Message from our Locum – Joan Kilpatrick – Jan 2015
Dear Friends
A Happy New Year to you! I hope and pray it will be filled with peace and joy for you. I’d like to thank you for all the support over the past few months, it’s been a busy and exciting time with all we’ve accomplished together.
I’ve been reflecting on all that has happened, particularly during Advent and Christmas when the story of Jesus’ birth has been told by Mount Florida Primary School, our own Kid’s Church and YPC along with the Puppets. Each group told His story in different ways through Nativity Plays and songs and I found it amazing to watch.
Even our services gave us opportunities to explore this story in a different way by looking at Mary and her willingness to accept her role in God’s plan, she said yes, but not only that she praised Him for His goodness in using her to give birth to the Saviour of the world.
I felt very strongly through all this that ‘Light’ was to be the theme of our Watchnight Service as there have been a number of tragedies across our world as well as in our city. Jesus called himself the Light of the World and as we begin another year we need to cling onto the belief that we can and will live in His Light. This is a Light which cannot be put out no matter what happens to us because Jesus lives and will never abandon us.
The star above the stable where Jesus was born still draws us to Him so we can see the way to go, His Light will shine on the road ahead as we begin to make decisions about our new minister. This should be an exciting time as we look to the future with anticipation and expectation.
As the old hymn says:
Look forward in faith, all time is in God’s hand,
Walk humbly with Him and trust His future plan.
God has wisely led His people by His power.
Look forward in hope, He gives us each new hour
This is my prayer for us all as we journey together into 2015. Let’s have confidence in God’s guidance and wisdom, after all he’s been doing this kind of thing for a lot longer than we have and still has a few surprises up His sleeve.
May God bless and keep you, may His face shine upon you now and always.
Joan