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Advent Challenge and Onwards to the New Year

On Monday 23rd December a group of parishioners gathered in the Committee Room and read through the entire Gospel according to Luke as part of our Advent Challenge.  The whole Gospel flowed seamlessly from Jesus' birth, through his Baptism by John, choosing his disciples, his teachings and miracles, his Transfiguration, his arrival at Jerusalem, his betrayal, his trial and crucifixion, and his triumphant resurrection and appearance to his disciples.

To read the entire story in one sitting was fantastic, rather than biting off pieces and looking at them in isolation - and everyone involved had new insights to share from both the Advent Challenge and the final reading of the Gospel.

As Christmas came, we were in a much better position to place it within God's Supreme Plan for our redemption and salvation, and we were all much better prepared for the celebration of Jesus' birth.

As part of the result of having read the Gospel, we have set ourselves another challenge for the new year!  Starting on 1st January, we will be reading a chapter of the Acts of the Apostles - continuing Luke's discourse on the Apostles' dedication to carry out Jesus' last command to them, going out into the world to make disciples of all man and women.

As we work through Acts, we will discover how the early church met different challenges and blessings, seeing God at work through his faithful believers.  There are twenty eight chapters, and we will finish the book just before the end of January.

Why don't you join us and read one chapter each day.  Again, on our parish website (Aghavea.blogspot.com) we will list a short summary of each chapter each day to direct our study.  Again, no one will be looking over your shoulder - but as we work through the miraculous story of the early Christian church, it is our prayer that we can be empowered to continue God's ministry in our own lives.

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