The new year is a time to reflect on the year past and to make plans for the future. So below is a way to evaluate your spiritual goals at the end of the year.
Take a moment to reflect on the the things that have happened for you this year- the highlights and the challenges. What are you grateful for in 2022?
Review your spiritual goal was for 2022. How have you gone in achieving that goal?
Spend some time thinking about what the challenges were to fulfilling your goals. What ways did God grow you as you tried to achieve this goal? Or did God present you with other opportunities to grow?
Take some time to pray. Giving thanks to God for his blessings and challenges this year and for how they grew you to be more like Jesus.
Praying that 2023 might be one of growth as you dwell in God, love others, serve generously and represent Christ in your family and communities.
Sometimes when we reflect on our Christian growth it is easy to be discouraged. Instead in these moments we need to focus on Christ’s achievements in our place rather than on our own failures. in these times we need to see our weaknesses as an opportunity to move toward God and receive his grace and mercy.
Hebrews 4:15-16
For we do not have a high priest who is unable to feel sympathy for our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are – yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
Summer is a great time to invite people to church. 40% of the Australian population say that would come to church for a visit if invited. Our services for the first 3 weeks of January are at 10am & 6pm and are designed to be particularly welcoming.
Over Christmas we supported Toys n Tucker- a program run by Anglicare to help families celebrate Christmas with food and gifts. The needs of our community continue on into the New Year. especially for families as kids return to school. You might like to consider giving a gift to Anglicare as they support the needy in our community.
Summer is a great time to have people over for a meal. Maybe invite people over after church one Sunday or for a BBQ on a warm evening. Try and think of people you don’t know as well or who are new to St James. Take a moment in the slower pace of Summer to get to know people.
We’ve got a huge vision, to see our church overflowing, not just in number, but also in our love for Jesus and one another. We’d love for you to be a part of it.
In keeping with this vision we’re excited to have amalgamated with St Luke’s Concord-Burwood.
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