A better way to deal with domestic abuse

CREDIT: Ryan Melaugh via flickr.com

After many years of hard work, our Anglican Diocese has developed a policy to help our churches provide the best possible care to people suffering from domestic abuse.

The policy was launched this week at the Anglican Diocese of Sydney Synod, our annual combined meeting of churches and organisations.

In launching the policy, Sandy Grant acknowledged that “clergy and church members have often been under-educated and naive; and on the other hand, sometimes over-confident in their insight or ability.”

He also recognised that “abuse can be hard to distinguish from regular conflict or dysfunction” and that “abusers can be very manipulative”, and so “extra detail and reinforcement of good practice is needed.”

After every member of the Synod united to accept this policy, we also supported this statement of grief, thanksgiving, prayer, regret, and apology:

“We grieve with victims and survivors of domestic abuse, and pray for their healing and recovery. We give thanks to God for those women and men, clergy and lay people, who have faithfully supported, cared for and protected such victims in our churches and communities.

We grieve that God’s good gift of marriage can be distorted and dishonoured through the sin of perpetrators. We pray for their repentance and restoration to faithful living under Christ.

We also deeply regret that domestic abuse has occurred among those who attend our churches, and even among some in leadership. We apologise for those times our teaching and pastoral care have failed adequately to support victims and call perpetrators to account.”

If you or someone you know or love is experiencing domestic abuse, please speak to one of our ministers, or contact ‘1800 Respect’ by visiting 1800respect.org.au or calling 1800 737 732.

Jodie McNeill

Coming up this weekend 14th – 15th October 2017

This weekend Simon Chaplin, the Assistant Minister from Oak Flats, will begin the second half of our series on the Old Testament book of 2 Samuel, “Kingdom Coming”, from chapter 12 verses 1 to 31 on the topic ‘The repentance of the King‘.

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

  1. How can we explain to an unbeliever that God uses evil for his good plans?
  2. Did the Israelites have an impact on making Egypt grow in power?
  3. Do people need to be baptised in order to be saved?
  4. Since the Holy Spirit is a person, how can he be in everyone?
  5. Looking at Romans 8 verse 9, how can we know if we have the Spirit of Christ in us?
  6. Is it right to say that Jesus’ death was an act of divine child abuse?
  7. What does the Bible mean when it says “death could not hold him”?
  8. Since only God can bless us, should we say “bless you” when someone sneezes?

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, or come along on Sunday at 8am for a Prayer Book service.

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

Church news for the week beginning 7th October 2017

This weekend’s Bible Talk

This weekend Jodie will be speaking on the topic “God’s Amazing Plan” from Acts chapter 2 verses 22 to 41.

Next week’s Bible Talk

Next week, Simon Chaplin will begin the second half of our series on the Old Testament book of 2 Samuel, “Kingdom Coming”, from chapter 12 verses 1 to 31.

Mission of the month

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

KBECET Annual Dinner is coming up

Saturday 14th October at Kiama Anglican Church (Yes, you can make it after our service!) 6.30pm for a 7pm start.Come and enjoy a great meal and hear the latest of Nigel’s ministry at Kiama High. See the order form in the Hall to purchase or order tickets @ $25 each. Contact Vic East on 4236 0525 or see Trevor Lucas.

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 .

The Sin of Vegas

When I once visited Las Vegas, I was stunned to hear the slogan,‘If Las Vegas is Sin City, then MGM Grand is the Capitol Building.’

This hotel we were visiting for for a family meal took pride in the sin of sexual immorality, drugs, alcohol, and of course, gambling.

Yet, this week, Las Vegas experienced the effects of another form of sin that showed itself in the largest mass gun killing in US history.

This was a sin in which the people of Las Vegas did not boast.

Rather, the horrific actions that saw 58 deaths and hundreds of injuries has led people to ask the question, “why?”

But no matter how many clues we get into the depraved mind of shooter Stephen Paddock, his actions will not make sense to us unless we understand the reality of sin and human nature.

The Bible tells us that our world is marred by sin.

We live in a ‘fallen’ world, which will always experience pain, suffering, and death.

This means that the sin of Vegas is tragic, yet expected, as we await the final return of Jesus when he will bring an end to the effects of sin.

In the meantime, this shocking display of sin should naturally lead us to stop and reflect upon the reality beyond our normal, everyday life.

Any one of us could have been in the crowd at the Vegas concert, and any one of us could have had our lives ended without any warning.

As we see this extreme display of the effects of sin, we must all make sure that we are ready to face the coming judgement that faces every human, and the one and only solution to that sin and judgement is through the death of Christ Jesus.

For, “God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans chapter 8 verse 8)

Jodie

Coming up this weekend 7th – 8th October 2017

We’d love you to join us this weekend at church. The topic of our Bible talk is ‘God’s Amazing Plan’, and Jodie’s preaching from Acts chapter 2, verses 22 to 41.

This Saturday 7th October we are bringing our two services together for a celebration night at 5pm. We will be officially welcoming Rayne Orange to our church as our Youth Minister, and will be enjoying special Canadian-themed dinner and entertainment. We’ll also be having some special speeches of farewell and thanksgiving to some members.

This combined church service will replace our 8am service on the 8th October which will not be held this weekend.

Church news for the week beginning 30th September 2017

This weekend’s Bible Talk

This weekend Mark Howard is speaking on the topic “Setting your mind on the Spirit”  from Romans chapter 8 verses 1 to 17, and Romans chapter 12 verses 1 to 3.

Next week’s Bible Talk

Next week, Jodie will be speaking on the topic “Joseph’s Egyptian Adventure” from Genesis chapter 37 verses 1 to 36.

Mission of the month

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

Dinner at the Bowlo

Join us this Thursday at 6pm at the Jamberoo Bowling Club for a relaxed meal together at the ‘Wok and Grill’ restaurant, for great steaks, tasty Chinese, and lots of laughs.

Combined Celebration Service

A reminder that on Saturday 7th October we are bringing our two services together for a celebration night at 5pm and enjoying special Canadian-themed dinner and entertainment.

This combined church service will replace our 8am service on the 8th October which will not be held this weekend. Keep the date free, and bring along your friends and family for this great night of celebration!

KBECET Annual Dinner is coming up

Saturday 14th October at Kiama Anglican Church (Yes, you can make it after our service!) 6.30pm for a 7pm start.Come and enjoy a great meal and hear the latest of Nigel’s ministry at Kiama High. See the order form in the Hall to purchase or order tickets @ $25 each. Contact Vic East on 4236 0525 or see Trevor Lucas.

 

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 .

What are you praying for?

praying

(CREDIT: t-bet via Flickr)

Our church has recently started testing a new, online prayer diary called ‘PrayerMate.’

It enables people to subscribe to prayer points from many, terrific organisations and missionaries.

It also helps us connect with the regular prayer points of our own church.

One benefits is that it gives me a list of people from within our church that I can specifically pray for each week.

But what should I actually pray for each person?

Well, according to Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, I could start by thanking God for each person, and particularly, for their faith and their love, as he writes:

“…ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers” (Ephesians 1:15-16)

It’s great to start our prayers by thanking God for how he is working in each person, leading them to grow in their trust in him, and in the outworking of that through the love they have for other Christians.

But after that, Paul prays that they would know God better:

“I keep asking that the God  of our Lord Jesus Christ, the  glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better” (Ephesians 1:17)

The reason we pray that people would know God better is so that they can enjoy the riches of their relationship with him.

It’s a bit like getting to “know” a friend or a spouse: it’s not so we can pass a knowledge test about them, but it’s so we can grow deeper in our friendship.

So, let’s keep thanking God for each other’s faith and love, and keep asking him to help us know God better.

Jodie.

Coming up this weekend 30th September – 1st October 2017

This weekend we welcome our own Mark Howard who will speak to us on the topic of “Setting your mind on the Spirit” from Romans chapter 8 verses 1 to 17, and Romans chapter 12 verses 1 to 3.

At our 5pm Saturday service we will have an opportunity to meet one of our church members, which is always a great encouragement to us all.

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, 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.

Church news for the week beginning 23rd September 2017

This weekend’s Bible Talk

This weekend Graham Errington is speaking on the topic “Which is better?” from Luke chapter 10 verses 38 to 42.

Next week’s Bible Talk

Next week, Mark Howard will be speaking on the topic “The Spiritual Mind” from Romans chapter 1 verses 16 to 32.

Mission of the month

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

Combined Celebration Service

A reminder that on Saturday 7th October we are bringing our two services together for a celebration night at 5pm and enjoying special Canadian-themed dinner and entertainment.

This combined church service will replace our 8am service on the 8th October which will not be held this weekend. Keep the date free, and bring along your friends and family for this great night of celebration!

KBECET Annual Dinner is coming up

Saturday 14th October at Kiama Anglican Church (Yes, you can make it after our service!) 6.30pm for a 7pm start.Come and enjoy a great meal and hear the latest of Nigel’s ministry at Kiama High. See the order form in the Hall to purchase or order tickets @ $25 each. Contact Vic East on 4236 0525 or see Trevor Lucas.

 

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 .

When it’s safer to defend a lion

lion

(CREDIT: Mathias Appel via Flickr)

Recently I read someone attack a Christian about the Bible, saying, “that’s fine if you want to believe a bunch of goat herders living in tents from 4000 years ago!”

As Christians, our trust in the Bible as the divinely-inspired word of God is increasingly seen as antiquated at best, and dangerously misguided at worst.

As people say, “what could such an ancient text say to us today?”

The question for us is this: how do we defend our belief that it’s God’s word to us today in our modern society, when it was written in a such different time and place?

There is no doubt that our society has changed, but its worth remembering some things haven’t.

Firstly, God hasn’t changed.

God is eternal, and whatever our society thinks of him or his Word, cannot change him.

One of the fundamental characteristics of God is that he is a God who speaks: from speaking creation into being, to revealing who he by sending his Son, the WORD.

God is a God who speaks, and the Bible is where God’s living words are recorded for us.

Secondly, human nature hasn’t changed.

For all our sophistication it’s hard to see how our society has overcome some of its fundamental problems.

The Bible offers an explanation for that: while God is a God who speaks, we are people who do not listen to him.

The Bible is able to penetrate beyond modern appearances to diagnose our real current problems, and prescribe a lasting solution.

We shouldn’t be surprised at the world’s rejection of his word.

But where do we go to convince our friends that it is true, or even ourselves when we are feeling a little shaky about this? We go to the source, the Bible.

Since it really is God’s word to us today, he has the power to speak to us, overcome our doubts and convince us of the truth of his Son.

As the great preacher Charles Spurgeon once said, “Defend the Bible? I would as soon defend a lion!”

Simon Chaplin.