"For the hurt of my poor people I am hurt, I mourn, and dismay has taken hold of me."- Jeremiah 8:21
This Sunday we continue to read some portions from the prophet Jeremiah. Jeremiah lived amidst very uncertain times in Israel's history. It was a time of earthquakes, famines and military invasions. There were always priests and prophets ready to hold out words of peace and comfort; promises of normality. Jeremiah did not do that. Jeremiah knew that such words weren't necessarily God's words. Instead Jeremiah lived as an uncomfortable reminder to his people that it wasn't their world that needed to change, or God that needed to change, but their lives that needed to change. When God's people tried to bargain for peace, Jeremiah committed himself to the long and faithful task of representing God's "dis-ease" with the way their lives were.
For many of us the past few days have begun a return to some semblance of normality; or at least that is what we find ourselves hoping for. In such moments it's important to remind ourselves that life is never really normal - there are always those, both in our neighbourhood and across the world, for whom every moment is a struggle amidst the uncertainties of everyday life. Last week's earthquakes may have have provided us a corporate experience of having many of our certainties pulled out from under us. Perhaps this event is an invitation to know God's dis-ease and have our eyes and hearts open to the needs of those around us. What do we prefer; to be faithful people like Jeremiah or trade in the marketplaces of normality?
May we be blessed with God's disease and never settle for a "life as usual" approach to living!
The past days have been times of considerable stress for everyone. If you would like a visit, for prayer or just to talk, please let us know - we will be glad to arrange a visit. Please find news and roster items headed below.
God bless,
Andrew
LIFESTREAMS WORSHIP THIS SUNDAY
We resume regular worship times this Sunday.
Lifestreams will be at 10am in the St Barnabas' church hall. Invite a friend to share with us our time of worship and socializing!
THE GREAT DISCOVERY
Harriet English is helping to fundraise for the "Postnatal Depression Family Whanau New Zealand Trust".
She has these fantastic "The Great Discovery" booklets for sale; full of fun family activities, competitions, prizes and vouchers. Harriet will make these available at Lifestreams on Sunday at the cost of $12.00. Check out the website - www.mothersmatter.co.nz
MEN'S NOOMA
If you're a guy then feel welcome to join us for Men's NOOMA evenings on Wednesdays at 8pm. Give me a call for more details 0212014798.
ANTIOCH CAFE NIGHT
Antioch Cafe Night was postponed because of the earthquake, but now it's back. Come along this Saturday evening, 18th September, from 7pm to the St Barnabas' Hall for live music, dessert and food, good company and a good time. Bring your family - stay a little while, stay all night. Free entry. All welcome.
Lifestreams' Roster
First Reading: Readers needed, can you help?
Jeremiah 8:18-9:1
18 My joy is gone, grief is upon me, my heart is sick. 19 Hark, the cry of my poor people from far and wide in the land: "Is the Lord not in Zion? Is her King not in her?" ("Why have they provoked me to anger with their images, with their foreign idols?") 20 "The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved." 21 For the hurt of my poor people I am hurt, I mourn, and dismay has taken hold of me. 22 Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there? Why then has the health of my poor people not been restored? 9:1 O that my head were a spring of water, and my eyes a fountain of tears, so that I might weep day and night for the slain of my poor people!
Gospel Reading: Readers needed, can you help?
Luke 16:1-13
1 Then Jesus said to the disciples, "There was a rich man who had a manager, and charges were brought to him that this man was squandering his property. 2 So he summoned him and said to him, "What is this that I hear about you? Give me an accounting of your management, because you cannot be my manager any longer.' 3 Then the manager said to himself, "What will I do, now that my master is taking the position away from me? I am not strong enough to dig, and I am ashamed to beg. 4 I have decided what to do so that, when I am dismissed as manager, people may welcome me into their homes.' 5 So, summoning his master's debtors one by one, he asked the first, "How much do you owe my master?' 6 He answered, "A hundred jugs of olive oil.' He said to him, "Take your bill, sit down quickly, and make it fifty.' 7 Then he asked another, "And how much do you owe?' He replied, "A hundred containers of wheat.' He said to him, "Take your bill and make it eighty.' 8 And his master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly; for the children of this age are more shrewd in dealing with their own generation than are the children of light. 9 And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of dishonest wealth so that when it is gone, they may welcome you into the eternal homes. 10 "Whoever is faithful in a very little is faithful also in much; and whoever is dishonest in a very little is dishonest also in much. 11 If then you have not been faithful with the dishonest wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches? 12 And if you have not been faithful with what belongs to another, who will give you what is your own? 13 No slave can serve two masters; for a slave will either hate the one and love the other, or be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth."
Assistants: Mary Cropp
Ministry of Healing: Stephanie Sturge, Charlotte West
Sides people: Moka Ritchie
Welcomers: Lena Doull, Amanda Cairns
Prayers: Mary Cropp
Kidzone:
Bubbles: Christine Fokkens, Sophie Doull
Splash/Xstream: Sheena Maxwell, Anthony Fokkens
GRID: Monica Coulson
Morning Tea: Carole Acheson, Leonie Stapleton