It is hard to believe that the time to say “good-bye” has come. 

While we would love to continue with you here, it is not possible because last year we promised to look after the Anglican Church in Randwick while their minister takes some long-service leave in June and July. It is a commitment that we feel we cannot break.

It has been nearly 4 months since we first arrived at St Andrew’s, Oak Flats and the time has just flown by. It is sad for us because we feel that we are just starting to get to know you as a congregation.  

We have met many faithful and loving Christian people who have made us feel most welcome. We want to thank you all for including us in your fellowship and encouraging us in the service of our Lord Jesus.  

Thanks to those who have offered us hospitality, especially the Pratts who have been kind enough to let us sleep over in their home each week.  

This is a significant moment in the life of Oak Flats Anglican Church.  

The selection of your new Rector is a crucial appointment, so continue to pray for and support your Nominators.  

You have an excellent core of experienced and faithful lay leaders to guide you. 

Remember to remain united, care for each other and hold onto our Lord Jesus and those fundamental truths which I have spoken to you about.  

God bless you and we look forward to hearing good things from Oak Flats.

– STEPHEN FIFER

Motherhood and apple pie are two topics about which there is little debate. Both are seen as inherently good, especially the latter with a scoop of ice cream! 

In Genesis, motherhood is God’s good gift established for the procreation and nurture of children. However, in our fallen world, motherhood can at the same time be satisfying and frustrating, joyful and the source of much sadness…for both mothers and children. 

Whatever the mix of experience that comes with motherhood, there is no doubt self-sacrifice is at the centre. Rightly do the Scriptures command: ‘Honour your father and mother, and rightly does Jesus rebuke those who neglect this duty (Mark 7:9-13). 

For God’s people, it is not uncommon that upon a mother’s knee children learn the gospel. It was certainly the experience of the young Timothy (2Timothy 1:5) who, with this foundation, went on to  a lifetime of active ministry in the service of his Lord. 

Not surprisingly, Paul urges Timothy to instruct children and grandchildren to provide for their widowed mothers and to ‘make some return to their parents, for this is acceptable in the sight of God’ (1Timothy 5:4). 

This is precisely the example Jesus set as He made provision for His mother at the point of His own immense pain on the cross (John 19:26-27). 

We all have a mother and whether the remembrance of our mother today is that of gratitude or perhaps tinged with sadness, God’s ‘mothering’ of His people will always stand as the perfect example and experience of all His children.

“Can a woman forget her nursing child, that she should have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you”.
Isaiah 49:15.

– PHIL PRATT

Earlier in the year we read the early chapters of 1 Samuel so I thought that I would lead you through the next section of this fascinating book of the Old Testament – 1 Samuel 12-17. Though they are named after Samuel, the books of Samuel really tell the story of David who emerged as Israel’s great Messiah and King.

In 1 Samuel 8, the Israelites requested a King to lead them, “like all the other nations” had. Implied in this request was a rejection of God as their King, even though God had always protected and preserved Israel. Samuel warned the people about the dangers of this innovation but God eventually decided to permit a human King to rule his people, as long as the King would follow God’s laws and lead Israel in God’s ways.

But who would be King in Israel? 1 Samuel 12-17 traces the emergence of Saul as Israel’s King.  But Saul would prove to be a false start. Despite many fine qualities, Saul tragically failed to listen to God and to lead the people in godly ways. So God rejected Saul as King and chose a most unexpected leader for his people. David was the man upon whom God set his heart and, despite a long difficult period of suffering as an outlaw, God installed David as Israel’s Messiah and King.

So the books of Samuel are about Kingship – God’s Kingdom and his choice of David as Messiah. In many ways the Story of David parallels the story of Jesus. They are both God’s Messiah and King who come into their kingdoms through suffering, act as Saviours of their people and proclaim the kingdom of God in their rule. But, of course, David is only a pale and weak reflection of God’s true Son, Messiah and King – our Lord Jesus.

– STEPHEN FIFER

50 years ago, the world was looking towards space – waiting for the first moon landing. 

At the time, US President Richard Nixon described it as ‘the greatest week in the history of the world since Creation!’ 

The great preacher Billy Graham quickly corrected him – saying that far greater was the week of the death and resurrection of Jesus. 

The birth of Jesus showed us that God comes near to us. 

The death of Jesus shows us the death of death itself – with its eternal consequences – freeing us for eternal life. 

The resurrection of Jesus guarantees that no matter how far we have strayed, there is a way for us to be friends with God – and live with him forever. 

If you were alive in 1969 you would remember exactly where you were when Neil Armstrong took that first ‘small step for a man and one giant leap for mankind.’ 

Although none of us were there when Jesus lived and died – his resurrection was so significant that we remember and celebrate it every year and will continue to do so until he returns. 

Happy Easter. 

– DR GLENN N DAVIES
Archbishop of Sydney
Easter AD 2018 

For many in our secular world, the ‘celebrations’ for Easter will centre around time away from the world of work. There will also be Easter eggs and chocolates in a variety of types and forms; the Easter bunny will make an appearance and, of course, there will be the aroma of freshly toasted hot cross buns dripping with melted butter! 

All in all, Easter would appear to provide us with a time of rest and relaxation with our families and friends. This is certainly the picture of Easter that is being consistently painted by the world of advertising that surrounds us. 

Last week I asked my Kindergarten scripture class ‘What is Easter all about?’. And unsurprisingly, their responses were the typical answers of chocolate, the Easter Bunny, spending time with family and only one answer related to Jesus.

However Christians know that at Easter we celebrate the most wonderful gift – not just that God sent Jesus, but that in dying, he gave us eternal life.

We can utilise the chocolate egg to speak of new birth that comes through the resurrection of Jesus. We can speak of the emptiness of the egg as symbolic of the empty tomb.

The death and resurrection of Jesus is spectacular, amazing and central to the whole of human history and eternity. We do not live AC (After Christ) but AD (Anno Domini: in the year of the Lord) because he has risen from the dead to live and rule for evermore. This is an event far too important to trivialise with bunnies laying chocolate.

So my challenge to you, and also to my scripture classes is: Easter is far more than chocolate eggs! Easter is about the resurrection and the life! Don’t miss out on this reality!

–  VALERIE O’REGAN