Thought For The Week 20 March 2022

Welcome to our services of worship today. We have been encouraged by the faithful attendance at worship even during the uncertainty of the omicron outbreak. Remember though if you are unwell, please stay home and join us on our You Tube channel (just type Timaru  Presbyterian into the You Tube search bar and you will find us).

A few Sundays ago, I mentioned Brain Zahnd’s book When Everything’s on Fire (Transfiguration Sunday, 27 Feb if you want to           re-listen to the message). I found this book so helpful I ordered another copy for our church library, located in the St Stephen’s foyer. It is now available for loan and I hope you will find it inspiring and helpful as I did. Zahnd is very easy to read and I’m sure you will enjoy this book should you read it.

The cover jacket summarizes:

Is it possible to hold onto faith in an age of unbelief? In an age of secularism, scepticism and cynicism, our worldview has been shaken. Various solutions   exist- some double down on certainty, while others deconstruct their faith until there is nothing left. But Brian Zahnd offers a third way; what is needed is not a demolition but instead a renovation of faith.

Written with personal and pastoral experience, Zahnd extends an invitation to move beyond the crisis of faith toward the journey of reconstruction. As the world rapidly changes in ways that feel incompatible with Christianity, When everything’s on Fire provides much needed hope. A stronger, more confident faith is possible when it’s grounded in the beauty and truth of Christ.