‘Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you’ (Ephesians 4:32). This morning we are blessed to have Bishop-elect Mike Fulwood of the LCA’s Reconciliation Ministry team take our service and lead us in a day of teaching about God’s gift of reconciliation with him and each other. Pastor Mike is currently serving at St Luke’s Parkwood as interim minister and will commence as 50% Bishop of the WA district/ 50% locum pastor sometime after Easter.

Pastor Mike’s starting point for his address today comes from Zechariah’s song in Luke chapter 1 where Zechariah points to Christ who will ‘guide our feet into the path of peace’ (Luke 1:79b). May Christ lead you into his path of peace! Thanks be to God for the willingness of Pastor Mike to teach us and St Luke’s to give him up.

Reconciliation is at the heart of God’s plan for each of us in relationship to him and each other. Rather than a one-off, it is lifestyle. Rather than a specialised part of the Christian life, it is ‘mainstream’ (Matthew 6:14-15; 2 Cor 5:17-21; Romans 12:17-19). So it’s something that likely already sounds familiar to you and is something you will hear about again and again as God proclaims his saving word to us at Bethlehem.

Additional information and excellent resources are available at the LCA’s website: http://lca.org.au/reconciliation-ministry Moreover, I have a copy of many of these resources that you may borrow. You hardly need reminding, but you are always welcome to make an appointment for a chat or to call me to Biblically work through these challenges in your life.