DAYLIGHT SAVING ENDS
this coming Sunday 2nd April 2017 in South Australia
Remember to
PUT YOUR CLOCKS AND WATCHES
BACK ONE HOUR
Good News:
That gives you an extra hour to sleep in
OR…
Why not use that “extra” time to pray, or read your Bible?
PIZZA and MOVIE NIGHT
TONIGHT 29th March 2017
Murray Bridge Church of Christ
starting at 6 pm
$5 per couple for pizza
Dessert and Coffee provided.
All welcome – Bring a friend
Movie starts at 7 pm.
Events in the life of the Murray Bridge Church of Christ this week:
Christian Bookshop: open all week
Hampel’s Home Group: Monday 27th March at 7:30 pm in the home of Ted and Pam Smith.
Pastoral care Meeting: Tuesday 28th March at 9 am.
Bridge Club: Tuesday 28th March from 1 – 4 pm.
327 Coffee Shop: Open Wed – Fri from 10 am to 2 pm.
PIZZA and MOVIE NIGHT Wednesday 29th March at 6 pm. Cost $5 per couple for the pizza. Dessert and coffee provided. All welcome.
Men’s Bible Study: 7:29 am Saturday 1st April
Daylight Saving Ends overnight – put your clocks BACK one hour.
Worship Service: Sunday 2nd April: 10 am Speaker: Grant Spangenberg.
PASTORAL CARE:
For urgent Pastoral Care matters, prayer requests, and other urgent concerns, please contact one of the following:
COMING EVENTS
Mt Macedon Victoria
The people of the Murray Bridge Church of Christ invite you to join us for our time of praise and worship tomorrow morning, Sunday 19th March 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, Grant Spangenberg.
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:
ALL WELCOME
Return To Me by Lynn Austin (Restoration Chronicles #1)
This was the first of Lynn Austin’s books I have read. It is the first of her trilogy in the Restoration Chronicles. Having read the first one, I am sure I will read the following two in the series. I am particularly interested in the third book which features the life of Nehemiah, one of my favourite people of the Bible. The book of Nehemiah is one of my favourites in all of the Bible.
I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and will probably read more of her works in the future. This book is a fictional account of the first group of Jews to return to Jerusalem from captivity in Babylon. It is very true to the historical Biblical account.
The main character of the story is Zechariah. The plot follows his early life growing up in Babylon with all of the hardships endured there, including the pressures to conform to the social moralities of the Babylonian culture and religion, including astrology. The sudden change on the part of King Cyrus is greeted with great joy by the Jews in captivity, and plans are immediately made for them to return to Jerusalem to begin life anew in their home country. The author cleverly portrays the family conflicts which arise, with families being torn apart, some remaining in Babylon, with others leaving for the long journey home.
The reader is given an in-depth impression of the physical hardships endured on the journey and the subsequent struggles to establish themselves in Jerusalem and in the surrounding countryside. The author never shirks from also drawing out in depth the spiritual pressures placed upon this band of people, especially the constant exposure to the paganism and astrology of the neighbouring Samaritans. The stark contrasts between the Jewish faith and the faith of other people living near Jerusalem is explored in many ways in the novel.
Zechariah features prominently in this account. Towards the end of the story we see him as the prophet whose book we read in the Old Testament. The author strongly portrays a young Zechariah in the early stages of his developing spirituality, and how he has a growing awareness of his special relationship with God. Austin never strays from showing the internal spiritual struggles of Zechariah, as well as his grandfather and mentor, Iddo.
I only have one little criticism: the frequent changes of point of view can take a little getting used to, but overall, this is a very well written and enjoyable account. The novel has one enduring strength: by being written as fiction, the author can draw each character in compelling and intriguing depth, while never losing sight of the facts of the historical foundations of the narrative.
Highly recommended.
˄TH
PS I read this book on my eReader. You can order a copy through our bookshop.
Events in the life of the Murray Bridge Church of Christ this week:
Christian Bookshop: open all week (except Monday – public holiday)
Pastoral care Meeting: Tuesday 14th March at 9 am.
Bridge Club: Tuesday 14th March from 1 – 4 pm.
Friendship Group: Tuesday 14th March 7:30 pm Speaker: Trevor Hampel
Craft Group: Wednesday 15th March 10 am.
327 Coffee Shop: Open Wed – Fri from 10 am to 2 pm.
Home Groups: Wednesday 15th March at 7:30 pm (various locations).
Elders’ Meeting: Thursday 16th March 7:30 pm at David Mills’ home
Men’s Bible Study: 7:29 am Saturday 18th March
Worship Service: Sunday 19th March: 10 am Speaker: Grant Spangenberg.
PASTORAL CARE:
For urgent Pastoral Care matters, prayer requests, and other urgent concerns, please contact one of the following:
COMING EVENTS
Come worship our Lord Jesus Christ.
The people of the Murray Bridge Church of Christ invite you to join us for our time of praise and worship tomorrow morning, Sunday 12th March 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, Grant Spangenberg.
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:
ALL WELCOME
GOD LOVES YOU.
God desires to have a living relationship with you and give you salvation, purpose and eternal life. It is an important decision that only you can make, but you need to make it.
1. You have a past: Scripture – the Bible – states clearly that everyone in the world is guilty of sin – and that includes you and me. The Bible says “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23)
2. Sin has its price: The Bible also tells us that “the wages of sin is death.” (Romans 6:23) The wages of work is money, but the wages of sin is death. Death in this context means separation from God forever. But there is good news.
3. Christ paid for your sin: Even though we are sinners, Jesus Christ loves us so much that he died in our place to pay for our sin. He took the punishment in our place. “But God demonstrated his own love for us in this while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)
4. Believe in Jesus: To become a Christian and have the assurance of eternal life is a personal decision only you can make.
The Bible says: “If you confess with you mouth, Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9) The word “believe” here means to entrust your life completely over to Jesus Christ. That’s what real faith is – asking Jesus Christ to be Lord of your life.
The next step
If you’d like to begin a personal relationship with Jesus today, we encourage you to pray this prayer:
“Dear Lord Jesus, I admit that I am a sinner. I believe that you died for me and that your blood paid for my sins. I ask for your forgiveness. I want you to be my Lord and saviour. Thank you for dying for me, and for forgiving my sin and for giving me eternal life. Help me to turn away from my sin and follow you as my Lord and saviour. Lead me and guide me from this day on. Amen.”
You have made an important and life-changing decision.
We encourage you to contact us (click here). We will promise to pray for you. If you live within easy travel of our church in Murray Bridge, South Australia, we would welcome you into our church and help you on your journey.
Adapted from “The Word for today” written by Bob and Debby Gass (Nov-Jan 2013 edition). UCB Australia.
Used with permission.
CAREWORKS OFFERING DAY 2017 – SUNDAY MARCH 5th
Working with and alongside local Churches of Christ, CareWorks seeks to embody God’s love and address the needs of some of the most vulnerable in our community.
Your donations make a world of difference as we work together.
Here’s the difference you can make:
Offering envelopes are available through your church, or go to www.givenow.com.au/careworkssa
You can learn more about the ministries of CareWorks SA here.
Events in the life of the Murray Bridge Church of Christ this week:
Christian Bookshop: open all week
Hampel’s Home Group and Bible Study: Monday 7:30 pm Paul’s letter to the Colossians chapter 1. To be held at the home of Pam and Ted Smith.
Pastoral care Meeting: Tuesday at 9 am.
Christian Women’s Fellowship: Tuesday 7th March at 1:30 pm.
Bridge Club: Tuesday from 1 – 4 pm.
Church Board Meeting: Wednesday 8th March at 7 pm (note change in time).
327 Coffee Shop: Open Wed – Fri from 10 am to 2 pm.
Lerwin Service: 10:30 am at Lerwin Homes
Men’s Bible Study: 7:29 am Saturday 11th March
Worship Service: Sunday 12th March: 10 am Speaker: Grant Spangenberg.
PASTORAL CARE:
For urgent Pastoral Care matters, prayer requests, and other urgent concerns, please contact one of the following:
COMING EVENTS