Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost
7 September 2014
Father's Day Reflections:
Father! - to God himself we cannot give a holier name. - William Wordsworth
As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him; Psalm 103:13
THIS MORNING'S SONG'S OF PRAISE:
73 (v 1, 2), 349, 462, 263, 506.
FIRST BIBLE READING:
Exodus 12: 1-14
'The Lord institutes the Passover
The Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron in Egypt:
'This month is to be the first month of the year for you. Give these instructions to the whole community of Israel: On the tenth day of this month each man must choose either a lamb or a young goat for his household.
If his family is too small to eat a whole animal, he and his next-door neighbour may share an animal, in proportion to the number of people and the amount that each person can eat. You may choose either a sheep or a goat, but it must be a one-year-old male, without any defects. Then, on the evening of the fourteenth day of the month, the whole community of Israel will kill the animals.
The people are to take some of the blood and put it on the doorposts and above the doors of the houses in which the animals are to be eaten.
That night the meat is to be roasted, and eaten with bitter herbs and with bread made without yeast. Do not eat any of it raw or boiled, but eat it roasted whole, including the head, the legs, and the internal organs.
You must not leave any of it until morning; if any is left over, it must be burned. You are to eat it quickly, for you are to be dressed for travel, with your sandals on your feet and your walking stick in your hand. It is the Passover Festival to honour me, the Lord.
'On that night I will go through the land of Egypt, killing every firstborn male, both human and animal, and punishing all the gods of Egypt. I am the Lord.
The blood on the doorposts will be a sign to mark the houses in which you live.
When I see the blood, I will pass over you and will not harm you when I punish the Egyptians. You must celebrate this day as a religious festival to remind you of what I, the Lord, have done. Celebrate it for all time to come'.
SECOND BIBLE READING:
Romans 13: 8-14;
'The debt of love'
Be under obligation to no one - the only obligation you have is to love one another. Whoever does this has obeyed the Law. The commandments, 'Do not commit adultery; do not commit murder; do not steal; do not desire what belongs to someone else' – all these, and any others besides, are summed up in the one command, 'Love your neighbour as yourself'.
If you love others, you will never do them wrong; to love, then, is to obey the whole Law.
You must do this, because you know that the time has come for you to wake up from your sleep. For the moment when we will be saved is closer now than it was when we first believed.
The night is nearly over, day is almost here. Let us stop doing the things that belong to the dark, and let us take up weapons for fighting in the light. Let us conduct ourselves properly, as people who live in the light of day - no orgies or drunkenness, no immorality or indecency, no fighting or jealousy. But take up the weapons of the Lord Jesus Christ, and stop paying attention to your sinful nature and satisfying its desires.
GOSPEL READING:
Matthew 18: 15-20;
'Steps towards reconciliation'
Jesus said to his disciples:
'If one of my followers sins against you, go and point out what was wrong, just between the two of you. If that person listens to you, you have won back a follower. But if that person will not listen, take one or two others along, so that "every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses".
But if the follower refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; anyone who refuses to listen to the church must be treated like a pagan or a tax collector.
'I tell you the truth, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. 'Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them'.
NOTES ON THE READINGS:
EXODUS 12:1-14:
The Passover was an annual festival for family observance to remember the deliverance God brought about for his people enslaved in Egypt.
EXODUS 12:1-14: (Cont.)
The blood of the lamb sprinkled on door lintels saved the readied and believing people from death visited upon every Egyptian family. The angel of death 'passed over' these homes. The punishment of God upon the Egyptians enabled the Hebrews at last to leave.
The strict observance of detail in preparation and partaking signified God's complete commitment and the peoples' reception of life and liberty solely from his hands in sincere repentance. The Passover continued annually to remind Jewish families of their need for deliverance from sin through the substitutionary blood of the lamb.
ROMANS 13:8-14:
'Don't let us get too religious', is a commonly heard cry. Why? We might put people off! God sees his own commandments as an expression of perfect love.
We are called to live the commandments in every moment of our lives. Live them perfectly and you will love perfectly.
The works of darkness shut us off from God's light.
Self-gratification chokes spiritual life. Therefore put on the Lord Jesus Christ.
Bible readings for Sunday 14th September 2014:
Exodus 14: 19-31, Romans 14: 1-12, Matthew 18: 21-35.
This week in the Lord's Service -7th -14th Sept:
1. This morning - Sunday School.
Wednesday - Studies on 'How We Got The Bible' - .11.00 am at the church and evening at the Manse - finger food meal at 6.30 pm, followed by a
short study. All welcome to come along!
Thursday - Ladies Fellowship Group meet 10.30 am at the church - then lunch later at Skyblitz Café, 1/18 Thompson Road, North Geelong.
Saturday - 10.00 am - 11.00 am - 'Sing - along' time. 11.00 am to 12 noon - Choir practice.
Sunday - 9.30 am - Public Divine service - With Holy- Communion).
Nominations Committee meet after worship.
2. Christian Life Weeks - Tandara:
Further reminder of the remaining 2014 CLWcamps for Youth 13 to 18 years at Tandara Lutheran Camp, Hall's Gap - 22nd to 26th September and 29th September to 3rd October.
For those interested, parents / campers letters and registration forms are available from the front foyer.
3. Performance by Robin Mann:
Further reminder of songwriter, Robin Mann coming to St John's Geelong for a sing-a-long on Sunday 5th October. Particulars on notice board near kitchen.
4. St John's Bus Trip - 9th October :
St John's Evening Fellowship has organised a bus trip to Werribee mansion and rose garden on Thursday 9th October, leaving from 'Our Redeemer'
at 9.30 am, returning at 3 pm. Costs will be $10 for the bus, $5.85 (concession) for a self-guided tour through the mansion. Bought lunch in the café -
$15 - $ 20, or bring along a picnic lunch. Could you please let Norma or Helen Tischler know by Wednesday 1st October, if you would like to come on
the trip, also .if you plan to tour the mansion or have lunch in the café. If the weather is inclement, time may be spent indoors in the mansion and café.
Everyone from the Greater Geelong parishes and friends are welcome. Please contact Norma: 52488228, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., or text to
0413 595 176
Coming up for your diary:
Tuesday 16th September -12.30 pm - Kaffeestunde.
Sunday 28th September - Fellowship evening at 'Our Redeemer' - 5.30 pm (soup/rolls) - Meal by gold coin if anyone wishes to make a donation! 6.00 pm
movie 'Heaven is for Real'. All most welcome!
Tuesday 7th October - 7.30 pm - Deacons.
Friday 10th October - 9.30 am - Worship Team.
Tuesday 14th October - 7.00 pm - Church Council.
Thursday 30th October - 2.30 pm - Reformation mid - week worship service (with Holy Communion), followed by fellowship afternoon tea.
All welcome to come along!