Dear Northside
I was raised to help others. Even as a Pastor I struggle to ask for help myself. It is still not natural for me. Maybe you can relate?
“The Holiness of Asking for Help” is a book by a Roman Catholic volunteer on a suicide text hotline who writes: “I noticed that when I told others that I served on the crisis hotline, people seem to admire one half of the relationship: the counsellors. Rarely did they express admiration for those in crisis who are brave enough to seek out help and share their own pain, for those who reach out for a lifeline when they could drown themselves. Why do we admire the lifeline rather than the ones who seek it, the ones who save themselves, the ones who recognize, even if at the last second, their own value?”
This makes me think: The people asking for help are the heroes.
If you’re anything like me, you resist acknowledging and acting on your own needs. We are eager to save others or point out where they need saving. But once we take the heroic step of admitting “Help!”, we have entered a holy moment. In this broken and beautiful state, we open ourselves to God’s good work once again.
We have a “Caring & Counselling Ministry” here at Northside. We are looking for people who want to help with this ministry. If you would like to be involved in this ministry, please see Pastor Vere, Nina or Tariro Ndebele. But even more importantly, if you feel you need some help, please contact one of the Pastors, Nina or Tariro and we can see how best we can assist you as a church.
Last Sunday we finished our sermon series on the Book of Jude. What did you think? Do you have a testimony of how God’s Word impacted your life? Please let us know if you do. And the Baptism service was very powerful. Please continue to pray for all those who were baptised. If you wish to be baptised the next time, please let the church office know.
In March we have the Food Pantry Zumba Class, the Ladies Retreat, our AGM and the Easter Programme, including the Passover Meal, Good Friday service and the Easter Resurrection Sunday service. Please register with the Church office if you want to attend the Passover Meal. Your place will only be finalised when you pay!
The Husqavana Mudrun in support of KidzCan Zimbabwe is on Saturday 6th April. I mention this now as online bookings will happen in early March. A great way to support KidzCan and have a lot of fun.
To Him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before His glorious presence without fault and with great joy – to the only God our Saviour be glory and majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forever more! Amen!
May mercy, peace and love be yours in abundance as you make God known. Pastor Gary