24th November 2013

Last Sunday of the Church Year
24 November, 2013

THIS MORNING'S HYMN'S OF PRAISE:
9, 454, 1, 839, 842.

FIRST BIBLE READING:

Jeremiah 23: 1-6
'The Lord will raise up a righteous Branch'

Woe to the shepherds who are destroying and scattering the flock of My pasture', declares the LORD.
Therefore, this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, has said against the shepherds who look after My people:
"You have scattered My flock, driven them away, and have not taken care of them. Look, I am punishing you for the evil that you have done"', declares the LORD.
'However, I Myself shall gather the remnant of My flock from all the countries where I have driven them, and bring them back to their pasture, and they will be fruitful and increase. Then I shall place shepherds over them who will look after them. Then they will no longer be afraid or terrified, and they will not be missing', declares the LORD. 'Look! The days are coming', declares the LORD, 'when Ishall raise up for David a righteous Branch, who will reign as King and have success. He will establish justice and
righteousness on the earth. In His days, Judah will be saved, and Israel will live in safety. This will be His Name,
which people will call Him: "The LORD Our Righteousness"'.

SECOND BIBLE READING:

Colossians 1: 11-20 '

The supremacy of Christ'

May you be strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully give thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.
For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.

GOSPEL READING:

Luke 19: 11-27

'The parable of the gold coins'

While the people were listening to Jesus, he told them a parable. He was now almost at Jerusalem, and they supposed that the Kingdom of God was just about to appear. So he said, 'There was once a man of high rank who was going to a country far away to be made king, after which he planned to come back home.
Before he left, he called his ten servants and gave them each a gold coin and told them, "See what you can earn with this while I am gone". Now, the people of his
country hated him, and so they sent messengers after him to say, "We don't want this man to be our king".
'The man was made king and came back. At once he ordered his servants to appear before him, in order to find out how much they had earned. The first one came and said, "Sir, I have earned ten gold coins with the one you gave me". "Well done", he said; "you are a good servant! Since you were faithful in small matters, I will put you in charge of
ten cities". The second servant came and said, "Sir, I have earned five gold coins with the one you gave me". To this one he said, "You will be in charge of five cities". Another
servant came and said, "Sir, here is your gold coin; I kept it hidden in a handkerchief. I was afraid of you, because you are a hard man.
You take what is not yours and reap what you did not plant". He said to him, 'You bad servant! I will use your own words to condemn you! You know that I am a hard man, taking what is not mine and reaping what I have not planted. Well, then, why didn't you put my money in the bank? Then I would have received it back with interest when I returned". Then he said to those who were standing there,
"Take the gold coin away from him and give it to the servant who has ten coins". But they said to him, "Sir, he already has ten coins!" "I tell you", he replied, "that to those who have something, even more will be given; but to those who have nothing, even the little that they have will be taken away from them. Now, as for those enemies of mine who did not want me to be their king, bring them here and kill them in my presence'.

NOTES ON THE READINGS:

JEREMIAH 23: 1-6:

The term 'shepherds' here refers to the kings of Israel and other rulers. There had been a record of unbelieving and unrighteous leadership which had resulted in the people being 'scattered', 'driven away', 'not being attended to'. There could also be a reference here to a particular weak king, Zedekiah, whose name means 'The Lord is my righteousness'. Jeremiah prophesies that the Messiah whom God would one day send to restore and regather his people will be called 'the Lord is our righteousness'.
Jesus Christ in his priestly and kingly roles has established his kingdom in which his own righteousness becomes ours through the shedding of his blood to cleanse from sin.

COLOSSIANS 1: 11-20:

Christians need strength to meet the powers of evil which threaten from the world and from Satan's kingdom of darkness. The power to endure, though, is joyfully experienced, and thanksgiving ensues from their radical rescue from the darkness of evil into the light shared by the saints. Christ's redemption and forgiveness have accomplished this. However, salvation is at stake if the gospel is set aside for an altered belief system.
False teachers had been trying to lead Colossian Christians into seeking 'fullness' through a range of spiritual thrones, dominions and powers that supposedly stretch between earth and heaven. Paul therefore here directed them back to the only understanding on which true faith could rest. Because Christ was pre-eminent in the created order and active in the initial creation itself, 'all the fullness of God dwells in him'. Through him alone reconciliation and peace was freely granted through the blood of the cross.

LUKE 19: 11-27:

The disciples expected the kingdom of God in its fullness to come at once. The Lord saw the need for them to know he had much work for them to do before then. This parable illustrates the importance of the work entrusted to his believing followers to spread the gospel. The nobleman gave each of his summoned slaves a differing sum to 'do business' for him until his return. Christ, in leaving his earthly kingdom through crucifixion, death, resurrection and ascension, would return one day. He then would examine the results of the differing abilities of his servants to carry out his work. It is faithfulness in the use of those talents which is rewarded rather than the amount which is achieved.
If the servant who does nothing needs to shift the blame elsewhere, let not the choice be to blame God.
He is gracious and merciful to whoever trusts and obeys. Those who will not permit Christ to be king will be shut out of the kingdom. An encouraging but serious note on which to end the church year.

Announcements:

1. This week in the Lord's Service - 24th Nov - 1st December:

Tuesday - 7.30 pm - Deacons.
Wednesday - 7.30 pm - GLC Association meeting.
Saturday - 10.00 am - 11.00 am - 'Sing - along' time for those who wish to learn songs for the Sunday.
Saturday - 11.00 am to 12 noon - Choir practice.
Next Sunday - 9.30 am - Public Divine service - (Non-Communion). Sermon series 'John the Baptist - No greater Prophet' - Theme: 'A Great Beginning'.
Parents please note: Sunday School next Sunday!
Next Sunday - after worship - Elections meeting.

2. LTM - Bible Readings 2014:
The 'Bible Readings for 2014' booklet has been placed in member's boxes to take home.
3. A.L.C. - Grassroots Training 2014:
Grassroots Training, a ministry of Australian Lutheran College is offering a number of upcoming workshops at Tandara Lutheran Camp, Hall's Gap,
viz, 'Toolkit for Ministry', 'Building Healthy Relationships', 'Spiritual Resilience', 'Equipping for Leadership' and 'Home and Church in Partnership', commencing from February 2014.
For those interested, please see notice board nearkitchen and rear foyer for contact points, costs etc.
Coming up for your diary:
Sunday 8th December - Guest speaker Jonathan Krause - launch of ALWS Christmas Action appeal.
Thursday 12th December - 12 noon - Ladies Fellowship Group luncheon at Fe Tepper's home, 1 Somerset Court, Bannockburn.
Tuesday 17th December - 2.30 pm to 4.00 pm - fellowship worship service with Holy Communion - Afternoon tea to follow. All welcome to come along!
Tuesday 17th December -6.30 pm -Church Council.
Tuesday 31st December - 7.30 pm - New Year's Eve worship service with Holy Communion at 'Our Redeemer'. Members are invited to bring a plate of food to share.
Friday 31st January - 9.30 am - Worship Team.