Issue 53 July 2026

Feast

The Apostles' Feast

This Sunday, 12 July, is the Feast of the Apostles. The day begins early with Matins, followed by the Lakan Service, the blessing of the water, before the Divine Liturgy. There is no Kids Liturgy this week.

Parish life

Help write our history

We often hear beautiful stories about how St John's has touched people's lives. For many of us, it has become far more than a church building: it is a second home, a loving community, and a place where we have drawn closer to God. Because our parish is still relatively young, we have a special opportunity to capture these experiences while they are still fresh in our hearts, along with our hopes and prayers for the future.

By sharing your story, you will help us give thanks for God's work at St John's, preserve precious memories for future generations, and document the impact of our parish for future grant and council applications. These testimonies will also help share the story of St John's with the wider Church, including His Holiness Pope Tawadros, and may even inspire the establishment of other parishes around the world.

All responses will be compiled into a beautifully presented keepsake book that will be shared with our parish families, His Grace Bishop Daniel, and His Holiness Pope Tawadros. It will be a treasured record that we can one day show our children and grandchildren.

We invite every family to contribute: a testimony, a special memory, a moment where you saw God's hand at work, your hopes for the future, or even a drawing or short reflection from your children. Responses may be anonymous or include your name.

Please complete the form by 22 August (Feast of St Mary) at the online form.

From the pulpit

The same measure, pressed down

Fr Luke · "Give, and it will be given to you", Luke 6

Have you ever wondered why God seems to treat some people differently from others? Does He love some people more than everyone else?

You can't help but ask this question as you read the Bible. There are people whom God seems to defend immediately. He deals with them with tremendous kindness. He rushes to protect them, almost more quickly than anyone else.

In the Old Testament, there is the story of the prophet Elisha. As he was walking along the road, a group of youths began mocking him because he was bald. The very next verse tells us that two female bears came out of the woods and mauled forty-two of them (2 Kings 2:23–24). God rushed to defend His servant.

We see something similar with Moses. His sister Miriam criticised him, and God was displeased. He struck her with leprosy (Numbers 12:1–10). Why does God seem to deal with these people differently? Why do they appear to find such favour with Him? And perhaps the more important question is: how can I experience that same grace?

I believe today's Gospel gives us the answer.

Christ is preaching one of the most revolutionary sermons the world had ever heard. He says, "Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you… If someone strikes you on one cheek, offer the other also" (Luke 6:27–29). Then He concludes with these remarkable words:

I truly believe that God loves every one of us equally. He gives each of us the same invitation to know Him. But what differs is the measure with which we respond.

God says, "With the same measure you use in your relationship with Me, I will measure back to you."

Those who found favour with God didn't arrive there by accident. God didn't arbitrarily choose them over everyone else. They chose Him first. They loved Him with everything they had, and God responded to the measure they offered.

We see this principle everywhere

Take elite athletes. They don't become great by chance. They become great because of the measure they are willing to give. I recently watched a documentary on Rafael Nadal, one of the greatest tennis players in history. His uncle and coach described how, when Nadal was only eight years old, he would sometimes refuse to let him drink water during training. Nadal would be exhausted and desperately thirsty, but his coach wanted to build resilience and mental toughness.

The same measure he invested became the measure of the champion he became.

We even see this principle in physics. Newton's Third Law tells us that for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. The same concept exists throughout creation.

So why is it that when it comes to God, we sometimes struggle to accept this principle? We often expect extraordinary blessings while offering very little in return.

What we receive from prayer is largely determined by the measure we bring into it. Imagine standing before the ocean. Do you approach it with a five-millilitre cup, or with a one-litre bottle? The ocean doesn't limit you. The size of your vessel does.

The same measure will be returned to you.

The widow of Zarephath

There is a widow in the Bible who understood this beautifully: the widow of Zarephath (1 Kings 17:8–16).

When Elijah came to her, she was gathering sticks to prepare one final meal for herself and her son before they expected to die of starvation. Elijah then asked her to bake him some bread first.

Why would God ask someone who had almost nothing to give? Because He wanted to reveal a spiritual principle.

With the same measure she gave, God responded. She offered her final handful of flour and her last drops of oil, and God blessed her with a jar of oil and flour that never ran out for the entire famine.

God asks us the same question today. Are we prepared to go all in with Him? Are we willing to give Him everything and trust Him with the outcome?

In prayer

This principle applies to every area of our spiritual lives. It applies to prayer.

Today, in the Synaxarium, we commemorate St Pishoy (Bishoy). Throughout his life he experienced extraordinary encounters with Christ. Tradition tells us that he washed Christ's feet and even carried Him on his shoulders. Why was he given such incredible honour? Because he first honoured God with the whole of his life.

It is said that St Pishoy tied his hair to the ceiling while he prayed so that if he fell asleep, the pull would wake him and he could continue praying. With the same measure he offered, God measured back to him.

We see this with Jacob as well. He wrestled with God through the night and declared, "I will not let You go unless You bless me" (Genesis 32:26).

How can we expect a thirty-second prayer in the car to produce the same spiritual fruit as the lives of saints who devoted themselves completely to prayer? The measure matters.

In giving and in time

We see the same principle in Genesis 4 with Cain and Abel. Cain simply brought an offering. Abel brought the firstborn of his flock and of their fat, the very best he had (Genesis 4:3–5). Cain gave what was convenient. Abel gave what was costly. One offering was accepted. The other was rejected.

Sometimes we're a little like Cain. We say, "Lord, this year is difficult. When You bless me financially, then I'll become generous." But perhaps God is inviting us to trust Him before the blessing arrives.

The same applies to our time. We say, "Lord, I'm busy. I'll give You five minutes today." Imagine what would happen if we gave Him our first hour instead: time that is completely untouched, where nothing else is allowed to interrupt.

I remember when Fr Paul was my Sunday School teacher. One weekend he had a major exam the following day and was understandably stressed. There were no other servants available, yet he still came to church, prepared his lesson, and served the children. His attitude was simple: "God's house comes first." He sat his exam the next day and passed. With the same measure he gave, God gave back.

In forgiveness and in Scripture

The same principle applies to forgiveness. Many of us struggle with sins that seem impossible to overcome. Yet Scripture gives us remarkable spiritual principles. Forgive, and you will be forgiven (Luke 6:37). Cover the sins of others, and your own sins will be covered (Proverbs 10:12; James 5:20). If we extend grace to those who have hurt us, God extends grace to us. The same measure.

The same is true of Scripture. Some people only open the Bible once a week, perhaps on the way to church. That's a good beginning. But if we want to hear God's voice clearly, if we want peace when we're standing at life's crossroads, then we need to immerse ourselves in His Word every day. The measure matters.

What we surrender first

There is another challenge. Often, the very thing we want most from God is the very thing He asks us to surrender first. If I want my children to be blessed, perhaps I first need to offer my children back to God.

One of the fathers at St Mark's once said, "If you want comfort from the Lord, go and comfort someone else." That is exactly how the Kingdom works. Jesus Himself says:

Whatever we surrender to God is never truly lost. He returns it in ways we could never imagine.

So let us all desire to become people who find favour with the Lord. Not because He loves us more than others, but because we have chosen to love Him with everything we have.

May we be able to say, "Lord, I want You to know that You are number one in my life. I am going all in." Because Christ has already given us the promise: "For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you."

If we truly live that principle, we will discover a life overflowing with God's presence, His grace and His favour.

Parish life

Servants Day

We are excited to announce our first St John's Servants Day: a special opportunity to come together in fellowship, be refreshed in God's Word, and encourage one another in our service. It is a day to be refreshed, encouraged and filled by His presence.

This day is open to everyone who serves in any capacity at St John's Church, no matter how big or small your role may be!

To help us make the most of our time together, this will be a child-free event, with the exception of babies under 1 year of age. If you're unable to arrange care for your children, the organisers can provide details of some youth from St Mark's Church who offer babysitting services. Alternatively, parents are welcome to tag-team throughout the day if needed.

Registration was through an online form (one registration per person, $40 per person) and closed on Wednesday 15 July.