Category: newsletter (Page 11 of 11)

Olympic Peace

04/08/2016 / Ben

We’re all ‘feeling very Olympic today’ to quote that fantastic movie, Cool Runnings. Did you know that the five interlaced Olympic rings represent the union of the five continents and the meeting of athletes from throughout the world at the Olympic Games? The Games strive to create peace and harmony in our world through sport. The games are a great spectacle and do a lot of good – but like every human activity they are riddled with corruption and sin (just ask the Russians).

The only thing that can bring true peace is actually a person – Jesus Christ. What humanity needs isn’t a common cause, or a common stage, but somehow to deal with our common problem of sin. Jesus lived the perfect life and died on the cross to bear our sin in our place. Then he rose from the grave, conquering death and securing peace with God, hope and eternal resurrection life to all who trust in him.

So let’s enjoy the Olympics this month, but let’s enjoy peace with God and life in Jesus Christ for eternity!

Yours in Christ,

Ben

The Bible in our mother tongue

05/07/2016 / Ben

One of the most remarkable things about being Christian is recognising that God has Spoken. It is incredible to be able to open up the bible, at home or at Church or wherever we are, and hear God speak to us.

This week I received an email from our CMS link missionaries the Etheringtons with these breathtaking words:

“Another two days or so of paperwork and the text of the Kunwinjku New Testament goes to the Bible Society who will turn it into a finished book. Join us in praising our Lord for this long, slow miracle, and in praying that Kunwinjku people will continue to read and translate into action God’s words to them in their own heart language. This of course is a prayer for all of us as we read our own Bibles.”

The Kunwinjku people are a native Australian people group in far northern Australia. I pray that they (and we) will treasure and read and believe and obey the precious words that God has spoken to us.

Yours in Christ,

Ben

Assurance and Stability in an Unstable World

02/06/2016 / Ben

We live in a confused and unstable world. We’re not sure whether a gorilla or a 4 year old boy is more important to protect. A fluctuating economy and market conditions send 350 local workers out of a job and their families into insecurity. And Queensland dominate in State of Origin Football (Ok so this last one kind of doesn’t matter).

Thank God for Christ who ‘suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous to bring you to God’ (1 Peter 3:18). Jesus has won for us assurance and stability – knowing that we are loved by God and precious to him, we can weather any storm that might come our way.

Never too far away

30/05/2016 / Ben

This week I’ve had the great privilege of meeting with other Anglican Ministers down in Nowra for a few days of fellowship. It was a great time of encouragement and learning. Andrew, from Anglicare, shared a story from the maximum security prison in Lithgow. One of the inmates was teasing others about attending chapel services – so they challenged him to stop hassling until he came to see for himself. He went along and was converted. His family on the outside were so amazed by the transformation in his life that they have started attending Church to try to find out what has transformed his life so amazingly! Let’s not give up praying for our friends and family who don’t know Jesus yet – nobody is ever too far from God to be saved.

In Christ,

Ben

Building on our Heritage

05/05/2016 / Ben

This week I’ve had the opportunity to reflect on and discuss the history of our Churches (St Mark’s in particular). I’m so thankful to God for the men and women who have gone before us.

From the Antill family who first hosted Church meetings in Picton in their home in 1825 with the ‘Galloping Parson of Cobbity’, Rev Thomas Hassall. To those who during good times and hard, have fought to keep our Churches open and to proclaim the good news of our resurrected Lord Jesus. We bear a responsibility to carry on this great heritage.

But we cannot do it in our own strength. Just as those men and women of generations past – we go on strengthened and shielded by Gods power as God himself is at work building his Church.

“For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.” 1 Peter 1:23.

Yours in Christ, Ben

Investing in our Young People

07/04/2016 / Ben

Statistics show how significant the childhood and teenage years are for making commitments to Jesus. According to the 2011 National Church Life Survey, 76% of Sydney Anglicans became Christians before the age of 20, and 44% did so during their teenage years (10-19). It is absolutely critical that we invest a great deal of our energy and resources into children’s and youth ministry in order to grow as a Church community.

Our Wilton Kings Kids (primary school) program continues to grow and improve thanks to Carol’s leadership, our creche is meeting under a gazebo (need to work out a winter plan!), and our Youth Bible study is about to begin once the Youth come back from KYCK. Pray for our young people, that they would ‘trust in the Lord with all their heart’ and that parents would guide them wisely through their tender years.

in Christ, Ben

God is at Work

30/03/2016 / Ben

Phil turned to me after our Easter Sunday service at St Marks last week and declared, ‘This is an historic occasion!’ It was the first time he has seen the mezzanine at St Marks needing to be used on a Sunday. It is so exciting to see God at work gathering his people and building his Church in our midst. Both our Churches have seen significant growth in attendance already this year. All this is an answer to many faithful years of prayer for the growth of the gospel – let’s continue those prayers and continue the work of living for and proclaiming the good news of our Saviour Jesus.

Last Thursday a small subcommittee of our parish council began meeting to consider our options for future growth – focusing particularly on how to develop our Wilton Church site. Please be praying for wisdom and God’s leading in this process, we will endeavour to keep you informed and involved. If you have ideas or want to discuss this further please contact: Peter F, Glenn A, Milton L or myself.

Yours in Christ, Ben

Joy from Sadness

24/03/2016 / Ben

Easter begins with bad news. Can you imagine the grief of Jesus’ disciples as he died and darkness came over the whole land on that first Friday. The same darkness and grief of death hangs over Brussels today, as it does in many places around the world and indeed in many of our own lives. Death is a great enemy all of us must face one day and its shadow stretches back across our lives menacingly. Jesus death is different. Jesus dies in our place, he dies to conquer death and he proves it by being raised to life in the joy of Easter Day! In 1 Corinthians 15:54 we read that ‘death has been swallowed up in victory’. If we will confess our sins and place our trust in Jesus then we can have confidence that he has removed the ‘sting’ of death. Jesus forgives our sin and promises the joy of resurrection life!

Wishing you a happy and joyous Easter, Ben

The Greatest Love

18/03/2016 / Ben

I’m looking forward to Church this Palm Sunday. Everybody needs to be loved, to belong, to know we matter to somebody. This week we’ll see the great agony and suffering that Jesus endured out of love for us. He was abandoned, betrayed, and condemned to be crucified. His ‘soul was overwhelmed to the point of death’ and yet he willingly walked on towards his own death by crucifixion, so that you and I can have forgiveness and life as we trust in Him. The love and forgiveness of Jesus is the great news we declare to our friends, family and community this Easter. John 15:12 – ‘Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.’

in Christ, Ben

Easter Invitation Challenge

09/03/2016 / Ben

It’s only two weeks now until Easter. This is the most significant event on the Christian calendar and possibly the easiest time of year to invite friends or family to come to Church. Today, I want you to pause and pray for three friends or family who don’t know Jesus yet. Pray that you would have the opportunity to share why Easter is important to you, and invite them to join you at Church this Easter. Then take three or more of our Easter postcards and invite them. The goal isn’t to grow our Church – but to help people find salvation in Jesus. Coming to our Church (or a different one) is a means to this end!

Here’s a link to our Easter service times on the website, and on facebook (Wilton), the St Mark’s facebook event is coming…

Yours in Christ, Ben

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