Abortion’s hidden injustice

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The greatest tragedy of the sexual revolution is the mass killing of unborn children through the decriminalisation and legalisation of abortion.

Whilst the decision to terminate a pregnancy should be a painful choice for the parents, the impact is undoubtedly greatest upon the human whose life comes to an end in order to benefit his or her mother and/or father.

The reason our society accepts the sacrifice of the life of an unborn child for the sake of his or her parents is because we have adopted an ethical framework that seeks the greatest pleasure or benefit for the individual.

But because the unborn child is not able to express feelings or claim rights, they are not able to defend themselves against their unwilling sacrifice for the sake of their parents.

Yet, those who advocate for abortion will often defend their practices by choosing not to define a foetus as human until the moment the child is born.

However, if we choose to listen to the word of God, then he makes it clear that embryos and foetuses are as human as a fully-grown adult.

There are many times when the Bible speaks of how God relates personally to unborn children.

Psalm 139 speaks of the personal relationship of God to the foetus, and in Jeremiah chapter 1 verse 5, God says to Jeremiah that “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you.”

In God’s sight, the life of a foetus is equal to the life of a grownup, and this is why abortion must be seen as the killing of a human.

There are plans next week to introduce a bill before the NSW Parliament that will make abortion legal right up to the moment of birth.

Let us pray that our politicians do not vote to permit doctors to kill the very babies they should be caring for.

Please also consider signing the petition at our church in order to add your name to the voices seeking to oppose this legislation.

Jodie

Coming up this weekend 29th – 30th April 2017

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This weekend we kick off our brand-new series in the New Testament book Galatians with the series titled ‘Free Indeed’. In the first talk, Jodie will be speaking on the topic, “Freedom Deserted”, from Galatians chapter 1 verses 1 to 10.

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

  1. Why wasn’t John the Baptist protected by God instead of being beheaded?
  2. What did Jesus mean by “Today you will be with me in Paradise?”
  3. When are we raised into our new bodies?
  4. Should Christians be buried or cremated?
  5. How will we recognise family and friends in Heaven, since we will all have new bodies?
  6. What is the difference between our spiritual bodies and the spirits who possessed people on Earth?
  7. Is Jesus still in human form?
  8. Since in Heaven we are unable to sin, doesn’t that mean that we are like robots?
  9. Were there fish in the Garden of Eden, or were they outside the garden?
  10. Is it a sin when you steal hard-earned items in a video game?
  11. What does the Bible say about attending more than one church?

We’re also going to hear an update from Jemimah McNeill about the Year 13 program with Youthworks and the upcoming mission trip to Fiji.

Our 8am Sunday service will be the Lord’s Supper 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.

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 22nd April 2017

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This weekend’s Bible Talk

This weekend Graham will be talking on the topic ‘What sort of body?’ from 1 Corinthians chapter 15 verses 35 to 58.

New Sermon Series

From next Saturday we’re kicking off a new nine-week series looking at Galatians. The series is called ‘Free Indeed!’. 

Mission of the month: KBECET

KBECET (Kiama Board for Employing Christian Education Teachers) is our mission of the month. Support this ministry through the ‘Mission Table’ in the Hall.

Weekendaway Survey

Please fill in the Weekendaway Survey this weekend so that you can help us make important decisions about what next year’s event will be like.

Parish Council

Our Parish Council meets this Monday, 24th April at 7.00pm at the church. Please remember them in your prayers.

Ladies Guild Meeting

The Ladies Guild are meeting this Wednesday, 26th April in the church hall at 2pm.

Men’s Dinner

You’re invited to join the men of Oak Flats and beyond on Tuesday 2nd May to hear Archie Poulos at the Central Hotel, Shellharbour. RSVP via the comment card or 0439 561 373.

Gong Men’s Day – save the date

Join us on Saturday 17th June, 8.30am to 2pm, or 5pm to 9.30pm at Dapto Anglican for a great day of teaching and encouragement for the men of our region.

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 $5616.00, leaving a gap of $684.00.

Olimometer 2.52

Up to the end of the last calendar month we needed to have received $191,100. Compared to that total we received $171,812, leaving a gap of $19,288.

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 cost of conflict

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As we approach another Anzac Day, we are reminded again of the horrors of war.

The Australian War Memorial lists 102,825 people who have died as a result of service with Australian units.

It is sobering to consider the tragic, human cost of these conflicts.

Behind every name there is heartbreak, and behind every casualty there are tears.

Yet, despite this great cost, we know that the sacrifice of lives was not in vain: our nation is stronger for their courage and valour.

Yet, it is not only in the theatres of war that we witness conflict.

All relationships experience some form of conflict from time to time.

It is a normal part of life to disagree with others, but we must seek to show love in our conflicts by listening and loving others.

Sadly, even among Christians, we see conflicts that can often end up with painful outcomes.

As I have been preparing my Bible talks for our upcoming series on the Letter to the Galatians, I have been reminded of the conflict that Paul had with several of the core, Christian leaders:

When Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. For before certain men came from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles. But when they arrived, he began to draw back and separate himself from the Gentiles because he was afraid of those who belonged to the circumcision group. The other Jews joined him in his hypocrisy, so that by their hypocrisy even Barnabas was led astray. (Galatians 2:11-13)

The conflict was necessary because the truth was at stake.

Yet, despite this painful disagreement, God used this incident to see the gospel spread throughout the nations.

Serious conflict is painful and heartbreaking, but even through such tragedy, God remains sovereign.

After all, the greatest tragedy of all was the death of Jesus, which led to the greatest triumph of history.

Jodie.

Coming up this weekend 22nd – 23rd April 2017

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This weekend we welcome Graham Errington, who is speaking on the topic ‘What sort of body’ from 1 Corinthians chapter 15 verses 35 to 58.

It’s also the right time for us to recognise many of the needs of our missionaries, so we’ll have a special report at our 5pm Saturday service about what’s been happening in the lives of our partners in global, word ministry.

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.

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 15th April 2017

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This weekend’s Bible Talk

This weekend Jodie will be talking on the topic ‘The right side of history’ from Acts chapter 13 verses 16 to 41.

Mission of the month: Anglicare

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

Ladies Dinner

You’re invited to join the ladies of Oak Flats and beyond on this Tuesday 19th April to hear Kate Stace. Dinner is $7 payable at the door, and there is no need to RSVP.

Anzac Day March

Join the community of Jamberoo for an Anzac Day Service on Saturday 22nd April at 10.15am for a 10.30am start. Fall in outside RSL Hall, Allowrie St.

Children’s and youth programs in holidays

During school holidays our normal midweek children’s and youth programs take a break until 28th April. However we plan to continue a mini-program during the 5pm Saturday service as required.

Emergency Cyclone Debbie Appeal

Anglican Aid has launched an appeal to help those affected by Cyclone Debbie in Queensland and NSW. For more information or to donate please visit anglicanaid.org.au or call (02) 9284 1406.

Gong Men’s Day – save the date

Join us on Saturday 17th June, 8.30am to 2pm, or 5pm to 9.30pm at Dapto Anglican for a great day of teaching and encouragement for the men of our region.

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 $5616.00, leaving a gap of $684.00.

Olimometer 2.52

Up to the end of the last calendar month we needed to have received $191,100. Compared to that total we received $171,812, leaving a gap of $19,288.

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 .

Death has been conquered

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Death is an intruder in our lives and relationships, leaving gaping holes and hardships. It is an enemy that seems insurmountable.

Left to our own resources, we have very little to say, very few answers to contribute.

Our world is left confused and its inability to answer the question of death shows a hollowness in its answers to the questions of life.

And this is exactly how the followers of Jesus would have felt on that first Easter weekend. Death had taken their teacher, their friend, their Lord.

But this death was unlike any other. This was not another victim of death’s relentless dominion over us.

In Jesus’ death was God’s decisive victory: it was part of his plan.

For Jesus was delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, to be crucified by the hands of lawless men. But, God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it (Acts 2:23).

God is not silent in the face of death.

Christ has been raised from the dead, as the Apostle triumphantly states in 1 Corinthians 15, and it continues with a promise to us all. “Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep” (1 Cor 15:20).

It is a promise that we too will be raised up with Christ.

However it is a promise that may at times sit on the shelves of our hearts gathering dust. But it is a promise that cannot stay there for long.

It is too important. It is too relevant. For we live in a world marred by death.

Jesus resurrection is God’s proclamation, his loud and triumphant announcement. Death has been conquered.

“Death is swallowed up in victory.
O death, where is your victory?
O death, where is your sting?”  (1 Corinthians 15:54-55)

Simon Chaplin

Coming up Good Friday and Easter Weekend 2017

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We’d love you to join us at church this Easter.

Our Good Friday service is at the special time of 9.30am, where we’ll be coming together to reflect on the worse sin ever as Graham Errington talks from Luke chapter 22 verses 1 to 23.

We’ll be meeting at our normal times of 5pm on Saturday and 8am on Easter Sunday. Jodie will be speaking on the topic ‘The right side of history’ from Acts chapter 13 verses 16 to 41.

During our services on Saturday and Sunday, we’ll have our weekly question and answer time, and Jodie will be answering these questions:

  1. How could Jesus die since God is immortal?
  2. If God still speaks today, why doesn’t the Bible get updated like the prayer book gets updated to reflect modern changes?
  3. Since God chooses some people and not others, what about the verse that says God is not willing that anyone should perish?
  4. If singleness is a gift, then why do single people struggle to be content?
  5. How long did Lazarus live for after Jesus raised him from the dead?
  6. What are the differences between the Sadducees and the Pharisees in the Bible?

If you don’t regularly attend church then you are especially welcome this weekend. We love it when people drop in to join us at church, and you’ll be made to feel very much at home.

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.

We wish you a special Easter as we reflect on the wonder of the cross and the miracle of the empty tomb!

Church news for the week beginning 8th April 2017

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This weekend’s Bible Talk

This weekend we welcome Simon Chaplin, who will be talking on the topic ‘God’s perfect plan ‘ from John chapter 11 verses 45 to 53.

Mission of the month: Anglicare

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

Good Friday Service

Join us at 9.30am for a special Good Friday service on Friday 14th April, with Graham Errington speaking. We’ll be meeting at our normal times of 5pm on Saturday and 8am on Easter Sunday.

Ladies Dinner

You’re invited to join the ladies of Oak Flats and beyond on Tuesday 19th April to hear Kate Stace. Dinner is $7 payable at the door, and there is no need to RSVP.

Children’s and youth programs in holidays

During school holidays our normal midweek children’s and youth programs take a break until 28th April. However we plan to continue a mini-program during the 5pm Saturday service as required.

Emergency Cyclone Debbie Appeal

Anglican Aid has launched an appeal to help those affected by Cyclone Debbie in Queensland and NSW. For more information or to donate please visit anglicanaid.org.au or call (02) 9284 1406.

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 $5616.00, leaving a gap of $684.00.

Olimometer 2.52

Up to the end of the last calendar month we needed to have received $191,100. Compared to that total we received $171,812, leaving a gap of $19,288.

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 .

Christian persecution is growing

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persecution

Last year was the worst year on record for persecution of Christians worldwide.

According to ‘Open Doors,’ each month 332 were killed for their faith, 772 suffered serious violence and 214 churches were destroyed.

Once there was a network of Christian churches spreading east from Jerusalem through “Mesopotamia” and on into India.

Though not recorded in the NT, this missionary spread eastwards from Jerusalem must have started very early. When Marco Polo reached the court of Kublai Khan in 1266 in nowadays “Peking,” he was surprised to meet Christians there.

We sometimes forget that Christianity is a Middle Eastern (i.e. Asian) religion, that Jesus was a Jew, and Paul a Syrian or maybe a Turk. Armenia was the first ever officially Christian nation.

The buildings of the Eastern Christians in those early days typically had gold-painted domes on the roof, and this is no doubt the origin of the domes on mosques, since the churches were simply converted into mosques as Islam displaced the Christians.

And this process is being implemented in a vicious manner today.

Jakarta’s Christian governor Basuki Ahok is on trial for blasphemy for “insulting” the Koran. There are few who cannot see this as an attempt to bring a Christian leader down by any method that might work.

Coptic Christian Bahgat Zakhar, 58, refused to deny Jesus before being gunned down in cold blood in the Sinai region.

We can recall that these following words of Jesus apply to us as well as our persecuted brothers and sisters, “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” (Matthew 5:43-44.)

Hard though it be to love organisations like ISIS, we should pray for their change of heart.

We should find ways to identify with persecuted Christians for as Jesus said, “I was in prison and you came to visit me… truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me” (Matthew 25:36 & 40.)

Graham