Pastoral Letter 182
Dear Members of St. Andrew’s Uniting Church, Friends and Adherents,
Grace and Peace to you all in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
I am sure, that those who joined us last Sunday afternoon for the 100th and 121st Anniversary Praise and Worship Service, will agree with me, when I say it was really a special day for St. Andrew’s, the congregation, family members, friends, guests and visitors. The order of Service flowed smoothly, with Penny’s welcoming words and Call to Worship, Chris’s prayer and leading the Affirmation, Ian’s Scripture reading, and very fitting sermon delivered by Dr. William Emilsen (the copies of the full sermon are available if you want to have one). We had several, in person and on screen, congratulatory messages from Uniting Church leaders, ministers, Lane Cove Mayor, Susan Irving representing the Chapman family and others. The music was great as well. Mark and David played the hymns, Zela Margossian, accompanied by the percussionist Adem Yelmaz, played two pieces of music, “Devotion” composed by her and Pete Seeger’s “Turn, Turn, Turn” by her arrangement. Before my concluding remarks, Natalie Aroyan, the talented Sydney Opera Soprano singer sang “He Shall Feed His Flock” and “Ave Maria”. We had well over 125 in attendance, a very encouraging number. After the Service we had Afternoon Tea, catered by our ladies and all presents had the chance to mingle around and catch up with old friends and a power Point Presentation on the big screen, rolling continuously old and new photos, taken during the past several years. Thanks to Murry Debus, who provided the old photos. After this special service, during the week we received many Thank You messages and encouraging words. A big thanks for everyone who did their part in the preparation for this great and unforgettable and memorable Sunday. Those who took part in the service, those who were involved in the preparation and serving Afternoon Tea. Thanks to Ken Phelps, who was the photographer of the day and took all the photos. We will reflect on this special day in next Newsletter issue, which will be a special edition.
In couple of weeks, I will be again on leave for two weeks to attend the Armenian Missionary Association’s annual meeting in San Fransisco . In my absence Liam will take the service on Sunday 15 October and Bob Minton on October 22. I express my thanks in advance to Liam and Bob.
If you are not able to join us tomorrow, please light a candle and join us following the attached Order of Service.
Be safe and well, continue to pray, remembering those who need care, support and love; especially those who are suffering because of natural disasters, such as the recent floods in Libya.
Please let me know if you or anyone else has prayer points.
Here are some prayer points for this week:
- Pray for world peace.
- Pray for those who suffer, who are persecuted and abused.
- Pray for the poor, the sick, the struggling and the stressed.
- Pray for those who are facing natural disasters such as Earthquakes and floods.
- Continue to Pray for Artsakh as they go through the toughest time with the dire situation resulting in hunger, starvation, and death.
- Pray for the victims of Morocco Earthquake and the Libyan floods.
- Pray for the Referendum to be held on 14 October and to cast the right vote.
- Pray for our church and our future plans as we seek God’s guidance.
Best Regards
Krikor
MESSAGE
Hope Amidst Despair
Exodus 14:19-31 and 15:1-11, 20-21
The Scripture says: “The Lord is good; His love endures forever”. It is true. We believe it and rely on it as Christians and faithful believers. But with the circumstances that we are in and the challenges of life we face every day, makes us question this and sometimes lose hope.
Almost all of us go through tough situations, hopelessness despite resources and people around us. Our ordinary life is disturbed, and more pressure mounts upon all of us when things go wrong, we are unwell, lose a dear one, be in the midst of disasters, such us earthquakes, floods, wars, economic and financial crisis, etc. All sectors of life, challenge us to cope up in all circumstances. And yet we know and believe that the Lord brings us hope, amidst despair.
Today, we look at a very familiar story form the Old Testament, in the book of Exodus the story of the people of Isarael crossing the Red Sea. We will take form this message the following three things:
1. Move on, the Lord is travelling with us (Exodus 14:15-20)
In our passage today we read that the Israelites were trapped between the Red Sea and Pharaoh’s army. God led them into the valley and brought them to this place purposefully. They were caught between the mountains and the sea. Pharaoh thought that the Israelites made a foolish move. Can God make a wrong move in our life? When we are bewildered, disturbed, gave up hope, God tells us and reminds us that He is with us, and He is in control. God taught the final lesson to Pharaoh that He was and is the One and only God, Jehovah, and He will redeem and fight for the children of Israel. God makes the way even when there is no way.
God travels with us. Exodus 14:19 expresses that the Angel of the Lord who had been travelling in front of Israel’s army, went behind them to keep them safe. What a wonderful understanding that the Lord goes before us. When we feel lonely, when we are in disastrous moments, the promise is that the Lord goes with us. Let’s step out with faith that the Lord is going ahead and behind us.
God gave a promise to Abraham, and He fulfilled by guiding him. Moses had the promise of God that He will be with him when he stands before Pharaoh. The Lord led the battle of David with the giant Goliath; he went before him to the battlefield.
Jesus told his disciples that He will be with them until the end of the earth (Matthew 28:18-20). Mark ends his Gospel confirming the presence of the Lord was with them everywhere (Mark 16:20). The early Church had seen the work of the Holy Spirit. He told Saul that he was persecuting Christ when he persecuted the Christians. He identified with their pain (Acts 9:5). The presence of God in our lives often not considered and the grace of God is taken very lightly. The miracles of God we experience in our day-to-day life. God expects a thankful heart and gratitude from us.
2. Look up, the Lord is fighting for us (Exodus 14:21-28)
Pharaoh had best chariots, the officers, soldiers, armies were marching fearlessly against the Israelites, the Egyptian horses, chariots, horsemen, and troops pursued and overtook the Israelites. The Israelites looked up and there were Egyptians marching after them. Often, we think, we are weak and cannot do anything and should accept defeat and fear. But let us remember that we serve a wonderful God. He is the God of Hosts, God of victory, God of the mount and valley, and God of seas and wilderness. Pharaoh thought the Israelites were wandering in confusion. But God knew what they needed, God knew what they were going through, and then God came up with good news for their bad situation. God knew. As we struggle to live out the life of faith, we have a God who knows us, knows our problems, knows our failures, and knows our needs. God provides good news for whatever bad situations we are going through, namely, unemployment, depression and serious illness, doubt, fear, loneliness, and we can go on.
Pharaoh had pursued them with six hundred trained men; but the Israelites were untrained, unarmed. So, they were terrified and confused. But God was telling them to look up and look around, for He was and will fight for them.
Now Pharaoh and his armies were completely frightened, confused and wanted to flee, because God was fighting for the Israelites (Exodus 14:25). When God fights for us, He will fight to assure the victory.
3. Trust in Him, he has delivered us (Exodus 14:29-31)
According to the Jewish tradition, the exodus community had crossed the Red Sea on the night of the 21st of Nisan, the month of Abib. The challenge on that day by Moses was, do not be afraid, stand firm. Today is the day of deliverance and day of erasing the enemies. Crossing the Red Sea has two key points: Israelite will learn the power of God to trust in Him, and the Egyptian King Pharaoh will know Yahweh is the Lord. God will glorify through this act (Exodus 14:4,17-18). Be still and see the salvation of the Lord.
Crossing the Red Sea is going to be a memorable one to Israelites and heathens, Canaanites had shaken by this event (Joshua 2:9). Jewish history always mentions about it. Their praises had always referred to this act. The water divided into two walls. Waters became walls. God does miracles after miracles here – waters became walls, trained army lost the victory, Israel walked through with all their belongings, the light was before them during the night. It was an absolute nightmare to Egyptians and Pharaoh. Israel’s salvation has been done. They were redeemed. Even before the foundation of the earth, the Lord had purposed, He had fixed, and He had given us the redemption.
When the Lord is travelling with us, we are in the light and our darkness turns into light, our despair turns into hope.
All that is against us: circumstances, people and places will have a dramatic change and we will have hope amidst our despair. God has promised and He will fulfill, as He did with the people of Israel, regardless of their weaknesses, faults, sins and failures.
God is with us. We need to move on because He is traveling with us. We have to look up because the Lord is fighting for us. And We must trust Him because He delivers us. God is our only HOPE!
Our hope in the midst of despair.
Amen!