The great Australian dream

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It’s been said that owning your own home is the great Australian dream.

After all, people say it feels good to know they’ve got the stability and security of having full control of the roof over their head.

Yet it’s increasingly hard to afford a home, and even when a person does, there’s no guarantee that it will deliver the comfort they crave.

Plus, it doesn’t really matter how much a person owns on Earth if they don’t have Heaven sorted out.

That’s why Jesus’ famous words in John chapter 14 cut across the great Aussie dream. He said:

In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. (John 14:2-3)

The way we get a guaranteed booking in God’s house is to receive the key from Jesus, at his expense.

After all, Jesus said that he was going to that house in order to come back and take his followers to be with him.

This is the only sure-thing that we can rely upon, especially as we seek security in an ever-changing world.

In Jesus can we find the only, solid foundation for life in this world and the next.

And this will give us much more than the great Australian dream can ever promise.

For, if we don’t trust in Jesus, we won’t have the security, stability and safety of living in God’s heavenly house.

Where’s your home?

Coming up this weekend 29th – 30th October 2016

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This weekend Jodie continues our series on the Old Testament book of Job, with the title, ‘Mythbusting Apologetics’ from chapters 27 to 28.

We will be completing the National Church Life Survey (NCLS) during our services this weekend. The purpose of the NCLS is to help churches to be more vital and effective. Through the survey our churchgoers will be able to give their thoughts, opinions and experiences of church life. The survey provides valuable feedback that enables leaders at local, regional and national levels to evaluate and plan for the future

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 prayerbook 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 October 2016

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This weekend’s Bible Talk

This weekend Jodie continues our series on the Old Testament book of Job, with the title,  ‘Mythbusting Religion’ from chapters 25 to 26.

Mission of the month: Anglicare

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

Parish Council

Our Parish Council meets this Monday, 24th October at 2.30 pm at the church. Please remember them in your prayers.

Men’s Dinner

You’re invited to join the men of Oak Flats and beyond on Tuesday night 1st November for the next Men’s Dinner. Our speaker is Les Stewart. 6.30pm at the Central Hotel Function Room. Bookings essential. Phone 0439 561 373 or email mensdinner@oakflatsanglican.com

National Church Life Survey

Next Saturday, 29th October and Sunday, 30th October we will be conducting the National Church Life Survey (NCLS). We will also conducting the survey for the children aged 8 and older at our Friday kids’ and youth programs this week.

The purpose of the NCLS is to help churches to be more vital and effective. Through the survey our churchgoers will be able to give their thoughts, opinions and experiences of church life. The survey provides valuable feedback that enables leaders at local, regional and national levels to evaluate and plan for the future.

Our church’s contribution will form an important part of the national snapshot of the whole Australian Church. For more in formation visit www.2016ncls.org.au

YouVersion Bible App

A free Bible on your phone or tablet. YouVersion is a simple, ad-free Bible that brings God’s Word into your daily life. Download the free app and access your bookmarks, notes, and reading plans from anywhere. Enjoy hundreds of versions, including audio, all on your mobile device. Search ‘bible’ or ‘youversion’ in the app store on your preferred device.

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 $6272.00, leaving a gap of $28.00.

Olimometer 2.52

Up to the end of the last calendar month we needed to have received $98,802. Compared to that total we received $109,200, leaving a gap of $-10,398.

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 .

Are you hungry for the Bible?

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open_bible

Do you hunger for God’s word like a big plate of bacon and eggs?

It might seem strange to compare the Bible to our breakfast, but this is how Job spoke of his hunger for God’s word:

I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my daily bread. (Job 23:12b)

Can you say the same thing?

During the question time and my talk last week I spoke of how I try to read a bit of the Bible every day.

It’s not a ritual that I’ve kept every day of my Christian life, and in fact there have been many, long breaks from this daily habit.

Yet, every day is a new day, and I’m thankful to God that I’ve been able to be pretty regular in this routine this year… and I’m loving it!

I’m using an app on my iPhone called ‘YouVersion’ (also known as ‘Bible’). It enables me to select a daily Bible reading plan, and it helps remind me to read the next bit, each day, which I can read right on that app.

If you’ve never started a regular routine, then why not start tomorrow morning? Just read a few verses, and see how you go. It might turn into a habit really quickly.

Now, the reason I try and read the Bible each day is that it’s great to keep filling my heart and mind with the things of God, especially due to the barrage of information around me that keeps pushing God aside.

It’s a great joy to know God more and more, and to know who it is who loves me so much that he’d send his son to die for me.

And it’s a great way to prime my mind to pray to God, since it helps me know how God thinks and what he thinks of me.

So, what are you waiting for?

Coming up this weekend 22nd – 23rd October 2016

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This weekend Jodie continues our series on the Old Testament book of Job, with the title, ‘Mythbusting Religion’ from chapters 25 to 26.

We will also be hearing an update about the new churches that have been established thanks to the Archbishop of Sydney’s New Churches for New Communities (NCNC) initiative.

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 October 2016

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This weekend’s Bible Talk

This weekend Jodie begins the second half of our series on the Old Testament book of Job from chapters 22 to 24 with the topic, ‘Mythbusting repentance.’

Mission of the month: Anglicare

Anglicare is our mission of the month. Support this ministry by purchasing gifts from the ‘Mission Table’ in the Hall.

Ladies Dinner

You’re invited to join the ladies of Oak Flats and our region this Tuesday 18th October to hear Christine Jensen. Dinner is $7 payable on the night at 35 Fisher Street Oak Flats, and there is no need to RSVP.

Ladies Guild Cake Stall and Rose Show

The Ladies Guild are holding a cake stall on Saturday 22nd October from 9am outside the Antique shop (opposite the bowling club). Donations such as cakes, jams, pickles, marmalades & fresh produce would be greatly appreciated. All donations can be brought to the stall on the day or dropped in at the Lucas’ place beforehand – 88 Churchill Street, Jamberoo.
From midday there will be an Art, Rose and Car show. Make sure you come along and see what Jamberoo has to offer.

Combined Leadership Meeting

Saturday 22nd October is our next Combined Leadership meeting at Oak Flats Anglican Church, starting at 8.00am.

KBECET Dinner

The KBECET (Kiama Board for Employing Christian Education Teachers) Annual Dinner is on Saturday 22nd October. 6.30pm for a 7pm start. Tickets are $25 each. Contact Vic East on 4236 0525.

 

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 $6272.00, leaving a gap of $28.00.

Olimometer 2.52

Up to the end of the last calendar month we needed to have received $98,802. Compared to that total we received $109,200, leaving a gap of $-10,398.

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 .

Showing love in the marriage debate

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Marriage

This week at the Synod meeting of the Sydney Anglican Church there was a lengthy discussion about the present debate on the redefinition of marriage.

During this discussion, we thanked the Archbishop’s Plebiscite Task Force for the work they had done in preparing a booklet to help educate people about the issue.

Whilst this booklet is still in draft format for review, it was reported on by the media, and its contents were quoted and discussed.

I am looking forward to distributing the final version of this booklet to you in the next few months.

But as a taste, here is a helpful section that tells us why that we are acting as good neighbours when we share the good and warn of the bad:

God’s plan for marriage brings positive things for children and society. Even for people who don’t believe marriage is a gift from God, the vast majority of Australians know that marriage brings good.

It’s not surprising that, if we abandon God’s good plan for marriage and define it another way, there will be consequences. And many of them may be negative. Christians have been way too silent on this. We can’t be good neighbours and stay silent on the damage that can be done if we change the meaning of marriage.

Because we’ve been largely silent until now, most Australians are simply unaware of the consequences of redefining marriage – the consequences for families and children, the consequences of removing gender difference from our societal structure and the consequences for freedom of speech.

Let’s look at those consequences and how we can talk about them with our neighbours – whether they’re believing people or not.

Let’s pray that this important discussion can be carried out with respect and love.

Let’s also pray that this discussion will glorify God and lead us to many gospel conversations.

Coming up this weekend 15th – 16th October 2016

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This weekend Jodie will begin the second half of our series on the Old Testament book of Job from chapters 22 to 24 with the topic, ‘Mythbusting repentance.’

At both our services we will hear a mission update about Anglicare – our mission of the month.

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

  1. In Luke 10, did Jesus mean that he saw Satan fall because of the ministry of the disciples at that time, or was he referring to an event before the Fall?
  2. Given that gambling is a major cause of suicide, what should Christians do to stop it?
  3. Did dinosaurs exist at the same time as humans, and were they included in Noah’s Ark?
  4. Why don’t we say “and be thankful” anymore in the Lord’s Supper?
  5. How many times have you read the Bible from cover to cover?

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.

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 8th October 2016

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This weekend’s Bible Talk

This weekend we welcome Dan Odell who will be speaking on the topic “The Prodigal Son” from Luke chapter 15 verses 11 to 32.

Next week’s Bible Talk

Next week, Jodie will begin the second half of our series on the Old Testament book of Job, “Mythbusting Reality”, from chapters 22 to 24.

Mission of the month: Australian Fellowship of Evangelical Students (AFES)

AFES is our mission of the month. Support this ministry by purchasing gifts from the ‘Mission Table’ in the Hall.

SWITCH Women’s Conference

The women’s conference for the Illawarra is on this Saturday 15th October from 8:45am to 4:30pm at Waterslea Conference Centre (Nowra). Cost $60. Bookings and details www.southernwomen.org.au. Registrations close Sunday 9th October.

Ladies Dinner

You’re invited to join the ladies of Oak Flats and our region on Tuesday 18th October to hear Christine Jensen. Dinner is $7 payable on the night at 35 Fisher Street Oak Flats, and there is no need to RSVP.

KBECET Dinner

The KBECET (Kiama Board for Employing Christian Education Teachers) Annual Dinner is on Saturday 22nd October. 6.30pm for a 7pm start. Tickets are $25 each. Contact Vic East on 4236 0525.

 

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 $6272.00, leaving a gap of $28.00.

Olimometer 2.52

Up to the end of the last calendar month we needed to have received $98,802. Compared to that total we received $109,200, leaving a gap of $-10,398.

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 .

Should you be a gospel worker?

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Recruiting the next generation of gospel workers at this year's MTS Mission Minded Conference

Recruiting the next generation of gospel workers at this year’s MTS Mission Minded Conference

I’ve always found it hard to describe my job.

You’d think it would be easy enough to just say that I’m an ‘Anglican Minister’.

But the problem is that this creates the impression that only paid and ordained people ‘do’ the ministry in the church.

Yet, when we look in the Bible at Ephesians chapter 4, we see that all of Jesus’ people are servants (ministers) who work to build Christ’s church:

11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up…

So, if you’re a follower of Jesus, then you’re a minister!

There are so many ways to minister: you can do the Bible reading during a church service, or set up the chairs, or do a talk in the kids’ ministry, or provide morning tea to our seniors.

After all, we’re all in the ministry!

But as we also saw in Ephesians, God uses some particular ministers to speak the gospel in order to equip all Christians for ministry.

And that’s why we still need some specific leaders in the church… and some of them will do it as their ‘job.’

So what do we call this kind of work?

At last weekend’s ‘MTS Mission Minded’ conference, I became convinced that the best description is ‘gospel work.’

So, for people who have their ‘job’ as a ‘worker’ who speaks the gospel to believers and unbelievers, this describes the heart of the task.

Should you be considering gospel work?

PS – I’m still looking for an apprentice gospel worker to train in our church as an MTS Apprentice… let me know if you’re interested…!