Nourish October 2021 - Online

The apostle Paul could have just as easily have been writing his letter to us as followers of Christ in Lockdown Victoria when he wrote to the church in Corinth, “We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down but not destroyed” (2 Corinthians 4:8-9). No doubt he would have updated the language, “We are locked down on many Sundays, but not closed; languishing but not in despair; socially distanced but not completely alone; shut down and in isolation but not destroyed.”

For many of us this year has been marked by change and challenge. We have often felt disoriented and sensed the need to reorient to a new reality. Often in these disorienting times we have felt tired, holiday deprived, frustrated and constantly facing the loss. We have felt the loss of people in our church, opportunities to gather and once predictable rhythms. Hope can sometimes only appear as a flicker in our minds like a distant flame in our memory.

Nourish is for pastors who believe that we live by faith and not by sight. It is a day to be encouraged to fix your eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. We are surely those who, though outwardly we are not always be looking our best, maybe even wasting away, we are inwardly being renewed day by day. Jesus Christ is our Lord. He is our hope. We have been given the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come, and what a future it is.

We Victorian pastors don’t preach about ourselves, we preach Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as servants of God’s people for Jesus’ sake. It’s Christ’s love that compels us. He died for all and we long for everyone we lock eyes with to come to know Jesus and experience the hope we have because of Jesus.

Our main sessions this Nourish will call us to remember that “God is our hope,” that in the midst of disorienting times, “Hope is a Journey” and that we are called to share “The gift of hope in the Community.”

Please put the date down in your diaries and plan to be part of this day for pastors.

Date: Friday 15th October, 2021
Time: 9:00am - 1:00pm
Cost: Free
Online details will be emailed to you with your registration confirmation

PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS WORKSHOP

Date: Friday 15th October, 2021
Time: 3.30pm - 5:00pm
Cost: $20 *
Topic : Healthy Congregational Responses to Pandemic Mental Health Issues
Facilitator: Associate Professor Ajeet Singh, a clinical psychiatrist practising in regional Victoria and Honorary Clinical Associate Professor, Deakin Medical School.

Attendance at Professional Standards Workshops will count towards BUV Pastoral Accreditation.

*A booking fee will be charged per registration by the ticketing company. Profits are donated to charity. Check out the impact your booking fee has at https://www.humanitix.com/au/our-impact