another way to consider LENT

Ash Wednesday marked the beginning of the church season known as Lent. These are 40 days leading up to Easter. Traditionally, lent has focused on contemplation and sacrifice. So, the usually thing has been to give something up for lent, like chocolate or coffee. Well, we are going to take a different approach this year. The inspiration behind this comes from the prophetic claim that Christ came to bring healing to the nations, that the reason for Christ's coming was to do away with sin and darkness, and retire us to life in the kingdom of light.

Beginning with this Sunday, we will be exploring the Biblical message of HEALING. Dr.Phillip Morris will be our guest speaker on Sunday, 27th of March. This coming Sunday, the message will explore John 3 - entering into a new realm of existence!

Rev.'D


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Stephan House at Living Word

Invitations have gone out. Preparations have been made. It's all going to come together on Sunday when the students and staff from Stephan House (Trinity Lutheran College) will join us for our worship service. The partnership between the congregation and the college go back to the founding years. In June of this year, we will be celebrating our 30th anniversary. 15 of those years have been at the 'Trinity Centre' (the building used by the college for assemblies and used by the congregation for their worship services). Discover more about our college at: www.TLC.qld.edu.au



- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Transfiguration Sunday

The readings for this Sunday set out three mountain top experiences that are connected to an encounter with God. The first and most famous one in the Old Testament, is that of the encounter Moses had on the Mountain top- after securing freedom from slavery for his people and the giving of the 10 Commandments.

The second mountain top experince was Christ's transfiguration as witnessed but a few of the disciples- giving us revelation of the Messiah, who came to set us free from our sin. The third mountain top experience is yet to become a reality. It is foretold by both the prophets of old and the disciples of the New Testament: Christ's return on the Mount of Olives.

After every mountain top there is a journey back down into the valley (Psalm 23 comes to mind); and it's a long way to the top ... we live life in between peaks as our visual reference points of where we have come from and where we are going.

Rev.'D

The issue is choice

On Sunday, the Gospel reading will draw our attention to Christ's remark that you cannot serve two masters. It then speaks about all sorts of everyday practical occurrences - things that we worry about! So the challenge is ... 'Where will you invest your hope and trust?' ... that is the choice, and it will have proportionate results too. Moses spoke to his people and gave them a similar word to consider for their life: 'I place before you life and death, blessings and curse; choose life!

It's our choice

Rev.'D


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Access to Blessings

Sunday's sermon text from 1.Corinthians 3, is a revelation of the extraordinary work underway through God's workmanship: to build us as the temple of God, the dwelling place for the Holy Spirit. Isn't that awesome!?

I used the temple layout from the time when Moses travelled through the wilderness towards the promised land. We read in Exodus 33:11 that 'they would meet face to face, and talk as a friend does to another friend.' well, we are way past the days of Moses. Do you talk with God in this way?

One thing was obvious for those who did (like the disciples of Christ), they had access to blessings and became a blessing to those around them. Access to the Holy of Holies does that to people - and it blesses them to be a blessing upon the earth, in fulfillment of the Lord's Prayer: "your will be done on earth as it is in heaven." True holiness isn't defined by what we are against, but by what we have to give from God's presence ...

Rev.'D


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Welcome Service - College Community

We have just celebrated our 'Welcome Service' - welcoming our new additions in Staff and students to this college. It is an opportunity for our congregation to host an event on the college calendar that shares the Gospel connection, inspiring and sustaining our college.

The sermon took up the 'prodigal son' story as told by Christ. Interestingly, it was all about comfort zones and whether we were going to step beyond them. For the young son, who eventually found himself in a pig pen after waisting his inheritance, that comfort zone was all about repentance. For the waiting father, his comfort zone was about forgiveness. They both had to step beyond what they felt comfortable with, in order to be able to give from themselves a blessing that brought about reconciliation. But what about the dutiful son, who stayed in his comfort zone, but remained bitter at both of them? Our ego is the greatest trap and the biggest hindrance to overcoming the barriers we set up between us. The cross of Christ can be seen as a death to our self (ego), so that something new can be given (resurrection). Where are you at?

Rev.'D

Commencement Service - College event

Tuesday evening the college community gathered for the commencement service. What a proud presentation of the Gospel through our chaplain and principal. Coming up this Sunday, we will be hosting the 'welcome service' at the congregational level for all new students, staff, and parents to our college. It is an honor to serve together in this partnership - a vision that began in earnest 30 years ago with the establishment of the primary school. June 12th will be set aside to celebrate this 30th anniversary, including the dedication of the new school buildings on the Ashmore Road campus.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad