How are you growing?

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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

Coming up this weekend 16th – 17th June 2018

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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.

During our services this week we’re going to have a short video from CMS (The Church Missionary Society) about their ongoing activities in the world, and hear about the impact that Jesus is having amongst people in Latin America.

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 9th June 2018

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This weekend’s Bible talk

This weekend we continue our series ‘The Heart of Truth’ as Jodie preaches on the topic ‘Reconciled for salvation’from Romans chapter 5 verses 1 to 11.

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. Order before 20th June for delivery on 9th July.

Gong Men’s Day

Join us on Saturday 16th June, 8.30am to 2pm (the evening session has been cancelled) at Dapto Anglican for a great day of teaching and encouragement for the men of our region. Register at www.gongmensday.org.

McNeills and Erringtons away

Jodie and Mandy will be on leave from this Saturday 16th June, and will return on 4th July. Graham and Lesley are away from this Wednesday 13th June until Monday 24th. 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 $5509.00, leaving a gap of $791.00.

Olimometer 2.52

Up to the end of the last calendar month we needed to have received $273,000. Compared to that total we received $245,588, leaving a gap of $27,412.

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 .

Have you achieved true contentment?

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How often have you heard someone say “I just want to be happy?”

Or, when you let someone know about a major decision in life, people respond by saying, “that sounds great, as long as you’re happy”.

Happiness seems to be the state of mind that we all crave, and yet there’s something that is even better: contentment.

Contentment is the feeling you have when you know that no possession or experience can increase your positive feelings.

However, contentment is something that usually comes as a byproduct.

Some people will spend great amounts of money seeking the possessions and wealth so that they might gain contentment.

Others will dedicate their life to getting more and more experiences, ticking off their bucket list until their time on earth comes to a close.

Yet, contentment is something that cannot come by the abundance of possessions, or a range of special experiences.

God tells us that contentment comes from an unusual source: godliness.

We read in 1 Timothy chapter 6 verse 6 that “Godliness with contentment is great gain.”

The great gain of contentment comes with godliness, which comes from believing the truth about Jesus and trusting him as loving ruler.

Pursuing Jesus will lead us to true contentment.

In fact, a few verses later we’re told not to put our hope in wealth, but instead to put our hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment (1 Timothy 6:17).

As we do so, we will then be generous and willing to share ( verse 18), which will mean that followers of Jesus “will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life” (verse 19)

This is the pathway to true contentment. Are you truly content?

JODIE MCNEILL

Coming up this weekend 9th – 10th June 2018

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This weekend we continue our series ‘The Heart of Truth’ as Jodie preaches on the topic ‘Reconciled for salvation’ from Romans chapter 5 verses 1 to 11.

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 that service, we’ll have our weekly question and answer time, and Jodie will be answering these questions:

  1. What were the secret arts used by the Egyptian magicians to turn water into blood?
  2. How did Pharaoh’s magicians turn water into blood when Moses had already done it all?
  3. What does ‘righteous’ mean?
  4. Why was circumcision so important to the story in Romans chapter 3?
  5. In regards to original sin, who was the first to take the forbidden fruit?
  6. Why does Leviticus ban things like tattoos, jewellery and women speaking in church?
  7. According to the Bible, who is the head of the family?
  8. Why didn’t we acknowledge Pentecost Sunday, and why don’t we have much teaching on the Holy Spirit?

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.

Church news for the week beginning 2nd June 2018

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This weekend’s Bible talk

This weekend we continue our series ‘The Heart of Truth’ as Simon Chaplin preaches on the topic ‘By faith alone’ from Romans chapter 3 verse 27 to chapter 4 verse 25.

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. Order before 20th June for delivery on 9th July.

Announcing New Serve Teams

In response to your surveys, we’re hoping to launch some new Serve Teams in the next few weeks. We’re considering having groups that will meet 10am Monday (fortnightly), 7pm Monday (weekly), 11am Wednesday (3rd of the month), 7.30pm Wednesday (weekly), and 3pm Saturdays (weekly). We’ll be in contact to find out which one suits you the best, but if you’ve not yet filled in a form, please try and do that this weekend.

Gong Men’s Day

Join us on Saturday 16th June, 8.30am to 2pm at Dapto Anglican for a great day of teaching and encouragement for the men of our region. Register at www.gongmensday.org.

Monthly Midweek Service coming up

Our next service is this Wednesday 6th June at 11am, followed by a light lunch in the hall.

 

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 $5509.00, leaving a gap of $791.00.

Olimometer 2.52

Up to the end of the last calendar month we needed to have received $273,000. Compared to that total we received $245,588, leaving a gap of $27,412.

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 makes conflict so uncomfortable?

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CREDIT: gracewell533 via Flickr.

Why does conflict make us so uncomfortable? Often it’s because I feel that others can’t see just how right I am.

It would be so much easier if they could just recognise my superior arguments, apologise and we could all move forward!

At a conference this week I was challenged by a series of seminars on how to deal with general disagreement, or conflict, as a Christian.

I won’t pretend to be an expert, but I would like to quote a general principle that was shared at the conference: “Conflict is part of your God journey”.

In a conflict situation you don’t have power over what the other parties will do. Yet, we do have power over ourselves and our own reactions.

Conflict is a moment which we can use to bring God glory, yet this seems so unlikely, doesn’t it?

In a conflict we are often so consumed by the other person and what they have done or said. But if instead of starting with the other person we start with God, then we can reframe the whole situation.

And we start with the understanding that we are in the position that God has put us in.

Instead of blaming God, we can ask how in this situation we can seek to glorify him.

I don’t think that this means the next steps are easy or obvious.

It doesn’t even mean that conflict can be solved: you are only one part of the equation. But you can change the equation: you can make the impossible a possibility.

By starting with God, not only can you grow in your relationship with him, you can ask how he wants you to bring love to others.

Simon Chaplin

Coming up this weekend 2nd – 3rd June 2018

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This weekend we continue our series ‘The Heart of Truth’ as Simon Chaplin preaches on the topic ‘By faith alone’ from Romans chapter 3 verse 27 to chapter 4 verse 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 KBECET (Kiama Board for Employing Christian Education Teachers) which is our Mission of the Month.

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 26th May 2018

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This weekend’s Bible talk

This weekend we continue our series ‘The Heart of Truth’ as Jodie preaches on the topic ‘Not guilty’ from Romans chapter 3 verses 9 to 26.

Mission of the month

Church Missionary Society (CMS) 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. Order before 20th June for delivery on 9th July.

Gong Men’s Day

Join us on Saturday 16th June, 8.30am to 2pm at Dapto Anglican for a great day of teaching and encouragement for the men of our region. Register at www.gongmensday.org.

Announcing New Serve Teams

In response to your surveys, we’re hoping to launch some new Serve Teams in the next few weeks. We’re considering having groups that will meet 10am Monday (fortnightly), 7pm Monday (weekly), 11am Wednesday (3rd of the month), 7pm Wednesday (weekly), and 3pm Saturdays (weekly). We’ll be in contact to find out which one suits you the best, but if you’ve not yet filled in a form, please try and do that this weekend.

Richard Chin at Men’s Dinner

For your diaries: Richard Chin will be our guest speaker at our next Men’s Dinner on Tuesday 7th August. Don’t miss out!

Monthly Midweek Service coming up

Our next service is on Wednesday 6th June at 11am, followed by a light lunch in the hall.

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 $5509.00, leaving a gap of $791.00.

Olimometer 2.52

Up to the end of the last calendar month we needed to have received $273,000. Compared to that total we received $245,588, leaving a gap of $27,412.

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 .

Better news for the royal couple

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It’s rare for a church sermon to make the front page of a newspaper, but the message from Bishop Curry made world news, as his royal wedding message got people talking.

Unlike the typecast, pompous wedding preacher, he enthusiastically addressed the billions of people who tuned in for the occasion.

It was refreshing to hear a royal wedding sermon speak about Jesus and his death on the cross with such gusto.

Sadly, many wedding sermons seem to forget they’re in a church, and they end up rolling out the kind of worldly wisdom you’d expect to hear from Oprah or Dr. Phil.

But Bishop Curry brought the focus of the event to the love of God shown at the cross of Christ.

I’m delighted that people are talking about Jesus and his death, but, sadly, Bishop Curry missed the most important point about the cross of Christ.

Whilst it is true that Jesus showed his love for dying for us on the cross, it was not so that he could be an example of true love.

If all we’ve got from the cross of Christ is an example we can try to follow, then Jesus has done nothing to help us with our sin and guilt for disobeying God’s rule.

No, the most important thing about the cross is that Jesus died as a sacrifice, taking the punishment we deserve, in our place, so that we might be forgiven by God.

As we read in 1 John chapter 4: “This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.”

It was good for the royal couple to hear that Jesus died on the cross: but it’s much better news for them to know that Jesus died as an atoning sacrifice for sin.

JODIE MCNEILL