Dapto Anglican Church

If you have seen the Illawarra Mercury this week there has been one story has dominated. Nicole Miller was returning home last Saturday night along the Princes Highway when a rock crashed through the window of the car she was travelling in. An act of senselessness by a 25 year old man has put this vivacious young lady into a coma and hospital, clinging onto life. Praise God, she has now awoken from the coma.

In life nothing is ultimately safe and guaranteed, except God’s promises.

He is the only one who goes beyond the limitations of this world.
His love transcends right into eternity.
He is the one who stands at the other side of death to welcome us into heaven.
He is the one who calls us to live different lives with Him at the centre so that everyone can grasp the hope and security only He can offer.

Stephen Semenchuk

Bulletin 29/07/07 (pdf, 3.2 MB)

Prayer 08/07 (pdf, 204 KB)

Dear Friends,

We mentioned in a previous prayer letter/prayer request that we have been looking at housing options. We are now at a point where we will need to move house within a couple of weeks. We are awaiting notification of an option for an apartment that we feel would be best for us all-round. Please pray that God would move hearts to look favourably on us and allow us to move within the time we have left, without it getting exceedingly stressful (!) Please pray that we will trust in God’s goodness and be content with whatever He supplies, knowing that we need not worry because He is in control. [We were encouraged by this morning's reading and sermon at church, where Hagar and Ishmael are dying of thirst in the wilderness and God speaks to Hagar saying, "What troubles you Hagar? (!!!) Fear not, for God has heard the voice of the boy from where he is." (exclamation marks mine) Genesis 21:8-21]

Praise God that our church situation appears resolved, though we haven’t yet been able to speak with the Bishop (it appears that we won’t move church).

Yours in Christ,

Michael, Joy los niños

I was inspired on Monday. I had the privilege of being at the funeral of a 97 year old saint called Waveney from Sydney. One of the themes of the celebration of her life was that, “She finished well”. What did that mean for Waveney?

1. Firstly it meant that she was ready to meet Jesus. Her faith appeared as strong as ever.
2. Secondly it meant she was still other person centred. The staff of the Nursing Home and her family all remarked how visiting her actually encouraged them (possibly more than it encouraged her.)
3. Thirdly it meant she remained a woman of prayer. I guess she was getting ready to talk to Jesus face to face. But she modelled what it means to be praying constantly.

We need to be ready for whatever opportunities God places before us. None of us really know which day God has marked out for our “finish”. If Jesus returned on Thursday how would you spend the next few days? Perhaps the best answer is that I would keep doing the things I would normally do.

Stephen Semenchuk

Bulletin 22/07/07 (pdf, 1.3 MB)

Charles Newsletter #23 (pdf, 467 KB)

Then… Special & Spectacular
Now… Regular & Significant

In the Old Testament there are many accounts of how God made his presence known to his people.

He spoke from burning bushes, mountain tops and directly to His leaders. The tabernacle and then the temple were the place where God “met” his people, which should have extended to the west of the world.

In our New Testament times God has poured His Spirit into the very lives of His people. When we receive Christ, we receive His Spirit personally. He travels with us wherever we go.

Therefore we literally become God’s temple. We are the place where people see, hear and encounter God. How we live vitally affects how much those around us encounter God each day.

Stephen Semenchuk

Bulletin 15/07/07 (pdf, 221 KB)

There is a scene in the movie “Braveheart” when the hero William Wallace rides around and exterminates the clan leaders who betrayed him. Most of us are cheering on the inside as justice is being done. In today’s Bible passage Paul reminds us that justice will ultimately be done… by God. It is God who we must trust to tie up all the loose ends. Paul argues that there are some issues where we should not pursue earthly justice in the courts as the damage to the Christian community is not worth “accelerating” the justice. These areas are particularly in the area of lawsuits.

Tying up some administrative loose ends

Please take time to read the notice outside our buildings over the next two weeks. We are officially applying to the Diocese so that our reserves and trusts are consolidated into the one place. If you have any questions please ask myself or one of the church wardens.

Stephen Semenchuk