Church news for the week beginning 23rd April 2016

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This weekend’s Bible Talk

This weekend Graham Errington will be speaking to us on the topic, ‘No Answer’ from Luke chapter 23 verses 1 to 12.

Mission of the month: KBECET

KBECET (Kiama Board for Employing Christian Education Teachers) is our mission of the month. Throughout this month you can support this ministry by purchasing gifts from the ‘Mission Table’ in the Hall.

Men’s Dinner

You’re invited to join the men of Oak Flats and beyond on Tuesday 3rd May to hear Matthew Meek speak. 6.30pm at the Central Hotel Function Room, Shellharbour. RSVP mensdinner@oakflatsanglican.com or 0439 561 373.

Countdown to ‘Come Alive Week’

It’s only three weeks until we welcome a team of twenty theological students from Moore College to join with us for a week of mission to the communities of Oak Flats and Jamberoo from the 14th to the 22nd May. Please be praying! If you are able to help by hosting one or more students to live in your home with you for that week, please indicate on a comment card or email office@jamberooanglican.com.

Managing Conflict Training Course

A new 8-week training course, “Resolving Everyday Conflict” will be starting Thursday 28th April, at the Oak Flats Church from 9.30am – 10.30am. All are welcome. Please contact Julie Hayward if you wish to attend, julie.hayward@oakflatsanglican.com or 0415 297 381.

Gong Men’s Day – save the date

Join us on Saturday 18th 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.

Working Bee – 30th April

We’re going to get the whole church and hall setup in time for the Moore Mission. So, join us this Saturday 30th April at 8am at the church to help us make the place look great.

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 .

We must never glorify death

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Anzac memorial (CREDIT: Nadia Morgan via Flickr)

Anzac memorial (CREDIT: Nadia Morgan via Flickr)

As we come to Anzac Day, it’s impossible to avoid speaking of death.

As we remember the heroism of those who served, we never forget the many who gave their lives to protect our way of life.

Yet even as we honour their sacrifice, we must never glorify death.

Death is our greatest enemy, no matter how much we try to conquer it ourselves.

It brings us sadness and pain, even when it comes with valour.

Even Jesus wept as he stood at the grave of his friend.

And this is why Jesus made the ultimate sacrifice by giving his life in order to conquer death.

And because of Jesus’ death for us, the Bible cries out,  “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” (1Corinthians 15:55)

As we remember those who gave their life for our nation, let us pray to the man who gave his life for the world. 

“Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” (John 15:13)

“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)

Lest we forget.

Coming up this weekend 23rd-24th April 2016

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This weekend Graham Errington will be speaking on the topic ‘No Answer’ from Luke chapter 23 verses 1 to 12.

We will also be taking the time to pray in response to the events of Anzac Day.

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 16th April 2016

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Today’s Bible Talk

Today we welcome Nigel Dixon who will be speaking to us on the topic, ‘The Heavens declare’ from Psalm 19.

Mission of the month: KBECET

KBECET (Kiama Board for Employing Christian Education Teachers) is our mission of the month. Throughout this month you can 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 beyond this Tuesday 19th April to hear Lesley Errington, on the topic of “Judging others – the danger of playing God”. 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 26th April. However we plan to continue a mini-program during the 5pm Saturday service as required.

Countdown to Moore Mission

It’s only four weeks until we welcome a team of twenty theological students from Moore College to join with us for a week of mission to the communities of Oak Flats and Jamberoo from the 14th to the 22nd May. Please be praying! If you are able to help by hosting one or more students to live in your home with you for that week, please indicate on a comment card or email office@jamberooanglican.com.

Working Bee – 30th April

We’re going to get the whole church and hall setup in time for the Moore Mission. So, join us at 8am on Saturday 30th April at the church to help us make the place look great.

Managing Conflict Training Course

A new training course, “Resolving Everyday Conflict” will be starting on Thursday 28th April, meeting at Oak Flats Anglican each Thursday, 9.30am – 11am. The course will run for eight weeks. All are welcome. Please contact Julie Hayward if you wish to attend, julie.hayward@oakflatsanglican.com or 0415 297 381.

Gong Men’s Day – save the date

Join us on Saturday 18th 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 $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 .

Enough to make Jesus cry

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Jerusalem (CREDIT: Cycling man via Flickr)

Jerusalem (CREDIT: Cycling man via Flickr)

It’s remarkable to think that the person who created the entire universe would weep in anguish at the state of his people.

Yet, this is exactly what we saw of Jesus as he entered Jerusalem, as recorded in Luke chapter 19.

Of all the people who should have embraced Jesus as Lord, they instead chose to reject him and kill him.

And as Jesus reflected on this, it led him to weep tears of sadness.

As he cried for Jerusalem, Jesus also spoke of the coming judgement that the city, and in turn, the people would face.

When Jesus finally returns to judge the living and the dead, it will be a time when we will see more weeping as many people’s rejection of Jesus is exposed and punished.

Whilst Christians should long for the day when the universe will acknowledge him as true Lord, we should also long that more people might confess their sins and follow Jesus before that day.

This is one of the reasons we are eager to share the good news of Jesus to our community.

And, it’s why we’re focusing on a whole week of intense mission to our region from the 14th to 22nd May this year, in partnership with two dozen Moore Theological College students.

We pray that as the message of Jesus rings out in the region that people would come to him and accept him as Lord and Saviour.

Please pray with us, and get ready to see God do powerful things as his word goes out to the people of Oak Flats and Jamberoo!

Coming up this weekend 16th-17th April 2016

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This weekend we welcome Nigel Dixon who is speaking on the topic “The Heavens declare’ from Psalm 19. Nigel teaches Scripture at Kiama High School, and he’ll be sharing with us about the impact his ministry has on the many students.

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 9th April 2016

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Today’s Bible Talk

Today we welcome Graham Errington who will be speaking to us on the topic, ‘Jesus in Pain’ from Luke 19:41-49 and Psalm 48:1-14.

Mission of the month: BCA (Bush Church Aid)

Bush Church Aid is our mission of the month. Throughout this month you can support this ministry by purchasing gifts from the ‘Mission Table’ in the Hall.

Join a Small-group Bible Study!

Wednesday 7.30pm with Trevor and Robyn Lucas (at their house).
Friday 9.30am with Mandy McNeill (at her house: for young mums in particular).
Sunday 10am with Graham Errington and Mark Howard (at the church). All welcome!

Ladies Dinner

You’re invited to join the ladies of Oak Flats and beyond on Tuesday 19th April to hear Lesley Errington, on the topic of “Judging others – the danger of playing God”. 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 26th April. However we plan to continue a mini-program during the 5pm Saturday service as required.

Countdown to Moore Mission

It’s only five weeks until we welcome a team of twenty theological students from Moore College to join with us for a week of mission to the communities of Oak Flats and Jamberoo from the 14th to the 22nd May. Please be praying! More details to follow soon.

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 .

Are you paying too much tax?

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Income Tax (CREDIT TaxRebate.org.uk)

Income Tax (CREDIT TaxRebate.org.uk)

This week a major leak of documents in Panama showed how much effort people can make to try and pay less tax.

Whether it’s tax avoidance, tax evasion, or even downright money laundering, it’s clear that everyone involved in these schemes has been keen to reduce the amount of money they pay to the government so that they can increase the amount of money they keep for themselves.

Some would say that this kind of behaviour is acceptable because it is legal. Yet, there are many activities that are also legal yet are not morally desirable (such as prostitution).

The Bible is clear that we should pay to the Government the amount for which we are legally obliged. We should obey the tax laws as much as we should obey any other laws of our land.

Yet, is there a place to volunteer to pay more taxes than we owe? Should we try to maximise our tax rather than minimise it?

Well, given that a reasonable amount of our taxation goes towards providing universal access to healthcare, education and welfare, it might be a good thing for us all to volunteer to pay a bit more to help those valuable causes.

Or alternatively, maybe we Christians might consider paying come of the tax we ‘save’ in our refund directly into a charity that provides additional care for the more needy in our world, such as Anglicare and Anglican Aid?

Imagine if the money that was saved by the Panama tax avoiders was invested in helping support the resettling of Syrian refugees, or providing relief for those affected by the Ethiopian Famine?

Church news for the week beginning 2nd April 2016

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Guest Preacher

Today we welcome a guest preacher, Grahame Scarratt, who is speaking on the topic of “Salvation in the Son” from Hebrews Chapter 1 verses 1 to 21.

Mission of the month: BCA (Bush Church Aid)

Bush Church Aid is our mission of the month. Throughout this month you can support this ministry by purchasing gifts from the ‘Mission Table’ in the Hall.

Join a Small-group Bible Study!

Wednesday 7.30pm with Trevor and Robyn Lucas (at their house).
Friday 9.30am with Mandy McNeill (at her house: for young mums in particular).
Sunday 10am with Graham Errington and Mark Howard (at the church). All welcome!

Men’s Dinner

You’re invited to join the men of Oak Flats and beyond this Tuesday 5th April to hear Lionel Windsor, on the topic of “Seeing work God’s way”. RSVP via the comment card or 0439 561 373.

Dinner at the Bowlo

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

Countdown to Mission Week

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Dorothy at Moore Mission

Dorothy and friends at the last Moore Mission held in 2013 at our partner church Oak Flats Anglican

There are only six weeks until we welcome 20 students from Moore Theological College to join our church for over a week of mission to the communities of Oak Flats and Jamberoo.

Under the leadership of Moore College lecturer, Lionel Windsor, we will be engaging in a number of initiatives to bring the gospel of Jesus to our local region.

Over the two weekends of 14-15 and 21-22 May, we will be having guest preachers at all our church services, along with opportunities to hear about the way that knowing Jesus has changed the lives of the team members.

We’re also going to be doing ministry in the local schools, shops, as well as events on our own church grounds.

Please be praying that many of the people of our region who don’t know Jesus would hear of his love and follow his lead as Lord.

Pray that the Mission week would bring a great burst of evangelistic energy into our churches, as well as provide encouragement and training to the students of Moore College who are preparing for ministry.

Start thinking about who you might be able to bring along to one of the many outreach events over that week… and pray that God’s Spirit would do awesome things as people hear the word of God.