For Sunday 25th May - 8.30am

A number of years ago a singer by the name of Bobby McFerrin sang the song, 'Don't worry, be happy.' This catchy tune suggested that stress and worry, even when it was well founded, could be driven away if you just made a decision to be happy. If only it was that easy!

In Matthew 6:24-34 Jesus also calls us not to worry about our life, what we will eat or drink or what we will wear. Instead of insisting that we merely 'turn that frown upside down,' Jesus encourages us to get our priorities right and to recognise God's wonderful provision.

But more than that Jesus identifies that our obsessive worrying about things of this world reveals that we are seeking the wrong things. The answer to our worries is not to force happiness, but to seek first His kingdom and righteousness, and then everything else falls into place.

Divine Service begins at 8.30am.

God's peace,
Pastor Matt

For Sunday the 18th May - 11.00am

This Sunday we celebrate Trinity Sunday where we focus on what it means that God comes to us as three persons in one God - Father, Son and Holy Spirit. This mystery that seems to contradict our reason, is very much a part of our existence as God's people. After all our life of faith begins with our baptism in the name of the Holy Trinity. And so we will especially be thinking about the significance of having the name of Father, Son and Holy Spirit applied to us in baptism as we meditate on Matthew 28:16-20.

Service will begin at 11.00am.

God's peace,
Pastor Matt

For Sunday 11th May 8.30am

As the photos show, our Kids' Club in Shepparton has been thinking Pentecost and our celebration this Sunday of the gift of the Holy Spirit.

As we think about the gift of the Holy Spirit we will be hearing about the specific work He was sent to do. All three of our readings this week focus on the way in which the Spirit enables God's people to speak the Word of God which points us to Christ and the salvation offered in His name. This is beautifully proclaimed in the Gospel reading where Jesus' gift of the Holy Spirit to the apostles is linked to their calling to forgive sins in His name.

Service will begin at 8.30am

God's peace,

Pastor Matt

For Sunday 5th May 11.00am

Thursday 1st of May is the Festival of the Ascension of our Lord this year. As we are not having a service on Thursday, we will be including our commemoration of the Ascension in our Sunday service (5th May). In particular we will thinking about what it means for each of us that our Lord took our human nature into the heavenly sanctuary when He ascended.

Service is at 11.00am and will be followed by a shared lunch at Ivan and Janice's.

The Lord be with you,

Pastor Matt

For Sunday the 27th of April - 8.30am

Divine Service this week will begin at 8.30am.

The readings are as follows:
Acts 17:22-31 Paul in Athens
1 Peter 3:13-22 Suffering for doing right
John 14:15-21 The promise of the Holy Spirit

God's peace,
Pastor Matt

NB Don't forget our parish ride day on Saturday (weather permitting). We'll leave from St Paul's Shepparton at 10am. Please arrive fuelled up and ready to go.

For Sunday 20th April - 8.30am

This Sunday (20th April), Divine Service will begin at 8.30am and will be led by Pastor Graham Zweck.

The readings for the day are:
Acts 7:55-60 The death of Stephen
1 Peter 2:2-10 God's chosen people, a royal priesthood
John 14:1-14 Jesus the way to the Father

A reminder that our parish ride day will take place on Saturday April 26th so dust off the leathers and make sure there's plenty of rubber for a quick fling around the hills! More details to follow.

God's peace be with you,
Pastor Matt

For Sunday 13th April - 8.30am

This week we celebrate Good Shepherd Sunday (13th April) with Divine Service beginning at 8.30am.

For your preparation, the readings are as follows:
Acts 2:42-47 Life and worship in the apostolic church
1 Peter 2:19-25 The shepherd and bishop of our souls
John 10:1-10 Jesus, the gate for the sheep

The psalm for the day is of course, Psalm 23.

God's peace,

Pastor Matt