For Sunday 2nd December - 11.00am

Happy New Year!

Well at least it will be on Sunday as we begin a new church year with the First Sunday of Advent. The word Advent simply means 'coming' and during this season in the church calendar we look forward to our Lord's coming as a human baby at Bethlehem and also to his final coming as king at the end of time. We also remember the way Jesus continually comes to us in His word and sacraments. Advent is therefore a time of waiting, preparing, and hoping. This involves both repentance and joyful anticipation.

This Sunday we will be reflecting on being prepared for the Lord's return. We will hear His call to "stay awake" as we wait for His coming again. We'll consider what it means to be prepared and awake as I preach on Matthew 24:36-44.

Despite popular opinion, this text is not about a 'rapturing' of all true Christians before the final judgement of the world. It is about ensuring we are ready to receive the gift of forgiveness at the final judgement through faith in Christ's atoning sacrifice.

Please have a read of the gospel before Sunday and when you come to verses 40 and 41 consider this more literal translation: 'At that time two men will be in the field, one will be taken away [to prison] and one will be forgiven. Two women will be grinding in the mill, one will be taken away [to prison] and one will be forgiven.'

Being prepared is not about proving our faithfulness and piety. It's about being ready to receive the forgiveness and life won for us on the cross.

Divine Service will begin at 11.00am

Service will be followed by a community lunch at the church - please bring something along to share.

God's peace until we meet on Sunday,
Pastor Matt

For Sunday the 25th November - 8.30am

This Sunday (25/11) we observe The Day of Fulfilment, the final Sunday in the Church year when we focus on God's 'fulfilment' of his judgment and salvation.

This provides a wonderful opportunity for us to reflect on all that Christ has fulfilled for us in His life, death and resurrection as spelled out so beautifully in the second reading: “He has rescued us from the power of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”

The gospel reading reminds us this redemption brings us the privilege and obligation to serve our new King by making use of our resources faithfully in His service, until He returns to judge the living and the dead.

First comes the gift of salvation through faith in Jesus, then comes the opportunity to live and serve as His holy people. When we get this order correct, we can wait fearlessly for Jesus’ return, confident that forgiveness, life and salvation are ours – even though we do not serve Him perfectly in this life.

The readings are:
Jeremiah 23:1-6 The Lord will raise up a righteous Branch
Colossians 1:11-20 The supremacy of Christ
Luke 19:11-27 The parable of the gold coins

Divine Service will begin at 8.30am.

Please remember that our children will be practicing for the Children’s Christmas service during the regular Sunday School time.

The Lord be with you,
Pastor Matt

For Sunday the 18th November - 11.00am

This coming Sunday (18th November) our readings focus on being prepared for the coming of the Lord Jesus. This area of Christian teaching is subject to all sorts of false teaching that fills people with dread and fear. To be sure a time of judgement is coming, but the Lord Himself offers hope and comfort through the prophet Malachi when He declares: “But for you who revere my name the sun of righteousness shall rise, with healing in its wings.”

Judgment has come and gone for those who are now in Christ. Our thoughts this week focus on our watching and waiting for the coming of the Lord as we trust in Him for forgiveness and life, and look forward to the perfect healing He will bring on the last day.

Divine Service will begin at 11.00am.

The Lord be with you,
Pastor Matt

For Sunday the 11th November - 8.30am

This coming Sunday (11th November) the Shepparton congregation will be privileged to witness God at work in the baptism of Liliana, daughter of James and Mary Jowy. Accordingly our parish will take the opportunity to think about what it means that God gives us new birth by water and the Spirit in Holy Baptism. With Nicodemus we will be asking, ‘How is it possible to be born again?’ As we contemplate these high and lofty things, we’ll be reminded of the Lord’s continued work of regeneration in our lives as we daily return to our baptism in repentance and faith to receive His gifts of forgiveness, life and salvation.

I’ll be preaching on John 3:1-8.

The other readings for the day are:
Job 19:23-27a I know that my Redeemer lives
2 Thessalonians 2:1-5,13-17 Stand firm, waiting for the coming of our Lord
Luke 20:27-38 The question about rising from death

I look forward to being together in the Lord’s presence after we kick up our heels at the congregation’s dinner dance on Saturday evening!

God’s peace,
Pastor Matt