What does your future hold?

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If I knew with certainty what would happen to you in the next week, then this would put me in a position of great power and authority over your life.

The ability to tell the future is something that many people claim to possess, but clearly are unable to reliably demonstrate.

If they could, then they’d be banned from owning shares, placing bets, or from any other activity that relied on speculation.

And yet, God knows the future, and he is prepared to let us know some details about what will happen.

These words of prophecy can be found in the Bible, and they tell us the promises that God has for his people and for his creation.

He promises that he will be sending Jesus back soon to judge everyone for whether they’ve followed him as their loving ruler or not.

He promises that if we ask for forgiveness and if we trust in God, then because of the death of Jesus, he will not treat us like our sins deserve.

He promises that if we are his friends that this coming day of judgement is not something we should fear.

And he promises that in the meantime, he will continue to hear our every prayer, and to be with us through our times of personal trials and sufferings.

If you rely on Jesus as your loving ruler then you can know that he holds your future safely in his hands.

Which means that no matter what fears you might have for your own life or for the world, you can be sure that he is trustworthy and full of compassion.

And that’s the best fortune telling you’ll ever experience.

Coming up this weekend 12th – 13th November 2016

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This weekend Jodie continues our series on the Old Testament book of Job, with the title, ‘Mythbusting Revelation’ from chapters 32 to 34.

At our 5pm Saturday service we will be meeting one of our church members, and getting to know them a little better.

Our 8am Sunday service will be a Holy Communion First 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, or come along on Sunday at 8am for a Prayer Book service.

During our service, we’ll have our weekly question and answer time, and our Senior Minister Jodie will be answering these questions:

  1. Why did God care so much about what Satan thought of him?
  2. Given that we have so much more knowledge than Job, is ‘the fear of the Lord’ still the ‘beginning of wisdom’, or have we moved on?
  3. Does the rest of Job just consist of Job talking to his so-called friends?

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 5th November 2016

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This weekend’s Bible Talk

This weekend Jodie continues our series on the Old Testament book of Job, with the title, ‘Mythbusting Dignity’ from chapters 29 to 31.

150th Anniversary Date

We’ve now locked in the date of our 150th Anniversary celebrations next year. We’re going to celebrate on the afternoon/evening of Saturday 18th and the morning of Sunday 19th February 2017. Be sure to keep this date free, and start inviting friends of our church. Our speaker will be Bishop Peter Hayward.

Mission of the month: Anglicare

Anglicare is our mission of the month. Support this ministry through the ‘Mission Table’ in the Hall.

Ladies Dinner

You’re invited to join the ladies of Oak Flats and our region on Tuesday 15th November to hear Kerry Stewart. Dinner is $7 payable on the night at 35 Fisher Street Oak Flats, and there is no need to RSVP.

Staff Vision Fund

If you missed the special announcement last week, please make sure you get a copy of the letter Jodie read to the congregation.

‘Reading the Bible Aloud’ short course

Have you been reading the Bible in church for many years? Are you new to reading it aloud? Or would you like to, but have felt that you don’t know how? Well this course is for you! Matthias Media have produced a short course which includes text, videos and discussion, which can be valuable to everyone who reads the Bible in public.
Trevor Lucas will be running the course and is willing to take small groups at varying times and places to suit your availability. You can email him at tandrlucas@iprimus.com.au or phone on 4236 0217.

 

Giving update

Each week we need to receive $6300.00 in order to meet our commitments. In the last calendar month, our average weekly giving was $5402.00, leaving a gap of $898.00.

Olimometer 2.52

Up to the end of the last calendar month we needed to have received $81,900. Compared to that total we received $71,624, leaving a gap of $10,276.

Olimometer 2.52

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 .

Who will lead the free world?

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Hillary Clinton vs. Donald Trump (CREDIT: DonkeyHotey via Flickr)

Hillary Clinton vs. Donald Trump (CREDIT: DonkeyHotey via Flickr)

Ever since the Cold War, people have described the President of the United States of America as the ‘leader of the Free World.’

It’s quite an awesome title to print on your business card.

And unless you’ve been blissfully enjoying a prolonged media blackout, you would know that this position has become vacant, and the successful candidate will learn of their fate this week.

Both candidates are somewhat controversial, to say the very least, and this has led some people to frustration and despair.

Yet, the good news is that no matter who wins the election, God continues to be the ultimate ruler of the free world.

In the Bible in the book of Daniel, God’s people were ruled by kings that were far from desirable.

They had sought to smash down the faith of God’s people by dragging them to Babylon.

Yet, even as these rulers ruled, God ruled over those rulers.

He brought them through much personal strife, and for some, it led them to recognise that the Lord is the ultimate ruler of all.

So much so that King Nebuchadnezzar could say this of God that, “his dominion is an eternal dominion; his kingdom endures from generation to generation.” (Daniel 4:34)

Yet, as this same King realised the hard way, God is able to make his rule clear to those who have positions of power in the world:

Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, because everything he does is right and all his ways are just. And those who walk in pride he is able to humble. (Daniel 4:37)

No matter who wins this week, we must remember that God is still on his throne.

And given the choice that faces the citizens of the United States of America, this is a great relief.

Coming up this weekend 5th – 6th November 2016

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This weekend Jodie continues our series on the Old Testament book of Job, with the title, ‘Mythbusting Dignity’ from chapters 29 to 31.

We will also share the Lord’s Supper at 5pm Saturday, so be sure to join us for this important reminder of the death of Jesus.

Our 8am Sunday service will be a Morning Prayer 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, 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 29th October 2016

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This weekend’s Bible Talk

This weekend Jodie continues our series on the Old Testament book of Job, with the title, ‘Mythbusting Apologetics’ from chapters 27 to 28.

Mission of the month: Anglicare

Anglicare is our mission of the month. Support this ministry through the ‘Mission Table’ in the Hall.

National Church Life Survey

This weekend we will be conducting the National Church Life Survey (NCLS). .

The purpose of the NCLS is to help churches to be more vital and effective. Through the survey our churchgoers will be able to give their thoughts, opinions and experiences of church life. The survey provides valuable feedback that enables leaders at local, regional and national levels to evaluate and plan for the future.

Our church’s contribution will form an important part of the national snapshot of the whole Australian Church.

Men’s Dinner

You’re invited to join the men of Oak Flats and beyond this Tuesday night 1st November for the next Men’s Dinner. Our speaker is Les Stewart. 6.30pm at the Central Hotel Function Room. Bookings essential. Phone 0439 561 373 or email mensdinner@oakflatsanglican.com

Dinner at the Bowlo

Join us this Thursday at 6pm at the Jamberoo Bowling Club for a relaxed Chinese meal together.

Synod update

Lots of great things happened at the Sydney Anglican Synod this past month. For extended coverage, visit www.sydneyanglicans.net or wait for the special update in next month’s Southern Cross magazine.

 

Giving update

Each week we need to receive $6300.00 in order to meet our commitments. In the last calendar month, our average weekly giving was $5402.00, leaving a gap of $898.00.

Olimometer 2.52

Up to the end of the last calendar month we needed to have received $81,900. Compared to that total we received $71,624, leaving a gap of $10,276.

Olimometer 2.52

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 .

The great Australian dream

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It’s been said that owning your own home is the great Australian dream.

After all, people say it feels good to know they’ve got the stability and security of having full control of the roof over their head.

Yet it’s increasingly hard to afford a home, and even when a person does, there’s no guarantee that it will deliver the comfort they crave.

Plus, it doesn’t really matter how much a person owns on Earth if they don’t have Heaven sorted out.

That’s why Jesus’ famous words in John chapter 14 cut across the great Aussie dream. He said:

In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. (John 14:2-3)

The way we get a guaranteed booking in God’s house is to receive the key from Jesus, at his expense.

After all, Jesus said that he was going to that house in order to come back and take his followers to be with him.

This is the only sure-thing that we can rely upon, especially as we seek security in an ever-changing world.

In Jesus can we find the only, solid foundation for life in this world and the next.

And this will give us much more than the great Australian dream can ever promise.

For, if we don’t trust in Jesus, we won’t have the security, stability and safety of living in God’s heavenly house.

Where’s your home?

Coming up this weekend 29th – 30th October 2016

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This weekend Jodie continues our series on the Old Testament book of Job, with the title, ‘Mythbusting Apologetics’ from chapters 27 to 28.

We will be completing the National Church Life Survey (NCLS) during our services this weekend. The purpose of the NCLS is to help churches to be more vital and effective. Through the survey our churchgoers will be able to give their thoughts, opinions and experiences of church life. The survey provides valuable feedback that enables leaders at local, regional and national levels to evaluate and plan for the future

Our 8am Sunday service will be the Lord’s Supper 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, or come along on Sunday at 8am for a prayerbook 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 22nd October 2016

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This weekend’s Bible Talk

This weekend Jodie continues our series on the Old Testament book of Job, with the title,  ‘Mythbusting Religion’ from chapters 25 to 26.

Mission of the month: Anglicare

Anglicare is our mission of the month. Support this ministry through the ‘Mission Table’ in the Hall.

Parish Council

Our Parish Council meets this Monday, 24th October at 2.30 pm at the church. Please remember them in your prayers.

Men’s Dinner

You’re invited to join the men of Oak Flats and beyond on Tuesday night 1st November for the next Men’s Dinner. Our speaker is Les Stewart. 6.30pm at the Central Hotel Function Room. Bookings essential. Phone 0439 561 373 or email mensdinner@oakflatsanglican.com

National Church Life Survey

Next Saturday, 29th October and Sunday, 30th October we will be conducting the National Church Life Survey (NCLS). We will also conducting the survey for the children aged 8 and older at our Friday kids’ and youth programs this week.

The purpose of the NCLS is to help churches to be more vital and effective. Through the survey our churchgoers will be able to give their thoughts, opinions and experiences of church life. The survey provides valuable feedback that enables leaders at local, regional and national levels to evaluate and plan for the future.

Our church’s contribution will form an important part of the national snapshot of the whole Australian Church. For more in formation visit www.2016ncls.org.au

YouVersion Bible App

A free Bible on your phone or tablet. YouVersion is a simple, ad-free Bible that brings God’s Word into your daily life. Download the free app and access your bookmarks, notes, and reading plans from anywhere. Enjoy hundreds of versions, including audio, all on your mobile device. Search ‘bible’ or ‘youversion’ in the app store on your preferred device.

Giving update

Each week we need to receive $6300.00 in order to meet our commitments. In the last calendar month, our average weekly giving was $5402.00, leaving a gap of $898.00.

Olimometer 2.52

Up to the end of the last calendar month we needed to have received $81,900. Compared to that total we received $71,624, leaving a gap of $10,276.

Olimometer 2.52

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 .

Are you hungry for the Bible?

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Do you hunger for God’s word like a big plate of bacon and eggs?

It might seem strange to compare the Bible to our breakfast, but this is how Job spoke of his hunger for God’s word:

I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my daily bread. (Job 23:12b)

Can you say the same thing?

During the question time and my talk last week I spoke of how I try to read a bit of the Bible every day.

It’s not a ritual that I’ve kept every day of my Christian life, and in fact there have been many, long breaks from this daily habit.

Yet, every day is a new day, and I’m thankful to God that I’ve been able to be pretty regular in this routine this year… and I’m loving it!

I’m using an app on my iPhone called ‘YouVersion’ (also known as ‘Bible’). It enables me to select a daily Bible reading plan, and it helps remind me to read the next bit, each day, which I can read right on that app.

If you’ve never started a regular routine, then why not start tomorrow morning? Just read a few verses, and see how you go. It might turn into a habit really quickly.

Now, the reason I try and read the Bible each day is that it’s great to keep filling my heart and mind with the things of God, especially due to the barrage of information around me that keeps pushing God aside.

It’s a great joy to know God more and more, and to know who it is who loves me so much that he’d send his son to die for me.

And it’s a great way to prime my mind to pray to God, since it helps me know how God thinks and what he thinks of me.

So, what are you waiting for?