Introducing the Chaplins!

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Chaplins September 2016I am delighted to announce that Simon Chaplin has accepted my invitation to join our church as our new Assistant Minister at Oak Flats Anglican!

Simon is married to Amy, and they have three children: Liam (aged 8), Lily (aged 3), and Annabel (6 weeks). They will move into Oak Flats in the week before Christmas, and will begin with us two weeks after Christmas.

Simon has been serving at St Mark’s Malabar Anglican Church for nearly ten years, initially as a student minister, and then after that as the full-time assistant minister. During this time he’s done everything from youth and children’s ministry, occasional services, and ministry training, through to regular preaching.

After completing a science degree, Simon worked as an industrial chemist before doing a two-year MTS Ministry Training Apprenticeship at the University of New South Wales, prior to heading to Moore College for his four-year theology degree.

I first met Simon when he was a kid in the youth group I led in the 1990’s, and I hadn’t really caught up with him until the recent commissioning service of our CMS missionaries Adrian and Anita Lovell, who also happen to be their close friends.

Please pray for Simon, Amy, Liam, Lily and Annabel as they prepare for many farewells and changes in the coming months.

Particularly pray that as they move to our neighbourhood that they will have many opportunities to help us grow in our knowledge and love of God, and that Simon will help equip us for ministry with each other in our church and in our region.

Coming up this weekend 3rd – 4th September 2016

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This weekend Jodie concludes the series ‘Two Ways to Live’ with the sixth talk “The choice” from Matthew chapter 6 verse 24, chapter 7 verses 13 to 14 & verses 24 to 27, and John chapter 3 verses 16 to 18 & verse 36.

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 27th August 2016

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This weekend’s Bible Talk

This weekend Jodie continues the series ‘Two Ways to Live’ with the fifth talk “The resurrection” from Acts chapter 2 verses 22 to 24, verse 36 and Acts chapter 17 verses 22 to 31.

Two Ways to Live phone app

The Two Ways to Live gospel presentation is available as an iOS app for your iPhone or iPad, or if you have an Android phone, there is an app in the Google Play store.

Mission of the month: Church Missionary Society (CMS)

CMS is our mission of the month. Support this ministry by purchasing gifts from the ‘Mission Table’ in the Hall.

Men’s Dinner

You’re invited to join the men of Oak Flats and beyond on Tuesday night 6th September for the next Men’s Dinner. Our speaker is Peter Hayward, Bishop of Wollongong. 6.30pm at the Central Hotel Function Room. Bookings essential. Phone 0439 561 373 or email mensdinner@oakflatsanglican.com

Join a Small-group Bible Study!

Monday 7.30pm with Phil Pratt for young adults (at his house in Kiama Downs);
Wednesday 7.30pm with Trevor and Robyn Lucas (at their house in Jamberoo);
Friday 9.30am with Mandy McNeill for women (at her house in Jamberoo);
Sunday 9.45am with Graham Errington and Mark Howard (at the church);
Sunday 5pm with Mark Howard (at the church).

New roster coming soon

If you’re unavailable to serve on a roster from 19th September through to 11th December please let us know via comment card, email office@jamberooanglican.com or even better go to www.jamberooanglican.net

Visit of George Statheos

George Statheos will be visiting our church for four days from Thursday 15th September to Sunday 18th September for a mini-mission. Plan to bring a friend to church, and keep dinner free on the Saturday for a Greek meal! Please also pray for the organisation and planning of events.

It’s great to wear your nametags

Thank you for taking the time to find and wear your nametags each week. It’s a great way to connect with newcomers, and to strengthen our community.

 

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 .

It’s OK to talk about suicide

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Even though suicide is the biggest, single cause of death amongst men under 45, it’s still a topic we don’t like to discuss.

What’s more, many men who have contemplated suicide felt they couldn’t talk about their feelings.

The Bible doesn’t speak a great deal about suicide, although it does say that it is wrong to murder anyone, and that includes a person taking their own life.

Yet, whilst homicide or suicide are acts that disobey God, they are not acts that are beyond forgiveness.

After all, God accepts anyone who repents and believes in Jesus as Lord.

Yet, when a person takes their own life, they show that they have found it too hard to trust in God’s sovereignty.

In other words, they think that their life is in too much of a mess for even God to fix.

Sometimes this is made worse when people are affected by a form of mental illness, or if the person has committed some sins that seem too great to be forgiven by God or others.

Yet, even though our deepest trials, we should remember that God is in control of everything, and that even our personal trials exist so that we might grow in character and godliness.

As we read in the opening chapter of the letter of James:

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. (James chapter 1, verses 2 to 4)

No matter what your personal trial might be, it’s OK to talk about it.

Talk to God, talk to a friend, talk to a counsellor, talk to Lifeline on 131114… but don’t keep it to yourself.

Remember, #ITSOKTOTALK

Coming up this weekend 27th – 28th August 2016

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This weekend Jodie continues the series ‘Two Ways to Live’ with the fifth talk “The resurrection” from Acts chapter 2 verses 22 to 24, verse 36 and Acts chapter 17 verses 22 to 31.

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 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, 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 20th August 2016

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This weekend’s Bible Talk

This weekend Jodie continues the series ‘Two Ways to Live’ with the fourth talk “The cross” from Isaiah chapter 53 verses 3 to 6, verses 9 to 10 and 1 Peter chapter 2 verses 22 to 24, chapter 3 verse 18.

Mission of the month: Church Missionary Society (CMS)

CMS is our mission of the month. Support this ministry by purchasing gifts from the ‘Mission Table’ in the Hall.

Parish Council

Our Parish Council meets this Monday, 22nd August at 2.30 pm at the church. Please remember them in your prayers.

Ladies Guild Meeting

The Ladies Guild are meeting this Wednesday, 24th August in the church hall at 2pm.

SWITCH Women’s Conference

The women’s conference for the Illawarra is coming up soon. Saturday 15th October from 8:45am to 4:30pm at Waterslea Conference Centre (Nowra). Cost $60. Details www.southernwomen.org.au

Join a Small-group Bible Study!

Monday 7.30pm with Phil Pratt for young adults (at his house in Kiama Downs);
Wednesday 7.30pm with Trevor and Robyn Lucas (at their house in Jamberoo);
Friday 9.30am with Mandy McNeill for women (at her house in Jamberoo);
Sunday 9.45am with Graham Errington and Mark Howard (at the church);
Sunday 5pm with Mark Howard (at the church).

New roster coming soon

If you’re unavailable to serve on a roster from 19th September through to 11th December please let us know via comment card, email office@jamberooanglican.com or even better go to www.jamberooanglican.net

Visit of George Statheos

George Statheos will be visiting our church for four days from Thursday 15th September to Sunday 18th September for a mini-mission. Plan to bring a friend to church, and keep dinner free on the Saturday for a Greek meal! Please also pray for the organisation and planning of events.

 

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 joy of life together

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Rayne

As I prepare to return to Canada after seven months as your Youth Ministry Intern, I recall one of my favourite parts of Scripture:

“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.  And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” – Colossians 3:15-17

These verses simply and profoundly tell the Church how we are to be with one another.

As I read these words and reflect on my time with Oak Flats and Jamberoo Anglican Churches, I see this passage being lived out.

It is beyond encouraging to walk into church on a weekend and be greeted by a room full of people who clearly love the good Lord and his church deeply, are at peace with one another, and take such joy in worshipping God communally. 

In caring so deeply for the church family, even times of trials and admonishment seem to come and go with joy (James 1:2-3) and thankfulness in our churches, which further reflects the integrity of God being so clearly at the centre of everything.

Many churches do not reflect Colossians 3 as well as your two parishes do. Your witness as church congregations is profound.

I hope you are encouraged by this and continue to build one another up (1 Thessalonians 5:11) as the body of Christ, for I have been so encouraged by you. I will thank God for you always.

Blessings, Rayne Loehndorf

Coming up this weekend 20th – 21st August 2016

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This weekend Jodie continues the series ‘Two Ways to Live’ with the fourth talk “The cross” from Isaiah chapter 53 verses 3 to 6, verses 9 to 10 and 1 Peter chapter 2 verses 22 to 24, chapter 3 verse 18.

At both our services we will hear a mission update about CMS – our mission of the month.

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, 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 13th August 2016

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This weekend’s Bible Talk

This weekend Jodie continues the series ‘Two Ways to Live’ with the third talk “God’s judgement” from Deuteronomy chapter 29 verses 16 to 20, and 2 Thessalonians chapter 1 verses 6 to 10.

You, me and the Bible course

At the same time as our ‘Two Ways to Live’ talk series we’re going to be going together through the workbook ‘You, me and the Bible’. If your small group leader’s not doing it then you can grab a copy for just $5 and do it with a friend.

Mission of the month: Anglicare

Anglicare is our mission of the month. Support this ministry by purchasing gifts from the ‘Mission Table’ in the Hall.

Ladies Dinner

You’re invited to join the ladies of Oak Flats and our region this Tuesday 16th August to hear Kara Hartley. Dinner is $7 payable on the night at 35 Fisher Street Oak Flats, and there is no need to RSVP.

Mike Baird at Shellharbour Prayer Breakfast

Premier Mike Baird is speaking at the Shellharbour Prayer Breakfast, Friday 28th October 7am at Ravensthorpe, Albion Park. Join the other churches of our region to hear Mike’s Christian testimony. Tickets $45 available online at  shellharbourprayerbreakfast.org

Join a Small-group Bible Study!

Monday 7.30pm with Phil Pratt for young adults (at his house in Kiama Downs);
Wednesday 7.30pm with Trevor and Robyn Lucas (at their house in Jamberoo);
Friday 9.30am with Mandy McNeill for women (at her house in Jamberoo);
Sunday 9.45am with Graham Errington and Mark Howard (at the church);
Sunday 5pm with Mark Howard (at the church).

SWITCH Women’s Conference

The women’s conference for the Illawarra is coming up soon. Saturday 15th October from 8:45am to 4:30pm at Waterslea Conference Centre (Nowra). Cost $60. Details www.southernwomen.org.au

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 .

Faster, higher, stronger?

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7721180-3x2-700x467As we reach the midpoint of the 2016 Summer Olympics we’re reminded again of the wonder of the human body.

Each day we hear about the smashing of world records, as we witness men and women go faster, higher and stronger.

It is right to be amazed at the way that God has made us, but we must be careful not to worship creation rather than the creator.

For, we read in the Bible that this can become the end point in a downwards spiral away from true worship of God.

Even though God has made it very clear that he is worthy of all praise, people have chosen to neither glorify him nor to give him thanks. (Romans 1:21)

And this has naturally led to people to worship created objects, which ultimately means they have exchanged the truth of God for a lie. (Romans 1:25)

This sounds a little intense, but the temptation to worship created things rather than the creation is something that is part of human nature, and even the pleasure of the Olympics can result in idolatry if we are not careful and wise.

So, enjoy cheering on the green and gold… but as you see humans break through the limits of speed, height and strength, be sure to give God the glory!