This is the latest blurb that is published on the front of our weekly bulletin

Why We Have an Intergenerational Kids’ Church at Jamberoo

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

Love and Obedience

As an older Christian, I often think about how life in the past affects my life in the present. Thoughts come to mind of what I- & others- have grappled with, such as disappointment, hurt & anger. Especially as a young Christian- around 18 years of age- I & others struggled with the temptation of the “lazy” Christian life. This was falsely thinking that “I’m saved by grace, so I don’t need to be serious about what I think, say & do.”

As we journey through 1 John in our sermon series, I am being strongly convicted about what it means to keep living a victorious Christian life. Chapter 5, emphasises several actions that characterise a strong Christian.

Verse 1a- BELIEF that Jesus is the Christ who comes from God the Father.

Verse 1b- LOVE for God the Son and God the Father.

Verse 2a- LOVE for the children of God- for one another!

Verse 2b- OBEDIENCE to God expressing our love for Him.

Love for God is expressed in obedience to God. Love for others is expressed in obeying God in our relationships with other Christians- and with our neighbours. 

It is good to prayerfully reflect on the two great commandments of loving God & loving others. It is also good to reflect on what the Bible says about love expressed in obedience to God, such as The Ten Commandments (Deuteronomy 5) and The Sermon on the Mount (Matt 5-7). On the global scale, every nation on earth that has taken the Bible seriously has these commands as foundational to its ethics and legal principles. 

On the personal scale, every individual Christian on earth that takes the Bible seriously has these commands as foundational. Moved & motivated by the Holy Spirit, every authentic Christian will love God the Father, God the Son, our fellow church members, and those in our wider mission field of “village, valley & region”

Steve Bligh

Our Faith in Jesus will be seen in our Love for God and one another and our obedience to God, not because we have to, but because we want to.

A healthy faith will be seen in joyful obedience!

On the other hand, disobedience to God’s will is a tragedy—but so is reluctant, grudging obedience. God does not want us to disobey Him, but neither does He want us to obey out of fear or necessity. Jonah was a case in point!

What Paul wrote about giving also applies to living: “not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Cor. 9:7)

What is the secret of joyful obedience? It is to recognize that obedience is a family matter. We are serving a loving Father and helping our brothers and sisters in Christ.

We have been born of God, so we love God, and we love God’s children.

And we demonstrate this love by keeping God’s commandments joyfully.

Tony Galea

When God Seems Far Away – Focus On Who God Is!

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

Protecting Jamberoo Anglican

It is all our responsibility to protect the unity of God’s Church.

Unity is so important to God that the New Testament gives more attention to it than either heaven or hell. Break unity with your own desires, & you rip the heart out of the Body of Christ. Nothing on earth is more valuable to God than His Church!

Paul says in Ephesians 4:3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. You see, you have a responsibility to protect unity!

How do we do that?

1. Focus on what we have in common & not our differences.

Conflict, is usually a sign that the focus is on our own desires. Whether you like this Minister or that Minister, whether you like the music or not, or whether you think Children’s or Youth ministry is done right or not, is not as important than the unity of God’s Church.

It’s OK to disagree, but too many times we do that at the expense of loving one another.

2. Choose to encourage rather than criticize.

It is always easier to stand on the side lines & take shots at those who are serving.

The Bible calls Satan the accuser. It’s the Devils job to blame, complain & to criticise.

Don’t do his work!

3. Refuse to listen to Gossip.

Remember people who gossip to you will probably gossip about you!

They are the people who often want to criticize anonymously.

4. Practice the Matthew 18 Principle.

15 “If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you.”

The principle is, if you have a problem with someone don’t try to win favour with others to criticise & carry on like a turkey. Go to your brother or sister lovingly without triangulation & explain your difficulty.

5. Support your leader.

There are no perfect leaders, but God gives leaders the responsibility & authority to preach & pastor people & to do what’s best for the whole of God’s Church not just the individuals that support him. When leaders are involved with other things at the expense of their God given responsibilities, he will not be effective at his ministry.

God blesses churches that are united. So protect, promote & pray for unity above your own agenda’s & let’s give Ron & Julie Irving every possible reason to do their ministry with the greatest of joy & pleasure!

Tony Galea

John’s letter has been compared to a spiral staircase because he keeps returning to the same three topics: love, obedience, and truth. Though these themes recur, it is not true that they are merely repetitious. Each time we return to a topic, we look at it from a different point of view and are taken more deeply into it.
We have already learned about our love for other believers—“the brethren” (1 John 2:7–11)—but the emphasis in 1 John 2 was on fellowship. A believer who is “walking in the light” will evidence that fact by loving their brother and sister. In our present section, the emphasis is on his relationship with other believers which will create unity & harmony in the Church.


Christians love one another because they have all been born of God, which makes them all brothers and sisters in Christ.


We are Family. We are One In Love!

Tony Galea

Jamberoo: A Place To Belong!

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

Forever Young

“He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart.” Ecclesiastes 3:11

After Solomon in Ecclesiastes 3 talks about the seasons of life we might experience, a Time for this & that….. he concludes that this life can be difficult & burdensome. Yet positively he concludes: This life is not all there is. Even though people might be considered successful in this life. Every-body knows in their hearts of hearts, something is still missing in their life despite their success. There is more to life than this life.
God has created us in his image & we therefore have an instinct & longing to live for eternity.
We were made to last forever. Our earthly body is a temporary residence for our Spirit. Jesus is the only one who can fill that missing hole in our lives. He is the way to eternal life.
CS Lewis said, “There are two kinds of people; those who say to God “Thy will be done” and those to whom God says, “All right then, have it your way”. Tragically, many people will have to endure eternity without God because they chose to live without him here on earth.
Despite living in this life, as Christians, we need to live in light of eternity. Death is not the end for us. Death is not our termination but our transition into eternity & everything we do here on earth has eternal consequences. When we live in the light of eternity our values change. We use our time & money more wisely. We have a greater heart for the lost & we have less chance in breakdown of relationships as we consider that life is not about me, but about God’s eternal plan for all to be forever young.

Question:
Since I was made to last forever, what is the one thing I should stop doing & the one thing I should start doing today?

Tony Galea

“And now, dear children, continue in him, so that when he appears we may be confident and unashamed before him at his coming.” 1 John 2:28

The Bible continually warns of “being led astray.”
We have been warned that this would happen.
Jesus called Satan the “father of lies” (John 8:44) The devil’s purpose is to lead Christians astray by teaching them false doctrines. We should not accept everything a person tells us simply because he claims to believe the Bible, for it is possible to “twist” the Bible to make it mean almost anything. Satan is not an originator; he is a counterfeiter. He imitates the work of God to lead us astray so that we may fall from grace.
You remain in Christ by believing the truth, obeying the truth, and loving other Christians. The fact that Jesus Christ may return at any moment ought to be an incentive for us to live in fellowship with Him and each other.
So, hang in there and don’t give up!

Tony Galea

Mother’s Day

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

Who Will Be the Center of My Life?

Who are you going to live for?
Who are going to build your life around?
Everyone’s life is driven by something.
We must remember this life is not all there is.
This life is temporary and transient.
This life is not about you, but all about Jesus.


You can center your life around your job, your
kids, your sport, your money, having fun and
being popular to others. All these things are not
bad in themselves, but they don’t belong at the
center of your life if you are a follower of Jesus.


Whatever or whoever is the center of your life is your god.


When Jesus is the center of your life you will worship Him in thankfulness and praise, when he is not, you worry and you get discontent. Worry is the warning light that God has been shoved on the sideline. The moment you put Jesus back to his rightful place, at the center of your life, you will have peace.


That doesn’t mean all will go well. Following Jesus is not without its difficulties!
Our Verse for the day may seem hard, but it is the way forward in having our past forgiven,
saving our life in the future for heaven, and living a life in the present with purpose and
contentment.


What a daily challenge? What an awesome reward?!


Mark 8:34 “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross
and follow me.”


Tony Galea

What does Jesus require?
Mark 8:34–38 is a powerful passage where Jesus
teaches about the cost of discipleship.


34 “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny
themselves and take up their cross and follow me.


Jesus is saying that following Him requires self- denial and a willingness to endure suffering or even death. “Taking up the cross” meant facing shame and hardship, just like Jesus would on the cross.

Jesus doesn’t sugarcoat it: following Him is costly. He doesn’t promise an easy path — He promises a noble one. We spend so much time trying to “save” our lives — protect our comfort, secure our future, win approval, build success. But in doing so, we risk missing the deeper life Jesus offers.
A life not built on status, but on purpose. Not on applause, but on love. Not on temporary gain, but
eternal truth.

Tony Galea

Anzac Weekend

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

Easter!

While there’s life, there’s hope!” That ancient Roman saying is still quoted today and,
like most adages, it has an element of truth but no guarantee of certainty. It is not the
fact of life that determines hope, but the faith of life.
A Christian believer has a “living hope” because Jesus
rose from the dead and is living today. Our faith and hope
is in Jesus and his death and resurrection. So despite the
difficulties and pain of this life, Peter is saying “Be
hopeful!”
This life is not all there is. Death is not the end.
Jesus wins forgiveness for us through the Good Friday
cross wins and accomplishes eternal life though his
Resurrection. Eternity of heaven awaits those who put
their trust in Jesus.
So, as children of God, we share in His inheritance and glory. This inheritance
cannot be cheapened or be ruined or be disappointing. It will never grow old
because it is eternal. How incredible? How thrilling? What an encouragement for
believers, for while our life is in Christ, there is hope. The certainty of forgiveness
and heaven!
Easter is the greatest event in history of this world. That’s why Peter wants us to
Praise God for who he is and what he has done.

Free cross Stock Photos & Pictures | FreeImages


1 Peter.1:3 “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given
us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 and into an
inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you”

Tony G

When was the last time someone said you’re special?
When someone says they love you, they value you, your important to them, you’re exceptional and
unique. Doesn’t it make you feel good?
Well, you know what? That’s what God says about YOU.
You are the apple of God’s eye because he made you and he has saved
you. God sent Jesus to die on the cross, but then 3 days later to rise from
the dead, and in doing so he has won for us forgiveness of our sins and
the certain hope of heaven.
You’re special alright! Be thankful. Be joyful. Praise God!

Tony G