A summary of what’s happening this weekend

Coming up this weekend 22nd – 23rd April 2017

This weekend we welcome Graham Errington, who is speaking on the topic ‘What sort of body’ from 1 Corinthians chapter 15 verses 35 to 58.

It’s also the right time for us to recognise many of the needs of our missionaries, so we’ll have a special report at our 5pm Saturday service about what’s been happening in the lives of our partners in global, word ministry.

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.

Coming up Good Friday and Easter Weekend 2017

We’d love you to join us at church this Easter.

Our Good Friday service is at the special time of 9.30am, where we’ll be coming together to reflect on the worse sin ever as Graham Errington talks from Luke chapter 22 verses 1 to 23.

We’ll be meeting at our normal times of 5pm on Saturday and 8am on Easter Sunday. Jodie will be speaking on the topic ‘The right side of history’ from Acts chapter 13 verses 16 to 41.

During our services on Saturday and Sunday, we’ll have our weekly question and answer time, and Jodie will be answering these questions:

  1. How could Jesus die since God is immortal?
  2. If God still speaks today, why doesn’t the Bible get updated like the prayer book gets updated to reflect modern changes?
  3. Since God chooses some people and not others, what about the verse that says God is not willing that anyone should perish?
  4. If singleness is a gift, then why do single people struggle to be content?
  5. How long did Lazarus live for after Jesus raised him from the dead?
  6. What are the differences between the Sadducees and the Pharisees in the Bible?

If you don’t regularly attend church then you are especially welcome this weekend. We love it when people drop in to join us at church, and you’ll be made to feel very much at home.

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.

We wish you a special Easter as we reflect on the wonder of the cross and the miracle of the empty tomb!

Coming up this weekend 8th – 9th April 2017

This weekend we welcome Simon Chaplin, who will be talking on the topic ‘God’s perfect plan ‘ from John chapter 11 verses 45 to 53.

We will also share the Lord’s Supper at 5pm Saturday, so be sure to join us for this important reminder of the death of Jesus.

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 Jodie will be answering these questions:

  1. How should we be impacted by the fact that the Reformers fought and died to give us the Bible and church in our everyday language?
  2. Why does God choose to save some people but not others?
  3. When God says he’s a jealous God, doesn’t that mean he’s sinning?
  4. Before the Great Flood, how was the world different to today?
  5. Should a Christian date a non-Christian?
  6. How should single people live in a godly way?
  7. How should a person choose the right church?

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.

Coming up this weekend 1st – 2nd April 2017

This weekend we welcome our own Mark Howard who will speak to us on the topic of  ‘Effective and Productive in the Knowledge of Jesus’ from 2 Peter chapter 1 verses 1 to 15.

Our 8am Sunday service will be a Morning Prayer 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.

Coming up this weekend 25th – 26th March 2017

This weekend we will conclude our five-week series looking at the five Solas of the Reformation called ‘Five Foundations’. This week, Jodie will be speaking on the topic ‘For the glory of God alone’.

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

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

  1. Why were the Old Testament sacrifices ineffective in bringing people into a right relationship with God?
  2. Does Jesus always have room for more sin in the same way that people always have room for more dessert?
  3. Why does the Book of Common Prayer still use the word ‘priest’?
  4. Why do some Anglican ministers still wear robes today?
  5. If the old Prayer Book worked so well, why was it changed?
  6. Why do we read prayers and other things out loud together in church, when it could make us appear cult-like?
  7. If all Christians are of equal value, why aren’t women ordained in the Sydney Diocese?
  8. How do Roman Catholics deal with the teaching of Hebrews chapters 9 and 10?
  9. Who is allowed to lead the service of the Lord’s Supper?
  10. Why does God choose some people and not others?

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.

Coming up this weekend 18th – 19th March 2017

This weekend we continue our five-week series looking at the five Solas of the Reformation called ‘Five Foundations’. This week, Jodie will be speaking on the topic ‘Christ alone’.

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. Why does John’s Gospel say that Jesus changed Peter’s name when he first met him, but Matthew’s Gospel says Peter’s name was changed when he identified Jesus as Messiah?
  2. If God is present with us in church, where would he sit?
  3. When Jesus said in Matthew 18:19 that if two people agree about anything they ask for that it will be done by his Father, doesn’t this mean our prayers change God’s mind?
  4. Given that some Roman Catholics leave their church when they discover grace, doesn’t this mean the priest didn’t understand the Bible and grace himself?
  5. How is Anglican infant baptism different to Roman Catholic infant baptism?
  6. When Jesus takes someone’s sins, doesn’t that make him imperfect?
  7. How is it possible for Jesus to take everyone’s sins, rather than just taking one person’s sins as a swap for one person’s sinlessness?
  8. Does ‘Hell’ really exist and what is ‘Sheol’?
  9. Where did Jesus go after he died on the cross, before he rose from the dead?
  10. Since the Bible says that we should count our conversions in Heaven, doesn’t this mean that Rugby is the game played in Heaven?

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.

Coming up this weekend 11th – 12th March 2017

This weekend we continue our five-week series looking at the five Solas of the Reformation called ‘Five Foundations’. This week, Simon Chaplin will be speaking on the topic ‘Grace alone’.

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 Jodie will be answering these questions:

  1. What did the Roman Catholic Church teach that was incorrect?
  2. Can a priest ever reveal what is said in a confession in the Roman Catholic Church?
  3. Given that Jesus said ‘love those who persecute you,’ was it a sin for a Catholic leader to kill the Reformation leader Huldrych Zwingli?
  4. If God is in control, why is the world in such conflict?
  5. Since God is always with us, why does that Bible say that he is present in a special way when two or more believers come together?
  6. Why should people pray for things to happen when God is in control of everything? And if more people pray the same thing will that persuade God more?
  7. How is it possible that ‘nothing is against us’ when there is still sin, persecution and Satan messing things up?
  8. Why did Jesus change Simon’s name to Peter?
  9. Is it right to call justification a ‘nerd word’ when it’s clearly expressed in 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.

Coming up this weekend 4th – 5th March 2017

This weekend we continue our five-week series looking at the five Solas of the Reformation called ‘Five Foundations’. This week, Jodie will be speaking on the topic ‘Faith alone’.

We will also share the Lord’s Supper at 5pm Saturday, so be sure to join us for this important reminder of the death of Jesus.

Our 8am Sunday service will be a Morning Prayer AAPB service.

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

  1. Given that God hates divorce, should someone who is abused remain in their marriage?
  2. What books would you recommend as an introduction to The Reformation?
  3. What happened to Martin Luther?
  4. Why did some writings get included in the Bible and not others?
  5. Does the Bible tell us whether or not we should stand up when we sing?
  6. Why would God command humans to fill and subdue the earth, when subduing the earth means ruling it, which is God’s job, not ours?
  7. If adding extra words to The Bible will get us into trouble, then how does that work with the Trinity?
  8. Hebrews 6:4-6 says it’s impossible for those who have fallen away to receive repentance again, but doesn’t God forgive all sins, if we truly repent?
  9. Is there a difference between tithes and offering, and what are the principles today for giving?
  10. Can we print these questions in the bulletin each week?

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.

Coming up this weekend 25th – 26th February 2017

This weekend we’re kicking off a new five-week series looking at the five Solas of the Reformation called ‘Five Foundations’. Jodie will be speaking on the topic ‘Scripture alone’.

Two hundred years ago, people knew that reading the Bible before and after the day’s labours would change the feel of the day. It was widely accepted, unlike today, that the Bible contributed to the private and public good. This is why, as the Bible Society Australia marks its bicentenary (200 years) of sharing the Bible, that we will join in the celebrations this weekend during our services.

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

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

  1. What does it mean to be ‘equal?’
  2. How should we understand the Old Testament practice of men having multiple wives?
  3. Since the immaculate conception of Jesus is a form of surrogate birth, does this condone surrogacy more generally?
  4. Doesn’t adoption cause the same issues as the other attempts to provide same-sex couples with children?
  5. If a couple in a traditional marriage struggles with infertility, are they right to pursue things like IVF, or should they just accept this as God’s will?
  6. Since same-sex couples argue that they are a child’s legitimate and loving parents, does that not fulfil the child’s rights to having parents under international law?
  7. Given that marriage is seen so positively in the Bible, how should single people respond?
  8. If we are to avoid making political statements, should we avoid praying about refugees?
  9. Given we’ve had this topical talk on marriage, can we also have talks on the Bible’s view of refugees and the environment?
  10. How should we respond if a gay person joins our church?

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.

Coming up this weekend 18th – 19th February 2017

This weekend we are celebrating the 150th anniversary of the opening of the church building with two events:

Saturday 18th February

Join us from 3pm for devonshire tea and an historical display, whilst the kids enjoy a jumping castle and ice creams. Then we’d love you to join us for the official celebration at our 5pm contemporary church service, which will be followed by a sausage sizzle and lamingtons, and a fun night of all-age bush dancing.

Sunday 19th February

Join us at the special time of 9.30am for a traditional Anglican service of praise and thanksgiving for the 150 years of ministry in our historical building. This will be followed by a delicious morning tea and a hearty lunch for all.

The Bishop of Wollongong, the Right Reverend Peter Hayward will be our preacher at both church services as we join together to give thanks to God for his faithfulness. The Bishop will be speaking on the topic ‘A Building that lasts’ from 1 Corinthians chapter 3 verses 5 to 23.

Everyone is welcome for this special celebration, and we look forward to you joining us to renew old friends, and start some new ones!