Advent Week Two: Hoping For Hope
These devotional / meditation thoughts are sourced from ‘Devotions for Advent’ (New Living Translation, Tyndale House Publishers)
Advent is a time of hope; the spirit of eager anticipation pervades the senses. Even in the refuge of your own home, the season is inescapable as carollers dismiss the social inhibitions that dominate the other eleven months of the year. But when tragedy, depression, or loneliness steals your joy, you can almost resent the hope that others have. When we think our hope unfulfilled, we adjust our expectations. We take on new causes, reconsider our optimism, or sometimes become leery of new endeavours. We can even become angry with God, feeling desolate or abandoned. But even if we lose our hope in God, he will never give up on us. God doesn’t share our limited perspective, and that is one of the reasons that the hope of Advent isn’t dependent on how we are feeling. It can be comforting to rely on the one who gives us hope, even when the light of that hope doesn’t seem to penetrate our temporary darkness.
“Comfort, comfort my people,” says your God.
—Isaiah 40:1
“Christianity has always been the hope of God through Jesus played out in the lives of real people living in real circumstances.”Investment Opportunity In Whakatane
—Doug Pagitt
The manse in Whakatane is currently on the market. We wanted to let the wider church know in case anyone was looking for an investment opportunity in this area. The manse is newly refurbished and has 4 bedrooms and 2 baths and the price is negotiable.
Ordination
The Lord of the harvest has given the LCA seven more labourers to send out into his harvest. What a joy it was to see these men ordained last Sunday 4 December. In God’s grace they accepted without reservation the Holy Scriptures as the inspired and inerrant Word of God. They promised to uphold the public teaching and practices of the LCA and placed themselves under the oversight of the Church. The Confessional assent and vows were not made in their own strength. As restored children of God, in his love, in the faith he gives and in the resurrection of his Son, our Lord Jesus, they publicly announced their promises. Their commitment to God’s Word and the Confessions of the Church because the latter are a correct exposition of the Word of God (Thesis of Agreement IX 4) assures the Church which has supported them and continues to pray for them that they will join us in teaching and pastoring and searching the Scriptures for truth, as the source for our faith and lives.
The graduate assignments for 2012 are:
- Jade Bauer to Whyalla SA
- Wayne George to Greenock SA
- Steven Hibbard to Gilgandra/Dubbo NSW
- Sean McMaughan to Natimuk VIC
- Greg Page to Holy Cross Murray Bridge SA
- Harry Pickett to Lameroo SA
- Wing Wah Tso to NSW District (in preparation to assist the ministry to Chinese communities in Sydney)
The National Office will close for the Christmas break at midday of Wednesday 21st December and will re-open in early January (date to be advised) –
- My family and I will be shifting to the president’s manse from 19th – 22nd December.
- I will lead Christmas worship in Marton on Christmas morning.
- I will then be on leave from 26th December – 17th January 2012.
- Vice President, Pastor John Davison will be on call during this time – phone 07 839 5768.
- I’ll try and provide more details in next week’s update.
Time for a new songbook – the last one came out over 4 years ago. Robin Mann wants songs to hear, writers to check out, song-books to explore. Community songs, ones you’ve heard in church or on CD. Send emails, CDs, print music to Robin Mann, 54 Currawong Crescent, Modbury Heights SA 5092 or by email.
Call Information
Extended
- Michael Jarick Grace Lutheran College QLD to Hermannsburg NT
- Andrew Ruddell Rainbow VIC to Hamilton VIC
- Jon Goessling Glynde SA to Tatachilla College SA
- Adam Eime Henty NSW to Tabor VIC
- Brian Keller Eudunda SA to Southern Yorke Peninsula SA
- Andrew Koehler Gladstone QLD to Good Shepherd College Palmerston NT
- Greg Fowler Endeavour College Mawson Lakes SA to Tuggeranong ACT
Fishing nets. Footballs. Small start-up business loans. Pigs. The famous Lutheran Long Drop Loo. Yes, it’s ALWS Gifts of Grace time again. More than 20 unique gifts, starting from just $6, with many gifts under $20. Last year more than 10,000 Gifts of Grace brought joy to the people who gave them AND received them – here in NZ and in Australia, and in the developing communities where they were delivered. If you need catalogues, or would like to buy Gifts of Grace go to www.alws.org.au/grace.
Bach Cantata Vespers
Singing the Faith – part three of a three part series exploring the heritage of Lutheran music – J.S.Bach, Felix Mendelssohn and the “Confessional Revival”This Sunday evening – 11th December, 5.00pm – St Pauls Lutheran Church, 12 King Street, Mt Cook, Wellington
Prayer At The National Office
Every Friday morning at 9.30am, the Staff of the LCNZ National Office takes time to read God’s Word together and to pray. Anyone is welcome to submit prayer requests, and if you’re in the neighbourhood, please feel free to pop in and join us.
Jean King Books
There are a few copies of Jean King’s book, The Lutheran Story – a Brief History of the Lutheran Church in New Zealand 1843-1993 available at the National Office. If you’re interested in getting a copy, please contact the National Office.
Kia noho a Ihowa ki a koutou / the Lord be with you!
+MARK
President Elect – Lutheran Church of New Zealand
