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

God’s Love in Action

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One night a little girl was woken by a storm. “Mummy, Mummy” she cried out. The rain beating against the window frightened her, the lightning and thunder terrified her. “Mummy, where are you?”
Her mother hurried into the room. She sat in the side of the bed and held her daughter tightly to comfort her, “Honey, when you are frightened like this you know that God is with you and loves you.”
“Yes Mummy, I know that” she sobbed. “But I need love with skin on.”

Jesus said, ‘A new commandment I give to you: that you love one another as I have loved you’.
We all need ‘love with skin on’ from time to time and so we need to be ‘love with skin on’ for one another.

Sometimes, pastoral care is seen as an optional extra, however, caring for one another is fundamental to our lives as Christians.
We all have different personalities, abilities and gifts, and therefore, we show our love in diverse ways.
However, at its foundation pastoral care involves caring for God’s people and walking alongside them in their Christian formation.

Pastoral care is gospel shaped, Bible nourished and prayer dependent. It is God’s love in action.

At Jamberoo Anglican, we work toward providing a ministry of support, hope and caring for one another’s – Spiritual, Emotional, Relational and Physical Wellbeing.

Our growth groups are a natural place to provide care for one another. They are the place where we develop relationships and support one another.

If you are not part of a growth group, then I would encourage you to join one of our existing groups.

Given that not everyone can be a part of a growth group, let’s each consider how we can show God’s love and care to someone different this week.

The Victory Parade

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The Paris Olympics have been the most successful ever for Australia, and when the competitors return, we can expect a grand parade of medal-wearing winners.

Throughout history there have been other victory parades, but it was not uncommon for the spoils of success to be the captives taken prisoner through a successful military campaign.

Which is what makes Ephesians chapter four so remarkable, when it says of Jesus in verse eight, “When he ascended to the heights, he led a crowd of captives and gave gifts to his people.”

In this quote from Psalm 68, it’s speaking of the captives who are paraded before the people and are given as the spoils of war.

Yet, the greatest surprise is seeing in the coming verses just what, or in fact, who are these captives.

It turns out that they are the leaders who speak the word of God, as we see in the list in verse 11.

The valuable gifts that Jesus gives to his church are actually the speakers of the word of God, namely the apostles, prophets, evangelists and pastor-teachers. 

For, as they speak the word of God, Christ builds his church, which brings unity and maturity to all who know and love Jesus.

When the Olympians return, they will be parading their gold, silver and bronze medals, as a demonstration of their victory over the athletes of the other nations.

But when Jesus rose from the dead, his victory led to him giving his word to his people, through hearing the voices of his preachers.

This is how Jesus brings us blessing: through hearing his word, which builds his church to maturity and unity.

There’s something better than Olympic medals, for the faith that comes from hearing the word of God is of greater worth than gold.

JODIE McNEILL

Celebrating Creation

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Every four years the people of our planet gather together to celebrate God’s remarkable creation, as the Olympics showcase how people are able to go faster, higher, and stronger than before.

However, as they do so, they usually celebrate humanity, rather than God.

In what could easily be an opportunity to praise the remarkable creation of God, instead his creatures worship themselves as they pursue an atheistic celebration of the breaking of the records that once confined and defined humankind.

It’s a fine line between idolatry and doxology—between worshipping humanity and giving glory to the God who made us—and at each Olympics the gap seems to grow wider.

This year the opening ceremony created controversy with the appropriation of Da Vinci’s ‘The Last Supper’ by a drag queen DJ in the place of Christ.

Yet, the most offensive aspect of the Games must be the lack of worship of the one who fearfully and wonderfully made the men and women who perform and compete at the myriad of events.

As we witness the extraordinary feats of the athletes, our appropriate response should  be to glorify the God who made us and who has given the remarkable gifts that enable the athletic feats splashed across screens throughout the world.

When we glorify humanity we show a contempt for the creator who made every human in his image, and who created us to glorify him as our loving Lord and Saviour.

The distortion of ‘The Last Supper’ seemed to target those who revere Jesus, and yet it is the natural ignorance of God’s hand in creating everything we see that is the most offensive act that happens almost every medal ceremony.

As we marvel at creation, let us glorify the creator, who is worthy of all our praise.

JODIE McNEILL

Meet Jesus

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It’s always an exciting experience to meet someone who is really famous, whether they’re a politician, a performer, or another public figure.

But there’s one man who is more important than any other person… and he’s ready and waiting to meet you.

That person is Jesus: the most famous person in history, and the one who is able to change your life in a way that nobody else can.

We meet Jesus by listening to his voice, which we hear as we encounter him in the words of the Bible, whether it’s read or heard.

When we’re willing to listen to what he says, and then to obey his words, we meet Jesus by his Holy Spirit, and can come to truly know him as our loving ruler.

The reason it’s so good for us to meet Jesus is that when we follow him, he promises to bring us forgiveness from the punishment we deserve for rebelling against God, and he brings us the hope of eternity as we experience true, deep friendship with our creator.

Over the next six weeks we’re going to be carefully studying these six special events in Jesus’ life, as recorded in the New Testament book of John:

  • Meet Jesus with the World (John 1:1-18)
  • Meet Jesus with the Religious (John 3:1-21)
  • Meet Jesus with the Outsider (John 4:4-42)
  • Meet Jesus with the Grieving (John 11:1-45)
  • Meet Jesus with the Powerful (John 18:28-19:22)
  • Meet Jesus with the Sceptics (John 20:1-31)

Each week at our 9am and 4pm Sunday church services, there will be a Bible talk that will help everyone meet Jesus.

If you’ve already met Jesus, then these six weeks will bring you closer to him, as you see more of who he is and how his life has changed your life.

If you’ve not yet met Jesus, then over the next six weeks you’ll be brought face-to-face with the man who created the universe and whose life offers the only, true way to find hope and forgiveness through his love and sacrifice, for you.

JODIE McNEILL

Looking back and forward

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On the 20th of January this year, I let the world of Instagram know that I was moving on to a new adventure. 

I felt that this song from Rend Collective captured my feelings perfectly:

“You are the adventure of a lifetime, Jesus.
you take my heart and make it wild
you are the thrill my soul is seeking, Jesus
your grace has no horizon line
I’ll go anywhere, anywhere at all
As long as I’m with you, Jesus”

Church family, can you believe that I’ve been on this new adventure with you all for six months?

As I look back, I remember that I had goals I was keen to set. I was so excited (and a little nervous) to meet and know you all!

Yet, my start with you all was one of real hardship with the passing of my Dad. Looking back I can see how in such a dark time I already had you around me as my new family, even though we didn’t know each other well. 

Your care, kindness, prayers, and messages meant the absolute world to me, given that many times I couldn’t return to Sydney.

Looking back I’m so thankful to God that this is where he has placed me with you all as I get to live out my dream job alongside you every day!

I’m so excited for what the next six months and beyond will bring!

I look forward to seeing God’s will be done in the kids’ programs and in the households of our churches as we partner in making disciples of the next generation.

I’m looking forward to finding a way to keep bridging the gap to Sunday church from our Friday afternoon Spark kids’ club, where we have a few non-church kids attending.

I’m looking forward to praying a big prayer that we might have five, non-Christian families attend our kids programs! Will you join me in this prayer?

RACH BEMMER

Searching the Scriptures

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Recently at Youth Group, we looked at Acts chapter 17:1-15, as part of our series on Paul’s missionary journey in the book of Acts.

In Acts 17, there are two, very different responses to the gospel.

When Paul preaches in Thessalonica, he gets run out of town by an angry mob, but when he then moves onto a town called Berea, he gets a much more positive reception towards the good news of Jesus.

Acts 17:11b says, “they searched the Scriptures day after day to see if Paul and Silas were teaching the truth,” and as a result, they put their trust in Jesus.

As the Youth Minister of this church, it is a privilege to witness our young people exhibit the same attitude towards the gospel as the Bereans.

Each Friday night, we meet to hang out, play games and build relationships, but most importantly, we search the Scriptures week after week to find the truth that God has revealed in his word to us.

In this passage we were particularly challenged by the fact that the Bereans searched the Scriptures day after day, coming back to Scripture time and time again, soaking in it, reflecting on it.

Do you search the Scriptures day after day?

We have access to the Bible like never before, both hardcopy and online, yet how often do we fill our time with other things than reading God’s word?

The young people of our church have an enthusiasm for the gospel: day after day, week after week, time after time, they encourage those of us who are older to be as excited as they are to read God’s word.

This week, why not ask a young person at church what they’ve read in the Bible recently?

Hopefully that will encourage both you and them to follow the example of the Bereans, searching the Scriptures for truth day after day.

BRAD VIDILINI

We Love Kids’ Ministry!

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As our teachers take a break after a big Term Two, we’ve asked two of our kids’ church leaders to reflect on their ministry and share with us about how we can encourage and support them as they serve our children and our families.

One leader is Elise Baker, who serves as a leader in our morning kids’ program, as well as leading youth and also teaching Scripture at Jamberoo Public School.

She loves doing ministry because she believes that helping build a biblical and Christ-centred foundation for children is important: “Whether it’s through song, a Bible story, prayer, craft or activities, I find it super rewarding to see the children’s growth and curiosity as they continue learning from the Bible.”

For this term, a personal highlight has been going through the Old Testament in the Jesus Storybook Bible, “for I love how each story connects so clearly to Jesus.”

Liz Vidilini is another morning church leader, and she says that she loves leading in this way, “because it brings me joy to see little children understand how much Jesus loves them, and it reminds me that following Jesus is a childlike faith and he welcomes us with open arms.”

As she reflects on the ministry, she wants us to know that leading in this way, “is not scary or hard,” and that even if teaching kids isn’t a person’s normal skill set, that “it’s just about sharing Jesus with the children.”

She’d love more people to volunteer to spend time intentionally sharing Jesus with the great kids at our church, because she believes that, “intergenerational ministry is so valuable.”

Elise would love us to pray that God will continue to give the leaders, “wisdom, joy, and creativity as we prepare and lead,” and she ask that for the kids, they might, “remain curious and open-hearted, and that they grow in their understanding and relationship with Jesus.”

Finally, they’d love us to pray for all the families, that each parent or carer would disciple their children’s growth at home.

Praise God for our kids’ ministry!

RACHEL BEMMER

Messiah of the Middle East

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It’s hard to imagine somewhere in the world with greater conflict than the Middle East, where Islam, Judaism and Christianity all compete and clash with each other as they search for their roots in this distant, dusty land.

It is true that these three ‘Abrahamic faiths’ have a common ancestor, and for that reason, they bear many similarities to each other in their origins.

Yet, when Jesus was born, God showed himself in the clearest way ever, as the Word became flesh and lived among us, showing us the true glory of God.

Jesus showed that whilst sacrifice was essential in repairing our relationship with God, it was ultimately through the sacrifice of himself that we could have our broken status with God restored, and gain the only hope of dealing with the problem of our sin.

Yet, this idea of undeserved grace continues to be a sticking point between these three faiths, for only Christianity has all the heavy lifting done by God, not us, which grants us a confidence that we cannot have if we rely on our performance.

This is one of the many ways in which these three faiths differ, but ultimately we see how the love of Jesus shapes and impacts the everyday life of his believers, as we see the way that men and women are equally loved and valued by Jesus, who sets himself as the model for the love we are to show each other.

This is why we need to pray for the Christians in the Middle East, that they will be able to explain the heart of the love of Jesus, and how his death and resurrection changes everything for everyone who believes in him.

The one who was born in the Middle East is the one who came to change the world.

JODIE McNEILL

Generating Power

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There’s been a lot of talk recently about generating power, with one side of politics promoting off-shore, wind-generated power, and the other side promoting nuclear power.

But as the politicians try to reduce emissions and bills, it’s worth noting that the Bible speaks about power, and often in the most unexpected places.

In his letter to the Ephesians, the Apostle Paul prays for his readers in an intimate and glorious prayer, where he asks God to give them what is most needed.

Somewhat unexpectedly, he prays about power.

Firstly, he prays that the Ephesian Christians would be strengthened with power through the Holy Spirit so that Christ would truly live within them (Ephesians 3:16-17.)

In other words, he prays that God would give them the power to truly be united with Christ in every way—something that needs divine power to really happen.

Secondly, he prays that they would have the power, “to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ” (3:18.)

The only way that they’ll really get their head around the amazing love of Jesus is if God gives them the spiritual power they need to comprehend it.

Thirdly, as he prays for God’s glory, he recognises that with God’s power in us, he is able, “to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine” (3:20.)

By the power of his Holy Spirit, God is able to do the greatest thing of all: lead us to truly know the love of Jesus.

This is the greatest thing that anyone can experience, and it’s only by the power of God that this remarkable truth can truly break through our thick minds and hard hearts.

That’s the power we need the most!

JODIE McNEILL

Building The Future

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The Anglican Church globally is at a crossroads. The church needs renewal and reformation, and we need to move beyond division and confusion. What should the future look like?

The Bible needs to be at the heart of every Anglican church. That’s why nine parishioners of our church are joining with almost 400 other like-minded Anglicans (including 60 children and youth) from across Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific who understand the need to hold firm to the Bible as the heart of our faith.

In Sydney Diocese we are encouraged and supported to have the Bible at the centre of our church life and ministry, but there are many Anglicans around this global region who live and serve in places where the pressure to compromise is high, fellowship is hard to find, and speaking the truth is costly.

Under God, the Anglican Church has a bright future: God is doing great things among us!!

It’s time to pave the way for a new generation of leaders who are confident, passionate, and unwavering in their belief that God’s word is good, clear, and powerful.

This is why Gafcon has created a conference for all ages and stages, where children and youth can gather in specially-designed, intergenerational services, as well as participate in a unique, ‘Future Leaders’ program — and for all under-18’s, the registration is free!

Please pray for this conference, that it will be a source of encouragement and growth for all our church staff and members who are attending, and that we will, in turn, encourage those who live and minister in dioceses where it’s hard to keep the Bible at the heart of the church.

What a joy it is for our church members to serve through participating in the leadership of this conference! To God be the glory!

JODIE McNEILL