Hi Newport Church Family,
We trust you had a hope and faith filled week!
What a great Summer Worship and Communion Night we had outside the front of our church last Saturday evening! It was a significant evening and it was so good to be able to gather, meet and connect with all those who were able to join us.
Next Outdoor Summer Worship and Communion Night
We have attached some photos of the evening and we would love to see you next Saturday evening August 15th when we will be having another Worship & Communion gathering at 6.30pm. Here is a link with details of the evening and an RSVP so that we can prepare for the evening. Hope to see you all there!
Growing through Seasons of Expansion and Contraction
In the book of Ecclesiastes, Solomon writes:
To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven
Ecclesiastes 3:1
He goes on to write of the extremes of those seasons, times of war and peace, weeping and laughter, birth and death, of speaking and being silent.
Everything in life happens between the extremes of these seasons, and all growth is dependent on how successfully we navigate those different seasons.
We would all prefer permanent seasons of peace, summer, increase, absence of pain and discomfort, yet we all know that life is not like that, we all have to learn how our soul can flourish in times of famine, how to keep our vision and passion burning in winter and find hope and faith in the midst of difficulty and discouragement.
Life is filled with seasons of both expansion and contraction. Times of expansion when things are going well are naturally much easier to navigate than times of contraction, when we feel the pressure and discomfort of a difficult season.
There is no doubt that this season has been a time of contraction for all of us. With that contraction have come a whole new set of challenges, difficulties and frustrations that have changed the landscape of all of our lives.
How do we respond in times of contraction? How do we make the most of a season that looks like a set back and make it a season of growth?
Within every Contraction lies the Seed of the next Expansion
Joseph is one of the finest examples of someone who’s life went through a series of expansions and contractions, and learned how to flourish in every season.
In fact, it was his response during seasons of contraction that was the key to his success.
Thrown into a pit by his brothers and sold into slavery in Egypt, Joseph flourished in Potiphar’s house and was promoted to the oversight and entrustment of all his household.
Falsely accused, Joseph was thrown into the king’s prison and the keeper of the prison seeing his faithfulness put him authority and leadership over all of the prisoners.
Every contraction that Joseph experienced was a necessary season to prepare him for the next season of expansion.
Joseph had a personal revelation that within every contraction lies the seed of the next expansion.
As we navigate this season of contraction be encouraged that within this contraction lies the seed of our next expansion.
This season is preparing us for the next season, and within every challenge, difficulty and frustration, God is forming character and strength within us, so that we can grow and be ready for all that He has in store for each one of us.
Let’s make the most of this opportunity as we grow together in unity and strength, preparing for all that lies ahead for us individually and as a church.
Thank you for your Generosity
Once again a big thank you for your faithful giving of donations, tithes and offerings. Even though we are not able to meet in our building, we still have rent and associated expenses to pay, and your generosity continues to be especially important in this uncertain time.
Let’s keep reminding God of His promises to open the windows of heaven and multiply the seed that we sow. God is faithful and He will honor His word as we partner with Him through our giving, so that we can see His Kingdom come and His will be done on earth as in heaven.
Praying for Healing, Spiritual Awakening and Unity
Let’s keep praying that God will give us favor individually and as a church in this season, and that He will turn back the tide of COVID-19 bringing healing, spiritual awakening and unity to our nation and world.
6am Prayer Meeting every Tuesday Morning
We would love you to join our 6am prayer meeting led by Rino Chantana and you can do so by clicking on this link.
We also encourage you to take some time to pray at 7.14 every morning and evening, twice a day with one voice, wherever you may be. #UNITE714
We very much look forward to you joining us on Sunday at 10 am and connecting through the many zoom call opportunities we have available during the week.
Let’s continue to be a voice of hope and faith in these days!
We love and appreciate you all greatly,
Jonathan & Dianne Wilson
Senior Pastors