HCC newsletter: 'God moments' at Easter camp

This Sunday we'll hear stories from our youth and their leaders

Author

Halswell Community Church
May 01, 2025

MESSAGE FROM THE PASTOR
Welcome to May

Happy new week, and new month everyone!! We are in May!!!

I do not know why I put three exclamation marks, but I believe it is always important to celebrate a new month and God's goodness in the last one.

In our church calendar, a new month sometimes signifies the start of a new series. We concluded our series “Towards the Cross” this week by looking at the final part of John 17. Jesus praying for his disciples. This has been a series designed for us to reflect on the last hours of Jesus and the agony and discomfort felt by his disciples as he shared a reality they did not want to believe in.

My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me, and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.

John 17:20-2

Phil challenged us in various areas, but here is a summary of what he shared:

"There are two words for glory in the scriptures: Glory Kabod and Glory Doxa.

Glory Kabod has two meanings. The glory of God as seen through things created, such as the rivers, oceans and mountains, as in Psalm 19:1-2;

The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge.

Kabod also represents the very presence of God, the manifest glory of God – the Shekinah glory as in Exodus 40:34;

Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.

The 2nd meaning of the Glory of God is Glory Doxa. In John 17, we see Glory Doxa. This is the New Testament dispensational glory that defines you as ONE WITH GOD and seeks to give you all that He is and has.

This is the glory that Christ has revealed and given to those who are born again. The greatest act that Jesus did for us in showing us His glory was when He went to the cross. So in conclusion, there were three aspects of Jesus’ prayer.

  • Unity amongst the brethren – as it is in heaven.

  • God’s glory as we partake of God’s nature.

  • God’s supreme love for us and the love He desires that we have for Him?

We can only get all this and more by shedding the old and embracing the new.

Have a glorious week,

Mato

CHURCH SUNDAYS

Reflecting on Easter camp

We will be hearing from your youth as they share their reflections regarding Easter camp. The theme is “God moments at Easter camp”. We will hear from their leaders as well. Please pray for them as they reflect and practise this week.

All our youth group sessions and activities are also back this week.

  • Youth group is also back on Thursday evening at 7pm.

  • • The Cashmere Project is back on Friday lunchtimes at Cashmere High School.

  • The Halswell Connections programme is back at the Hub on Fridays from 3pm.

  • Zack and Sinead continue to do outreach at Oaklands school on Friday mornings.