At Jamberoo Anglican, we believe the church is a family—so we make space for all ages to grow together in faith. That’s why our Sunday kids’ ministry embraces an intergenerational approach. We start and end the services together, seeing kids and adults worship, learn, and serve alongside one another, which builds lasting relationships, nurtures spiritual growth, and reflects the beautiful diversity of the body of Christ, Titus 2. 

When we head out to Kids’ church, it’s a team effort. Bringing together passionate volunteers, families, and the wider church, where the kids are nurtured by leaders who model Christ and help shape their faith foundations in age-appropriate bible talks, discussions around the passage, and by playing a few fun games. 

Our intergenerational model reminds us all that faith is something we live out together; it’s not a one-person job. It’s been a joy to observe how some of you sit with the kids at meal times, join in on the handball court or soccer field, and even just asking the kids what they learnt out in kids’ church. Every generation has something valuable to contribute so that the Jamberoo kids can come out knowing, loving, and obeying Jesus with their whole lives. 

Rach Bemmer

This week at church we’re diving back into the book of Mark; specifically Mark chapter 9:1-13.

This is a phenomenal passage! It’s about Jesus’ transfiguration, the appearance of Old Testament leaders of Israel, God’s presence descending on a mountain in a cloud, and heaps of other interesting stuff.

There’s a few questions we’ll answer as we look at this passage on Sunday.

1. Why did Jesus’ appearance change?
2. Why did Moses and Elijah appear on the mountain?
3. What is Mark trying to tell us in this true story, and what do we do with it in our lives?

This passage is designed to show us who Jesus is, and what he came to earth to accomplish for his followers – even his followers in Jamberoo Anglican Church 2000 years later.

And Mark 9:7 leaves us with the question – will you listen to the voice of God’s own son?

What will happen when you listen to him? And what are the consequences if you don’t?

My prayer this week is that we would all be challenged to see Jesus for who he really is, and listen to his life-saving voice.

Brad Vidilini

Regardless of circumstances & how you feel, hang on to God’s unchanging character.

Remember God is good & loving, He is all powerful, He knows everything about me. God is in control & He has a plan for me. Not to mention He has given me Jesus for my Salvation.

So don’t be troubled by trouble. Circumstances cannot change the character of God.

God is still for you even when you don’t feel it. Even when Job went through the wars & nothing made sense in his pain & troubles, he still trusted God because he knew the character of God.

We, on the other hand, know even more the character of God in the Lord Jesus.

Jesus died for you. He was crucified as a criminal. He was abused & ridiculed by heartless men. While His lifeblood drained out, hecklers stood by & shouted insults making fun of His claim to be God. Jesus reached the darkest place by being abandoned by His Father. Words cannot describe the darkness of the moment. Why did God allow this injustice?

2 Cor 5:20 We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. 21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Jesus gave up everything so we could have everything. He became sin so we could be forgiven our sin. He died so we could live forever.

Next time we are going thought troubles, remember the character of God. He loves YOU!

He has the big picture in mind. He will always do what’s best for us despite weather we understand our situation or not!

God is good & God loves you!

Praise God & be Thankful!

Tony Galea

Life is all about love.

Because God is love, the most important lesson he wants you to learn on earth is how to love. It is in loving each other are we most like God. Learning to love unselfishly (agape) runs counter to our self-centred nature.

Love cannot be learned in isolation. You have to be around people, especially those who are irritating, imperfect & frustrating people. Do you know people like that?

Then learn to love them!

Life without love is worthless. Love will last forever. Love will be evaluated by our love.

That love will take time with each other.

The best use of life is love. The best expression of love is time. The best time to love is NOW!

Who is someone you need to Love?

Tony Galea

Christians are called to belong, not just believe. From the very beginning God said: ‘It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him’ (Gen 2:18)

We were created to be family, for community, for fellowship, for partnership with each other and with God. We were not created to be independent and fly solo. We were created to belong. The Bible says we are put together, joined together, built together, members together, heirs together, fitted and held together.

Even in Acts 2:42-47 the first noted Christian Church, they did everything together.

They ate, shared, learnt the Word of God and prayed together. They were generous with what they owned for each other.

When the community around them saw how much they loved each otherand how they all belonged to God’s family. They thought to themselves: “I want what they’ve got!”

What a great witness!

All through the Bible, it speaks if we are genuine Christians we belong to the Lord, we belong to Christ, we belong to the family, the household, the body, the church we belong to each other! As the body of Christ, if we are disconnected, cut-off from each other we cease to grow in our faith.

The difference between being a church attender and a church member is in our commitment to belong. Genuine Christians belong to Jesus but at the same time, belong to each other. Attenders often want the benefits of church without sharing the responsibility, it’s like couples who live together without the commitment to marriage.

You become a genuine Christian by committing yourself to Christ and then committing yourself to God’s Church. The first brings salvation, the second brings fellowship.

Both bring an awesome sense of belonging!

Rom 12:5 so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.

Tony Galea

What is the difference between a fake and genuine Christian?

The difference is that a true Christian knows God. A fake Christian may talk about God and get involved in “religious activities,” but he does not really know God. The person who has been “born of God” through faith in Christ knows God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.

So a genuine Child of God knows God and, they live lives a life of obedience. They do not practice sin, even though from time to time they will sin. Isn’t so good we can confess our sin & be forgiven!

Satan baits his traps with pleasures that appeal to the old nature. But none of his bait appeals to the new divine nature within a Christian. If a believer yields to his old nature, they will hanker for the bait, take it, and sin. But if they follow stay close to the Lord, they will refuse the bait, obey God and live a genuine life pleasing to God!

Tony Galea

Proverbs 31:25-28. “She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come. She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue. She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her.”

Mothers are a reflection of God’s love—strong, wise, patient, and faithful. In Proverbs 31, we see a picture of a woman whose value goes far beyond her daily tasks. She is a woman of strength and dignity, whose words bring wisdom and whose presence brings stability and peace to her home.
This passage doesn’t just celebrate what mothers do, but who they are in God’s eyes—pillars of grace, bearers of wisdom, and the heart of the home. Her legacy is not only seen in the meals she prepares or the lessons she teaches, but in the lives she shapes—lives that rise and call her blessed.
In the Bible, Mothers are seen as Life-Givers and Nurturers (Gen 3:20). A person worthy to be honoured (Ex 20:12). Models of faith (2 Tim 1:5) and prayers and protectors for their children (1Sam 1).
Whether you’re a mother yourself or honouring one today, remember this: God’s Word recognizes and uplifts the role of mothers as sacred and powerful. A mother’s influence can echo through generations, just as Timothy’s faith was shaped by his mother and grandmother. Not all mothers are these things and some mother’s are sick and haven’t good models themselves, but we can still be thankful for them and honour them as our mothers.

Tony Galea

Every form of life has its enemies. Insects have to watch out for hungry birds and birds have to watch out for hungry cats and dogs. We even have to dodge automobiles and fight off germs. This life that is real also has an enemy, and we read about it in this section.
This enemy is sin. Nine times in these verses John mentioned sin, so the subject is obviously not unimportant. John illustrated his theme by using the contrast between light and darkness: God is light; sin is darkness.
But there is another contrast here too—the contrast between saying and doing. Four times John wrote, “If we say” (1 John 1:6, 8, 10; 2:4). It is clear that our Christian life is to amount to more than mere “talk”; we must also “walk,” or live, what we believe.
If we are in fellowship with God (if we are “walking in the light”), our lives will back up what our lips are saying. But if we are living in sin (“walking in darkness”), then our lives will contradict what our lips are saying, making us hypocrites.
Let’s not be counterfeit Christians let’s be fair-dinkum to ourselves and our Lord!

Tony Galea

Anzac Day is celebrated to commemorate the landing of Australian and New Zealand troops at Gallipoli, Turkey, on April 25, 1915, as part of the Allied invasion during World War I.
Having been at Gallipoli and seen first-hand what those Anzacs had to do to get up from the beach, it is remarkable that anyone survived. It was truly a heroic event.
Anzac Day also commemorates the service and sacrifice of all Australians and New Zealanders who have served and died in all wars, conflicts, and peacekeeping operations. 
So, it is right to pay tribute to all who sacrificed for their country, some people see it as their religious duty to honour all veterans on Anzac Day.
Having just celebrated Easter, the idea of sacrifice is not unfamiliar. In fact, Jesus takes it to another level. Jesus just didn’t die for his friends, his compassion takes him to die for his enemies too.
Romans 5:10 “While we were God’s enemies, we were
reconciled to him through the death of his Son”
Yes, we thank God for all who sacrificed for Australia, but how much more should our thanks and praise be overflowing for Jesus dying for our world, for us, who were once his enemies.
Psalm 103:8 “The LORD is compassionate and gracious,
slow to anger, abounding in love.”

PS. Thank you to everyone who was involved in making the Easter Services a great event.

Tony Galea

Jesus demonstrated compassion through acts of healing, teaching, and sacrifice, ultimately laying down his life for humanity. His compassion was not just empathy, but a powerful force that drove him to act on behalf of others, particularly those marginalized or suffering. 
It’s always hard to show compassion. It doesn’t come naturally, and it is even harder to show compassion on those who have hurt us.
Nevertheless, we are still called to be compassionate:
Eph 4:32 “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”
We can only show compassion to others through prayer (asking God to help us be compassionate) and keeping our eyes on Jesus, the one who has shown compassion on us.

Tony Galea