Church Life and Adaptive Change: Overall, humanity doesn’t like “change” if what we’ve been used to has been comforting and pleasant. Connect gathered church has looked the same for decades and has served our community well. However, our world is not the same anymore and probably won’t be stable or consistent for a few more years to come. So, we must all be prepared to adapt and keep adapting … [Read more...] about Pastor’s Pen 5th December
Pastor's Pen
Weekly Devotional Thoughts from our Pastor (Julie) or Elders.
Pastor’s Pen 28th November
Can we gather in person as church in Red Light? : These are challenging times we live in. Next Friday, Auckland is supposed to move into the Traffic Light System. We will begin on the Red Light. At the red light, it means Churches can meet together again. The question we’ve been discussing as a church relates to the freedom to gather. At Red Light, if we required vaccination certificates to be … [Read more...] about Pastor’s Pen 28th November
Pastor’s Pen 21st November
Elders Etchings: Some days I really struggle to do life well. I get irritated by people. It might be my spouse, boss, children or a friend I thought wouldn’t knock me back in the way they just did. Sometimes I react because I’ve been hurt. You know the saying “hurt people hurt” … well that can be me at times if I’m truly honest. I might do it passively and withhold emotional connection or … [Read more...] about Pastor’s Pen 21st November
Pastor’s Pen, Nov 14
When and how shall we gather in person as church? : Once 90% of Aucklanders are fully vaccinated, Auckland will move to the “Traffic Light System,” and will first be in the “red zone.” This could be as soon as 2 to 3 weeks away. Here are our options for church gatherings at this point: If we require everyone to have vaccination certificates we will be able to meet in our building (max of … [Read more...] about Pastor’s Pen, Nov 14
Pastor’s Pen 7th November 2021
The power of prayer and fasting: “In the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch) and Saul. While they were worshipping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, ‘Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.’ So after they had fasted and prayed, … [Read more...] about Pastor’s Pen 7th November 2021
Pastor’s Pen Oct 31
Prayer and Fasting during a crisis: It was the common practise of the Pharisees and John the Baptist to fast (Mk 2:18). Some people came and asked Christ why His disciples did not fast. He replied: “How can the guests of the bridegroom fast while He is with them? They cannot, so long as they have Him with them. But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and on … [Read more...] about Pastor’s Pen Oct 31