Dear Friends and Family,

For the followers of the way, it has been said that everything begins and ends in Christ.  God sends unmerited grace that saves us, sustains us, and sends us to invite others into the blessing of eternal life in Christ.  

In the gospel passage this week, Luke 18:1-8, Jesus asks if he will find faith on earth when he returns?  And the answer is yours to supply to God.  No one can show it for you.  Jesus will ask you personally.

The Lord knows the answer to the question already.  Our Creator knows the times (chronoi) and the seasons (kairoi).  The duration and the marked events are all within the Lord’s view.  But they are ours to experience in each moment so that we may grow our faith, and choose if we will respond to God in love throughout instances of joy or suffering, fear or peace. 

In good times or bad, our faith can be demonstrated in observable ways.  It is seen when we persist in loving relationships with God and people over time.  It is heard when our prayer lives with God improve.  And it is felt when the fruits of our lives feed our neighbours.  In these ways, we know that our faith is living.

Persist, pray, and provide.  The hallmarks of a Christian life are visible outcomes when we implement the teachings of scripture in our lives.

So as the week draws to a close, and the next 36 hours bring the time to prepare our hearts for worship together on Sunday, notice how you are spending your time.  Notice your relationships.  Notice your prayer life.  Notice how you serve God and others.  Notice what Christ will notice when he returns.  

You are both wanted and needed in worship, and many look forward to being with you. Myself included.  

Attached please find a copy of the bulletin for the service this weekend, the poster for our upcoming orchestra concert, and an invitation to a screening of a film produced by a member of our Nuer community.  

And so may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you this day and all days through the transformation of hearts and minds by the power of the Holy Spirit to the will of the Father.

Blessings,

Rev Chandra Mannix