Hi Church!
Pastor Jim here. As an Eldership, we felt that it was timely to bring you some announcements and update you as to how we would like to approach the current COVID-19 restrictions as well as some of our planning moving forward.
Intriguing times
These have been very interesting times as the State of Victoria has been working together to fend off the second wave of COVID-19 outbreaks. Our Shire has seen two active cases since March however, there has been many more cases registered in Ballarat & Bendigo.
GENESIS CHURCH – Faithful and Good Citizen
We have been playing our part adhering to the directions of the Government and not holding any meetings that could potentially breach protocols.
Up to now we have been running our Church services online (https://genesischurch.com.au/
Here are some things to think about doing…
BE ACTIVE DURING COVID
- Pick the phone up and contact someone every week
- Pray for our missionaries – See them here – https://genesischurch.com.au/
active/#missions - Watch church online – https://genesischurch.com.au/
online - Use Zoom or Whereby or Google Hangouts or WhatsApp to face time (video call) people to share a bible verse you are meditating on.
- SOAP daily – https://genesischurch.com.au/
soap/
KEEP FOCUSED ON JESUS
On a personal note, as a pastor, leader and a man of faith I am convinced that out of every crisis opportunity is birthed! The key is the same message that I have been communicating for the last five months since all of this began, we must keep our focus Jesus! This means that our attention should be given to all the things that bring our FOCUS back toward Jesus. This means that we need to keep our own spiritual disciplines alive – like meditating on God’s word (S.O.A.P.), prayer and praise.
As we stay close to Jesus during this time there are 10 important things that I know He wants you to know:
- You are enough!
- You are secure!
- You are precious!
- You are amazing!
- You are seen!
- You are cared for!
- You are favoured!
- You are forgiven!
- You are loved!
- Number 10 is the big one, that in Jesus… 10. YOU HAVE HOPE!
As Church let us remember that “in Christ we have incredible hope”. As we keep our focus on Jesus we can keep our faith strong and position ourselves face any challenge together.
Update Information
COVID-19
- As we have already stated, due to restrictions we are unable to meet together at all
- This means that we will continue our online Church Services
- Excitingly, we are introducing some NEW SERVICES as outlined below
- During this time if you require any assistance or pastoral care please call, email or text Matt, Jared, our pastoral team or myself
- We don’t know when we will be able to meet together – but will keep you informed
Wisdom CONCERNING Covid-19 Vaccination
We don’t have a vaccine yet, however, one might not be far away. While it is important to remember that our faith and hope is always fixed on Jesus as our healer and saviour and not “salvation by a vaccine”, we should always be grateful for our medico’s and medicine.
As a church, let us remember that God gives us the skill of farmers for food, dentists for root canals, engineers for complex structures and medico’s for health. I am aware that some amongst us have allowed fear to lead our hearts. Senior ACC Pastor Ian Kruitoff wrote a great piece this week reminding us why we are so blessed in the 21st century. Some of you might remember…
“Thank God, for the vaccines that eradicated polio, smallpox, measles, hep A and B, diphtheria, whooping cough, and dozens of more diseases. Our children are safer, babies survive and our quality of life is much better. (I remember the people living their lives in iron lungs in our polio wards).
Thank God, that people adopted a greater good attitude and didn’t listen to the fear of conspiracy theorists or the “individual rights” huffers and puffers (many in the church) who resisted these vaccines. Let’s hope and pray the same groups don‘t make a hard job harder this time and we can consign Covid to history just like all the other diseases vaccines eradicated. Let’s learn from history”.
As your Pastor, I would like to encourage you to keep the focus of everything that we do on faith and not fear. The Apostle Paul reminds Timothy in 2 Timothy 1:7 “For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and sound mind.” In everything we do, let it be focused on us learning to love Jesus more and trust in Him for everything. We do not function from a place of fear – however if we do, we are ignoring all that He has accomplished on the cross, redeeming us from a life of fear and bondage. As I shared earlier, make sure you keep Jesus the focus and not fear.
Missions
- There is no doubt that Covid has resulted in our reduced missions giving. I would like to encourage you that if you can continue giving toward your missions 2020 pledge it would assist us in maintaining our missions support
- “Coins for Missions” – As a direct result of us not meeting together, we are not taking up our coins for missions’ weekly collection. If it’s possible, collect your coins on regular basis and deposit them into our Missions bank account (https://genesischurch.com.au/
give/) - We hope to bring a Missions update to you soon via a ZOOM Q&A during September
Giving – Thank You!
Again, a huge shout-out to those that have embraced “Online Giving” during Covid! Thank you! Please continue giving faithfully and if you’re having trouble let us know.
Sad News
The Movement that we are a part of, Australian Christian Churches (Formally The Assemblies of God) this weekend past lost two “Generals of the Faith” with the passing of Pastor John Lewis & Pastor George Forbes. Pastor John was a member of the National Executive for many years and was the Movements State President of Queensland. He spoke for us here in Maryborough two to three years ago. We will be praying for his wife Val and the family at this time. Ps George Forbes for many years headed up our movement’s “World Missions Department” and had a huge impact on our missions work throughout the world. Both men left an incredible legacy. Well done good & faithful servants, enter your rest!
NEXT PHASE – Zoom CHURCH!
Excitingly, Genesis Church is rolling out the next phase of our “unlock” strategy on the ZOOM platform. ZOOM is easy, just click the link in your email we send or click the ZOOM link on the website https://genesischurch.com.au/
Here’s what’s coming up!
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Online Communion – Sunday 19 September 9:30-9:45 am
This will be a time as we come together and share together for about 15 minutes. You will need to have the communion elements on hand for yourself and family.
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Genesis Church Q & A – Sunday 6 September at 7:30-8:15 pm
On the first Sunday of every month for the rest of the year we will be having an exciting Q&A on the Bible and Current Issues with some leading pastors, missional leaders and theologians from around Australia and beyond!
IMPORTANT! We require your questions by the Wednesday prior – please email them to . In this case, Wednesday 2 September so that our panel guests can prepare. Send them all in!
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Genesis Church ZOOM Prayer Meetings – other Sundays at 7:30 pm
One of our elders will host a weekly church prayer meeting on ZOOM each week starting from the 13 September.
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Genesis Church Community Connect
This is a time for people to catch up! They will be hosted by various people within the Church and will be a great way to interact with each other.
Genesis Church, our best is yet to come! As we continue our time in lock-down, let’s spend it by falling in love with Jesus and sharpening our spiritual disciplines let’s not forget Paul’s words, “And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up” Galatians 6:9.
Let us commit to living our lives blessed & being a blessing!
Grace & peace,