Review of Church Boxes:

A review is being made of current church boxes, as in some instances, it has been noted that these are not being cleared regularly, making it difficult to add

additional material as time goes on. Since the introduction of emailed and the availability of hard copies of bulletins, sermons and the like, church boxes are mainly

used to place appeal brochures, cards, letters, in some cases hymnals and other material as a means of ‘in house’ communication and a depository as a service to  all members.

As it is intended to withdraw certain allocated boxes from the rear foyer, if those members affected or in the case whereby family or other members are aware that there is a wish to retain such boxes and if family or other members are willing to collect from and pass on, this might be made known to the church office   

Church Duty Rosters:

Any member on rostering duties has not yet received a copy of the new 2015 rosters, may obtain this from either Peter or Wayne at the church office.                               

Church Access Keys:

From time to time, it is necessary to make available church access keys to those members who may need these for church rostering or other purposes.

Members currently allocated keys who now no longer need them to access the church are kindly requested to hand in to the church office ASAP to enable reallocation on a needs basis. It is not intended to have further keys cut.

 

Second Sunday after Epiphany

18 January 2015

THIS MORNING'S HYMN'S OF PRAISE:
305, 156, 296, 366, 306 (V 1, 2), 900.

FIRST BIBLE READING:

1 Samuel 3: 1-20 'The Lord speaks to Samuel'

The boy Samuel ministered before the LORD under Eli. In those days the word of the LORD was rare; there were not many visions.
One night Eli, whose eyes were becoming so weak that he could barely see, was lying down in his usual place. The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the house of the LORD, where the ark of God was. Then the LORD called Samuel.
Samuel answered, "Here I am." And he ran to Eli and said, "Here I am; you called me."
But Eli said, "I did not call; go back and lie down." So he went and lay down.
Again the LORD called, "Samuel!" And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, "Here I am; you called me."
"My son," Eli said, "I did not call; go back and lie down."
Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD: The word of the LORD had not yet been revealed to him.
A third time the LORD called, "Samuel!" And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, "Here I am; you called me."
Then Eli realised that the LORD was calling the boy.
So Eli told Samuel, "Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say, 'Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening.'
So Samuel went and lay down in his place.
The LORD came and stood there, calling as at the other times, "Samuel! Samuel!"
Then Samuel said, "Speak, for your servant is listening."
And the LORD said to Samuel: "See, I am about to do something in Israel that will make the ears of everyone who hears about it tingle. At that time I will carry out against Eli everything I spoke against his family-from beginning to end.
For I told him that I would judge his family forever because of the sin he knew about; his sons blasphemed God, and he failed to restrain them. Therefore I swore to the house of Eli, 'The guilt of Eli's house will never be atoned for by sacrifice or offering.'"
Samuel lay down until morning and then opened the doors of the house of the LORD. He was afraid to tell Eli the vision, but Eli called him and said, "Samuel, my son."
Samuel answered, "Here I am."
"What was it he said to you?" Eli asked. "Do not hide it from me. May God deal with you, be it ever so severely, if you hide from me anything he told you."
So Samuel told him everything, hiding nothing from him. Then Eli said, "He is the LORD; let him do what is good in his eyes."
The LORD was with Samuel as he grew up, and he let none of Samuel's words fall to the ground. And all Israel from Dan to Beersheba recognized that Samuel was attested as a prophet of the LORD.

SECOND BIBLE READING:

1 Corinthians 6: 12-20
'Your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit'

"I have the right to do anything," you say-but not everything is beneficial. "I have the right to do anything"-but I will not be mastered by anything. You say, "Food for the stomach and the stomach for food, and God will destroy them both."
The body, however, is not meant for sexual immorality but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. By his power God raised the Lord from the dead, and he will raise us also.
Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ himself? Shall I then take the members of Christ and unite them with a prostitute? Never! Do you not know that he who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body?
For it is said, "The two will become one flesh.
" But whoever is united with the Lord is one with him in spirit.
Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually, sins against their own body.
Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.

GOSPEL READING:

John 1: 43-51 'We have found the Messiah'
The next day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee. Finding Philip, he said to him, "Follow me."
Philip, like Andrew and Peter, was from the town of Bethsaida. Philip found Nathanael and told him,
"We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote-Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph."
"Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?"
Nathanael asked. "Come and see," said Philip.
When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, he said of him, "Here truly is an Israelite in whom there is no deceit."
"How do you know me?" Nathanael asked.
Jesus answered, "I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you."
Then Nathanael declared, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the king of Israel."
Jesus said, "You believe because I told you I saw you under the fig tree. You will see greater things than that.
" He then added, "Very truly I tell you, you will see 'heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on' the Son of Man."

NOTES ON THE READINGS:
1 CORINTHIANS 6: 12-20:
Before hearing and believing the gospel, the Corinthian Christians had engaged in sexual immorality as part of their heathen religious worship. Some were still finding it hard not to be involved in sexual perversion. They knew that Christ had died for their sins to set them free from death.
They thought they were free, however, to do what they pleased. St Paul here defines a very clear-cut teaching of how a Christian sees his/her body. Having been redeemed from sin, the body belongs to God.

JOHN 1:43-51:
Just after John the Baptist had pointed to Jesus as the Lamb of God, that is the Messiah, Jesus went the next day to Galilee. Jesus convinced Philip of Jesus' messiahship.
Philip brought Nathanael to Jesus. Jesus convinced and called Nathanael also. Jesus' knowledge of Nathanael's inner spiritual life authenticated Jesus' divine sonship in Nathanael's mind.

Bible readings for Sunday 25th January 2015:
Jonah 3: 1-5,10, 1 Corinthians 7: 29-31, Mark 1: 14-20.

This week in the Lord's Service - 18th - 25th January:

1. Next Sunday - 9.30 am - Public Divine service (H.C.)

2. Appointment of Synod Delegate:
Notice is given that a proposed special meeting of the congregation is to take place after worship on Sunday 25th January, 2015. This is in response to a written request from the required number of voting members (10) that this be held in order that a delegate representing 'Our Redeemer' at 2015
General Synod may be appointed. (In compliance with current By- Laws of 'Our Redeemer').

(LCA Constitution (2013) allows for each parish to elect one lay member for every 400 confirmed members or part thereof, or such other number as may from time to time be prescribed by the By- Laws to serve for a synodical term (3 years),
unless otherwise prescribed in the By-Laws.

Ralph Brickmann (a member of District General Church Council) is willing to be our delegate and is so nominated. Graeme Huf, who has been our delegate at previous Synods, will be attending Synod as a LLL representative and who may, however, not be able to attend all sessions as he has other commitments in Perth. It has been suggested that Graeme be nominated as a 'standby delegate' in the event that Ralph is absent from Synod for any reason. Voting members are encouraged to attend this meeting, as in accordance with current By-Laws, a quorum of one-seventh of all voting members is needed to transact business.
Voting by proxy is not permitted.

3. Festival of Thanksgiving:

This year's Festival of Thanksgiving will be held on Sunday 1st February. Members are encouraged to bring along non- perishable food which then may be temporarily placed on a table in the hall for this purpose. Garden produce may also be brought along either on the Thursday or Friday (10am-12noon)  of that week or early on the Sunday morning.
Both the garden produce and non- perishable items will be displayed at the altar and will later on be distributed to those in need in our community.

Coming up for your diary:
Friday 6th February - 9.30 am - Worship Team.
Tuesday 10th February - 7.00 pm - Church Council.
Sunday 15th February - Sunday school resumes.
Sunday 15th February - A.G.M. - (after worship).
Wednesday 18th February - 11.00 am Lenten mid - week worship service with Holy Communion, followed by fellowship morning tea.

All welcome!!