It is with a real sense of joy and anticipation that we gather as God’s family to worship Him. Today is Advent Sunday, the first of the four Sundays leading up to Christmas. At the front of the church we have an Advent wreath.Each of the four outer candles represent the qualities mentioned in this verse:

Jesus –
In Love,
He came to teach the world.
In Peace,
He walked the earth.
In Hope,
He gave us all a chance to choose a second birth.
In Joy,
He used His holiness to be our Christ and Lord.
In Spirit,
He’s forever near to be our guide.

The centre candle is the Christ Candle which will be lit on Christmas Day. It reminds us that Jesus is the Light of the World.

Through this Advent season will will be having a series of sermons entitled “Journeying with Jesus.”

˄GS

What understanding do you have of the salvation of your soul?

The work of salvation means that in your real life things are dramatically changed. You no longer look at things in the same way. Your desires are new and the old things have lost their power to attract you.

One of the tests for determining if the work of salvation in your life is genuine is— has God changed the things that really matter to you?

Quoted from Oswald Chambers My Utmost for His highest.

Available from the Murray Bridge Church of Christ Bookshop, 32 Seventh Street, Murray Bridge 5253.
Phone: (08) 8532 4400
Email: mbcofcbookshop@internode.on.net

November 24th – 30th

Monday

7:30pm Hampel’s Home Group and Bible study: Acts 4

Tuesday

9am Pastoral Care – let the group know of any special needs you may have.

Wednesday – Friday

10am – 2pm Coffee shop

Thursday

10:30am Lerwin Nursing Home service – all welcome

7:30pm Building Management Committee meeting

Saturday

7:29 am Men’s Bible Study

Sunday

Worship leader: Trevor Purdie
Communion: Paul Sandford
Speaker: Grant Spangenberg:  “Journeying with Jesus – what a family tree.’
Readings: Matthew 1:1-6, 16-17 and Romans 4:1-17.

Tuesday Dec 2nd

Christian Women’s fellowship

Christmas Meeting: 1:30pm. Please bring gifts for a Lerwin resident wrapped and marked for either a lady or a man. Please also bring a donation for C.O.C.O.A..

There will be a Christmas afternoon tea.

All ladies welcome.

Today has  been set aside as Abolitionist Sunday, a day to highlight the plight of many people around the world who are being subjected to slavery of one form or another. The theme for today “Learn, Seek, Defend” is based on the text of Isaiah 1:17 “Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed.”

One of the major topics in the Bible is justice. Over 2000 time God challenges His people to care for the oppressed, the poor, the marginalised, the widow and the orphan. As Christians we want to ‘do right’ and a big part of doing right is seeking justice for, and defending, the oppressed.

When thinking about justice an oft quoted verse is Micah 6:8 “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”

The word ‘shown’ means ‘to stand opposite and bodily demonstrate.’ God boldly demonstrated to us what is good –  and the quality and measure of His justice – when He sent Jesus to live amongst us as a human being.

‘Require’ refers to ‘a path that is frequently trodden’. In other words, justice and mercy should be a familiar path to all of us. ‘To act justly’ is to right the wrongs of this world with a special consideration towards the poor, needy and those who cannot defend themselves.

‘To love mercy’ is to perform acts of kindness which can be expressed in good deeds, especially towards the marginalised.

May we be such people in all of our dealings with others.

˄GS