Pastoral Letter 230

Dear Members of St. Andrew’s Uniting Church, Friends and Adherents,

Grace and peace to you all in the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

I hope you are all doing well.

I returned safely from my trip to Armenia on Tuesday evening, just in time to be at the Fashion Parade on Wednesday morning, which was again a successful event thanks to Jan, Brian and all those who helped. The raised funds will be donated to the Bill Crews Foundation.

The trip to Armenia was a great success and the main reason was the Armenia Premiere of the Documentary “The Golden Chain of Mercy”. Over 500 people were in attendance and their reaction was overwhelming. Before the screening we had a TV Interview and press conference. I spent some quality time with Lori and preached on Sunday morning at the Armenian Evangelical Church of Yerevan. I passed your greetings to the congregation and in turn they sent their well wishes and greetings to you all.

Thanks to Bob Minton, who covered for me on Sunday 8 September, when I was at the Willoughby Armenian Evangelical Church for the Memorial Service of the AMAA’s Executive Director and CEO, Mr. Zaven Khanjian, which was organised by the Armenian Missionary Association of Australia and the Armenian Evangelical Church. And on Sunday 15 September, the Lane Cove Community Chaplain, Liam McKenna, took the service, while I was away in Armenia for the screening of the documentary. Thanks, Liam, for being available.

Tomorrow, Sunday 22 September, the Presbytery Chairman, Rev. Keith Garner, will visit us and deliver the message. He will stay for Morning Tea to have fellowship with us. Please make an extra effort to join us.

I will be on leave 14-23 October to attend the AMAA Annual meeting in Montreal, Canada. On Sunday 20 October 2024 we will join the Crows Nest Uniting Church for Sunday morning worship at 10:00 am. As the minister Michael Thomas is on leave, Bob Minton is taking the Service.

It has become our tradition to have John Flynn Service in October. By the request of Lane Cove Uniting Church this year the Service will be Combined Service with Lane Cove and held on Sundy 27 October at 9:30 am at St. Columba’s. We will have with us as guest speaker Mr. Rob Floyd the National Director of Frontier Services. Following the Service, we will have Morning Tea, as well as the Great Outback Fundraiser BBQ at 12 noon. The raised funds plus the plates of the day will be donated to the Frontier Services. Please let me know if you will stay for the BBQ, as we need to give numbers for catering purposes.

If you are not able to join us for worship tomorrow, please light a candle and worship with us following the attached Order of Service.

Here are some prayer points for this week:

  1. Pray for the sick, the poor, the homeless, refugees and those who feel lonely.
  2. Please continue to pray for Virginia and those who have lost loved ones.
  3. Pray for those who are under the pressure of financial burdens and struggling to make ends meet.
  4. Pray for world peace, especially for the Middle East, Palestine, Israel and Lebanon.
  5. Pray for the Uniting Church and its leaders to serve following in the steps of Our Lord Jesus Christ.
  6. Pray for our future plans as we continue our conversation with Lane Cove Uniting under the guidance of the Presbytery.

Best Regards

In Christ

Krikor