Category: Community

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Weekly Pastoral Letter 4th April 2020

Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ. Once again I borrow a greeting from the apostle Paul, but I do so in the full knowledge of the power of such a blessing.

Grace has many definitions, but the one I mean for this letter is ‘ may the power of God that transforms us from sinner to saint be upon you’ and peace, the wholeness of God the abundance of God revealed in and through Jesus Christ also be with you. So I say again ‘grace and peace to you’.

I also want to commend you. I have been deeply moved and encouraged by the way we are being church while we are scattered. Thank you for the way you are without prompting caring for one another, sharing encouraging words, praying, engaging with the scriptures in pairs over the phone, and meeting face-to-face-online. What a blessings! Continue reading “Weekly Pastoral Letter 4th April 2020”

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Weekly Pastoral Letter # 29th March 2020

To our friends, our brothers and sisters in Christ, the church

If I might borrow from Paul’s letter to the Thessalonian’s
We always thank God for you and continually mention you in our prayers. We remember you before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labour prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Thes 1:2-3)

This morning, as I was picturing your faces in church (thankfully you sit in the same places to make that easier) and praying as Paul prayed for you, I sensed a strengthening in my spirit and a compulsion share with you. Not that I have brilliant words like some, but rather just to say that I am glad we are in this time of trial (evil) together as a family as brothers. I know the concept of Australian mateship is a good thing and it is my prayer that it may triumph over the self-centred and self-serving behaviour of some. But let us not be condemning of people who are behaving ‘badly’ for if we were to condemn them then we must be prepared to have our behaviour judged similarly. Rather lets recognise that fear has a foothold in many lives and so as that happens the enemy has a place to land in the absence of love. Let’s pray for the presence of perfect love, Jesus, to find a home in every fearful heart.  Continue reading “Weekly Pastoral Letter # 29th March 2020”

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Sunday services are suspended

Friends we have been directed to suspend our usual Sunday services. We are taking this step to suspend our “gathered church” in favour of what we will call the ‘scattered church’. Plans are in process to meet is smaller groups using the appropriate guidelines – it is here that we will keep connected with one another and support one another in worship, bible study, and prayer. The fundamental reason for this move is that this is how we believe we can ‘love our neighbour’ well. The other way we are going to connect is on Sunday 22nd at 10.30am we will meet online via Facebook live. If you click here it will take you there and you can follow us so that when it comes to 10.30am there we will be together. I’ll be writing to you all soon either by email or traditional mail. Expect a phone call from me or one of our church leadership.

Blessings Mark

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COVID-19: A MESSAGE FROM MARK

Dear Friends,

I want to update you on Cassowary Coast UC’s response to the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic and the steps we are taking to mitigate the risks, and to ensure as a church family we continue to model the faith, hope and love that is at the heart of the gospel.

First, what are we doing.

We are closely monitoring and following advice from government, health and denominational authorities, and will continue to do so. Information from Queensland Health and Queensland Synod is posted at all churches and on our website and Facebook pages. Continue reading “COVID-19: A MESSAGE FROM MARK”