BACK TO THE BIBLE - AND EXPECTING THAT WE’LL HEAR GOD’S VOICE
Greetings, Shore Vineyard.
I always remember Bob Fulton, one of the founders of the Vineyard movement, saying that the more he read the Bible the more God spoke to him. I think that's true - when I'm in a good regular habit of scripture reading, I'm often aware of God and sense his leading; when I lose that habit, things tend to dry up.
Which is one reason I'm excited to be introducing a new Shore Vineyard series this Sunday - Marked - where we take a good walk through the Gospel of Mark and trust that God will speak to us in the process.
Each week of the series, our designated preacher will have a chapter to work with, and each week we'll be invited to read the chapter ourselves and allow God to do his work in us.
I'm expectant we'll be sealed, transformed and made whole. And I'm sure a whole lot more will happen as we embrace the scriptures in this deliberate way.
I look forward, then, to seeing you on Sunday for the opening of what I believe will be a significant season for us individually and as a church.
We'll also be having communion, and of course worship and kids and youth programmes. And we're introducing and praying for our home group leaders during the service as term 3 kicks off.
Plus it's a third Sunday, so chapel will be on too - 8.45am led by Simon Chesney, with a theme of sitting at the feet of Jesus. Chapel also gives an opportunity to pray, share communion and be drawn deeper into relationship with God. Love it!
Other key things ahead:
We're hosting the "All-In" young adults gathering at SVC on Saturday, July 26, a day of worship, teaching and encouragement, meals together and input from Strahan Coleman, a former Shore Vineyard person who is a writer, folk musician and founder of Commoners Communion.
The New Zealand Vineyard is hosting an intermediates conference on Saturday, August 2, in South Auckland. This was profound for some of our intermediates last year, so it would be great for that age-group to be well represented this time too.
The Vineyard New Zealand national conference, Come, Holy Spirit, is coming up - September 24 to 27 in Christchurch. If you would like to be part of a Shore Vineyard contingent, please contact the office at shore@svc.org.nz by next Thursday, July 24, so we can figure out accommodation, tickets, flights etc.
Plus, please pray for our Pastoral Recruitment Group and board, who are both meeting at present to determine next steps in our search for a new Senior Pastor.
Blessings, Shore Vineyard, and see you on Sunday.
Vic Francis, Pastor