There is a lot happened since Christmas.

We have been able to repair and occupy the rear hall on our site at 45 Charles St. It is a great feeling to be back there and not have to use rented premises each week.

We have had our church camp at Living Springs, in Governors Bay, with speakers Graeme & Trish Lee from Wellington, who brought great encouragement for the church.

We are still in the middle of change though. Pastor Dennis Isaacs resigned on 15^th April for health reasons.

We are investigating whether we can rebuild our church facility on the land at 45 Charles St, Kaiapoi. The next step for us is a Geo-Technical engineers report on the land which Is the beginning of the process for determining if we can build and what sort of foundations we may have to invest in. The process goes on from there, for who knows how long.

We trust our Saviour Jesus to lead us through all this transition and the upheaval it brings with it.  Perseverance or endurance is a quality we would do well to be strong in at this time.

Writing in 1 Thessalonians, The apostle Paul says; “We remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labour prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Another word with similarity in meaning is persistence. The ability to keep going despite adverse circumstances.

Romans Chapter 2 verse 7 says, ”To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honour and immortality, he will give eternal life.”

Our challenge is to keep going forward in faith, with our hand in the hand of our Saviour Jesus, trusting He will guide us, persisting in doing good, and looking forward with hope to the day when we see Him face to face, hearing His commendation. “Well done”

Don’t forget to have a laugh in the way.

1 Peter 1:13   (Message translation)  So roll up your sleeves, put your mind in gear, be totally ready to receive the gift that's coming when Jesus arrives.

It has been a rough year, but we are nearly at the end of it. Humanly speaking it is our nature to look forward to the promise of the New Year with the hope that it will be better than the last one. This is often how we look forward to new things.

For Christians, our hope is in something that is perhaps further away than the new year, but which will last for ever, not just for 366 days. It is the hope that through the resurrection of our bodies we will meet face to face with the most wonderful, and most loving person, Jesus Christ. We will be with Him, in His Kingdom forever.
That future scenario is fantastic.

So the apostle Peter in the verse above urges us to put our mind in gear to be ready for that time when we will be totally blessed. We therefore are wise to take a longer view than 2012 and look forward to an eternity of blessing, contentment, joy, and peace. This can help us to ride through the ups and downs of our times and seasons wherever we are.

In the meantime may you have a pleasant and peaceful Christ filled Christmas, and a relaxing New Year.

Reading Isaiah I am reminded again what your saviour does for you:

"When you pass through the waters I will be with you,

and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you.

When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.

For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Saviour."

Isaih 42:2-3 NIV

Waiho i te toipoto, kaua i te toiroa

'Let us keep close together, not far apart'