Please consider registering just to the right of this message (click on 'Login/Register') so that we can know who you are and keep in touch. You don't have to be a member of the church to be a member of our online community.
If you already have an account please login so that you can add your comments and participate.
Weekly Greeting: Sunday 22 November
Submitted by Brian Smith on Thu, 2009-11-19 11:40
Dear Friends
Hello - We are entering the "busy times" chapter of the year and so our theme for today seems particularly apt. "Caring about the needs of others" reminds us not to get too caught up in the whirlpool that life can become. I have been amazed at the many different ministries in the life of Northfield that do "care for the needs of others". We have ministries that range from hands-on Outreach work, both here and at our John Wesley Centre, to the incredible Pastoral Care Ministry, which provides care, support and encouragement. Did you know that about 120 - 140 people are ministered to at our Pastoral Care Centre each month? As a Church community, let's keep striving to answer the call to "care about the needs of others."
The biggest challenge however, is as individuals. The Passage for today is the one from Matthew - the Sheep and the Goats - and although the passage clearly comes across as "we will be judged" in terms of reaching out to others, it also highlights for me the enormous value and significance God places on one person helping another. We have raised the issue of being in community many times and the best place to experience Northfield's Community is in the heart of a Ministry group or as part of our many Cell groups. We get to know each other best, and reach out to each other best in a cell group.
So as we consider this theme today and give thanks to God for the caring that is part of life in our community, we recognise the challenge to increase our caring. If you are not a member of a Cell group and have often thought about joining one but are just not too sure about the where's, what's and why's - then please speak to Tony Habgood and make sure you are included.
A REMINDER: Rev Gavin Landers, his wife Tania, and their three children, Hayley, Joshua and Gabriella are joining the team at Northfield. Gavin is currently serving the Germiston congregation and we look forward to their arrival at their new home on the weekend of the 4th December. Gavin will be quickly finding his feet as he gets involved in the Christmas Programme, so please use this time as an opportunity to get to meet and know the Landers family. A date for your 2010 diary - Gavin's Induction Service is planned for the 14th of February at the 10:00 service.
Blessings
Brian
Post new comment