For Sunday 11th October - 11.00am

This Sunday we will be reflecting on the theme of our recent Synodical Convention, "Learning to walk again" with particular reference to David's prayer in Psalm 86: Teach me your way O Lord, that I may walk in your truth. Make me wholehearted in fearing your name.

Service will begin at 11am and will be followed by lunch.

God's peace,
Pastor Matt

For Sunday 20th September - 8.30am

This Sunday Divine Service will begin at 8.30am.

We will hear the familiar words of Jesus where he said, "If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all." Together with the second reading from the epistle of St James, we will be reminded of the danger of following our inner desires to be and to have more and more, without concern for our motives.

Jesus calls us not to seek prestige and power and position, but to delight in the opportunity to serve as we have been served by Him through the free gift of forgiveness and life received in His name.

Kids' Club will take place immediately after the service this week.

On another note our trip to St John's Jeparit last weekend was a wonderful experience, with the most gracious and generous hosts, and great encouragement for our growing ministry here in Shepparton. You might like to see a video of the bus trip by following this link http://sites.google.com/site/shepplutheranbuild/videos

See you Sunday.

God's peace,
Pastor Matt

For Sunday 6th September - 8.30am

This Sunday we will meet for Divine Service from 8.30am.

We will hear the wonderful example of the Syro-Phoenician woman who had faith in even the smallest 'scraps' of the Lord's mercy. Because she accepted she was truly undeserving, she was grateful for whatever the Lord could 'throw her way' and the result of her faith was the healing of her daughter.

We too need healing and we too deserve nothing but the judgment of God. Will we have faith in the 'scraps' of mercy that come our way as Jesus serves us through Word and Sacrament?

Kids' Club will meet immediately after the service while mums and dads enjoy a cuppa.

God's peace,
Pastor Matt

For Sunday 30th August - 11am

This Sunday we will celebrate Refugee and Migrant Sunday as we give thanks to God for bringing us together from around the world and uniting us in Christ as one family. We will take the opportunity to acknowledge our diverse roots and to pray particularly for the countrymen and women of our members who are still suffering as refugees around the world.

This Sunday will also be a very significant celebration for our congregation as two teenagers receive the washing of renewal in Holy Baptism, and as they are joined with another six young people to receive first communion. Please pray for Safari and Shukuru, along with Ater, Sarah, Baranabas, Kamandula, Ntole and Mwamini.

Please join us for a celebratory luncheon after the service.

God's peace,
Pastor Matt

For Sunday 23rd August - 11am

Divine service this week will begin at 11am.

I'm preaching on the epistle reading from Ephesians 6:10-20 as we consider the implications of our call to spiritual warfare. One word comes up again and again as St Paul points to the tactics we are to utilise in this war - stand!

God's peace,
Pastor Matt

For Sunday 16th August - 8.30am

So often we act as though the greatest wisdom in life consists in milking every last scrap of self indulgent pleasure out of our days, with little regard for how it impacts us more deeply. Even in the church people often succumb to the false notion that what they do with their bodies, for example, has little impact on their spiritual well being. Such an approach to life often suggests that wisdom lies in juggling daily 'pleasures' with spiritual 'duties'.

Who'd have thought that true wisdom would come in ordering our whole lives according to the word of God and the praises of His goodness in our Lord Jesus?

As the psalmist (and the writer of Proverbs) says, the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. True wisdom comes through a knowledge of our standing before God as sinners, utterly dependent on His grace and mercy in Christ.

This week I'll be preaching on Ephesians 5:15-20 where St Paul calls us to "Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil."

Service will begin at 8.30am.

God's peace,
Pastor Matt

For Sunday 9th August - 11am

This week worship will begin at 11am and will be followed by a congregational lunch.

We will witness new birth by water and the Word as Hugo receives the washing of regeneration.

The readings are:
2 Samuel 18:5-9,15,31-33 The death of David's son Absalom
Ephesians 4:25 - 5:2 Be imitators of God
1 Kings 19:4-8 Elijah fed by God

God's peace,
Pastor Matt