Ministry
Ministry Message
Welcome to 2019! I pray that you are feeling rested and ready for a fantastic year.
There’s something funny about rest, though… I don’t know about you, but sometimes I really struggle to rest. It can feel foreign to me, unfamiliar; uncomfortable. When all I wanted to do in the school holidays was sit down with a book, I found my head spinning with nervous energy, and I couldn’t quite switch my brain off. And why?
Because I am one of many who battle an addiction to busy-ness. To overwork. To keeping myself pre-occupied. I’d be willing to bet it isn’t just me who feels this – it’s a cultural obsession in the West. And for what? To grit our teeth when we answer the question, 'how are you?' To give ourselves a sense of worth, and purpose?
To live up to our own expectations? To those of others? To a false perception of God's?
Thomas Merton writes: There is a pervasive form of contemporary violence to which the idealist most easily succumbs: activism and overwork. The rush and pressure of modern life are a form, perhaps the most common form, of its innate violence. To allow oneself to be carried away by a multitude of conflicting concerns, to surrender to too many demands, to commit oneself to too many projects, to want to help everyone in everything, is to succumb to violence.
While having something to aim for and be passionate about is good and purposeful, our cultural obsession with ‘busy’ actually does us more harm than good. Our theme for Term 1 is Living Well – and boy, do I want to live well! I want to do good work. I want to live God's purpose for my life. I’m sure you do, too! But we cannot do that without being with Him, first and above all else. If we continuously take things into our own hands, God becomes a slave driver, and we succumb to the violence of misplaced assumptions and expectations.
Let us refuse to glorify tiredness and burnout as a sign of 'doing well'. Let us refuse to compare our level of overwork with others, as though being 'busy' and unable to rest puts us on a pedestal. Because the truth is, it doesn't. Merton continues,
The frenzy of our activism neutralizes our work for peace. It destroys our own inner capacity for peace. It destroys the fruitfulness of our own work, because it kills the root of inner wisdom which makes work fruitful. The glorification of 'busy' is a lie designed by the Enemy to destroy the effectiveness of our lives, obliterate our inner peace, and disconnect us from the One who gives grace without expectations or fineprint.
Jesus calls us worthy. (1 Peter 2:9)
He calls us able. (Jeremiah 1:5)
He calls us unashamed. (Isaiah 43:1)
And He calls us to rest with Him. (Matthew 11:28)
In accepting Jesus’ invitation to partner with Him, our true self is found within His heart,
and we become more and more aware of what He is already doing in, through and around us to bring peace on this earth. "...But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." Matt. 6:33 (NIV)
We can't do it alone. So do it with Him.
And above all, be with Him.
Peace to you this year as you begin anew, and may you make time to rest in Jesus.
Alex Schmocker
Youth Worker
Youth Events
Golden Grove Lutheran Youth
Year 7-12, 6.00pm-9.30pm
Friday 8 February - BBQ games night (and intro to the year for families) @ GGLC
Friday 22 February - Pool party (Contact us for more details)
Friday 8 March - Service night (More details to come)
Friday 22 March - Blow dart @ GGLC
Sunday 31 March – Youth Service at Salt Factory 5.45pm
Friday 5 April - Caesar bom digity @ GGLC
Each night will offer a Bible study starting at 6.00pm (except Feb 8) with the games starting from 7.15pm. You can come to the Bible study or games or both.
Website: http://www.gglc.org.au Facebook/Instagram: gglcyouth
Paul Voigt on 0475 218 447
SPY-St Paul Youth
Year 6 to 8, 1st and 3rd Friday of the month during school term
St Paul Lutheran Church 44 Audrey Ave, Blair Athol
7.00pm-9.00pm, Cost $2.00
Friday 15 February: Welcome Night, supper provided
Friday 1 March: girls bring supper
Friday 15 March: boys bring supper
Friday 5 April 5th: girls bring supper
Everyone is welcome to join us to gather together play some games, talk and eat. Our talk is centred around God and working out what God might be up to in our lives.
Senior Youth at St Paul Lutheran Church
Year 8 to 12
7.00pm-9.00pm, Cost $2.00
Saturday 16 February: Games Night – Welcome to youth come along and hang out as we get back together for 2019.
Saturday 16 March: Scavenger Hunt
Saturday 30 March: tbc
Please bring some supper to share.
Our Term 1 discussions will be about Prayer.
For more details about both these nights or to be added to our email list contact Nicole Hall, 0412686342 CYHM Coordinator St Paul Lutheran Church