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Dear Friends,
We live in a remarkable city, where thousands and thousands of International Students come to study every year. A tram trip from Carlton to the city is a cross-cultural experience, as you see all the nations of the world around you.
Yet life is not easy for many of these students who face loneliness and isolation in a foreign land. Some are living in very poor conditions and others we know have been subject to racist attacks. Our country has a great opportunity to show hospitality and welcome to these folk as they come to live amongst us.
As those wanting to make a difference in the Inner Northern suburbs, we have a particular responsibility to provide this welcome. Our Cross-Cultures ministry does just this, with a weekly dinner, friendship and introductions to the faith. Please join us tomorrow night in the church at 8pm, where we lift these matters and this ministry to God in prayer.
Warm wishes,
Richard Condie
Senior Minister
www.richardcondie.blogspot.com |
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Dear Friends,
Welcome to St Jude's today, especially if you are visiting with us. We particularly want to welcome the family and friends of Bronwyn and Maya who are both being baptised at St Jude's today (11am and 5pm). We are delighted to celebrate events like this that speak so much of God's grace and kindness towards us in Jesus.
We had a terrific week last week, with the Christ-Expo each night at RMIT Storey Hall. If you have joined us today as a result of that, we are really pleased to welcome you. We love to help people understand the Christian faith here at St Jude's, so please make yourself known to us.
An update for our regular members is that we are continuing to work towards securing a second site for St Jude's ministry, either by purchase or long term lease. The Vestry took some positive steps towards that this week. Initially this is intended to house our 5x2 project (moving St Jude's 5 off site and starting a new morning service), but will also provide space for other St Jude's ministries. Please pray that God will provide us with the right property, and help us with the myriad of negotiations.
Warm wishes,
Richard Condie
Senior Minister
www.richardcondie.blogspot.com |
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Dear Friends,
This week we saw the Prime Minister and Leader of the Opposition change the time of their nationally televised election debate from 7:30pm tonight to 6:30pm, so that it did not clash with the final of Masterchef. I must admit that I have enjoyed the Masterchef series, and if the original timing had remained, and I happened to be home tonight (which I won't be) I would have had trouble choosing – an hour of political debate, or seeing which soufflé made the grade? Tough choice.
It got me thinking though how lightly we take the role of government, our elected leaders, and the quite remarkable political system we have in Australia. We must remember that the authority to govern our land comes from God alone (see Romans 13), and we would do well to approach the election of our leaders from that angle. I am praying for God's wisdom in my decision, and trying to work out who is going to lead us best in God's ways – committed to justice and compassion, in humility under the hand of God. It's not easy, but we have a great responsibility and privilege to participate.
Perhaps we should spend the final hours of Masterchef on our knees in prayer instead!
In Christ the King,
Richard Condie
Senior Minister
www.richardcondie.blogspot.com |
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Dear Friends,
FIGHTING ON OUR KNEES
The Christian life is often referred to in the Bible as a fight, a struggle, or a battle. And when we think of the work the Holy Spirit has to do in us to re-route our hearts from the service of self and the world, to service of the living God through Jesus, we know just what is meant.
As Ephesians 6:12 reminds us: our struggle is not against enemies of blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.
This is true for us personally, and also true for us as a church. To persevere in the faith and prevail in our witness to the world about Jesus, we struggle against the powers of this present darkness.
But Ephesians 6 also reminds us that our weapons in the struggle are not the world's weapons but spiritual ones. The greatest "combat" we can do, is not standing bearing arms, but meekly kneeling on our knees, pleading with the greatest power to chase back the darkness.
As St Jude's sets out on a new venture to plant 5x2, please don't underestimate our need to fight on our knees. Please join us tomorrow night at 8pm in the church, for an hour of prayer for our ministries.
In Christ the King,
Richard Condie
Senior Minister
www.richardcondie.blogspot.com |
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Dear Friends,
St Jude's Vision is to seek the Spiritual Renewal of Inner Northern Melbourne, our City and the World. It has been great in the past few weeks to focus on the "World" dimension of our vision through our Global Missions Week. But that does not mean we have been inactive in the "Inner North".
A few weeks ago we announced, at the 5 Congregation, exciting new plans for the next part of our Vision. Later this year we plan to have 5x2! That is, we plan to multiple our ministry reaching workers in the inner-north of Melbourne. Our 5 Congregation will move off-site, and plant a brand new congregation meeting in the morning in a new venue nearby, and also will re-establish the 5pm Congregation at the new site. We are very excited by this move, because it gives us more opportunity to reach people with the Good News of Jesus. Praise God!
Please join with the rest of the church as we pray, and work and plan towards this significant expansion of our ministry. Pray for Tim Patrick as he leads 5, for his committee, and for the Vestry as they wrestle with the implications. Please pray for the right venue.
Warmly in Christ,
Richard Condie
Senior Minister
www.richardcondie.blogspot.com |
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