Alive with Christ

An Aussie Irishman walks into a church…

It’s no joke, because my old mate Cameron Jones has travelled all the way from Ireland to come to Jamberoo to tell us why Ireland needs Jesus more than almost any other place in the English-speaking world. (He’s also coming out to visit other churches… but it makes for a good story to say he only came out to visit us!)

To celebrate, we’re having a special Irish night this Saturday night 27th April starting with a special Irish church service at 5pm, then an Irish dinner, with trivia, games and other special items. Plus, Cameron’s also preaching on Sunday morning the 28th at 9am, so you can hear his Bible teaching in the morning at a more-classical Anglican Holy Communion service, if you’d like.

During both services, I’ll be answering all these questions you asked during church last weekend:

1 How do we know what Jesus prayed in his private prayer on the night before he died?
2 What hymn was sung at the Last Supper?
3 If Judas repented, then would Jesus have forgiven him?
4 Does our preference for unity show an innate desire for God’s love?
5 When God said “let us make man in our image”, is this the same “us” as John 17:21?
6 When we are in heaven, will we be able to speak to Jesus’ disciples and dead friends?
7 How should we respond to a Jehovah’s Witness when they come to our door?
8 Is casting lots the same as gambling?
9 Is it a sin to question God’s existence?

So, don’t miss out on a special weekend of church as we gather to learn about the church of Ireland and the special plans God has for the future!

Jodie.

As news broke of the fire at Notre Dame, the world united in shock and sadness.

This Parisien icon had towered over the landscape for 850 years, and yet it now had succumbed to the power of fire.

Some might say it’s only a building, but there is a good reason why the citizens of Paris wept over its destruction.

For many, it was a place where they came to meet with God, and for others, it was a symbol of European Christianity.

For me, I was reminded of another, impressive place of worship that also suffered enormous destruction.

The Second Temple of Jerusalem was deliberately destroyed by Romans in 70AD, yet decades before, that Temple had become redundant as a place of worship.

For, at the very moment that Jesus died, the Bible records that the giant curtain of that temple was torn in two.

No longer was that stone building in Jerusalem to be the place to meet God, for now they would meet him in Jesus Christ.

For Jesus once said, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” […] But when Jesus said, “this temple,” he meant his own body. (John 20:19,21)

It is natural for us to feel sentimental about our buildings, and it was right to be sad when Notre Dame and the Temple of Jerusalem were damaged or destroyed.

Yet, the greatest destruction was on the first Good Friday, when the Son of God was executed as an innocent man on behalf of those who trust in him.

However as promised, Jesus was raised from the dead on Easter Sunday, and with his resurrection comes a certain hope that can never perish, spoil or fade.

This Easter, as you reflect upon the fragility of life and the certainty of our own passing, it is a great time to trust in Jesus and enjoy the forgiveness he offers and the hope he promises.  

JODIE McNEILL

OUR BIBLE TALK

This weekend we continue our three-week series ‘What would Jesus pray’ from John 17, as we examine in this second talk what Jesus prayed for his disciples in verses 6 to 19. 

NEXT WEEK’S TALK

Next weekend we finish our series on Jesus’ prayer by looking at what he prayed for his followers from 17:20-26.

MISSION OF THE MONTH

BCA (Bush Church Aid) is our mission of the month. Support at the ‘Mission Table’.

VISIT OUR BOOKSTALL

Check out the all-new titles!

LISTEN ONLINE

Go to www.jamberooanglican.com/talks or search ‘Jamberoo’ on iTunes Podcasts.

EASTER SERVICES

Our Good Friday service will be held at 9am. Our other two services will run at normal times during the Easter weekend.

ANZAC DAY MARCH

Jamberoo is remembering Anzac Day on Saturday 20th April 10.30am. Jodie will be reading the Bible and praying. 

IRISH NIGHT

On Saturday 27th April we welcome Cameron Jones from the Anglican Church of Ireland, to preach and share about his plan to plant a church in the most gospel-poor, English-speaking nation. Irish dinner, trivia, and much more! He will also preach at 9am.

BRIERCREST YOUTH MISSION

During May, we’ll be hosting three youth ministry students from Canada.Can you billet a student for a week?

CAN YOU HELP WITH OUR KIDS?

We’re expanding our kids’ ministry on Saturday night and we need people to be helpers for creche and our kids’ programs. Can you help occasionally?

GONG MEN’S DAY

Saturday 15th June 9am-2pm in Dapto. Speaker: Sam Chan. Don’t miss it!

GIVING UPDATE

Each week we need to receive $2650.00 in order to meet our commitments. In the last calendar month, our average weekly giving was $2681.00, leaving a gap of $-31.00. Up to the end of the last calendar month we needed to have received $34,450. Compared to that total we received $30,345, leaving a gap of $4,105.

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.