SRE Christmas Assembly
The Christmas assembly was an incredible time for all. It was beautiful to see over fifty kids along with parents and scripture teachers gather to celebr
The Scripture Christmas Assembly for 2018 was an incredible time for all. It was beautiful to see over fifty children along with parents and scripture teachers gather to celebrate King Jesus being born.
As the assembly began, we sang together with a wonderful welcome from Jodie. It was a great taste of the involvement he will have in scripture and the school in the years to come.
Together, we sang fun songs that gave glory to our great God and it was made all the more special with the creativity of the kids and teachers who prepared dramas, crafts, and truths about the Son of God.
I teach Years 4, 5, and 6, some of whom got up and showed how Jesus was a true king, because he is a ruler, judge, and has a caring perspective. I then had the chance to address the assembly and was able to share how it was so sad when people were separated from God through Adam & Eve’s sin. But how God, our all-loving ruler and judge had a plan to save us through Christ and that is why Christmas is such a happy time. Because Christmas is when we celebrate that God kept his promise and the Son of God came to earth to save his people.
The Christmas assembly was memorable, and a great finish for the year, leading us to a great place to start next year. Please continue to pray that all people will know the true meaning of Christmas.
m Jodie. It was a great taste of the involvement he will have in scripture and the school in the years to come.
Together, we sang fun songs that gave glory to our great God and it was made all the more special with the creativity of the kids and teachers who prepared dramas, crafts, and truths about the Son of God.
I teach years four, five, and six, some of whom got up and showed how Jesus was a king because they have being a ruler, judge, and a caring perspective in common. I then got up to address the assembly. I talked to the kids about how it was so sad when people were separated from God through Adam & Eve’s sin, but how God, our all-loving ruler and judge had a plan to save us through Christ and how that is why Christmas is such a happy time. Because at Christmas is when we celebrate that God kept his promise and the Son of God came to earth to save his people.
The Christmas assembly was memorable, and a great finish for the year, leading us to a great place to start next year.
RAYNE ORANGE
Coming up this weekend 15th – 16th December 2018
This weekend we welcome Simon Chaplin who will be bringing us a one-off topic titled “The Song of Zechariah”, speaking from Luke chapter 1 verses 67 to 80.
During both our services this weekend, we will have a special book review from one of our church members, with perhaps a good Christmas gift idea or two.
Our 8am Sunday service will be a Morning Prayer Sunday 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 but returns next week. 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.
Church news for the week beginning 8th December 2018
This weekend’s Bible talk
This weekend we conclude our series on ‘Romans: The Heart of Truth’, with Simon Chaplin speaking on the topic ‘Gospel motivation’ from Romans chapter 16 verses 1 to 27.
Mission of the month
Special Religious Education (SRE) is our mission of the month. Support this ministry through the ‘Mission Table’ in the Hall.
Toys ‘n Tucker
Only one more chance to support Anglicare Toys ‘n Tucker appeal by putting toys or tucker in the box at the entrance to the church. Collection day is this Thursday 13th December. Thank you for your support
Carols in the Park
Enjoy Carols in the park under the stars at Jamberoo this Tuesday 11th December, starting at 6.45pm, at Reid Park (opposite the Pub). Bring all the family along to enjoy and evening of carols. Bring a blanket or a chair and settle in for a lovely evening of Carols supported by the Salvation Army Band.
McNeill’s away
Jodie and his family will be on leave from the 6th December, and will return on 12th January, but will be popping in on Christmas Day when Jodie will preach. Please contact Graham for pastoral care during this time.
Christmas Carols Service
On Saturday 22nd December, three days before Christmas, we’re opening our doors at 5pm for a night of Christmas Carols. Invite your friends for this great night of singing and sharing about the saviour of the world!
Christmas Day at 9am
Join us at the special time of 9am on Christmas Day for an all-age, community celebration of the birth of Jesus!
Giving update
Each week we need to receive $1200.00 in order to meet our commitments. In the last calendar month, our average weekly giving was $1844.00, leaving a gap of $-644.00.
Sorrow at Christmas time?
Why is it that Christmas seems to bring with it not just joy, but sorrow as well?
On one hand all the joys of the past year are combined and relived on this one great day. And yet, at the same time, your troubled remembrances and sorrows are collected together and brought to mind.
Sorrows are felt in a few ways, always in comparison to the joy we feel.
We feel the absence of a family all the more on this day as we think how much greater the joy would it have been if they were here. In the midst of a joyful gathering, suddenly a broken relationship intrudes on our thoughts.
Of all the days, Christmas is when we want families to be right, and yet they seldom are. The tensions that arise seem out of place on this day and so are even more painful – we are sad that we could even be sad on this day.
The gap between our sorrow and joy is at its greatest, and so we feel them all the more.
What would the day look like if we’d just if we had room only for joy? What place does sorrow have on Christmas?
Without sorrow we would not be reminded of the need to forgive – for it is the hurts of others that are its most common cause. Learning to forgive brings with it a unique joy all of its own, a joy that is right at home at Christmas.
For it is impossible to forgive without first discovering the forgiveness of Christ. And this is the reason Jesus came, this is what Christmas is about – that God would enter our work and bear our sorrows upon himself.
Even on that very first Christmas, the joy of the Angels was intermingled with sorrow. There was sorrow in the words Simeon prophesied to Mary “and a sword will pierce through your own soul also” Luke 2:35.
I am hoping for the most joyous Christmas – one that reminds me of the birth of our Saviour. But I also know that in the quiet moments when a pang is felt, I am taken closer to the truth of Christmas too.
SIMON CHAPLIN
Coming up this weekend 8th – 9th December 2018
This weekend we conclude our series on ‘Romans: The Heart of Truth’, with Simon Chaplin speaking on the topic ‘Gospel motivation’ from Romans chapter 16 verses 1 to 27.
We will share the Lord’s Supper at 5pm Saturday, so be sure to join us for this important reminder of the death of Jesus.
Also during our Saturday 5pm service we will have our popular weekly question and answer time, and Simon will be answering these questions:
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Is it ever appropriate to teach the conscience of a weaker person so they will become stronger in the truth and their consciences?
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If church is not for you but for others, then why doesn’t everyone have all their needs met?
Our 8am Sunday service will be a Holy Communion First Order AAPB service.
This Sunday marks the 100th anniversary of the Armistice, so we will have a special prayer for Remembrance Day during our services.
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 but returns next week. 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.