Bulletin Announcements – 13 April 2014

Strathfield 9am Ladies Fellowship Bible study. Today: 10.45am – 12.15pm at the home of Alice Cheng, Strathfield.

Sunday school – We will have holiday program on 13, 20 and 27 April. Term 2 will start 4 May.

Play Group – Term 2 will start 29 April, 10am-12noon. Families with children younger than Kindergarten age are welcomed.

Children and Youth Ministry volunteers – Safe Ministry Training will be conducted on 17 May, 9am-2pm with Andrew Bardsley in Strathfield. Volunteers are required to attend. Contact Andrew Bardsley or Liza Mihardja for further information.

Ladies – Equip 14 (Why # Wise) is open for registration. Venue – Rose Hill Gardens, James Ruse Drive. You can register online http://www.equip.org.au/program/ or contact Solan for further information.

Ariel writes – a weekly Scriptural devotion:

Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned –

(Romans 5:12 NIV)

An awful, awful pattern emerges here; one that can hardly be undone. Horrid the thought that just one sin could enter our world but to drag a multitude of sins with it is a most sorrowful thought indeed. But it’s what sin brings with it that gives us shudders to be sure – death. Yes death: the judgement that our sins deserve; and a great reminder that there is now a separation between God, us, and each other. Death is feared, hated, unspoken of yet sullied. It brings pain, suffering, and grief. It is good for nothing and nothing good comes of it except that it reminds us of our brokenness before our Creator. But a pattern that can hardly be undone is not so hard when God decides to do it, and that is why Paul writes; “Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!” (Romans 7:24b-25a), and for that we are truly grateful.

 from Pastor Ariel