Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost
Many thanks to Mark Gerhardy for leading our worship service this morning.
21 September 2014
Further reminder of upcoming events:
2014 Christian Life Week - the remaining 2014 Christian Life Weeks camp for Youth 13 to 18 years at
Tandara Lutheran Camp, Hall's Gap 29th September to 3rd October. For those interested, parents / campers letters and registration forms are available from the front foyer.
Performance by Robin Mann: Songwriter/singer, Robin Mann is coming to St John's , Yarra St. Geelong for a sing-a-long on evening Sunday 5th October.
Full particulars previously publicised and are displayed on church power point slide and notice board near kitchen.
THIS MORNING'S MUSIC OF PRAISE:
347, 403, 384, 347.
FIRST BIBLE READING:
Exodus 16: 2-15 'Bread from heaven in the desert'
There in the desert they all complained to Moses and Aaron and said to them, 'We wish that the Lord had killed us in Egypt. There we could at least sit down and eat meat and as much other food as we wanted. But you have brought us out into this desert to starve us all to death'.
The Lord said to Moses, 'Now I am going to cause food to rain down from the sky for all of you. The people must go out every day and gather enough for that day. In this way I can test them to find out if they will follow my instructions. On the sixth day they are to bring in twice as much as usual and prepare it'.
So Moses and Aaron said to all the Israelites, 'This evening you will know that it was the Lord who brought you out of Egypt. In the morning you will see the dazzling light of the Lord's presence. He has heard your complaints against him – yes, against him, because we are only carrying out his instructions'. Then Moses said, 'It is the Lord who will give you meat to eat in the evening and as much bread as you want in the morning, because he has heard how much you have complained against him. When you complain against us, you are really complaining against the Lord'.
Moses said to Aaron, 'Tell the whole community to come and stand before the Lord, because he has heard their complaints'.
As Aaron spoke to the whole community, they turned toward the desert, and suddenly the dazzling light of the Lord appeared in a cloud. The Lord said to Moses, 'I have heard the complaints of the Israelites. Tell them that at twilight they will have meat to eat, and in the morning they will have all the bread they want. Then they will know that I, the Lord, am their God'.
In the evening a large flock of quails flew in, enough to cover the camp, and in the morning there was dew all around the camp. When the dew evaporated, there was something thin and flaky on the surface of the desert. It was as delicate as frost. When the Israelites saw it, they didn't know what it was and asked each other, 'What is it?' (That is, manna)
Moses said to them, 'This is the food that the Lord has given you to eat'.
SECOND BIBLE READING:
Philippians 1: 21-30; 'Living for Christ ' (GNB)
For what is life? To me, it is Christ. Death, then, will bring more. But if by continuing to live I can do more worthwhile work, then I am not sure which I should choose. I am pulled in two directions. I want very much to leave this life and be with Christ, which is a far better thing; but for your sake it is much more important that I remain alive.
I am sure of this, and so I know that I will stay. I will stay on with you all, to add to your progress and joy in the faith, so that when I am with you again, you will have even more reason to be proud of me in your life in union with Christ Jesus.
Now, the important thing is that your way of life should be as the gospel of Christ requires, so that, whether or not I am able to come and see you, I will hear that you are standing firm with one common purpose and that with only one desire you are fighting together for the faith of the gospel.
Don't be afraid of your enemies; always be courageous, and this will prove to them that they will lose and that you will win, because it is God who gives you the victory. For you have been given the privilege of serving Christ, not only by believing in him, but also by suffering for him. Now you can take part with me in the battle. It is the same battle you saw me fighting in the past, and as you hear, the one I am fighting still.
GOSPEL READING:
Matthew 20: 1-16; 'The workers in the vineyard '
Jesus said to them:
The kingdom of heaven is like this. Once there was a man who went out early in the morning to hire some men to work in his vineyard. He agreed to pay them the regular wage, a silver coin a day, and sent them to work in his vineyard. He went out again to the marketplace at nine o'clock, and saw some men standing there doing nothing, so he told them,
"You also go and work in the vineyard, and I will pay you a fair wage".So they went. Then at twelve o'clock and again at three o'clock he did the same thing. It was nearly five o'clock when he went to the market place and saw some other men still standing there. "Why are you wasting the whole day here doing nothing?" he asked them.
"No one hired us", they answered. "Well, then, you go and work in the vineyard", he told them. 'When evening came, the owner told his foreman, "Call the workers and pay them their wages, starting with those who were hired last, and ending with those who were hired first". The men who had begun to work at five o'clock were paid a silver coin each.
So when the men who were the first to be hired came to be paid, they thought they would get more; but they too were given a silver coin each. They took their money and started grumbling against the employer. "These men who were hired last worked only one hour", they said, "while we put up with a whole day's work in the hot sun - yet you paid them the same as you paid us!" "Listen, friend", the owner answered one of them, "
I have not cheated you. After all, you agreed to do a day's work for one silver coin. Now take your pay and go home. I want to give this man who was hired last as much as I have given you. Don't I have the right to do as I wish with my own money? Or are you jealous because I am generous?"'
And Jesus concluded, 'So those who are last will be first, and those who are first will be last'.
NOTES ON THE BIBLE READINGS – SUNDAY 21ST SEPTEMBER
EXODUS 16: 2-15:
Privations of desert life brought the people to the verge of desperation. Hence their outcry against Moses and Aaron. However, God had clearly shown both his miraculous presence and his deliverance previously. Thus their complaint was really against him and his practical teaching aimed at testing their obedience and developing their faith and trust. Even so, the Lord again showed his presence by the display of his glory and his loving mercy by the provision of quail and manna. The people were to learn that it is God who sustains life, not the pride and strength latent in human endeavour. Hence the detailed instructions concerning the gathering and use of this heaven-sent food. The miraculous provision of daily food would continue until the time the people would enter Canaan.
PHILIPPIANS 1: 21-30:
Paul has two wonderful possibilities before him, which makes it difficult for him to choose. To work on with the gospel, experiencing Christ's wonderful closeness, or to 'break camp', so to speak, and to go into the immediate presence of his Lord in heaven. He knows that he must work on. He encourages the Philippian Christians, then, similarly to work on with the gospel, experiencing the joy of Christian life, and receiving the reality of joy from God's hand amidst suffering from unbelievers.
MATTHEW 20: 1-16:
Sometimes the Scriptures talk about heaven as a final 'reward'. Other times salvation is taught to be strictly undeserved and solely received as a gift of God. In this parable Jesus shows that God owes no individual person anything. No matter what the extent of personal service, it is God who determines 'rewards' essentially according to his own grace and all-knowing counsel. He gives only in grace, otherwise nobody would receive eternal salvation in the Kingdom.
Bible readings for Sunday 28th September 2014:
Exodus 17; 1-7, Philippians 2: 1-13, Matthew 21: 23-32.
This week in the Lord's Service - 21st 28th September:
1. Friday - 6.30 pm - YPQ&A.
Saturday - 10.00 am - 11.00 am - 'Sing - along' time. 11.00 am to 12 noon - Choir practice.
Next Sunday - 9.30 am - Public Divine service - (With Holy- Communion).
Fellowship evening at 'Our Redeemer' - 5.30 pm (soup/rolls) - Meal by gold coin if anyone wishes to make a donation! 6.00 pm - screening of movie Heaven is for Real'. All most welcome!
2. Pastor Lester on leave:
Pastor Lester will be on leave from Friday 19th until Thursday 25th September. If any family member would like hospital visiting, or to leave other messages, please contact the church office,
03 52 78 2443, or if unattended, leave a message.
3. Longest Lutheran Lunch:
Flyers and registration forms for the 2014 fellowship Longest Lutheran Lunch at Araluen Lutheran Camp, Angelsea on Sunday 26th October, are now available from the church front foyer
As previously, there will also be a public divine service here at 'Our Redeemer' on that Sunday.
4. Nominations - Dist.Committees:
As mentioned by Pastor Lester last Sunday and as previously publicised, nominations are being sought for various elected positions on Victorian District Committees leading up to the 2014 District
Convention 3rd to 5th October.
Persons with a sound track record in their own parishes and with good relational and communication skills are sought for all Councils.
Members are encouraged to prayerfully consider whether they may be able to serve with this in mind.
Persons may be nominated, needing the nominee's consent and a seconder (form available), alternately, anyone may simply suggest a name or offer one's self for service on a Council by contacting
Bob Menzel as a matter of some urgency on 03 5523 4177 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
If anyone is interested, copies of the full particulars, together with nominee information sheet and nomination form are available from Wayne Schulz.
These have been placed on the hall notice board near kitchen for the benefit of members.
Coming up for your diary:
Tuesday 7th October - 7.30 pm - Deacons.
Thursday 9th October - 10.30 am - Ladies F.Group.
Friday 10th October - 9.30 am - Worship Team.
Tuesday 14th October - 7.00 pm - Church Council.
Sunday 19th October - Sunday School.
Tuesday 21st October - Kaffeestunde
Thursday 30th October - 2.30 pm - Reformation mid - week worship service (with Holy Communion), followed by fellowship afternoon tea.
All welcome to come along!
Sunday 9th November - Nominations Committee
Sunday 23rd November - 2015 Elections meeting