Sermon Excerpt: “Speaking Prayer” from the PRAY series “E iloa oe i lau gagana.” “Your language tells of who you are and where you come from.” (Samoan proverb) "If the language we speak tells something of who we are and where we are from – then Speaking Prayer – a language of despair and hurt, a language of thanks and gratitude, a language of hope and trust, a language of love and intercession, a language of Scripture, a language of reverence to something greater; Someone Higher – Speaking the language of Prayer must tell people who we are and who (not where but who) we come from. Speaking the language of Prayer must tell others that we are the children of God; that we are a community of faith, hope and love; the language of Prayer must tell people that we are a fellowship of Eating, Praying and Loving together with and in Jesus. This Samoan Language Week, we hear the common Samoan phrase: “E iloa oe i lau gagana” (You are known by the language you speak). I say to you this morning, “E iloa oe i lau gagana Tatalo.” (You are known by your language of prayer). Let us speak prayer in those public places where we eat and where we gather with friends. In the mall or at the restaurant say grace – give thanks to the One who provides for your meal – unashamedly. Let us speak prayer in our homes – that our children may learn the language of prayer growing up. Let us speak prayer in our worship services – that the discouraged would be amazed at the One who sends us Himself. That people would come to know that God’s Spirit is here with us – Counselor, Helper, Wisdom, the Holy Spirit." - on Acts 2:1-21 from the PRAY series
(Rev. G. Mauga, 2017)
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THE PENTECOST GATHERING
StAND Youth sang at the Pentecost Gathering at St. Columba last night. Click here to watch! 😊 Thank you Rev. Gary and Suliana, the Parents and Parishioners who were there for coming out to support our young people! And thank you to Rev. Howard Carter and the team for the invitation to present a gift to all who attended. StAND Youth are very grateful 😊. Blessings x (VC: Jordayne - thanks!) (PC: Susi & Helen) It was an awesome afternoon of music and fun, topped off with a great lunch! Thank you to the mainly music team for putting on a great afternoon. Thank you to our Parishioners Michelle, Jean, Isabel, Caty, Jenny and Catherine for all of your work behind the scenes. Thanks also to Rev. Fei Taulealeausumai Davis and Rev. Gary Mauga for being part of the celebrations also! There will be heaps of photos, but here's some 😉
Join us next Saturday as we celebrate the 10th birthday of Mainly Music @ Henderson!
Everyone is welcome, bring a plate to share! 2pm next Saturday at St. Andrew's Henderson 7 Tara Road. See you there! A couple of Saturdays ago our Property & Finance Team held a Working Bee to get the Church ready for winter. Thanks to everyone who made it out (and stood out) in the rain!
PC: S. Mauga Things that Make You Go Hmm..?
“We have the freedom to hold a belief. Many do not. We have the right to change our belief. Many do not – it is chosen for them. We have the right to express our religion or belief. Many do not. As we’ve heard – Christians can only express their belief in hiding. We are blessed. We have no reason to hide. In addition to our being liberated in heart, mind and soul, through Jesus Christ, this Easter, we also enjoy liberation through our country’s human rights. We have no reason to hide behind locked doors. Instead, we take advantage of the freedom granted to us and we seek where prayer is needed; we seek where nappies are needed; we seek where forgiveness and reconciliation is needed; we seek for where we can assist where encouragement is needed; we do not hide as the disciples and our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ around the world were and are being forced to – we seek to be involved in what is already happening in God’s kingdom here on earth. We seek to help the person sitting next to us; we seek to love the person who is the most difficult to love; we seek to intercede for those suffering around the world; we seek to engage in a healthy routine of daily and weekly worship of the God who sends us. And all because we can. We have the freedom to. In the game of Hide and Seek – we are it. We seek on behalf of those who are forced to hide.” - “Don’t Hide but Seek”, Easter 2017, Rev. Gary Mauga |