Sunday 1st January 2012

Dear friends,

Service will begin at 11am this Sunday - 1st January. Please note that we will not be holding our usual first Sunday of the month lunch this time around.

We pray you have had a happy and blessed Christmas and look forward to seeing you on Sunday when we will give thanks for the year that has been, and begin the new year with God's blessing.

God's peace,
Pastor Matt

Christmas Services - 24th & 25th December

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us!

This Saturday evening and Sunday morning we join with Joseph and Mary, the angels and the Shepherds, and saints of all times and places as we rejoice in God's gift of a Saviour to the world. Born in lowly circumstances, without pomp and ceremony, God took on our flesh to bring forgiveness and life and salvation to all who look to Him in faith.

Please join us God continues to come to us in Word and bread and wine. Services details as follows:

Christmas Eve - Children's presentation 7pm.
Christmas Day - Hymnic Service with Holy Communion, 8.30am.

A blessed Christmas to you,
Pastor Matt

For Sunday 23rd October - 8.30am

This week we will begin worship at 8.30am. There's a strong emphasis in the readings this week around the call to be holy as God is holy and the link between holiness and loving God and neighbour. Lots to think about and much to do if we take our Lord seriously.

When questioned about the greatest commandment, Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’

Thankfully our holiness is not dependent on perfectly keeping these two great commandments. Rather it is a gift from the One who continues to love God the Father and neighbour perfectly on our behalf.

Here are the readings:

Leviticus 19:1,2,15-18 Be holy as the Lord is holy

1 Thessalonians 2:1-8 Paul does not speak to please people

Matthew 22:34-46 The great commandment

God's peace,

Pastor Matt

St Paul's Lutheran Choir

Here's a little taste of our service last Sunday - the choir welcomed President Greg and members of DCC with this beautiful Swahili song of welcome. After a wonderful time together in worship we then enjoyed an amazing African feast!

Please consider giving to this urgent need. I was in these camps last year and I can tell you that if the camps are a better option than staying at home, these dear people must have been through unimaginable hardships. www.alws.org.au

Service times for July

3rd July - Service with Holy Communion, 11am followed by lunch

Genesis 24:34-38,42-49,58-67 A wife for Isaac

Romans 7:15-25a The struggle of the sinner-saint

Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30 Jesus reveals the Father, and the weary find rest in him

10th July - Service with Holy Communion, 8.30am

Guest preacher - Pastor Graham Zweck

Isaiah 55:10-13 God's word will succeed

Romans 8:1-11 You are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit

Matthew 13:1-9,18-23 The parable of the sower

17th July - Service of the Word, 11am

Genesis 28:10-19a Jacob dreams of a ladder from heaven to earth

Romans 8:12-25 Our future glory is beyond compare

Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43 The parable of the weeds

24th July - Service with Holy Communion, 11am

Guest preacher - Pastor Graham Zweck

1 Kings 3:5-12 Solomon's prayer for wisdom

Romans 8:26-39 Nothing can separate us from the love of God

Matthew 13:31-33,44-52 Parables of the kingdom

Holy Week service times

Services times over holy week will be as follows:

Maundy Thursday: Service with Communion and stripping of the altar - 6pm

Good Friday: Living Stations of the Cross led by GM Lutheran Youth - 2pm

Easter Sunday: A celebration of the resurrection with Communion - 8.30am

Every blessing as you prepare to remember and celebrate what the Lord Jesus has done for you, Pastor Matt

For Sunday 10th MApril - 8.30am

This Sunday worship begins at 8.30am. We'll be hearing perhaps the most well known passage from the prophet Ezekiel - the valley of the dry bones - and thinking about God continues to breath life into our sin dead bodies through the forgiveness of our sins.

The other readings are included below for your preparation.

Ezekiel 37:1-14 Vision of the valley of dry bones
Romans 8:6-11 The Spirit of God lives in you
John 11:1-45 The raising of Lazarus- Jesus’ last sign

For those who are looking for a drive to Shepparton on Saturday night, don't forget our gathering at 7pm where I'll share images and stories from my time in Africa. We're using it as a fundraiser for the work of ALWS in Kakuma Refugee Camp and Sth Sudan.

God's peace,

Pastor Matt

For Sunday 27th March - 8.30am

This Sunday service begins at 8.30am.

Here are the readings for your preparation:
Exodus 17:1-7 The Israelites put God to the test.
Romans 5:1-11 While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
John 4:5-42 Jesus and the Samaritan woman.

Please remember youth begins this Friday night at 6.30pm in Shepparton and don't forget our Children's ministry workshop in Shepparton on Saturday 2nd April.

Blessings,
Pastor Matt

For Sunday 20th March - 11am

My sincere apologies for my lack of attention to this blog for the last couple of months. Since arriving back from Africa it seems life has got a lot more hectic. That said, I hope to be back here each week to keep you all up to date.

This Sunday, the Second Sunday in Lent, will see worship begin at 11am. We're looking forward to worshiping with our brothers and sisters from Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Benalla, and then to enjoying lunch together after service

The readings for Sunday are:
Genesis 12:1-4a The call of Abraham
Romans 4:1-5,13-17 Abraham, our father, justified by faith
John 3:1-17 God so loved the world that he gave his only Son

Other congregational activities for the week include:

Bible Study - A Longer Look at the Lessons - Wednesday 7.30pm

Advance notice that Youth will begin for the year on Friday 25th March at St Paul's in Shepparton.

Blessings,
Pastor Matt