 While setting up my Christmas tree last night, I thought about how richly blessed we are to have a wonderful church family. We get to enjoy worship, fellowship, mission, our calling, purpose and every good gift in the Lord Jesus together. Others around us are not feeling as blessed this Christmas. Many feel lonely, rejected, sad and some are afraid. How does that make you feel? It fills me with compassion, and so I want to reach out to them. That is “WHY” we are hosting a “Christmas Carols and Community Lunch” on December 13th.
At this event we will enjoy a relaxed “Carols” sing-along around the piano beginning 11:30am, followed by loving fellowship over food (all food donations welcome!), and then a concert by the Peninsula Grammar teachers after they serve us lunch (with the food provided by God’s gracious hands – think loaves and fishes :). This event is specifically planned for outreach to connect with the local community of Mount Eliza with the love of Jesus. Therefore, I encourage you to invite any unchurched or lonely persons you know to enjoy fellowship and fun with us. We have invited people from Neighbourhood House and other local community connections. It’s our prayer that each of us may learn to love those who come (and all others) like God loves them. It is my hope that God will use us to draw others closer to Himself through this event. If you’d like to be more fully involved, please speak with me about it. Now turning to our own Church Community; we have a wonderful month of celebrating the birth of our Saviour together. We have MEAC Munchies on the 14th for food and fellowship, and a month of celebratory Sundays, beginning December 4th. This coming Sunday (Nov 27) is actually Advent 1, but since it’s also our APM day, I’m not ready to launch into full on Christmas Carols yet. We will make up for it in the coming month. December 4th- 9:30am Lectionary readings, a reflection on a Christmas Carol, & Holy Communion. December 11th – 9:30am; contemporary “lessons and carols service” December 18th – 9:30am lectionary readings, a Carol reflection & Holy Communion. December 24th – 7pm family service - 11pm Holy Communion December 25th – 9:30am; Lectionary readings, a Carol reflection & Holy Communion. This coming Sunday as we prepare our hearts and minds for the coming Christmas season, we will reflect on Jesus' words in Matthew 22:15-22 “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and give to God what is God’s”, and consider especially “What is God’s?” It’s a timely reflection as we start to think about “gifts” and giving at Christmas time. I encourage us all to think more about what we give to God… not just what we offer our family and local community at Christmas time. I look forward to worshipping together with you on Sunday, Rev. Tanya
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 If you ask me “What am I most grateful for this week?” The answer is you!
In response to my message last Sunday, I have been greatly encouraged to receive loving, kind and supportive words from many of the beautiful people in our congregation. Thank you. I have been singing your praises all week. I’m delighted that our congregation cares for me, and one another. May we keep cultivating this loving and encouraging culture among all in our Parish, and beyond. I hope the wider community will come to know us as a loving community of God’s people. As we connect with our local community in increasing measure over the Christmas period; through such activities as partnering with Mount Eliza Neighbourhood House and knitting Christmas decorations for town tree, plus hosting a Christmas “Sing and soup” or “Carols and Community lunch” outreach event, I pray we will each have opportunity to demonstrate Christ's love to those around us. Meantime, I hope you can come along this Sunday at 9:30am as we look at Luke 21:5-19 where Jesus tells his disciples they will face many hard things and many will be against them, but they are to “stand firm” and know they will win life! I pray we all continue to stand firm in our faith in Jesus Christ and “win life” (abundant life!), in Him. Much Love in Christ, Tanya  "We must always give thanks to God for you, brothers and sisters, as is right, because your faith is growing abundantly, and the love of every one of you for one another is increasing." These are the words Paul wrote to the church in Thessalonica (2 Thes 1:3).
I here write the same to you as I am greatly encouraged that many of you continue to grow in your faith in the Lord, and in your love for one another. May we continue to do these things in increasing measure, so that all who join us may feel loved, and come to know Christ more fully too. Let us continually seek to express a warm welcome and show loving care to all, especially those newly joining us. Ignoring people we don’t know, and being concerned only with our own agenda, plus gossip and complaining is sadly all too common in many church's culture. Let it not be so with us. Let us throw off what is not of God, and move more fully into the good things He has for us to do, and become more fully the Church he’s called us to be. Let us be the loving, welcoming, united community we envision Mount Eliza Anglican Church to be. Let us become a Church known for our faith and love. This Sunday Rev. Tanya brings a message to you from 2 Thes 2:13-17 to comfort your hearts and strengthen you in every good work and word. We look forward to a wonderful time of worship and fellowship together. |
