Change Happens

It’s pretty common for people to say that this-and-that or so-and-so could never change. 

But when I hear people speak like that, I tell them that I’m in the change business!

I know that people and things do change, even though it often seems humanly impossible.

We see it most clearly when we witness a person’s conversion to Christ, when they go from being enemies with God to being friends with Jesus… and their life is turned upside down.

As they say, it doesn’t always happen overnight, but it will happen!

Some of the most dramatic life-changing experiences were seen when Jesus walked on earth, and when people came to him, they had their lives turned upside down.

One of the most famous stories was when Jesus met Zacchaeus, as recorded in Luke chapter 19.

He was the chief tax collector and had become rich through his corrupt work.

When Jesus saw him, he called him by name and said, “I must be a guest in your home today.” (Luke 19:5).

After Jesus called him by name, Zacchaeus, “took Jesus to his house in great excitement and joy” (verse 6), and he told Jesus, “I will give half my wealth to the poor, Lord, and if I have cheated people on their taxes, I will give them back four times as much!” (verse 8).

When Zacchaeus met Jesus, his life was changed completely.

Jesus explained what happened, saying, “Salvation has come to this home today” (verse 9).

When it comes to dramatic life changes, never say never!

As we start a new year, it’s time for us to pray that 2022 sees many people have a dramatic change in their life as they come to know Jesus and understand how good it is to be forgiven and to have hope.

May this change be seen in the lives of many in our village, valley and region!

JODIE McNEILL

Church news for the week beginning 25th December 2021

CHRISTMAS SERVICES

We would love you to join us for our services over the Christmas weekend. Saturday 9am Christmas Day Jodie McNeill is preaching our Christmas message & on Sunday 9am Boxing Day Jacob Mierendorff is preaching from Philippians 3:5-14 on ‘Eternal Resolutions’. There will not be a service on Christmas (Saturday) night

BOOK OF THE MONTH

For December we will be reading Life Together by Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Head over to the books page on our website to grab a copy!

SOUTHERN CROSS DECEMBER ISSUE

Southern Cross is available online at: https://sydneyanglicans.net/about/southerncross

DAILY MORNING PRAYERS

Join us each morning (except Sunday) at 7:30am for 30 mins of prayer on Zoom at meet.jamberooanglican.com.

PRAY WITH PRAYERMATE

Our church is on PrayerMate. Subscribe for daily prayer points on your device from us and our partners. Use this link to follow us on PrayerMate.

GIVING UPDATE

Each week we need to receive $6300.00 in order to meet our commitments. Last month, our average weekly giving was $5616.00, leaving a gap of $684.00. Up to the end of the last calendar month we needed to have received $218,400. Compared to that total we received $195,239, leaving a gap of $23,161.

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 NEW details. Account name: Jamberoo Anglican Church. Account number: 356831. BSB: 032605.

To give to our tax-deductible MTS Scholars Fund to support our apprentice youth minister, head to mts.com.au/give/jamberoo-anglican-church/


Coming up this weekend 24th – 26th December 2021

There is a lot to be excited for with three services this weekend!

Our Carols Service gates open at 5pm for a free sausage sizzle, soft drink and icy pole. Our hour-long, all-age carols service starts at 6:30pm. BYO picnic rug, drinks and nibblies for an unforgettable night for our village, valley and region. All welcome!

Our Christmas Day Service starts at 9 am Saturday as Jodie McNeill preaches our Christmas Day message.

Our Boxing Day Service starts at 9 am Sunday as Jacob Mierendorff preaches to us from Philippians Chapter 3 on the topic ‘Eternal Resolutions’.

As long as you are feeling well and are not awaiting the results of a Covid-19 test, you can attend in person. Masks are not compulsory, however you are very welcome to continue to wear them.

If you would like to participate in our Christmas Day or Boxing Day Service through our livestream you can go to watch.jamberooanglican.com.

If you have any questions, head to our quick links page to fill out a response slip, email us at office@jamberooanglican.com or send an SMS to 0439 890 086.

We’re really looking forward to seeing you this weekend!

The Prophecy of Obadiah – Grahame Scarratt – 11-12th December 2021

Church news for the week beginning 11th December 2021

This weekend we will be looking at the book of Obadiah as Grahame Scarratt preaches to us from God’s word on the ‘Prophecy of Obadiah’.

CHURCHILL CAROLS

Join us on Christmas Eve, Friday 24th December on our church lawn for Churchill Carols. Gates open at 5pm for a free sausage sizzle, soft drink and icy pole. Our hour-long, all-age carols service starts at 6:30pm. BYO picnic rug, drinks and nibblies for an unforgettable night for our village, valley and region. Everyone welcome!  

CHRISTMAS SERVICES

We would love you to join us for our services over the Christmas weekend. Saturday 9am Christmas Day & Sunday 9am Boxing Day. There will not be a service on Christmas (Saturday) night

BOOK OF THE MONTH

For December we will be reading Life Together by Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Head over to the books page on our website to grab a copy!

SOUTHERN CROSS NOVEMBER ISSUE

Southern Cross is available online at: https://sydneyanglicans.net/about/southerncross

DAILY MORNING PRAYERS

Join us each morning (except Sunday) at 7:30am for 30 mins of prayer on Zoom at meet.jamberooanglican.com.

PRAY WITH PRAYERMATE

Our church is on PrayerMate. Subscribe for daily prayer points on your device from us and our partners. Use this link to follow us on PrayerMate.

FAMILY NEWS

BIRTHDAYS

14 Dec – Rayne Orange
18 Dec – Dash King & Di Thompson

ANNIVERSARIES

11 Dec – Tash & Pete Tidswell
14 Dec – John & Karen Mion

GIVING UPDATE

Each week we need to receive $6300.00 in order to meet our commitments. Last month, our average weekly giving was $5616.00, leaving a gap of $684.00. Up to the end of the last calendar month we needed to have received $218,400. Compared to that total we received $195,239, leaving a gap of $23,161.

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 NEW details. Account name: Jamberoo Anglican Church. Account number: 356831. BSB: 032605.

To give to our tax-deductible MTS Scholars Fund to support our apprentice youth minister, head to mts.com.au/give/jamberoo-anglican-church/


Powerful Forgiveness

How can a person forgive someone who has abused them?

Well, this is a very serious question, and it’s important to know that if you’ve been abused by someone, then it is sad, painful and wrong.

If you’re still being abused by someone, then you should act to stop it happening anymore.

Please visit the knowdomesticabuse.church website to find out more, or speak to a trusted church leader or Christian friend.

But how can you possibly forgive someone who has abused you?

Well, if someone has abused you and they ask for your forgiveness, then Jesus tells you that you should forgive them, as hard as that may seem.

When Peter asked Jesus, “Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times?”, Jesus said, “No, not seven times, but seventy times seven!” (Matthew 18:21-22).

Even though it might seem impossibly difficult for you, we need to remember that the cost for God to forgive us was even greater.

It cost him his son, dying on the cross, for you and for me.

That’s not to say it won’t be hard, but we must trust in God to strengthen us to forgive others, and to give us the ability to do this difficult thing.

Now, if the person who has abused you has not asked for forgiveness, then we are still called to love them, as we are told to love our enemies.

It does not seem possible to truly forgive them if they don’t request it, but we still need to love them and be ready to forgive them in the event that they might, one day, say sorry.

It will be hard, but that’s the power of the Holy Spirit in us, who will lead us to love and forgive like Jesus loves and forgive us, even when we have done nothing to deserve his love for us that is so rich and mercy.

Coming up this weekend 11th – 12th December 2021

This weekend we will be looking at the book of Obadiah as Grahame Scarratt preaches to us from God’s word on the ‘Prophecy of Obadiah’.

After our 5pm Saturday service we’ll be having dinner, and after our 9am Sunday service we’ll be enjoying brunch together.

As long as you are feeling well and are not awaiting the results of a Covid-19 test, you can attend in person, regardless of your vaccination status, making sure you wear a face mask (unless under 12 or exempted).

We can seat 68 people (plus workers) in the church and 90 people in the hall (to watch the livestream in-person,) and both services will offer a special children’s program (with plenty of time outdoors) which will commence approximately half-an-hour into the service.

Or, for the time being you might like to continue to participate through our livestream by going to watch.jamberooanglican.com.

If you have any questions, head to our quick links page to fill out a response slip, email us at office@jamberooanglican.com or send an SMS to 0439 890 086.

We’re really looking forward to seeing you this weekend!