Ash Wednesday

Ash Wednesday marks the start of Lent, a six week time of reflection and repentance in preparation for Easter. The simple service includes a reading and prayers. The service will provide the opportunity for individuals to have the sign of the cross marked on their forehead in ash as a poignant reminder of our mortality.

'Remember you are dust and to dust you shall return'.

We will also have a time of silent thanksgiving for the life of Lyn and prayers for the family. You are welcome to come to this short service and to participate in whatever way you feel comfortable with.

Time 5pm at St Patrick's Chapel

Neglecting to pray

When did you last pray for Zuma? Or, for that matter RSA, or for the USA with its new president? But the Bible tells us clearly that we should!  Is there nothing that we can do about the big issues - are they beyond us?  We can, and should, pray.

But the little things? What do you do when things are not what you want?  What do you do when we feel that others are wrong?  Do you protest, complain, or worse?  Samuel prayed!

The people of Israel had made a big mistake in asking for a king - they wanted to be like everybody else. But God did not just reject them, and God did not just undo the mistake. God brought good out of the mistake.  An early church father said that God even did that for the first sin, because it gave us Jesus - O felix culpa! (o fortunate sin!  And Samuel prayed!

Do we think that prayer does not matter? Is that what we really think?  Read 2 Chron 7:14, and notice the first word IF   But lack of prayer is SIN

Sin against God - He tells us to pray - do we obey?  Prayerlessness indicates that he is not fully our Lord, which is the basic sin

Sin against others.  if we do not pray, we give less than the best to them

Sin against ourselves. prayerlessness is belittling a blessing.  I have so often seen God blessing in response to prayer.  It is doing and accepting what is not the best.  It results in slowing our spiritual growth.

Even though what he wanted did not happen, Samuel did not cease praying.  God had not answered his prayer?  It was the people who did wrong - they had free will.  He had not sinned, but would if he stopped.

Samuel did not only pray, but also acted. He instructed the people.  He could do this BECAUSE he prayed, and was in touch with God's will.

Do we sin in prayerlessness? Are we concerned for RSA, for the world?  And for our church. We will never see blessing in our church until ....

Prof David T Williams
Theology (retired)

Sermon Sunday 15th January-Faith, hope and love

Our reading for today: 1 Corinthians 13

Do you have a favourite Bible chapter?  Many would choose 1 Corinthians 13.  It concludes with the great three, faith hope and love.

We remember these particularly at this time of Christmas and New Year
            God so loved that He sent His Son
            Do you have hope for a new year?
            Thanks for the rain - God is faithful

The season is a time of change, and we are reminded that we are temporary residents, like Abraham.  We then look for what abides, which must come from the God who is eternal (Mal 3:6).  See 1 Corinthians 13:13.

Faith must be prior, because we are saved through faith. Salvation is essential for hope or love.  Salvation rests on God's faithfulness (Rom 4:20, Heb 11).  There is no other way (Jn 14:6).  Salvation is a GIFT, because He loved us.

So we should be faithful, and reflect what God is like.  Are we reliable?

Hope rests on salvation, so on faith, so on love (Rom 5:3). It is not presumption but confidence.  We have a hope for future, for us and the world, if we are in Christ.  But sadly, so many people ignore death and end of world - they have no hope

So God has a hope, just as we hope for our children. What do you most hope for them?  for real saving faith!

Love of God is shown in incomprehensible, unmerited grace.  Why should he save us?  One reason is that He made us, and so loves like a mother.
So we should love - this is not just liking.  We have love for God shown in seeking to please Him, and for others, in giving (love = charity), not just in the material sense.

Greatest of these is love, because God IS love (1 Jn 4:10).  Can we reflect this in what we are in our salvation?  The attraction of the early Church was the visible love for each other that they showed.

Prof David T Williams
Theology (retired)

Callie Evens News letter

A Blessed Christmas and new year

We received the following message from Rev Margaret for all of us!

 

Christmas Services

Christmas Services

December 2016

St Patrick’s Chapel, Hogsback

Sat 24^th 5:30pm Carol and Crib Service in St Patrick’s Chapel, please come early to get a seat for this family carol service on Christmas Eve.

Sun 25^th 8am Christmas Communion Service in St Patrick’s Chapel  

10am Christmas Family Service in St

Patrick’s Chapel (note the venue has

changed from the Arboretum) led by Rev

Dr Liz Thomas.

Church Services are held at 10am every Sunday

Goodbye to Ettiene and Lois

We held our end of year Bring and share on Sunday and as always, it was a very sumptuous affair with lots of variety and flavour! Our hosts this year was Lizzie and Vincent Blackbeard and Little Timbers provided a breathtaking venue of garden splendor.

We also made use of the occasion to say goodbye to Etienne and Lois Paroz who will be leaving Hogsback shortly after years of incredible selfless service to our community. Etienne has practically helped absolutely everybody with beautifying their gardens and more and have also kept the church garden looking amazing over the years.

As a token of our gratitude, Josef created an amazing Azalea wattle photo to remind them of their special family back here in Hogsback!

It was so nice to sit at the communal table and enjoy the fellowship. We really do have an amazing little community!