Church news for the week beginning 9th September 2017

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2 Samuel series continues

This weekend we continue our series looking at 2 Samuel as Jodie preaches from chapter 9 verse 1 to chapter 10 verse 19 with the title, “The kindness of the King”.

Mission of the month: CMS

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

Combined Celebration Service

On 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 for two of our members.

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!

New Midweek Service

On Thursday 2nd November at 11am we will trial a new ‘Midweek Service’ which will be followed by a light lunch. We are praying that this service will provide a format that will serve our members who often find the 8am time difficult, and that it will be an ideal service to which we might invite our friends. Keep the date free!

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 .

The prodigal son

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This week I was teaching Scripture at our local primary school. The lesson was the prodigal son, and I was once again surprised by how big and radical God’s love is for us. And it wasn’t just me – the students seem to get it too!

The parable you may recall is of a son who treats his father in the most shameful manner, taking off with all his money and then losing it all in equally shameful ways. He is forced to head home with nothing.

He is met by his father who is waiting for him. His father welcomes him home with open arms. He forgives his wayward son, and then does something amazing – instead of exacting a punishment from him, he throws his son a party.

“For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found”. Luke 15:24

My scripture kids were trying to work this out – “so he could do whatever he wants and get away with it?” 

It didn’t seem fair. But that is what grace is – our Father’s big “yes” to us! 

However, I asked my class a followup question: When the son came home, and received that forgiveness, and was thrown a party, do you think he would go out and do what he did again? “NO!” they all shouted.

God’s grace comes to us whatever we have done, whoever we are. But God’s grace never leaves us as we are.

“But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” Eph 2:4-5,10

Simon Chaplin.

Coming up this weekend 9th – 10th September 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, “The kindness of the King”, from 2 Samuel chapter 9 verse 1 to chapter 10 verse 19.

We will also be having a special prayer time for marriage in light of the upcoming postal plebiscite, so be sure to join us.

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

  1. Would the Moab prophet have been executed since he disobeyed orders and blessed the people of God?
  2. What happened to Tou?
  3. Why doesn’t God like chariots?
  4. Was bronze worth more than silver in David’s time?
  5. Given that our wealth is irrelevant on Judgement Day, then why did David take all the gold and riches after each conquest?
  6. Why did the surrounding nations hate God’s people?
  7.  Did David completely wipe out all his enemies?
  8. How many of David’s men died during the conquests?
  9. Given that most politicians don’t believe in God, then isn’t it pointless for them to pray to him?
  10. How did David’s sons come to serve as priests when they belonged to the tribe of Judah?

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

Church news for the week beginning 2nd September 2017

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2 Samuel series continues

This weekend we continue our series looking at 2 Samuel as Jodie preaches from chapter chapter 8 verses 1 to 18 with the title, “Just, right”.

Mission of the month: CMS

CMS (Church Missionary Society) 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

On 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. Keep the date free, and bring along your friends and family for this great night of celebration!

New roster coming soon

If you’re unavailable to serve on a roster from 18th September through to 17th December please let us know via comment card, email office@jamberooanglican.com or even better go to www.jamberooanglican.net.

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 matters more than marriage

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CREDIT: Wendy Longo via Flickr.com

Our Federal Government has asked us to say what we think about changing the legal definition of marriage to include same-sex unions.

As I have engaged with the hundreds of Facebook comments on our post from last week, it is clear that most of us wish this discussion would go away.

Some people want the Government to just make the changes without holding a plebiscite so that this painful discussion can stop.

Many Christians would rather we didn’t have to be distracted from sharing the news of the real hope that comes from knowing the real Jesus.

Yet, either way, it’s an important discussion to have, and we need to keep talking in a respectful way about this major change to this core unit of our society.

But in the end, there is something that matters more than marriage… and that is eternity.

Life is short, and there will be a time when everyone of us will stand before God to give an account for our life.

On that day, many people will say to God that they deserve his acceptance because they’ve done good things in life, and have tried hard to be nice.

But the problem is that no human is able to do enough good things to pass this test. Nobody.

And we all deserve eternal punishment from God, which the Bible calls ‘Hell.’

Yet, the best news of all is that if we ask God, then he will transfer our personal judgment from us to Jesus.

And because Jesus was punished on the cross in our place, it means any one of us can now have a certainty for eternity if we trust in Jesus as our loving ruler.

We need to talk about marriage, but eternity is far, far more important.

Do you have certainty for eternity?

Jodie.

Coming up this weekend 2nd – 3rd September 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, “Just, right”, from 2 Samuel chapter 8 verses 1 to 18.

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

  1. In Psalm 6, was David right to tell God what to do?
  2. Was Solomon anointed as king?
  3. Why did God say he didn’t need a temple, and yet Solomon ended up building him one?
  4. When it comes to the return of Jesus, what is the difference between shock and surprise?
  5. Since Jesus is God, why doesn’t he know when he will return?
  6. When we have natural disasters like floods, should we interpret them to be punishment from God like in the time of Noah?
  7. What would you say to someone who thinks that killing in war is wrong for a Christian?
  8. What will be your response if the Government changes the marriage law and then demands ministers conduct same-sex marriage ceremonies?

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.

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 26th August 2017

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2 Samuel series continues

This weekend we continue our series looking at 2 Samuel as Jodie preaches from chapter 7 verses 1 to 29 with the title, “Keeping promises”.

Mission of the month: CMS

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

Parish Council

Our Parish Council meets this Monday, 28th August at 7.00pm at the church. Please remember them in your prayers.

Pie Drive for KBECET – last opportunity to order

The annual KBECET Pie Drive is on again. To support Nigel’s ministry, sign up to purchase some tasty pies by adding your name and choices to the form in the Hall before 27th August. Pies will be delivered in early September.

New roster coming soon

If you’re unavailable to serve on a roster from 18th September through to 17th December please let us know via comment card, email office@jamberooanglican.com or even better go to www.jamberooanglican.net.

 

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 .

It’s loving to vote ‘no’

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(CREDIT: Evan Forester via Flickr)

One of the most powerful arguments used by those who wish to change the definition of marriage is that it is morally wrong to deny someone the opportunity to marry the person they love.

And yet, changing the definition of marriage is not the most loving thing to do for the children of our society.

The ‘What has God joined together?’ booklet by our Anglican Diocese makes the important point that “man-woman marriage is actually at the heart of United Nations documents about the family.”

It goes on to quote Article 23 of the UN International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which declares that “The family is the natural and fundamental group unit of society and is entitled to protection by society and the State.”

It is most loving to the children of Australia to maintain the definition of marriage that says that the normal group unit of our society consists of the biological father and mother of the child.

Even though there are some exceptions such as adoption, foster care, and donor-assisted reproduction, it is still best to have children living in a stable, recognised, relationship with their own biological mother and father.

God created marriage for the benefit of all people, and the move to distort this is unloving to all children of Australia.

For, we should embrace the gift that God has given us all, as we read about in the first chapter of the Bible:

“So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. God blessed them and God said to them, ‘Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it’” (Genesis 1:27-28).

I encourage you to join with me in voting ‘no’ in the upcoming marriage plebiscite, as an act of love.

Jodie.

Coming up this weekend 26th – 27th August 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, Keeping promises”, from 2 Samuel chapter 7 verses 1 to 29.

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

  1. Why was God angry with Uzzah touching the Ark?
  2. Would David have died if he touched the Ark, and if so, wouldn’t that mean that God was killing his Messiah?
  3. Does the Ark still exist today, and if so, where is it located?
  4. Did David leave the Ark with Obed Edom as a ‘wait and see what happens’ exercise?
  5. Since the Ten Commandments tell us not to murder, then why was it OK for King David to kill his enemies?
  6. When we pray, is there a difference in ‘declaring’ or ‘decreeing?’
  7. Are we in the ‘end times’?

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

Church news for the week beginning 19th August 2017

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2 Samuel series continues

This weekend we continue our series looking at 2 Samuel as Simon Chaplin preaches from chapter 6 verses 1 to 23 with the title, “Rejoice with trembling”.

Mission of the month: CMS

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

Ladies Guild Meeting

The Ladies Guild are meeting this Wednesday, 23rd August in the church hall at 2pm.

Pie Drive for KBECET

The annual KBECET Pie Drive is on again. To support Nigel’s ministry, sign up to purchase some tasty pies by adding your name and choices to the form in the Hall before 27th August. Pies will be delivered in early September.

Last Chance to Register for the Postal Vote on Marriage

Australia will soon have a postal vote on whether to change the definition of marriage to enable same-sex marriages.  This is a change that affects marriage for everyone, and it is important that everyone’s vote counts.  If you have moved house, or recently become eligible to vote in Australian elections, you must update your electoral enrolment by 24 August 2017 to participate. Go to the AEC website (http://www.aec.gov.au/) to check or change your registration, or to register online.  More information and the relevant links are also available at the Coalition For Marriage website (http://www.coalitionformarriage.com.au/anglican).

Support the Coalition for Marriage

The Coalition for Marriage is coordinating the campaign to oppose changes to the Marriage Act. The Diocese of Sydney is a lead partner in the Coalition for Marriage, joining with over 80 organisations in support of the campaign to defend Australia’s man-woman definition of marriage. If you would like to support the Coalition for Marriage, you can sign up as a volunteer or provide financial support at http://www.coalitionformarriage.com.au/anglican.

What has God Joined Together?

The Diocesan booklet entitled What has God Joined Together? is now available online at  http://www.sydneyanglicans.net/marriage. It explains God’s pattern for marriage, why it is best for society as a whole, and the negative consequences of same-sex marriage. Please make use of this resource.

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 .