Cattle on a Thousand Hills

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When I ask someone to give thanks for the food, I don’t normally expect them to mention cattle… but this is exactly what I often heard in prayers when I was a student at theological college.

As we were about to eat our meal, the principal would sometimes quote from Psalm 50, saying, “Lord, you own the cattle on a thousand hills…” and then he’d give thanks for the food.

It’s certainly a bit of a change to the good old, “for what we are about to receive,” but what makes it so good is the startling reminder that the Lord to whom we pray is actually the one who owns every hill, and every animal, on planet Earth.

Like a megaphone, it shouts out the true place of the true and living God: the one who not only created the world but also sustains it with his mighty word.

As I reflected on God’s kindness, I also thought about the other things we thank him for, as well as the many things we ask him for.

We say ‘thanks’ and ‘ask’ prayers because we know that God ultimately owns everything.

As we think about our church finances for the remainder of this year, and as we plan for the year to come, it’s a great relief to know that God owns the cattle on the many hills of Jamberoo, as well as every other asset in our pockets and on the planet.

And so we thank him for all he’s given us, we pray that he’d provide for our needs, and we trust him with great confidence.

God owns the lot, and so that’s why we can confidently thank him and ask him for all our needs.

JODIE McNEILL

Church news for the week beginning 17th September 2023

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OUR SERMON

This Sunday we are going to be hearing from God’s word as Jodie McNeill preaches to us from 1 Corinthians chapter 16 verses 1 to 24 about ‘Serving Together’.

PRESENT PEOPLE TRAINING

Join a special, intensive training opportunity in relational evangelism, the new ‘Present People’ training by Sports Chaplaincy Australia. 7:30-9pm Friday 29th and 9am-4pm Saturday 30th September. See Steve Bligh for details.

EMU MUSIC CONFERENCE

Calling all musicians and techies! The Emu Music ‘Word in Song’ Conference is on at Figtree on Saturday 28th October. Register at emumusic.com

ONE MUSIC FESTIVAL

Come along to the ONE Music Festival. Sun 25th Nov 2-9 pm, at Kiama Showgrounds and Pavilion. Tickets available at: onemusicfestival.com

YOUTH CAMP

Our Burrill Pines Youth Camp will be held on 13-15th October for years 6 to 12. Chat to Brad if you or your family members would like to come.

SQUARE ONE

‘Youthworks Square One’ camp will be held on 3-5 November for years 3 to 6. For more details see Brad.

MORNING PRAYER

Join us at 7 am every day (except Sunday) at zoom.jamberooanglican.com as we gather to read the Bible, pray, and encourage each other as the new day dawns.

SEPTEMBER BOOK OF THE MONTH

Our book of the month is ‘Eager to Serve’ by Ray Galea. Physical copies are available at our bookstall.

GIVING UPDATE

Each week we need to receive $6300.00 in order to meet our commitments. For last 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: Jamberoo Anglican Church. Account number: 356831. BSB: 032605.

Coming up this Sunday 17th September 2023

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This Sunday we are going to be hearing from God’s word as Jodie McNeill preaches to us from 1 Corinthians Chapter 16 Verse 1 to 24 about ‘Serving Together’.

After our 9 am service we’ll be enjoying brunch together, and after our 4 pm service we’ll be having dinner.

Here are the questions that Jodie plans to answer during this week’s Question Time:

1 When we have a spiritual body, will we be like a ghost?
2 Which translation of Matthew 18:15 is correct: “if your brother sins,” or, “if your brother sins against you?”
3 What do you think about the TV show, ’The Chosen?’
4 Why couldn’t God save people without needing Jesus to die?
5 Did God sin when he allowed his innocent son to die?
6 If God is all powerful, does that mean he could sin?
7 Why was it not idolatry for God’s people to look to the snake in Numbers 21:8?
8 Will the new minister go to both services?

We’d love you to join us in-person if you’re able, or watch our livestream at watch.jamberooanglican.com.

See you on Sunday, God willing!

Hope in Life and Death

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Back in 2020 when the extraordinary events of the global pandemic threatened us with fatalities beyond our gravest fears, a song was released that brought calm and confidence for those who trust in Jesus.

The song, ‘Christ, our hope in life and death’ by Jordan Kauflin, Keith Getty, Matt Boswell, Matt Papa and Matthew Merker, put to words what we know and believe about the impact of the death of Jesus upon our own life.

The first verse reminded us that Christ alone is our hope in life and death, and that our only confidence is knowing that our souls belong to him and that the love of Christ will keep us to the end.

The second verse helped remind us that the goodness of God brings calm to our troubled souls, and that we know his grace and goodness in the blood of Jesus, our redeemer.

The last verse spoke of the confidence we have as we approach the grave, knowing we have the reward of everlasting life, and that we will feast in the endless joy that will come as sin and death is destroyed.

As we reflect this week on the remarkable words of 1 Corinthians chapter 15, we have a fresh reminder that our natural fear of death should be calmed as we remember again that because of the death of Jesus, we have a confidence that when we die, we will rise to be with him, and have life forevermore with Christ.

So with that, we sing hallelujah, as our hope springs eternal, for now and ever we confess, “Christ our hope in life and death!”

JODIE McNEILL

‘A Loving Church’ 31: O death, where is your sting? 1 Corinthians 15:35-58 – Jodie McNeill

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Hatched, matched and dispatched

Death remains our _____

It’s all bout _________ death

Life after death can be hard to _______

Jesus swapped his ____ for our death sentence

A seed needs to ___ in order to grow

Things look __________ after death

Our bodies are like _____ that are buried

We want a ___ body that can no longer die

Jesus is the ________ of Adam

Life after death is ____ different

We will all be ___________ if we’re on Jesus’ side

Our old bodies can’t ____ forever

Jesus defeated _____ by his death

You won’t waste your life if you _____ in Jesus

Church news for the week beginning 10th September 2023

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OUR SERMON

This Sunday we are going to be hearing from God’s word as Jodie McNeill preaches to us from 1 Corinthians chapter 15 verses 35 to 58 about ‘O death, where is your sting’.

EMU MUSIC CONFERENCE

Calling all musicians and techies! The Emu Music ‘Word in Song’ Conference is on at Figtree on Saturday 28th October. Early Bird rate of $80 per person closes 10th September (this Sunday!) Register at emumusic.com

ONE MUSIC FESTIVAL

Come along to the ONE Music Festival. Sun 5th Nov 2-9 pm, at Kiama Showgrounds and Pavilion. Tickets available at: onemusicfestival.com

YOUTH CAMP

Our Burrill Pines Youth Camp will be held on 13-15th October for years 6 to 12. Chat to Brad if you or your family members would like to come.

SQUARE ONE

‘Youthworks Square One’ camp will be held on 3-5 November for years 3 to 6. For more details see Brad.

GRANDPARENTS CONFERENCE

Next Saturday is the National Grandparents Conference at Figtree Anglican on Saturday 16th September. Registrations close Sunday 10th (this Sunday!) at ngmlegacy.com.au

MORNING PRAYER

Join us at 7 am every day (except Sunday) at zoom.jamberooanglican.com as we gather to read the Bible, pray, and encourage each other as the new day dawns.

SEPTEMBER BOOK OF THE MONTH

Our book of the month is ‘Eager to Serve’ by Ray Galea. Physical copies will soon be available at our bookstall.

GIVING UPDATE

Each week we need to receive $6300.00 in order to meet our commitments. For last 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: Jamberoo Anglican Church. Account number: 356831. BSB: 032605.

Coming up this Sunday 10th September 2023 

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This Sunday we are going to be hearing from God’s word as Jodie McNeill preaches to us from 1 Corinthians Chapter 15 Verse 35 to 58 about ‘O death, where is your sting?’.

After our 9 am service we’ll be enjoying brunch together, and after our 4 pm service we’ll be having dinner.

Here are the questions Jodie plans to answer:

1 What happened to the people who rose the moment that Jesus died?
2 Now that Jesus is 2IC, what is God doing?

We’d love you to join us in-person if you’re able, or watch our livestream at watch.jamberooanglican.com.

See you on Sunday, God willing!

‘A Loving Church’ 30: The Resurrection of The Body – 1 Corinthians 15:12-34 – Jodie McNeill

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Have you wasted your life?

What is your _______?

We believe in ________ because of the resurrection

If you reject the resurrection, you’ve ______ your life

Our resurrection is ______ with Jesus’ resurrection

If Jesus didn’t rise, Christianity is a _____

If Jesus stayed dead, then he didn’t ______ death

The empty tomb means your _____ is gone

Liberal Christianity is to be ______

Jesus ________ the damage brought by Adam

The resurrection of Jesus showed death is ________

We all need to be on God’s ____

If the dead don’t rise, _______ is meaningless

Following Jesus was ______ for Paul

Their conversion to Christ brought ___ to Paul

Without the resurrection, there’s no merit in ________

There’s no greater _______ than rejecting Jesus

Church news for the week beginning 3rd September 2023

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OUR SERMON

This Sunday we are going to be hearing from God’s word as Jodie McNeill preaches to us from 1 Corinthians chapter 15 verses 12 to 34 about ‘The Resurrection of the Body’.

ONE MUSIC FESTIVAL

Come along to the ONE Music Festival. Sun 5th Nov 2-9 pm, at Kiama Showgrounds and Pavilion. Tickets available at: onemusicfestival.com

MAF FUEL FOR FATHER’S DAY

With your gift of fuel for Father’s Day, you can be a part of the lifesaving Ministry of MAF. Grab a card from the bookstore for $10, $25 or $50 or go to their website HERE.

YOUTH CAMP

Our Burrill Pines Youth Camp will be held on 13-15th October for years 6 to 12. Chat to Brad if you or your family members would like to come.

SQUARE ONE

‘Youthworks Square One’ camp will be held on 3-5 November for years 3 to 6. For more details see Brad.

GRANDPARENTS CONFERENCE

Save the date: Saturday 16th September at Figtree Anglican.

MORNING PRAYER

Join us at 7 am every day (except Sunday) at zoom.jamberooanglican.com as we gather to read the Bible, pray, and encourage each other as the new day dawns.

SEPTEMBER BOOK OF THE MONTH

Our book of the month is ‘Eager to Serve’ by Ray Galea. Physical copies are available at our bookstall.

GIVING UPDATE

Each week we need to receive $6300.00 in order to meet our commitments. For last 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: Jamberoo Anglican Church. Account number: 356831. BSB: 032605.

Father’s Day Prayers

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As we celebrate Father’s Day, it’s good to thank God for our earthly fathers, and for their contribution to our lives.

Fatherhood is a good thing, even though none of our earthly fathers are able to match the quality and character of our heavenly father.

In his first letter to the church in Thessalonica, the Apostle Paul embraces fatherhood, as he compares his own ministry to the role of father:

And you know that we treated each of you as a father treats his own children. We pleaded with you, encouraged you, and urged you to live your lives in a way that God would consider worthy. For he called you to share in his Kingdom and glory. (1 Thessalonians 2:11-12.)

The apostles pleaded, encouraged and urged the members of the church—three behaviours that earthly fathers should do as they lovingly lead their families.

At the same time, the Apostle Paul tells the Ephesian fathers that as they lead their children, they must do so wisely and lovingly:

Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger by the way you treat them. Rather, bring them up with the discipline and instruction that comes from the Lord. (Ephesians 6:4)

Fatherhood is a good thing, but sadly, it’s stained by sin and affected by the fall of humanity.

That’s why we must pray that our fathers would model themselves on our heavenly father.

We also should pray for children whose fathers have caused them sadness and pain, asking our heavenly father to fill up in those children all that their earthly father has failed to provide.

For, ultimately, as all earthly fathers fail to meet the standard of our heavenly father, it is a fresh reminder for us to know the depth of our fathers’ love for us—how vast beyond all measure!

JODIE McNEILL