St Cath's

This week's headlines may be found below.

Thank you to all those who have responded to our 25 days of prayer. We are on the home stretch now with our 25 days concluding this Wednesday on August 31. To mark the end of this intentional season of prayer we have decided to move our Worship Night forward one week. See below

TODAY
I will pray the traditional daily prayers at 5pm - You can come and join me in the Church or pray along with me wherever you are at that time.

THIS WEDNESDAY
Join us for a special Worship Night where we will gather together in the Church
from 8pm to give praise and thanks to our awesome God as well as share
insights from our 25 days.

EVERY DAY
I will post prayer points and words of knowledge, and prophetic words by
sms & FB posts.
#pray25

Community Group Meetings

You are invited to attend our Community Group activities this week:

Tuesday 30 at 7.30 pm - Meals Group meeting at St Cath’s for details contact Gillie
Tuesday 30 at 7.30 pm - Youth Leaders Social Night for details contact Adam
Wednesday 31 at 8.00 pm - Worship Night
at St Cath’s for details contact Jeff

September Free Community Meals

Dinner: Our next meal will be our dinner this Saturday 3 September at 6:30 pm.

Cooked Breakfast: 18 September from 10:00 am

Youth Ministry School - Spring 2016

The Spring Youth Ministry School is scheduled for 27-30 September 2016 which will be upon us soon. Adam & Heather will be on leave for part of September, so we would love to get an idea of who will be attending the next YMS. Please visit yms.app.rsvpify.com to confirm your (or your teen’s) attendance, no payment is required to RSVP. Click on the image for more details.

Cetrangolos on Leave

Adam, Heather and Mary will be heading on annual leave following services on Sunday 4 September and will return to work on Monday 26 September. More details about locums and division of labour next week.

The Catharine's Pastoral Team

The leader of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Nepal has called for prayers amid a State clampdown on evangelistic outreach, including the distribution of religious literature and even having a Bible in a Christian orphanage.

All evangelistic activity is prohibited under the new Nepalese Constitution that came into force in September 2015. Article 31(3) of the Constitution says that “any act to convert another person from one religion to another, or any act or behaviour to undermine or jeopardise the religion of another, [is] punishable by law.”

“It is time to reconsider our approach toward reaching other communities with the Gospel,” said Umesh Pokharel, president of the Adventist Church’s Nepal Section.

Whilst the Constitution does not actually define what constitutes “any act to convert,” authorities have started to interpret the law. According to Pokharei, the Social Welfare Council has stopped approving Christian activities. Pokharel said the Church is concerned that the clampdown could expand even further.

Pokharel said Adventist believers have experienced challenges for decades in the predominantly Hindu nation, which has never officially recognised Christianity as a religion.
“In this difficult time for Christian community in Nepal, we kindly solicit your sincere and continuous prayer for all our brethren, evangelists, pastors, and co-workers serving in parts of this country,” he said.

Pray for the Church in Nepal as it faces growing pressure against it. Pray for wisdom as they grapple with the new laws and their implications on the freedom to share their faith and reach their communities with the Gospel.
Pray for the government of Nepal to recognise Christianity as an official religion in their country, and to protect the right of all people to freedom of belief and worship.
Pray for Nepal, as it stands at a crossroads in terms of allowing freedom of belief. Pray for a move of the Holy Spirit in this nation, for the Church to remain strong and to grow, and for many Hindus across Nepal to come to know Christ and the Truth of His Gospel.

St Cath's News: 29 August 2016