Father, Thank You for each and every day You have blessed us here on earth.
Thank You for Your tender mercies.
Thank You for giving us friends and family to share joys and sorrows with.
I ask You to bless my friends, relatives, brothers and sisters in Christ and
Those I care deeply for, who are reading this right now.
Where there is joy, give them continued joy.
Where there is pain or sorrow, give them your peace and mercy.
Where there is self-doubt, release a renewed confidence.
Where there is need, fulfil their needs.
Bless their homes, families, finances, their goings and their comings.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.

This word of encouragement from Trevor Hampel, while addressed to his fellow elders, is a great challenge and assurance to us all – Oswald Chambers in his classic writing My Utmost For His Highest comments in relation to Philippians 3:10:

“A saint is not to take the initiative toward self-realisation, but toward knowing Jesus Christ. A spiritually vigorous saint never thinks of his life as being divided into the secular and the sacred. He sees every situation in which he finds himself as the means of  obtaining a greater knowledge of Jesus Christ, and he has an attitude of unrestrained abandon and total surrender about him. The aim of the spiritually vigorous saint is ‘that I may know Him.”

Toot and Tell

The elderly priest, speaking to the younger priest, said, “It was a good idea to replace the first four pews with plush bucket theatre seats. It worked like a charm. The front of the church always fills first now.”

The young priest nodded, and the old priest continued, “And you told me adding a little more beat to the music would bring young people back to church, so I supported you when you brought in that rock’n’roll gospel choir. Now our services are consistently packed to the balcony.”

“Thank you, Father,” answered the young priest. “I am pleased that you are open to the new ideas of youth.”

“All of these ideas have been well and good,” said the elderly priest, “but I’m afraid you’ve gone too far with the drive-thru confessional.”

“But, Father,” protested the young priest, “my confessions and the donations have nearly doubled since I began that!”

“Yes,” replied the elderly priest, “and I appreciate that. But the flashing neon sign, ‘Toot ‘n Tell or Go to Hell’ cannot stay on the church roof.”

ELECTION TIME

9th—16th Aug Nominations for Elders—eligible for election are: Trevor Hampel and there is ONE vacant position.

23rd Aug—6th Sept Voting for Elders

13th-20th Sept Nominations for Deacons—eligible for election are: Steve Bown, Bren Hawkes, Cleve Brisbane, Kaye Manning and Rob Carson plus TWO vacant positions.

27th Sept—7th Oct Voting for Deacons

All positions are for a two year term.

Be in prayer about who should be nominated, and who you should vote for.

Coffee Shop

This is a quick reminder that our church coffee shop has reopened today after a short winter break.

The shop is open 10am – 2pm Wednesday, Thursday and Friday each week.

Come along for great drinks, delicious snacks and appetising meals – all in a quiet and relaxing atmosphere.

Located at the church at 32 Seventh Street, Murray Bridge, it is an easy five minute walk from the main street.

Funds raised by the shop go towards supporting a variety of mission works here and overseas.

˄TH

The psalmist in his opening verses of Psalm 99 proclaims,

“The Lord reigns, let the nations tremble; he sits enthroned between the cherubim, let the earth shake. Great is the Lord in Zion; he is exalted over all the nations. Let them praise your great and awesome name – he is holy.”

May it be with that same sense of awe inducing praise we can honour God with our worship.

A man carrying out family tree research visited a number of cemeteries. As he did he noticed the various epitaphs written on different headstones. On one was engraved:

“Pause now, stranger, as you pass by;
As you are now, so once was I.
As I am now, so soon you’ll be.
Prepare yourself to follow me!”

Someone had placed a piece of wood next to the tombstone having written on it :

“To follow you I’m not content,
Until I know which way you went!”

There are many voices and all sorts of philosophies today claiming how one may find fulfilment or satisfaction in life. But, “The WAY to life is not a direction. The WAY to life is a person! The WAY to life is not a religion but rather a RELATIONSHIP.”

The answer they are looking for is contained in the words of Jesus, “I am the WAY, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6).
While as disciples of Jesus we can rejoice in our relationship with Him, we need to be mindful of those who as yet have not heard about the ‘WAY’ and pray that those who are searching will not only find Jesus but make the ‘right’ choice about Him.

Benediction : Go forth into the activity of this day and the week ahead as a companion of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

˄GS

1. Pray for Bruce Lander the judge appointed as head of our state’s Independent
Commission Against Corruption (ICAC), that he and it will serve with wisdom.

2. A Challenge newspaper Impact Africa team ends its time away this coming Wednesday. Pray for each member as they prepare to return home, and praise God for opportunities to have shared the Gospel.

3. Pray for Pastor Sam, his wife Lisa, and those attending the Chinese church which meets in our facility each fortnight.

4. Pray for those in our church family who are unwell at the moment.

5. Pray for our state and national law enforcement bodies particularly those working against terrorism.

6. Pray for the work of the Bible Society and our state coordinator, Ian Morley. Pray that the Coffee & Cake evening planned for the 4th August will be a most enjoyable and productive night.

He was telling them a parable to show that at all times they ought to pray and not to lose heart. (Luke 18:1)

A quick reminder to everyone that our monthly service for the folks at the Murraylands Homes for the Aged, is on again this afternoon at 2pm.

The speaker today will be Pastor Grant Spangenberg and the worship leader will be Trevor Purdie.

The service is held in the Jean Jarvis Centre, Pugh Avenue, Murray Bridge.

All welcome.

Afternoon tea provided.

˄TH