Just thinking…
After a long tour with his band, U2, lead-singer Bono had just returned home, to Dublin. On Christmas Eve he went to the famous St. Patrick’s Cathedral, and apparently he was given a really poor seat, one obstructed by a pillar. Without being able to see anything, he simply listened to the Christmas story, and it struck him like never before. He writes:
“The idea that God, if there is a force of Logic and Love in the universe, that it would seek to explain itself is amazing enough. That it would seek to explain itself and describe itself by becoming a child born in straw poverty, in [filth] and straw…a child… I just thought: “Wow!” Just the poetry … Unknowable love, unknowable power, describes itself as the most vulnerable. There it was. I was sitting there, and it’s not that it hadn’t struck me before, but tears came streaming down my face, and I saw the genius of this, utter genius of picking a particular point in time and deciding to turn on this.”
What strikes me about the account above is that Bono made himself available to be impacted. Tired as he was, he let the story of his life intersect with the Big Story of Life, and as he did, God touched his mind and emotions, bringing a new response to a familiar story. Will tiredness and busyness lead you to detachment? To retrenchment? Or will you deliberately place yourself in the stream of God’s love this year and make room for images of God-in-straw to nudge you again? Let’s stay open.
In Him,
Murray
This Sunday 24 November…
Kindergarten Service!: We want to welcome all the kindergarten kids along with their families to our special service this Sunday. Please do stay for refreshments afterwards!
Ignite Youth Group
This Friday 22 November we are going to be having a games night in the church hall. Come along at 6:30pm to have some fun! Please contact Matt or Elisha if you have any questions.
Prayer Service
Next Sunday 1 December at 7pm will be our next Prayer Service. Come along to join us in praying for our church, community and world.
Kids Programs This Sunday
Spark is our program for older preschool to year 2 kids, led by Margaret Stewart.
Blaze is for kids in years 3-5, led by Olwyn Dickson.
Ignite is for young people in years 6 and above, led by Matt and Elisha.
mainly music
mainly music for young children is every Tuesday morning at 10am in the church.
Men’s Breakfast
Our last Men’s Breakfast, for this year will be the first Saturday 7 December at 8am. Our Speaker will be our very own Pastoral student intern, Elisha Hartley. Elisha will be speaking on some trends in culture around youth since the 1960s and the resulting need for discipleship for youth. Share a cooked breakfast, coordinated by chef supremo Lindsay M. We'd love to see you there. Please consider inviting a friend.
faith @ 6:30
The next faith @ 6:30 all-age evening service will be this Sunday 24 November at 6:30pm. This Sunday we will be continuing to look through the book of Acts and asking the question; what does it look like to bring Christ into your context. There will be interactive content, worship and of course, ice cream! All are welcome to come along.
Home Groups
Wednesday Night Home Group
Home Group at the home of Paul and Ruth Ungemuth every second and fourth Wednesday at 7:30pm. Each week we share in supper, do a bible study and pray for each other. Will begin on Wednesday 13 February. Contact the office for more information.
Wednesday Morning Home Group
Home Group at the home of Joy Galt on the third Wednesday of the month at 10am. After morning tea we do a bible study and pray together. Contact the office for more information.
Young Adults Home Group
Every Wednesday evening at 7:30pm. Please email the church to be added to the Facebook page, and check Facebook for updates of what we have going on. We'd love for you to join us!
Check out what is happening at RBC this Christmas season!
