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

True Fellowship

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We often use the word ‘fellowship’ to describe the experience of being with other Christians.

So, we’ll talk about enjoying “a time of fellowship” after church, when we gather to have a meal or a cuppa together.

But did you know that the word in the original language is actually based on the idea of commonness?

So, you have ‘fellowship’ with a person when you are involved with others in a common interest or pursuit.

That’s why the ‘fellowship’ that the Apostle Paul refers to in Philippians 1:5 is often translated “partnership”, and it describes what is happening when one church works with another church in a common mission.

It’s also the word that is translated “contribution” or “offering”, as we read in Romans 15:25 and 2 Corinthians 9:13, where it refers to the financial gifts that people have made towards the common mission they share.

Over this week we’ve been blessed to hear reports of our ‘fellowship’ with our friend from overseas who has shared with us about her opportunities to bring the message of Jesus to people who don’t know him.

As she’s shared the highs and lows of this special ministry, it has given us inspiration to pray and give, as she’s helped us understand how we are working in common with her.

This is true fellowship: when we pray, give, and even go ourselves to places local and global with the gospel of Jesus.

Our church is passionate about being missional, and that’s why it’s so good to invest our time, money, prayers and passion to see others know the great salvation that comes in Jesus Christ alone.

As we partner with those in mission, we experience the richest friendship of all… as we are united with Christ!

JODIE McNEILL

(Photo credit: Keith Parker via Flickr.com)

Our Return Journey

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As we begin our return journey to face-to-face church, there will be many different thoughts and feelings amongst us.

Whilst we would love for every health restriction to be relaxed at once, we know there are many reasons why we cannot all come together in-person this weekend.

For some of us it will be because we’re initially hesitant to bring our family into a building with others for a length of time.

For some of us it will be because of our medical choices or where we live on the map.

For others of us it will be because we’ve developed flu-like symptoms, we’ve visited a venue of concern, or we’ve had close contact with someone who is infected.

That’s why this weekend is only the beginning of our return journey, together.

After all, it is unlikely that every one of us will be able to gather together for many months, due to the uncertain health situation ahead.

So, whilst we could have chosen to delay opening until everyone could be together, we instead decided to follow the latest health guidelines by safely opening our buildings when allowed.

After all, it is our natural preference to have our doors open to whoever is willing and able to attend, especially those for whom the online experience has been difficult.

Yet, this also means that our livestream will continue to be vitally important in the coming months ahead, as it enables us to keep gathering together around God’s word, whether we’re sitting in a pew or watching on a screen.

So, as we travel this journey together, let us continue to love one another, as we read in 1 Peter:  “Finally, all of you should be of one mind. Sympathise with each other. Love each other as brothers and sisters. Be tenderhearted, and keep a humble attitude.” (1 Peter 3:8)

JODIE McNEILL

Roadmap to Returning

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It is with great anticipation that we now begin to return to in-person church, knowing that as we’ve been physically apart, we’ve remained united by the Holy Spirit, as we’ve gathered online around the glorious word of God.

From next weekend, Saturday 16th October, we’ll be able to include some people face-to-face, whilst we continue to provide the best-possible livestream for everyone.

For the next two weeks the public health orders advise that we may only accommodate in-person participants who live in Regional NSW (which excludes Shellharbour and Greater Sydney), who are not required to ‘stay at home’ (due to contact with confirmed cases or venues), who are not showing any flu-like symptoms, and who are fully vaccinated (noting that unvaccinated children under 16 can attend if accompanied by a fully-vaccinated adult from their household.)

Everyone must wear a face mask (unless under 12 or exempted) and refrain from congregational singing, and we can seat 34 people (plus workers) in the church and 45 people in the hall to watch the livestream in-person.

Both services will offer a separate children’s program (with plenty of time outside) which will commence approximately half-an-hour into the service, but our youth Bible studies will remain online only until Friday 29th October.

We will be joining for dinner on Saturday and morning tea on Sunday, and will initially eat outdoors on our church lawn to increase ventilation.

Two weeks later, on Saturday 30th October, people can attend regardless of where they live or their vaccination status, unless they are unwell or required to stay at home.

Four weeks after that, on Saturday 4th December, we can double the number of people in our buildings, remove our masks (when you’re ready), and start to sing together.

So, whether you’re online or in-person, we are so thankful that we continue to be together as we travel the roadmap to returning to ‘normal’ church.

JODIE McNEILL

(Photo credit: Simon Berger via Flickr)

Waiting for the day

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I vividly remember sitting my final HSC exam, knowing that in just two hours, my thirteen years of school would come to an end.

When the final “pens down” command was announced, one of my classmates, wearing a party hat he’d smuggled into the exam room, loudly let off a champagne popper to celebrate.

Right now, we’re also looking forward to a ‘hooray’ moment, when NSW will hit the vaccination targets and when the restrictions will be released.

Soon we’ll all be together, like we were before the pandemic, and it will be a moment to cherish.

Yet this event is nothing compared to the significance of the long-awaited arrival of the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who came in the first century.

For hundreds of years, God’s people had waited patiently for the time when this man would arrive, and then, finally, the moment came!

John the Baptist’s father, Zechariah, captured his joy in the words of this song:

Praise the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has visited and redeemed his people. He has sent us a mighty Saviour from the royal line of his servant David, just as he promised through his holy prophets long ago. Now we will be saved from our enemies and from all who hate us. (Luke 1:68-71)

They waited centuries for that moment, and the impact was unmatched by anything in history.

Now as we live as people of the risen Lord, we await the day when Jesus will come again to judge the living and the dead and to bring about the new creation.

Yet, his patience means the salvation of those who still have not turned to Jesus to enjoy his forgiveness and friendship.

So, as we’re waiting for Jesus, let’s share the good news with all who will hear, and let us patiently wait for the greatest moment in the future of our world.

JODIE McNEILL

(Photo credit: Sue Thompson via Flickr)

Soon And Very Soon

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When I was a youth at church I used to love singing this song, ‘Soon and Very Soon’:

Soon and very soon, we are going to see the king.
No more dying there, we are going to see the king.
No more crying there, we are going to see the king.
Hallelujah, hallelujah, we’re going to see the king.

It was such a simple, positive, uplifting ‘chorus’ that helped us set our focus on what mattered most in life, and what we all look forward to.

There’s a lot of talk right now about the difficulties our church and community faces in the coming weeks and months, especially in terms of what things will be like as doors start to open in different ways.

Yet, what must unite us above all is a focus on the return of the king, when Jesus comes to bring us safely home, where we will experience, together, the new creation.

And not only should we focus our own gaze on the return of Christ, we should keep this in mind as we continue to pray for and engage with the people in our society.

In these last days, we are closer and closer to the time when Jesus will return to judge the living and the dead… and the groaning of creation reminds us that it’s soon and very soon.

There’s no better time to turn our conversation and prayers to proclaiming Christ faithfully to our village, valley and beyond.

We’re still locked into our homes for a bit longer, but since so many people can now use web browsers, it’s possible for our little church in Jamberoo to be broadcast into homes across our region and even our planet.

Soon and very soon we are going to see the king… so who are you going to ‘share’ our livestream with, so that they can become friends with Jesus before they meet him as their judge?

JODIE McNEILL 

(CREDIT: Dennis Yang via Flickr)

Jesus Brings Protection

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When we first were locked down in March 2020, it seemed right for our church to spend some time in sermons that looked at the comforting word of God in the book of Revelation.

Now in the current era in the Covid-19 pandemic, there are new fears amongst us, as we consider what life will be like when restrictions begin to be released within our community, and what it will mean for life together.

Yet, the message for our church today is the same message that Jesus gave to his seven churches in the first century, as is written in Revelation chapters two and three.

To one of those churches, in Philadelphia, Jesus said, “you have little strength, yet you obeyed my word and did not deny me.” (Revelation 3:8)

And because of their great perseverance at that time, Jesus said, “I will protect you from the great time of testing that will come upon the whole world to test those who belong to this world.” (3:10)

Jesus told them that he would be with them and all Christians during that time of great testing in the first century, and his message to them was simple and powerful: “I am coming soon” (3:11).

The church in Philadelphia endured that great time of tribulation experienced by Christians in the first century, and they did so knowing that Jesus would sustain them as they confidently awaited his return.

The difficulties that we face today are different to theirs, for our hardship is shared with all citizens of NSW, not just Christians, and our enemy is a virus, not a political tyrant.

Yet, as people who know the Lord Jesus and who take comfort in his love, we can endure these hardships as we eagerly await his return on the final day when all who trust him will enjoy the new creation with him.

JODIE McNEILL

(Image credit: Dave Shea via Flickr)

Don’t Waste The Lockdown

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As our Premier unveils the roadmap to freedom from lockdown, we now live in hope that it won’t be long before we can gather again in-person for church and other aspects of life.

As we race towards 70% and 80% double-vaccination targets, it’s tempting to wish away these troubling times, treating these days as if we are just waiting in a supermarket checkout queue.

Yet, as hard as they can be, the Lord has given us special opportunities during lockdown to grow in our own dependence on God, and to also make the most of sharing our hope with those around us who are living in fear and uncertainty.

Thanks to the wonder of modern technology we can now invite people to join us for church, without them even needing to leave home!

By sharing the Facebook Live event with your friends, and deliberately inviting them to watch it with you in real time, it lets them dip their toe into our church life, and to also have an opportunity to see and hear the preached word for themselves.

This is only one of the many ways in which we can bring outsiders inside, even though it’s not quite the same as being there, together, in-person.

But other benefits exist for us, like the special opportunity to use our unusual schedules and lack of travel to come together for Morning Prayer to read the Bible and pray with others of all ages and stages at zoom.jamberooanglican.com each morning at 7:30am.

Yet, the greatest gift of this time is a fresh reminder to every person that they are not in control, and that if we fail to depend on our creator God, then we will face an eternity without redemption or purpose.

Covid-19 is a wake-up call, and, we pray, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to shake up the world so that all would stop and consider eternity.

Let’s not wish this time away… let’s pray that Covid would lead many people to Christ!

JODIE McNEILL

(CREDIT: Filip Patock via Flickr.com)

Gentle and Lowly

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It’s always a courageous move to review a book that you haven’t yet finished, but with that caveat, I’d love to encourage you to read with me the latest book of the month, ‘Gentle and Lowly’, by Dane Ortlund.

I’ve been reading a chapter most mornings before I get out of bed, and I’ve been thankful for the insights I’ve been given into the heart of Jesus.

Yet, this book is not merely a textbook on theology, as valuable as that is: it’s a book that seeks to show from the Scriptures what has been revealed about Jesus’ emotions and attitudes to us, and how he acts upon them for us.

The introduction puts it this way: “This is a book about the heart of Christ. Who is he? Who is he really?”

The reason the author asks this question for us is deeply practical, for he says that:

“this book is written for the discouraged, the frustrated, the weary, the disenchanted, the cynical, the empty. […] It is written, in other words, for normal Christians… for sinners and sufferers. How does Jesus feel about them?”

Page 15

Then, chapter by chapter, the author takes a bit of the Bible or a particular aspect of teaching about Jesus, and then looks at what this says about the heart of Jesus.

The reason Ortlund takes us on this journey is that he wants us to be aware of not only Jesus’ atoning work for our sinfulness, “but also of his longing heart amid your sinfulness.”

It is a deeply pastoral book for us as we stop and think about who Jesus really is, and what he thinks of us, and how he’s acted for us and continues to show his wonderful love for us.

So, grab a copy, and maybe read a chapter a day, and come with us on this journey to better know the true heart of our Saviour, Jesus Christ.

JODIE McNEILL

PS – grab a copy by visiting our friends at The Wandering Bookseller

Forgive and forget?

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The terrorist attack in Afghanistan at Kabul Airport were a brazen show of aggression by ISIS that has claimed many lives, including at least 12 soldiers from the United States.

After the attack, President Biden said, “To those who carried out this attack, as well as anyone who wishes America harm, know this: we will not forgive. We will not forget. We will hunt you down and make you pay.”

Contrast this with the words of Jesus, who said, “love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you!” (Matthew 5:44), and “If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.” (Matthew 6:14-15)

This is what makes the Sermon on the Mount so counter-cultural, so radically different to the ways of the world.

There is no doubt that the actions of those associated with the Taliban are evil, and that it is right to use force to defend those under attack and abuse.

Yet, if we are to follow the lead of the ultimate king of kings, the one who rules over presidents, then we should be praying that members of the Taliban repent of their sins and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Then, the great miracle is that Jesus will forgive them for whatever atrocities they may have performed, and will love them and adopt them into his family.

It’s not that this forgiveness is without cost: Jesus gave his very life so that enemies like you, me, and repentant members of the Taliban, might be saved from the anger that God rightly had for us.

As we are broken-hearted at the hideous actions of the Taliban, let us pray that the Holy Spirit might lead them to come to Jesus and ask for forgiveness… which we know he will graciously give.

JODIE McNEILL

(Photo credit: Matt Johnson via Flickr)