Sunday 30th September - 8.30am

Service this Sunday will begin at 8.30am.

Here are the readings (and my apologies for a very short post!) 
 

Numbers 11:4-6,10-16,24-29 Moses chooses 70 leaders

James 5:13-20 Prayer offered in faith

Mark 9:38-50 Acting in Jesus' name; temptations to sin

If you're available on Friday you have two options for worship. The first is in Moama as Pastor Graham leads the nursing home service at Southern Cross. Please call him if you are after details.

The second opportunity is at 11am in Shepparton when I will be leading the annual National Police Remembrance Day service in my role as Police Chaplain. The service will be held at St Bredan's in Knight Street and will be followed by morning tea. All are welcome to come and support our local police members on this important day.

God's peace,

Pastor Matt

Sunday 23rd September - 8.30am

This Sunday worship will begin at 8.30am.

The gospel reading from Mark 9 records Jesus' second passion prediction in Mark's gospel and as usual, it is accompanied by teaching on discipleship. It's that uncomfortable passage that declares "Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all."

To emphasise his point, Jesus takes a little child and embraces him and declares the mystery that whoever welcomes a little one such as this, welcomes the Father and the Son.

How much trouble would we be in if our salvation depended on our ability to perfectly welcome and love and serve? Thanks be to God that our Lord Jesus - the first born Son of God - humbled Himself and became the very last to serve us and embrace us with his forgiving love poured out on the cross!

God's peace,

Pastor Matt

Sunday 2nd September - 11am

Service this week begins at 11am

I'm preaching on James 1:17-27 where we are called to be doers of the word - not falling into the trap of listening but not hearing. I like the way James uses the image of looking into a mirror and almost immediately forgetting what we look like to describe what it's like to listen to God's word, but not really hear it.

How often don't we Christians do that? Having glimpsed not only our sinful self in the mirror of God's word, we catch sight of our reflection in the Living Word as the forgiven, much loved and holy children of God and then we immediately forget and live as though we were no different than the godless souls who have no hope. In the vein of that old adage - actions speak louder than words - we are encouraged to shut up and simply be the people of God!

Have a read of the passage before coming along this week - there's so much packed into these few verses and I'm only going to be able to touch on a little of it - so being well prepared will help you to get so much more out of it.


By the way, Happy Father's Day to all the Dads out there! May you be blessed in this holy calling by God our Father, through the Lord Jesus Christ.


I'm looking forward to being together in the Lord's presence.
Pastor Matt

Sunday 26th August - 8.30am

This Sunday service begins at 8.30am.

I'm going to preaching on that well known text from Ephesians 6 which speaks about the important topic of spiritual warfare. Contrary to popular thoughts on this topic, spiritual warfare is not about chasing down demons or demonstrating our abilities in overcoming Satan. The fact is Satan has been defeated by our Lord Jesus and we are now involved in a 'mop up excercise'. But far from going looking for the battle, St Paul encourages us to simply stand guard, clothed in the gifts of our baptism, engaging in spiritual battle through our prayers for those we are called to love and serve.

Our only offensive weapon is the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God. And this weapon is wielded most powerfully when it guides our praying and strengthens our confidences in Jesus' vicotry over sin and death and even the Devil himself.

If you would like to hear some excellent comments on spiritual warfare, I can recommend nothing more highly than the lectures of Dr John Kleinig which are available at JWK spiritual warfare 1 and JWK spiritual warfare 2

The readings for your preparation are:

Joshua 24:1,2a,14-18 Joshua affirms: We will serve the Lord

Ephesians 6:10-20 Put on God's armour

John 6:56-69 Jesus has the words of eternal life

God's peace,

Pastor Matt

Sunday 19th August - 11am

This Sunday - 19th August - service will begin at 11am.

We continue with our contemplation of the 6th chapter of John's gospel and hear Jesus' mysterious and yet wonderful invitation to eat His flesh and drink His blood and receive eternal life!

READINGS:

Proverbs 9:1-6 The invitation of Wisdom

Ephesians 5:15-20 Live as wise Spirit-filled people

John 6:51-58 Jesus' flesh and blood gives life

God's peace,

Pastor  Matt

Sunday 12th August - 8.30am

My apologies for yet another 11th hour post!

Service with Holy Communion will begin at 8.30am tomorrow and will be followed by a parish meeting to discuss the future parish manse. There'll be a cuppa after the meeting.

God bless,
Pastor Matt

Sunday 5th August - 11am

Sorry for the late notice but as per our regular schedule, service will be at 11am this week with lunch to follow.

Hope to see you there.

God's peace
Pastor Matt