We invite all to come along tomorrow to worship with us.
We have two special guest speakers, Andrew and Ali Langmaid who have been working in Turkey this last year. Come long and hear their exciting story.
Our service starts at 10am at 32 Seventh street, Murray Bridge.
We would also love you to stay after the service for a time of fellowship over a cuppa, so we can get to know each other a little better.
See you there.
˄TH
“Having a master and teacher means that there is someone who knows me better than I know myself, who is closer than a friend, and who understands the remotest depths of my heart and is able to satisfy them fully.
It means having someone who has made me secure in the knowledge that he has met and solved all the doubts, uncertainties, and problems in my mind.
Jesus wants us in a relationship where He is so easily our Master and Teacher that all we know is that we are His to obey.”
—Oswald Chambers,
from the My Utmost for His Highest Perpetual Calendar.
“Jerusalem was the place where our Lord reached the culmination of His Father’s will upon the cross. Nothing ever diverted our Lord on His way to Jerusalem. Neither gratitude nor ingratitude turned Him even the slightest degree away from His purpose.
The same things will happen to us on our way to our ‘Jerusalem.’ When our Lord reached Jerusalem, they crucified Him, and that event is the doorway to our salvation. The saints, however, do not end in crucifixion; by the Lord’s grace they end in glory.”
Oswald Chambers,
from the My Utmost for His Highest Perpetual Calendar.
Important Notice
This week Pastor Grant will be in Melbourne attending an intensive as part of his post-graduate study.
For any urgent pastoral matters please contact one of the elders:
1. Pray for the families of our servicemen and women who have been deployed to assist in the overcoming of the Islamic State movement.
2. Kairos at Mobilong is on this week. Pray for those who will be sharing with the prisoners, for sensitivity and wisdom, and for there to be positive response from those who hear the good news which is shared with them.
3. Lyndall Simpson-Smith is the receptionist at the Churches of Christ office at Mile End. Pray for her in the myriad tasks which she performs each week.
4. Uphold those serving overseas as aid workers in whatever capacity that may be in the different countries around the world.
5. Pray for Rob and Gayle George of OAC Ministries are involved this week in children’s ministry training in Suva, Fiji. Pray that it will be a positive experience for the participants.
6. The Churches of Christ State Board meets this coming Friday. Pray for the members, two of whom are our own Cleve Brisbane and Grant Spang., as they discuss and make decisions involving the life and witness of our state’s congregations.
˄GS
God of love and God of power,
Make us worthy of this hour;
Offering lives if it’s Thy will,
Keeping free our spirits still.
God of love and God of power,
You have called us for this hour. Amen.
(G. H. Kennedy)
What a privilege for us to again enter into this place of worship on another Lord’s Day morning! This is s freedom we should value given what we read and see and hear about Christians in other countries around the world. May God indeed be pleased with the worship which we bring to Him today.
Our Worship Leader this morning is Chris Longden and our Communion Leader as we remember Jesus’ sacrifice for us on the cross will be Michael DeNieuwe.
Today happens to be extra special as we will be witnessing the baptism of Amanda Durham. It is our joy to be sharing with Amanda and Keith, Isaiah, Rebekah and Leah and other members of their family.
To all who may be visiting today it is our great pleasure to welcome you and, once the service is over, to invite you to stay and enjoy a cuppa and a chat in our coffee shop.
When it is time for the message from God’s Word, our pastor will be addressing the subject of “Armageddon.”
As we leave this place and enter into another week remember, you have been in communion with your Lord. Go forth then in the strength and assurance that the Lord Jesus Christ goes with you and before you. Amen.
˄GS
KAIROS PRISON MINISTRY
Kairos Prison Ministry has been a part of the missional outreach of this church for several years now, and we have had many of our congregation involved in and out of prison as well as our Church building being used as the Base Camp for the Mobilong prison course.
Kairos Inside: There have been two courses – KM#18 on 15th to 18th October 2013, led by Stephen Edwards with Steve and Chris on team, then KM#19 – 1st to 4th April this year, led by Ben Kolly. Steve and Michael were helping on support with taking equipment in and setting up. Six of our families hosted 12 team members during the course, and many more took a half hour slot in the 24 hour prayer vigil.
We had the pleasure of having one released prisoner from the Kairos course witnessing his new found life in Christ to us here at church one Sunday morning. It’s such a thrill seeing lives totally changed as Jesus works in the hearts of the ones rejected by society.
Kairos Journey Program: This is on every Tuesday afternoon at 5pm in Mobilong Prison. A few of our Church attend this essential ongoing contact.
Mobilong Sunday Church. This was a vibrant gathering which grew from within the prison. They asked for some Kairos men to help on a roster basis, but over the last year, our input has decreased.
Kairos Torch: Unfortunately the 2014 course was cancelled because the police checks were too slow getting through the system. Better luck with this next year – we are looking at an April course. Steve is still mentoring a young person at Cavan as part of the last Torch program.
Kairos in the Adelaide Women’s Prison: This is a new venture – it’s taking shape and we’ll be going in next April.
Kairos Outside: This is the ministry to the wives, children etc. for anyone impacted by loved ones in prison. Last October on KO#19 Lois, Kylie and Steve W. were on team, and in May this year we had Lois, Janet, Chris & Steve B as part of the team of KO#20. It’s so sad to see ladies hiding in shame because of a family member who is in gaol, but it’s so good to see the difference a few days of Jesus and His love makes. This is a ministry of pure joy (amongst the hard work).
The Murray Bridge Church of Christ is upheld within the Kairos community as a vibrant active Church which always is in there helping in so many ways. The willingness to host team members and be part of the 24 hour prayer vigil is much appreciated.
˄SB
“God never forces a person’s will into surrender, and He never begs.
He patiently waits until that person willingly yields to Him.
True surrender is a matter of being ‘united together [with Jesus] in the likeness of His death’ (Romans 6:5) until nothing ever appeals to you that did not appeal to Him.
And after you surrender–then what?
Your entire life should be characterised by an eagerness to maintain unbroken fellowship and oneness with God.”
Oswald Chambers, from the My Utmost for His Highest Perpetual Calendar.
CHAPLAIN MINISTRY
The Church of Christ maintains active support for the CPS Workers (Chaplains) in our local schools. The dedication of our team of workers has been a tremendous boost to peace and happiness at our schools. The staff at our schools can’t stop telling us how essential they are, and it was because the South School principal came begging for a worker, that this extra position was grown.
It costs $35 per hour to fund a worker (includes all those administration and extra costs) and are as follows showing the hours per week at the current moment:-
These hours are not forever – they reflect the current situation as at July 2014.
Some of this community funding is found from the schools, but much of it, eg all South School, is from the churches in Murray Bridge, and the Church of Christ is a major contributor. The task group also allocates funds to special Christian programs brought into the schools. The schools permit this Christian input, where the CPS Workers can’t speak openly about Christianity unless asked specifically by a child.
Both Michael DeNieuwe and Steve Bown from this Church are part of the task group that keeps all this going, and we would like to thank all those who support this church, so that the support can flow through Chaplaincy to our kids in schools.
This church hosts and cooks for the annual Chaplaincy dinner which occurs at the end of August, and the task group are very appreciative of this generous support.
˄SB
This coming Sunday 14th September we are delighted to have Grant Lock as our guest speaker.
Grant and his wife have a fascinating story to tell of their 24 years living and working in the Taliban region of Afghanistan and Pakistan. Grant’s book “Shoot me first” has received much critical acclaim and is a gripping account of their experiences.
Shoot Me First is a gripping personal account of life in Pakistan and Afghanistan. The author offers intriguing insights into the culture of the tribal territories that straddle the two countries. This is home to the Taliban, an untamed land which continues to absorb so much of the world’s attention and military endeavour. Lock is shrewd and laconic but above all compassionate. His experience of the world’s two major religions deserves careful consideration.
Supporting micro-hydroelectric systems, empowering Afghan widows and overseeing a massive eye-care program, Grant and Janna Lock’s development work in Afghanistan and Pakistan followed their notable success as cattle breeders in South Australia.
For more information and how to order the order the book, go to the website here: http://www.shootmefirst.com/
or visit our church bookshop at 32 Seventh Street, Murray Bridge which currently has signed copies of Grant’s book.
˄TH