For Sunday 22nd February - 10am

This Sunday (22/2) our service will begin at 10am as we are joined by our brothers and sisters in Christ from Shepparton for worship, and then for our parish AGM and lunch.

It so happens that this is the Sunday of the Transfiguration of our Lord and so together we will be thinking about the journey we are on as disciples of Christ. In both the Old Testament and Gospel readings God's people are faced with change and separation, and like us all they try to hold on to avoid it. But God Himself provides strength and guidance to keep going.

I look forward to seeing you all.

God's peace,
Pastor Matt

For Sunday 15th February - 10.00am

Our thoughts during this past week have been dominated by the devastation and heart break caused by the bushfires throughout Victoria. As we gather together this Sunday to pray for those in need, we will be reflecting on God's presence with us in the midst of tragedy. It's timely that Psalm 30 was assigned for this Sunday and will form the basis of our meditation.

As we continue to offer the victims of this disaster the support of prayer, we also have the opportunity to support them with their physical needs. I'm certain many of you have already responded in various ways.

Our District President has advised that our district has set up a facility whereby financial donations will be made available to those parishes in the affected communities so they can reach out in mercy to their neighbours on behalf of the whole church. If you wish to give through this facility please go to www.lca.org.au and follow the links.

It has also been suggested locally that we as a parish might offer some tangible support in the form of non-perishable food, toiletries and the like to our near neighbours. On Sunday we will have the opportunity to bring these gifts along and they will collected (through to Tuesday at Shepp) and then delivered to the Salvos for distribution.

Our service will begin at 10am and be followed by our congregational AGM.

The Lord be with you,
Pastor Matt

For Sunday 8th February - 8.30am

I can't believe it's Friday already! My sincere apologies for not updating the blog until today. Perhaps I can blame it on too many hot days in a row????

This Sunday (8/2) service will begin in Echuca at 8.30am. Please remember the Southern 80 is on so if you're coming from across the river you may well need to give yourself an extra 10 minutes or so to get to church.

The readings are:

Isaiah 40:21-31
1 Corinthians 9:16-23
Mark 1:29-39

The Lord be with you!
Pastor Matt

For Sunday 1st February - 11am

This Sunday (1/2) Divine Service will begin at 11am.

Due to the very high temperature that is expected on Sunday, we've decided to cancel our planned congregational lunch. If you'd like to join a few of us we're planning to head over to the Moama Bowling Club for lunch together instead.

Here are the readings for your preparation:
DEUTERONOMY 18:15-22
1 CORINTHIANS 8-1-13
MARK 1:21-28

I'll be preaching on the reading from 1 Corinthians.

God's peace,
Pastor Matt

For Sunday 18th January - 11.00am

This coming Sunday (18/1) Divine Service will begin at 11.00am.

We will be hearing readings dealing with the calling of the Old Testament prophet Samuel as well as a reading about the calling of Jesus' disciple Philip. These readings serve to illustrate a Godly response to God's call on our lives. Together with Samuel we are to recognise that God seeks to speak His word to us, and like Philip, we are to see that God desires that we bring others to "come and see Jesus."

In the midst of our anxieties about being called by God, these readings provide encouragement and confidence. A young boy and a "country" lad called into service by the Lord merely point others to the One who changes hearts and creates faith. I guess you could say it's about knowing who your Friend is, and introducing Him to others.

See you Sunday.

God's peace,
Pastor Matt

For Sunday 11th January - 8.30am

The season of Epiphany continues this week as our focus turns to Jesus being revealed through his baptism in the waters of the Jordan. It's an unusual way for God to reveal Himself - but a blessed one for us sinners. Jesus reveals Himself as God and man and willingly takes on the guilt of our sin as identifies with us in this baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of [our] sins.

If He's guilty in our place, that means we can be declared righteous in His place! What a sweet swap!

Divine service begins at 8.30am.

God's peace,
Pastor Matt

For Sunday 4th January - 11.00am

This Sunday we will be celebrating the Epiphany of our Lord a couple of days early. The word 'epiphany' means 'manifestation' or 'showing plainly'. Epiphany is an extension of Christmas. Now Christ, who came to earth, is shown as Saviour to the whole world - to us and to all people, as originally to the wise men from the East.

We will be thinking about how Christ continues to reveal His glory to us, and through us, to the world.

Divine Service will begin at 11.00am and will be followed by a shared lunch.

God's peace,
Pastor Matt