Thought For The Week 07.04.2024

Easter services last week reminded me that we are part of a much bigger church than we see week to week on Sundays. The TCMA combined  service at Life Church, attended by around 500, reminded me of our diversity and the different ways we express our worship. It was            characterised by a very high standard of music (although the songs were unfamiliar to me), the involvement of many young people (especially serving communion and receiving the offering) and an excellent sermon from our own Rory who laid out the Christian imperative to go beyond tolerance to love, a much higher and demanding standard.

On Sunday around 20 ‘early birds’ gathered at Caroline Bay to greet the dawn, eat fish and worship together the risen one. It was a lovely mild and calm morning and an intimate way in a small group to start the day. This was followed by our own combined service at St Stephens with around 80 folk attending and quite a few visitors. Each of these services were special and well crafted to capture the essence of the Easter message. Well done to all involved.

Over the next 8 weeks we will be exploring some lesser known characters from the Bible in our series Ordinary people, Extraordinary God. We may think of the people in the Bible as somehow very different to us but in fact many were quite ordinary- like us- but because of their relationship with God were called and gifted to do amazing things in God’s name. Our hope is that you will be inspired to see beyond the normal possibilities to see what God is doing in, through and around you.

Nga manaakitanga ki a koutou katoa (Blessings to all)

Brent