Alive with Christ

This weekend we continue our series ‘The Heart of Truth’ as Simon Chaplin preaches on the topic ‘Free from slavery to sin’ from Romans chapter 6 verses 1 to 23.

This week we will hear from Jodie and Mandy via video, as they share about GAFCON and their week spent in Jerusalem for the conference.

Our 8am Sunday service will be a Holy Communion Second Order AAPB service.

If you’re wanting to check out our church we’d really love you to visit us on Saturday at 5pm for a contemporary service with kids’ program and dinner afterwards. Our youth group ‘Alive’ is taking a break for the holidays. Or come along on Sunday at 8am for a Prayer Book service.

If you can’t make it in person, you’re welcome to jump online to watch the service (with the same sermon and many other items) at www.oakflats.tv.

See you at 5pm this Saturday or 8am this Sunday, God willing!

Christian maturity is a high priority for our church, and with good reason – it was a priority for the apostle Paul too. He says:

“Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ” (Colossians 1:28).

Paul gives us a clue as to what that maturity would look like when he prays:

“that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.” (1:9-10)

Maturity is comprised of two things: our knowledge and our life. And they are connected in a cycle. As we increase in our knowledge of our Lord, this leads us to bear fruit – and part of bearing fruit is increasing our knowledge – and so on.

Knowledge is essential to maturity, but knowledge for Paul is no mere intellectual activity. It is at the heart of our relationship with our heavenly Father and so to that end Paul ‘toiled’ (1:29).

Growing in our knowledge is going to take a little effort. But the reward is certainly worth it – a closer walk with our God.

And there isn’t some bar you are being asked to jump over here. We are all at different stages in our journey together, but Paul says that what he longs to see is ‘progress’ in each believer.

There are many things we can do to help us grow – listening closely to the the Word at church, or reading the Bible ourselves or discussing christian things with a friend. For me one of the key ways has always been to be committed to a weekly small group ministry where we can stir each other on in this way.

What’s the one thing you could do this week to grow as a Christian?

SIMON CHAPLIN

This weekend’s Bible talk

This weekend we continue our series ‘The Heart of Truth’ as Jodie preaches on the topic ‘Reconciled for salvation’from Romans chapter 5 verses 1 to 11.

Mission of the month

KBECET (Kiama Board for Employing Christian Education Teachers) is our mission of the month. Support this ministry through the ‘Mission Table’ in the Hall.

Kiama High SRE Pie Drive

The annual KBECET Pie Drive is on again. To support Nigel’s ministry, please order your choice of tasty, family size savoury or fruit pies on the order form in the Hall for $10 each. Order before 20th June for delivery on 9th July.

Gong Men’s Day

Join us on Saturday 16th June, 8.30am to 2pm (the evening session has been cancelled) at Dapto Anglican for a great day of teaching and encouragement for the men of our region. Register at www.gongmensday.org.

McNeills and Erringtons away

Jodie and Mandy will be on leave from this Saturday 16th June, and will return on 4th July. Graham and Lesley are away from this Wednesday 13th June until Monday 24th. Simon Chaplin will be preaching and available during this time.

New roster coming soon

If you’re unavailable to serve on a roster from 2nd July through 30th September please let us know via comment card, email office@jamberooanglican.com or even better go to www.jamberooanglican.net.

New Offertory Envelopes

Giving update

Each week we need to receive $1,200 in order to meet our commitments. In the last calendar month, our average weekly giving was $1,250, leaving a gap of $-50.

Up to the end of the last calendar month we needed to have received $25,800. Compared to that total we received $25,627, leaving a gap of $173.

Electronic giving is a great way to give! It helps us prayerfully plan our giving, and then the bank will help us keep that commitment, even when we may be unable to attend. To give by direct transfer then these are the details. Account name: Church of England Jamberoo. Account number: 10081274. BSB: 062562 .