What does ‘yes’ mean?

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(Photo credit: State Farm via Flickr.com)

This week we learnt that over 60% of adults who returned the postal survey indicated that they were in favour of changing the definition of marriage to allow same-sex couples to marry.

Our Archbishop Glenn Davies says he accepts the outcome of the marriage postal plebiscite, but warns that there must be freedom of speech, conscience and belief for Christians and others who disagree:

“Now that the outcome is that the ‘yes’ vote is the majority vote on behalf of the Australian people – as I said to the Prime Minister 18 months ago on behalf of other religious leaders that if that’s what the Australian people want then we live in a democracy and I recognise and acknowledge that outcome.”

“That doesn’t mean I will change my views. I will still continue to teach that marriage is, in God’s plan, between a man and a woman. But I acknowledge that once the parliament passes those laws, that will no longer be the law of the land.

“The consequences then are – what happens to people who want to hold to that truth? It is one thing to say, for example, we don’t have laws against adultery in this country, but I still want to say adultery is wrong – it is immoral. I want to be able to uphold that teaching without the law saying to me – no, it is not illegal, so you can’t say that.

“At the moment that’s not the case, but the way in which we have seen in other Western Democracies, the coercive effect of changing the definition of marriage has been to restrict people’s ability to hold a different point of view. And one of the outstanding points of democracy and human dignity – is the freedom of speech, the freedom of faith and the freedom of conscience.

Therefore what the Parliament needs to do now, in legislating for same-sex marriage, is to do so in a way which protects people’s liberties.”

From www.sydneyanglicans.net

Coming up this weekend 18th – 19th November 2017

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This weekend we continue our series on 2 Samuel.  In the next talk, Simon Chaplin will be speaking on the topic, “The return of the King”, from chapter 19 verse 1 to chapter 20 verse 36.

At our 5pm Saturday service we will be celebrating the baptism of Ethan & Gracie Gray, and we would love you to join us for this special event.

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

  1. Given that the world of 2 Samuel seems so different to the New Testament, are we only studying it because it points us to Jesus?
  2. Where is the Ark of the Covenant located now?
  3. Is the Jonathan mentioned in 2 Samuel 17:17 Saul’s son?
  4. Has Absalom’s Monument ever been discovered by archaeologists?
  5. Did David know that it was Joab who killed his son Absalom, and how did he react to the news?
  6. Why did Joab choose a Cushite to take the news of Absalom’s death to David?
  7. When Ahimaaz told David that they’d won the war, why did he say “the Lord your God,” not “our God?”
  8. Is it still a sin for a Christian to be in a same-sex relationship if they are bisexual?
  9. Are all rulers chosen by divine right, and if so, is democracy a myth?
  10. How was Jesus able to walk on water?

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, and our new youth group Alive! meets straight after dinner. 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 11th November 2017

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This weekend’s Bible Talk

This weekend, we continue our series looking at 2 Samuel as as Jodie preaches from 2 Samuel chapter 17 verse 1 to chapter 18 verse 33, with the title, “War and peace”.

Mission of the month

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

Midweek Monthly Service

We are thankful to God for a terrific midweek service on Thursday, so we’re going to now run them on the 1st Thursday of every month (except January) at 11am, followed by a light lunch. Our next service is 7th December. Who will you invite?

Welcome to ‘Alive!’

Our new youth group has a new name: ‘Alive!’ It meets Saturday nights after dinner, during term time. For students aged years 7 to 12. See Rayne Orange for more details.

Baptism of Ethan & Gracie Gray

Greg & Jill Gray would love you to join them and their family and friends for the baptism of their children Ethan and Gracie next Saturday 18th November during our 5pm service.

Christmas Decorating for SRE

It’s great to be holding the combined SRE assembly in our church building this year. To make it an even better experience for the children could we have some volunteers to decorate the church before Thursday 30th November. The decorations can then stay for the whole Christmas period.  See Lesley Errington if you are able to help.

Working Bee

Are you free Saturday 2nd December from 8am to midday for a working bee? We’d love to spring-clean the church before our Christmas celebrations.

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 .

A new name for small groups

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(CREDIT: woodleywonderworks via Flickr)

Healthy small groups have always been an important part of a healthy church.

These groups have typically been called lots of different names: bible study groups, connect groups, life groups, growth groups, and so on.

But now we’re going to introduce a new name for our groups that will help us clarify why they exist.

We’re going to call them ‘serve teams.’

The reason why they’re called ‘teams’ is that they are a group of people who are connected, even when they don’t meet. 

So, in the same way that a person is a part of a cricket team, even when they’re not playing cricket, we will all be part of a serve team, even when the group isn’t meeting.

And the reason we’re calling them ‘serve’ teams is that they are teams that are dedicated to doing what Christians do: serve. 

Jesus said that he came not to be served but to serve, and we, too, follow his lead.

In fact, in Ephesians chapter 4, we read that God has given people to his church in order to speak his word, so that all Christians will be equipped for service.

And, so, the reason these teams exist is to serve: to serve each other in the team, as members love and build each other up.

And they exist to serve our church as we get involved in what happens in the life of our church.

And they exist to serve our community, as together the members think of ways to bring the gospel of Jesus to our world.

What’s more, as we serve, together, as a team, it will bring us closer together, as a team.

And in order to serve, we’ll keep doing what our small groups have always done: prayerfully studying God’s word, so we’re equipped to serve, to God’s glory.

Jodie McNeill.

Coming up this weekend 11th – 12th November 2017

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This weekend, we continue our series on 2 Samuel. In the next talk, Jodie will be speaking on the topic, “War and peace”, from 2 Samuel chapter 17 verse 1 to chapter 18 verse 33.

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.

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

  1. How could God be contained in the Ark of the Covenant when it is an object made by humans?
  2. How did David know that Ahitophel’s destruction was God’s will?
  3. Should we follow David’s model of praying curses down on our enemies?
  4. Did David truly submit to God’s will, or did he simply pray and then assume that God’s will aligned with his own?
  5. Given that Hushai deceived Absalom, is it OK to lie and deceive in order to do good?

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 4th November 2017

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This weekend’s Bible Talk

This weekend, we continue our series looking at 2 Samuel as Simon Chaplin preaches from 2 Samuel chapter 15 verse 13 to chapter 16 verse 23, with the title, “The King’s Darkest Day”.

Mission of the month

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

Church Planning Meeting

Next Saturday 11th November from 8am to 11am we’re going to meet in the hall to reflect on our recent ministry activities and to plan for the future. In addition to our staff and our elected Parish Council members and Wardens, we would love to welcome any regular members to join us.

Midweek Monthly Service

We are thankful to God for a terrific midweek service on Thursday, so we’re going to now run them on the 1st Thursday of every month (except January) at 11am, followed by a light lunch. Our next service is 7th December. Who will you invite?

Welcome to ‘Alive!’

Our new youth group has a new name: ‘Alive!’ It meets Saturday nights after dinner, during term time. For students aged years 7 to 12. See Rayne Orange for more details.

Christmas Decorating for SRE

It’s great to be holding the combined SRE assembly in our church building this year. To make it an even better experience for the children could we have some volunteers to decorate the church before Thursday 30th November. The decorations can then stay for the whole Christmas period.  See Lesley Errington if you are able to help.

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 .

Faithfulness in failed families

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(CREDIT: Heidi via flickr.com)

Can you imagine what it would be like to have a bad reputation before you were even born?

That’s what life was like for the Old Testament character, Jacob.

God told his mother, Rebekah, that the twin sons in her womb would be at war with each other.

After their birth, the tension also grew between the parents, as each favoured a different boy.

In the end, Jacob lived up to his reputation, as he grasped the birthright from his older brother, and deceived his dying father to give him his final blessing.

And this made his brother, Esau, so angry that he wanted to kill him.

It would be hard to find a family that was more dysfunctional!

And yet, it reminds us that God uses imperfect people and imperfect families to achieve his plans.

As Jacob fled from his brother, God reached down to Jacob in a dream.

In this, God repeated the promise he made to Jacob’s father and grandfather.

Jacob had done nothing to deserve this favour and kindness from God.

It was like that back then, but it’s still the same today.

God makes the first move in our own lives when he draws us back to him.

We might boast of our wise decision to follow Jesus, but it’s really all from God.

As we read in the Bible in Romans chapter 5, it was “whilst we were sinners that Christ died for us.”

And two sentences later, we read that “when we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him.”

You might feel there’s no way that God could accept you.

You might think your life is too sinful to be saved by God.

Yet, our hope lies in this: While we were still sinners Christ died for us.

Jodie McNeill.

Coming up this weekend 4th – 5th November 2017

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This weekend we continue our series on 2 Samuel.  In the next talk, Simon Chaplin will be speaking on the topic, “The King’s Darkest Day”, from 2 Samuel chapter 15 verse 13 to chapter 16 verse 23.

We will also share the Lord’s Supper at 5pm Saturday, so come along and be reminded again of the great service of Jesus Christ, who died for our sins.

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

  1. Did Adam and Eve have children in the Garden of Eden before being banished?
  2. Why did David keep Joab in charge of the army since Joab kept taking matters into his own hands?
  3. Since God does not like chariots, was Absalom disobeying God by riding in a chariot?
  4. Where was God during the events in chapters 14 and 15 from last week?
  5. Is it still sinful for two people to be dating in a homosexual relationship if the relationship does not include any sexual relations?
  6. Why isn’t the grape juice we use for the Lord’s Supper alcoholic?
  7. What are some suggestions for someone who is struggling in their prayer life?

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 28th October 2017

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This weekend’s Bible Talk

This weekend, we continue our series looking at 2 Samuel as as Jodie preaches from chapter 14 verse 1 to chapter 15 verse 12 with the title, “Conspiracy Theory”.

Mission of the month

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

New Youth Group!

Tonight from 7.30pm to 9pm, Rayne is going to bring together all of our youth to meet together and share some exciting ideas and plans for our new youth group. If you’re high school age then be sure to come along, and bring your friends. For everyone else, please pray for this exciting, new development in our ministry to the young people of our village, valley and beyond!

New Midweek Service

This Thursday 2nd November at 11am we’re going to kick off a brand-new ‘Midweek service’ in the church, followed by a light lunch. This is an ideal time to come together, especially for those who may find our weekly services to be a challenging time of the day. Bring along old and new friends for a service that is aimed to serve both regular churchgoers and those who may not have been along before, or at least for a long time.

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.

Church Planning Meeting

On Saturday 11th November from 8am to 11am we’re going to meet in the hall to reflect on our recent ministry activities and to plan for the future. In addition to our staff and our elected Parish Council members and Wardens, we would love to welcome any regular members to join us.

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 .

Is the Bible telling the truth?

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(CREDIT: Artondra Hall via Flickr)

I’ve been reading a number of detective books recently. So when someone handed me a book about Jesus written by a detective I was curious. The book is called ‘Cold Case Christianity‘ by J. Wallace. He’s a seasoned homicide detective and he applies what he has learnt to the witness accounts of Jesus, especially from ‘cold cases’.

At first I was quite captivated by all the real life stories he threw in, but as I read on he introduced more and more sophisticated analysis.

He made some very persuasive arguments in favour of the reliability of the witness accounts about Jesus.

We’ve probably all heard the argument that witness accounts often tell things from different perspectives. But he gave a much more detailed explanation of this point, using forensic analysis. Specifically he wrote about the phenomenon of ‘inadvertent support.’

No eyewitness ever gives a full account of a scene. So often their description raises a particular question. When Jesus calls Peter and Andrew in Matthew, the account at first seems odd. These men drop everything and immediately follow Jesus on their first meeting. Why would they do that?

If Matthew was the only account of Jesus this would remain unanswered. But Luke ‘inadvertently’ answers this question.

In his account we get a prior story of the fisherman encountering Jesus. Jesus used their boats to teach the crowds by the lake. He then instructed them to take him out and fish. They’d had an unsuccessful night of fishing but now they take an exceedingly impressive catch. This certainly gave them something to think about when he later asked them to follow him.

There are many of these incidental questions & answers in the Gospels.

Now these things by themselves don’t prove Christianity, but it’s exactly the kind of thing you’d expect if the witnesses are real and telling the truth.

Simon Chaplin