Fathers – on earth and in heaven – Five Minutes on Friday with the LPD

Good Friday morning from the LPD!

Please see the attached Five Minutes on Friday below, with news and prayer items from the LPD – this week, we tell a story from Sointula Community Church.

Happy Father’s Day to all the dads out there. Father’s Day is a day on which I reflect on warm memories of my godly father. It is a day (give or take) on which my children and grandchildren make me feel special. It is also a day on which I remind my sons who are dads that they are doing a great job as young dads too.

I have never met a dad who thought that he was doing a great job as a dad. Life is full. Between being a husband, father and building a career as a provider, there never seems to be either enough time or energy to “ace” all three.

We are reminded in Psalm 103 of how important our role is as dads, as (imperfect) models of God’s love. “As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him; for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust” (Psalm 103:13,14). We are also mindful to the beautiful picture of a father’s love in Luke 15, the story of the prodigal son (or the prodigal father).

With such beautiful images of a father’s love, we are aware that many of our people will not have positive associations with the word, “father.” They may consider that they been either abandoned or wounded by their father.

In such an environment, we may tend to shy away from any emphasis on Father’s Day in our services on Sunday. Please don’t! In an article in Leadership Journal, Christian counsellor, Sam Siero writes of, “Honoring Fathers When Many Aren’t Honorable.” Here is the link:

Happy Father’s Day! Enjoy the day, and encourage your church of the consistent and love of our Heavenly Father.

• Please see the attached Five Minutes on Friday – with news about LPD Churches and ministry.
• Please also see LPD Church of the Week, Jesus Grace International Church, and remember to pray for them!

Please note the following upcoming dates:

• August 3-8 – Camp Evergreen. This local summer camp is affiliated with our Lower Pacific District, and provides an excellent summer camping experience for children and leadership training for youth. Camp Evergreen also provides an opportunity for partnership between your local church and a summer camping program. See here for info.

• March 4,5 – 2016 – LPD Conference on the theme Coaching and Mentoring.

May God bless and keep you as you look to the Lord, trust him for his good work through the week ahead..

In Jesus,

Rob

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This year, as our Lower Pacific District assists in the birth and revitalization of churches, we also step out in faith with local churches through providing financial support and seed money.  To this end, we appreciate the gifts of many district churches and also of individuals.  You can participate through both cheques and online at our website. See LPD website for more info.