I'm pleased to inform you that this coming Sunday the Reverend Mike Coleman will be speaking at Lifestreams.
Following our move from the Vicarage to our temporary housing in Lyttleton, I have decided to take a week off to spend with Anna and settle the children into their new surroundings. Thank you for your prayers and support.
A Few Words
"When the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?" - Jesus of Nazareth
What is faith? And what does it actually mean to live by faith? Jesus' teaching shows us that faith, while it is something we believe, is also so much more. It is an attitude of the heart; one that seeks to live out of gratitude and hope. It is a life that leans into God especially through the practice of prayer. We all have faith in something. But faith in God enables us to find hope and strength beyond ourselves and to rise above our circumstances. If we are ever in doubt about this all we need do is look to Jesus; whose faith and hope carried him through the pain and humiliation of the cross to the fullness of resurrection life!
May the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ sustain you in all that you do.
blessings,
Andrew
Meanwhile, this Sunday:
First Reading: Stephanie Sturge
14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it, 15 and how from childhood you have known the sacred writings that are able to instruct you for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 so that everyone who belongs to God may be proficient, equipped for every good work.
1 In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I solemnly urge you: 2 proclaim the message; be persistent whether the time is favorable or unfavorable; convince, rebuke, and encourage, with the utmost patience in teaching. 3 For the time is coming when people will not put up with sound doctrine, but having itching ears, they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own desires, 4 and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander away to myths. 5 As for you, always be sober, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, carry out your ministry fully.
Gospel: Mary Cropp
Luke 18:1-8
1 Then Jesus told them a parable about their need to pray always and not to lose heart. 2 He said, "In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor had respect for people. 3 In that city there was a widow who kept coming to him and saying, "Grant me justice against my opponent.' 4 For a while he refused; but later he said to himself, "Though I have no fear of God and no respect for anyone, 5 yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will grant her justice, so that she may not wear me out by continually coming.' " 6 And the Lord said, "Listen to what the unjust judge says. 7 And will not God grant justice to his chosen ones who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long in helping them? 8 I tell you, he will quickly grant justice to them. And yet, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?"
Welcoming: Lena Doull and Mary Cropp
Prayers: Vicki Gilmour
Sidespeople: Moka Ritchie
Assistants: Steve Wakefield and Vicki Gilmour
M of H: Mary Cropp and Charlotte West
Morning Tea: (Combined) Ian and Marette Wells
Kidzone:
Bubbles - Cheryl Earl, Andrea Caldwell
Splash/Xstream - Harriet English, Anthony Fokkens
GRID - Angela Brown