Pastoral Letter 255

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

Grace and peace to you all. I hope all is well.

Last Sunday was Lent 1, the first Sunday of our Lenten Journey of self-denial and self-examination, a time of asking God to lead us with His Spirit to acknowledge His abundance and blessings to us and to give us the willingness to share what we have with others. We will continue this journey through the whole Lent Season, step by step approaching to the Holy Week, Good Friday and the glorious Resurrection of Jesus Christ. Let’s continue this journey and prepare ourselves to a great Easter celebration.

This Sunday, Peter Hoare will bring the Sunday message, presenting his recent research about Buddhism and Christianity, based on a study that he recently completed. Attached you will find a summary of his wok, which he will present tomorrow in broader lines. We will have some time for questions and answers during Morning Tea. Peter will also provide three handouts for further reading. Thanks Peter.

As I have said in my previous two Pastoral Letters, my placement at Longueville will end on 31 May and the Service of Closure and Retirement will be held on Sunday 25 May 2025. Then, from 1 June till the end of the year the Church Council and the Elders will organise the way ahead making sure that we will have our regular Sunday Services and the programs up and running. To give more details and information, the Church Council and the Elders invite you all to an Interim Congregational Meeting to be held next Sunday 23 March during Morning Tea. I urge everyone to make an extra effort to come and join us to hear and know about our next steps after 31 May.

We continue to pray for all those who need our care and prayers, remembering those who are facing many challenges, such as natural disasters, hunger, homelessness, uncertainties and so many other things. 

Please continue to pray for Ned, Virginia and all those who need our prayers.

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

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

Here are some prayer points for this week:

1. Pray as we continue our journey of self-denial and self-examination during this Lent. 

2. Pray for Ned and Virginia as they go through a difficult time with ill health.

4. Pray for trusting God and asking that He protect those who need protection.

5. Pray for the oppressed and those who suffer undergoing challenges of different kinds. 

6. Pray for the poor, the sick, the hungry, the struggling, the stressed and those who are less fortunate.

7. Pray for the Middle East and in particular Syria as minority groups are face challenges and going through tough time in very uncertain situations.

In Christ

Krikor