A message from the Colemans
Farewell
This week we came to the end of our time of service with you as your Acting Rector. When we came we were strangers to almost all of you, however you welcomed us warmly. We quickly felt at home with you and have enjoyed the privilege of worshipping and serving with you. Our time with you has been a good experience as together we have learnt from God’s Word.
Your love and appreciation of God’s Word has been strongly impressed upon us as we have moved amongst you. Your desire to both grow in your faith and trust in Jesus and to reach out beyond yourselves, to the many in the community and schools has been very heartening. This is how the Church will grow as you press on in faithfulness.
Welcome
This Sunday is a wonderful day as Sam and Susan and Family begin their ministry among you and with you, making Jesus known in the Oak Flats area and beyond by the grace of God. This has been a big step of faith for their family, and perhaps especially for their children, adjusting to a wholly different environment with the need to establish a network of friends as they grow up among you.
For you, God’s people here at Oak Flats, they are the answer to your many prayers for a new Minister , a godly under shepherd of the Lord Jesus our Great Shepherd. They are going to need your prayers and support as they get to know, love and appreciate you.
Our Prayer for you
As we hand over to Sam and Susan we want to leave you with these words of exhortation from Hebrews.13:1, 20 – 21:
‘Keep on loving each other as brothers……May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep , equip you with everything good thing for doing his will, and may he work in you what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever.’
Be assured of our continued prayers for you all.
– Ken and Maureen Coleman
Coming up this Sunday 17th November 2019
This Sunday we welcome Sam Pursell as our Senior Minister and will be starting a new series on Colossians, with the first talk titled ‘Thanksgiving and prayer for Oak Flats Anglican’ from Colossians 1:1-14.
During our services we will be taking the opportunity to meet Sam and his wife Susan, plus their children, Ed, Mary and Angela.
Following our morning service, we will be hosting one of our famous pot-luck lunches to say thank you and to farewell Ken and Maureen Coleman, plus to welcome the Pursell family. Please join us from 12pm.
As always, come along and visit us at 9.30am or 5pm at 35 Fisher Street Oak Flats, or if you can’t make it in person, jump online at www.oakflats.tv to watch a livestream of our services.
A Sure Bet
The Melbourne Cup is finished for another year. Winners and losers have been determined, both on and off the track….and a countless number of dollars around the nation has been wagered on the outcome.
Gambling is big business in Australia, whether it is horse racing, Lotto or the pokies. Television advertisements provide us with many commercial platforms with which to bet on just about anything. The attraction is always the same: spend a little, and you might just get lucky and win a lot! But….what does the Bible say? Firstly, the Scriptures make it crystal clear that there is no such thing as ‘luck’, good or bad.
Proverbs 16:33 says:
“The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord”.
God is in 100% complete control of every detail in His world. He is sovereign. Nothing is a chance happening.
Secondly, we are urged to live life trusting God, and being thankful and content. The writer says in Hebrews 13:5, quoting from Deuteronomy 31:6 and 8:
“Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself said ‘I WILL NEVER DESERT YOU, NOR WILL I EVER FORSAKE YOU.’”
The act of gambling is quite the opposite. It is based on discontentedness, the desire for more without earning it and at the expense of others. It is what the Bible refers to as greed, covetousness and idolatry.
Trusting God is not a gamble. When the sovereign Lord of the universe says He will never leave or forsake you, that is complete security!’
– Phil Pratt
Coming up this Sunday 10th November 2019
This Sunday at our 9.30am service, Ken Coleman continues our series in the Gospel of John, with the next talk titled ‘Following the Light of the World’, with the bible readings Exodus 13:17-22 and John 8:12, 31-47.
At our 5pm service Ken continues our series on Hebrews, with the next talk titled ‘A New Tabernacle’, with the bible readings Exodus 25:1-9 and Hebrews 9:1-14.
This will be the final week where Ken will be preaching.
We will be sharing in the Lord’s Supper this Sunday, so be sure to join us for this important reminder of the death of Jesus.
So, if you normally come in the morning, we’ll see you at 9.30am or 5pm… and just like every Sunday, it’s a great weekend to bring a friend.
See you in person on Sunday, or tune in at www.oakflats.tv.
“O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR VICTORY? O DEATH WHERE IS YOUR STING”
Death has been in the air. Australia’s worst serial killer succumbed to cancer and has stood before God to give account. The pain of his victim’s families remains, but a further step towards closure may have been reached.
The press covered his death widely. More analysis, books and TV documentaries will follow; none are likely to deal with the real consequences of death and the Judgement of God that follows. “The Daily Telegraph” by Warren capped it off in a humorous yet misleading manner. He drew Satan at the gates of Hell with a “No Vacancy” sign facing the murderer and saying “Even I have Standards”
The death of ISIL founder Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi at the hands of US Special Forces was widely reported. He has faced God and the view is the world is better off without him. He approved the murder of many and made light of it, seeking publicity for his executions some involving children.
Death, Judgement, Heaven, Hell are no laughing matters. Hebrew 9:27 says: “…it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgement. “. It cannot be escaped by any. Salvation is not based on our merit but on God’s Grace alone and He can forgive the worst of sinners in our eyes.
This week some SRE teachers attended the funeral Mr Peter Taylor a much loved and respected teacher at OFPS who drowned in the holidays trying to save his son from a rip. His son made it to safety. Mr Taylor attended Fairy Meadow Catholic Church and he was a God fearer. He was most supportive of SRE and his calm and measured approach influenced hundreds of children over his career.
Which of the three left a positive legacy? Our prayers continue for his family, friends and colleagues.
– Geoff Kyngdon