Dear Northside
Last Sunday, I preached twice at River of Life Eastlea. It was wonderful fellowshipping with another group of believers. But it also makes you aware of how much we have to be thankful for here at Northside, and how much we are and do that should excite us. Northside is a wonderful church – not perfect, but a great place to be.
Last Sunday, we lit the candle of joy.
Picture the shepherds, just doing their jobs on an ordinary night. Maybe some sheep were calm, maybe others were stubborn. They might have been warding off predators, or maybe things were quiet that night, and they were feeling a little bored. Nothing about that evening hinted at history being made. And then suddenly, light split the sky, angels filled the air, and the shepherds were the first to hear the greatest news the world would ever know: the Saviour had been born. Their response? They ran off to see for themselves, and then they went into town and told everyone they could find.
Now picture yourself on an ordinary day. Maybe things are going smoothly, or maybe everything feels like it’s falling apart. You might be energised by a win, or maybe you’re feeling weary. Whatever kind of day it is, the truth remains the same: Jesus has come. That is still good news that brings great joy. His presence turns even ordinary moments into extraordinary ones.
The challenge is that life keeps pulling us back into routine. Responsibilities stack up, and news headlines weigh us down. Joy is a matter of perspective, and it’s easy to let it fade into the background. But what if this Christmas, we chose to be like those shepherds again? What could happen if we let the wonder of Jesus’ birth interrupt our ordinary days, and then shared that joy with the people around us?
Can you imagine how your workplace, school, or family dynamic could shift if, instead of spreading the word about the latest news weighing the world down, you spread the word about the good news of Jesus — the good news that’s meant to cause great joy.
There are so many people out there who don’t know Jesus. They don’t know that joy is possible in their life. But, as followers of Christ, we do. Share the good news with someone this week. Maybe invite them to church for Christmas. And let joy fill your heart again as you share it.
Prayer: “Lord of joy, fill us with gladness that overflows. May we carry Your joy to everyone we meet.”
Please join us for our Carols by Candlelight service tonight (21st) here at 6:30 pm. And our Christmas Day service is at 9 am. Come, bring the whole family and invite as many people as you can to join us as well.
The church office will be closed from 19 December 2025 until 5 January 2026. This will be the last bulletin until 11 January. But we will be holding normal Sunday services on both the 28th of December and the 4th of January.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
God bless, Pastor Gary.