Is Greta Right?

This week the speech of a 16-year-old Swedish girl was a leading news story as Greta Thunberg addressed the UN Climate Action Summit.

In her powerful speech, she strongly criticised the leaders of the world, accusing them of prioritising wealth and economic growth over action to address climate change.

You are failing us. But the young people are starting to understand your betrayal. The eyes of all future generations are upon you. And if you choose to fail us I say we will never forgive you.

Greta Thunberg

Yet, have politicians been negligent in the face of a catastrophic global crisis, or are they acting reasonably in response to limited resources and competing priorities?

The Bible does not specifically address the issue of climate change, but God tells us that we should “tend and watch over” his creation he made for us.

However, we all naturally drift towards selfishness and greed as we reject the loving rule of God and our responsibility to rule under his leadership.

The only way we can escape God’s judgement is to acknowledge our failures and make a fresh start by trusting Jesus and accepting the forgiveness that comes his death.

And as we rightly acknowledge God’s good rule over the world, we will then seek to take care of his creation, by avoiding selfishness and greed, and instead caring for others by preserving our planet.

There is no doubt that Greta’s criticisms have some merit, as we have seen tragic acts of environmental abuse from human greed and selfishness.

Yet, we must never forget that the greatest human crisis is the coming judgement by God, and so we must not lose focus on the need to share the good news of Jesus far and wide, knowing that this world will ultimately fade away.

JODIE McNEILL

Church News for the week beginning 29th September

OUR BIBLE TALK

This weekend, special guest speaker Dan Odell from Shellharbour Anglican College, will speak to us from 1 Thessalonians chapter 4 on the topic ‘Hope in Death’. Can death really bring about hope? Next weekend, Trevor Lucas will be speaking from Hebrews and asking the question, “Who Needs a High Priest?” Come along to find out!

MISSION OF THE MONTH

Support Cameron and Alex Jones with Irish Church Missions through the ‘Mission Table’ by buying or donating fresh or prepared food items.

HOLIDAY KIDS CLUB

Our Holiday Kids Club is on 8-12 October. If you’re available to help let us know. Register at www.jamberooanglican.com/HolidayKidsClub – $50 per child for the full week (family maximum $100).

SWITCH WOMEN’S CONFERENCE

Saturday 19th October, from 9am to 12:30pm at Bomaderry Anglican. Register https://southernwomen.org.au/ A great local conference for women with speaker Annabel Nixey. Not to be missed!

KBECET DINNER

The ‘Kiama Board for Employing Christian Education Teachers’ (KBECET) is having its annual dinner on Saturday 19th October 2019, 6:30 for 7pm at Kiama Anglican. Tickets $25. See Trevor Lucas for registration.

WORKING BEE

Come roll up your sleeves and help us at our church working bee next Saturday 5th October from 8am. We’re getting things ready for our Holiday Kids Club, so would love you to lend a hand.

NEW ROSTERS COMING SOON

Please advise ‘unavailabilities’ via Elvanto, email, or your response slip.

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 $5513.00, leaving a gap of $787.00. Olimometer 2.52 Up to the end of the last calendar month we needed to have received $54,600. Compared to that total we received $48,216, leaving a gap of $6,384.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 28-29 September 2019

This week we’re welcoming special guest Dan Odell, chaplain at Shellharbour Anglican College, who will be looking at the special topic, ‘Hope in Death’, from the New Testament book 1 Thessalonians, chapter 4. How is it possible that death might bring hope? Come and find out from this remarkable book of the Bible.

We’re taking a break this week from our regular ‘Question and Answer’ spot, but we have lots of great things planned for the next few weeks.

Don’t forget to register for the Holiday Kids Club at www.jamberooanglican.com/HolidayKidsClub and tell your friends about this terrific week of fun-filled Christian activities.

So, we’d love to see you at 5pm on Saturday for an all-age service with kids’ club with hearty dinner, or come at 9am Sunday for a more classic-style Anglican service, followed by espresso and a great morning tea.

Grace and peace, Jodie.

Acts: Launching the Church 9: Opportunity and Opposition Acts 11:19-12:24 Jodie McNeill – 21 and 22 September 2019

Fuel on the fire of the early church.

We want to be _________ in our outreach.

God puts the right people in the _____ place.

The church heads _____.

They sent Barnabas to _________.

Stay ____ to the Lord.

Barnabas sought out ____.

In Antioch we’re named __________.

The Holy Spirit warned of a ______.

Their generosity was ___________.

Their giving is ___________.

King Herod launches ___________.

He killed James and __________ Peter.

An angel wakes Peter and _____ him.

Peter’s release is a _______.

They finally _______ the miracle.

Herod failed to ____ Christianity.

The true God won’t tolerate ___________.

Persecution _____ the church.

Church news for the week beginning 21st September 2019

OUR BIBLE TALK

This weekend Jodie continues our Acts series ‘Launching the Church’. Today’s talk is on Acts 11:19-12:24, called ‘Opportunity and opposition’. Next week we welcome special guest Dan Odell from Shellharbour Anglican College to speak to us from 1 Thessalonians chapter 4 on the topic ‘Hope in Death’.

MISSION OF THE MONTH

Support Cameron and Alex Jones with Irish Church Missions through the ‘Mission Table’ by buying or donating fresh or prepared food items.

HOLIDAY KIDS CLUB

Our Holiday Kids Club is on 8-12 October. If you’re available to help let us know. Register at www.jamberooanglican.com/HolidayKidsClub – $50 per child for the full week (family maximum $100).

KIDS CLUB MEETING

Everyone involved in the club is encouraged to attend an important meeting next Saturday 28th September 2-4pm.

KATHY BUGGLES FUNERAL

Graham Errington’s mother passed away last week. Her funeral will be held in our church in a few weeks’ time.

NEW SMS NUMBER

Our church now has its own SMS number! Contact our staff by messaging 0439 890 086, and add it to your contacts!

SWITCH WOMEN’S CONFERENCE

Saturday 19th October, from 9am to 12:30pm at Bomaderry Anglican. Register https://southernwomen.org.au/ A great local conference for women with speaker Annabel Nixey. Not to be missed!

RFS ‘GET READY’ DAY

This Sunday 22nd September 9am to 2pm our church is serving the community by running the face painting! Why don’t you pop down and visit our stall?

NEW OFFICE ASSISTANT

Welcome to our new Administration and Communications Assistant,
Kiarnay Cignarella! 

NEW ROSTERS COMING SOON

Please advise ‘unavailabilities’.

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 $5513.00, leaving a gap of $787.00. Olimometer 2.52 Up to the end of the last calendar month we needed to have received $54,600. Compared to that total we received $48,216, leaving a gap of $6,384.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 Time to Get Ready

One of the most frustrating aspects of fighting fires is turning up to help a resident whose home is completely unprepared for the coming attack.

If the householder had cleared out their gutters, raked away the leaves and removed the piles of branches from near their home, then it would be so much easier to save the home and prevent the heartache.

When you live in a fire-prone area, it is vital to hear the warnings and prepare for the coming threat, and that’s why the Rural Fire Service have annual ‘Get Ready’ events to educate and motivate people to prepare for the fire season.

For us in Jamberoo, the threat is real, with a long, dry, hot summer forecast, and the undeniable reality that it’s been over half a century since the ‘Black Monday’ fires that saw the escarpment burn all the way from Berry to the northern Illawarra.

We should all be prepared because the threat is known and real, and we are all able to do something to minimise the danger.

In the Bible we read about another certain threat for which people must get ready, and that’s the return of Jesus.

As Christians regularly say together in the Apostles Creed, “Jesus will come again to judge the living and the dead.”

When Jesus returns it will bring an end to the pain, injustice and sadness of this world, and even though that judgement seems scary, it’s not something that Jesus’ followers should fear.

For we can trust the Bible when it says that “everyone who believes in Jesus will have their sins forgiven.” (Acts 10:43).

Jesus has given us a way to survive his coming judgement, but it means we need to spiritually ‘Get Ready’ by asking Jesus for forgiveness and trusting him as our loving leader.

His second coming is as certain as this year’s hot summer… so take the opportunity now to get ready for judgement day by taking refuge in his loving arms. 

JODIE McNEILL

Coming up this weekend 21-22 September

Last week we saw that the good news of Jesus has now crossed cultural barriers to be available for anyone who believes! And in our next episode from the book of Acts we see that the action moves north to a city called Antioch, which now forms the new hub for Christianity as it travels to the ends of the earth. However, we will see both opportunity and opposition, as the growth of the early church is directly confronted by an attack by the militant forces of the state.

So, be sure to come along and hear this message at one of our two sessions this weekend. Join us at 5pm on Saturday for an all-age service, with kids’ program, a hearty meal, then youth group for our teenagers. Or come at 9am Sunday and have a more classic-style Anglican service, followed by first-class espresso and lots of time to catch up!

We also will have a time to hear answers to the questions you asked last week, which are:

1 What were the unclean foods that Peter didn’t want to eat?
2 Why don’t Christians avoid unclean foods?
3 Why did Gentiles believe that Jesus was the Messiah, but not many Jews?
4 What happens when a Christian dies and goes through judgement?
5 Did Tabitha briefly go to heaven after she died before she came back to life?

If you’re a regular, or just thinking of popping in for the first time, please join us! You’re very welcome!

Grace and peace, Jodie.

Acts: Launching the Church 8: A Clean Change for the Church Acts 9:32-11:18 Jodie McNeill – 14 and 15 September 2019

Marvellous multiculturalism.

Jewish believers needed to cross ________.

It is _____ who heals.

The healing by Jesus made _________.

Cornelius was a powerful and religious _______.

The angel tells Cornelius to get _____.

The Lord challenges Peter to eat _______ food.

Peter obeys the Lord and travels to the _______.

Cornelius is ______ for the gospel.

It’s another Pentecost-like __________.

The Jewish believers __________ Peter.

Gentiles are now _____ with Jews.

It is a _________ to repent.

Powerful people still need to ______.

Church news for the week beginning 14-15 September 2019

OUR BIBLE TALK

This weekend Jodie continues our Acts series ‘Launching the Church’. Today’s talk is on Acts 9:32-11:18, called ‘A Clean Change for the Church’. Next week Jodie speaks on Acts 11:19-12:24 ‘Opportunity and opposition’.

MISSION OF THE MONTH

Support Cameron and Alex Jones with Irish Church Missions through the ‘Mission Table’ by buying or donating fresh or prepared food items (not bric-a-brac).

HOLIDAY KIDS CLUB

Our Holiday Kids Club is on 8-12 October. If you’re available to help let us know. Register at www.jamberooanglican.com/HolidayKidsClub – $50 per child for the full week (family maximum $100).

KIDS CLUB MEETING

Everyone involved in the club is encouraged to attend an important planning meeting on 28th September from 2-4pm.

NEW SMS NUMBER

Our church now has its own SMS number! Contact our staff by messaging 0439 890 086, and add it to your contacts!

INTERCHURCH GATHERING

This Sunday 15th September at 3pm, hosted by Jamberoo Uniting Church.

SWITCH WOMEN’S CONFERENCE

Saturday 19th October, from 9am to 12:30pm at Bomaderry Anglican. Registerhttps://southernwomen.org.au/
A great local conference for women with speaker Annabel Nixey.

ABORTION RALLY

This Sunday 15th September 2:30-5pm, Archibald Fountain, Hyde Park, Sydney. www.stand4.life

RFS ‘GET READY’ DAY

Next Sunday 22nd September 9am to 2pm our church is serving the community by running the facepainting! Can you help? 

FLASH WORKING BEE

Join us as we build the carpark retaining wall and put up the new child-safe fencing this Friday 20th September from 8am.

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 $5513.00, leaving a gap of $787.00. Olimometer 2.52 Up to the end of the last calendar month we needed to have received $54,600. Compared to that total we received $48,216, leaving a gap of $6,384.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.

Bring your kids to Egypt

After I prepared the promotional flyers for our holiday kids club, I realised that I had included a terrific photo of the Sphinx on the front, but didn’t once mention the word ‘Egypt’ or ‘Egyptian’ anywhere on the page!

I’ve since updated the newer versions to say ‘Egyptian Adventure’, but those who received an earlier sheet might have been confused about what Egypt has to do with modern Australian Christian kids.

The bottom line is that Egypt has a special place in the history of God’s people for all sorts of good and bad reasons.

On the one hand, Egypt was the place where our people experienced dreadful slavery at the hand of an evil and arrogant pharaoh, who defiantly opposed God and his appointed leader.

And yet on the other hand, Egypt was the place where God did powerful signs and wonders, which culminated in the remarkable parting of the Red Sea, and the triumphal escape from slavery.

And yet the reason we’re looking at Egypt in our October holiday club is actually because of the way that God famously used the horrible actions of Joseph’s eleven brothers (as shown in ‘Joseph and his Technicolor Dreamcoat’) as a means by which he would bring blessing to his family and even to all of the people of Egypt.

It’s summarised in the well-known statement of Joseph, who reflected on the mean acts of his brothers by saying, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people” (Genesis 50:20).

For us, the message is clear: even through difficult and confusing times, we can know that God still loves us and is in control.

And as we travel in time to Egypt in our holiday club, this will be a fresh and powerful reminder to the kids and adults alike that God really has got the whole world in his hand!

To find out more about the Holiday Kids Club and to register your kids go to www.jamberooanglican.com/holidaykidsclub

JODIE McNEILL