For up to date information about church meetings as we move through the alert levels, please contact Chris or leader of meeting.
Kia Ora. If you would like anything posting here please email me at support@stpetersoftherock.church 😊, or speak to me in church.
Lovely to be back in church today. Well done to Chris for preaching at two back to back services.
“God has come to help his people.” Luke 7:16
“A, kua titiro mai hoki te Atua ki tana iwi.” Ruka 7:16
A Message from Chris
‘His ways are higher than our ways’.
That’s something we often say to each other, or to ourselves, when things are happening that we don’t understand, or God’s plans seem hard to understand.
Fair enough. God’s plans are bigger than we can understand or see in the moment. However, I was shown something very helpful by Dane Ortlund about the biblical passage that these words are drawn from – Isaiah 55. In chapter 17 of Ortlund’s wonderful little book Gentle and Lowly, he shows that in context, the emphasis of these famous words is a bit different to what we often think – different in a wonderful way!
Isaiah 55:7-9 says this: Let the wicked forsake their ways and the unrighteous their thoughts.
Let them turn to the LORD, and he will have mercy on them,
and to our God, for he will freely pardon.
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD.
“As the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.
Do you see what this passage is actually about? The ‘ways’ of the Lord being particularly talked about here, the ways that are higher and so different from ours, are his willingness to have mercy and to pardon unrighteous sinners! Our inclination is to think that God won’t really forgive us, that he is reluctant to forgive, or that he will hold a grudge – like we are inclined to do. But no! His ways are not like ours! His ways are higher than ours!
What a wonderful Lord we have! At times like this we don’t understand all of his plans, but understand this: he is willing and eager to have mercy and to freely pardon all who turn to him! So draw near to him!
In his love,
Chris
Some pictures of SPOTR folk during lockdown. Lovely way to keep in touch. If you want to have a picture in next week’s notices, please send it to me (Haley). If you would prefer it to only go into the hard copy just let me know
Tono Karakia/Prayer Requests
Please pray for:
That the Lord will guid our leaders and be with our country as we go into another lockdown. Pray particularly for our members who may be struggling or vulnerable at this time.
Chris and the leaders at SPOTR as they deal with the logistics of running the church during lockdown.
The new Sunday school schedule. The classes are changing to weekly; pray that everything goes smoothly as the new routine begins, and for the new team of teachers.
The new Ladies’ Bible study which started last week.
For those who regularly attend SPOTR, more personal prayer requests are included in the weekly email. If you would like to be added to the email list, please contact Chris.
The church prayer meeting is held every Friday morning, 6:30 a.m. at the church office. For more information please use our contact form.
If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
2 Chronicles 7:14
Other Bits and Pieces
Bible readings for 12/09/21: ; 1 Kings 17:17-24; Luke 7:11-17.
Thanks to Sargia, Nathan, Suzanna and Sam who read the scriptures this week, and to Chris for the prayers of intercession.
Growth Groups – If you would like to be involved in one please contact Chris.
Preschool Children – The church has been given the go ahead by the building owners to put gates onto the drives of the church. This will make the back of the church building a safe play area for children. There are toys available in the church for children struggling to sit through a service. Please do not worry if your children are acting like children; we are glad to have them (and you) with us on Sundays.
Church Directory – If you want your details adding to our directory, please email support@stpetersoftherock.church with your email/phone. This page is password protected.
Giving – You may have noticed we do not take a collection during our services. If you would like to contribute financially to SPOTR please contact Trent (our treasurer) for details, use the box at the back of church or use this link (scroll to bottom of page when you are transferred). please note: for anyone who gives to the church by standing order, our new bank account number is 03 0674 0274 673 000 Thank you.
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