Services for the 28TH April, The fifth Sunday of Easter

WARRNAMBOOL 9.00AM SERVICE WITH HOLY COMMUNION

HAWKESDALE 11.00AM SERVICE WITH HOLY COMMUNION

READINGS:

ACTS 11:1-18; REVELATION 21:1-6; JOHN 13:31-35

THE SERMON THIS WEEK IS NOT, UNUSUALLY, BASED ON ONE OF THE THREE READINGS FOR THE DAY, BUT ON THE FAMOUS VERSES OF I CORINTHIANS 13. THE FOLLOWING ARE A FEW THOUGHTS ARISING FROM THIS PASSAGE:

These verses (I Corinthians 13:1-13) can be, and usually are, dreadfully misunderstand.  When Paul speaks here about having love or not having love, he is not talking about a feeling for another person that people might detect within themselves.  He is not talking about taking a shine to another person. He is not talking about doing good works for another person. He is not talking about being nice to another person. What Paul is on about is not the love that Christians have within themselves.  No, Paul is talking about the love that has been given to Christians, by none other than God Himself.  God wrapping Himself around a person with His love is what makes a Christian into a Christian.  And that happens, quite concretely, at Holy Baptism, and also when Christ speaks His loving words of forgiveness, and when Christ lovingly binds Himself to people in the Sacrament. 

Other matters for consideration during the sermon will include:

What is meant by the phrase: “I am a born again Christian?” Does this mean that there are two classes of Christians – those who are born again and those who are not?

Is speaking in tongues the means by which you can tell whether a person is a proper Christian or not?

In order to be a Christian, do you have to be able to name the exact day when you were converted?

You are welcome to come and hear more on Sunday.

After the service at Hawkesdale on the 28^th, the congregation will be conducting its annual Sunday School/Congregational picnic.

Also on Sunday, the Terang study/fellowship group will be meeting at Simpson.

OTHER EVENTS THIS WEEK:

Funeral Service for Sheila John will be on Monday, the 29^th at 2.00pm

Warrnambool Elders are meeting on Monday evening at 7.30.

The Ayrford Guild meets on Tuesday evening at 7.30.

Warrnambool Guild meets at 11am on Wednesday. The meeting will conclude with lunch at the Images restaurant, at which Pastor David will be farewelled.

Confirmation Class meets on Wednesday at 4.15pm.