Coming up this weekend 21st – 22nd January 2017

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This weekend, Simon Chaplin continues our ‘Christ in the Psalms’ series, with the next talk titled ‘The wise one’ from Psalm 15.

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

  1. Does the reference to the “imprisoned spirits” in 1 Peter 3:19 give us a clue as to where the demons go when they are exorcised?
  2. What are the ‘heavenly realms’, and where are they located?
  3. What or where is ‘Zion’?
  4. What is the difference between hope and faith?
  5. Does the Bible speak against bingo and raffles?

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.

Jamberoo Anglican Church to celebrate 150th anniversary in February

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Jamberoo Anglican Church will be celebrating the 150th anniversary of the opening of the church building at two events over the weekend of 18th and 19th of February 2017.

The ‘Church of the Resurrection’ was officially opened on 2nd January 1867, and has been the meeting place for Anglican churchgoers in Jamberoo ever since.

On Saturday 18th February at 3pm they will welcome the public to enjoy a complimentary Devonshire tea and an historical display, whilst the kids will enjoy a jumping castle and free ice creams.

The festivities continue at 5pm with a contemporary, all-age church service to celebrate this milestone, and will be followed by a free sausage sizzle with lamingtons, and a fun-filled, bush dance in the church hall.

Senior Minister, Rev Jodie McNeill, is confident that the bush dance will be a hit: “There’s something about the great Aussie bush dance that brings together people of all ages.

“We’re looking forward to seeing people from the village and valley of Jamberoo and beyond to kick up their heels and enjoy this celebration.”

The next day on Sunday 19th February at 9.30am the church will host a traditional church service of praise and thanksgiving for the 150 years of ministry in the church building, with special guest preacher, Bishop of Wollongong, the Right Reverend Peter Hayward.

This will be followed by a morning tea and a free lunch for all those who attend.

Rev. Jodie McNeill, Senior Minister of Jamberoo Anglican, is exited about celebrating this milestone: “It is a great testimony to God’s loving rule that there have been people meeting in our building for one and a half centuries, and I’m thrilled to be joining in a party to celebrate!”

“Even more exciting is the fact that our church has recently doubled in size as many residents of our village and valley have embraced the new 5pm Saturday service, and it’s a delight to see children, youth, families, and seniors coming together to praise Jesus.”

 

For more information visit www.jamberooanglican.com or contact the Senior Minister of Jamberoo Anglican, Rev Jodie McNeill, 0425 222 338 or jodie.mcneill@jamberooanglican.com

Church news for the week beginning 14th January 2017

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This weekend’s Bible Talk

This weekend we welcome Simon Chaplin, the new Assistant Minister at Oak Flats Anglican, who starts a four week series titled ‘Christ in the Psalms’, with the first talk titled ‘Sin and folly’ from Psalm 14.

Mission of the month: Anglicare

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

150th Anniversary Celebrations

It’s only five weeks until we remember the 150th Anniversary of the opening of our church building at Jamberoo. To celebrate, we have two, big events.

On Saturday 18th February at 3pm we’re having a devonshire tea and history display, whilst the kids enjoy a jumping castle and ice creams. After church at 5pm we’ll have a sausage sizzle and lamingtons, followed by a fun night of bush dancing in the hall.

On Sunday 19th February we’re joining together for church at the special time of 9.30am, which will be followed by a delicious morning tea and lunch together, with historical displays.

At both services we welcome Bishop Peter Hayward to speak to us from God’s word, and we will have an opportunity to give thanks to God for his faithfulness.

 

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 .

Is Jesus Un-Australian?

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Australia Grunge Flag

One of the core values of Australia is the right to a ‘fair go.’ When someone doesn’t get what they deserve, it often causes our blood to boil.

When one kid gets more lollies than another, then we hear the cry, “it’s just not fair!” And when one employee gets paid more than another person who does exactly the same job.

But imagine if everybody got paid the same, whether or not they worked a one-hour day, or an eight-hour day. How could that be fair?

Jesus tells the story of a landowner who hired workers for his field, and agreed to give them a set fee.

Later in the day, he recruited some more workers, and at the end of the day, he paid them the same amount, even though they’d worked far less than the others.

The workers who started in the morning were angry because they felt it wasn’t fair. They grumbled against the landowner and said, ‘These who were hired last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the work and the heat of the day.’ (Matthew 20:12)

But Jesus said ‘I am not being unfair to you, friend. Didn’t you agree to work for a denarius? Take your pay and go. I want to give the one who was hired last the same as I gave you. Don’t I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?’  “So the last will be first, and the first will be last.” (Matthew 20:13-16)

Jesus has chosen to give the full gift of eternal life to all who trust in him, whether that person followed Jesus from childhood or came to trust in him on their deathbed.

And given that none of us deserve any mercy, we should all be eternally grateful for the forgiveness God gives us when we trust in Jesus as our loving ruler and saviour.

Coming up this weekend 14th – 15th January 2017

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This weekend we welcome the new Assistant Minister from Oak Flats, Simon Chaplin, who begins his four week series ‘Christ in the Psalms’ with the first talk titled ‘Sin and folly’ from Psalm 14.

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. Where did the demons go after Jesus drove them out?
  2. Does the modern Christian church still practice exorcism?
  3. What are ghosts, and could they be demons of trapped human souls?

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 7th January 2017

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This weekend’s Bible Talk

This weekend we welcome Graham Errington again,who will be talking on the topic ‘A day in the life of Jesus’ from Mark chapter 1 verses 21 to 39.

McNeills at Summer School

Jodie and his family will be away this week at CMS Summer School. However Jodie is still able to be contacted by email and phone.

Mission of the month: Special Religious Education (SRE)

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

New Sermon Series

The new Assistant Minister at Oak Flats Anglican, Simon Chaplin, starts a four week series titled “Christ in the Psalms” next week, with the first talk titled ‘The foolish one’ from Psalm 14.

150th Anniversary Date

We’ve now locked in the date of our 150th Anniversary celebrations this year. We’re going to celebrate on the afternoon/evening of Saturday 18th and the morning of Sunday 19th February. Keep the date free, and inviting friends of our church. Our speaker will be Bishop Peter Hayward.

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 .

Wise Men Indeed!

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After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? (Matt 2:1-2a)

Oh! We heard about that two weeks ago – it’s all part of the Christmas story, isn’t it? Well, actually, no, although it often gets confused with it. Those Christmas card pictures of Jesus in a manger with shepherds and wise men gathered around are a bit of poetic licence. In the gospels, Luke tells us all about the birth of Jesus, with stable, shepherds and angels and Matthew tells us only that Jesus was born and then writes of the Magi

The Magi probably came a year or more after Jesus’ birth, when he was described as a ‘child’ living in a ‘house’ (Matt 2:11). The Christmas card, with everyone gathered around the baby, obscures the point. Jesus’ birth is revealed to those who are not Jews! Gentiles – despised by most Jews! And whilst many Jews failed to recognise their Messiah, Gentiles worshipped him! 

Although God promised Abraham that “all the families on earth will be blessed through you”, Jews still thought of themselves as the only ones who could receive God’s blessing.

The earliest Christians were mostly Jews but, as more Gentiles became believers, Christian Jews struggled to know how to relate to them. Matthew probably wrote his gospel for these Jewish Christians and gives the Magi – the first Gentiles to acknowledge the Christ – a prominent place in his account. And from the fourth century, Christians have acknowledged God’s revelation to them by celebrating the feast of “Epiphany” on 6th January – last Friday.

Most of us are Gentiles who can be ever thankful that God sent his Son to bring us into a relationship with himself. To him be all glory and praise!

Trevor Lucas

Coming up this weekend 7th – 8th January 2017

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This weekend Graham Errington will be speaking on the topic ‘A day in the life of Jesus’ from Mark chapter 1 verses 21 to 39.

At our 5pm Saturday service  we will have an opportunity to meet one of our church members, which is always a great encouragement to us all.

Our 8am Sunday service will be a Holy Communion First Order AAPB service.

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

  1. Why are people referred to as sheep instead of another animal, such as chickens?
  2. What does AD mean since BC refers to Before Christ?
  3. Who first wrote the Bible?

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 31st December 2016

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Happy New Year!

It’s great you could join us to celebrate the New Year with friends old and new. This weekend Graham Errington will be preaching at our two services. Graham will be speaking on the topic ‘Shepherds’ from John chapter 10 verses 1 to 18.

Next week’s Bible Talk

Next week we welcome Graham Errington again, who will be talking on the topic ‘A day in the life of Jesus’ from Mark chapter 1 verses 21 to 39.

Mission of the month: Special Religious Education (SRE)

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

McNeills away

Jodie and his family are now on leave until this Friday 5th January.

Dinner at the Bowlo

Join us this Thursday at 6pm at the Jamberoo Bowling Club for a relaxed Chinese meal together.

New Sermon Series

The new Assistant Minister at Oak Flats Anglican, Simon Chaplin, will be doing a four week series titled “Christ in the Psalms”. Starting on Saturday 14th January with the first talk titled ‘The foolish one’ from Psalm 14.

150th Anniversary Date

We’ve now locked in the date of our 150th Anniversary celebrations next year. We’re going to celebrate on the afternoon/evening of Saturday 18th and the morning of Sunday 19th February 2017. Keep the date free, and inviting friends of our church. Our speaker will be Bishop Peter Hayward.

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 .

Recognising the New Year

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In Old Testament days the new year was recognised by a trumpet blast and a day of rest (modelled on Lev 23:23-25). Originally Ram’s horns were used, probably in time they were replaced by silver trumpets. The trumpet blast was a ‘memorial’ — a reminder of God’s goodness & faithfulness for the year past, also for the year to come. A holy assembly was called (a renewal of covenant obligations to God).

Of course, the modern way of ushering the new year is through parties and fireworks.

But the trumpet blast of Old Testament days has it counterpart in the trumpet call of New Testament days – but this trumpet announces the coming of the Lord, not for a new year, but for the beginning of a new age (1 Thessalonians 4:16).

And so a good new year’s resolution is to be ready for him. Christians now listen for the trumpet call which will announce the end of the age when the Messiah will come to judge the word and establish his reign.

And now, dear children, remain in fellowship with Christ so that when he returns, you will be full of courage and not shrink back from him in shame …… Dear friends, we are already God’s children, but he has not yet shown us what we will be like when Christ appears. But we do know that we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is. And all who have this eager expectation will keep themselves pure, just as he is pure. 1 John 2:28 and 3:2-3.

Graham Errington