Grace and peace to you.
As we enter this Advent my prayer for you is that it will be season of renewal. I can relate more and more to St Paul, who had to rely on “letters” to minister to those whom he loved, letters written from his prison cell. I know that our challenges seem to be getting greater by the day and we wonder if we have the strength to go on. Do not lose heart! As our Gospel reading today, the things of this earth, our trials and tribulations are not permanent. But God’s action, when Jesus said “My words” remember that He meant “my deeds/ my being / my existence.” Jesus spoke the world into being (John 1)
We continue to pray for the Learners writing exams and for all our teachers.
We continue to pray for the sick and their families.
We continue to pray for those threatened with job loss and financial hardship.
Tomorrow the Diocesan Council will meet and I ask for your prayers for us all as we deal with the challenges of being an organized church. But I remind you that the organized church is sustained by the faithful disciples of Jesus Christ. The Church is an organization that exists for the benefit of the people of God to structure their life and witness. To receive the Sacraments and ministry. You are the Church, the fellowship of all believers, and we serve Jesus Christ and His Kingdom. Therefore our hope is in Jesus Christ, but our commitment to Him, must lead us to action, in the Church, which is a chosen vessel to manifest His presence in the world. May God bless us as we seek to be a community at work for Him. A community that holds onto our faith in all our trials and a community that is prepared to give an account of the hope that we have within us.
Thank you for your prayers.
Rector. Fr. Andrew Manning
