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Is Your Faith BIG Enough for Miracles?
More than thirty miracles were performed by Jesus and are recorded in the gospels. From turning water into wine, raising people from the dead to feeding the multitudes, and this doesn’t take into account that John said in John 21:25 that Jesus did many other things as well.
Our new preaching series starts on February 10th and we will be looking at some of the miracles of Jesus. Why? Good question…
Miracles are messy, they are hard to reconcile in our tightly boxed in empirical and materialist world view. But if we remove the supernatural from the ministry of Jesus, we remove a central part of who he was. He was the Son of God, the first born of all creation, the one in whom all things are held together and made new.
We can have many questions about the miracles in the life of Jesus. Why he chose to perform some and not others. Why he sometimes asked people not to talk about the miracles he performed. But what we need to acknowledge is that Jesus when he walked, talked and taught 2000 years ago also performed many miracles.
Over the next few weeks we will be looking at some, so see you there.
The Lords Prayer
The words of Jesus in Matthew chapter six have been foundational to the Christian faith since they were first uttered to the disciples 2000 years ago.
“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”
Matthew 6:9-10
Over the summer period we have been using the Alpha Prayer material as a church, which is structured around the Lords Prayer. It has been a chance to learn about prayer, talk about prayer (around tables) and actually put what we are learning into action.
Several weeks ago a member of the congregation handed me an innocent looking piece of paper, a comment on the Lord’s Prayer that had appeared in the church newsletter many years ago. It was called: “The Lords Prayer is Dangerous” Check it out below….
The Lord’s Prayer is Dangerous
I cannot say OUR, if I live in a watertight spiritual compartment…
I cannot say FATHER, if I do not demonstrate the relationship in my daily life…
I cannot say WHICH ART IN HEAVEN, if I am so occupied with the earth that I am laying up treasure there…
I cannot say HALLOWED BE THY NAME, if I, who am called by His name, am not seeking His help to be holy…
I cannot say THY WILL BE DONE, if I am resentful of, or disobedient to, His Will for me…
I cannot say GIVE US THIS DAY OUR DAILY BREAD, if I am so engrossed with the business of this world forget the Great Giver, or others hunger…
I cannot say FORGIVE US OUR TRESPASSES AS WE FORGIVE THEM THAT TRESPASS AGAINST US, if I harbor a grudge against anyone…
I cannot say LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION, if I deliberately place myself, or remain, in a position where I am likely to be tempted…
I cannot say DELIVER US FROM EVIL, if I am not prepared to fight it in the spiritual realm with the weapon of prayer…
I cannot say THINE IS THE KINGDOM if I do not accord the King the disciplined obedience of a loyal subject…
I cannot say THINE IS THE GLORY, if I am seeking the glory for myself…
I cannot say FOR EVER AND EVER, if my horizon is bounded by the things of time…
I cannot say AMEN, if I do not also add, ‘Cost what it may’, For to say this prayer honestly will cost everything!
New Staff
We have been blessed with three new staff members. Sonia has taken on the role of Financial Support, Lynnette is taking over Church cleaning and Lydia is now our Office Administrator. We look forward to their contribution to the daily running of our Church.
Carols in the Park
Every year, as the year draws to a close it seems that we race head long
towards Christmas and we get caught up in the tinsel, the lights and how many people are coming for dinner.
Yet in the midst of all that, there is a simple message that calls us back to the
true meaning of Christmas. Emmanuel, the humble birth of a baby more than 2000 years ago calls us, comforts us and challenges us.
So tonight we come to celebrate and contemplate the coming of Jesus Christ
as a baby all those years ago. The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.
The birth of Jesus calls us back into a relationship with God himself. The birth of Jesus shows us that it was God’s initiative, not ours that restored our relationship with God the Father. It is the same today, God still calls us to him, through Jesus Christ.
The birth of Jesus comforts us with the sure knowledge that God in his love
sent His Son to dwell among us. That in Jesus, his birth, life and resurrection we see the wildly extravagant love of God poured out for us!
The birth of Jesus challenges us to look beyond the things of this world. To see more than what is seen. Through the power of the Holy Spirit we are
empowered to love this world, just as God loves it. To live lives that declare
the goodness that God has poured out upon us and exhort others to join us in this journey of following Jesus Christ – Emmanuel.
May you know the peace and joy of God’s presence as you celebrate
Christmas with family and friends this year.
Christmas Preaching Series
Every year we say that we are going to be more organised, we are going to start shopping earlier, book flights earlier, plan the holiday earlier and then suddenly it’s December and Christmas is just around the corner! Why is it that we end up tired, worn out and just hanging on for our holiday at one of the most awesome times of the year? Maybe we need to slow down and remember and reflect on what Christmas is really about. Continue reading Christmas Preaching Series
Why We Support our Local Light Party?
Every year the Reflections Trust, for the last 14 years has run a Light Party for the community in Kaiapoi and North Canterbury. Click on the link to find out more about them!
But why do we as a church support this amazing community event? Is it just about kids and whanau having a great time, great food and great fun? Sure we would probably support an event like that, simply because we love families, we love our community and we love food! But… Continue reading Why We Support our Local Light Party?
Keeping Up Appearances Seminar
On a Friday morning in late August over 50 people gathered to hear a presentation by the NZ Police and the North Canterbury Family Violence Network. A big thank you to the Person to Person Help Trust for organizing this event and providing an amazing breakfast! The presentation delivered some challenging data about domestic violence in NZ and in North Canterbury.
Attached are the presentation slides.
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Cafe Clinics
Person to Person Help Trust are running some great community clinics at the Rivertown Cafe.
Café Clinics are designed to inform, empower & support the community by way of education and providing information for now and future use. Café Clinics are a partnership between Rivertown Café, local organisation’s & businesses. Café Clinics are free and welcome to all.
All clinics will have open floor time for questions.
Café Clinics 7.00 – 8.30pm Rivertown Café, 77 Williams Street Kaiapoi
Click on the link below for more details.
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New YOUTH Programme Launch
On Friday August 31st we are launching a new Youth Programme here at KBC. It is for Year 6-8 students and will run every second week during term time.
ACTIV8 (activate) is a place where young people can come and have fun in a safe environment and make positive life choices. It could be a night where we end up making banana splits but also try and fit one back into its skin!! Or it could be that we are racing up and down the auditorium trying to carry as many balloons as possible, or maybe even trying to shave one! ACTIV8 is a chance for young people to enjoy themselves and also start to grapple with the challenges of growing up as a young person today. We also look at topics as diverse as friendship, self-esteem and social justice. Continue reading New YOUTH Programme Launch