From the Pastor

A thought from Pastor Tracey…

“Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.” (Psalm 51:10)

 Spring is almost on the doorstep - wahoo!  It’s going to last 89 days, 20 hours and 37 mins… Just enough time for us to do a spring clean around home right?  But what about our hearts?  This is the perfect time to pause in the lovely “Son-Shine” and ask God to help us spring clean our hearts too...

Spring reminds us of God’s power to make all things new – including us.  He desires for us to experience His deep love, grace, and peace in our lives.  So taking time to spring clean our hearts and souls from anything that separates us from Him and His purpose for us is, allows us space to;  let go of the past, forgive ourselves and others, embrace the present with gratitude and joy, remove any negative thoughts, feelings and habits that are weighing us down and holding us back… just like the clutter around our homes.  Let us set aside some time in the coming month, to spring clean our hearts so God can continue to do His good work within us.  We might even rediscover a passion He wrote within us, or maybe discover a new possibility, or simply make improvements in ourselves as we honour His unique design in each of us.  He wants us to have a pure heart and a steadfast spirit that reflect His image and glory.  Spring cleaning our hearts and souls is not a one-time event, but a continuous process.  We can always find ways to improve ourselves, to learn from our experiences, and to grow as human beings.  Let’s commit to doing a deep clean.  Repent.  Turn.  Be made new… Ready for a fabulous summer.

Prayer: Dear God, thank You for the wonderful season of spring. Thank You for Your creation that shows Your beauty and majesty. Thank You for Your love that makes all things new.  Please help me to spring clean my heart and soul from anything that displeases You or hinders me from fulfilling Your will.  Please create in me a pure heart and renew a steadfast spirit within me.  Please fill me with Your joy, peace and hope and let it shine in me. Please guide me in Your ways and encourage me with Your grace.  In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.  

- SEPTEMBER 2023

A thought from Pastor Dave...

“Restore to Me the Joy of Your Salvation…”
 
The last few years have been a season of grief and loss for me (and my family), and possibly for many of you as well. Everyone faces these unexpected and often unwanted circumstances at some point in life. Nobody gets a free pass from suffering, disappointment, and grief.  We are often overcome with sadness about what we have lost – loss of a loved one, loss of function, loss of memory, loss of income, loss of reputation or status, loss of careers, etc.  As we set out in life, we embrace a fairytale view of our future and never imagine the seasons of grief and loss that will inevitably come our way.
 
But as believers, our hope is not in this world, and in what this world has to offer. So where do we go, or where should we go, with these heartaches that are so real, so consuming, and often threaten to steal our joy?  Psalm 51 says, “Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.”
 
What follows is a devotion by Sarah Walton which has taught me so much.
 
What most often threatens our joy? Pain, fear, shattered dreams, disastrous effects of sin, circumstances that strip us of comfort, and prayers that seem to go unanswered, just to name a few.
 
I admit that too often I attempt to find joy in what I think will make me happy and comfortable. It’s so easy to confuse the two when our flesh is so drawn to comfort. We are too easily satisfied with short, temporary bursts of pleasure, rather than pure, satisfying joy in our Savior.
 
However, joy is the byproduct of the gospel, not of our circumstances. Without salvation in Jesus Christ, there would be no joy, only temporary happiness. So when we find ourselves battling despair, we need to go to God’s Word and ask him to freshly remind us of what we truly deserve apart from his saving grace. This truth helps to shift our emotions and pain into a right perspective, freeing us to experience the joy that is ours in Christ.  
 
For this reason, these disappointing and distressing realities of life can actually be God’s goodness to us. For when he strips away the comforts and blessings that we tend to expect and fear losing, we are suddenly forced to grapple with where we are placing our hope. We are forced to seek unwavering joy in the Giver, rather than the gifts.
 
David’s words are life-giving, and they lift our eyes to the source of our joy. They also remind us that we are not capable of producing this joy within ourselves but, we are able ask for the Spirit to awaken us to the joy we have in Christ. As I have prayed these verses today in my own fight for joy, I have been reminded that although he has not chosen to remove this heartache and struggle from my life, he has used it to plough the hardened soil of my heart in order that the fruit of joy might be greater produced in me.
 
This world can bring disappointment and pain, but it cannot steal our joy when our salvation is secure and hidden in Christ. Because we are quick to forget this undeserved reality, we can pray in these moments of despair and heartache, “Restore to me the joy of your salvation!”
 
Back to me now…. I have often used this verse in my personal prayer time, “Restore to me the joy of your salvation!” And I often ask Jesus to fill me with the fruit of His Spirit. Notice the second of these is ‘joy.’  You might like to give it a try.
 
Blessings, Dave.

- AUGUST 2023

A thought from Pastor Murray...

Dear Church

Fourteen and a half years ago Glenys and I were asked to Pastor Orewa Community Church.  Graeme Gillies, the Pastor at that time was resigning and the Elders needed a replacement.  We were both employed as Pastors and said we would commit to two years while they found someone else to take up the role.

Glenys resigned about four years ago after serving in a Pastoral Role for ten years and here I sit today fourteen and a half years later writing my final message to you as an 'official' Pastor at OCC.

It's been a wonderful journey serving God alongside you all, and also a privilege to serve you as I have endeavoured to encourage and support you in your individual faith journeys.  All Praise and Glory to God for His faithfulness and His presence in this House of God - just a small but vital part of the worldwide Body of Christ.

At the moment we are in the middle of winter, then comes spring, summer, and autumn. The year's seasons are cyclical and predictable.  So too the seasons of our years should not surprise us but rather inspire us to be adaptable and accepting.  The seasons of life are part of living out God's plans intentionally for Him in each season.  Ecclesiastes 3:1 says, 'To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven', and Psalm 31: 15 says ‘My life, my every moment, my destiny—is all in God's hands’.

I wonder what time or season it is for you right now? Whatever it is don't get too comfortable because it is guaranteed to change so be ready to walk through the doors God opens and be at peace with the doors He closes, knowing He always has your best interest at heart.  Your times are in His hands and He makes everything beautiful in His time.  Just TRUST Him.

We are not leaving OCC we will still be around and using our giftings in an 'unofficial' way amongst you all. 

Love and Blessings,Muzz.

- JULY 2023

A thought from Pastor Marina...

Hebrews 10:24-25: and let’s consider how to encourage one another in love and good deeds, 25 not abandoning our own meeting together, as is the habit of some people, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.

One of the little things I have been pondering recently is the connection between these three words: Communication, Communion & Community. I can be quite a nerd when it comes to looking at words. These three have struck me as they all have the same root. The primary Latin root word is ‘Communicare’. Hmmm how funny – imagine if everyone knew that the idea of care what connected to the idea of communicating – I reckon that could change the world!  Part of my pondering is our theme for the year; telling his story. As we tell HIS-story embracing these three words has such an opportunity to enrich our collective journey of faith.

We have this beautiful privilege to communicate with one another in the context of community and then we have the opportunity to commune with God. We get to be honest with ourselves before God and with one another. Not many places can you truly be    yourself, but within the safe context of our church community (communicare) we can share life’s struggles, life joys and be vulnerable. We get to immerse ourselves in opportunities to serve one another, to intercede on behalf of others, to practice hospitality and nurture meaningful relationships.

Let’s not lose sight of the value of community, doing life together with those around us at OCC, making those who are new to OCC feel a real sense that they are a part of the   community. Let’s not forsake the importance of coming together to share in communion – pausing in the business of life to reflect, to celebrate Jesus great sacrifice for us. A moment of unity, sharing together and with God. And finally, as our series in Acts has been challenging us let allow ourselves to be transformed by the Holy Spirit and the Word of God so we are a transformative community that transforms the community of the Hibiscus Coast and beyond!

Romans 12:2: Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the    renewing of your mind.

Cultivating an authentic and thriving community, we reflect the love of Christ to the world around us. As we come together on Sunday mornings and during the week, let us intentionally live out these words, allowing them to shape our interactions, deepen our connections, and ignite our passion for Christ. In doing so, we participate in the beautiful tapestry of God's design for His church, becoming a beacon of hope and love in a world longing for true connection.

Blessings, Marina

- JUNE 2023

A thought from Pastor Tracey…

Every Sunday I look forward to getting together with our lovely community.  Since I started this role in Sept last year, I’ve watched how OCC has ballooned, so much so, that recently an extra 40 chairs were added to our auditorium.  This growth comes from immigration, a bit of reshuffling post covid and a number of new conversions – it’s all pretty exciting!  It has been my goal to make sure everyone feels connected on some level and the best method I’ve found with new folk is by introducing them to others during their first visit… A simple “hey, this is…” or “have you met…” is all it takes to start a new connection and makes people feel really welcome.  Please come and say hi when you see me chatting to someone new or someone you haven’t yet met.  Many of you already do this automatically and it’s such a great way for people to get to know others.  I know we can’t all know everyone – especially as we continue to grow, but it is my hope that we all know a handful of people on any given Sunday.  Pastor Dave tells me this welcoming friendly nature has long been part of OCC’s reputation and a recent newcomer said that “coming to OCC is like getting a big hug.” 😊 Long may this continue as we all take responsibility for the growth we have been blessed with.  Please join me in making others feel welcome and offer a cup of tea or coffee before or after the service.  Thank you to all who commit to looking out for others in this way.  

It has come to my attention recently how many people look around on a Sunday and think that everyone else looks “so together” and like they couldn’t possibly be living through any trauma or trouble in their lives… Yet if we look at the almost 50 written responses to the “One sentence” prayers last month, you would see that many, many people are dealing with heavy stuff.  So, with this in mind, I attended for the first time the “James 5 Prayer” night last month and even though I admit to having to drag myself out of the house at the end of a busy day to keep a commitment to turn up – the blessing was mine… What a lie it is that God isn’t moving in this place.  What a lie it is that people aren’t dealing with some really big issues… what a lie the enemy spins when we are “too tired” to turn up to pray.  Just being present in that room and listening as others prayed was a faith building blessing.  I came away in awe at who turns up to be part of what God is doing… Can I encourage you to come along and be part of this amazing ministry?  We arrived at 7:30 and had a devotion, dished out the pile of praise & prayer cards and then prayed.  Within an hour, we were on our way home.  Chocolate fish were provided just for turning up!  God is very much at the core of the hearts of those who pray in that space for the people of OCC and far beyond.  Philippians 4:6 says not to be anxious, but to make our requests known to God through prayer and supplication with thanksgiving; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard our hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.  Let’s continue to be doers of the Word and meet in community for this “hour of power” held monthly.  I’ll see you there on the 8th of May!  Until then – go into your closet and pray!  (Matthew 6:6)

Blessings from Tracey

- MAY 2023

An Easter thought from Pastor Dave…

April is a special month in the life of the Christian church because April includes Easter. 

Easter has been on my mind a lot in recent weeks. We join with Christians around the world, who for centuries have celebrated the day that changed everything. We celebrate the amazing truth that although Jesus was dead, He’s now alive forevermore. Christ Jesus rose victorious over death. He is risen!  Hallelujah!

In his gospel account, John anchors the resurrection to a particular day, at a particular time, and witnessed by particular people. On that day in history, early in the morning, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene saw that the stone had been moved away from Jesus’ tomb. John wants to be clear. The resurrection of Jesus happened on earth’s soil, in our time, for the benefit of all humans whom God created and loves. Because Jesus is risen, life for us is forever anchored in good news.

The events of Easter demonstrate so many things worth celebrating…..

• That God loves us so much that he sacrificed His Son to save us. John 3:16.

• That God wants a deeply personal relationship with each of us. He wants it so much that Jesus was willing to bear our sin in His own perfect, sinless self, to achieve it.  1 Peter 2:24

• That God wants to maintain that relationship, despite our muck ups, by granting us ongoing forgiveness.  1 John 1:9

• That God’s sovereign love has the last word. The devil set about to destroy our relationship with God, and thought he’d achieved it (See Genesis).  Christ intervened.  Again, the devil thought he had won when Jesus died.  But through His resurrection Christ won the battle once and for all. “No power of hell, no scheme of man, can ever pluck me from his hand.” We now live in the joyful assurance that because Christ lives, we too will live for all eternity.

Christ is risen! He is risen indeed!

Living, loving God, our hearts are lifted up to you in praise and thanks that the grave could not hold our Lord Jesus. He is risen! Help us to live joyfully, hopefully, and boldly in the power of his resurrection. Amen.

Eph 1:18-20: I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms…”

- APRIL 2023 (Adapted from a devotion by Ruth Bovan)

A thought from Pastor Murray...

Dear Church,
Well, who would have imagined that we would have such a disruptive start to 2023.  We have just entered March and already our tiny country has been ravaged by events totally out of our control - cyclones, floods, earthquakes.... Many people are homeless, jobless, broken, and grieving. 
I read in Colossians a few weeks back and this verse has been on my mind. Col 3:2 'Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things'.  It is so easy, and natural, to get bogged down with the happenings around us and get trapped in that place of being or feeling stuck in despair. It's easy to focus on the difficulty and pain of the journey of life but much better to lift our thoughts higher and focus on the prize ahead.  Doing this gives us energy and determination and a greater purpose and meaning in life. Shifting our thoughts towards God helps us to find greater peace and happiness amidst the storms of life.  Paul writes, 'Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.' Phil 4:6,7
Blessings to you all,
Murray

- MARCH 2023

A thought from Pastor Dave...

Hi there Church family,
Last year our theme for the year was “For Such a Time as this.”  At the time we were thinking about our return from the covid lockdowns, the stress the community and world was in post covid, the looming financial crisis, etc, etc, and so we thought about how the Christian community can be responding, ‘in such a time as this.’
Well, here we are starting 2023.  Is anything any different?  Covid is lingering, the financial struggles continue, and now add more conflict around the world, extreme weather, and natural disasters.  How are we to respond?
I could answer this question in two ways.  How am I to respond?  And … How are we to respond?
For me personally I could become anxious and worry. I can do that sometimes.  Maybe you’re a worrier too.  Or I could put my trust in God.  We all face tough stuff.  It can’t be avoided.  God doesn’t promise that we will escape the troubles of life.  In fact, Christians are likely to face more tough stuff, simply because we are Christians. So, what do we do?
A good place to start, I think, is to claim God’s promises, and ask him, in prayer, to embed these promises into our hearts and minds.  Check out Psalm 119:114; Psalm 31:20; Luke 12:22-25; Isaiah 41:3; Matt 11:28; 1 Peter 5:7; Phil 4:6-7. 
These are just a few of the promises our God makes, which will make the journey through the tough stuff a little easier to bear.
How do we respond?  These troubled times are hurting our world.  Even so, these troubled times are also an opportunity for the Christian community to serve others, and share the love of Christ with our neighbour with actions. 
I’m encouraged by the fact that an OCC family opened their home to people they didn’t know, when they were stranded by recent flooding.  Others from OCC helped a family whose basement and belongs were flooded out.  And again, others from OCC provided meals to a family spending days tidying up their home after flooding.  Awesome!
OCC also has an opportunity to embrace a new ministry to our community soon.  We are partnering with Love Soup this year and cooking a dinner once a month for our community, to bless those who might be struggling.  Perhaps you’d like to volunteer.
Let’s show our troubled world the love and kindness of God, by engaging in acts of kindness to our neighbours, just because we can.
Blessings, Dave

- FEBRUARY 2023