Church news for the week beginning 25th August 2018

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This weekend’s Bible talk

This weekend we continue our series on ‘Romans: The Heart of Truth’, with Jodie speaking on the topic ‘Blessed assurance’ from Romans chapter 8 verses 31 to 39.

Mission of the month

Anglicare is our mission of the month. Support this ministry through the ‘Mission Table’ in the Hall.

Wednesday’s HSC Study Hall

Each Wednesday from 3.30-5.30pm we want to provide a space for HSC students to get out of their bedrooms and have a fresh place to study alongside other students each week. Starting this week at the church for all of Term 3, and into exam time if desired. There will be FREE coffee and homemade afternoon tea. No fee, just an open door for some extra support in the HSC season.

Parish Council

Our Parish Council meets this Monday, 27th August at 7.00pm at the church. Please remember them in your prayers.

GAFCON Information Night

Join us this Wednesday 29th August at 7.30pm at St Michael’s Cathedral, Wollongong to hear more about GAFCON and to pray for the movement.

Kiama/Jamberoo Bible Society Coffee Afternoon

All are warmly invited to attend the Kiama/Jamberoo Bible Society Coffee Afternoon on Saturday 1st September starting promptly at 2pm, at St Peter & Paul School Hall, Manning Street, Kiama. Special guest speaker: Melissa Lipsett, Chief Operations Officer for the Bible Society Group.

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 $6272.00, leaving a gap of $28.00.Olimometer 2.52Up to the end of the last calendar month we needed to have received $98,802. Compared to that total we received $109,200, leaving a gap of $-10,398.Olimometer 2.52Electronic 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 .

Contentment in all seasons

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CREDIT: Photo 30miller, via Flickr.

We are a people who are not used to contentment. August is too cold & windy. February is too hot & not breezy enough. Our family members are too pushy. Our friends don’t support us enough. The HSC is too hard. There isn’t enough homework in primary school. It’s about time the National Energy Guarantee is coming! Who cares about emissions, everything is meaningless!

We can all complain on any given day. And sometimes it’s deserved. Some seasons are really hard and difficult. Declines in health, death, relationship issues, stress from work or study, division in our churches. But, there are also great seasons in life where there is great joy, fulfilment, and one feels carefree.

But no matter the season, we are called to be content. Paul has amazing wisdom here saying:

I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength. Philippians 4:11-13

I am reminded of Horatio Spafford who was able to write the beloved hymn It is Well with My Soul in the face of great tragedy, losing his four daughters at sea. Though I hope no one in our congregations will face such tragedy, it is my prayer that in the face of all hardship we will be a people who will rely on the Lord to give us strength and we will reach for contentment.

We are blessed. For “whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father” (James 1:17). Let’s be a church that lives in thankfulness to the Good Lord and contentment.

RAYNE ORANGE

Coming up this weekend 25th – 26th August 2018

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This weekend we continue our series on ‘Romans: The Heart of Truth’, with Jodie speaking on the topic ‘Blessed assurance’ from Romans chapter 8 verses 31 to 39.

It has been three years since we launched our Saturday 5pm church service, so we will have a time to celebrate this anniversary during our service.

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. Our youth group ‘Alive’ is taking a break for the holidays, but will return next week.. 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.

See you at 5pm this Saturday or 8am this Sunday, God willing!

Church news for the week beginning 18th August 2018

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This weekend’s Bible talk

This weekend we continue our series on ‘Romans: The Heart of Truth’, with Simon Chaplin speaking on the topic ‘The spirit of glory’ from Romans chapter 8 verses 26 to 30.

Mission of the month

Anglicare is our mission of the month. Support this ministry through the ‘Mission Table’ in the Hall.

Ladies’ Dinner

Our next Ladies’ Dinners is this Tuesday 21st August with guest speaker Kara Hartley who will speak on the topic of ‘Godly Conflict – How to have a good fight!’. We will also now start at 6.30pm at Oak Flats Anglican, cost $15. Please visit www.oakflatsanglican.com/ladiesdinner to register.

MTS Information Night

Find out about MTS ministry apprenticeships at an information night this Wednesday 22nd August 7.30pm at the Shellharbour Civic Centre, with speaker Ben Pfahlert.

GAFCON Information Night

Join us on Wednesday 29th August at 7.30pm at St Michael’s Cathedral, Wollongong to hear more about GAFCON and to pray for the movement.

KBECET Fundraiser

NSW Police Band at Gerringong Town Hall, Thursday 23rd August, 10.30am to 12 noon. Tickets $20. Contact Vic East on 4236 0525

Kiama/Jamberoo Bible Society Coffee Afternoon

All are warmly invited to attend the Kiama/Jamberoo Bible Society Coffee Afternoon on Saturday 1st September starting promptly at 2pm, at St Peter & Paul School Hall, Manning Street, Kiama. Special guest speaker: Melissa Lipsett, Chief Operations Officer for the Bible Society Group.

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 $6272.00, leaving a gap of $28.00.Olimometer 2.52Up to the end of the last calendar month we needed to have received $98,802. Compared to that total we received $109,200, leaving a gap of $-10,398.Olimometer 2.52Electronic 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 .

Romans Eight Twenty-eight

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CREDIT: Photo Chad Burnett, via Flickr.

Once there was a man who went to prison, and as he lay in bed on his first night, he heard someone call out, “49”, which was then followed by laughter from all the other prisoners.

Then another prisoner called out, “26”, which was followed by even more laughs.

When the new prisoner asked what was happening, he was told that the inmates have heard every joke so many times that they’ve given each joke a number to make things simpler.

So, the new inmate called out, “23”, but nobody laughed.

When he asked why his joke didn’t get a laugh, they said, “it’s the way you told it.”

Some verses in the Bible are so well known that we just need to say the reference in order to bring to mind the word of comfort and assurance.

The reference “Romans 8:28” is one of them:

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

When it feels like life is spinning out of control, we must remember, “Romans 8:28”.

When we are uncertain about the future, we can tell each other, “Romans 8:28”.

When things happen that are hard to accept, we can assure each other by saying, “Romans 8:28”.

We need to remember that God works in all things for the good of those who love him, and we are right to find great comfort in this assurance.

We never know what is in store for us, but we must always remember that nothing takes God by surprise.

And you can be sure that “Romans 8:28” will be a great source of comfort and assurance, no matter how you tell it.

JODIE McNEILL

Coming up this weekend 18th – 19th August 2018

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This weekend we continue our series on ‘Romans: The Heart of Truth’, with Simon Chaplin speaking on the topic ‘The spirit of glory’ from Romans chapter 8 verses 26 to 30.

During both our services this weekend, we will have a special book review from one of our church members from a book that they have recently read.

At our 5pm Saturday service we will have our weekly question and answer time, and Jodie will be answering these questions:

  1. How does the Bible describe the soul, which is the only thing that survives this life?
  2. Is everything we see with our eyes recorded in our memory?
  3. If you are not aware of a particular sin that you may be committing, are you still able to have a good relationship with God?
  4. Should Christians try to influence the ethical decisions made with artificial intelligence technology?

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. Our youth group ‘Alive’ runs straight after dinner on Saturday night. 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.

See you at 5pm this Saturday or 8am this Sunday, God willing!

Church news for the week beginning 11th August 2018

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This weekend’s Bible talk

This weekend we continue our series on ‘Romans: The Heart of Truth’, with Jodie speaking on the topic ‘The spirit of hope’ from Romans chapter 8 verses 18 to 25.

Mission of the month

Anglicare is our mission of the month. Support this ministry through the ‘Mission Table’ in the Hall.

Ladies’ Dinner

Our next Ladies’ Dinners will be held on Tuesday 21st August with guest speaker Kara Hartley who will speak on the topic of ‘God Conflict – How to have a good fight!’. We will also now start at 6.30pm at Oak Flats Anglican, cost $15. Please visit www.oakflatsanglican.com/ladiesdinner to register.

MTS Information Night

Find out about MTS ministry apprenticeships at an information night this Wednesday 22nd August 7.30pm at the Shellharbour Civic Centre, with speaker Ben Pfahlert.

KBECET Fundraiser

NSW Police Band at Gerringong Town Hall, Thursday 23rd August, 10.30am to 12 noon. Tickets $20. Contact Vic East on 4236 0525

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 $6272.00, leaving a gap of $28.00.Olimometer 2.52Up to the end of the last calendar month we needed to have received $98,802. Compared to that total we received $109,200, leaving a gap of $-10,398.Olimometer 2.52Electronic 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 .

Blessings from hard things

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Throughout life I’ve realised that it’s often when I’m doing the hardest things that it’s the time that I’m growing the most.

It might be carrying a 23kg pack on a five-day, 50km walk around the exposed wilderness of Wilsons Promentory.

Or, it might be learning to stand up on my mid-life-crisis longboard, without causing further damage to my middle-aged joints and muscles.

But one time in my life that was very hard but very rewarding was my four-year stint at Moore Theological College.

This is the place I was pushed harder than I could imagine to know as much about God, his world, and myself through the studying of the Bible and the writings of the great ones who have so-helpfully grappled with the queen of the sciences.

Yet, it wasn’t just the study that was hard. The four years of learning and living in community forged friendships through the trials we faced, together.

I praise God that the time in College was one where we were all supported by godly and caring faculty and staff, who always sought to help us grow in every way, in preparation for our future opportunities in word ministry.

It was tough, but it was good tough.

Moore College is one of the finest places on the planet to study theology in a community that cherishes God’s word as his true and reliable revelation, and we need to keep praying and supporting this important ministry.

Our church benefits from this every day as our trained ministers stand on the foundations learnt from the study at Moore, and as we seek to then teach others what we, ourselves, have learnt.

As we celebrate Moore College Sunday, let’s keep praying that Moore College keeps equipping men and women for mission and ministry.

Jodie.

Coming up this weekend 11th – 12th August 2018

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This weekend we continue our series on ‘Romans: The Heart of Truth’, with Jodie speaking on the topic ‘The spirit of hope’ from Romans chapter 8 verses 18 to 25.

We will share the Lord’s Supper at 5pm Saturday, so be sure to join us for this important reminder of the death of Jesus.

Also during our 5pm Saturday service we will have our weekly question and answer time, and Jodie will be answering these questions:

  1. Does Satan have power over animals?
  2. Do all humans have an instinctive faith in God?
  3. When a person attains sainthood, are they still sinners?
  4. Since we are co-heirs with Christ, does that mean we’re related to him?
  5. When we say ‘Jesus loves me, this I know’, does this include all unbelievers?

And we will hear a special update on the ministry of Moore College and spend time on prayer for the College and its students.

Our 8am Sunday service will be a Holy Communion First 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. Our youth group ‘Alive’ runs straight after dinner on Saturday night. 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.

See you at 5pm this Saturday or 8am this Sunday, God willing!

Church news for the week beginning 4th August 2018

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This weekend’s Bible talk

This weekend we continue our series on ‘Romans: The Heart of Truth’, with Jodie speaking on the topic ‘The spirit of adoption’ from Romans chapter 8 verses 14 to 17.

Mission of the month

Anglicare is our mission of the month. Support this ministry through the ‘Mission Table’ in the Hall.

Men’s Dinner

The next Men’s Dinner will be held this Tuesday 7th August at 6.30pm at the Central Hotel Shellharbour, with guest speaker, Richard Chin, speaking on the topic ‘Male Misunderstandings of Marriage: God’s word to husbands and would-be husbands’. $31 per person (or $23 concession). Register online at www.oakflatsanglican.com/mensdinner.

Alive Unite event

This Friday 10th August from 7-9pm our youth group, Alive, are hosting a combined youth event called ‘Unite’. For more information contact Rayne on rayne.orange@jamberooanglican.com.

Ladies’ Dinner

Our next Ladies’ Dinners will be held on Tuesday 21st August with guest speaker Kara Hartley who will speak on the topic of ‘God Conflict – How to have a good fight!’. We will also now start at 6.30pm at Oak Flats Anglican, cost $15. Please visit www.oakflatsanglican.com/ladiesdinner to register.

KBECET Fundraiser

NSW Police Band at Gerringong Town Hall, Thursday 23rd August, 10.30am to 12 noon. Tickets $20. Contact Vic East on 4236 0525

SWITCH Lite – Save the date!

The women’s conference for the Illawarra is coming up in October. Join us on Saturday 27th October, 9am to 12.30pm at Bomaderry Anglican Church. The guest speaker is Claire Smith, who is speaking on the topic “God’s Good Design”. We will explore what the bible really says about men & women. Cost is $20 or $15 (student or concession). For more details and to book visit www.southernwomen.org.au. Registrations close 21st October.

 

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 $6272.00, leaving a gap of $28.00.Olimometer 2.52Up to the end of the last calendar month we needed to have received $98,802. Compared to that total we received $109,200, leaving a gap of $-10,398.Olimometer 2.52Electronic 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 .