Letter from Ps John Di Cecco
Hi CPC,
We sincerely miss you all and trust all is well and want to take this opportunity to send our tender love, endearing thoughts and heartfelt prayers to you and your beautiful families. We hope you have been tuning into and enjoying our online services. We encourage you to stay connected by joining one of our many online connects groups and listening to the variety of relevant online programs that we have prepared with you in mind. So we can keep you updated, you can follow our social media pages centerpoint.melbourne on Instagram and Centerpoint Church on Facebook as well you can subscribe to our Youtube Channel to catch up on anything you may have missed.
We are now nearing the end of our 2nd month of isolation and at this stage The Victorian Government has stated that stage 3 restrictions have been extended until 11th May 2020 as these measures have been designed to ‘flatten the curve’ of coronavirus and to give the health system the best chance at managing the crisis.
This time has definitely brought with several changes to the way we do things. Along with these changes has come the challenge of conflict which is the way confront any crisis. We want to encourage you to embrace this challenge, as change sometimes presents great opportunities that can be missed if we don’t understand the process. Having said that change is a part of everyday life. We have weather changes, job changes, relationship changes, eat habits change and the list goes on. Therefore we ask you to use this time of isolation productively to lean into God as the ‘now normal’ is confronted by the ‘new normal’.
Let me explain the terms ‘now normal’ and ‘new normal.’ Currently people are using the term ‘new normal’ in relation to the time we find ourselves in during COVID-19 and what we have to get used to. Although this is where the term is gaining traction from, I want to bring another perspective about this term for your consideration.
I have found that whenever change comes knocking on life’s door, I am confronted with a decision. What do I mean? I am faced with having to make the decision of allowing myself to go through the process that comes with change.
Each time I consider change (or what I call my ‘new normal’) it comes carrying challenge, conflict and crisis to my current circumstance (or what I call my ‘now normal’).
Many times we miss out or sabotage the opportunity that change brings because we may fear, don’t understand or treat the process of challenge, conflict and crisis as negative or not good for our lives.
Yet when The Church was birthed in The Book of Acts, it was birthed in a crisis of change. Jesus was present then He was gone. One day they had a small group and the next day it dispersed. The Apostle Peter had to learn how to preach to the multitude, he changed from a communicating to the crowd to calibrating through chaos. In other words he had to process change through the challenge that change brings. So how did Peter do this and how do we prepare ourselves for change.
“Peace I leave with you, My peace I give you. I do not give you peace as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”
Jesus is informing us that His peace is different, it’s not what you’re normally used to, as it calms the inner you so that you’ll have the composure and confidence to carry the challenge of change. His peace also brings the courage and capacity required to deal with the external circumstances as they arise.
Will you join me today by deciding to embrace the peace of God that is promised to us as our soul solution to uncertainty and trepidation. A peace that rightly prepares us for the challenge of change whenever it presents itself instead of risking exposure to being potentially crippled by change which is part of everyday life.
Now that you are equipped and ready for your next ‘new normal’ be expectant for change as Gods plans and purposes present themselves to you. Move forward with this confidence that where Peace rules God reigns.
Finally Trish and I along with our pastoral team are believing Gods best for you and your loved ones as you courageously continue to live life to the fullest. We are championing you as you present the message of certainty to those who are living in uncertainty. Let’s usher in the ‘new normal’ as it is in heaven so shall it be on earth. Jesus is the hope for humanity.
C’mon, Much Love
Ps John Di Cecco
