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St Stephen's Uniting Church Wodonga
The welcome mat is out for the community at St Stephen's Uniting Church in Wodonga.
St Stephen’s Uniting Church, under the guidance of minister Reverend Denise Naish, follows the belief of living out the gospel in the community.
Rev Naish said faith was nurtured weekly through Sunday worship and Bible Studies.
"The congregation serves the community through its op shop, furniture and bike sales as well as recycling and up-cycling donated goods," Rev Naish said.
"No-interest loans are co-ordinated by St Stephen's volunteers.
"Emergency relief and financial counselling are available through Uniting and hosted by St Stephen's providing vital support to this community."
Each Thursday the sounds of children’s singing and laughter is heard from the well-attended Mainly Music program for pre-school children.
"And a warm welcome is assured at the weekly Cuppa and Chat," Rev Naish said.
"Then in the afternoon you can join in a game of Scrabble."
Rev Naish said in winter, the Social Justice group hosts monthly film and discussion sessions followed by a soup tea.
On Christmas Day the congregation hosts Christmas Lunch with the assistance of many generous members of the wider community.
This advertising feature is supported by: St Stephen's Uniting Church Wodonga
Gateway Life
Gateway Life Church exists to "love and serve’, say pastors Jason and Treena Mannering.
"These are our two core values and are the genesis, the heartbeat, the foundation and motivation for everything that is done at Gateway," Jason said.
"We love being a part of the Albury-Wodonga community and have also started another Gateway Life Church campus in Jindera - which currently meets at the Jindera Community Hub."
Pastor Mannering said the Gateway Youth 2018 program was launched at the Jindera pool this year, with 100 young people attending and lots of positive feedback from the community.
"We’re also very excited about our 10am-11am Good Friday (open air) service at the Jindera Village Green," he said.
People can take a chair or a blanket along, with seating also available. The service will be followed by an Easter egg hunt, hot cross buns and more. In the case of bad weather, the service will be held in the Jindera School of Arts Hall next door.
"Most of what we do at Gateway Life Church is very relational and practical as we believe that spirituality and practicality go hand in hand," Pastor Mannering said.
"You're invited to come along to our 10am-11am Good Friday (open air) service at the Jindera Village Green as well as our 10am Easter Sunday service, which will be held at the corner of Griffith and McDonald roads in Lavington, to hear messages of 'Hope – life beyond the stone'.
This advertising feature is supported by: Gateway Life Church
Albury Presbyterian Churches
When you look around it doesn’t take long to see that there are plenty of problems in the world, many hurting people, many broken lives, Pastor Paul Sheely, of Albury Presbyterian Churches, says.
"But it wasn’t meant to be like this," he said.
"God, our creator, made it all perfect but it didn’t take long for us to spoil things and fracture our relationship with him.
"But God is both good and powerful and he acted to make a way that we can be restored to him and to each other and our world.
"The Bible teaches that God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.
"This is the wonderful message at the heart of Easter.
"It’s why Good Friday is so good."
Pastor Sheely said this was also the message at the centre of "everything that we do" at Albury Presbyterian Churches.
"Are you are looking to connect in with people who are friendly, relaxed and will help you figure out life in a confusing world?," he asked.
"We’d love to welcome you any time."
Albury Presbyterian Churches is a growing network of five churches meeting in a variety of locations across Albury and Thurgoona.
"We’d love to introduce you to Jesus, who offers life to the full to all who follow him," Pastor Sheely said.
This advertising feature is supported by: Albury Presbyterian Churches
New Life Chapel
From QEII Square to Beechworth, Bright and Corowa then to Henty and Corryong the story of Easter is a great tradition in our region.
This is the message from New Life Chapel's Pastor Michael Geerling.
"Easter is a gift to us," Pastor Geerling said. "It’s a gift of public holidays, camping, chocolates, good weather and a moment to celebrate a religious event like no other.
"At the centre of all this is a man named Jesus, who being fully God and fully man divided time and made a way for us to live free."
Pastor Geerling said in a postmodern society where truth is relative, it can be easy for us to ignore the meaning of Easter.
"But sooner or later in everyone’s life we come to face the realities of absolute truths," he said.
"This truth is that Jesus paid for our shortcomings.
"He went to the cross willingly so you and I can receive freedom from the payment of our sin and experience life in the present and life in the eternal.
"Jesus overcame sin, brokenness and sickness in this resurrection life and you too can live the overcoming life."
Pastor Geerling said for the approaching Easter weekend, "may you find joy in the simple traditions of family and friends, and may you also find hope and freedom in Jesus".
"Oh what a gift Easter is," he said.
New Life Chapel will host giant Easter egg hunts following their 10am services on Good Friday and Easter Sunday.
This advertising feature is supported by: New Life Chapel
This advertising feature was also supported by: The River Community Church