Events in the life of the Murray Bridge Church of Christ this week:

During the Christmas – New Year break, many of the normal events in the life of the church were in recess. Many of them are now up and running once again – or they will be in the next week or so.

Christian Bookshop: open all week

327 Coffee Shop: reopening this week on 1st February 2017 – that’s Wednesday. Open Wed – Fri from 10 am to 2pm.

Home Groups and Bible Study groups: contact the leaders for information on when they recommence.

Bridge Club: Tuesday 31st January from 1 – 4 pm.

Sunday 5th February: 10 am Worship Service: Speaker: Grant Spangenberg. Please note that the Sunday School will recommence this Sunday, as will the Young People’s Bible Study.

PASTORAL CARE:

For urgent Pastoral Care matters, prayer requests, and other urgent concerns, please contact one of the following:

• Pastor Grant Spangenberg: 8532 2883 or 0419 848 336
• Elder Trevor Hampel: 8532 3701 or 0408 839 381 (or use the Contact form above)
• Elder Ted Smith: 0438 850 270

COMING EVENTS

• Workshop: for worship leaders, communion leaders, sound and data operators and musicians: workshop on Sunday 5th February at 12:30 pm.
• National Day of Prayer and Fasting: Saturday 25th February at 7:30 am for breakfast – please let the office staff know if you are attending.
• Mission Quiz Night: Saturday 25th February

Photo: Trevor Hampel

The people of the Murray Bridge Church of Christ invite you to join us for our time of praise and worship tomorrow morning, Sunday 29th January 2017.

Our time together will include songs and hymns of praise to God. We also celebrate the Lord’s Supper, also known as communion, where we remember the life, death, and resurrection of our saviour, our Lord Jesus Christ. Visitors who love Jesus Christ as their saviour are welcome to join us in this celebration, but this is not compulsory.

We also include some Bible readings and a message (sermon) from one of our elders.

After the service, you can join us in the Coffee Shop for a time of fellowship over a cuppa. We would love to get to know you in a relaxed atmosphere.

Details are as follows:

• Venue: Murray Bridge Church of Christ, 32 Seventh Street, Murray Bridge.
• Time: 10 am, Sunday 29th January 2017.
• Worship leader: Trevor Hampel
• Communion leader: Rob Frazer
• Speaker: Elder Phil Manning
• Bible reading: Psalm 91

ALL WELCOME

Floriade, Canberra (Photo: T. Hampel)

Last Sunday we had a sermon on the topic: “Your Prayer Life – A Force or a Farce?” (This sermon is available to listen to on our church app.)

As a part of the sermon, Pastor Grant drew our attention to a list of “Eight Characteristics of a Prayer-Driven Church” which he had included on the back of our sermon notes.

Here is a slightly amended copy of the list:

1. A church devoted to prayer gives priority to prayer – it just doesn’t fit it in.
2. A church devoted to prayer prays when there are opportunities, not just problems.
3. A church devoted to prayer announces a special time of prayer – and the entire church shows up, not just the faithful few.
4. A church devoted to prayer asks God to enable it to do what he is blessing – not just bless what it is doing.
5. A church devoted to prayer is challenged by financial shortfalls – and calls for fasting, prayer and faith; it is not frustrated by lack of finances.
6. A church devoted to prayer mounts up with wings like eagles, runs and doesn’t grow weary, walks and does not faint – instead of being constantly tired, weary and stressed out.
7. A church devoted to prayer does things beyond its means, rather than be constrained by budgets.
8. A church devoted to prayer sees the world as its parish, rather than only its members as its parish.

Pray without ceasing – and with great expectancy. 

˄GS and adapted by ˄TH

Photo: Trevor Hampel

Acacia (wattle) flowers Photo: T. Hampel

Australia Day 

Today we celebrate a special day in the history of our nation. It marks the arrival of the First Fleet of British ships in Sydney Cove in 1788. While it hasn’t always been celebrated throughout the nation as it is today, there has been some recognition of this anniversary from at least 1808.

It is also an event which is steeped in controversy. It has also been widely called “Invasion Day”, especially amongst our indigenous peoples. I must admit to having mixed feelings about this, but I acknowledge that the indigenous people do have a point. But to deny the right for the non-indigenous population to celebrate is to deny a significant event in our history, no matter how distasteful it may be to a part of our society. We can’t turn back the clock, nor can we pretend it didn’t happen.

I felt the same way in 2008 when the then Prime Minister Kevin Rudd announced the Apology to Australia’s Indigenous Peoples, and during the now annual Sorry Day. Again, it recognises a sad, tragic part of our history, but not being personally involved I found it hard to accept, but realised it was a necessary step in the right direction.

At the time there was much talk of reconciliation. There has been much progress in recent years in reconciliation between different cultures in our nation, and with the indigenous peoples in particular. It is my opinion, however, that true and complete reconciliation between peoples cannot fully occur except at the foot of the Cross of Jesus Christ.

I count amongst my dearest friends some brothers and sisters in Christ who are Aborigines. Our skin colour is irrelevant; we are one in Christ. I have shared the preaching platform with these brothers, and felt a great privilege to do so. Our common love for Jesus Christ completely obliterated any differences we may have had in the present, or in our past.

Let us, on this special day, pray for true reconciliation between our peoples. Let us also pray for our nation, our leaders, our community and our neighbours. Pray that many will be reconciled to God through faith in Jesus Christ.

“Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.” (2 Cor 5:20)

˄TH

Sydney Harbour Bridge (Photo Trevor Hampel)

FOOD, FELLOWSHIP AND FILM EVENING

TONIGHT

25th January 2017 at 6 p.m.

Shared finger food tea.

Fellowship while we eat.

Film starts at 7 p.m.

Film: “Unconditional” (based on a true story)

ALL WELCOME.

Pray without ceasing

It is my experience that many Christians would agree that prayer is an important part of any believer’s life, but do not follow through with a vital, active prayer life themselves. That is like someone agreeing that breathing is important to life, but it’s not a part of their every-day activities. “Yes, breathing is important,” they say, “but it’s just not one of my spiritual gifts. I’m not much good at it.” Yes, we can laugh at such an attitude, but that’s the way some people view prayer.

Pray without ceasing.

Look back through the letters Paul wrote to the early churches. Observe how many times he encourages them to pray; unceasing, vital, life-changing prayers. It is one of the Christian life principles Paul repeats over and over. Surely he is telling us something very important if he repeats it so often.

Jesus and prayer

But what about Jesus? Surely the Son of God wouldn’t need to pray. Surely he was so in tune with his heavenly Father that prayer was superfluous. Wrong. A few years ago, our home Bible study group worked through Mark’s gospel. In the midst of discovering many things through this intensive study, one thing stands out: Jesus prayed – and he prayed often.

Time out with God

Even in the busiest times of ministering to others, Jesus took out time to be alone with his Father and to pray. It appears from Mark’s account that the busier Jesus became, and the more the crowds pressed in on him for healing and teaching, the more he needed to spend time in prayer. Mark records that Jesus would leave them and go up into the hills to pray, often before dawn. If Jesus, who was in constant touch with his Father, found it vital to have an active prayer life, how much more should we pray.

Pray without ceasing.

We are all facing another new year.  Waiting patiently on God’s leading is not easy for those who only want action, or who want things to happen yesterday. I believe that a season of focussed prayer and patient waiting is important to determine future directions, not just individually, but also as a fellowship of believers.

Pray without ceasing.

˄TH

PASTORAL CARE:

For urgent Pastoral Care matters, prayer requests, and other urgent concerns, please contact one of the following:

• Pastor Grant Spangenberg: 8532 2883 or 0419 848 336
• Elder Trevor Hampel: 8532 3701 or 0408 839 381 (or use the Contact form above)
• Elder Ted Smith: 0438 850 270

Photo: Trevor Hampel

Prayer is absolutely foundational to anything we wish to do as a church.

Our sermon yesterday took the title: “Your prayer life – a Force or Farce?” (You can hear this sermon later this week on our church app.)

In thinking about the discipline of prayer, Donald Bloesch in his book The Struggle of Prayer writes: “The Bible does not prescribe the time or length of prayer, but it does offer guidelines. In Psalm 88 prayer is offered in the early morning (v.13), and in Psalm 55 prayers are said evening, morning and at noon (v.17).

Daniel knelt for devotions three times a day (Daniel 6:10). Jesus prayed before sunrise, (Mark 1:35), and in the evening when the day’s work was over (Mark 6:46). Peter prayed at the third, sixth and ninth hours.

Just as the Christian is not bound to ritual laws that regulate the preparation for prayer, so we are not absolutely bound to set times of prayer. Yet, there are times that are more appropriate for prayer than others: the gathering together for worship, the hours before work and bedtime, the time right before meals, when we need to remind ourselves of the goodness of God. But a Christian should feel free to pray anywhere, anytime, in the midst of daily work and play as well as in the solitude of their room in the early morning or late in the evening.”

Benediction:

May the Almighty and ever-present God Guide, direct and enable your life and witness in this new week before us. Amen.

˄GS

Reminder: all sermons are uploaded to our church app around the middle of each week. The app is completely free.

PASTORAL CARE:

For urgent Pastoral Care matters, prayer requests, and other urgent concerns, please contact one of the following:

• Pastor Grant Spangenberg: 8532 2883 or 0419 848 336
• Elder Trevor Hampel: 8532 3701 or 0408 839 381 (or use the Contact form above)
• Elder Ted Smith: 0438 850 270
  

  Pray Morning, Noon and in the Evening.                                    (Photo T. Hampel)

Events in the life of the Murray Bridge Church of Christ this week:

Because of the Christmas – New Year break at present, many of the normal events in the life of the church are in recess.

Christian Bookshop: open all week (except Thursday public holiday)

327 Coffee Shop: closed all week (reopening on 1st February 2017)

Home Groups and Bible Study groups: some in recess until early 2017 (contact the leaders for information)

Home Groups special fellowship evening: Wednesday 25th January at 6 pm. Shared finger food tea followed by the movie “Unconditional” (based on a true story).

Australia Day Public Holiday: Thursday 26th January

Sunday 22nd January: 10 am Worship Service: Speaker: Phil Manning

PASTORAL CARE:

For urgent Pastoral Care matters, prayer requests, and other urgent concerns, please contact one of the following:

• Pastor Grant Spangenberg: 8532 2883 or 0419 848 336
• Elder Trevor Hampel: 8532 3701 or 0408 839 381 (or use the Contact form above)
• Elder Ted Smith: 0438 850 270

COMING EVENTS

• Workshop: for worship leaders, communion leaders, sound and data operators and musicians: workshop on Sunday 5th February at 12:30 pm.
• Mission Quiz Night: Saturday 25th February

Photo credit: Trevor Hampel

The people of the Murray Bridge Church of Christ invite you to join us for our time of praise and worship tomorrow morning, Sunday 22nd January 2017.

Our time together will include songs and hymns of praise to God. We also celebrate the Lord’s Supper, also known as communion, where we remember the life, death, and resurrection of our saviour, our Lord Jesus Christ. Visitors who love Jesus Christ as their saviour are welcome to join us in this celebration, but this is not compulsory.

We also include some Bible readings and a message (sermon) from our pastor.

Please note that there will also be a baptism during the service.

After the service, you can join us in the Coffee Shop for a time of fellowship over a cuppa. We would love to get to know you in a relaxed atmosphere.

Details are as follows:

• Venue: Murray Bridge Church of Christ, 32 Seventh Street, Murray Bridge.
• Time: 10 am, Sunday 22nd January 2017.
• Worship leader: Ted Smith
• Communion leader: Neil Page
• Speaker: Pastor Grant Spangenberg

ALL WELCOME

Photo credit: Trevor Hampel

The people of the Murray Bridge Church of Christ invite you to join us for our time of praise and worship tomorrow morning, Sunday 15th January 2017.

Our time together will include songs and hymns of praise to God. We also celebrate the Lord’s Supper, also known as communion, where we remember the life, death, and resurrection of our saviour, our Lord Jesus Christ. Visitors who love Jesus Christ as their saviour are welcome to join us in this celebration, but this is not compulsory.

We also include some Bible readings and a message (sermon) from our pastor.

After the service, you can join us in the Coffee Shop for a time of fellowship over a cuppa. We would love to get to know you in a relaxed atmosphere.

Details are as follows:

• Venue: Murray Bridge Church of Christ, 32 Seventh Street, Murray Bridge.
• Time: 10 am, Sunday 15th January 2017.
• Worship leader: Grant Spangenberg
• Communion leader: Ted Smith
• Speaker: Pastor Grant Spangenberg

ALL WELCOME

Photo credit: Trevor Hampel