what's on
Sunday 8 June - Bible Study (after the 9:00am service)
Sunday 22 June - Bible Study (after the 9:00am service)
Wednesday 25 June - Young at Heart (10:30am)
Sunday 22 June - Bible Study (after the 9:00am service)
Wednesday 25 June - Young at Heart (10:30am)
Stop Climbing, Start Receiving:
Christ’s Prayer Unites You to God (1 june)
In John 17:20-26, Jesus offers His “Righteous Father Prayer,” a divine word spoken not only for His apostles but for you, who believe through their preaching. The Law confronts us here, revealing our vain attempts to achieve unity with God or one another. We pursue glory through good works, fervent love, or mystical experiences, imagining we can ascend to heaven like golfers perfecting their swing. Yet, our efforts fall short. The righteous Father, viewed through the Law, stands as a judge we cannot satisfy, exposing our divisions, our failures, and our sin that keeps us distant from His holiness.
But hear the Gospel’s comforting promise: Jesus, the chief Apostle, was sent not to demand your ascent but to descend to you. He prays, “I made known to them your name,” and that name—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—is yours in Baptism. This is no mere participation in God; it is a gift of complete unity, poured out through the external Word preached and the water that seals you as His own. Christ’s glory, His love, His righteousness—they come down to you, not because you have earned them, but because He freely gives them through His death and resurrection.
This is what it means to be apostolic: to receive the Word that makes you one with Christ and each other, not through your striving but through His promise. Even in a world of suffering, where unity seems unattainable, you are His. Your name is spoken with God’s in Baptism, and His forgiveness is yours, now and forever. Rest in this Gospel, dear church, for it is yours—not by your doing, but by His grace alone.
We Pray For:
† Governments and industries, that they may use God's creation wisely.
† God to make his name known to all nations through Jesus Christ in the power of the Spirit.
† Those caught in sin, and for the freedom which forgiveness brings.
† Justice for the poor and a curbing of those who flaunt the law of God.
† All who suffer, that they may be strengthened by hope in God.
† Scientists who seek to know about and use God's creation.
But hear the Gospel’s comforting promise: Jesus, the chief Apostle, was sent not to demand your ascent but to descend to you. He prays, “I made known to them your name,” and that name—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—is yours in Baptism. This is no mere participation in God; it is a gift of complete unity, poured out through the external Word preached and the water that seals you as His own. Christ’s glory, His love, His righteousness—they come down to you, not because you have earned them, but because He freely gives them through His death and resurrection.
This is what it means to be apostolic: to receive the Word that makes you one with Christ and each other, not through your striving but through His promise. Even in a world of suffering, where unity seems unattainable, you are His. Your name is spoken with God’s in Baptism, and His forgiveness is yours, now and forever. Rest in this Gospel, dear church, for it is yours—not by your doing, but by His grace alone.
We Pray For:
† Governments and industries, that they may use God's creation wisely.
† God to make his name known to all nations through Jesus Christ in the power of the Spirit.
† Those caught in sin, and for the freedom which forgiveness brings.
† Justice for the poor and a curbing of those who flaunt the law of God.
† All who suffer, that they may be strengthened by hope in God.
† Scientists who seek to know about and use God's creation.
Pentecost (8 June)
Do you ever feel your love for God or others falls short? The world tells us love is a feeling we must muster or a task we must perfect, but Jesus speaks a different truth in John 14:15-21. When He says, “Whenever you love me, you will keep my commandments,” He’s not setting a test you’ll fail. Instead, He promises that His love, poured out through His death and resurrection, will work in you to fulfil His command to love one another.
This love comes not from your efforts but from the Holy Spirit, the Comforter, who brings Christ’s forgiveness through the preached Word. The Spirit doesn’t demand you prove your worth; He declares, “Your sins are forgiven.” This is the truth that sets you free from a troubled conscience, assuring you that Christ will never leave you as an orphan. His presence dwells in you, transforming you into a bearer of His love.
What does this mean for us? It means we’re called to love boldly, not by our own strength but by trusting Christ’s promise. When you hear, “I forgive you,” you’re empowered to forgive others, defying the accusations of sin and death. This is no ordinary love—it’s the love of the cross, which overcomes the world’s empty demands and makes you a light in the darkness.
So, dear church, rest in this truth: you are Christ’s beloved, made to be the greatest lovers the world has ever known. Not because of what you feel or do, but because Jesus is in you, and His Word works through you. Let’s cling to His forgiveness and share it generously, knowing He holds us fast forever.
This love comes not from your efforts but from the Holy Spirit, the Comforter, who brings Christ’s forgiveness through the preached Word. The Spirit doesn’t demand you prove your worth; He declares, “Your sins are forgiven.” This is the truth that sets you free from a troubled conscience, assuring you that Christ will never leave you as an orphan. His presence dwells in you, transforming you into a bearer of His love.
What does this mean for us? It means we’re called to love boldly, not by our own strength but by trusting Christ’s promise. When you hear, “I forgive you,” you’re empowered to forgive others, defying the accusations of sin and death. This is no ordinary love—it’s the love of the cross, which overcomes the world’s empty demands and makes you a light in the darkness.
So, dear church, rest in this truth: you are Christ’s beloved, made to be the greatest lovers the world has ever known. Not because of what you feel or do, but because Jesus is in you, and His Word works through you. Let’s cling to His forgiveness and share it generously, knowing He holds us fast forever.
holy trinity (15 june)
On this Holy Trinity Sunday, we turn to John 8:48-59, where Jesus faces fierce accusations from the Jews, who call Him a Samaritan and demon-possessed. This is the law at work, accusing and condemning, just as it exposes our own failures to honour God. We, too, often seek our own glory through good works or pride, but the law shows us our sin, declaring that all—Jews, Gentiles, and even the greatest like Abraham—face death because of it. Let us confess our need for a Saviour who fulfills the law for us.
Jesus responds to His accusers by revealing the heart of the Trinity: He honours the Father by keeping His Word, which is not a legal demand but a promise of grace. The Father’s Word to the Son, “You are my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased,” is the Gospel that Jesus shares with us. He declares, “If anyone keeps my word, he will never see death” (John 8:51). To keep His Word is to trust the promise of forgiveness and eternal life, given freely through Christ’s death and resurrection. This is the Trinity’s gift to you: the Father’s love, the Son’s obedience, and the Spirit’s power to create faith.
The Jews in the temple rejected this promise, seeking to stone Jesus for claiming to be greater than Abraham. Their hostility shows how the law, without the Gospel, hardens hearts. Yet, Jesus, the great “I AM,” offers you life beyond the law’s condemnation. The Holy Spirit delivers His Word to you, making you alive in Christ. Trust this promise: your sins are forgiven, and you will never see death. Let this Gospel free you from striving to earn God’s favour and fill you with joy in His grace.
As we worship today, let us cling to Christ’s Word, the promise that defines the Trinity and gives us new life. The Father glorifies the Son, the Son keeps the Father’s promise, and the Spirit bestows it to you. May this truth shape your faith and life: you are God’s beloved, forgiven and alive forever in Christ. Join us in celebrating this Holy Trinity Sunday, proclaiming the Gospel that sets us free.
Jesus responds to His accusers by revealing the heart of the Trinity: He honours the Father by keeping His Word, which is not a legal demand but a promise of grace. The Father’s Word to the Son, “You are my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased,” is the Gospel that Jesus shares with us. He declares, “If anyone keeps my word, he will never see death” (John 8:51). To keep His Word is to trust the promise of forgiveness and eternal life, given freely through Christ’s death and resurrection. This is the Trinity’s gift to you: the Father’s love, the Son’s obedience, and the Spirit’s power to create faith.
The Jews in the temple rejected this promise, seeking to stone Jesus for claiming to be greater than Abraham. Their hostility shows how the law, without the Gospel, hardens hearts. Yet, Jesus, the great “I AM,” offers you life beyond the law’s condemnation. The Holy Spirit delivers His Word to you, making you alive in Christ. Trust this promise: your sins are forgiven, and you will never see death. Let this Gospel free you from striving to earn God’s favour and fill you with joy in His grace.
As we worship today, let us cling to Christ’s Word, the promise that defines the Trinity and gives us new life. The Father glorifies the Son, the Son keeps the Father’s promise, and the Spirit bestows it to you. May this truth shape your faith and life: you are God’s beloved, forgiven and alive forever in Christ. Join us in celebrating this Holy Trinity Sunday, proclaiming the Gospel that sets us free.
Second sunday after pentecost (22 june)
G’day, dear family in Christ. Today’s Gospel from Luke 8:26–39 is a ripper of a story, almost like something out of a horror flick. A bloke in the Gerasenes, possessed by a legion of demons, is living among the tombs, naked, chained, and out of his mind. The locals are terrified, unable to control him or the evil that’s got a hold of him. It’s a stark picture of our own lives when sin, fear, or doubt take over—chaining us up, isolating us, and leaving us powerless. We’ve all got our “demons,” those things that make us feel far from God, trapped in our own tombs of despair or shame.
But here’s the good news: Jesus doesn’t shy away from the mess. He crosses the lake, steps into this unholy place, and with just His word, He sends those demons packing into a herd of pigs that bolt into the lake. The man is set free, clothed, and in his right mind, sitting at Jesus’ feet. This is what Christ does for you, too. His Word—spoken in forgiveness, preached from this pulpit, poured out in Baptism, and given in the Supper—breaks every chain of sin and death. No matter how far gone you feel, Jesus has come to find you, to save you, and to make you new.
The townsfolk, though, aren’t so keen. They’re gripped by fear, begging Jesus to clear out because His power is too much for them. It’s a fair dinkum reaction—we often push back when God’s grace shakes up our comfortable lives. Yet Jesus doesn’t force His way in. He leaves, but not without sending the healed man back to tell everyone what God’s done for him. That’s our job, too, as Christ’s people. We’re called to share the good news of His mercy in our homes, workplaces, and communities, even when folks don’t want to hear it.
So, what’s the go for us today? Let’s be honest about the “demons” that torment us—those doubts, fears, or sins that try to pull us from God. Then, cling to the promise that Jesus’ Word is stronger than all of it. He’s crossed every boundary to forgive you and set you free. This Sunday, as we gather around His Word and Table, rest in His peace, knowing nothing can stop Him from saving you. And then, like that bloke in the Gerasenes, go and tell the world what your Saviour has done.
But here’s the good news: Jesus doesn’t shy away from the mess. He crosses the lake, steps into this unholy place, and with just His word, He sends those demons packing into a herd of pigs that bolt into the lake. The man is set free, clothed, and in his right mind, sitting at Jesus’ feet. This is what Christ does for you, too. His Word—spoken in forgiveness, preached from this pulpit, poured out in Baptism, and given in the Supper—breaks every chain of sin and death. No matter how far gone you feel, Jesus has come to find you, to save you, and to make you new.
The townsfolk, though, aren’t so keen. They’re gripped by fear, begging Jesus to clear out because His power is too much for them. It’s a fair dinkum reaction—we often push back when God’s grace shakes up our comfortable lives. Yet Jesus doesn’t force His way in. He leaves, but not without sending the healed man back to tell everyone what God’s done for him. That’s our job, too, as Christ’s people. We’re called to share the good news of His mercy in our homes, workplaces, and communities, even when folks don’t want to hear it.
So, what’s the go for us today? Let’s be honest about the “demons” that torment us—those doubts, fears, or sins that try to pull us from God. Then, cling to the promise that Jesus’ Word is stronger than all of it. He’s crossed every boundary to forgive you and set you free. This Sunday, as we gather around His Word and Table, rest in His peace, knowing nothing can stop Him from saving you. And then, like that bloke in the Gerasenes, go and tell the world what your Saviour has done.
third sunday after pentecost (29 june)
G’day, church family! Galatians 5:1 hits like a thunderbolt: “For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm, therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.” This isn’t just a nice thought—it’s a battle cry. Christ didn’t just nudge us toward freedom; He paid with His blood to shatter the chains of sin, death, and the devil. Yet, the world, our flesh, and the enemy are dead-set on dragging us back to slavery. Will we stand firm, or will we let carelessness nick off with the liberty Jesus won for us?
This freedom isn’t about doing whatever we fancy—tossing out God’s law to chase our own whims. That’s not liberty; it’s a trap, a diabolical knock-off that leaves us empty. True freedom is found in Christ alone, where our conscience is unshackled from the terror of God’s wrath. It’s the peace of knowing we’re right with God, not because of our efforts, but because Jesus swapped our sin for His righteousness. When temptation or guilt comes knocking, we’ve got to cling to this truth like a lifeline, trusting that Christ’s victory is ours.
But here’s the rub: this freedom is under siege. The devil despises the gospel’s light and will stir up every storm to snuff it out. He’ll whisper that we need to earn God’s favour, that Christ’s work isn’t enough. That’s when we need to be vigilant, standing firm in the faith, not budging an inch. It’s not easy—temptation and doubt can feel like a rip current pulling us under. But we’re not alone. Christ, our High Priest, intercedes for us, and His Spirit strengthens us to hold fast to the freedom He’s given.
So, let’s live as free people, church! Not reckless, but bold—loving God and others with the confidence that we’re forgiven, righteous, and eternally secure in Christ. Let’s guard this liberty with all we’ve got, resisting the lies that try to chain us up again. The price was too high, the gift too precious, to let it slip through our fingers. Stand firm, friends, and let the world see what it looks like to be free in Jesus.
This freedom isn’t about doing whatever we fancy—tossing out God’s law to chase our own whims. That’s not liberty; it’s a trap, a diabolical knock-off that leaves us empty. True freedom is found in Christ alone, where our conscience is unshackled from the terror of God’s wrath. It’s the peace of knowing we’re right with God, not because of our efforts, but because Jesus swapped our sin for His righteousness. When temptation or guilt comes knocking, we’ve got to cling to this truth like a lifeline, trusting that Christ’s victory is ours.
But here’s the rub: this freedom is under siege. The devil despises the gospel’s light and will stir up every storm to snuff it out. He’ll whisper that we need to earn God’s favour, that Christ’s work isn’t enough. That’s when we need to be vigilant, standing firm in the faith, not budging an inch. It’s not easy—temptation and doubt can feel like a rip current pulling us under. But we’re not alone. Christ, our High Priest, intercedes for us, and His Spirit strengthens us to hold fast to the freedom He’s given.
So, let’s live as free people, church! Not reckless, but bold—loving God and others with the confidence that we’re forgiven, righteous, and eternally secure in Christ. Let’s guard this liberty with all we’ve got, resisting the lies that try to chain us up again. The price was too high, the gift too precious, to let it slip through our fingers. Stand firm, friends, and let the world see what it looks like to be free in Jesus.