It’s Time to Get Ready

One of the most frustrating aspects of fighting fires is turning up to help a resident whose home is completely unprepared for the coming attack.

If the householder had cleared out their gutters, raked away the leaves and removed the piles of branches from near their home, then it would be so much easier to save the home and prevent the heartache.

When you live in a fire-prone area, it is vital to hear the warnings and prepare for the coming threat, and that’s why the Rural Fire Service have annual ‘Get Ready’ events to educate and motivate people to prepare for the fire season.

For us in Jamberoo, the threat is real, with a long, dry, hot summer forecast, and the undeniable reality that it’s been over half a century since the ‘Black Monday’ fires that saw the escarpment burn all the way from Berry to the northern Illawarra.

We should all be prepared because the threat is known and real, and we are all able to do something to minimise the danger.

In the Bible we read about another certain threat for which people must get ready, and that’s the return of Jesus.

As Christians regularly say together in the Apostles Creed, “Jesus will come again to judge the living and the dead.”

When Jesus returns it will bring an end to the pain, injustice and sadness of this world, and even though that judgement seems scary, it’s not something that Jesus’ followers should fear.

For we can trust the Bible when it says that “everyone who believes in Jesus will have their sins forgiven.” (Acts 10:43).

Jesus has given us a way to survive his coming judgement, but it means we need to spiritually ‘Get Ready’ by asking Jesus for forgiveness and trusting him as our loving leader.

His second coming is as certain as this year’s hot summer… so take the opportunity now to get ready for judgement day by taking refuge in his loving arms. 

JODIE McNEILL

Coming up this weekend 21-22 September

Last week we saw that the good news of Jesus has now crossed cultural barriers to be available for anyone who believes! And in our next episode from the book of Acts we see that the action moves north to a city called Antioch, which now forms the new hub for Christianity as it travels to the ends of the earth. However, we will see both opportunity and opposition, as the growth of the early church is directly confronted by an attack by the militant forces of the state.

So, be sure to come along and hear this message at one of our two sessions this weekend. Join us at 5pm on Saturday for an all-age service, with kids’ program, a hearty meal, then youth group for our teenagers. Or come at 9am Sunday and have a more classic-style Anglican service, followed by first-class espresso and lots of time to catch up!

We also will have a time to hear answers to the questions you asked last week, which are:

1 What were the unclean foods that Peter didn’t want to eat?
2 Why don’t Christians avoid unclean foods?
3 Why did Gentiles believe that Jesus was the Messiah, but not many Jews?
4 What happens when a Christian dies and goes through judgement?
5 Did Tabitha briefly go to heaven after she died before she came back to life?

If you’re a regular, or just thinking of popping in for the first time, please join us! You’re very welcome!

Grace and peace, Jodie.

Acts: Launching the Church 8: A Clean Change for the Church Acts 9:32-11:18 Jodie McNeill – 14 and 15 September 2019

Marvellous multiculturalism.

Jewish believers needed to cross ________.

It is _____ who heals.

The healing by Jesus made _________.

Cornelius was a powerful and religious _______.

The angel tells Cornelius to get _____.

The Lord challenges Peter to eat _______ food.

Peter obeys the Lord and travels to the _______.

Cornelius is ______ for the gospel.

It’s another Pentecost-like __________.

The Jewish believers __________ Peter.

Gentiles are now _____ with Jews.

It is a _________ to repent.

Powerful people still need to ______.

Church news for the week beginning 14-15 September 2019

OUR BIBLE TALK

This weekend Jodie continues our Acts series ‘Launching the Church’. Today’s talk is on Acts 9:32-11:18, called ‘A Clean Change for the Church’. Next week Jodie speaks on Acts 11:19-12:24 ‘Opportunity and opposition’.

MISSION OF THE MONTH

Support Cameron and Alex Jones with Irish Church Missions through the ‘Mission Table’ by buying or donating fresh or prepared food items (not bric-a-brac).

HOLIDAY KIDS CLUB

Our Holiday Kids Club is on 8-12 October. If you’re available to help let us know. Register at www.jamberooanglican.com/HolidayKidsClub – $50 per child for the full week (family maximum $100).

KIDS CLUB MEETING

Everyone involved in the club is encouraged to attend an important planning meeting on 28th September from 2-4pm.

NEW SMS NUMBER

Our church now has its own SMS number! Contact our staff by messaging 0439 890 086, and add it to your contacts!

INTERCHURCH GATHERING

This Sunday 15th September at 3pm, hosted by Jamberoo Uniting Church.

SWITCH WOMEN’S CONFERENCE

Saturday 19th October, from 9am to 12:30pm at Bomaderry Anglican. Registerhttps://southernwomen.org.au/
A great local conference for women with speaker Annabel Nixey.

ABORTION RALLY

This Sunday 15th September 2:30-5pm, Archibald Fountain, Hyde Park, Sydney. www.stand4.life

RFS ‘GET READY’ DAY

Next Sunday 22nd September 9am to 2pm our church is serving the community by running the facepainting! Can you help? 

FLASH WORKING BEE

Join us as we build the carpark retaining wall and put up the new child-safe fencing this Friday 20th September from 8am.

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.

Bring your kids to Egypt

After I prepared the promotional flyers for our holiday kids club, I realised that I had included a terrific photo of the Sphinx on the front, but didn’t once mention the word ‘Egypt’ or ‘Egyptian’ anywhere on the page!

I’ve since updated the newer versions to say ‘Egyptian Adventure’, but those who received an earlier sheet might have been confused about what Egypt has to do with modern Australian Christian kids.

The bottom line is that Egypt has a special place in the history of God’s people for all sorts of good and bad reasons.

On the one hand, Egypt was the place where our people experienced dreadful slavery at the hand of an evil and arrogant pharaoh, who defiantly opposed God and his appointed leader.

And yet on the other hand, Egypt was the place where God did powerful signs and wonders, which culminated in the remarkable parting of the Red Sea, and the triumphal escape from slavery.

And yet the reason we’re looking at Egypt in our October holiday club is actually because of the way that God famously used the horrible actions of Joseph’s eleven brothers (as shown in ‘Joseph and his Technicolor Dreamcoat’) as a means by which he would bring blessing to his family and even to all of the people of Egypt.

It’s summarised in the well-known statement of Joseph, who reflected on the mean acts of his brothers by saying, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people” (Genesis 50:20).

For us, the message is clear: even through difficult and confusing times, we can know that God still loves us and is in control.

And as we travel in time to Egypt in our holiday club, this will be a fresh and powerful reminder to the kids and adults alike that God really has got the whole world in his hand!

To find out more about the Holiday Kids Club and to register your kids go to www.jamberooanglican.com/holidaykidsclub

JODIE McNEILL

Coming up this weekend 14-15 September 2019

As the early church grew, it meant lots and lots of changes. One of the biggest changes was felt by the people who grew up Jewish, but now were bring brought together by God to share the one, spiritual family with all sorts of ‘Gentile’ people. Sounds confusing? Well, come along and join us this weekend to hear me speak from Acts 9:32-11:18 on the topic ‘A Clean Change for the Church’… and you’ll find out what that cryptic title really means!

I’m also going to answer your questions from last week on all sorts of interesting things, like:

1 How did Ananias know that Jesus appeared to Saul, since Jesus didn’t tell him?
2 If we met Jesus like Saul did then would we gain the authority to write Scripture?
3 Are modern healing miracles from God, and if so, why don’t we practice them?
4 Does God the Father love Jesus or people more?
5 How can we reconcile Genesis 1-11 with modern-day science?

So, be sure to join us on Saturday at 5pm for our relaxed, all-age service, with awesome kids’ program, followed by a hearty dinner and then youth group. Or come at 9am Sunday for a more classic-style Anglican service, with great espresso afterwards.

I’m really hoping you can make it… and bring along your friends, too!

Grace and peace, Jodie.

Acts: Launching the Church 7: From Murderer to Missionary Acts 9:1-31 Jodie McNeill – 7 and 8 September 2019

Changing your mind

It is often ______ to do a backflip.

Saul had a deep ____ for Christians.

Saul’s ideology was __________.

Saul was ______ by a light.

We have a remarkable __________ with Christ.

The hunter became the ______.

Saul was in emotional and physical _____.

Ananias must lay his _____ on Saul.

Ananias trusted Jesus by _______ his word.

Followers of Christ should expect ___________.

It was a powerful _________ to Jesus’ work.

The persecutor became a ________.

Saul was _____ from the Jews.

The enemy became ________.

Nobody is ______ saving.

Conversion to Christ is the ________ backflip.

Church news for the week beginning 7-8 September 2019

OUR BIBLE TALK

This week Jodie continues our series on the book of Acts called ‘Launching the Church’. Today’s talk is on Acts 9:1-31, called ‘From Murderer to Missionary’.

NEXT WEEK’S TALK

Next week Jodie will continue our Acts series with the seventh talk on Acts 9:32-11:18 entitled ‘A Clean Change for the Church.

MISSION OF THE MONTH

Support Cameron and Alex Jones with Irish Church Missions through the ‘Mission Table’ by buying or donating fresh or prepared food items (not bric-a-brac).

HOLIDAY KIDS CLUB

We’re running a Holiday Kids Club from 8-12 October. If you’re available to help let us know. Register at www.jamberooanglican.com/HolidayKidsClub – $50 per child for the full week (family maximum $100).

SAFE MINISTRY COURSE

Face to face course at Oak Flats Saturday 14th September at 9am. Register online safeministry.training/face-to-face-training/ or you can do the course online.

INTERCHURCH GATHERING

Next Sunday 15th September at 3pm, hosted by Jamberoo Uniting Church.

SWITCH WOMEN’S CONFERENCE

Bomaderry Anglican, Saturday 19th October, from 9am to 12:30pm. Speaker: Annabel Nixey. A great local conference for women from our region. Save the date!

ABORTION RALLY

Next Sunday 15th September 2:30-5pm, Archibald Fountain, Hyde Park, Sydney. www.stand4.life

RFS ‘GET READY’ DAY

Sunday 22nd September from 9am to 2pm our church is serving the community by running the facepainting! Can you help? 

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.

Power and Compassion

As I prepared the lesson for my Scripture class this week, I realised that I had an extra degree of connection to the events in the Bible.

The story was about the government official in Capernaum whose son was very sick (John 4:46).

This man had great power and influence over others, and yet he was powerless to do anything to bring health to his gravely sick son.

In his desperation he submitted to a greater power, even though it showed his weakness.

So, when he went to Jesus, he begged him to come and heal his son.

This man knew he had no hope in his own strength and that all he could do was depend on Jesus to help him and his son in this time of trial.

In this moment of need, Jesus showed his power and his compassion.

With a simple word, Jesus immediately healed the boy, even though he was located a long distance away.

Jesus showed great power over sickness, which came from his great compassion over those who are helpless and sad.

I shared with my Scripture kids about how my own son had a serious injury, and I showed them the X-rays of the masterful work of the orthopaedic surgeon.

And I told them about how I, too, was powerless to heal my injured son.

Like the government official, all I could do was ask for assistance from the person who was able to help my sick child.

And like Jesus, the amazing medical staff showed great power and compassion over Oscar and his crushed foot.

It is such a great comfort to be able to come and seek comfort and mercy from someone who is both powerful and compassionate: Jesus Christ.

JODIE McNEILL

Coming up this weekend 7-8 September 2019

Everyone loves a great before-and-after story, and this weekend’s bit from the Bible will certainly not disappoint! It’s the account of Paul’s conversion from murderer to missionary, as Jesus himself confronts him and blinds him by a light. These remarkable events are captured in the book of Acts chapter 9, and I’m really looking forward to sharing it with you this weekend.

Our Saturday all-age service is at 5pm, and includes a kids’ program, then dinner, then youth group. Or join us at 9am on Sunday morning for a more classic kind of Anglican service, followed by espresso over morning tea.

During our services we’ll have our weekly question time, and already I’m working hard to prepare some answers to these things that have been asked during church over the past few weeks:

1 Even though Jesus’ family was from Galilee, did they still identify with they tribe of Judah?
2 When Philip left suddenly, did he teleport?
3 Was Stephen sent as a son of God?
4 How did Satan turn from an angel to become the Devil?
5 How do we know that the serpent in Genesis is Satan?
6 Is it right to tell a friend to stop being rude to you?
7 If we don’t love ourselves then does it mean we don’t love God?

If you’ve never been before, then we’d love you to join us. We’ll make you feel really, really welcome! Don’t miss out on what God is doing in his world and how you can know him personally!

Grace and peace, Jodie.