A benefit of less reported religion

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Australia Day Crowd

It was no surprise to read that this week’s Census 2016 results showed a drop in the number of people claiming to be religious in Australia.

Notably, we read that only half our population (52.1%) say they are Christian, which is a drop from 61% in 2011, and 88% in 1966 (read more about this in Eternity News).

Given the low attendance at churches on weekends, and even ‘holy’ days like Christmas and Easter, it seems there are many people who identify as a follower of Jesus, but don’t really act like they mean it.

So, we need to get people to own up to what they say they believe, and to help them know what it really means to be a follower of Jesus.

Maybe you might ask your friend, colleague or family member to share what they think about this drop in religious interest in Australia.

You could ask them whether it seems to match what they believe about religion.

And then, best of all, you might get them to tell you what they think about Jesus.

And if someone is a little vague about Jesus, then why don’t you ask them, “would you like to read the Bible with me?”

And if they say “yes” then just grab a Bible, open it to Mark’s gospel, and read a few verses. If you want to read online right now, then read the Bible right here right now.

Start chatting about who Jesus is, and best of all, don’t feel you have to be the ‘expert.’

And then, as you and your friend come face to face with the ‘real’ Jesus, then it just may be that the Holy Spirit might lead them to have a real hope in the real Jesus.

Jodie

Coming up this weekend 1st – 2nd July 2017

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This weekend we conclude our series on Galatians. In the final talk Jodie will be speaking on the topic, “Freedom Boasted” from Galatians chapter 6 verses 11 to 18.

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

  1. Did Jesus baptise anyone, given that John 4:1-2 says “it was not Jesus who baptised, but his disciples?”
  2. Why do people get baptised?
  3. Why do people lose faith?
  4. Why do men have higher levels of leading in church above women?
  5. How might our tendencies towards passive aggressive conflict hinder our ability to rebuke each other gently?
  6. Why has the church been so soft in dealing with sexual abuse in the church?
  7. How can the church maintain a moral high ground when such abuse has occurred?
  8. How can victims of sexual abuse form a relationship with God?
  9. How can ministers who have committed sexual abuse redeem themselves?

We will also share the Lord’s Supper at 5pm Saturday, so be sure to join us for this important reminder of the death of Jesus.

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 24th June 2017

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Galatians series continues

This weekend we continue our series on the New Testament book of Galatians as Jodie preaches from chapter 6 verses 1 to 10 with the title, “Freedom Displayed”.

Mission of the month: BCA

BCA (Bush Church Aid) is our mission of the month. Support this ministry through the ‘Mission Table’ in the Hall.

Parish Council

Our Parish Council meets this Monday, 26th June at 7.00pm at the church. Please remember them in your prayers.

Ladies Guild Meeting

The Ladies Guild are meeting this Wednesday, 28th June in the church hall at 2pm.

New Bible study series on Wednesdays

You can’t trust what the Bible says—it’s been changed too much over the years! Do people ever ask you tough questions about your faith? Do you ever have questions of your own? How do you handle them? A new Bible study series, entitled “So Many Questions”, which looks at 13 common teasers and how to deal with them, will start at 7.30 pm on Wednesday 5th July at the Lucases’. 

New faces are always welcome! If you’d like to join us for this series please let Trevor know soon as he needs to order study books. 

SWITCH Lite – registrations now open

The women’s conference for the Illawarra is coming up soon. Join us on Saturday 5th August, 9am to 12.30pm at Nowra Baptist Church. The guest speaker is Lesley Ramsay, who is speaking on the theme “Hang in there”. Cost is $20 or $10 (student or concession). For more details and to book visit www.southernwomen.org.au.

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 .

Vital support for missionaries

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When we think of support for missionaries, we most naturally think about finances.

After all, when we and our partner missionary organisation send someone to a distant location to preach Christ, we know that there are many costs that need to be met.

Our church loves to financially support missionaries, and we do so by allocating a proportion of your regular financial gifts. Yet, we must never forget that our support for missionaries extends also to our prayers.

When I sit down for my morning prayers, I use an app called ‘PrayerMate’, which helps me remember to pray for CMS, the Church Missionary Society. Alternatively, you might just like the paper version, which works just as well!

But the main point is that we need to keep remembering that God uses our prayers to do his will to share the saving message of Jesus to all the nations.

When we pray for our missionaries on our own each day, or together each weekend in church, we are providing critical support for those who work with us to share the great news of Jesus with the world.

This weekend, as we celebrate CMS Sunday, let’s make a commitment to personally pray for our mission partners, and for CMS as well, who encourage us to use these words:

God of love, whose will it is that everyone should be saved, bless the Church Missionary Society and all who have gone out in its fellowship to preach, to teach and to heal. Guard, guide and use them; raise up more people in your world wide church to pray and to work, to care and to understand, to give to you and to go for you, that your church may grow, you will be done, your kingdom come and your glory be revealed through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Jodie

Coming up this weekend 24th – 25th June 2017

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This weekend we continue our series on Galatians. In the next talk, Jodie will be speaking on the topic, “Freedom Displayed” from Galatians chapter 6 verses 1 to 10.

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 Holy Communion Second Order AAPB service.

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

  1. Since we only need one baptism, should those who had already been baptised by John avoided baptism from Jesus?
  2. Since we should be content with what God has given us, how should we manage our insecurities as we are pressured to look attractive?
  3. When the Bible talks about being sober-minded, could this include other things that cause us to lose focus and control, such as medications or lack of sleep?
  4. Why does Galatians say that ‘Christ Jesus has crucified the flesh’, and yet in other parts of the Bible it says ‘the body is a temple of the Holy Spirit’?
  5. Why do we say that people ‘grow’ in their faith when faith is given to us by God?
  6. Is it possible to be same-sex attracted and a committed Christian?
  7. Can women be ministers?

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 17th June 2017

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Galatians series continues

This weekend we continue our series on the New Testament book of Galatians as Jodie preaches from chapter 5 verses 16 to 26 with the title, “Freedom Defined”.

Mission of the month: BCA

BCA (Bush Church Aid) is our mission of the month. Support this ministry through the ‘Mission Table’ in the Hall.

Jamberoo Interchurch Service

Join with fellow church-goers around our village and valley in our quarterly inter-church service. This Sunday 18th June 7pm at Jamberoo Anglican Church, with supper to follow.

Ladies Dinner

You’re invited to join the ladies of Oak Flats and beyond this Tuesday 20th June to hear Jenny Shannon. Dinner is $7 payable at the door, and there is no need to RSVP.

SWITCH Lite – registrations now open

The women’s conference for the Illawarra is coming up soon. Join us on Saturday 5th August, 9am to 12.30pm at Nowra Baptist Church. The guest speaker is Lesley Ramsay, who is speaking on the theme “Hang in there”. Cost is $20 or $10 (student or concession). For more details and to book visit www.southernwomen.org.au.

Japanese Students visiting Jamberoo

A small group of Japanese students (aged 11 and 12) will be visiting Jamberoo Public School from 29th July to 2nd August. If you are able to host a Japanese student for these four nights, please see Graham Errington for more information or email him on graham.errington@jamberooanglican.com.

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 .

Identifying our identity

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One of the best ways to understand our Australian identity is to travel to another country.

During my recent trip to Canada, I discovered many ways in which Aussies differ.

Canadians love eating poutine (a fancy version of chips and gravy), but we love meat pies, and of course, Vegemite.

Canadians love ice hockey and curling, but Aussies follow rugby and AFL.

But beyond food and sport, there are other ways in which our identities different, even though we share so much with our Commonwealth cousins.

When it comes to our Christian identity, it’s sometimes difficult to see a difference between us and those in the world.

After all, we still battle with the same temptations that all humans face.

Yet, as those who have been given freedom by Jesus, we now have the Spirit of God in us, leading us to bear his fruit.

And that will lead us to show love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians chapter 5 verses 22 and 23.)

This is our new identity, as we live the new life that God has given us.

And the result of this is a new community that enjoys this fruit through the special relationships that stand on the foundation of the love and mercy shown us in Christ.

Which means that the benefits of following Jesus don’t stop at our personal forgiveness and hope: they extend to the richness of life together, as we enjoy a taste of the perfect life in Heaven.

So, Christians, let’s pray that God would continue to bring forth in us the fruit of his Spirit.

And if you’re not yet a follower of Jesus, then there’s no better time to find forgiveness and hope in him, so that you might also feel the love of true community.

Jodie

Coming up this weekend 17th – 18th June 2017

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This weekend we continue our series on Galatians. In the next talk, Jodie will be speaking on the topic, “Freedom Defined” from Galatians chapter 5 verses 16 to 26.

Our 8am Sunday service will be a Morning Prayer Sunday service and at both our services, we will have a special update about Bush Church Aid (BCA) which is our Mission of the Month.

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

  1. When people say that you cannot be a Christian if you don’t go to church, are they showing they think that church attendance is a good work that can earn salvation?
  2. What does the Nicene Creed mean when it says “We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins?”
  3. Did Jesus always know he was God’s son since birth, or did he only realise it when he was older?

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 10th June 2017

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Galatians series continues

This weekend we continue our series on the New Testament book of Galatians as Graham preaches from chapter 5 verses 1 to 15 with the title, “Freedom Defended”.

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.

Gong Men’s Day

Join us on Saturday June 17th, 8.30am till 2pm or 5pm to 9.30pm at Dapto Anglican for a great day of teaching and encouragement for the men of our region. Price is $35 (or $25 concession).Register online at www.gongmensday.org.

Jamberoo Interchurch Service

Join with fellow church-goers around our village and valley in our quarterly inter-church service. Sunday 18th June 7pm at Jamberoo Anglican Church, with supper to follow.

Ladies Dinner

You’re invited to join the ladies of Oak Flats and beyond on Tuesday 20th June to hear Jenny Shannon. Dinner is $7 payable at the door, and there is no need to RSVP.

New roster coming soon

If you’re unavailable to serve on a roster from 26th June through 17th September please let us know via comment card, email office@jamberooanglican.com or even better go to www.jamberooanglican.net.

Japanese Students visiting Jamberoo

A small group of Japanese students (aged 11 and 12) will be visiting Jamberoo Public School from 29th July to 2nd August. If you are able to host a Japanese student for these four nights, please see Graham Errington for more information or email him on graham.errington@jamberooanglican.com.

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 .

Can good come from evil?

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Flower tributes to terror attack (CREDIT: Matt Brown via Flickr)

It’s hard to imagine the pain of the parents of those Australian girls killed in the attack in London, from the terrible silence when they no longer answered their phones till that final awful moment when the news is confirmed.

There was a father named Jacob who knew of this terrible moment when his children return home with a coat stained with blood belonging to one of their brothers. They told him the news that Joseph, their brother was dead.

However after 20 inconsolable years he discovers that this was a lie and that his son was alive.

As for Joseph the good news for him was that he wasn’t dead, but there were times over the next 20 years that he may have wished he was. He had been sold by his brothers into slavery, falsely accused, thrown into jail and without hope. And yet he trusts in God, and as the story unfolds he rises from a prisoner to a decorated governor leading Egypt though a terrible famine, securing an abundant food supply.

Reunited with his brothers he has this to say

“You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives”

What does it mean that God can take evil and use it for good? It doesn’t mean that God simply re-labels something bad as good. It doesn’t mean that given enough time we can look back on a tragedy in a new light, as if all that is needed is time.

Evil remains evil.

But God’s goodness is so good that even through evil he can work. It’s terribly hard to see that in our experiences, and I can’t imagine the pain of a father losing a child. But God can because this is his story. What humanity meant as evil in the killing of his son, God planned for our good (Acts 2:23). 

The way through the evil in our lives, is not to minimise or redefine it away but to know the good which comes in Jesus – the good that came through evil to bring peace into our world and peace into our hearts.

Simon Chaplin