Bulletin Announcements – 20 September 2015
- Operation Christmas Child Shoeboxes will be available for collection today from Elizabeth. Please return the shoeboxes by 4 Oct.
- Sunday school Holiday program is on for today, 27 September and 4 October for children up to Year 4. We encourage Year 5 and 6 children to join our 9am English service. Term 4 will start on 11 October. Term 4 for Play Group will start on 13 October (Tuesday).
- Our church will be part of the Rhodes community outreach on Saturday, September 26. We will have a stall with Christian materials and activities from 12-7pm, and present a programme of performances from 2pm. If you are able to help out on the day, please contact Hanji Tok (hanjitokasih@gmail.com), or just support by attending on the day at the Rhodes Market Square.
- Notice is hereby given to all members of the church for the Annual General Meeting, called by the Diaconate, on Sunday, October 4 at 12:30pm at the Chapel of WSCCC Strathfield. All members please see the ushers after the service for a copy of the WSCCC Annual Report (one copy per family please) and the AGM Agenda.
Ariel writes – a weekly Scriptural devotion:
“For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:20 NIV)
“Did Jesus really just say that? Unless I’m godlier than the godliest men I’m not getting into heaven?! I mean that’s just crazy! He’s asking the impossible!” You see, the Pharisees kept the law. They were seriously serious about it. They even tithed spices! That’s like you and me tithing our loose change just to make sure we don’t break the law. The Pharisees were the epitome of righteousness. What’s worse Jesus then tells us to be perfect like our Heavenly Father (5:48) after he’s just shown us how sin is not just the wrong we do but also the wrong we think (5:21-22)! It’s like he’s going out of his way to show me just how unrighteousness I am and just how impossible it is for me to get into heaven by trying to be good. Ah, and there it is! That was his point all along. I can’t get into heaven by being good. It’s a foolish thing to do. Instead, being wise in Jesus’ books is to put his words into practice (7:24) by making sure we do the will of our heavenly Father (7:21) which is trust in his Son. Trust in the one who was righteous on our behalf and then paid the price for our sin: that’s how we enter God’s kingdom.
from Pastor Ariel