 What a wonderful Journey we had together over Easter. Thank you to all who joined us for Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter Sunday. The Church was full on Sunday.
It was awesome to see many visitors coming to celebrate the resurrection with us. I don't know how many actually believe the resurrection happened, so we want to spend the next two weeks exploring the historical facts and evidence for the resurrection. We begin this Saturday night with watching The Case for Christ movie together at Church at 6:30pm. You can watch the trailer HERE. You may also like to join us for Pizza at 6pm? (Please let us know if your coming for Pizza). In the movie which is based on a true story, a Journalist sets out to prove the resurrection didn't happen. The evidence he found convinced him that it did happen. He was moved from being an atheist to become a Christian, and has since become a Church Minister. The movie reminds us that the resurrection of Jesus Christ is the central claim of the Christian faith. It is not a peripheral doctrine, an optional belief, or a metaphorical idea that can be spiritualized away. Paul states clearly in 1 Corinthians 15:14: “And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain”. Everything rises or falls with the resurrection. If Jesus rose from the dead, Christianity is true, and the world is forever changed. If He did not, the Christian faith collapses. Come take a closer look at the resurrection with us and please invite your skeptical friends along. All welcome! Rev. Tanya You may also enjoy this song which affirms what Christians believe (The Creed - Hillsong) : Listen HERE
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 Good Friday is my favourite day of the year because we get to remember the lengths Jesus Christ went to, to show us the love of the Father. There is no greater love than laying one's life down for one's friends. We are Jesus' friends and I am completely blown away by his sacrifice made for me, and you, and all. That's why I love Good Friday, taking the time to ponder on this intentionally and more deeply. We are truly and deeply loved my friends! Let that really sink in!
It's my prayer that each of us draws closer to God this Easter. To aid this, you are warmly invited to attend our Maundy Thursday Interactive/ reflective service (Lamb Pizza is served at 6:30pm - please register for that). On Good Friday we will reflect on the responses of those present at Jesus' crucifixion and ponder our own personal response afresh. And of course, Easter Sunday we rejoice in the resurrection and ponder what that means for our lives today. After Easter we are showing the movie "Case for Christ" which speaks into any doubts we have around Jesus and the Easter story. And beginning May 11 we will run the 'Life Explored' Course at Slims Pizza Restaurant on Monday nights. I love being on this Journey with you as we journey to the cross and beyond. May you and your family enjoy a blessed Easter. Rev Tanya Life can feel noisy, uncertain, and overwhelming at times. Yet in Philippians 4:8–9, the Apostle Paul offers a gentle but powerful invitation: to anchor our thoughts in what is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and praiseworthy.
This isn’t just a list of virtues — it’s a roadmap for joy. Paul reminds us that joy is not found in perfect circumstances, but in a mind and heart aligned with God’s truth. When we choose to dwell on what uplifts rather than what drags us down, we create space for peace to take root. Paul also urges us to practice these things — to live them out daily. Joy grows when our thoughts inspire our actions, and our actions reflect the goodness we’ve been meditating on. The promise is beautiful: “The God of peace will be with you.” So, let’s be intentional. Let’s filter our thoughts through the lens of Philippians 4:8–9, and watch how joy quietly transforms our perspective — not because life is suddenly easy, but because our hearts are resting in the One who never changes. I look forward to seeing you this Sunday as we celebrate Palm Sunday and hear Sue Shanasy speak on the symbolism of the cross. Her message will help us to focus on the cross as we appraoch Easter. Here are two beautiful songs that can aid our worship this easter season too. Living Hope by Phil Wickam (One of Tanya's fav's) - Click here to listen. Jerusalem by City Alight (Amy's favorite Easter Song) - Click to listen here Blessings on your week, Rev Tanya  Today I am filled with JOY after our first 'Taste and See' cooking class!
We had 4 young people, aged between 8-14 and possibly an extra sibling coming along next week too. I am filled with JOY at the partnership in the gospel with those who came along to help as leaders (thanks Kathy & Sandra this week!) and for all those who've lent their equipment for us to borrow. I am filled with JOY at the amazing questions Caesar had about God, how he made the world and how do we know what's right and wrong. I am filled with JOY at already, the pre-emptive questions about 'if we're made in God's image, how come we do bad things?' I am filled with JOY that one of the girls heard the story of God making the world for the very first time. I am filled with JOY and hope that one of the parents may be interested in joining our English Class. And I am filled with JOY at the possibility of new connections with these families. As we come together this Sunday, we'll be diving into Paul's letter to the Philippians and what he says about joy. We'll see that much of his JOY comes not from material things, but from the people he's ministered to and within Philippi, and the legacy of faith they will leave behind together. I wonder if there's a believer from your past and/or in recent times who has brought you joy? Why not spend a moment giving thanks for them right now? Rev. Amy Are you enjoying our Lenten studies on joy in the psalms this week?
The psalms help us pray when we don't know what to pray and they help us to praise God no matter what is going on in our lives. This morning, I heard Rosie Batty AO speak at an International Women's Day assembly at Peninsula Grammar School. She was a victim of Domestic abuse, and her son was murdered by his own father 12 years ago. Since then, Rosie has been a voice speaking out against Domestic Violence, promoting respect, equality, awareness and advocating for change. Domestic Violence is something we need to continue to talk about even though it is uncomfortable and upsetting for many, including myself. I will speak briefly about this on Sunday as it is International Women's Day on the 8th of March. This coming Sunday we will also look at Hebrews 12:1-3. This passage reminds us of the footraces of ancient Israel, Greece, and the amphitheaters of Rome. It was written to encourage and challenge believers to persevere in their faith, especially in the midst of trials and persecution. The race of life is not a sprint, but a marathon for which we need great endurance. To finish this race well we need to keep fit and healthy by encouraging one another, daily persisting in prayer, worship, reading God’s Word and examining our lives. To run the race to win (the finishing line being the end of our lives), we need to throw off all that holds us back and weighs us down, like the sin of unbelief. We need to persevere while maintaining a Christlike attitude even in the midst of trials. Remember Christ's example. He endured the cross and all its shame for the Joy set before him. This ought to inspire us to continue through our tough times with faith, trust, and joy in him. This is what all the Old Testament heroes did (the great cloud of witnesses), as they ran the race before them without giving up. No matter how long the race may be, we need to keep our eyes on Jesus, “the champion who initiates and perfects our faith”. And remember there is joy awaiting. In the words of songwriters Twila and Starla Paris, “Runner, when the race is won, you will run into His arms.” Jesus himself will be our prize and very great reward. So, run the race to win! Love in Christ, Rev. Tanya To quote our dear brother, Brian Van Twest, 'God is Good! ALL the time'. That's what came to my mind this week as I sat down and read the Psalm we'll be looking at on Sunday - Psalm 96.
This is a Psalm filled with numerous way that God is Good and imploring the readers to share in this great song of joy in worship to our great and glorious God and declare it together! God is SO good and SO great that even all creation trembles before him with gladness, overflowing with joy in all their creation-y goodness. Rejoice! Sing for JOY all the earth - for our God is worthy of all our praise! Why? Because:
And that's what we'll be exploring more this Sunday. Please, come join us - bring a friend! and we will proclaim his salvation and sing for joy together. Rev. Amy Lent began with two wonderful Ash Wednesday Services yesterday. Have you begun your Lenten readings in the "Joy" devotional?
Im really enjoying the prompting questions at the end of the readings. They encourage us to contemplate the joy we have in God's creation and as part of his creation. This Sunday we will consider how God's word can bring us great joy. In Nehemiah chapter 8 we read that God's people heard God's word for the first time in many years which caused them first of all to weep and feel sorry for their waywardness, but then, they were told to repent and rejoice for the joy of the Lord is their Strength. It wasnt that their sins didn't matter, rather that God's grace mattered more! In our world today, strength is often measured by how much we can carry, how hard we can hustle, or how well we can hide our struggles, but Nehemiah 8:10 offers a radical alternative: "Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength." This isn't a call to "fake it until you make it" or a dismissal of real pain. It is a profound spiritual strategy for resilience. The joy of the Lord is Your Strength because:
Contemplating these things cant help but fill us with the joy of the Lord. If your not feeling it, seek him out through reading his word and receiving his love and grace for you today. Blessings on your week, Reverend Tanya Cummings What does it mean to believe in God?
It’s interesting to review surveys that show a much higher percentage of local people who say they believe in God, and profess to have an Anglican affiliation, but they aren't worshipping with us on Sunday or Wednesday. We would do well to ask both ourselves and those people "why?' in order to seek positive ways to bridge the gap. If all those people did join us, our buildings wouldn’t be big enough to hold them! There’s a lot of misunderstanding out there about what it actually means to believe in God, and how that faith ought to be lived out in Australia today. Despite the cultural and chronological differences, Psalm 24 still speaks into this today. You can read it HERE https://www.bible.com/bible/113/PSA.24.1 We will be unpacking this psalm on Sunday. In the lead up, I encourage you to reflect on the below questions credited to teacher Paul Tripp and used with permission: Questions for Personal Reflection or Group Discussion 1. If survey data shows that so many people claim to believe in God, why aren’t the majority of those people showing up on Sunday mornings at churches? What are they doing with their time instead? What does that show they truly believe? What do you do on Sunday mornings? What does that show you believe? 2. In what areas of your life is it easier to believe that God owns everything? What evidence have you given recently - thoughts, words, or actions - that proves you truly believe Psalm 24:1-2? In what areas of your life is it more difficult for you to believe that God owns every part of you? Why? 3. In what areas of your life have you failed to ask the question, “What is God’s purpose for this?” How can you be more practically intentional about putting that question on the forefront of your mind as you walk through your days, weeks, months, and years? What might it look like to be a steward of God’s world this week? Be specific. Conversation Prompts to Use with Children For Younger Children: Do you believe in God? How can I know you believe in God? If someone said that they believed in God, but never acted like it, would you think that what they’re saying is actually true? How can we know that someone really believes what they say if they say they believe in God? How do our actions help us understand our hearts? How can our words be made stronger by our actions? How can we ask God to help us right now as we think about where our words and our actions don’t match up? For Older Children: If I told you I believed in God, but my actions, words, and attitudes reflected the opposite of that, what would you think about me? Why is it such a big deal for our words and actions to match up? What does it mean to steward something? Why is stewardship not the same thing as ownership? If you made something at school and someone else came along and wrecked it, why would you be upset? If God made you and owns you, who ultimately calls the shots in your life: you or him? What do you think God’s purpose is for your life? How can we both be more intentional about seeking God’s purpose for our lives? Blessings on your week. Rev Tanya In Luke 18:1-8, Jesus tells the parable of a persistent woman, begging an unjust judge for justice, to encourage his disciples to be persistent in prayer so they don't lose heart.
This Sunday we will look at the ways the movie "The Pursuit of Happyness" aligns with biblical principles such as the need for perseverance and faith. The movie is about the main character's (Chris Gardner's) struggle and eventual success. It could be seen as a parable of faith and determination, paralleling the biblical story of the persistent widow in Luke 18:1-8. The film's themes and story remind us of the biblical teachings on faith and trust in God's provision, encouraging us to trust in God's plan and to remain steadfast in faith, even in the most challenging times. You are invited to watch the movie together with us this coming Saturday night at 6:30pm at the Church. Blessings on your week, Rev Tanya C.S. Lewis wrote this about his stories in a letter to Mrs. Hook in 1958:
"I don’t mean the stories to be an allegory. I mean that they are a supposal: Suppose the Son of God became incarnate in a world of talking beasts—what might happen then?" In recent years, the Marvel universe of superheroes in a world already imagining a 'supposal' of 'what if people had superpowers' created their own 'spin off' series called 'What if'. The series follows the 'what ifs' of characters if they'd made different choices, experienced different things, and different outcomes had happened. It's like Lewis' own version of a supposal. But in Lewis', his 'What if' has the characters of Jesus, his followers, the big bad Satan/Witch, act out what would happen IF the events of the bible happened in a magical, wonder-filled land with talking animals - a story that captures the hearts and minds of children for generations. In Lewis' worlds, he unpacks deep theological truths for young people. He writes, "I thought I saw how fairy tales could let in the light of theology without the children knowing that they were being taught." (Essay: “On Three Ways of Writing for Children”) So, this Sunday we're going to delve into the world of Narnia. We're going to shine a light on some of the 'hidden' themes and characters that are inspired from the Scriptures and show our inner child the good news of Jesus once again. You are welcome to join us to watch the movie on Saturday night in the church. (BYO drinks and snacks). Screening starts at 6:30pm and will finish between 8:30-9pm. Rev. Amy |
