For Sunday 22nd March - 11.00am

This Sunday Divine Service will begin at 11.00am. The first reading from the book of Numbers will tell of the people of Israel in the wilderness under attack from serpents following their unfaithful grumbling against God. In His mercy God promised them healing if they looked to the raised bronze serpent when they had been bitten.

How much more won't we receive eternal healing when we look not to the serpent, but to the Son of Man lifted up on the cross for our salvation?

Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life. John 3:14-15

God's peace,

Pastor Matt

For Sunday 15th March - 8.30am

This Sunday service will begin at 8.30am.

The sermon will explore the 10 commandments under the theme of "Rescue from the minefield of sin."

God bless,
Pastor Matt

The Passion of our Lord

As we're meditating on the Passion of our Lord throughout Lent, I thought some of you might be interested in an Issues, etc program that discusses Jesus' suffering and death from a medical perspective.

For Sunday 8th March - 11am

This Sunday Divine Service will begin at 11.00am. In the gospel reading we will hear Jesus predict His own suffering, death and resurrection - something that shocks His disciples. But even then more shockingly Jesus calls everyone who follows Him to willingly take up their cross.

As we reflect on this text on Sunday we will be thinking about what it means to take up our cross and follow the Lord. Despite popular opinion this is far more than just enduring suffering. It's about choosing the way of the Lord despite the fact that it may be the unpopular option. Being a disciple is not about being cool, it's about being faithful and receiving the gifts the Lord has won for us.

Service will be followed by our monthly lunch.

A quick reminder that we are having "fortnightly" midweek Lenten service at Shepp. Here's the schedule:

Thursday 12th March 7.00pm
Midweek Lenten devotion:
THEME: The Wound of Betrayal

Thursday 26th March 7.00pm
Midweek Lenten devotion:
THEME: The Wound of Apathy

Thursday 2nd April 7.00pm
Midweek Lenten devotion:
THEME: The Wound of Denial


The Lord be with you,
Pastor Matt

For Sunday 22nd February

This Sunday there will be a parish service in Echuca, beginning at 10am. The service will be followed by our Parish AGM and then a shared lunch.

St Paul's are running a bus from Shepparton, departing from the church at about 8.30am. Please let me know if you would like a seat.

This means there will be NO SERVICE IN SHEPPARTON THIS WEEK.

Please go to Echuca's blog for more info.

The Lord be with you,
Pastor Matt

For Sunday 15th February - 8.30am

Our thoughts during this past week have been dominated by the devastation and heart break caused by the bushfires throughout Victoria. As we gather together this Sunday to pray for those in need, we will be reflecting on God's presence with us in the midst of tragedy. It's timely that Psalm 30 was assigned for this Sunday and will form the basis of our meditation.

As we continue to offer the victims of this disaster the support of prayer, we also have the opportunity to support them with their physical needs. I'm certain many of you have already responded in various ways.

Our District President has advised that our district has set up a facility whereby financial donations will be made available to those parishes in the affected communities so they can reach out in mercy to their neighbours on behalf of the whole church. If you wish to give through this facility please go to www.lca.org.au and follow the links.

It has also been suggested locally that we as a parish might offer some tangible support in the form of non-perishable food, toiletries and the like to our near neighbours. On Sunday we will have the opportunity to bring these gifts along and they will collected (through to Tuesday at Shepp) and then delivered to the Salvos for distribution.

The Lord be with you,
Pastor Matt

For Sunday 8th February - 10am

My apologies to one and all for neglecting to update the blog until Friday!

I'll keep it quick - Service this week will begin at 10am and will be followed by our congregational AGM. Please join together with us as we celebrate our life together as the body of Christ in worship, and then as we consider what this new year has in store for us.

Following the meeting we will have a shared lunch on what promises to be a much cooler day!

The Lord be with you!
Pastor Matt