Church news for the week beginning 11th June 2016

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This weekend’s Bible Talk

This weekend we welcome Mark Short from Bush Church Aid (BCA), who is speaking on the topic “Mission: unchained and unchanging” from Acts chapter 12 verses 1 to 24.

New mini-series next week

Next week Jodie begins a three-week Bible talk series called ‘Leviticus: Life in God’s presence’, with the first talk ‘Sacrifice–the cost of pleasing God’, from Leviticus chapter 1.

Mission of the month: Moore College

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

MiXer – Voting for Dummies

Young Adults event at the Pratt’s Place (78 North Kiama Drive, Kiama Downs) from 6pm on Monday 13th June. Join us for dinner with guest speaker: Geoff Kyngdon.

Year 13 Fiji Mission Trip

Liana McNeill and Daniel Rainey, along with a team of 120 from the Year 13 program, head off to Fiji this Thursday, 16th June for a month-long mission trip. Please remember them in your prayers.

Gong Men’s Day

Join us on Saturday June 18th, 9am till 2pm or 5pm to 9.30pm at Dapto Anglican for a great day of teaching and encouragement for the men of our region. Price is $35 (or $25 concession). Register online at www.gongmensday.net

Jamberoo Interchurch Service

Join with fellow churchgoers around our village and valley in our quarterly interchurch service. Sunday 19th June at 7pm at Jamberoo Anglican Church. Please bring a plate for supper as we are the host.

Ladies Dinner

You’re invited to join the ladies of Oak Flats and our region on Tuesday 21st June to hear Stacie Pakula. Dinner is $7 payable on the night at 35 Fisher Street Oak Flats, and there is no need to RSVP.

Introductory Pastoral Care Course

This course is perfect for those interested in becoming a Volunteer Hospital Chaplain or Church Pastoral Carer. Runs over 5 Saturdays during August & September, 9am to 3pm at Oak Flats Anglican. Email office@jamberooanglican.com for more information.

Soup and Sandwich lunch

Join the Ladies Guild of Jamberoo Anglican for a Soup and Sandwich lunch on Wednesday 13th July. Guest speaker is Alison Blake speaking on the topic “Who do you think you are?” from Matthew chapter 1. Cost is $10 at Jamberoo Anglican church hall at 11.30am. Please RSVP to Helen on 4236 0158 for catering purposes.

Japanese Students visiting Jamberoo

A group of 15 primary-aged Japanese students will be visiting Jamberoo Public School from 30th July to 3rd August. If you are able to host a Japanese student for theses four nights, please see Graham Errington for more information or email him on graham.errington@jamberooanglican.com 

 

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 .

All other ground is sinking sand

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Erosion along Sydney beaches (CREDIT: David Morgan-Mar via Flickr)

Erosion along Sydney beaches (CREDIT: David Morgan-Mar via Flickr)

This week we’ve seen the powerful forces of wind and rain.

Whether it’s been the flooding of buildings around Picton, or the erosion of the beach at Collaroy, we’ve witnessed just how easily our homes can be damaged or destroyed by ‘natural’ forces.

As we saw these pictures in the media, many of us might have recalled the story Jesus told about two men who built homes on very different foundations:

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.” (Matthew chapter 7 verses 24 to 27)

Jesus was speaking about the need to hear his words and put them into practice.

For if we don’t build our life on the solid foundation of Jesus, then we’ll be investing everything on something that is only a big storm away from being destroyed.

Let’s pray for those who have been affected by the storms that have lashed the East Coast over the past week, and ask God to help them rebuild their lives.

But more than that, let’s pray that this graphic illustration reminds everyone of the need to stand upon the solid ground of Jesus’ word, since all other ground is sinking sand.

Coming up this weekend 11th – 12th June 2016

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This weekend we welcome Mark Short, who is speaking on the topic “Mission: unchained and unchanging” from Acts chapter 12 verses 1 to 24.

Mark is the National Director of Bush Church Aid (BCA) and will share a presentation about BCA and the support they offer for churches in remote and regional Australia.

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

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 4th – 5th June 2016

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This weekend’s Bible Talk

This weekend we welcome Geoff Kyngdon who is speaking on the topic “The nature and character of God” from Psalm 139.

Mission of the month: Moore College

Moore College 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 this Tuesday night 7th June for the next Men’s Dinner. Our speaker is Moussa Ghazal. 6.30pm at the Central Hotel Function Room. Bookings essential. Phone 0439 561 373 or email mensdinner@oakflatsanglican.com

MiXer – Voting for Dummies

Young Adults event at the Pratt’s Place (78 North Kiama Drive, Kiama Downs) from 6pm on Monday 13th June. Join us for dinner with guest speaker: Geoff Kyngdon.

Gong Men’s Day

Join us on Saturday June 18th, 9am till 2pm or 5pm to 9.30pm at Dapto Anglican for a great day of teaching and encouragement for the men of our region. Price is $35 (or $25 concession). Register online at www.gongmensday.net

New roster coming soon

If you’re unavailable to serve on a roster from 27th June through 18th September please let us know via comment card, email office@jamberooanglican.com or even better go to www.jamberooanglican.net

Introductory Pastoral Care Course

This course is perfect for those interested in becoming a Volunteer Hospital Chaplain or Church Pastoral Carer. Runs over 5 Saturdays during August & September, 9am to 3pm at Oak Flats Anglican. Email office@jamberooanglican.com for more information.

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 .

God’s word is really powerful

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(CREDIT: Matthew Keefe via Flickr)

(CREDIT: Matthew Keefe via Flickr)

We don’t really appreciate power until we lose it.

Some of us have felt the powerlessness in retirement, where one day we’ve got power over people and processes, and then the next day, this power is given over to someone younger.

Some of us have felt the powerlessness during poor health, where one day we’re running around a field, or carrying bags of groceries, or just tying your shoelaces, and then the next day we’re confined to crutches, or bedrest, or told about the medical condition that will now define our future.

Some of us have experienced powerlessness through abuse, where one day we’re young and free, able to make choices about life and actions, and then the next day your spouse takes away your power to contact friends, or spend money, or make simple choices.

So, we cry out to God to ask him to fix this world that suffers so much from the powerlessness of loss and sickness and abuse, and as we pray, God shows us the very thing that has the power to change everything.

It’s the power that is summed up in the simple phrase, “Jesus is Lord”, and it’s the power that transforms lives in this life, and in the life that is to come.

Romans chapter 1 verse 16: “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.”

For, as people hear the gospel of Jesus, and believe in him as Lord and Saviour, then hope comes from the power of the gospel to bring true forgiveness and genuine reconciliation.

This side of Heaven we won’t enjoy the full peace that we await, but we will have real hope in the real Jesus as we await his return or our going to be with him.

Coming up this weekend 4th – 5th June 2016

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This weekend we welcome Geoff Kyngdon from Oak Flats Anglican, who is speaking on the topic “The nature and character of God” from Psalm 139.

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 Morning Prayer AAPB.

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 28th – 29th May 2016

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This weekend’s Bible Talk

This weekend we continue a mini-series called ‘Know and Tell the Gospel’.  Jodie will be speaking on the topic “The power of  the gospel”, from Romans chapter 1 verses 8 to 17.

Mission of the month: Moore College

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

Refuge Retreat

Our high-school-aged youth group is going away on a weekend camp at Burrill Pines next weekend, 3rd to 5th June. Already we’ve got many non-church kids joining us. We’re charging only $20 per kid, including food, transport and accomodation, so that we can make it as easy as possible for people to join. Spread the news with the teenagers you know, and if you’re willing and able, we’d love cash donations to help us make the subsidies possible.

Dinner at the Bowlo

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

Men’s Dinner

You’re invited to join the men of Oak Flats and beyond on Tuesday night 7th June for the next Men’s Dinner. Our speaker is Moussa Ghazal. 6.30pm at the Central Hotel Function Room. Bookings essential. Phone 0439 561 373 or email mensdinner@oakflatsanglican.com

Gong Men’s Day

Join us on Saturday June 18th, 9am till 2pm or 5pm to 9.30pm at Dapto Anglican for a great day of teaching and encouragement for the men of our region. Price is $35 (or $25 concession). Register online at www.gongmensday.net

New roster coming soon

If you’re unavailable to serve on a roster from 27th June through 18th September please let us know via comment card, email office@jamberooanglican.com or even better go to www.jamberooanglican.net

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 .

Saying ‘sorry’ is just the first step

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sorry in the sky

Sorry Day over Sydney Harbour (CREDIT: Butuba via flickr.com)

Thursday was National Sorry Day in Australia, a day to recognise all the damage done to Indigenous peoples of Australia since the arrival of the British in 1788.

I’ve witnessed people roll their eyes at this stuff before, and not only scoff but even protest against the welfare policies provided to Indigenous peoples today that give them assistance in housing and education, as if it’s somehow unfair.

They probably didn’t realise at the time that I am Indigenous myself.

Massacres of Indigenous peoples were still occurring well into the 20’s and 30’s of last century, often tacitly approved by–if not involving–law enforcement.

After being legally considered flora and fauna for over 100 years, they were only recognised as citizens in 1967.

Tens of thousands of children with mixed Indigenous/non-Indigenous descent were stolen from their families for ‘assimilation’, to absorb them into ‘white’ people while the rest were assumed to die out–and this was occurring until the 1970s, the decade before I was born.

This was not to be officially recognised by the Australian Government until the 1990’s, allowing for consequences to spiral further for another generation.

We are not talking about ancient history: we are talking about hundreds of people groups on this continent who have lost not only their land but their languages, culture, families, identity, and, for ninety percent of them, their lives.

This doesn’t just resolve the moment that the destruction stops, for there needs to be proactive help and reconciliation.

There are generations of Indigenous people today who have been severely disadvantaged from birth because their parents were severely disadvantaged and suffered greatly, and the problem has amplified.

Government assistance with things like housing and education is not only reasonable, but a minimum.

We are still a long way from an equal playing field. 

John Hanlen (one of the members of last week’s Moore College team, who spoke at our church last Saturday night).

Church news for the week beginning 21st – 22nd May 2016

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This weekend’s Bible Talk

At our 5pm Saturday service, we welcome Matt Straw who is speaking on the topic “Real Hope, Real Jesus”, from Luke chapter 24 verses 36 to 48.

At our 8am Sunday service, we welcome John Hanlen who is speaking on the topic “The Real Problem”, from Mark chapter 2 verses 1 to 10.

Mission of the month: Moore College

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

New Website is live!

Visit www.jamberooanglican.com to see our new website. Check out the photos… you might see yourself in there somewhere!

Chops, Chips & Chocolate… and Church!

As part of our ‘Back to Church’ Saturday this weekend, we’re having a meal of chops, chips and chocolate after our 5pm service. Free chops, chips, and a chocolate fountain… plus some salads (for the health conscious!).

Join a small group

If you’re not part of a small group, then why not join one? It’s a great way to get to know others and God, in a safe and enjoyable community. There’s one on Wednesday night, Friday morning, and Sunday morning. Details at www.jamberooanglican.com/biblestudies or make a note on a Comment Card.

 

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 .

Coming up this weekend 28th – 29th May 2016

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This weekend we continue a mini-series called ‘Know and Tell the Gospel’.  Jodie will be speaking on the topic “The power of  the gospel”, from Romans chapter 1 verses 8 to 17.

It’s also the right time for us to recognise many of the needs of our missionaries, so we’ll have a special report about what’s been happening in the lives of our partners in global, word ministry.

Our 8am Sunday service will be 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.