16th July 2017 AD

MINISTRY MORSEL The Christian is “at the same time justified and a sinner”…God in his grace and mercy has declared the Christian to be righteous due to the atoning work of Jesus Christ. And what God declares something to be, truly is. And yet at the same time, sin is still at work in our flesh. Though declared righteous in Christ, we will not be completely free from sin this side of heaven. We are at the same time righteous and a sinner. But how does this express itself in the life of the believer? Is it a 50/50 split? No. Picture for a moment a person’s life as being like a see-saw in a children’s playground, where one end is righteousness and the other wickedness. Very few people have ever been completely evil, and only one person has ever been perfectly righteous. The norm is that our lives tend to go up and down, see-sawing between the two. The problem for the non-Christian person who still takes after the first Adam is that there is a badly overweight kid sitting on the wickedness seat, and only a scrawny child remains on the side of righteousness. The scrawny kid might have his occasional moment, but the big kid inevitably prevails. The sinful nature dominates. But what does this look like for the person who takes after the second Adam? What is the situation for the person who has been born again? We may be at the same time justified and a sinner, but this does not mean that we now have two evenly balanced kids sitting on the see-saw. Justification does not merely introduce an equilibrium. The reality is that we are now slaves of righteousness, no longer governed by the sinful nature but by the Spirit. The Holy Spirit himself is seated on the righteousness end of our see-saw and the overweight child of our sinful nature has been placed on a diet!...God is at work in every believer, renewing our minds, transforming our desires, and conforming us to the likeness of Christ. My reason for pointing this out is because this reality should impact the way that we spur one another on in the faith. While we can assume that the Christian person in front of us struggles with sinful desires, habits and behaviours, we can also assume that this same Christian person, deep down, finds those same sinful desires, habits and behaviours unwanted. Deep down, because of the indwelling Holy Spirit, the Christian person desires to be godly and is frustrated by their own sin when they fail. Sometimes we can get cynical about people’s willingness and ability to change…..Now, while it might be naive to assume that everyone in your church or life who calls themselves a Christian truly is one, it would also be wrong-headed not to give the benefit of the doubt to those who profess faith and show some indication of the Spirit’s fruit in their lives…..It is faulty theology that assumes that we need to drag our fellow Christians kicking and screaming in the footsteps of Christ like a reluctant toddler at a shopping centre….We have a powerful thing working for us as we strive to see people grow in Christ: they want to grow. (Words from Dave Mears)

‘Hell’ OT: Joshua 9:16-27 (p221)

NT: Galatians 4:21-31 (p1170)

Gospel: John 20:1-10 (p1087)

PARISH SERVICES

Weekly Sunday: Sunday @ 8 Holy Communion Sunday@10 Family Gathering 1.30pm Armchair Church - Woolgoolga Retirement Village Monthly third Wednesday: Wheelie Wednesday@10 Service - Holy Communion

WEEKLY HAPPENINGS Sunday: Bible Study @ Marj Simmons’ Home Youth Growth Group@4 - Rectory Youth@5 - Rectory Tuesday: Bridge - Parish Hall 4pm - Choir Rehearsal - Church Wednesday: 9am - Prayer Gathering - Chapel Women’s Bible Study - 2 groups alternate weekly Thursday: 4pm - Table Tennis - Parish Hall 5pm - Music Group Rehearsal - Church 6pm - Free English Conversation Classes - Parish Hall Friday: 6pm - Friday Night Fellowship - Rectory

Saturday: 8am - Saturday@8 for Prayer - Woolgoolga Headland by WaterTower

Rector: Canon David Hanger 0408 423 442 Deacon: Rev Pam Stone 0418 228 885 Ministers: The Congregation Parish Office: PO Box 49 Woolgoolga NSW 2456 66541370 (all hours) Op Shop: 21 Scarborough Street, Woolgoolga Email: office@northernbeachesanglicans.org.au Website: www.northernbeachesanglicans.org.au

SENTENCE: The words you have spoken are spirit and life, O Lord; you have the words of eternal life. John: 6-63,68

COLLECT: Bountiful God, we thank you for planting in us the seed of your word: by your Holy Spirit, help us to receive it with joy, and to live according to it, that we may grow in faith and hope and love; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. Blessed Lord, you have caused all the Scriptures to be written for our learning: help us to so hear, read, learn and embrace them that, encouraged and supported by your Word, we may hold fast to the joyful hope of everlasting life, which you have given us in our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.

TODAY’S SERMON READING

Job 18 (p514) YOUTH@4/5 IS ON TONIGHT IN

THE RECTORY!

May God bless all of

you on your very

special day.

PLEASE PRAY FOR: Trevor Cowling, Anne Moon, Bev Hardacre, Karren Alford, Barry Cougle Give thanks for the life of Royce Watkins and pray for Thelma and her family as they mourn his death Give thanks for the life and witness of Keith Butterman and pray for Grace and her family as they mourn his death

Northern Beaches Anglicans in the Diocese of Grafton is committed to protecting your privacy.

The people on this list have requested prayers at this time.

DIARY 16 Jul Christianity Explored 19 Jul SRE Training Day 19 Jul Wheelies Service 20 Jul Bishop-in-Council 23 Jul Christianity Explored 29 Jul Christmas in July 30 Jul Christianity Explored 3-6 Aug Men’s Cursillo 7 Aug Op Shop Committee 8 Aug Parish Council 12 Aug Market Stall 12 Aug SRE Annual Dinner

to everyone joining us in fellowship and worship in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour. Please join us for morning tea in our Parish Centre from 9.20am.

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and

approve what God's will is - His good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:2 PRAYER POINTS - Pray for the mission team from St Stephen's Normanhurst; for effective contacts and joyful fellowship. Pray that Val our volunteer will have gospel conversations with the many tourists who come to town. Pray for our church family to hunger after God. (Anne)

DAYS OFF: David - Monday Pam - Tuesday

Monday July 17

Next week’s readings: OT: Joshua 10:1-15 (p221)

NT: Galatians 5:1-12 (p1171)

Gospel: John 20:11-18 (p1087)

SRE IN SCHOOLS Tuesday 11am-2.40pm

Wednesday 11.30am-1pm

NEXT WEEKS SERMON READING

Job

WHEELIES SERVICE is on THIS Wednesday August 19 @10am in the Chapel. This is

a service for those who physically find it hard to get to a Sunday service and those who just want to come and worship God.

ALL WELCOME

CHURCH OFFERINGS for June Pledge/Envelopes $5,622.40 Parish Provider $1,207.00 TOTAL $6,829.40

Saturday July 22

Monthly Market Stall for July $1463.00

CHRISTMAS IN JULY: Come and join us for a night of celebration, good food, fellowship and reflection on the Christmas story for all the family on Saturday July 29 in the Parish Centre from 6-8.30pm (at the latest). Bring a plate for a pot luck main meal. Dessert provided. Please put your name on the list at the back of the church. Families welcome.

CCSM ANNUAL DINNER - Saturday 12th August 2017, @ 6pm. At Your Church, Church of Christ, 28 Loaders Lane, Coffs Harbour. Cost $25 per person tickets available, please contact the Parish Office or Leone.

SOCIAL MEDIA WISDOM: To guide our godly use of social media.

‘Idle hands make one poor, but diligent hands bring riches.’ Proverbs 10:4

PARISH COUNCIL ROUND-UP Last Tuesday’s meeting was fruitful and productive. A summary of the discussion and outcomes:

productive brainstorming about the effective long term use of our buildings and space as ministry to children, youth and families grow

active steps being taken to secure accommodation for our Young Families Minister

a new chair has been purchased for the Rector’s study Treasurer report highlighted increased offertory and large expenditure in June

with maintenance, quarterly mission payments and a number of once off costs

letter received encouraging renewed response to the Cursillo movement. Decided that local Cursillistas best placed to inform parishioners of this ministry

Wardens reported on work done to improve security lighting and lighting in hall and squash court

Op Shop report highlighted monthly profit of $5,015 and need to respond to compliance regulations from Environmental Protection Agency to continue to receive fee exemption for Op shop rubbish

letter received concerning the Parish Directory. David to make personal response to the matters raised

Synod report outlined the Synod resolutions requiring response/action from Parish Council. These were prioritized for discussion at future meetings

commitment to hold annual Community Christmas Party with date to be finalised

Wednesday July 19

Today Sunday July 16