15 But speaking the truth in love, we must grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by every ligament with which it is equipped, as each part is working properly, promotes the body’s growth in building itself up in love. (Ephesians 4:15-16)

Paul encourages us to be part of the church that is ‘working properly.’ That is, as members of the church we should be actively involved in ministry, seeking to build up the body of Christ. Here are a variety of ways you can be a bodybuilder at St Mark’s. Some will depend on your gifting and abilities, but each of these activities demonstrate your love for others in the church through participation and service.

In a recent sermon I highlighted something that Jesus said from John 10:10, ‘I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.’ I suggested that Christianity was far more than a series of dos and don’ts. That, in fact, living as a Christian is the way to have an excellent life, an abundant life. Here are 11 ways that Jesus gives us life abundantly right now. Here are 11 benefits of being a Christian.

In Peter’s second letter to the believers spread throughout modern day Turkey, he encouraged them to ‘make every effort to support’ their faith with 7 characteristics. These are 7 fruits that, if we too possess and see increasing amongst us, make us effective and fruitful in our knowledge of Jesus Christ our Lord. Perhaps in this period of re-instated restrictions you’ll have time to focus on one of these areas …

If I want to learn a new language, I have to do a number of things to become proficient at it. I can’t just do a 20-minute lesson once a week and hope to become fluent. I need to do the lesson, practice each day, seek out reading materials, websites or speakers of that language to practice reading and listening. I could visit events held in that language and maybe, eventually, visit the country where I can only speak that language. By immersing ourselves in a language we become truly proficient.

If I want to teach someone a sport, e.g. football, I have to do a number of things for them to become proficient. I need to show them how to play football, take them to watch a football game, teach them how to kick the ball, explain how the ball is made & why. I would help them build fitness, teach them strategies, teach them the rules of the game, the history of it and how it has changed over the years as well as the important people and players who have made an impacted. I would teach them to love the game, to make it a priority.

Likewise, our faith doesn’t just happen accidentally. We need to invest our time and energy in a variety of areas for it to grow and flourish.

The same is true for nurturing our children. Children learn by what they see. If we are passionate about our faith and raising godly children, then we need to be intentional about discipling our children. We can’t expect a 20-minute lesson each Sunday, or the sole efforts of the Children’s Minister, to grow them as Christians. It isn’t someone else’s job to do that. It is primarily our job as parents. Of course, we need the support of other Christians to help us along the path, but it is ultimately our responsibility. We need to intentionally pray for our children and their faith, talk to them about our own faith, read the Bible together, pray together, say grace together, meet with other Christians, learn more about the basis of our faith – the theology and the evidence for it.

This time of self-isolation, social distancing and juggling the responsibilities of home — without leaving the house much — is an emotional rollercoaster. There are the good days and the not so good days. The good hours and the not so good hours. There have been days when I have been frustrated, lost my cool and really felt the weight of being a fallen human being as I parent. Then there are the days when it feels like everything has been a success, chaos has been kept at bay, and there are big smiles all around. Sound familiar?

Strange as it may sound, I’ve actually wished for time to slow down a bit these past few months. Sometimes, I feel like the opportunity for personal growth—to spend time in prayer and reflection, and to reconsider the things that fill up my life — has whizzed by in the brain-drain that is part-time working mother, home school facilitator, pre-school entertainer, wife, daughter, friend, chef, cleaner … It’s physically and emotionally draining (more than “normal”), and at the times when I want to call friends and family to reach out and connect, or to pick up my Bible or a book to feed my soul, I have often felt depleted of the energy to do so. I wonder how many others have felt the same way?

As we have journeyed these unchartered pandemic waters, and as I was reflecting on what to write for this blog post, I have been sustained by the words of my favourite Bible verse and the song of a favourite Christian entertainer.

COVID-19 has hit our world like an express train. Even if we’ve avoided catching the virus, we’re locked down, we can’t meet our friends and family in person, church has gone online, most schools are shut, some of us have lost our jobs, and most still employed are working from home. Compared with just a few months ago, things are totally different.

We’re experiencing risk first hand. Mostly we think of risk as something which may happen – good or bad. Now we’re experiencing risk actually happening.

Risk is fundamental to our lives. Mostly we don’t know what will impact us – our health, survival, accidents, employment, financial security, etc, and of those we love.

As Christians we trust that a loving God has our best eternal interests at heart, in both the uncertain environment in which we live on earth, and in the light of the hope of eternal life in a renewed creation which is fundamental to our faith.

Here’s a few notes on how Christians might view insurance and investment, two key financial activities involving risk.

Over the last few weeks I have been surprised and encouraged by random phone calls and multiple text messages from friends and parishioners – and not just within our church ‘connect 5’ structure. I have been even more surprised by a number of cards that have been handwritten and posted. These acts of kindness have been such a blessing to me and got me thinking …

One of the most poignant moments in Handel’s famous oratorio The Messiah of 1741 occurs in the third act when the singer declares: ‘Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet.’

A joyous aria for trumpet and bass then ensues that revels in the glorious hope of resurrection found in 1 Corinthians 15:51-52: ‘For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.’

There’s a lot reading material online as Christians adjust to life in this new normal. Here’s a selection of what the staff at St Mark’s have found useful, and hope you’ll find them useful too.