Dear sisters and brothers in Christ,

Great news!! Next Sunday, our in-person Sunday services will recommence in the church hall.

We are grateful that the NSW Health Department’s Public Health Orders (PHO) now allow places of worship to conduct public services. Thus from next Sunday with our reopening, all people – vaccinated and un-vaccinated – can attend our Sunday services. Please be patient with us as we navigate the situation – we are trying to balance the desire for gathering with keeping people safe. Hence, a reminder – if you are unwell, please stay home.

If you choose to join us, attending a service will require compliance with the following PHO directives:

QR check-in and well-being affirmation Hand sanitizing on entry and exit
4m2 seating 1.5m social distancing
No mingling No singing
Wearing face masks at all times Maximized building ventilation
Thorough indoor cleaning post-service We will not be serving morning tea at this stage.

For those who are unable to attend, the service will be videoed and posted on YouTube later for viewing. The YouTube link details will be emailed, and the link will be posted on our Facebook page. These PHOs are in place until December 1, when the State Government has forecast there will be greater easing of restrictions – we will advise you of these closer to that date.

Turning to this week's service, as we continue in our series in ‘Self-Esteem: seeing ourselves as God sees us’, we began recognizing that we are ‘wonderfully made’ by our great God, but last week we acknowledged that we are ‘deeply fallen’ in sin – condemned for rebellion against our creator God. Today, we turn to Hebrews 10:1-18 to see how it is that we are fully forgiven. There the writer exposes the failings of religion that we do. Israel was commanded in the Old Testament to implement a rigorous sacrificial system – the offering of an animal for a person’s sins. But this unrelenting experience exposes the failing of such a system as incomplete, inadequate, and intolerable – it merely confirms our sin, but could not remove our guilt. A greater, perfect sacrifice was needed in which we could find forgiveness. God in his kindness has given to us the perfect sacrifice, his very own, beloved Son, who acts as our Scapegoat in atoning for our sins, and in whom we find full the forgiveness of God. As Hebrews 10:17 states the effect of Jesus’ sacrifice is that the Holy Spirit declares: ‘Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more.’ What wonderful forgiveness!! What a wonderful Saviour!!

Also, don't forget our Zoom Morning Tea - Sunday 10:30am.

Yours in Christ, Nigel