ‘Father, into your hands I commit my spirit’. Jesus trusts that his death is not the end of his story. And the death and the pain and the sorrow and the heartache that we experience is also not the end of our story. And so our story both in this time, and through this time, can be a story of trust trust that God is working, trust that God is still with us, and trust that we can commit our lives and our world to our father in heaven, and follow his path. And we can trust that even if we do meet death in this time, that it is not the end of our story, nor is it the end of God bringing life to the world. May our stories be stories of trust, knowing that Jesus trusted his father, and that same trust lives in us. Heavenly Father, thank you for Jesus, and for his trust in you. Help us to live in the same trust. Amen by Pastor Chris Mann

13.01.2022 by Pastor Glenn Crouch ‘Though the fig tree does not blossom yet will I rejoice in the Lord’ (Habakkuk 3:17,18). Read Habakkuk 3:1619... We often tie ‘rejoicing’ to when things go very well for us. We rejoice when we have a bumper harvest; when our child achieves one of his/her goals; when the weekend arrives; even when we get a good parking space. While we should indeed praise our gracious Lord for the many blessings he supplies, each and every day, we often fall into the trap of only praising him when things go well. The prophet in this passage writes a beautiful song that is basically saying: ‘Even if everything goes wrong, and I end up without any job, not knowing where my next meal is coming from, or how I pay this week’s bills, I will still praise the Lord!’ He knows that the Lord is his Saviour. He knows that while the world around him is falling apart, our Sovereign Lord is in charge. Justice will prevail. God will come and set the world aright! We know that God did come, as one of us, in the person of Jesus of Nazareth, and lived, suffered and died for all of us and that our Father raised him on that glorious Sunday morning. What the prophet looked forward to, we remember. We rejoice in what God has already done for us. We rejoice that we are daughters and sons of the most high; brothers and sisters of our Lord and Saviour not through what we have done but through his death and resurrection. It is not because we enjoy hardship, that we rejoice but because we focus on the cross and what was done for us. Rejoice! God loves you so much that he sent his only Son to die for you! Gracious Father, I don’t like the way the world is currently. I miss so much. Help me to trust in you. Fill me afresh with your Holy Spirit, so that I might be like the prophet and rejoice in these difficult times. In Jesus’ precious name, Amen. by Pastor Glenn Crouch

13.01.2022 ‘And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself’ (Luke 24:27). Read Luke 24:1335 My brother used to sing a song by Starship with the wrong lyrics. He thought the chorus said, ‘We built this city on rocky road’ instead of ‘rock and roll’.... Jesus’ followers were constantly getting the lyrics wrong. He was singing to them about going to Jerusalem to die, and they heard that he was going to Jerusalem to spit in Rome’s eye. He sang that he would rise after three days, and they heard that he was going to be Israel’s new craze. He sang that they would all fall away and betray, and they heard that they would ride in to save the day. And even after he rose again, they still hung onto the old lyrics but now they were singing the blues. The day of his resurrection, Jesus showed up on a road and walked with a couple of his miserable disciples. They were trying to understand the events of the previous days. And Jesus had a shot at them. ‘How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?’ (Luke 24:2526). Either because of their grief or God’s plan, they never realised that the one who was giving them the Bible study was the one it was about. But they heard. And then they saw him. As they listened to the familiar lyrics, those words of blessing, from a voice they would never forget, bells began to ring in their minds, and as the pierced hands lifted the bread, their eyes widened. And they danced back to Jerusalem singing a new song. What lyrics do you sing? Are you singing from a different hymn sheet to the One who created you? When he sings ‘And I will love you, baby, always’, do you hear ‘I never really loved you anyway’? When his song is ‘Be still and know that I am God’, do hear ‘I still haven’t found what I’m looking for’? Maybe it’s time to listen to the God who rejoices over you with singing and sing the song you were made to sing. Dear Lord, help us to be open to your word and your words in our life. Speak healing, forgiveness and hope into our hearts. Let us dance to your song. It is a song that will never end. Amen. by Rachael Stelze

09.01.2022 ‘Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, Quiet! Be still! Then the wind died down and it was completely calm’ (Mark 4:3839). Read Mark 4:3541 Uncertainty is a lot like a bustling wind. If we aren’t grounded, we can be swept from side to side, even sent spiralling into ruin and despair.... I love the story of Jesus calming the storm. After spending a day ministering to others, he was exhausted, so much so that he slept through a fierce squall. The disciples, many of whom were seasoned fisherman, were no strangers to the rhythms of the weather. It must have been quite a storm to have sent these men of the sea into a flap! I can picture them working with increasing fervour as the storm began to swell, the rising waves smashing into the boat. Perhaps it was close to capsizing. The noise of the winds would have been terrible. Somehow, Jesus slept through. And yet a single cry from his disciples immediately roused him. He stood against the storm and it could not help but obey his voice of command. Are you being buffeted around in the current climate? Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:2), will ground you. Upon uttering your cry for help, he will come into your crisis and bring calm. Like an anchor. Cling to his love for you. It is immovable. It will see you through the fiercest storm. Dear Jesus, I thank you for your love for me. Hold on to me tightly; I can’t see through this storm. But you can. Thank you that you will never leave me nor forsake me. Give me your peace, which surpasses all human understanding. Thank you, Lord. Amen. by David Folker

09.01.2022 ‘I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better’ (Ephesians 1:17). Read Ephesians 1:117 Major events disrupt our lives: birth, death, illness, divorce, new relationships, moving or a pandemic. There is always what was before, what is happening during, and what comes after. ‘After’ is never the same as ‘before’. It cannot be, and it should never be. God wants to use ...‘before, during and after’ events to grow us, challenge us, draw us closer to him, and invite us into his love and compassion. What was your ‘before’ church life like? Looking back, do you feel you were a nurturer, a nest-builder for the young in life or faith? Was it a place of safety, a feeding place? Did it encourage others to test their wings, to dare courageously in a leap of faith out of the nest? As you added twigs to the nest, did they strengthen faith, build courage, build a home? Or did they bind with rules, tight structures of behaviour, and conformity? Were you going around in meaningless circles, or were you part of a team working in unity for the good of all and the glory of God? How was your personal spiritual life ‘before’? Has this absence of structured church life given you the opportunity to consider your real relationship with God? Perhaps something was lacking? Perhaps you have realised just how strong and secure your faith was after all? As the saying goes, ‘You can’t know where you are going, unless you know where you came from’. May God bless your examination of your ‘before’ soul today. Jesus, I commit and open my soul for examination to you today in honesty and trust. Reveal to me in gentleness and love. Bless me with integrity and compassion as I hear with wisdom and revelation. Holy Spirit, keep unwarranted judgement away as I examine my heart. You know it all anyway, so I acknowledge that it is usually me who is conveniently unaware. Peace be with us all. Amen. by Barb Niczynski

08.01.2022 ‘He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God’ (Micah 6:8). Read Micah 6:38 Following God is as simple as it gets and as difficult as it gets. When we walk with God and want to do it justice, nothing is required of us. We receive God’s grace and forgiveness freely as a gift, totally undeserved. We are not forced to read our Bibles, go to church, talk to God in prayer, give th...anks for our food and other necessities. Yet, if we think about it, everything is required of us when we follow God. How does God want us to worship him? No outward sign of our devotion would ever be enough. God knows our heart and he looks straight into the depths of our soul and knows what’s there. What does God require? He desires a heart devoted to him above all else. A heart and mind full of God is naturally drawn to expressions of devotion to God. It desires to read the Bible; it wants to communicate with God in prayer and meet with other believers in worship at church. A heart set on God is humble and seeks justice and kindness in his name. Will you walk humbly with your God today? Loving Father, teach me your way of humbly walking with you. Give me a heart set on you above all else, a heart overflowing with love for my neighbours and the people who cross my path each day. Open my eyes to see the opportunities you set before me to share your love with them. Let me be your eyes, your feet, your mouthpiece in this world, and let this be my true act of worship and devotion to you. In Jesus’ name. Amen. by Maria Rudolph

08.01.2022 All of us, then, reflect the glory of the Lord with uncovered faces; and that same glory, coming from the Lord, who is the Spirit, transforms us into his likeness in an ever greater degree of glory’ (2 Corinthians 3:18). Read 2 Corinthians 3:718 Ever tried staring at the sun? Good luck. Within seconds you cannot help but avert your gaze, less you do permanent damage to your eyes. I remember being somewhat stunned as a youth to learn that the moon was ‘nothing but a rock’ orb...iting our planet, its pale radiance a reflection of light from our star. (Another mind-blowing revelation for a child. Space is awesome.) Are you frustrated with your own self-efforts? Perhaps you are grinding yourself over a lack of faith. Or berating yourself for not being good enough. Maybe amid this crisis, you’ve slipped back into a bad habit that you thought you’d kicked, and your view of yourself is anything but glowing. You want to be more like Jesus, but your greatest efforts lead to nothing but failure. Today’s verse is a blessed reminder that our self-efforts count as nothing in the end. True victory over our fears, our unfaithfulness, and our sinful patterns comes from beholding the Saviour. All we have to do is fix our eyes on him. You are like the moon. You are transformed when you keep your eyes on all that he has done. God himself was willing to die to set you free from the curse of sin. That is no small thing. God’s love for you is as vast as the heavens themselves. Knowing this truth and fixing our eyes upon it, our insecurities and old self cannot help but melt away. How can we ever be the same again? With your face fixed firmly on Jesus, you cannot help but reflect his radiance. I’m sure you’ll agree that humanity needs some comfort right now. Let us not raise a facade, nor paint a false image of bravado. We are broken, dusty vessels, reflecting the majesty of an eternal God, whose love for humanity is so intimate that he knows each one of us by name. It’s incredible to consider. And should we each carry the light of this truth into the world around us, it will never be the same again. Lord, I want to be a reflector of your grace. Transform me. Holy Spirit, grant me a fresh revelation of Jesus; of his beauty, his perfection, his radiance. Thank you that you have made me accepted in the beloved. May I forever be transformed into his likeness for all the world to see. Amen. by David Folker

05.01.2022 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XYerJLDOdhg

05.01.2022 ‘I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith’ (Ephesians 3:1617). Read Ephesians 3:1421 As we, hopefully soon, take tentative steps towards ‘back to normal’, what will that look like? I hope we won’t be the same people. Have our attitudes to consumables changed? Have our priorities in life changed? How do we view our planet that has had a measure of heal...ing in this lull of activity? Will it be weird hugging people again? Will you actually feel safe? What will you discard as you enter ‘after’, and what will go with you? What is worth picking up again from ‘before’? Have you considered this yet? And what about your church? Do you want it to be the same as ‘before’ now that you are an ‘after’ person? Are you excited about sharing holy communion in community again? What seeds of change would you like to nourish as a personal calling from God? Are there some congregational changes you would like to see? How do we as congregations discuss the changes wanted or needed, and the changes not wanted or needed? Will our ‘after’ be wonderful, or will it be a mixed bag because we are all mixed bags in various packages of emotions, needs and values? I pray we will be inquiring people and congregations. I pray that we would individually and corporately seek God’s will in these questions. I pray that we would spend time thinking before speaking, hearing God’s voice in our searching, seeing the needs of others who have struggled and responding in love, and sharing our highs and lows honestly. I pray that we bring the best of ourselves back into the community and share God’s unfathomable grace with each other. Father, Jesus, and Holy Spirit, we ask for your grace and mercy for each one of us. As we continue our journey in ‘during’ for now, tease us with opportunities for the ‘after’, bless us with your visions and plans, give us compassion for others, guide us to help out where we can, and sustain us with your companionship and deep love. You are the best example of community, and you draw each one of us into that community. Help us to share it with others in whatever ways we can that are permissible for now. Amen. by Barb Niczynski

03.01.2022 This is the sixth in a series of seven devotions on the theme of Seven Great Stories to Tell One Day. Jesus answered him, ‘Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise’ (Luke 23:43).... Read Luke 23:32,3943 In the midst of this Coronavirus pandemic there are lots of stories of pain, sorrow and heartbreak. But in the midst of the stories of pain are great stories stories of healing, hope, and love. Now that we are on the other side of Easter, we can look back and see some of the stories that we may have skipped over in the crucifixion of Jesus. And because he lives in us, his story becomes our story. One of the stories I think we all struggle to live out is the story of Jesus embracing a relationship with the criminal on the cross. You will remember that Jesus has one criminal mock him, and the other defends Jesus. In response to the criminal’s request to be remembered, Jesus declares that they will be together in paradise. Jesus embraces the life of the criminal in two senses: the first, Jesus joins him in the same earthly consequence; the second, Jesus has the criminal join him in paradise. Changing times give us a great opportunity to embrace the changes Jesus leads us to. One of the changes Jesus would always have us make is to embrace people who are so different that we wouldn’t embrace them, without the love of Jesus. Let’s embrace who Jesus wants to embrace during this time, those beyond our normal church or social groups. Let the story be told of how every person and every congregation embraced people who were not normally part of their lives and part of their community. Let the stories be of us joining them in their life, so that they could join us in paradise. Heavenly Father, help us to embrace those different to us, those we wouldn’t normally associate with, and help us to see that you are calling us to join them, and them to join us. Amen. by Pastor Chris Mann

02.01.2022 This is the sixth devotion in a series of seven based on Psalm 91:18. ‘His faithful promises are your armour and protection’ (Psalm 91:4). Read Psalm 91:18... If you have made a promise to someone, can you keep that promise, even when pressure is put on? Of course, it depends on the nature of the promise. We might say, ‘I promise everything will be okay’. How do we know it will be okay if it’s something we have no control over? Perhaps a different response is needed. Yes, we are limited. Our desires and intentions are hopefully sincere, yet we are still limited. We fail each other. We can cause hurt, especially if we are in a situation of potential pressure, such as self-isolation or lockdown. There we need to press pause and assess, ‘What am I focusing on here? Lord, help me, please!’ Solomon once said, ‘Hatred stirs up dissension, but love covers over all wrongs’ (Proverbs 10:12). The Lord backs up his promises. His grace is all we need to help us (2 Corinthians 12:910). By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life, by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself (2 Peter 1:3). He tells us to not worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him. Then you will experience his peace that exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard our hearts and minds as we live in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:67). Lord, thank you that your promises never fail! Amen. by Ruth Olsen

01.01.2022 Depression "Steady Love Through Life's Tremors" Lamentations 3:22-23 - The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness....Continue reading

01.01.2022 This is the fifth in a series of seven devotions on the theme of Seven Great Stories to Tell One Day. ‘Jesus said, Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing (Luke 23:34a). Read Luke 23:3237... In the midst of this Coronavirus pandemic there are lots of stories of pain, sorrow and heartbreak. But in the midst of the stories of pain are great stories stories of healing, hope, and love. Now that we are on the other side of Easter, we can look back and see some of the stories that we may have skipped over in the crucifixion of Jesus. And because he lives in us, his story becomes our story. Among the hardest stories I find to replicate in my own life is the story of Jesus forgiving those who executed him in Luke 23:34. In my socially isolated state, I’ve become (in my own mind) a world-renowned expert on pandemics, infections, social distancing, stimulus packages, governmental policy and more. I have a judgement for everyone and everything, and anyone who doesn’t make choices in line with my thinking is in line for condemnation especially those on the clear wrong side of government directions who have spread the virus. You may be like me, too, perhaps. It’s why we need Jesus’ help to forgive others, to show grace, when everything we see would indicate that judgement is warranted. I pray that we are one day able to tell the story of forgiving others who have done the wrong thing during this time if for no other reason than it will help all of us be more aware of the amazing forgiveness Jesus grants us. The truth is, I so often do not know what I am doing too, and need to trust Jesus with my life. May the story of grace instead of judgement be the story we tell in, through and after this time. Heavenly Father, thank you that Jesus grants forgiveness so radical that it causes us discomfort. Help us to both receive it, and grant it, with his help. Amen. by Pastor Chris Mann

01.01.2022 ‘The desert and the parched land will be glad; the wilderness will rejoice and blossom. It will burst into bloom; it will rejoice greatly and shout for joy’ (Isaiah 35:12). Read Isaiah 35 Selfie sticks, picnic blankets and yummy snacks are standard equipment for the thousands of people who usually flock to Japan during spring. Emerging from slumber, a unique visual feast flourishes as Japanese cherry trees explode into a purple profusion and blossom en masse. Japanese famili...es celebrate, attend cherry blossom festivals or simply enjoy hanami, the tradition of viewing and relishing the stunning simplicity of sakura, the cherry blossom. Long adored by people across the globe, this spectacular floral tapestry is regarded as a symbol of renewal, vitality, beauty and hope. Chilly mornings and shorter days in the Southern Hemisphere mean we aren’t embracing the beauty of spring blooms right now. Changing the seasonal quilt and wardrobe over helps us to prepare for a barren winter, snuggled up in a season of reflection, awaiting renewal, like Christ (Luke 4:12) preparing for his resurrection. Jacaranda trees will soon wake from their wintery hiatus. The hills, parks and waterfronts will blossom, bursting into a symphony of splendiferous spring colour. Their purple majesty is spectacular and vibrant, bringing the assurance that life has come again just as Jesus rose to new life! Dormant amid our season of stillness, we quietly anticipate the promise of vibrant spring colours yet to be unfurled. We lift our eyes to a future filled with hope, grace and peace. It’s coming! In Christ, we are blooming. Lord of life. Thank you for the gift of your love each day. You have planted us to grow and serve with purpose. Help us to remain firmly rooted in hope through your resurrection. Help us be patient in these days as we await renewal. Help us to blossom and bloom. Amen. by Darren Pope

01.01.2022 This is the third in a series of seven devotions on the theme of Seven Great Stories to Tell One Day. ‘As the soldiers led him away, they seized Simon from Cyrene, who was on his way in from the country, and put the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus’ (Luke 23:26).... Read Luke 23:2327 In the midst of this Coronavirus pandemic there are lots of stories of pain, sorrow and heartbreak. But in the midst of the stories of pain are great stories stories of healing, hope, and love. Now that we are on the other side of Easter, we can look back and see some of the stories that we may have skipped over in the crucifixion of Jesus. And because he lives in us, his story becomes our story. One of the most amazing stories I see in the crucifixion of Jesus is his receiving of human help on his way to the cross. Simon of Cyrene is seized by the soldiers and helps Jesus carry his cross. It reminds me: if Jesus is willing to accept and receive help from others indeed, dare I say it, even needs help to get to where he needs to go then I also need the help of others to get where I need to go. I can’t make it on my own. I need the people God has placed around me, even perhaps people from the crowd, to help me. May the stories we tell during and after this time include stories of people who helped us make it through to the other side. Heavenly Father, please send people to help me. Please also send me to help others. Together, may we get where we need to go. Amen. by Pastor Chris Mann