Pastoral Letter 217

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.

This month, June 2024, is being interesting month for St. Andrew’s family. As I mentioned in my last week’s Pastoral letter that at the end of May and first few days of June, some of us had a fabulous week at Shoalhaven Heads on the south coast, as we travelled around the area enjoying the landscape, forest and ocean scenery, with a beautiful weather and on Sunday 2 June we joined the congregation at Berry Uniting Church for worship which included Communion and those who were not with us on the trip, joined Crows Nest for worship.

Last Sunday, though being the second Sunday of the month, we had our regular Sunday Service with Communion. This Sunday, the new Sydney Central Coast Presbytery Minister of Wellbeing Rev. Punam Bent will be joining us for Sunday Service. She will preach during the Worship and stay for Morning Tea.  She will be happy to take questions about any concerns we have in regard the future of our church ministry. I wish and hope that all of us be at the Service.

Next Sunday, 23 June at 9:30 am, we will have Combined Service with Lane Cove Uniting Church here at St. Andrew’s, celebrating the 47th Anniversary of the Uniting Church with Communion followed by Morning Tea and fellowship time. Our guest preacher will be Mr. Jim Mien, who was baptised here in our church many years ago. Please make an extra effort to be here with us for both worship services, tomorrow and next Sunday.

Our traditional Annual Market Morning is fast approaching, which is on Saturday 3 August from 8:00 am to 1:00 pm and we have only few weeks for preparations. We are glad that Dee has taken the responsibility to co-ordinate, as Virginia struggles with her health. Now it’s time to bring in our donations and let people around us know that we are happy to receive goods for the upcoming Market Morning. I am sure that we will be able to get good results as usual and allocate some money for charitable purposes. Please be available the week commencing on Monday 29 July for setting up the hall. Our aim this year is “everything should go!”.

Please continue to pray for those who are going through difficult and tough times, seeking God’s presence, help and healing.

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

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

Here are some prayer points for this week:

  1. Pray for tomorrow’s Church Service and the informal conversation we will have with Rev. Bent.
  2. Pray for our Combined UCA Anniversary Service and the guest preacher.
  3. Pray for our upcoming church Services and activities.
  4. Pray for the conflict between Israel and Palestine, hoping for the acceptance of the peace proposal.
  5. Pray for the Artsakh refugees in different parts of Armenia facing many challenges.
  6. Pray for the poor, the sick, the struggling and the stressed.

Best Regards

In Christ

Krikor