It’s hard to work out what to write in my final news sheet article as we farewell you this weekend after our ten years serving at Jamberoo Anglican Church.

I trust the Lord will give me the right words to speak in my final sermon and in our speeches after dinner, but for now, I thought I’d take some inspiration from the closing words of the Apostle Paul as he wrote to the Christians in Philippi, from chapter 4:

“And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honourable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.” (Philippians 4:8-9)

These words beautifully sum up the sentiment of a man who sought for his flock to be focused on what matters most.

Paul wanted his church at Philippi to focus on things that are “excellent and worthy of praise.”

As we approach change and uncertainty, we can easily be distracted by worldly matters, and drift into worldly behaviour.

But instead, let us keep imitating the Apostle, who imitated Christ Jesus.

As we look to the future, let us fix our thoughts on Christ and live lives that truly follow his example, so that in doing, we will have with us the God of peace, himself.

What’s more, we will experience the peace of God, “which exceeds anything we can understand”, knowing for certain that “his peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:7)

JODIE McNEILL