Sunday 18th May 2025 – Fifth Sunday of Easter

REFLECTION: Acts 11:1-18 “Who was I, then, to try to stop God!”

God doesn’t think or act or reason as we do. Sometimes his ways are downright confusing and leave us wondering. Would you, in your wildest dreams, have thought of choosing one of the chief persecutors of Christians to become the principal missionary of the church to the world? Truly we can see that the Lord moves in mysterious ways, or as the Lord says to his people in Isaiah 55: “My thoughts,” says the Lord, “are not like yours, and my ways are different from yours. As high as the heavens are above the earth, so high are my ways and thoughts above yours.” In today’s reading, the Lord needs to prepare Peter for what he is about to do because it goes way beyond what Peter could ever have imagined.

Here is an outline:

1. God’s ways are higher than ours

a. God said: “Get up, Peter; kill and eat!” but I said: “certainly not, Lord” (7)

b. Do not consider anything unclean that God has declared clean (9)

c. The Spirit told me to go with them (12)

2. God prepares us to participate in what he has determined to do.

a. Cornelius… told us how he had seen an angel (13)

b. Then I remembered what the Lord had said (16)

3. Who are we, then, to try to stop God!

a. It is clear that God gave those Gentiles the same gift that he gave us (17)

b. “Who was I, then, to try to stop God!” (17)

c. They stopped their criticism and praised God.

To think about:

Would you follow God’s leading even when it seems strange to you? Or do you know better?

HYMNS

TIS 215 You servants of God

MP 1214 O Lord you lead me

MP 212 Have thine own way Lord

TIS 457 The Church’s one foundation

BUILDING FUND PROGRESS

When we stated planning for the new Parish Centre back in 2020, we had the finance for the building covered. Steep rises in the cost of construction and long delays in obtaining permits have caused considerable price rises. We are still $160,000 short of the estimated final cost and we invite you to consider contributing to our building fund to enable us to complete this beautiful new project debt free.

UPDATE ON BUILDING PROGRAM

Things are advancing well with the construction of the new Parish Centre. This replaces our old centre which was falling apart and was full of asbestos. The new centre will feature a multipurpose area with a total capacity of 180 but divisible into smaller areas by opening up the operable walls. There will be easy access from the side exit of the church to toilets, fellowship areas, and Sunday school rooms. The front of the building facing McCrae Street will include new offices and meeting rooms and a reception desk. A new wider vehicle entrance will be built on McCrae Street leading into the new 32 space carpark. We expect the building to be completed by late September and we are planning an opening in November.

THANK YOU

A big thanks to everyone who worked so hard last weekend to make our Baptism and Confirmation service such a special occasion. What a joy it was to hear stories of faith from our newest members and, as usual, the morning tea was off the charts.

WEDNESDAY GROWTH GROUP

Would you like to grow in your Christian Faith. Each Wednesday night we meet in the supper room to read, chat and pray together. This week we will be starting a new 7 week study on Luke 9-12 called “Following Jesus”. We would love to have you come along at 7:30 on Wednesdays.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR GARDENING, CLEANING AND MAINTENANCE

Over this last period a number of long-standing hard-working volunteers have had to take a step back leaving many gaps to be filled in the areas of gardening, lawns, maintenance and cleaning. Who will take their place? At the moment a lot of work is falling onto the shoulders of a few. If you can help, please speak to Michael Willis or Graeme.

HYMNS WE LOVE

We are organizing a special afternoon of Hymn singing and learning the story behind some of the hymns we love most. This will be held on Sunday 1st of June at 2:30pm in the church and will be followed by a lovely afternoon tea in the hall. This is a great activity to invite friends to and is a part of our Hope 25 outreach. Flyers to come shortly.

LAY PREACHERS

While we are in a period without a curate, we have the opportunity to encourage some of our lay people in preaching. A few weeks ago, Marien gave us the message. Next Sunday Martin will be preaching. Pray for our upcoming preachers and look for ways to encourage them in this ministry.

ELECTION OF NEW ARCHBISHOP

The election Synod for our new Archbishop is scheduled for Friday 23rd of May and Saturday 24th of May. Please pray for the Archbishop Appointments board as they prepare the shortlist of candidates and pray for the Synod delegates who must vote. You can use this prayer as you pray.

PRAYER AT THE TIME OF CHOOSING A BISHOP

Eternal God, shepherd and guide, in your mercy give your Church in this diocese a shepherd after your own heart who will walk in your ways, and in loving care watch over your people. Give us a leader of vision and a teacher of truth. So may your Church be built up and your name glorified; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

THIS WEEK WE PRAY FOR: Jika Jika Preston; Hope25 outreach in schools and colleges; Korus Connect; The Episcopal Church in Jerusalem & The Middle East; St Thomas’ Burwood–Pastoral service; St David’s Doncaster East–Pastoral service; St Thomas’ Anglican Church Werribee–Pastoral service; St John’s Flinders with St Mark’s Balnarring; Diocesan Administrator Bishop Genieve and all our Bishops in their ministry this week.

THIS WEEK WE CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR: Anthony, Nisha, Mike, Cecil, Ruth, Eva, Nigel, Jen, Ted, Natasha, Patty, Melenny, Monty, Noel, Dean, Amy, & William & Chelsea.

READINGS FOR NEXT SUNDAY 25th May: Acts 16:9-15; Psalm 97; Revelation 21:10-14; John 17:23-29.

LAWN MOWING ROSTER: 24th May – Samoan Youth