Jamberoo Anglican

Can good come from evil?

June 9, 2017/in News Sheet Blurb/by Val O'Regan

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

Coming up this weekend 10th – 11th June 2017

June 5, 2017/in Coming Up this Weekend/by Val O'Regan

This weekend we continue our series on Galatians. In the next talk, Graham will be speaking on the topic, “Freedom Defended” from Galatians chapter 5 verses 1 to 15.

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

Wasn’t seven commandments given to Noah? Was this binding on the Gentiles?
When we refer to Jesus, should it be in past or present tense?

We will be having a special video update from our link missionary from CMS at our 5pm service.

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 3rd June 2017

June 3, 2017/in News Headlines/by Val O'Regan

Galatians series continues

This weekend we continue our series on the New Testament book of Galatians as Simon Chaplin preaches from chapter 4 verses 8 to 31 with the title, “Freedom Enslaved”.

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.

Men’s Dinner

You’re invited to join the men of Oak Flats and beyond this Tuesday 6th June to hear Moussa Ghazal at the Central Hotel, Shellharbour. RSVP via the comment card or 0439 561 373.

Year 13 Fiji Mission Trip

Jemimah McNeill, along with a team of 75 young people from the Year 13 program, head off to Fiji this Thursday, 8th June for a month-long mission trip. Please remember them in your prayers.

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.

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.

A message from the Lucases

Was it a downer to be rostered to prepare the after church meal on our Golden Wedding anniversary? Absolutely not! It was a real joy to share a celebration with our Christian brothers and sisters and thank you to all who were able to be with us and for all your good wishes and fellowship. And a special thanks to Lesley for organising a beautiful cake to top off the occasion. The cake reminded us (almost) of the verse given to us by Bishop Yohana Madinda, who preached at our wedding: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.” Proverbs 3:5-6. We commend those words to you all. With our love in the Lord, Robyn and Trevor.

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.

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.

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 .

Mission to Fiji

June 2, 2017/in News Sheet Blurb/by Val O'Regan

After months and weeks of planning, preparation and nervous anticipation, this is my last week at church before I leave for Fiji. Earlier this week I received my needles, and whilst I really do not enjoy strangers stabbing me with medicine, I am so excited as I know this is one of the final things I need to do before I go! I leave in just a few days for my month long mission to Fiji, and everything is finally falling into place!

I would like to thank each and everyone of you for your generosity, both in prayer and financial support. Your support has allowed me to successfully raise the money needed, and I am very excited for the mission to begin!

While I am overseas I will be travelling around the main Island of Fiji, serving the communities and preaching the gospel through word and song. In particular, we decided the focus of our mission will be on preaching from the gospel of Mark, chapters 4 to 6, and as we delved into these amazing passages, I was reminded again of the amazing power of God: that this is his mission, and that no obstacle is too great for the Lord of the Universe! I am so excited to see how I will grow whilst overseas, learning from the Fijian people and the Year 13 community.

If you wish to be updated about the mission whilst I am away, you are able to sign up for the Year 13 ‘Bula Blog’, where you can see the word being done, and the prayer points of our team whilst we are overseas. You can find this at: http://year13.net/bulablog.

So, thank you so so much for supporting me, and I ask that you would continue to pray for me in the next few days, and while I am away! Pray that the ministry would be fruitful, and that the children and adults would be able to grow in the knowledge and understanding of our great God.

Jemimah McNeill, Year 13 student

Coming up this weekend 3rd – 4th June 2017

May 29, 2017/in Coming Up this Weekend/by Val O'Regan

This weekend we continue our series on Galatians. In the next talk, Simon Chaplin will be speaking on the topic, “Freedom Enslaved“, from Galatians chapter 4 verses 8 to 31.

We’re also looking forward to hearing from Jemimah McNeill at our 5pm service about the plans for the upcoming Fiji Mission with Year 13.

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.

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

Could Paul be accused of changing history to suit his case since the law of Moses was given 430 years after Abraham, but circumcision was commanded to Abraham in his life twice?
What about the people whose theologies differ, but still call Jesus Lord? Will they receive salvation?
Does the grace of God have a limit?
If there is only one God, why is there the trinity?
Why does Jesus pray to God, when he himself is God?

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.