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

The gift of unity

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It’s surprising to read how many times the Bible speaks of the need for God’s people to be united, together, as one.

Perhaps the most vivid expression of this is seen in the prayer by Jesus to the father on the night before he died.

In John chapter 17, Jesus says:

Now I am departing from the world; they are staying in this world, but I am coming to you. Holy Father, you have given me your name; now protect them by the power of your name so that they will be united just as we are. (verse 11)

As good as it is to strive for unity, we must remember that our unity is a gift from God in response to the prayers of Jesus to the father.

What’s more, the unity that Christians enjoy must be true to who God is, which means that it must be based on his true word.

Yet the closer we stand to God’s word, the further we’ll be from the world.

For Jesus then says to the father:

I have given them your word. And the world hates them because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. (verse 14)

So, the more we’re united with Jesus, the less we’ll be united with the world.

This means that when people try and change the church to be like the world, they’ve completely missed the point… and may well have missed the truth.

I give thanks to God for the unity we enjoy as a church as we are united together in Christ.

May his Spirit continue to lead us to obey his wonderful word, so that we might boldly tell our village, valley and region how to follow Jesus and why it matters… even when people find it hard to follow Christ.

JODIE McNEILL

Constellation of Conviction

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Thank you for your prayers for this week’s Gafcon Australasia Conference in Canberra, where I had the joy of leading the team of organisers as we gathered over 360 people from around Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands to be encouraged to stand firm in the gospel, and to preach Christ faithfully to the nations.

At the conference, the all-new Diocese of the Southern Cross was announced, and our former Archbishop Glenn Davies was installed as the interim bishop.

It would be so much better if every one of the 23 dioceses of the Anglican Church of Australia was led by a bishop who delighted in and defended the teaching of the word of God, including the Bible’s doctrine of marriage and human sexuality.

But some of these dioceses are led by bishops who not only welcome same-sex marriage for Christians, but also actively frustrate their own ministers who don’t join them in embracing that sin.

However our own Diocese of Sydney has no intention of leaving the Anglican Church of Australia, which means that this development has no effect on any of our parishes, schools or organisations.

Indeed, as our Archbishop Kanishka Raffel confirmed, “we are committed to the reform of the Anglican Church of Australia from within our existing ecclesial structures, including the General Synod.”

Further, he stated that the all-new Diocese of the Southern Cross has been set up for churches and ministers, “who have left their diocese because they cannot in good conscience accept the authority of those who have departed from the teaching of Christ.

“It is a sadness that this new Diocese has become necessary,” reflects Archbishop Raffel, “but I extend the hand of fellowship to the Diocese of the Southern Cross and may God bless Bishop Davies and his work.”

JODIE McNEILL

(Photo Credit: Roger Fitzhardinge via Facebook)

United in Truth

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This week in Canberra over 350 delegates from Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific islands will be gathering to unite as Anglicans to encourage each other to proclaim Christ faithfully to the nations.
The inaugural ‘Gafcon Australasia Conference’ will provide important support to Anglicans who serve in dioceses where the leadership has strayed from the faith that was once for all entrusted to God’s people (Jude 3).
Throughout the world there have been Anglican leaders who have chosen to follow patterns of the world in behaviour, which has been seen in their acceptance and encouragement of same-sex relationships, including amongst bishops and ministers.
As so many have moved away from the Bible’s clear teaching, it has become increasingly important for us to work together to defend the truth and protect God’s people from those who have deserted the truth.
The first ‘Gafcon’ (Global Anglican Future Conference) met in Jerusalem in 2008 to offer such fellowship and support, and now this Australasian conference will continue this ministry to those closer to home.
Six people from our church are registered to attend this important conference, and so we would value your prayers as we serve and learn with others from our geographical region who seek to be energised in defending and promoting the good news of Jesus.
Please pray for me in my role as Assistant Chair of the Conference Working Group, and for all who are involved in teaching and training in the main sessions as well as the seminar groups.
I’m also presenting a seminar with the title, ‘How Anglican liturgy can help intergenerational ministry’, where I look forward to sharing with the conference some of the great things that the Lord has done in our own church here at Jamberoo.
Please pray for those who are facing serious opposition as they stand up for the truth, and pray that all who gather might offer a great support to each other as we seek to make the truth of Jesus clear and pure to this world that critically needs to know Jesus.
JODIE McNEILL

Intergenerational Liturgy

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These two big words are rarely used in common speak, but they both mean a lot to us as we ‘do’ church here at Jamberoo Anglican.

The first word, ‘intergenerational,’ describes our passion to fully include people of all ages and stages, as much as helpfully possible.

That means that we want our church to work for children, youth, seniors—people of all generations—as we gather each Saturday night and Sunday morning.

The natural response to this challenge would be to try to err on the side of making it feel like a special ‘all-age’ service, with lots of kids’ songs, puppets and memory verses.

Or, we could keep church just like it’s been for decades, and train the children to endure the adult-ness of the service, as we assume they will eventually learn the big words and get used to the formality.

But, in our church we’ve tried to cater for all of the people, most of the time, so that every person will participate and benefit, even if some of it is a little out of our comfort zone.

Ironically, a way we have achieved this is by using what the second, big word describes, namely, ‘liturgy’.

This word is commonly used to describe the words we say together during our church service, like set prayers, creeds, and the public reading of psalms.

Conventional wisdom would say that liturgy was the last thing that younger people would want, and yet it’s a surprisingly good and powerful way to achieve our desire for intergenerational church.

For, by saying words together that have been prepared in advance, it actually helps people of all ages to have the confidence to participate in church, and the joy of being fully involved, no matter how old they are.

In fact, accessible and intelligible liturgy doesn’t need to feel ‘formal’ but can actually be a really-helpful ‘scaffold’ for younger people seeking to fully engage with the ‘grown ups’ with whom they share church, week in and out.

JODIE McNEILL

Cross-Cultural Imagination

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This week I messaged one of our missionaries, sharing about the joys that Mandy and I experienced during our recent holiday overseas.

She responded by saying that, “there is something very energising about entering into the other world of another culture… it does good things for our imaginations.”

As we were immersed alongside people who spoke a different language and followed a different rhythm of life, it forced me to look afresh at our own culture, and to consider again how our ‘normal’ is not the same for everyone.

What’s more, it gave me insights into how to engage with a world that needs to know how to follow Jesus and why it matters, as I had a fresh look at what we value and cherish.

Two of our church members are heading to Fiji in September with the Year 13 program to learn and to serve in an environment that is very different to their own, where they will also be given the opportunity to have their imagination energised.

As they experience life in a different culture it will help them look afresh at the life they live now, and will expose them to the joys and challenges of cross-cultural ministry.

Yet because the Year 13 program has been partnering with Christians in Fiji for fifteen years it means that this cross-cultural partnership has grown and flourished between our two countries as we’ve shared in gospel ministry… and long-term benefits are being seen.

The blessings of this cross-cultural experience flow both ways, as the Year 13’s are equipped for a lifetime of Christian service as they taste missionary life for a moment.

As Elise and Oscar prepare for this special adventure would you please join with me in praying and financially supporting them as they get ready to have their cross-cultural imagination energised, to God’s glory!

JODIE McNEILL

Strengthened by Grace

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Could you imagine how exhausting flying would be? Flap, flap, flap… again and again and again! 

Yes, I am sure soaring above the clouds wouldn’t be all bad, it would probably be exhilarating… but I can tell you right now, chances are I wouldn’t last 5 minutes.

Just like flying, following the Lord Jesus is both exhilarating and exhausting. 

It’s exhilarating to know Jesus and serve him with your life, but it can also be exhausting as you constantly pour yourself out to love and serve others.

Paul, a follower of Jesus, knows this reality all too well. So he encourages us with these words

2 Tim 2:1 …be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus. [ESV] 

He encourages Timothy, a follower of Jesus, to be strengthened by the grace that is found in Christ. 

We are saved by this grace when we know Jesus as our Lord and Saviour. 

And, we are strengthened by this grace every time we spend a moment with him.

When we listen to Jesus from his word and talk to him in prayer, when we spend a moment with Jesus and focus on him, we are strengthened by his grace.

Just like how a bird is strengthened and continues to fly by a strong wind, so too is a follower of Jesus strengthened and continues to endure by God’s grace.

There is no end to this mighty wind! It’s a tornado of God’s love displayed and sustained through the powerful saving work of Christ!

If God’s grace was enough to save you, it will be more than enough to strengthen you every day.

Fill your life with these precious moments and let God’s grace strengthen you every day.

Why not spend a moment with Jesus right now? 

JACOB MIERENDORFF

Why Pray?

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What is your prayer life like?

It’s easy to drop spending time with God in prayer off our to-do list when life starts getting busy. 

We should remember our sovereign and loving God has asked us to pray and promises to hear us when we talk to him. 

God has commanded us in his word to be devoted and constant in prayer.

“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.” Romans 12:12 (NIV)

Prayer is also our most powerful weapon against the spiritual battles, such as doubts and temptations that we face. 

As Christians we will continue to fight these spiritual forces until the final day when Jesus returns and rescues his people. 

Being constant in prayer helps us to stand firm and persevere against these spiritual attacks.

“And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.”  Ephesians 6:18 (NIV)

God has invited us to bring everything and anything to him. We should be humble as we do this, trusting that our good and gracious God will give what’s best for us and to bring glory to his name.

Prayer should be a priority, something we do all the time, in any situation.

This year I have been keeping a prayer journal which has been so helpful in forming this habit. 

It has also been a great encouragement looking back through previous prayers and seeing how God has been answering them.

How can you make prayer a priority?

ELISE BAKER

Bus Evangelism & Year 13

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Imagine that you hop on a bus from Wollongong Uni to Fairy Meadow or another station nearby. You hop on and sit next to a complete stranger with the intent of sharing the gospel with them. 

This is a variation of walk up evangelism called ‘bus evangelism’. 

It’s definitely a challenge but totally worth it so that more people can hear about the good news of Christ!

A few weeks ago I had this very situation while visiting the Wollongong Uni Bible Group for a Year 13 evangelism training day.

2 Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. 2 Timothy 4:2 (NIV)

I have found Year 13 to be so encouraging and helpful for my faith walk with God. 

The fellowship and spiritual growth has been so good!

In a couple of months we’re going for a 3 week long mission trip to Fiji where we’ll be sharing God’s word to many churches, families and communities in many different locations throughout the south island of Fiji. 

This will also include a lot of walk up evangelistic situations which will be really challenging but also really important. 

A few of weeks ago we had an intensive where we learnt about the different culture of Fijians. It was so good because it helped us understand how we can better share the gospel of Jesus Christ with people from Fiji.

19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:19-20 (NIV)

Thanks be to God for his gospel and the privilege it is to share this news with the whole world!

OSCAR MCNEILL

Living Water

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Sometimes I forget to drink water. I go about my day, surviving on coffee and toast. By the time the afternoon comes, I get a headache. But I only realise I am dehydrated after my headache, never before. I need water – coffee or other drinks won’t help. Nothing refreshes or rejuvenates like water does. I need it every day to survive and thrive.

Sometimes I forget, or put off reading my Bible. Life seems too busy to allow God to have input in my life. There are so many things to get distracted by, and reading God’s word is easy to make a low priority.

But just like we need water, we need Jesus.

Nothing this world has to offer can refresh and rejuvenate us like his word. 

Hebrews 4:12 says: For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

God’s word is alive and active! His word is a gift to us! 

If God cares enough to give us his word, he clearly thinks it’s important for us to read it.

Reading and listening to the Bible should be our number 1 priority. It is how we know God, and how he refines us to live for him.

In Luke 11:28, Jesus himself said “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.”

We shouldn’t wait until we get a spiritual headache to realise we need the water of God’s word. For our own good, listening to God should be a habit. Reading the Bible is not something we should do, it’s something we need to do.

Because like water, God’s word is the source of life.

BRAD VIDILINI

The Perfect Backdrop

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When was the last time you went to a jewellery store?

For me it was when I went to pick up an engagement ring so I could proposed to my lovely fiancé and (hopefully) soon to be wife.

I was absolutely dazzled! Firstly, by the price… and secondly, by the beauty of all the precious diamonds! 

They were displayed on a dark black velvet cloth, which helped them stand out even more.

The jeweller knows that black is the perfect backdrop for these precious diamonds because it lets the diamonds shine through in all their glory.

In Paul’s letter to the Romans he spends the first few chapters doing something similar.

Rom 3:10b No one is righteous— not even one. 11 No one is truly wise; no one is seeking God. 12 All have turned away; all have become useless. No one does good, not a single one… 19b the entire world is guilty before God.

Just like the jeweller Paul sets the scene for his message by showcasing the dark backdrop of human sinfulness and unrighteousness. He then continues;

Rom 3:23 “For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.”

Every single human being has fallen short of God’s glorious and good standard. 

But, our sinfulness is the perfect backdrop for God’s righteousnesses to shine though!

Rom 3:24 Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins.

Against the dark backdrop of human sin God’s grace in Christ shines through like a marvellous diamond.

Praise be to our gracious God! He has freed us from sin and made us right in his sight!

JACOB MIERENDORFF