Taking things for granted

As Mandy and I spent two weeks in the Middle East, we understood how easy it is to take things for granted.

For example, even though I loved the Israeli Breakfast, with hummus, olives, falafel, fish, cheese, and pita bread, it made me crave Vegemite and bacon!

But our time at the GAFCON (Global Anglican Futures CONference) Jerusalem 2018 showed how easily we can take Sydney Anglicans for granted.

Our bishops and church leaders share our same love for Jesus, as he is revealed in the Bible.

They love it when we preach Christ faithfully through the gospel, and they support us when we defend the truth and seek to correct and rebuke people to restore them to godliness.

Yet, in other parts of the world, the hierarchy actively seeks to persecute Anglicans who are simply doing what Anglicans have done and believed for centuries.

Furthermore, these church leaders have evicted godly congregations from their buildings, and continue to pursue legal action against their ministers.

This, then, is why GAFCON exists: to provide a church family for Anglicans who have been thrown out of their church by leaders who no longer follow the teachings of the Bible.

GAFCON also exists to reform and renew the worldwide Anglican Church, and to call upon ungodly leaders to repent of their sins.

By sending Mandy and me to GAFCON as part of the 216 Australian delegates, our local church has given genuine support to worldwide Anglicans who have been persecuted and abandoned by their church leaders.

In doing so, Mandy and I have been reminded afresh that we should never take for granted the blessings of our precious local church and the godly, biblical leadership in our diocese.

We are very blessed!

JODIE MCNEILL

Coming up this weekend 7th – 8th July 2018

This weekend we welcome back Jodie as he starts a new three week mini-series called ‘The gospel at GAFCON’, with the first talk titled ‘The gospel is God’s power’ from Acts chapter 4 verses 1 to 12.

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

  1. How did people know they were sinning before God gave the Ten Commandments?
  2. Why did God make the Law if it brings wrath, judgement, and makes lawlessness?
  3. If a person remarries after divorce, then are they living in sin and unforgiven by God?

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

We will also hear from Jodie about his time in Israel and about the GAFCON conference during both of our services.

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. 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 30th June 2018

This weekend’s Bible talk

This weekend we continue our series ‘The Heart of Truth’ as Simon Chaplin preaches on the topic ‘Free from slavery to the law’ from Romans chapter 7 verses 1 to 25.

Next week’s Bible Talk

Next week we take a break from our series on Romans, and welcome back Jodie, as he starts a new 3 week mini-series called ‘Lessons from GAFCON’.

Mission of the month

Church Missionary Society (CMS) is our mission of the month. Support this ministry through the ‘Mission Table’ in the Hall.

Jodie and Mandy away

Jodie and Mandy return this Wednesday 4th July.

Monthly Midweek Service coming up

Our next service is this Wednesday 4th July at 11am, followed by a light lunch in the hall.

Jamberoo Interchurch Service

Join with fellow church-goers around our village and valley in our quarterly inter-church service. On Sunday 15th July 7pm at Jamberoo Anglican Church, with supper to follow.

Ladies’ Soup and Slice lunch

Join the Ladies Guild of Jamberoo Anglican for a Soup and Slice lunch on Wednesday 18th July. Guest speaker is Marion Gabbott, who is on her way home from Tanzania. There will also be a craft table available to buy some terrific gifts. Cost is $10 at Jamberoo Anglican church hall at 11.30am. Please RSVP to Helen on 4236 0158 for catering purposes.

Floral Demonstation

A floral demonstration and competition will be held at the church on Friday 20th July, from 9.30am. Cost is $25, with morning tea and lunch being provided. RVSP by Tuesday 17th July to Helen Curll.  Something very special – “Handbook of Floral Design” by Deidre Hill will be launched at the meeting. Cost $39.95 (Cash only as no facilities for EFTPOS).

New Rosters

New rosters are out now. If you need a paper version, grab one from the information table, or otherwise log onto www.jamberooanglican.net to see what dates and roles you are scheduled for.

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 $5882.00, leaving a gap of $418.00.

Olimometer 2.52

Up to the end of the last calendar month we needed to have received $245,700. Compared to that total we received $221,466, leaving a gap of $24,234.

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 .

Free to be me?

CREDIT: Diego Albero Román via Flickr.

The freedom to be yourself is one of the fundamental rights that modern society seeks to protect.

At first glance there are parts of this that the Christian can agree with. God has made us who we are and we don’t need to change ourselves just to please others. There is freedom to express who we are as unique parts of God’s creation.

As Christians the goal then is to glorify God with who we are. This means that our individual expressions are always tempered by serving God within the bounds he has created.

This will especially mean a willingness to forgo some of our individuality in order to love and serve others.

However once God is removed from the picture any boundaries of expressions are also removed.

Each person has the right to think and believe whatever they want about themselves. You are then free to express yourself however you choose. In fact, you must express yourself.

Forget about what everyone else thinks or the impact you have on them. Without God there is no limit to this, no morality that will constrain you. Life is about you and your fulfilment, finding out who you are then expressing the desires you have found.

So in the 70’s it was sexual freedom; material freedom (ie greed) in the 80’s; then came freedom of sexual orientation and now it is even freedom from gender.

It is a sad irony that this relentless push for freedom is actually an expression of the slavery that sin has brought into the world. (Romans 6). But all that sin offers us is death (6:23).

Freedom is found not in being who we want to be, but in whom God wants us to be.

In Jesus we are set free from sin (6:18). We now have the freedom to really live, for this is the gift that God gives (6:23).

SIMON CHAPLIN

Coming up this weekend 30th June – 1st July 2018

This weekend we continue our series ‘The Heart of Truth’ as Simon Chaplin preaches on the topic ‘Free from slavery to the law’ from Romans chapter 7 verses 1 to 25.

It’s the right time for us to recognise many of the needs of our missionaries, so at both our services, we will have a special update about CMS (Church Missionary Society) which is our Mission of the Month.

During our 5pm Saturday service, we’ll have our weekly question and answer time, and Simon will be answering these questions:

  1. As there is only one God, why are there so many different religions?
  2. Why has no human ever seen God?
  3. In Exodus 10 when Moses asks for all the animals to go out to the festival, was he misleading Pharaoh? Or was it just a ruse to get everybody and everything out of Egypt for good?

Our 8am Sunday service will be a Morning Prayer 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 23rd June 2018

This weekend’s Bible talk

This weekend we continue our series ‘The Heart of Truth’ as Simon Chaplin preaches on the topic ‘Free from slavery to sin’ from Romans chapter 6 verses 1 to 23.

Mission of the month

KBECET (Kiama Board for Employing Christian Education Teachers) is our mission of the month. Support this ministry through the ‘Mission Table’ in the Hall.

McNeills and Erringtons away

Jodie and Mandy are now on leave, and will return on 4th July. Graham and Lesley are also away and will return on Monday 24th June. Simon Chaplin will be preaching and available during this time.

Parish Council

Our Parish Council meets this Monday, 25th June at 7.00pm at the church. Please remember them in your prayers.

Ladies Guild Meeting

The Ladies Guild are meeting this Wednesday, 27th June in the church hall at 2pm.

Ladies’ Soup and Slice lunch

Join the Ladies Guild of Jamberoo Anglican for a Soup and Slice lunch on Wednesday 18th July. Guest speaker is Marion Gabbott, who is on her way home from Tanzania. There will also be a craft table available to buy some terrific gifts. Cost is $10 at Jamberoo Anglican church hall at 11.30am. Please RSVP to Helen on 4236 0158 for catering purposes.

Floral Demonstation

A floral demonstration and competition will be held at the church on Friday 20th July, from 9.30am. Cost is $25, with morning tea and lunch being provided. RVSP by Tuesday 17th July to Helen Curll.  Something very special – “Handbook of Floral Design” by Deidre Hill will be launched at the meeting. Cost $39.95 (Cash only as no facilities for EFTPOS).

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 $5882.00, leaving a gap of $418.00.

Olimometer 2.52

Up to the end of the last calendar month we needed to have received $245,700. Compared to that total we received $221,466, leaving a gap of $24,234.

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 .

Unity beyond the World Cup

The Soccer World Cup started last week and it has been amazing to see unity in Australia as we support our country in Russia.

There are people watching who love soccer, some who maybe only watch the World Cup and some who maybe only watch when Australia is playing. Either way, it is so much fun to see people in the shops, at work, or at church mutter away about how it has been going.

It is a truly beautiful unity. Yet as Christians this kind of unity should feel familiar. We are to be unified far beyond the feelings of unity Australia feels watching the Socceroos.

Jesus prays for “those who will believe in him…that they may be one as [He & the Father] are one…so that we may be brought to complete unity.” (John 17:20-23)

This unity shows the world that Jesus was sent by God and that God loves humanity. 

This is the unity that we should strive for.

We need to be committed to each other because as the Apostle Paul says we all “form one body, and each member belongs to all the others” (Romans 12:5).

We belong to each other, so we need to act like it. Love your neighbour, pray for unity with those who you see at church, in your Bible Studies and throughout the week. And who knows, maybe you could even watch a Socceroos game together.

This radical unity will show the world that Jesus is God and that God loves us. 

And perhaps one day the world will recognise and feel Christian unity in the same way Aussies are currently feeling it in the World Cup.

RAYNE ORANGE

Coming up this weekend 23rd – 24th June 2018

This weekend we continue our series ‘The Heart of Truth’ as Simon Chaplin preaches on the topic ‘Free from slavery to sin’ from Romans chapter 6 verses 1 to 23.

During our 5pm Saturday service, we’ll have our weekly question and answer time, and Simon will be answering these questions:

  1. Why are there no crosses on the top of Jamberoo Church?
  2. If sin is not ‘charged’ against someone when there is no law, why did God send the flood?
  3. Would you say that sin leads to the desires of the human heart being sinful or were human hearts always sinful?
  4. Is it a sin to have a crush on an older person?

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. 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 16th June 2018

This weekend’s Bible talk

This weekend we continue our series ‘The Heart of Truth’ as Simon Chaplin preaches on the topic ‘The rule of grace and life’ from Romans chapter 5 verses 12 to 21.

Mission of the month

KBECET (Kiama Board for Employing Christian Education Teachers) is our mission of the month. Support this ministry through the ‘Mission Table’ in the Hall.

Kiama High SRE Pie Drive

The annual KBECET Pie Drive is on again. To support Nigel’s ministry, please order your choice of tasty, family size savoury or fruit pies on the order form in the Hall for $10 each. Last chance to Order before 20th June for delivery on 9th July.

McNeills and Erringtons away

Jodie and Mandy are now on leave, and will return on 4th July. Graham and Lesley are also away and will return on Monday 24th June. Simon Chaplin will be preaching and available during this time.

New roster coming soon

If you’re unavailable to serve on a roster from 2nd July through 30th September please let us know via comment card, email office@jamberooanglican.com or even better go to www.jamberooanglican.net.

New Offertory Envelopes

For those who choose not to use Direct Credit, Offertory Envelopes are a great way to give to Church and Missions. The envelope has two sides, one for the church and the other to support CMS (i.e. Jo) or another mission of your choice. If this is you, please pick up a new set for July 2018 to June 2019 from the back of the church.

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 $5882.00, leaving a gap of $418.00.

Olimometer 2.52

Up to the end of the last calendar month we needed to have received $245,700. Compared to that total we received $221,466, leaving a gap of $24,234.

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 .

How are you growing?

Christian maturity is a high priority for our church, and with good reason – it was a priority for the apostle Paul too. He says:

“Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ” (Colossians 1:28).

Paul gives us a clue as to what that maturity would look like when he prays:

“that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.” (1:9-10)

Maturity is comprised of two things: our knowledge and our life. And they are connected in a cycle. As we increase in our knowledge of our Lord, this leads us to bear fruit – and part of bearing fruit is increasing our knowledge – and so on.

Knowledge is essential to maturity, but knowledge for Paul is no mere intellectual activity. It is at the heart of our relationship with our heavenly Father and so to that end Paul ‘toiled’ (1:29).

Growing in our knowledge is going to take a little effort. But the reward is certainly worth it – a closer walk with our God.

And there isn’t some bar you are being asked to jump over here. We are all at different stages in our journey together, but Paul says that what he longs to see is ‘progress’ in each believer.

There are many things we can do to help us grow – listening closely to the the Word at church, or reading the Bible ourselves or discussing christian things with a friend. For me one of the key ways has always been to be committed to a weekly small group ministry where we can stir each other on in this way.

What’s the one thing you could do this week to grow as a Christian?

SIMON CHAPLIN