Stay at home orders have been imposed on Greater Sydney and Wollongong from 6pm tonight (Saturday 26th June).
The following arrangements for Christian ministry of word and prayer will apply for St Michael's tomorrow (Sunday 27th June).
Full livestream service via Facebookon Sunday morning at 9:45am - sermon = Ephesians 5:1-21 (produced by a small team of workers judged essential) This will include adult and kids songs*, and memory verse for all ages! (* there is a possibility no singing, not even by song leaders, will be permitted in a place of worship, even just to record livestream 😞 - I am awaiting final confirmation)
Combined Evening Zoom Meeting at 6pm - sermon = Ruth 2. This will be more limited, but still two songs (incl. kids song) & memory verse, and Zoom breakout groups at end to pray (but no one required to pray out loud)! Click to Join Zoom Meeting (Meeting ID: 849 5027 2576; Passcode: 644707). We suggest parents may consider getting younger kids bathed/changed before the Zoom and/or feeding them during the sermon part of the Zoom.
We will do our best to put up a link to the kids worksheet that was to be available for children in church tomorrow. Please check the church FB group later this evening or early tomorrow and/or watch out for an email to parents from Meaghan, our Children's Minister.
Please think about anyone you know who does not read emails or check social media regularly, and consider phoning them to see if they have heard the latest.
Remind them that you do not need a Facebook account to watch the livestream, just a web browser and internet connection and go to this link... facebook.com/events/528610138327279/
But if you do have a Facebook account, then please interact: give us a reaction; type a message of encouragement to someone who serves; or make comment.
Anyone can use the St Michael's WebConnect form for feedback.
Or message/phone a friend from church whom you missed out on seeing to share something you found encouraging, or just to see how they are, or maybe even to pray together.
Many ministers, church staff, tech and music volunteers will be finding these late-breaking changes highly stressful. I certainly am. Please pray for them, and also for the Premier, Health Minister, Chief Medical Officer, and the contact tracers, and all involved in responding to the current situation, for their resilience and effectiveness.
Please also pray for those who have to handle lockdown largely on their own and for those who find anxiety rises at a time like this. Remember to phone some of your friends and ask RUOK.
My mind turns back to the precious words of Psalm 147 that God used to speak to my heart and to sustain me last year, when the crisis was also intense. Vv10-11 were especially powerful and precious to me...
His pleasure is not in the strength of the horse,
nor his delight in the legs of the warrior;
the Lord delights in those who fear him,
who put their hope in his unfailing love.
Warmly in Christ, Sandy Grant
Senior Minister
News & Notices
Women's Conference is Back!
Saturday, August 21 from 9:30am - 3:30pm, Uni Hall.
Clare Deeves will speak from the book of Hebrews - ‘Jesus is Greater’. Rego is open and early bird pricing finishes June 30.
TGC National Conference
Saturday, October 16, from 1-5pm, Online at Wollongong Baptist Church. We'll be viewing it at a local hub (Wollongong Baps). The title is "Entrusted with the Gospel in Fracturing Times”; the preachers are Gary Millar, Rory Shiner & Paul Harrington. Register with TGCA for your viewing ticket, early bird closing June 30. Then register to join the Wollongong hub at Wollongong Baptist Church.
