22nd September 2013

Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost
22 September 2013

¯ THIS MORNING'S HYMN'S OF PRAISE:
130 (v 1-6), 820, 130 (v 3-6), 285, 367 (v 1-2).

FIRST BIBLE READING:
Amos 8: 4-7
'Against swindlers and exploiters'

Hear this, you who trample the needy and do away with the poor of the land, saying, "When will the New Moon be over that we may sell grain, and the Sabbath be ended that we may market wheat?" – skimping on the asure, boosting the price and cheating with dishonest scales, buying the poor with silver and the needy for a pair of sandals, selling even the sweepings with the wheat.
The Lord has sworn by himself, the Pride of Jacob:
"I will never forget anything they have done.

SECOND BIBLE READING:
1 Timothy 2: 1-7
'The church is to pray for all people' (GNB);

First of all, then, I urge that petitions, prayers,requests, and thanksgivings be offered to God for all people; for kings and all others who are in authority,that we may live a quiet and peaceful life with all reverence toward God and with proper conduct.
This is good and it pleases God our Savior, who wants everyone to be saved and to come to know the truth.
For there is one God, and there is one who brings God and people together, the man Christ Jesus,
who gave himself to redeem all people.
That was the proof at the right time that God wants everyone to be saved, and that is why I wassent as an apostle and teacher of the Gentiles, to proclaim the message of faith and truth. I am not lying;
I am telling the truth!

GOSPEL READING:

Luke 16: 1-13 (GNB);
'The parable of the shrewd manager'

Jesus said to his disciples, 'There was once a rich man who had a servant who managed his property. The rich man was told that the manager was wasting his master's money, so he called him in and said,
'What is this I hear about you? Surrender the account books, because you cannot be my manager any longer'.
The servant said to himself, 'My master is going to dismiss me from my job. What shall I do? I am not strong enough to dig ditches, and I am ashamed to beg. Now I know what I will do! Then when my job is gone,
I shall have friends who will welcome me in their homes'.
So he called in all the people who were in debt to his master. He asked the first one, 'How much do you owe my master?'
'A hundred barrels of olive oil', he answered. 'Here is your account', the manager told him; 'sit down and write fifty'. Then he asked another one, 'And you how much do you owe?' 'A thousand bags of wheat', he answered. 'Here is your account', the manager told him;
'write eight hundred'.
As a result the master of this dishonest manager praised him for doing such a shrewd thing; because the people of this world are much more shrewd in handling their affairs than the people who belong to the light'.
And Jesus went on to say, 'And so I tell you:
make friends for yourselves with worldly wealth, so that when it gives out, you will be welcomed in the eternal home. Whoever is faithful in small matters will be faithful in large ones; whoever is dishonest in small matters will be dishonest in large ones. If, then, you have not been faithful in handling worldly wealth, how can you be
trusted with true wealth? And if you have not been faithful with what belongs to someone else, who will give you what belongs to you?
'No servant can be the slave of two masters; he will hate one and love the other; he will be loyal to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money'.

Bible readings for Sunday 29th September:
Amos 6: 1a, 4-7,
1 Tim. 6: 6-19,
Luke 16: 19-31

NOTES ON THE READINGS:

AMOS 8: 4-7:
In this section the prophet Amos denounces the sharp business practices favoured and praised in Israel.
Merchants through their profiteering make it impossible for the poor to keep out of crippling debt, and hence out
of ultimate slavery. Their overwhelming greed to profiteer is seen in their impatience with the long-established
religious festival days. The Lord will never forget them for the actions that bring about such injustice to the poor.

1 TIMOTHY 2: 1-7:
Paul urges the young pastor Timothy to make sure that every kind of prayer is made for all people, including those in authority. The spread of the gospel will naturally be more effective if peaceful conditions prevail. He also offers other reasons: that God wishes all people to be saved; that God is one and therefore relates to the needs of all people; that Christ was a mediator for all people; that Christ became a human being that all might be saved; and that Paul himself was an apostle to the Gentiles, and therefore to all people. God has commanded that all Christian service is upheld by prayer and has promised to hear.

LUKE 16: 1-13:
Jesus is talking to the affluent here, people who are so wrapped up in their pursuit of money and consumer material goods that they don't bother giving time to pursue their eternal welfare before it is too late. This illustrative story does not praise dubious practice in business. Jesus uses the astuteness of the dishonest manager as the quality to be emulated by Christians when addressing their spiritual needs. The children of light (disciples of Christ) are not as industrious by and large at pursuing eternal life as the children of this world are in getting ahead! The second comparison is in faithfulness of stewardship. Christ makes the point that Christian service needs to be directed single-mindedly to the Lord, not mixed also with material greed.

Announcements:
1. This week in the Lord's Service - 22nd - 29th Sept:

This morning - Nominations Committee - (after worship)
Wednesday - 7.30 pm - Evening Bible study group study on Colossians continues at the home of Linda and Paul Menzel, 400 Lake Road, Connewarre.
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).

2. Pastor Lester - On leave:
Pastor Lester will be on leave from tomorrow, resuming Monday 7th October.
During this break, messages may be left at the church office 03 52 78 2443, or for pastoral assistance,
please contact a Deacon.

3. Bus Trip Thurs. 26th September :
In regard to the St John's Evening Fellowship's bus trip to Narrapumelap Mansion, near Wycliffe
on Thursday 26th September,
the designated drop off / pick up point will be 'Our Redeemer' North Geelong.

3. 'Warrambui 'Internship 2014:
Find out more about the offer of internships to young people, 18 - 24 years at Warrambui near Canberra.
Applications close 27th September, 2013.
Please see notice board near kitchen.

4. 2013 Christian Life Week Camp:
Another reminder of the remaining Christian Life Week Camp for young people 13 -18 years,
theme "MeMe's"; to be held at Tandara Camp, Hall's Gap;
Yellow: September 30th - October 4th.
More details in the camper's and parent's letters, along with registration forms available from the front foyer.

5. Tandara Camp - Internship 2014:
Young people between 18 and 24 may be interested in applying for an internship at Tandara Lutheran Camp, Hall's Gap. Please see notice board near kitchen for further information.

Applications close 18th October, 2013.

Coming up for your diary:
Saturday 5th October - from 9.00 am - General interior clean of church (with fellowship Bar-B-Q).
Sunday 20th October - (Third Sunday) - Sunday School. (No Sunday School during term break).
Tuesday 8th October - 7.30 pm - Deacons.
Friday 11th October - 9.30 am - Worship Team.
Tuesday 15th October - 7.00 pm - Church Council.
Reformation Sunday 27th October - 9.30 am - worship service with H.C.at 'Our Redeemer'.
Sunday 3rd November - 9.30 am - 'All Saints' worship service. Fellowship morning tea to follow.
Sunday 1st December - (after worship) - Election of office bearers for 2014.