From the Pastor’s Pen

The weeks leading up to Easter often cause us to reflect on the events surrounding Jesus’ death and resurrection. Jesus’ followers likely felt very lost and alone when their teacher and Lord died on the cross. After the miracle of his resurrection, he spent some time with them before going back to be with the Father in heaven. As they were saying their goodbyes to him, they were probably wondering, “what happens next?” After being witness to an incredible miracle, were they just to go about their lives like nothing happened? Of course not!

Jesus left them with both an encouragement and a mission: “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and to the ends of the Earth” (Acts 1:8). His mission was for them to continue the work that Jesus had started, firstly in their city of Jerusalem, then further to the region of Judea, neighbouring Samaria and to eventually bring the good news to the ends of the earth.

And indeed the same words are an encouragement and a mission to believers today. The encouragement; that we are never without God’s presence. The mission; to be a witness to the love and grace of Jesus Christ, that through the work of the Holy Spirit we are empowered to reach out to our own “Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and the ends of the earth”.

That is the inspiration for this years’ fundraising efforts. The funds raised from the pancake breakfast this term was to meet a need in the local community, namely the chaplaincy work at Beerwah State High School. Continuing from Term 2 onwards, we will be looking to expand beyond to a need further and further afield, until we are impacting the world for Christ.

With all of your donations we managed to raise an impressive $780. Thank-you to everybody who supported us at the Pancake Breakfast this term and to all of the wonderful volunteers who helped out for a very worthy cause.

Blessings from Pastors Joc, Fi, Rob and Donna