Your Sunday Bulletin : May.

DID YOU KNOW YOU CAN NOW READ PASTOR’S SERMONS.

                                      5th May 2024
                                           Easter 6

                    Today’s service will be held @ 9am
       If you are in Port Macquarie you are very welcome.

Worship Service led by: Pastor Mark Worthing
Holy Communion: Pastor Mark Worthing
Communion Assistant: David Pfeiffer
Communion Prep.: David Thompson
Bible Readings: Diane Reichelt
1st Reading: Joel 2:26-29 God will pour out his Spirit
2nd Reading: 1 John 4:13-21 God is Love
Gospel: John 14:15-31 The Promise of the Holy Spirit
Prayers led by: David Thompson
Stewards: John and Corrine Mclean
Music: Narelle
Audio/ Computer: Tayte Schultz
******************************
Next Sunday 12th May
Ascension
Worship Service led by: David Pfeiffer
Holy Communion: David Pfeiffer
Communion Assistant: David Thompson
Communion Prep.: David Thompson
Bible Readings: Helga Mathies
1st Reading: Acts 1:6-11 The Ascension
2nd Reading: Ephesians 1:16-23 The Spirit of wisdom and revelation
Gospel: John 16:16-24 Jesus speaks of his Ascension
Prayers led by: Barb Wakefield
Stewards: Juta Cooley and Alan Bruhn
Music: Daryll
Audio/ Computer: Don McLean
Notice:
Please send all information, comments, devotions, prayers to be included in the news letter to rherbig@tpg.com.au by Thursday in order to publish on Friday Thank you , Roy.
St. Peters Lutheran Church. 13 Kemp St. Port Macquarie. 2444. P.O. Box 5655.
stpetersptmacquarie.com

Attention all visual artists:
The LCANZ theme for this year’s Simultaneous Art Exhibition, to be held August, is “The Tree of Life” with the theme verse from Rev 22:1-2. Please contact Pastor Mark for further information

LLL REG Accounts:
All members who are using REG need to contact LLL by June and confirm if
they need to submit a form to be part of the LLL transition and change banking details to continue using REG                                   

Better Blokes:
Fri 7th – Mon 10th June 2024 (King’s Birthday Weekend), is a time for men
to gather to be encouraged and challenged in their faith & relationships.
Better Blokes 2024 will be held at Warrambui, NSW
This year our featured guests are Peter Steicke and Mark Worthing, ordinary
men, who walk and sometimes run with a faithful and extraordinary God.
Early Bird, First Time Campers and Dependants of campers discounts
available.
More information and online registration at http://www.betterblokes.com

Rhema 99.9 BECOME A MEMBER TODAY!
Until June 30, 2025, we’ve slashed the price to just $10 to become a
Rhema 99.9 member!
Rhema will be submitting our 5-yearly license renewal application later this
year, and the ACMA will be looking closely at how many financial members
we have.
Right now, the number is very low, and we need more! So, if you’ve never
been a member, or you have in the past but have let it lapse, now is the time to
show the government that you value Christian radio by becoming a member of
Rhema today!
And tell your friends and family about it too!
Call 6584 1246 or go to https://rhema999.com.au
or scan QR code
All new members who join by March 26 go in the draw to
win one of 2 x double passes to the For King & Country
concert at the Newcastle Entertainment Centre on Jun 1.

Attention all visual artists:
The LCANZ theme for this year’s Simultaneous Art Exhibition, to be held August, is “The Tree of Life” with the theme verse from Rev 22:1-2.
Please contact Pastor Mark for further information.

                                                                                                                        
In our thoughts and Prayers:
John McLean, Rosemary Conran, Kathy Mitchell, Renate Radmacher and
family, Jenny Montgomery, Aileen Huf, Bob Rayward, Carole Rogers, Tony
Koch, Sherry Thompson, Don McLean.

Prayer Chain:
Anyone interested in being included in the Prayer Chain, please contact Janelle
Francis any time on 0407391534

Bible Study:
Wednesday.@ Kemp St

Christian meditation group:
The second and fourth Thursday of each month at the Manse from 5.15 to 6
pm. Everyone welcome.

New Members:
 Reception of New Members is welcomed. If anyone is interested in officially joining St Peter’s, please speak to Pastor Mark.

Stay connected with : Lutheran Media Livestreaming.
https://www.livestream.com/luthworship

Church Council Executive:
Chairperson: David Pfeiffer 0428 667 754
Vice Chairperson: Roy Herbig 0417 041 325
Secretary: Sue Smith 0403 397 214
Treasurer: Garth Schultz 0412 487 466
Contact: Treasurer Garth Schultz at stpeterspmq.treasurer@gmail.com

Pastoral Carers.

David Thompson: 0414 521 661
Joan Raward: 0428 820 898
Kathy Worthing: 0468 582 603

Pr. Mark Worthing. Ph 65833444. Mobile 0428557663
St. Peters Lutheran Church. 13 Kemp St. Port Macquarie. 2444. P.O. Box 5655

Roster: Church Cleaning:
May: Aileen Huf and Diane Reichelt

Morning tea: 
5th May Joan Rayward
12th May Helga Mathies 

Catch-Up Coffee:
Friday 10th May, 10am, at Rainforest Café, Sea Acres Rainforest Centre 159
Pacific Dr. Port Macquarie. RSVP to Carol, 0427832156 by Sunday 5th May

Ladies Fellowship:
Our Ladies Fellowship meeting for May will be held on Wednesday, 8th May
at 12pm at the church with BYO lunch. Don’t forget your Lutheran Women’s
magazine for April/May 2024 for the devotion and Bible Study. Copies will be
available for those who do not have the magazine. Hope to see you there!

Pizza lunch:
Next Sunday 5th May, after church we will be officially celebrating the arrival
of our church pizza oven. Pizza bases and some basic toppings will be provided so everyone can create their own pizza if they wish. Please bring a salad or
dessert to share if you wish, as well as any favourite pizza toppings you would
like to add to your pizza. So please come out and help us inaugurate the largest
church pizza oven on the mid-North coast!

The Chosen tv series:
Many of you have heard about or seen clips of The Chosen, a television series
about the life of the disciples of Jesus (and of course, about Jesus). We now
have permission to show episodes of The Chosen for church viewing. If there
is interest in watching and discussing these together please contact Pastor
Mark or Kathy. We are proposing watching episodes of the first series on the
‘big screen’ at the manse on Tuesday or Friday nights if there is sufficient interest.

Christian meditation group:
The second and fourth Thursday of each month at the Manse
from 5.15 to 6 pm. Everyone welcome.

Name tags:
Please contact David Thompson if you have lost or need a name tag.

LCA Stamps for Mission
Don’t forget to save your used postage stamps and bring them to church and
put them in the box provided in the entryway. These used stamps will be sent
away to be cleaned to support LCA International mission programs and
projects.

FREE! FREE! FREE!
Check out the tract and greeting card display in the foyer for that special person or loved one who could use a special message.

LCA Tract Mission:
The Ladies Fellowship has generously selected and purchased a variety of
tracts for all occasions that can be used as an outreach resource for all our
members, friends and family. Please take a minute and peruse the display
and pick up some of these inspirational messages and notes for whatever
circumstances you or your loved ones may be facing or going through at the
moment. We plan to keep the display stocked as new themes are announced. 

Sermons:
All past sermons are available to read on our web page.
stpetersptmacquarie.com
Stay connected with : Lutheran Media Livest reaming.

May Birthdays:
19 Bob Rayward
22 Juta Cooley
25 Daryll Reichelt

Web page. 
People who visited the website in the last week, including
22 Aust.
1  UK.
1 Slovakia
1 Finland.

We now have 106 followers.
Number of views.

2018:  2,515
2019:  1,864
2020: 2,496
2021:  2,036
2022:  2,660
2023:  2,440
2024:  1,636

Statistic:
Sunday Service 28th April: Attendance was 61.

 

St Peters Chess Club:

Thursday 7 pm. @ the manse
Everyone welcome
All ages and playing levels welcome.

 

The Church and the Privacy Act:
1 The Church collects personal information about you before and during the course of your membership of the church.
2 We may include your contact details in membership lists or other church publications. If you do not agree to this You must advise us immediately.
3 Some of the information we collect is to satisfy the church’s legal obligation, and thereby to enable it to discharge It’s duty of care.

Weekly Devotion:
‘Sir,’ the man replied, ‘leave it alone for one more year, and I’ll dig
around it and fertilise it’
(Luke 13:8).
Read Luke 13:1–9
The practice of digging around a tree is common when it is not growing
well and, in turn, not producing the fruit it was planted for. When the soil
around the tree is disturbed, the roots are damaged in the digging, and
then the tree has to grow new roots, which, in turn, strengthen the tree to
bear fruit for the next season.
Jesus tells a parable about a fig tree that doesn’t bear fruit. The owner
says, ‘Well cut it down’, but the man taking care of it says, ‘Leave it alone
for one more year, and I’ll dig around it and fertilise it’.
The tree doesn’t need to be destroyed but disturbed and fed instead.
We are like this tree. We were planted in the kingdom of God by faith in
Jesus and given a purpose – to bear fruit. Yet it is easy to drift away from
Jesus and begin to follow the way of the world and the way of ourselves.
We find it easier to listen to the devil, tempting us with lies in the idea that
‘it is my life and my body; I can do what I like’.
But Jesus has chosen you as his own for his purpose. To bear fruit. The
fruit of God’s love in action toward those around you. You are created to
be a blessing to others. You are blessed to bless others with God’s love in
action.
When the word of the Lord challenges you to live differently, it is like Jesus digging at your roots – the roots in self rather than in the word. You
see, the word is the fertiliser of life, and the word of Jesus Christ will feed
and sustain you in bearing the fruit of God’s love in action.
When Jesus digs at your roots, hear the word, and be ready for his word
to guide, challenge, heal and restore you. Be prepared for his word to
nourish your hungry soul, ready to go out into the world with new growth
and fruit that blesses others.
Lets Pray;
Dear Jesus, dig into my roots of selfishness and worldly ways. Let me grow
in you to bear fruit for others. Help me to be a blessing to everyone I meet
today. Feed me, nourish me, and strengthen me daily in your holy word.
Amen.

Something to think about:

A CHURCHGOER IS EITHER — One who uses the Church in any way it can serve him – OR – One who serves the Church in any way it can use him.

A father asked his son what he had learnt in Sunday school the boy answered we learnt a song about a crossed eyed bear called Gladly. Dad was not impressed and rang the teacher and found out that all the children were learning an Easter hymn called. Gladly the cross I bear

7 RULES OF LIFE:
1 Let it go; Never ruin a good day by thinking about a bad yesterday.
2 Ignore them; What other people think of you is none of your business.
3 Give it time; Time heals almost everything.
4 Don’t compare; The only person you should try to beat is the person
you were yesterday.
5 Stay calm; It’s okay to have everything figured out. Know that in time
you’ll get there.
6 It’s on you; Only you are in charge of your happiness.
7 Smile; Life is short. Enjoy it while you have it.

January:
As the year begins, I set my foot on a new pathway and move away from all
that has been holding me back. Negative thoughts and experiences are fading
from my reality. In their place, I fill my mind with thoughts that make me feel
good about myself as well as others. I welcome all the glorious gifts Life has
in store for me!

The Gate of the year:
I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year, “Give me a light that I may
tread safely into the unknown.” And he replied, “Go into the darkness and put
your hand into the hand of God.
That shall be to you better than light and safer than a known way.”

A New Year’s Plan:
I tried to think of a clever new phrase – A slogan to inspire the next 366 days,
A motto to live by this coming New Year, But the catchy words fell flat to my
ear.
And then I heard His still small voice Saying, “Consider this simple, daily
choice:
With each new dawn and close of day make new your resolve to trust and
obey.”
Don’t look back caught in regret or dwell on the sorrow of dreams unmet;
Don’t stare forward anchored by fear, No, live in this moment, for I am here.”
“ I am all you need. Everything. I am. You are held secure by my strong hand.
Give me this one thing – your all in all. Into my grace, let yourself fall.”
So, at last, I’m ready; I see the way. It’s to daily follow, trust, and obey.

Packaging:
A young man was getting ready to graduate from college. For many months
he had admired a beautiful sports car in a dealer’s showroom, and knowing
his father could well afford it, he told him that he really wanted it.
As graduation day approached, the young man looked for signs that his father had bought the car. Finally, on the morning of his graduation, his father
called him into his private study. His father told him how much he loved
him. He handed his son a beautifully wrapped gift box.
Curious, but somewhat disappointed, the young man opened the box and
found a lovely leather-bound Bible, with his named embossed in gold. Angrily, he raised his voice to his father and said, “With all your money you
give me a Bible?” and stormed out of the house, leaving the Bible behind.
Many years passed and the young man was very successful in business. He
had a beautiful home and a wonderful family, but he had not seen his father
since graduation day. His father was now very old, and the son thought that
perhaps it was time he went to visit him.
Before he could make arrangements, However, he received a telegraph telling him his father had passed away, and willed all his possessions to his son.
He needed to come home immediately and take care of things.
When he arrived at his father’s house, sudden sadness and regret filled his
heart. He began to search through his father’s important papers and saw the
still-new Bible, just as he had left it years ago.
In tears , he opened the bible and began to turn the pages. His father had
carefully underlined a verse, Matthew 7:11, “If you, though you are evil,
know how to give gifts to your children, how much more will your father in
heaven, give to those who ask him?”
As he read those words, a car key dropped from the back of the Bible. It had
a tag with the dealer’s name; the same dealer who had the sports car he had
desired.
On the tag was the date of his graduation, and the words…PAID IN FULL.

Value:
A story is told of a man who loved old books. He met an acquaintance who
had just thrown away a Bible that had been stored in the attic of his ancestral
home for generations. “I couldn’t read it,” the friend explained. “Somebody
name Guten-something, had printed it.” “Not Gutenberg!” the book-lover exclaimed in horror. “That Bible was one of the first books ever printed. Why. a copy just sold for over two million dollars!” His friend was unimpressed.
“Mine wouldn’t have brought a dollar. Some fellow named Martin Luther had
scribbled all over it in German.”

“I know the thoughts that I think toward you,” says the Lord,
“thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.”
Jeremiah 29:11

Easter morning sunrise from Split Rock, Warrumbungles.

The greatest undeveloped territory in the world lies under your hat.

But to their surprise, the rabbi replied:
“I am none of these. I am, however, Saul, the son of Kish, who was in a
three-day search for the lost donkeys, and I am glad I’ve finally found them!”

You can’t control the length of you life—
but you can control the width and depth.
You can’t control the contour of your face—
but you can control it’s expression.
You can’t control the weather—
but you can control the atmosphere of your mind.
Why worry about the things you can’t control when you can keep yourself
busy controlling the things that depend on you.

A Christian leader told a group of laymen who came to see him one day for
some advice. They wanted to know of a diplomatic way to get rid of their
pastor. The man sensing that they were not being fair, gave them some
suggestions:
1 Look your pastor straight in the eye while he is preaching and say amen once
in a while. He’ll preach himself to death.
2 Pat him on the back and tell him his good points. Before you know it,
He’ll work himself to death.
3 Rededicate your own life to Christ and ask your pastor for a job to do.
He’ll die of heart failure.
4 Get your church to unite in prayer for him. Soon he’ll become so effective
that a larger church will take him off your hands.
If your pastor faithfully preaches God’s Word and tries to live an exemplary
life, do all you can to support and encourage him. Of course, no pastor is perfect and sometimes a careful rebuke may be needed (1 Tim.5:20), but pastor
carries a big responsibility(Heb.13:17), and a faithful man of God is worthy of
loving respect and generous financial support (1 Tim.3:1; 5:17-18.
By the way, when did you last say to your pastor, “I’m grateful for you and all
you’ve done for me”?

But My Child
Lord, they don’t appreciate us!
But my child, who ever told you they would?
All the work we do, they just don’t understand what this job involves!
But my child, for whom are you working
There’s not enough money!
But my child, are you hungry? Have you nothing to wear?
There’s just not enough time to get everything done!
But my child, who is making out your work schedule?
I’m tired Lord, help me to keep going!
But my Child, will you never learn to rest in me?
Too many of those who bear your name no longer feel any urgency to serve!
But my Child, do I require you to carry their load or do their work?
Lord the lost don’t want to hear! They want to be left alone!
But my Child, what if you were yet lost and did not want to hear?
Lord, will you help me through the day?
But my Child, have I not helped you through all the days since you became
mine?
Did you not expect me to be here today?
My Child, all things are mine to give and all things are yours in me.

Ten people talked three million Israelites out of entering the Promise Land —
That’s how dangerous a vocal minority can be.
“I hope you didn’t take it personally, Reverend,” an embarrassed woman said
after a church service, “when my husband walked out during your sermon.”
“I did find it rather disconcerting,” the minister replied. “ It’s not a reflection
on you, sir,” insisted the churchgoer. “Ralph has been walking in his sleep
ever since he was a child.”

Take time to THINK…It is the source of power.
Take time to PLAY…It is the secret of perpetual youth.
Take time to READ…It is the fountain of wisdom.
Take time to PRAY…It is the greatest power on earth.
Take time to LOVE and BE LOVED…It is a God-given privilege.
Take time to BE FRIENDLY…It is the road to happiness.
Take time to LAUGH…It is the music of the soul.
Take time to GIVE…It is too short a day to be selfish.
Take time to WORK…It is the price of success’
Take time to DO CHARITY…It is the KEY TO HEAVEN.

Resiliency is an important factor in living. The winds of life may bend us,
but if we have resilience of Spirit, they cannot break us. To courageously
straighten again after our heads have been bowed by defeat, disappointment
and suffering, is the supreme test of character.

Perseverance is the most overrated of traits: if it is unaccompanied by talent,
beating your head against a wall is more likely to produce a concussion in
the head than a hole in the wall.
When you talk, you repeat what you already know. When you listen,
you often learn something.
The grace of listening is lost if the listener’s attention is demanded,
not as a favour, but as a right

It’s not how much of my money I give to God, but how much of his money I
keep for myself.
Or as sometimes put more bluntly, It’s all right to give God credit,
but He can use cash too.
You know, they say you can’t take it with you, but you can send it on ahead,
and have it waiting to your credit when you get there. (R.G.LeTourneau)
There is always free cheese in the mouse trap.

When you go to church this Sunday and you feel that old temptation to point
out what’s wrong with the place: the coffee’s luke warm, the lights are too
bright, the temperature is wrong, the music is too loud and, of course, you
don’t know the songs.
Remember in that moment, there’s a Ukrainian church gathering in subway
tunnels to worship while bombs blast overhead. No coffee, no instruments, no
leader pushing them to worship, they’re down there in real time and in real
life worshiping the King above Kings as their world is crumbling down.

A minister waited in line to have his car filled with fuel just before a long
holiday weekend. The attendant worked quickly, but there were many cars
ahead of him in front of the service station. Finally the attendant motioned
him toward a vacant pump. “Reverend,” said the young man, “Sorry about
the delay. It seems as if everyone waits until the last minute to get ready for a
long trip.” The minister chuckled. “I know what you mean.
It’s the same in my business.”

If the request is wrong, God says, “No.”
If the timing is wrong, God says, “Slow.”
If you are wrong, God says, “Grow.”
But if the request is right, the timing is right and you are right ,
God says, “GO.”
Anyone can make a mistake; only a fool will persist in it.
The greatest mistake you can make in life is to be continually fearing you will
make one.

Think about this;
“How does the thief on the cross fit into your theology? No baptism, no
communion, no confirmation, no speaking in tongues, no mission trip, no
volunteerism, and no church clothes.
He couldn’t even bend his knees to pray.
He didn’t say the sinner’s prayer and among other things, he was a thief.
Jesus didn’t take away his pain, heal his body, or smite the scoffers. Yet it
was a thief who walked into heaven the same hour as Jesus simply by believing.
He had nothing more to offer other than his belief that Jesus was who he
said he was.
No spin from brilliant theologians.
No ego or arrogance.
No Shiny lights, skinny jeans, or crafty words.
No haze machine, donuts, or coffee in the entrance.
Just a naked dying man on a cross unable to even fold his hands to pray.”
For God so loved the world he gave his only begotten son so that whosoever believed in him would not perish but have everlasting life. John 3:16
I read this today and was reminded of the simplicity of the Gospel.
John McLean.

As has often been said, ‘The grass is not greener on the other side of the fence
– it is greener where we water it.’ In fact, ‘If the grass looks greener, it’s
probably AstroTurf!

The good opinion of honest men, wherever they may be born or happen to
reside, is the only kind of reputation a wise man would ever desire.
A thing moderately good is not so good as it ought to be. Moderation in
temper is always a virtue; but moderation in principle is always a vice.
Our grand business in life is not to see what lies dimly at a distance, but to do
what lies ahead.
The more you know, the more you know you don’t know.

Just because you are doing a lot more doesn’t mean you are getting a lot
done. Don’t confuse movement with progress!
The driver is safer when the roads are dry,
The roads are safer when the driver is dry.
Two women were discussing the virtues of their mates. “Yes, my Harry is
just the best,” said Louise. “I remember before we were married he said he
liked a cigar after a good meal, but he hasn’t smoked in years

 

But just as quantity wins respect and honour for a church, it is qualitythat provides a church with safety and Protection.

He who chops his own wood warms himself twice

A minister parked his car in a no-parking zone in a large city because he was
short of time and couldn’t find a space with a meter. So he put a note under
the windshield wiper that read: If I don’t park here, I’ll miss my appointment,
FORGIVE US OUR TRESPASSES.
When he returned, he found a citation from a police officer along with this
note. I’ve circled this block for 10 years. If I don’t give you a ticket, I’ll lose
my job. LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION.
If you pick up a starving dog and make him prosperous, he will not bite you;
that is the principal difference between a dog and a man.

A six-year old girl had been so naughty that her mother decided to teach her a
lesson. She told her she couldn’t go to the school fair.
Then when the day came, her mother felt she had been to harsh and changed
her mind. When she told the girl she could go to the school fair, the child’s
reaction was one of gloom and disappointment. “What’s the matter? I thought
you’d be glad to go to the school fair,” her mother said. “It’s too late!” the
little girl said. “I’ve already prayed for rain, storms and thunder!”

Knowing that the pastor was very fond of cherry brandy, one of the Church
Elders offered to present him with a bottle on one consideration — that the
pastor acknowledge receipt of the gift in the church paper.
“Gladly” responded the good man.
When the church magazine came out a few days later, the elder turned at once
to the “appreciation” column.
There he read: “ the pastor extends his thanks to Elder Brown for his gift of
fruit and for the spirit in which it was given.”

After service one Sunday morning a mother commented, “The choir was awful this morning.”
The father commented, “The sermon was too long.” Their seven year old
daughter added,
“But you’ve got to admit it was a pretty good show for 20c”
Brains and beauty are God’s gift; Character is your own achievement.

I can complain because rose bushes have thorns or rejoice because the thorn
bush has a rose. — It’s all up to me.
Children have never been very good at listening to their elders,
but they have never failed to imitate them.
Forgiveness is an act of the will, and the will can function regardless of the
temperature of the heart.

Jesus:
It has been said that Socrates and Aristotle each taught for 40 years, Plato for
50 years, but Jesus for only three. Yet his influence far surpasses the combined
130 years of teaching by these men who are acknowledged as the greatest philosophers of all antiquity. He painted no pictures, yet the finest paintings of
Raphael, Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci received their illumination
from Him. He wrote no poetry, yet Dante, Milton and others of the world’s
greatest poets were inspired by him. He composed no music, yet Haydn, Handel, Beethoven and Bach reached their highest perfection in hymns, symphonies and oratorios composed in His honour. Jesus is quite simply the greatest
teacher who ever lived.

Bible:
They lie on the table side by side. The Holy Bible and the TV guide.
One is well worn and cherished with pride. Not the Bible, but the TV guide.
One is used daily to help folks decide. No, not the Bible, but the TV guide.
As the pages are turned, what shall we see?
Oh, what does it matter, turn on the TV.
So they open the book in which they confide. No, not the Bible, but the TV
guide.
The word of God is seldom read. Maybe a verse before they fall into bed.
Exhausted and sleepy and tired as can be. Not from reading the Bible,
from watching TV.
So then back to the table side by side, Lie the Holy Bible and the TV guide.
No time for prayer, no time for the word, The plan of Salvation is seldom
heard.
But forgiveness of sin, so full and free. Is found in the Bible, not on TV.

Overwork.
For a couple of years I’ve been blaming it on lack of sleep and too much
pressure from my job, but now I’ve found out the real reason:
I am tired because I am overworked.
The population of this country is 58 million. 24 million are retired. That
leaves 34 million to do the work.
There are 20 million at school, which leaves 14 million to do the work. Of
this there are 7.5 million employed by the government, leaving 6.5 million to
do the work. 2.7 million are in the armed forces, which leaves 3.8 million to
do the work.
Take from the total the 3,770,000 people who work for local authorities and
that leaves 30,000 to do the work. At any given time there are 20,000 people
in hospital, leaving 10,000 to do the work.
Now there are 9,998 people in prison. That leaves just two people to do the
work. You and me.
And you’re sitting here reading jokes.

The hinge of history is to be found on the door of a Bethlehem stable.
It was Christmas and the judge was in a merry mood as he asked the
prisoner, “What are you charged with?”
“Doing my Christmas shopping early,” replied the defendant.
“That’s no offence,” said the judge. “ How early were you Shopping?”
“Before the store opened,” answered the defendant.

Men and Women are able creatures; we have made over 32million laws and
haven’t yet improved on the Ten Commandments.
Guidance means I can count on God.
Commitment means God can count on me.
Intentions may be written in pencil, commitments should be carved in stone.

When we learn Something new, the connections between our brain cells are
increased.

The principal hindrance to the advancement of the kingdom of God is greed.
It is the chief obstacle to heaven sent revival. It seems that when the back of
greed is broken, your human spirit soars in regions of unselfishness. I believe
it is safe to say there can be no continuous revival without `hilarious` giving.
And the I fear no contradiction; wherever there is `hilarious` giving there will
be continuous revival. (O S Hawkins)
Biblical charity is more than giving that which we could afford to do without.

Never stop learning how to learn.

The ultimate measure of a
person is not where they stand
in moments of comfort and
convenience, but where they
stand in times of challenge
and controversy.
The first half of our lives
we’re romantic. The second
half we’re rheumatic.
The most significant achievement of our age is not that man stood on the
moon, but rather that God in Christ stood upon this earth.

Father was approached by his small son, who told him proudly,
“I know what the Bible means!”
His father smiled and replied, “What do you mean, you ‘know’ what the
Bible means?”
The son replied, “I do know!” “Ok,” said his father. “So, son, what does the Bible mean?”
That’s easy, Daddy. It stands for ‘Basic Information Before Leaving Earth’.”

Three vicars were having lunch together. One said, “You know since summer started I’ve been having trouble with bats at church. I’ve tried everything — noise, spray, cats — nothing seems to scare them away.” Another said, “Yes, me to. I’ve got hundreds living in my belfry. I’ve even had the place fumigat-ed, and they still won’t go away.”
The third said, “I baptised all mine, and made them members of the church…. Haven’t seen one back since!”

A friend was in front of me coming out of church one day, and the preacher was standing at the door as he always is to shake hands. He grabbed my friend by the hand and pulled him aside.
The pastor said to him, “You need to join the army of the Lord!”
My friend replied, “I’m already in the army of the Lord, pastor.” The pastor questioned, “How come I don’t see you except at Christmas and Easter?”
He whispered back, “ I’m in the secret service.”

Do you know the difference between education and experience? Education is when you read the fine print; experience is what you get when you don’t.
Robert Frost wrote. “Two roads diverged in a wood, and I took the one less travelled by, and that has made all the difference.”
What road are you on?
A gang of eight year old boys found a dead bird. Feeling that a proper burial should be performed, they secured a small box, then dug a hole and made ready for the disposal of the deceased. The minister’s son was chosen to say the appropriate prayers and with dignity intoned his version of what he thought his father always said, “Glory be unto the Faaaather, and unto the Sonnn…and into the hole you goooo.”

Change the way you think of things and the things you think of will change.
The best vitamin for making friends is…..B1
Humility is to receive praise and to pass it on to God untouched.
Humility is like underwear. We should all have it but not let it show.
God created the world out of nothing, and as long as we are nothing, he can make something out of us. (Martin Luther.)

Humility is to receive praise and to pass it on to God untouched.
It is not a great thing to be humble when you are brought low, but to be
humble when you are praised is a great and rare attainment
Two men are being chased by a bear when one stops to put on his trainers.
The other man yells, “You idiot! You can’t outrun a bear!” The first man gasps, “I don’t have to outrun the bear. I just have to outrun you!:

A woman approached the minister after the sermon, and thanked him for his talk. “I found it so helpful,” she said.
The minister replied: “I hope it will not prove as helpful as the last sermon you heard me preach.”
“Why, what do you mean?” asked the astonished woman.
“Well,” said the minister, “ that sermon lasted you three months.”

One summer evening during a violent thunderstorm a mother was tucking her son into bed. She was about to turn off the light when he asked with a tremor in his voice, “Mummy, will you sleep in my bed tonight?” His mother smiled and gave him a reassuring hug. “I can’t dear,” she said. “I have to sleep in Daddy’s room.”
A long silence was broken at last by his shaky little voice. “The big sissy.”
The new father, beside himself with excitement over the birth of his son, was determined to follow all the rules to the letter. “So, tell me, nurse,” he said. “what time should we wake the little guy in the morning?”

When you were born, you cried and the world rejoiced. Live your life in a manner so that when you die the world cries and you rejoice.
While on a long car journey, a couple stopped at a roadside restaurant for lunch. The woman unfortunately left her sunglasses on the table, but didn’t miss them until they were back on the motorway. By then, they had to travel to the next junction before they could turn around.
The man fussed and complained all the way back to the restaurant.
When they finally arrived, as the woman got out of the car to find her sun-glasses, the man said, “While you’re in there, you may as well get my hat,too.”

The wheel was man’s greatest invention… until he got behind it.
A small boy is sent to bed by his father.
Five minutes later… “Da-ad…” “What?”
“I’m thirsty. Can you bring me a drink of water?”
“No. You had your chance, Lights out.”
Five minutes later: “Da-aaad…” “What?”
“I’m THIRSTY. Can I have a drink of water?”
“I told you NO! If you ask again, I’ll have to discipline!” you!”
Five minutes later… “Daaa-aaad…” “What!”
“When you come in to discipline me, can you bring a drink of water?”

There was a preacher who entered his pulpit one Sunday morning and said:
“Oh Lord, give thy servant this mornin’ the eyes of the eagle and the wisdom of the owl; connect his soul with the gospel telephone in the skies; illuminate his brow with the Sun of Heaven; possess his mind with love for the people; turpentine his imagination; grease his lips with possum oil; electrify his brain with lightnin’ of the Word; put perpetual motion in his arms; fill him plumb full of dynamite of Thy glory; anoint him all over with kerosene of salvation, and set him on fire. Amen!”

If you are suffering from tooth decay you should consult your dentist.
If you are suffering from truth decay, you should consult your Bible.

If you had a bank that credited your account with $86,000, that carried over no balance from day to day, allowed you to keep no cash in your account, and every evening cancelled whatever part of the amount you failed to use during the day, what would you do?
Draw out every dollar every day, of course, and use it to your advantage! Well, you have such a bank, and its name is TIME!
Every morning it credits you with 86,000 seconds. Every night it rules off as lost whatever of this you failed to invest to good purpose. It carries over no balances, it allows no overdrafts. Each day it opens a new account with you. If you fail to use the day’s deposits, the loss is yours. There is no going back. There is no drawing against tomorrow.

Martin Luther King said,
‘On some positions, Cowardice asks the question, “Is it safe?”
Expediency asks the question, “Is it politic?” And
Vanity comes along and asks the question, “Is it popular?”
But Conscience asks the question, “Is it right?”

When criticised, try to remember an important truth from John Bunyan:
“ If my life is fruitless, it doesn’t matter who praises me, and
If my life is fruitful, it doesn’t matter who criticises me.”
Criticism, like rain, should be gentle enough to nourish one’s growth without destroying one’s roots

When life seems dark, choose joy. Let your smile be a win-dow of hope reflecting God’s love and the light of his pres-ence in your life.

If we discovered that we had five minutes left to say all we wanted to say,
every telephone line would be occupied by people calling other people to
stammer that they love them.
Why wait until the last five minutes

Discussion is an exchange of knowledge;
Argument is an exchange of ignorance.
Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak;
Courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen.
A young man said to his father at breakfast one morning, “Dad, I’m going to get married.” “How do you know you’re ready to get married?” asked the
Father. “Are you in love?” “I sure am,” said the son. “How do you know you’re in love?” asked the father. “Last night as I was kissing my girlfriend goodnight, her dog bit me and I didn’t feel the pain until I got home.”

A local priest and rabbi were fishing by the side of the road. After some discussion they thoughtfully made a sign saying, “The End is Near! Turn yourself around now before it’s to late!” and showed it to each passing car.
One driver that drove by didn’t appreciate the sign and shouted at them: “Leave us alone, you religious nuts!” Shortly afterwards they heard a big splash. They looked at each other and the priest said to the rabbi, “You think we should just put up a sign that says ‘Bridge Out’instead?”

The children were lined up in the cafeteria of a Catholic school for lunch. At the head of the table was a large pile of apples. The nun made a note, and posted it on the tray, “Take only one. God is watching.” Moving further along the lunch line was a large pile of chocolate chip cookies. One child whispered to another, “Take all you want, God is watching the apples.”
A Rabbi said to a precocious six year old boy: “So your mother says your prayers for you each night? Very commendable . What does she say?” The little boy replied, “Thank God he’s in bed!”

The only ones among you who will be really happy are
those who will have sought and found how to serve.
A teenage boy has just passed his driving test and asked his father when they could discuss his use of the car? His father says he’ll make a deal: “You bring your grades up from C to a B average, study your Bible a little, and get your hair cut. Then we’ll talk about the car.” Done! After about six weeks, his father says: “Son, you’ve brought your grades up and I’ve observed that you have been studying your Bible, but I’m disappointed you haven’t had your hair cut.” The boy says, “You know, Dad, I’ve been thinking about that, and I’ve noticed in my studies of the Bible that Samson had long hair, John the Baptist had long hair, Moses had long hair, and there’s strong evidence that Jesus had long hair.”
“Yes,” replies his father. “But did you also notice they all walked everywhere
they went

A minister was being constantly criticized by a member of his congregation.
After six months of this the poor man could stand it no more. He went out on a hot summer’s afternoon for a drive in the countryside. He wound down the window and after about an hour of driving began to feel much better. Driving down a narrow country lane, however, he was horrified to see a car careering towards him out of control. As it approached, he realized with even greater horror that the lady driving the car was the very woman who had been
harassing him.
As they passed within an inch of each other, the woman shouted the word “PIG!”
Months of built-up tension got the better of the minister and he shouted back, “COW!” Then he drove around the corner and hit the pig.

A new bishop was visiting the homes in the village. At one house it seemed obvious that someone was at home, but no answer came to his repeated knocks on the door.
Therefore, he took out a business card and wrote “Revelation 3:20” on the back and stuck it under the door.
The following Sunday he found that his card had been returned to his office door. Added to it was this cryptic message, “Genesis3:10.”
Reaching for his Bible to check out the verse, he broke up in gales of laughter
Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.
He answered, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked: so I hid.”

Let us not get tired of doing what is right, for after a while we will reap a
harvest of blessing if we don’t get discouraged and give up. Galatians 6:9
Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God.
Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow; it empties today of its strength.

Half the world is composed of people who have something to say and can’t, and the other half is composed of those who have nothing to say and keep on saying it

During the minister’s prayer one Sunday, there was a loud whistle from one of the back pews. Gary’s mother was horrified. She pinched him into silence, and after church, asked: “Gary, whatever made you do such a thing?” Gary answered soberly: “I asked God to teach me to whistle…And He just did!”

Yesterday is gone. Today is here. Tomorrow isn’t promised.
Enjoy the blessings that God has already provided and prepare yourself for what He has planned for you.

If you’re grateful for what you have and you focus on the positives, it has
tremendous benefits for heart health, mental health, and reducing stress.

Stories of Life is an annual writing competition that calls on Australian writers to share a personal story of faith in one of three categories: under 18 years of age, open category under 500 words, and open category under 1500 words. The best 50 stories are published each year in an anthology and many are also recorded and read on different Christian radio stations. The deadline for this year is the end of July. If you have a story to tell, ask Pastor Mark about
Stories of Life, as he is on the steering committee and is one of the editors. He would be happy to help you get started.

Two elderly couples were chatting together. One of the men asked the other. “Fred, how was your visit to the memory clinic last month?”
“Outstanding. They taught us some of the latest techniques for remembering things. It was great.”
“What was the name of the clinic?” asked the other man.
Fred’s mind went blank. Then he smiled and asked, “What do you call that flower with the long stem and thorns?” “A Rose?” “Yes!”
He turned to his wife: “Rose, what was the name of that memory clinic?”

M-O-T-H-E-R
“M” is for the million things she gave me,
“O” means only that she’s growing old,
“T” is for the tears she shed to save me,
“H” is for her heart of purest gold,
“E” is for her eyes, with love-light shining,
“R” means right, and right she’ll always be,
Put them all together, they spell
MOTHER A word that means the world to me

Age does not diminish the extreme disappointment of having a scoop of
Ice cream fall from the cone

Ever notice that anyone driving slower than you is an idiot,
but anyone going faster than you is a maniac
Action:
Did is a word of achievement Won’t is a word of retreat
Might is a word of bereavement Can’t is a word of defeat
Ought is a word of duty Try is a word for each hour
Will is a word of beauty Can is a word of power.

“I know the resurrection is a fact, and Watergate proved it to me. How?
because 12 men testified they had seen Jesus raised from the dead, then they proclaimed that truth for 40 years, never once denying it.
Everyone was beaten, tortured, stoned and put in prison.
They would not have endured that if it weren’t true.
Watergate embroiled 12 of the most powerful men in the world-and they couldn’t keep a lie for three weeks.
You’re telling me 12 apostles could keep a lie for 40 years?
Absolutely impossible.” Charles Colson.

If a matter is not serious enough to pray about, then it is not serious enough to worry about; and if it is serious enough to pray about, and we have prayed about it, then there is no need to worry about it.

When I was a young man, I wanted to change the world. I found it was diffi-cult to change the world, so I tried to change the nation. When I found I couldn’t change the nation. I began to focus on my town. I couldn’t change the town and as an older man, I tried to change my family. Now, as an old man, I realise the only thing I can change is myself, and suddenly I realise that if long ago I had changed myself, I could have made an impact on my family. My family and I could have made an impact on our town, Their im-pact could have changed the nation and I could indeed have changed the world.

What You Give to God, He Multiplies
Hattie May Wiatt, a six-year-old girl, lived near Grace Baptist Church in Phil-adelphia, USA. The Sunday school was very crowded. Russell H. Conwell, the minister, told her that one day they would have buildings big enough to allow everyone to attend. She said, ‘I hope you will. It is so crowded I am afraid to go there alone.’ He replied, ‘When we get the money we will construct one large enough to get all the children in.’
Two years later, in 1886, Hattie May died. After the funeral Hattie’s mother gave the minister a little bag they had found under their daughter’s pillow con-taining 57 cents in change that she had saved up. Alongside it was a note in her handwriting: ‘To help build bigger building so that more children can go to Sunday school.’
The minister changed all the money into pennies and offered each one for sale. He received $250 – and 54 of the cents were given back. The $250 was itself changed into pennies and sold by the newly formed ‘Wiatt Mite Society’. In this way, her 57 cents kept on multiplying.
Twenty-six years later, in a talk entitled, ‘The history of the 57 cents’, the min-ister explained the results of her 57-cent donation: a church with a membership of over 5,600 people, a hospital where tens of thousands of people had been treated, 80,000 young people going through university, 2,000 people going out to preach the gospel – all this happened ‘because Hattie May Wiatt invested her 57 cents’.
The theme of multiplication runs throughout the Bible. What cannot be achieved by addition, God does by multiplication. You reap what you sow, only many times more. What you give to the Lord, he multiplies.

A couple was invited to dinner by their elderly neighbours. The old gentle-man endearingly preceded every request to his wife with “Honey”, “Darling”, “Sweetheart”, “Pumpkin”, etc.
The neighbours were impressed since the couple had been married for almost 70 years.
While the wife was off in the kitchen, the neighbour said to the gentleman,
“I think it’s wonderful that after all the years you’ve been married, you still refer to your wife in those terms.” The elderly gentleman hung his head. “Actually, forgot the old lady’s name about ten years ago.”

Compassion:
A little boy about ten years old was standing before a shoe store on the road-way, barefooted, peering through the window, and shivering with cold. A lady approached the boy and said, “My little fellow, why are you looking so earnestly in the window?” “I was asking God to give me a pair of shoes,” was the boy’s reply.
The lady took him by the hand and went into the store and asked the assistant to get half a dozen pairs of socks for the boy. She then asked if he could get her a basin of water and a towel.
He brought them to her. She took the little boy to the back part of the store and, removing her gloves, knelt down, washed his little feet, and dried with a towel. By this time the assistant had returned with the socks
Placing a pair on the boy’s feet, she bought him a pair of shoes. She tied up the remaining pairs of socks and gave them to him. She patted him on the head and said, “No doubt. My little fellow, you feel more comfortable now?”
As she turned to go, the astonished lad caught her by the hand, and looking up in her face, with tears in his eyes, answered the question with these words: “Are you God’s wife?”

A kindergarten teacher was walking around observing her classroom of children while they were drawing pictures. As she got to one girl who was working diligently, she asked what the drawing was.
The girl replied, “I’m drawing God.”
The teacher paused and said, “But no one knows what God looks like.”
Without looking up from her drawing, the girl replied,
“They will in a minute.”

A smile is a light in the window of a face which shows that the heart is at home.

Memories are the key not to the past, but to the future.

Life:
Perhaps when we grow very old, our bodies get worn out, or certain parts break down, like … an old car.
None of us can be sure of how long we live… I think we should try not to think too much about dying but
Think about all the nice things around us that make life so precious to us all.

A vision without a task is a dream. A task without a vision is drudgery.
But the two together are the hope of the world.
A young and foolish pilot wanted to sound cool and show who was boss on the aviation frequencies.
So, the first time he approached an airfield at night, instead of making his
official request to the tower, he said: “Guess who?”
The controller switched the field lights off and replied: “Guess where!”

Two boys were walking home from church after hearing a strong preach-ing on the devil. One said to the oth-er, “What do you think about all this Satan Stuff?”
The other boy replied, “Well, you know how Santa Claus turned out. It’s Probably just your dad.”

Home is where the heart is….
Because of the shortage near a military base where he was stationed, a young doctor and his wife and three children had to live in cramped quarters in a
hotel. A friend said to the doctor’s six year old daughter, “Isn’t it too bad that you don’t have a home?”
“Oh we have a home,” the youngster quickly replied, “We just don’t have a house to put it in.”

When a train goes through a tunnel and it gets dark, you don’t throw away the ticket and jump off. You
sit still and trust the engineer.
You can never learn that Christ is all you need, until Christ is all you have.

Do you know what hurts so very much? It’s love.
Love is the strongest force in the world, and when it is blocked
that means pain.
There are two things we can do when this happens.
We can kill that love so that it stops hurting.
But then of course part of us dies, too.
Or we can ask God to open up another route for that love to travel.

‘Worrying is carrying tomorrow’s load with today’s strength – carrying two days at once. It is moving into tomorrow ahead of time.’
Trust God and learn to live one day at a time.

An old dollar bill and an even older $20 arrived at a Federal Reserve Bank to be retired.
“I’ve had a pretty good life,” the $20 says. “I’ve been to Vegas, the finest restaurants in New York, and even on a Caribbean cruise.”
“You did have an exciting life!” the dollar says.
“Where have you been?” the $20 asks.
“Oh, I’ve been to the Methodist church, the Baptist church, spent some time with the Lutherans…”
“Wait,” the $20 interrupts. “What’s a church?”

“Do not resist growing old— many are denied the privilege.”
“One of the pleasures of old age is giving things up”
Abraham waited for 25 years. Joseph waited 13 years.
Moses waited 40 years. Jesus waited 30 years.
If God makes you wait, you are in good company.!!!!

If you’re ever headed the wrong way in life, remember the road to Heaven allows U-turns

Known by the Almighty:
Though you are one of the teeming millions in this world, and though the world would have you believe that you don’t count and that you are but a speck in the mass,
God says, “I know you.”

Our lives as Books:
There are people in the world around us who have never opened or read a
Bible. — But are they reading us.
Are they able to say of us to others “That man, that woman reminds me of Jesus?”
Do we let our light so shine that men may see, not us, but our Father in
Heaven?
This is the real test.

Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.
(James 3:18)
Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. (Hebrews 11:1.)

Something to think about:
Mr. Smith,
I am pleased to inform you that I have made arrangements to pay off all your debts in full. I cannot proceed without your consent, however, and I ask that you contact me as soon as possible to receive your gift.
Your loving Servant. Jesus

Kindness:
You never really know the true impact you have on those around you.
You never know how much someone needed that smile you gave them.
You never know how much your kindness turned someone’s entire life around.
You never know how much someone needed that long hug or deep talk.
So! Don’t wait to be kind, don’t wait for better circumstances or for someone to change.
Just be kind. Because you never know how much someone needed it.

Time:
We don’t need to fear that there is not enough time, but we only need to remember to appreciate the time God gives us.

Sacrifice.
In 1937, a man by the name of John Griffiths found a job tending one of the railroad bridges that crossed the Mississippi River. Every day he would control the gears of the bridge to allow barges and ships through.
One day John decided to allow his eight-year-old son Greg to help him. He and his boy packed their lunches with great excitement and hopes for the fu-ture and went to work. The morning went quickly and at noon they headed off for lunch, down a narrow catwalk onto an observation platform about 50 feet above the Mississippi. John told his son stories about the ships as they passed by. Suddenly, they were jolted back to reality by the shrill sound of an engine’s whistle.
Looking at his watch, John realized to his horror that it was 1.07 pm, that the Memphis Express was due any time and that the bridge was still raised.
He calmly told Greg to stay put and then ran back to the controls.
Once there he looked beneath the bridge to make sure there was nothing
below. As his eyes moved downwards he saw something so terrible that he froze. For there, lying on the gears, was his beloved son.
Greg had tried to follow his dad but had fallen off the catwalk. Immediately, John realized the horrifying choice before him: either to lower the bridge and kill his son, or keep the bridge raised and kill everyone on board the train.
As 400 people moved closer to the bridge, John realized what he had to do. Burying his face under his arm, he plunged down the lever. The cries of his son were instantly drowned out by the noise of the bridge grinding slowly into position.
John wiped the tears from his eyes as the train passed by. A Conductor was collecting tickets in his usual way. A Businessman was casually reading the newspaper. Ladies were drinking afternoon tea. Children were playing. Most of the passengers were engaged in idle chatter.
No one heard the cries of a heartbroken father.

A LITTLE EXTRA FROM THE PAST.

Never Argue with Children.
A little girl was talking to her teacher about whales. The teacher said it was physically impossible for a whale to swallow a human because even though it was a very large mammal its throat was very small. The little girl stated that Jonah was swallowed by a whale. Irritated, the teacher reiterated that a whale could not swallow a human; it is physically impossible. The little girl said, “When I get to heaven I will ask Jonah.” The teacher asked. “What if Jonah went to hell?” The little girl replied, “Then you ask him.”

Storms
Did you know that an Eagle knows when a storm is approaching long before
it breaks?
The Eagle will fly to some high spot and wait for the winds to come.
When the storm hits, it sets its wings so that the wind will pick it up and lift it above the storm. While the storm rages below, the Eagle is soaring above it. The Eagle does not escape the storm. It simply uses the storm to lift it higher. It rises on the winds that bring the storm.
When the storms of life come upon us – and all of us will experience them – we can rise above them setting our minds and our belief toward God.
The storms do not have to overcome us. We can allow God’s power to lift us above them. God enables us to ride the winds of the storm that bring sickness, tragedy, failure and disappointment in our lives. We can soar above the storm.
Remember, it is not the burdens of life that weigh us down, it is how we han-dle them.
“Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like Eagles” Isaiah 40:31

Beginnings:
Begin difficult things while they are easy, Do great things when they are small,
The difficult things of the world must have once been easy:
The great things must have been small ..,
A thousand mile journey begins with one step.

This is a story about four people named Everybody, Somebody, Anybody, and Nobody.
There was an important job to be done and Everybody was sure that Some-body would do it. Anybody could have done it, but Nobody did it.
Somebody got angry about that because it was Everybody’s job.
Everybody thought that Anybody could do it, but Nobody realized that
Everybody wouldn’t do it. It ended up that Everybody blamed Somebody when Nobody did what Anybody could have done.

Now that’s rediculious!!

                   

                           7th November 2021
                    24th Sunday after Pentecost 
                    Todays service will be held @ 9am
         If you are in Port Macquarie you are very welcome.
               Service will be lead by: Dr. Gordon Watson
                                       The theme;
“If

 

              Sunday 7th November
              Pentecost 24
Worship Service led by: Dr. Gordon Watson
Holy Communion: Dr. Gordon Watson
Communion Assistant: David Thompson
Communion Prep.: David Thompson
Bible Readings: David Thompson
1st Reading: 1King 17:8-16 Elijah and the widow of Zarephath
2nd Reading: Hebrews 9:24-28 Christ’s sacrifice takes away sins
Gospel: Mark 12:38-44 The widow’s generous offering
Prayers lead by: Derryl Huf
Stewards: Joan Watson and Dale Ampt
Music: Narelle
Audio/ Computer: Tayte Schultz

                    Next Sunday 14th November
                     Pentecost 25
Worship Service led by: John McLean
Holy Communion: David Pfeiffer
Communion Assistant: Dr. Gordon Watson
Communion Prep.: David Thompson
Bible Readings: Jenelle Frances
1st Reading: Daniel 12:1-3 The time of the end
2nd Reading: Hebrews 10:11-14(15-18)19-25 Let us confidently draw near to God
Gospel: Mark 13:1-8 Signs of the end of the age
Prayers lead by: Dr. Gordon Watson
Stewards: Don and Carol Mclean
Music: Daryll and Lloyd
Audio/ Computer: David Pfeiffer

Notice:

                  

                           St Peters Lutheran Church:
Condition of entry.
The Use of QR COVID Safe Check-in is a requirement.
Masks must be worn at all times.
COVID Marshal 12-09-2021

                        

 

In our thoughts and Prayers:
John McLean,
Rosemary Conran,
Kathy Mitchell,
Renate Radmacher,
Jenny Montgomery,
Tony Koch,
Aileen Huf,
Bob Rayward,
Helga Mathies,
Clive Reeve.
Carole Rogers.
Christine Kurteff.

 

Bible Study:
7.30 Tuesday night @ Kemp St.
Stay connected with : Lutheran Media Livestreaming.
https://www.livestream.com/luthworship

Church Stewards:
Please make sure all attendees sanitise, sign-in and supervise 1.5 m rule.
Roster:
Church Cleaning:
November: Corrine McLean
Cleaners please wash hands before and after cleaning and wear gloves.

Roster: Morning tea:
NO MORNING TEA DUE TO C19

Catch-Up Coffee:
Friday, 12th November, 10 am.at Rivermark
Interested people please contact Carol McLean 0427832156

Ladies fellowship:
Meeting Wednesday 10th November. 12pm at the Church.
Please note the AGM will be held with this meeting.
BYO lunch and drink and don’t forget your mask.

Sermons:
All past sermons are available to read on our web page.
stpetersptmacquarie.com
Stay connected with : Lutheran Media Livest reaming.

October/November Birthdays:
24 Lloyd Reichelt
24 Jasper Schultz
29 Ben Clarke

 

Web page. 
People who visited the website in the last week, including
32 Aust
19 USA
2 UK
2 Canada
1 Austria 1
1 Ecuador
4 Phillipines.
We now have 87 followers.

2018:  2,515
2019:  1,864
2020:  2,496
2021:  1,735

Statistic:
Sunday Service 31st October Attendance was 29

 

Notice:

Memorial Rite for Those Who Have Died In the Faith of Christ
(You are invited to come forward at the beginning of Sundays worship service and light a candle from the Baptismal candle remem-bering those dear to you with whom you are now united in Christ in the church triumphant.)

 

Living Waters:
Please remember to bring your Living Waters Art for display on this Sunday

Notice:
Please send all information, comments, devotions, prayers to be included in the news letter to rherbig@tpg.com.au by Thursday in order to publish on Friday Thank you , Roy.
St. Peters Lutheran Church. 13 Kemp St. Port Macquarie. 2444. P.O. Box 5655.
stpetersptmacquarie.com
Responding to Sexual Abuse Complaints:
A confidential service for responding to complaints of sexual abuse/harassment by church employees has been set up. Trained advisors are available to help.
Write to the Supervisor P.O. Box 519. Marden SA. 5070, or use the free call number 1800644628
The Church and the Privacy Act:
1 The Church collects personal information about you before and during the course of your membership of the church
2 We may include your contact details in membership lists or other church publications. If you do not agree to this
You must advise us immediately.
3 Some of the information we collect is to satisfy the church’s legal obligation, and thereby to enable it to discharge It’s duty of care.

 

 

Stories of Life 2021 Book Launch:
When Pastor Mark was visiting us back in June, he encouraged all of us to write our story of faith and submit them for the chance of being selected for publication. This book is being launched on Thursday evening, 4 November via Zoom from SA.
Five members from our congregation took up the challenge and submitted their sto-ries and ALL five stories have been selected for the book! Congratulations to Aileen Huf, Jenelle Francis, Ivan Francis, Tony Koch, and Sherry Thompson. The 2021 Stories of Life, Labyrinth, will be available to purchase for $20 and has over 50 stories to inspire and encourage our faith.
To save postage, Pastor Mark has offered to bring them with him when he visit in January. If you require the book before then, you can order and pay $8 per book postage (if same address, $8 first book and $2 thereafter). Please advise David Pfeiffer if you wish to purchase a copy or copies and want to wait for the January delivery.

 

St Peters Chess Club:

Thursday from 6 – 7.30 pm.
Everyone welcome

Weekly Devotion:

Oh, that my ways were steadfast in obeying your decrees! (Psalm 119:5).
Read Psalm 119:1–8
Are you everything you would like to be? More importantly, are you every-thing God would like you to be? It’s frustrating, isn’t it? Most of us long to be better, to be as God wants us to be, and we are so aware of our shortcom-ings. Can we be blessed by God when we keep failing to measure up?
The opening verses of Psalm 119 have two parts. The first describes those who are blessed. They ‘walk according to the law of the Lord’ (verse 1b); ‘they do nothing wrong’ (verse 3a). Do such people actually exist? If they do, the psalmist says in the second part, ‘I wish I was one of them’. He acknowl-edges that he falls short. ‘Oh, that my ways were steadfast’ (verse 5) is the aspiration he expresses. I don’t know about you, but I identify with that sec-ond part. I long to be blessed.
It’s hard to read the Old Testament without reading it through a ‘Jesus lens’. Jesus says that these are blessed: the poor in spirit, the mourners needing comfort, the meek, the ones hungry and thirsty for righteousness, the merci-ful, the pure in heart, the peacemakers and those who are persecuted because of righteousness (Matthew 5:1–10). The Jesus lens tells us more. It tells us that he gave his life to pay for all shortcomings, even for the very worst. To you and me, he says that he loves us unconditionally. And because of that, we are blessed. That’s the essence of the Reformation message on which we re-flect tomorrow. We are blessed; now, we are called and equipped to live the blessed life.
The psalmist knew the two-part battle. I’m sure you do too. You are a child of God, so you are blessed. Live as a blessed one!
Prayer:
Bless me, Lord God. Shine the cross of Jesus before my eyes. Help me to

                 Something to think about:

A father was approached by his small son, who told him proudly,

“I know what the Bible means!”
His father smiled and replied, “What do you mean, you ‘know’ what the
Bible means?”
The son replied, “I do know!” “Ok,” said his father. “So, son, what does the Bible mean?”
That’s easy, Daddy. It stands for ‘Basic Information Before Leaving Earth’.”

A woman was mailing an old family Bible to her brother in another part of the country.
“Is there anything breakable in here?” asked the postal clerk.
“Only the Ten Commandments,” answered the woman.

Can you say today that you have learned to be content in whatever state you find yourself? If you cannot, ask yourself, “What am I doing and why am I doing it?”
Are you able to say, “I’m doing it because the Lord has called me and because of the love and relationship I have with him. Whether it succeeds or fails is of no consequence to me. What is important to me is that I’m doing what the Lord has called me to do.”
That is the secret of contentment.