Thanking God for and Farewelling the Pfitzners 

As we meet for worship this Sunday we will take some time to give thanks for God’s work through the Pfitzners, Revs Rene and Louisa. They have been with us since March 2018 and have made a fruitful contribution to our growth in Christ.

We thank God for the way they have taught & modelled the good news of the Gospel. We have grown to love them and will miss them.

The Pfitzners last Sunday with us will be January 2nd, at which point they will be taking annual leave before Rene begins his new full time role at St Alfred’s Blackburn North on February 1st 2022. Louisa will also offer her gifts at St Alfred’s in partnership with Rene. Our thoughts and prayers are with the whole family. We ask God to shower his love and blessing upon them all, including upon the kids-Toby, Bruce and Freya.

Advent 4: Mary’s Example of Faith

This Sunday we also take time to reflect on Mary’s example of faith. Luke reminds us of Mary’s position of great disempowerment. As a young, economically disadvantaged, woman in an occupied nation, there were many uncertainties and risks in her life. Yet in Luke’s narrative she is held up as an example of strong faith.

May we too have a heart of faith to see beyond the uncertainties and risks of our circumstances to the God who fulfils his word in Christ.

 

Reflection Questions

1. Standing in Mary’s shoes, what kind of fears can you imagine she might have felt as the angel Gabriel promised she would give birth to the messiah? See Luke 1.29-33. 

2. What does Mary’s swift journey to Elizabeth’s side show us about her faith? (Luke 1.39-40). 

3. What do you find remarkable about the Holy Spirit’s witness to Jesus in the encounter described in Luke 1.41-45?

 

4. What fears does the church today need to master in order to share Mary’s confident faith?