Pastoral Letter 201

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

Grace and peace to you all.

On 10 September 2023, we celebrated the 100th Anniversary of the laying the foundation stone of our Sanctuary and the 121st Anniversary of commencing worship services on the church promises. Tomorrow, Sunday 4 February 2024 at 9:30 am, we will have a special Worship Service marking the important milestone of the 100th Anniversary of the official opening and dedication of the church building. We will have special guests, including church and government representatives, local councillors and friends. We are glad that Rev. James Knowles, Vicar of All Saints Church, Eastbourne UK, who is here visiting his parents, Frank and Virginia Knowles, will be celebrating with us this important milestone, bring the message of the day and join me for the Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper. Please make an extra effort to be with us at this Service and let us praise God and thank Him for all the blessings He has provided to us and to our church over the years.

If you are not able to join us tomorrow, please light a candle, have a small roll of bread and a small cup of wine for communion and join us following the attached Order of Service.

I will be away for few days next weekend. I will attend and take part in the Ordination of our colleague and friend Pastor Levon Kardashian, who will be Ordained as a Uniting Church Minister on Saturday 10 February in Queensland at the Beenleigh Region Uniting Church, Mount Warren Park. I have known Levon since he was a young boy, my student in school, as well has member of the congregation I served in Beirut. He had his theological training in Beirut, but around twenty years ago migrated to Australia and since then he has been working with the Uniting Church here in Sydney and the last several years in Queensland. This means I will be away on Sunday 11 February. Pastor George Fattal of Bankstown Uniting Church is delighted to cover for me. I will prepare the Order of Service as usual and ask few of you to take part in leading the service. George will give the message (Transfiguration), do the prayers and the blessing at the end.

We will not have Pastoral letter next week but will keep you posted if something important comes up.

Please let me know if you or anyone else has prayer points.

Here are some prayer points for this week:

  1. Pray for the Middle East, and the conflict between Israel and Palestine.
  2. Pray for the people Artsakh who are refugees in different parts of Armenia facing many challenges.
  3. Pray for the poor, the sick, the struggling and the stressed.
  4. Pray for Virginia as she goes through a difficult time with her health issues.
  5. Pray for all those who are affected by natural disasters.
  6. Pray for our church and our future plans as we seek God’s guidance.

Best Regards

In Christ

Krikor