Life changing experiences – God does that.
Robyn shared a down-to-earth perspective on the events leading up to the birth of Jesus Christ. Taken from the narrative recorded in Matthew chapter 1 verses 18 – 25, we find a life changing for a whole range of people, Mary, who, at the age of 14 or 15 was told that, as a virgin, she would conceive a boy who would save the world. Life changing for her fiancé, 17 year old Joseph, who was told that his girl was to have a baby boy and he was to name him Jesus. Joseph hadn’t been with Mary, so how could this be? Wow, how was Mary going to tell mum and dad, and what would the neighbours think. Never-the-less, Joseph took Mary in and protected her, despite all the social norms of the day. 
Both Joseph and Mary loved and believed God, and accepted what the angels had told them – what faith and trust. Mary may have been young, but she stood up like great women of Hebrew history had done, including Sarah, Ruth and Ester, for God’s righteousness, and as a consequence, world impacting changes were made. Life changing when the government called a census, requiring Joseph and Mary (now aged 18 and 16), as descendants of David, the second king of Israel, to travel 160 kilometres from Nazareth to Bethlehem to register. Great timing. Mary was at about 39 weeks, and the only mode of transport was a donkey for the 5 day road trip. Arriving late on the fifth day, things began to happen for Mary, but Joseph couldn’t find a place to stay as all the inns, hotels, and rooms-for-rent had been booked out. Eventually, he was given a stall in a stable, where he and Mary settled down as Mary gave birth. Life changing for a baby born in a stable, who was to change the world. A lot of things happened that night. Shephards watching over their sheep, had a celestial visitation of angels singing praises to God, and telling them about the baby’s birth in Bethelhem. How did they know where abouts in Bethelhem to find the right stable? Life changing experience such lowly peasants (couldn’t get much lower in the social order), and God chose to tell them first about the birth of Jesus Christ. Life changing fo the kings who saw the birth star and 
followed it from the east to Bethlehem. They knew star led them to the “King of the Jews” bought gifts of gold, frankinscence, and myrrh. How significant, God revealed Himself to the lowly shephards, and the highly placed rich kings of the east. God revealed Himself to the Jews, and Gentiles. God sent Jesus into the world, to save the world, to as many as would receive Him, for both Jew and Gentile, rich and poor. There was of course Herod, the puppet king under the Romans, who sort to kill Jesus. Everyone who saw and met Jesus Christ in the stable were irrevocabley changed. Has God irrevocabley changed your life? Is your life such, that you see it needs changing? Do we know God in such as way, that we know the power and victory of God in our lives? Who and what does Jesus Christ mean to you? If you need God, or a fuller experience of Him, seek Him now, whilst He may be found, and enjoy a life changing experience. Find who Jesus is, accept Him and eperience who Jesus is in your life. Please be blessed this Christmas season, with more of Jesus Christ in your life, and experience life changing events to His honour and Glory.
We put these in each week to remind you of the ways you can practically pray for our fellow members of F5 and our wider community.
- Those who are unwell or going through difficult times. Especially: Gordon, John, Alison and Robert, Grant and Denise, Roger, Rebekah, Phileppa
- Pray for all members of our State and Federal governments that they will make wise decisions. Pray for refugees, our national health system which needs serious changes
- For those impacted by fires throughout Australia and for safety for emergency service workers and firemen in all these areas. For those who have lost family members, homes, livestock.
- For those who are homeless and hungry esp as Christmas approaches; and for those who provide services to them including Anglicare and Baptist Care.
- Sally and the Binda Parish churches, Gill with the Marulan church and with her duties in Goulburn, Kenneth and Karen at Collector. Pray also for other clergy in our local churches. Pray for the selection for new clergy in Goulburn
- For Robyn and Paul as they pastor F5 and F10.
- For the work in Kisoro
- Little Sheep and 3D Kids team members, the children and their families.
- Weekly activities of F5 Refresh Ministries (see below)
- Pray for Mick and Jen, for the SRE teachers and schools of this region. Pray esp for Pat, Helen and Anne. Pray for favour in the schools and continued financial support of SRE.
- For Mick and Ange,Sarah and Ben and Gill and Rocky Hill Church.
- Pray for Geraldine as she leads the Ladies Bible Study
- Pray for Deb as she does our admin
- For the pastoral care workers in our hospitals, especially Fai and Caroline
- Pray for Bishop Mark Short, and for Bishop Trevor as they work in the diocese and for Archdeacon Carol Wagner, to be consecrated Assistant Bishop.
| Monday | 10am – 12.00 | F10 | In recess |
| Wednesday | 9.30am – 11.00am
3.30pm – 5.00pm |
Little Sheep
3D Kids |
In recess
|
| Thursday
|
10am-12.00
|
Meeting in the Mall for coffee and donuts
|
In recess
|
| Friday | 2.00-4.00pm | Bible Study for Women | In recess |
| Sunday | 5.00pm
5.00pm |
F5 Service
Rocky Hill Church |
Christ Church, 130 Addison St
East Goulburn School May Street entrance |
