| To get to our online services, click here. You can always find them by going to our website: www.cranbourneanglican.org.au/online-service. If you’d like to join us for a virtual morning tea (video conferencing) 11am Sunday the 2nd of August, click here at 11am Sunday. Meeting ID: 291 757 7519 Password: 444240 |
Dear church family,
The latest COVID-19 numbers have been disturbingly high, and it looks more and more like our time under lock down will be extended. We’re all in need of some encouragements! And so I thought I’d pass on to you a reminder that I recently received. In Philippians 3:1 it says “‘Rejoice in the Lord’, and then it’s intensified in 4:4, ‘Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!’ Does this mean that in the face of terrible circumstances we need to simply put our fingers in our ears and pretend everything is OK? Well… no. We can rejoice always because we who trust in Christ are always in Christ and the many blessings He brings.
Peter Adam writes: “Is rejoicing in the Lord Jesus Christ part of your prayer life, part of your life? Do you do it every day? What is ‘the sacrifice of praise’ that we should ‘continually offer up to God’? ‘The fruit of lips that praise his name’ [Hebrews 13:15]!
We can ‘rejoice in the Lord’ whatever our circumstances. For there are plenty of reasons to do this, even when our world is falling apart, or when we are discouraged, or ill, or anxious. Even if there is nothing else to rejoice in, we can rejoice in him!”
Rather than being a bliss of the “ignorance is bliss” kind, rejoicing is in the Lord is a wonderful way of fortifying ourselves as we face the very real troubles of the day.
I pray that you are finding that despite it all you are managing to rejoice in the Lord.
See you online!
Sam Bleby
Minister | Parish of Cranbourne
St John’s Cranbourne | Christ Church Tooradin
St John’s Face Masks!
The Quilters have got on the job and are producing washable and re-usable face masks to give away to those who need them within the parish – I know some of you find it hard to get out at the moment, and re-usable face masks can be hard to source, so if you’d like one, just send a return email to me with the number of the design you’d like (see below) and we’ll get it to you – and you too can step out in the latest of St John’s fashions!
With many thanks to Dianne Mitchell and Lorraine Jaques and the quilting group, and the Sukumars for an excellent idea.
Alpha Online
From this Wednesday the 5th of August (not October as per last pews news!) we’re running Alpha Online, a course tackling the big questions of life and introducing Christianity. You’re really welcome to join us! Are there others you could invite to come as well? It’s an excellent introduction to faith for those who don’t come to church normally – and they can check it all out from the comfort of their homes as we do it all on line. You can download an invitation here, and forward it on to your friend. To register, just email or text me and I’ll send through the details.
Small Groups
These times can be isolating, and life is better together! We’re looking to start some new small groups – we’ve already got a couple of people looking to start a group, and we’d love to have a few more. If you’d like to be part of a small group, please reply to this email to me letting me know and indicating three times in the week that would be convenient for you. At first you’d be meeting online (it’s easier than you think, and if new to you we can help you get started).
Vision Gatherings
Though church is suspended in person, we want to be using this time to be planning the way forward as a community in the years ahead, so once we’re back we can hit the ground running. Your Ministry Advisory Committee met this week and we’ve finished work on a draft Mission and Vision Statement. We want to share this more and have your input on it, and so we’re going to have a couple of vision gatherings which we’ll do online – you can choose whichever time best suits you:
3-4pm Sunday the 2nd of August; or
10:30-11:30am Wednesday the 5th of August;
At the gatherings there will be a short presentation on the results of the survey and a profile of the mission field in which we live – the Casey area. We’ll listen to your thoughts and ideas about the future of our church, and you’ll have a chance to respond to the draft mission and vision statement. To come, just respond to this email to register for one of the gatherings and I’ll send the zoom details and the documents through on the day.
Children’s Ministry
Online church includes a kids activity pack that you can download here. Print it out and the kids can do activities after they’ve watched the kids talk on the same theme.
Giving
Just a reminder that you can give by envelope dropped off at the church between 2-3pm on Sundays, or you may give electronically, either anonymously or put your name as a reference, but please do also reference it as ‘giving’ to help our records.
| St John’s, Cranbourne |
| BSB: 083 214 |
| Account: 596 278 950 |
| Christ Church, Tooradin |
| BSB: 633 000 |
| Account: 138 728 704 |