Are you responsible with your power?

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The crown of the king (CREDIT: Jason Train via Flickr)

Did you know that God has made us responsible for ruling the world?

In the book of Psalms, God’s people say to him,

“…what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them? You have made them a little lower than the angels and crowned them with glory and honour. You made them rulers over the works of your hands; you put everything under their feet:” (Psalm 8:4-6)

The Lord is king over the universe, and he’s put humans in charge of Planet Earth and beyond.

This is why humans have the authority to make decisions about animals and the environment.

God has given us this charge to rule everything under his command, and this is why a Biblical worldview has humans at the focal point of all decisions.

Yet, with much power comes much responsibility!

It is within our divinely-delegated power to do anything we like to our environment and to treat animals in any way we wish, but, God will hold us accountable for the decisions we make, as we rule his world under his kingship.

And at the heart of our leadership must be servanthood.

For, if we want to see what perfect human rule looks like, we should consider how Jesus rules.

His greatest act of leadership was not to set himself up as a powerful and dominant ruler.

Instead, his ultimate act of kingship was giving his life for the humans under his rule, so that he might taste death for those of us who obey his call to repent and believe in him.

Jesus’ death is an example of how to rule and serve, but most importantly, his death brings his people renewal by the Holy Spirit, so that we might lead with love.

How will this change the way you rule the world?

Jodie

Coming up this weekend 1st – 2nd April 2017

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This weekend we welcome our own Mark Howard who will speak to us on the topic of  ‘Effective and Productive in the Knowledge of Jesus’ from 2 Peter chapter 1 verses 1 to 15.

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 25th March 2017

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This weekend’s Bible Talk

This weekend Jodie concludes our series looking at the Five Solas of the Reformation, with the next talk titled  ‘For the glory of God alone’.

Next week’s Bible Talk

Next week we welcome our own Mark Howard, who will be talking on the topic ‘Effective and Productive in the Knowledge of Jesus’ from 2 Peter chapter 1 verses 1 to 15.

Mission of the month: Anglicare

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

Annual General Meeting

We give thanks to God for our new office holders in 2017. Our Wardens are Robert Curll, Trevor Lucas and James Rosten. Our Parish Counsellors are Pauline Swan, Nick Calhau and Paul Massey (with one more still to be nominated by the Rector). Our Synod Representative is Pauline Swan.

Jamberoo Interchurch Service

Join with fellow church-goers around our village and valley in our quarterly inter-church service. Sunday 26th March 7pm at St Matthew’s Catholic Church.

Weekendaway is next week!

Sunday 26th March is the very last day to register for next weekend’s church holiday on 31st March to 2nd April at Waterslea, near Nowra. We need to tell Youthworks our numbers by Monday morning. Please do everything you can to join us, as it’s set to be a very special time away. Peter Jensen has prepared some terrific talks on the topic ‘Being Human’, and we’re praying that God will feed us in a powerful way as the Word is preached. For the Saturday night you will need to dress up as your favourite book or movie character. 

Remember – if you can’t afford to pay, we have people who will subsidise your fees. Money has already been given, so please come and join us! And if you need to pay us later, that’s fine, too!

Men’s Dinner

You’re invited to join the men of Oak Flats and beyond on Tuesday 4th April to hear Matthew Meek at the Central Hotel, Shellharbour. RSVP via the comment card or 0439 561 373.

New Rosters

New rosters are out now. If you need a paper version, grab one from the information table, or otherwise log onto www.jamberooanglican.net to see what dates and roles you are scheduled for.

 

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 best weekend ever?

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Join us at Waterslea next weekend!

When I was nine years old I was invited to a Christian holiday camp by a friend from school.

It turned out that my friend, Julian, was a regular, churchgoing Christian, and he reached out to me to invite me to join him for a week of horse riding, canoeing and even air guns (back in the day!)

I still remember the campfire, the awesome leaders, and even the potatoes we peeled in the kitchen.

But what I’ll never forget was the message of the speaker about how to become friends with Jesus.

And at that camp I remember asking Jesus to forgive me and to let me follow him all my life.

Camps are a very special place to know Jesus and experience his love in a special community of believers.

Next weekend, our church is going away for a whole weekend together, to live, learn, love and laugh.

And we are set to be greatly blessed by the teaching of Peter Jensen, as he opens up God’s word to us in a practical and powerful way.

Peter’s four talks are, ‘The Birth of Culture,’ ‘The Gift of Community,’ ‘The Promise of Justice,’ and ‘The Power of Words.’

If you’ve never been on a church camp or weekendaway before, then there’s still time to join us.

And if you’ve been before, you’ll know that it’s an occasion not to be missed.

If you’re short of time, money, or transport, then there are ways to get you along.

But whatever you do, don’t pass up this opportunity to be with people of all ages and stages, from both Oak Flats and Jamberoo Anglican Churches, as together we meet Jesus, clothed in his word, present by his Holy Spirit, bringing glory to God.

See you there, God willing!

Jodie

Coming up this weekend 25th – 26th March 2017

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This weekend we will conclude our five-week series looking at the five Solas of the Reformation called ‘Five Foundations’. This week, Jodie will be speaking on the topic ‘For the glory of God alone’.

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. Why were the Old Testament sacrifices ineffective in bringing people into a right relationship with God?
  2. Does Jesus always have room for more sin in the same way that people always have room for more dessert?
  3. Why does the Book of Common Prayer still use the word ‘priest’?
  4. Why do some Anglican ministers still wear robes today?
  5. If the old Prayer Book worked so well, why was it changed?
  6. Why do we read prayers and other things out loud together in church, when it could make us appear cult-like?
  7. If all Christians are of equal value, why aren’t women ordained in the Sydney Diocese?
  8. How do Roman Catholics deal with the teaching of Hebrews chapters 9 and 10?
  9. Who is allowed to lead the service of the Lord’s Supper?
  10. Why does God choose some people and not others?

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 18th March 2017

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This weekend’s Bible Talk

This weekend Jodie continues our series looking at the Five Solas of the Reformation, with the next talk titled ‘Christ alone’.

Mission of the month: Anglicare

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

AGM and Pot Luck Lunch

Our AGM will be held this weekend, Sunday 19th March, with a BYO Pot-luck lunch starting at 1pm. This is a great opportunity to meet people from across our two congregations, with the formal meeting from 2pm to 3.30pm. An important time to review the past and plan the future, as we also elect representatives to serve our church. Please pick up a nomination form at the front desk.

Ladies’ Dinner

You’re invited to join the women of Oak Flats and beyond this Tuesday night 21st March to hear Jane Tooher. We meet at Oak Flat Anglican and start at 7pm. Dinner is $7 payable at the door, and there is no need to RSVP.

Jamberoo Interchurch Service

Join with fellow church-goers around our village and valley in our quarterly inter-church service. Sunday 26th March 7pm at St Matthew’s Catholic Church.

Two weeks to the Weekendaway

Don’t miss out on our awesome church retreat on the weekend of the 31st March – 2nd April.  Our guest speaker is Peter Jensen, former Archbishop of Sydney, who is speaking on the topic ‘Being Human’. For the Saturday night you will need to dress up as your favourite book or movie character. Registration closes next Sunday 26th March.

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’s beer got to do with church?

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The video at the centre of the Coopers and Bible Society controversy (CREDIT: The Bible Society)

This week there has been some controversy surrounding the production by Coopers Brewery of commemorative beer cans to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the Bible Society.

As part of the celebrations, the Bible Society released a video in which they hosted a mini-debate between two people with different views on same-sex marriage.

The video showed a wonderful example of how two people can clearly differ, whilst maintaining respect.

Sadly, the response to this video was a call to boycott Coopers, which was then carried out by several pubs and beer drinkers.

After originally supporting the tone of the video debate, Coopers went on to strongly distance themselves from the video and eventually state their their strong support of same-sex marriage.

The pressure that Coopers felt is the same pressure that Christians regularly experience to be silent in this debate, even if we speak in a well-mannered way.

This is a sign of the kind of challenges that Christians will continue to experience, and are likely to see grow in frequency and intensity.

This is all the more reason why Christians need to stick together.

And the place to do that is by going to church.

We don’t go to church in order to please God, or to somehow work our way to Heaven.

We come to church to meet with Jesus as he speaks by his Holy Spirit through the words of the Bible, in a supportive and loving community of grace.

Because if you think you can stand up and say you’re a Christian but rarely, if ever, come to church to be supported by your Christian brothers and sisters, then you’re likely to fall away under the ever-mounting pressure of our increasingly-hostile world.

If you’ve not been to church for a while, please come back.

We need you, and you need us.

Jodie

Coming up this weekend 18th – 19th March 2017

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This weekend we continue our five-week series looking at the five Solas of the Reformation called ‘Five Foundations’. This week, Jodie will be speaking on the topic ‘Christ alone’.

Our 8am Sunday service will be a Morning Prayer Sunday service and at both our services, we will have a special update about Anglicare 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. Why does John’s Gospel say that Jesus changed Peter’s name when he first met him, but Matthew’s Gospel says Peter’s name was changed when he identified Jesus as Messiah?
  2. If God is present with us in church, where would he sit?
  3. When Jesus said in Matthew 18:19 that if two people agree about anything they ask for that it will be done by his Father, doesn’t this mean our prayers change God’s mind?
  4. Given that some Roman Catholics leave their church when they discover grace, doesn’t this mean the priest didn’t understand the Bible and grace himself?
  5. How is Anglican infant baptism different to Roman Catholic infant baptism?
  6. When Jesus takes someone’s sins, doesn’t that make him imperfect?
  7. How is it possible for Jesus to take everyone’s sins, rather than just taking one person’s sins as a swap for one person’s sinlessness?
  8. Does ‘Hell’ really exist and what is ‘Sheol’?
  9. Where did Jesus go after he died on the cross, before he rose from the dead?
  10. Since the Bible says that we should count our conversions in Heaven, doesn’t this mean that Rugby is the game played in Heaven?

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 11th March 2017

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This weekend’s Bible Talk

This weekend Simon Chaplin continues our series looking at the Five Solas of the Reformation, with the next talk titled ‘Grace alone’.

Mission of the month: Church Missionary Society (CMS)

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

AGM and Pot Luck Lunch

Our AGM will be held on Sunday 19th March, with a BYO Pot-luck lunch starting at 1pm. This is a great opportunity to meet people from across our two congregations, with the formal meeting from 2pm to 3.30pm. An important time to review the past and plan the future, as we also elect representatives to serve our church. Please pick up a nomination form at the front desk.

Ladies’ Dinner

You’re invited to join the women of Oak Flats and beyond on Tuesday night 21st March to hear Jane Tooher. We meet at Oak Flat Anglican and start at 7pm. Dinner is $7 payable at the door, and there is no need to RSVP.

Floral Display

We will be hosting a floral display at the church on 18th March, from 9am to 3.30pm. $8 includes viewing of display and refreshments. For information call Helen 4236 0158.

Jamberoo Interchurch Service

Join with fellow church-goers around our village and valley in our quarterly inter- church service. Sunday 26th March 7pm at St Matthew’s Catholic Church.

Three weeks to the Weekendaway

Don’t miss out on our awesome church retreat on the weekend of the 31st March – 2nd April.  Our guest speaker is Peter Jensen, former Archbishop of Sydney, who is speaking on the topic ‘Being Human’. Now is the time to register! For the Saturday night you will need to dress up as your favourite book or movie character.

New roster coming soon

If you’re unavailable to serve on a roster from 27th March through 25th June please let us know via comment card, email office@jamberooanglican.com or even better go to www.jamberooanglican.net

‘What has God Joined Together?’ booklet and website now available

A reminder that the booklet “What has God Joined Together?” is now available. In conjunction with the distribution of this booklet, a website with the booklet’s content and other additional resources is now live. The website is here: http://sydneyanglicans.net/marriage

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 has ESP got to do with Christianity?

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I was recently watching a program that was taking a light hearted look at the claims of ESP (extra-sensory perception).

The show didn’t hold my interest for long, but what was interesting was the way the host explained his scepticism.

He said “ I’m an atheist… I don’t believe in that kind of thing at all.”

Notice his reason for not believing: he said he was an atheist, as if that proved the point.

What lies behind this statement is the claim that atheists only believe in that which is provable by reason and science. 

To believe in God, so they say, is to believe in something without evidence and so is unprovable, and ultimately unknowable.

So you have to take a leap of faith, given that believing in God is on the same level as believing in ESP.

How do we respond to such a characterisation?

Christian apologist John Lennox gives us an example of why this thinking is both mistaken and inconsistent.

In a debate with the atheist Richard Dawkins, the following exchange occurred:

Dawkins: We only need to use the word ‘faith’ when there isn’t any evidence.
Lennox: No, not at all. I presume you’ve got faith in your wife — is there any evidence for that?
Dawkins: Yes. Yes, plenty of evidence.
Lennox: Hmmm.

Dawkins expresses the same view: belief in God is in the realm of blind faith.

But Lennox challenges that.

Faith is a word that expresses a relational trust based on evidence.

The next question then is this: are there reasons to place our faith in God in the same way we trust a faithful wife? And the answer is a resounding ‘yes!’

To be a Christian is not to take leave of one’s senses, but to respond in faith to God who has revealed himself.

God reveals himself in His word – where we find carefully written and researched accounts of Jesus.

He invites us to listen, reason, investigate and respond.

Simon Chaplin