| One of the great blessings of having the rhythm of an annual general meeting (AGM) within our church calendar is that it gives us a chance to step back from focusing narrowly only on what we have been involved in, to instead view the bigger picture of what God has been doing in and through our whole particular expression of Christ’s body - our church family-in the past year. It is so easy to only see where we as individuals are personally participating with God, but as everyone knows there are ups and down of ministry and growth. There are times of great fruit and times of incredibly hardship. To keep a proper perspective we need a fuller picture. When we step back and look at the whole it is so exciting to see how God has been at work in and through us both as individuals and as a body. For me personally it is a time to sit and reflectively pray in gratitude for each of the people I know are involved in this beautiful expression of the love of Christ. This is a church into which God has placed a gift of hospitality, of warmth and welcome. This is a church that tries to embody the wideness of Jesus’ embrace. A review of His genealogy shows us that He has room for all: for rich and poor, male and female, Jew and Gentile. There is room for all to be brought into His story, and by the Spirit be both transformed and transformative. AGM for me is one of the most wonderful times of the year! See you at this year’s one on Sunday. Colleen |
144 Sawyers Arms Road
Christchurch, New Zealand
+64 3 352 4227