New Year and New Theme!

Watch video: Anna’s message on the theme.

In Paul’s closing remarks to the Philippians, he gives a list of instructions, one of them being this: ‘Rejoice in the Lord always, I will say it again, Rejoice!’ (4:4). He seemed to know that they (and us!) needed an additional reminder. It’s like he’s saying, ‘For real! Whatever the circumstances. Whether you feel like it or not. Rejoice!’

And we do need that reminder, don’t we? Many of us have been in ministry for a long time. And sometimes, what once felt like a joy, feels like work. Many have faced painful trials that have shifted our focus, making us weary in doing good.

Maybe the call to rejoice feels far from where you are. Maybe it feels like another way that you are failing or another thing on your never ending to-do list.

But rest assured. Wherever you are, this theme can be for you. Because the call to rejoice is not a call to fake it. It’s not a call to plaster a smile on your face or dance around and cheer. The other notable thing about the Philippians 4:4 verse is that there is a clear call in who we are to rejoice in. ‘Rejoice in the Lord’. The call to rejoice, is a call to run back into the arms of God. It is a call to glance at our Saviour and remember all that He is and all that He has done.

So as we focus on rejoicing this year, we will share practical disciplines on how to do it and try some of these out together. But ultimately our hope is that this is a year to come back to our first love and be captured by Him again! And as we gaze into beautiful face, the response that flows out of us is rejoicing.