Hi Newport Church Family,
We pray that you are experiencing God's grace and favor and are in good spirit and health.
It’s Labor Day weekend and a reminder that we are not meeting in person this Sunday, but will be watching our service online at home.
We pray that you will experience the same grace that was on the lives of the early believers as they gathered and broke bread together with gladness and simplicity of heart.
Labor Day is always a special day for us as a family, because it was on this weekend 17 years ago that Pastor Di went into labor and our youngest daughter London was born!
Labor Day of course is the day when we honor the work and labor of those who contribute to our society and community.
As a day of rest, it's also a time for us get together with our family and friends at the beginning of the school year. We pray that it will be a blessed time for every one of you.
This morning I was reading the first chapter of Romans in the Message and I was struck by the profound truths that this translation highlights.
Paul wrote:
“I, Paul, am a devoted slave of Jesus Christ on assignment, authorized as an apostle to proclaim God’s words and acts.”
Several things stood out to me from this verse.
Firstly, Paul says “I am a devoted slave of Jesus Christ.”
Paul knew what it was to be devoted to the Lord and to serve Him with all of his being.
Secondly, Paul knew that he was “on assignment.”
Thirdly he knew that he was “authorized as one sent by God to proclaim God's words and acts.”
He goes on to write in the following verses:
"Through him, we have received both the generous gift of his life and the urgent task of passing it on to others"
These are such powerful and significant words about the importance of our devotion, our service, our assignment and the urgent task of passing on what God has done in our lives to others.
What great thoughts for us on Labor Day weekend, about the greatest and most important work of all.
May the revelation Paul had, be ours also, as we serve God together in the greatest cause of all.
Pastor Di and I want to thank each, and every one of you, who have worked alongside us building our church and serving our community over the years. We are so thankful for your faithfulness.
God promises that He will record all that we do serving Him with willing hearts, in a book of remembrance in heaven.
Let's never forget the impact of our service here on earth, and our eternal reward in heaven.
We also want to thank you for your generosity, not only of your time and talent, but also in your generous giving.
As we give our donations, tithes and offerings, we are literally sowing seed, which God promises to multiply here on earth and credit to us in heaven.
What we give may leave our hand, but it will never leave our lives, both here on earth and in eternity, because like Paul we have “received the generous gift of His life and the urgent task of passing it on to others"
Thank you for partnering with us as make a difference in seeing God’s kingdom established here on earth as it is in heaven.
If you would like to give now you can do so by clicking here.
Have a blessed weekend we look forward to seeing you for our Agape Communion Breakfast on September 8th, it’s going to be a great morning.
Let’s do everything we can to be there. Your presence makes a difference!
We love and appreciate you all greatly,
Jonathan and Di
Senior Pastors