CHURCH @ HOME

Palm Sunday saw Mark leading the service and James, Marcia & Hannah leading the morning's music. We stepped away from our bible readings in John to have some Easter themed reading and so on Palm Sunday Neil read from Zechariah and the Steven also used that passage as he led us around the communion table. James continued his series: Communicating Christianity - Knowing and Sharing our faith this time focusing on communicating the gospel. James challenged us to make our choice because the Gospel is here... Are you ready to live a life loyal to it? Matthew 6:33 - But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

The service was led by James with Shona joining to lead the singing and Ben and Aaron playing guitars for us to sing to. Daniel brought us the reading from the gospel of John. The kids taught the church the song they have been learning all term, My God is so big, so strong and so mighty. Harlan brought us together around the communion table before Harry concluded his series of sermons from Philippians today covering chapter 4 - God's 5-point care plan. Philippians 4:6-7 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

The service today was led by James and the music team of Belle, Ebonnie and Bel joined him to lead the worship music. Jean read us the scriptures, her first time, and Ben led the communion portion of our service before Harry continued the sermon series he is teaching on Philippians. This week he did Part 2 of Philippians chapter3 - When Christ is our goal, He changes our character by adjusting us, directing us, establishing us and causing us to live as citizens of Heaven. Philippians 1:6 I am confident of this, that He who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

Marcia led the morning that included a very old Hymn, Victory in Jesus and a very new hymn, He will hold me fast but all that we sang pointed us to who Christ is and the victory, peace and confidence we can experience with Him. The music for the morning was played by Geoff and Shona & Belle joined Marcia to lead the singing. Jaden continued our reading through the Gospel of John and Michael led us in communion before Harry continued his series from Philippian this week covering the first half of Chapter 3. Paul's letter reminds us to rejoice always, be constantly alert, be perpetually victorious, to experience genuine reality and to face life as a go-getter because when Christ is the goal of our attitudes, we can set right priorities and press on. Philippians 3:14 - I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.

This Sunday was one that was led by Mark with James on Keyboard and Marcia & Belle singing. Shona continued the reading of John and Communion was led by Garry… but none of that is on this recording. We had a major technical glitch, and the service was not recorded by either our usual camera or the sound desk so all we had to capture it was the supplementary camera. We decided to just upload the sermon, We are aware the angle is a little odd and the sound quality is not great but it does get better after a few minutes. We figured if you are watching Harry ‘s series you would probably like to watch it even if the sound isn’t great… and yes we learnt a few things by this technical failure so hopefully it won’t happen again. Nahum 1:7 The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him.

James led the service this week and after the first song, led by the music team of Shona, Bel, Michelle & Geoff we did something a bit different and broke into small groups for prayer for about 10 minutes before continuing on with our usual service format. Andrew read us the scripture for the book of John and Geoff led us around the communion table which included an item done by Geoff and Michelle of a song Michelle wrote. Then Harry brought us the second message in his series on the book of Philippians. This week reminding us that there is confidence in life when we allow Christ to be the source of our joy. When we do this, prayer becomes real, trails begin to energize us, life becomes exciting and out commitment starts to grow. Philippians 1:3-6 3 I give thanks to my God upon my every remembrance of you, always in my every prayer for all of you, making the prayer with joy, because of your participation in the gospel from the first day until now, convinced of this same thing, that the one who began a good work in you will finish it until the day of Christ Jesus.

Michael led the service this morning starting by reminding us to use our time and realize that none of us knows how much time we have. He exhorted us put aside our feelings and follow what God has for us because when we do that, we will have no regrets and experience many benefits . The music team of Marcia, Belle, Aaron & James led the morning's music and Julia read the scriptures for us. James brought us to the communion table reminding us it is a joyful and victorious thing we get to do then Harry brought us the message. Harry started a new sermon series so for the next few weeks we will be looking at the book of Philippians. This book focuses on Joy that we can have through trials and the opportunities we have to grow. Joy for us is not the absence of trouble but in realizing we have the opportunity to gain value through everything we go through and to grow relationship with others and with Jesus. This week we focused on chapter 1 - Facing life with confidence because of Christ. Our confidence in Christ will help us feel our connections, value our attachments to each other, be committed to advancing the gospel and honoring Christ together. James 1:17 - Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.

Ian began the service by reading to us from Psalm 33 reminding us to rejoice in the Lord, praise the Lord and make melody to Him with a shout of joy. Ian welcomed all and encouraged us to worship the Lord together. The music team of James, Hannah, Abbie and Geoff then led us in song for the morning. Michelle read us the scripture from the well-known passage of John 3 and Doug led us in communion. There was a technical hiccup with one of the microphones and so in parts of this service the sound quality is not great but if you turn the sound up a little it can still be heard. James took the sermon time this week taking time to address a couple of questions that had come in regarding his "Word of the Lord" series. Psalm 33:20-22 - We wait in hope for the Lord; He is our help and our shield. In Him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in His holy name. May your unfailing love be with us, Lord, even as we put our hope in you.

This Sunday saw quite a few people away with illness which also affected our roster with people stepping in last minute to fill in for those who were unwell. James stepped in to take over leading the service and Andrew filled in by leading us in communion. and Doug read the scriptures to us. The music team which was James, Michelle, Stephanie and Hannah was unaffected, and they led the morning's music beautifully before James brought us the morning's message continuing his Communicating Christianity series. This week he continued looking the "the Word of God" but this time from a New Testament perspective. Hebrews4:12 - For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.