Sunday 29th June 2025 – Third Sunday after Pentecost

REFLECTION: Luke 9:51-62 “The Cost of Following Jesus”

Is it easy to be a Christian, or is it hard? Maybe just calling yourself a Christian in a mostly Chrisitan country is not so hard, but truly following Jesus and his teaching is not easy. Today’s reading gives us a glimpse of how hard it is to follow Jesus. Firstly, we see the rejection that he and his followers often received. Secondly, we see three people come to Jesus with the aim of following Jesus, but each one goes his own way once he realises what he must give up in order to follow Jesus. What should we learn from this? - It is not easy to be a disciple of Jesus Christ! It is costly.

Here is an outline of the message:

1. Following Jesus at times means facing rejection.

2. Following Jesus can mean having nowhere to rest your head

3. Following Jesus can mean putting family in second place

4. Following Jesus requires complete commitment – no part-timers!

TO THINK ABOUT: 

Are you willing to pay the price of being a disciple of Jesus Christ?

HYMNS   

TIS 215    You servants of God

                  Yet not I

TIS 595    O Jesus I have promised.

TIS 351     Lift high the cross

LATEST BUILDING FUND UPDATE 

You may recall we set our anticipated shortfall to complete the building project at $300,000 in September last year.  We are calling on the whole congregation to respond so that we might complete the project as planned in September this year.  We are truly grateful to the response we have had so far and as at the end of May, we have received $172,836 since we launched the appeal.  This is a wonderful provision and we praise God for it, but we still have a way to go. Please continue to ask God to supply all our needs and to give generously.

SATURDAY 19TH JULY 9:30am GROUP TRAINING SAFE MINISTRY MODULE 1 REFRESHER:

Anyone who has received notification of the need to complete Module 1 Refresher safe ministry training who wants to participate in the   Group Training on the 19th July 2025 at 9.30am needs to register by sending notification to Christine Keys at chris.keys@dingley.net by Friday 18th July 2025.

YOUNG ADULTS AND YOUTH BIBLE STUDY

The youth and young adults Bible study has moved to Sunday 12:30pm starting from this week! We want it to be a place where you can grow in your faith and get to know Jesus better. Open to anyone year 9 to mid 20s (but flexible) - speak to Anna or Martin for more info.

Hot Soup & Roll available Today: Pumpkin/Vegetable noodles soup plus a roll.

TMA 

Don’t forget to pick up a copy of the Melbourne Anglican available at the door.

LEAVES

A big thanks to all who came along and help combat the falling leaves.  The season is almost over but there is a still a bit more to go.

HEARING LOOP

We are in the process of installing a new type of hearing loop in the church.  It might take us a few weeks to get it all up and running well, but we hope to give it a try this Sunday.  If you have a hearing aid, ask for a neck loop and receiver when you come into the church.

JULY 27TH ST JAMES PATRONAL FESTIVAL 

Make sure to keep this date free.  Details regarding celebrations to follow.

READINGS FOR NEXT SUNDAY: 6th June– Four Sunday after Pentecost

2 Kings 5:1-14; Psalm 30:11-20; Galatians 6:7-18; Luke 10:1-12,10:17-24;

WE ALSO PRAY FOR: St Matthew's Ashburton (Kurian Peter); The Diocese of The Northern Territory (Bp Greg Anderson, Clergy & People); Archdeaconry of La Trobe (Michael Hopkins); St Peter’s Box Hill – Pastoral service (Bp Alison Taylor); Provincial Council Evensong – St Paul’s Cathedral (Bp Genieve Blackwell); St Stephen’s Warrandyte – Pastoral service (Bp Paul Barker);The Church of the Province of Myanmar (Bp Stephen Than Myint Oo);

LAWN MOWING ROSTER: 5th July – Heinz & Rusty

This week we continue to pray for: Anthony, Mike, Cecil, Ruth, Eva, Nigel, Jen, Ted, Natasha, Patty, Melenny, Monty, Noel, Dean, Amy, William, Jade, Marvyn, Charles & Chelsea.