All other ground is sinking sand
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
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
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 $4600.00 in order to meet our commitments. In the last calendar month, our average weekly giving was $4302.00, leaving a gap of $298.00.
Up to the end of the last calendar month we needed to have received $46,800. Compared to that total we received $46,977, leaving a gap of $-177.
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
(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
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.