We may not all be mothers, but we’ve all had mothers. Whether they were inspirational, infuriating, or insignificant, mothers have played a crucial role in shaping who we are. How can we mould their impact positively so that we can truly be grateful on Mother’s Day? What did Jesus say about mothers?
Have you ever wondered, why is our church in the city?
After all, parking is a hassle.
Getting in is also a challenge if someone isn’t in the lobby letting you in & swiping you to the 10th floor.
Why do we have worship at 10:15 am instead of 11 am?
We could have slept in another 45 minutes.
Everyone else has their service starting at 11 – 11:15 am.
Why do we have to do so much for church?
We’re tired from a busy week of work.
The pastors are paid to run church; we’re not.
We have other engagements: friends to see, errands to run.
Why do we have a church service in the city every Saturday at 10:15 am, which requires so much effort and participation?
Because there are 135,959 people living in the City of Melbourne (as of 2016, a 45% population increase from 2011, with a forecast to go up to 175,000 by 2020) and most of them have no idea who Jesus really is – or what He offers: an abundant life of meaningful relationships that last into eternity. Freedom from guilt, stress, anxiety, addictions, and monotony. Truth that helps us live for what matters.
So we meet every Saturday to create a safe place where people can explore a Christ-centred worldview. People who may be walking by Collins Street and see our signs. People who feel the Holy Spirit prompting them to seek something more and google a church in the City. People who used to go to church as children but haven’t been for years but are interested in giving it another go. People who are turned off by church customs for tradition’s sake and want to experience a simple service that is just about God. People who want a community that is open to individuals of all backgrounds and faith journeys. People who may have been going to church for years but don’t really know what it’s like to experience God.
We are a small church, but we have a big dream: not to just be a church in the City, but to be a church for the City – meeting the needs of those who live here, ministering to them, helping them know and love Jesus … to be a church of the City, made up of those individuals who then decide to join our community… to be a church where faith in and knowledge of Jesus can grow in a safe environment, nurtured by genuine friendships, spiritual conversations, and Biblical exploration.
That is why we have the service starting at 10:15 am, with topics ranging from Taming your Temper to Dealing with Suffering: Why so much evil in the world? That is why we have the Exchange at 11:30 am where we can discuss questions that challenge us to apply the topic to our everyday life, no matter what our previous exposure to the Bible may have been. That is why we have greeters at the door, AV team setting up, music teams practising, and children’s class. That is why we bring nibbles every week, drive into the City, and give our tithes and offerings.
What are you giving your life to? What’s truly important to you?
Jesus once told a story:
A rich man had a fertile farm that produced fine crops. He said to himself, ‘What should I do? I don’t have room for all my crops.’ Then he said, ‘I know! I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones. Then I’ll have room enough to store all my wheat and other goods. And I’ll sit back and say to myself, ‘My friend, you have enough stored away for years to come. Now take it easy! Eat, drink, and be merry!’ But God said to him, ‘You fool! You will die this very night. Then who will get everything you worked for?’’ Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God. (Luke 12:16-21 NLT)
What are you giving your life to? What’s truly important to you?
We pray that you commit to joining us in fulfilling a mission that has everlasting impact: building Melbourne City Adventist Church, a community where Jesus is shared, loved, and reflected to a City in need of Him.
by: Jinha Kim
"But those who drink the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life." John 4:14
What causes anger? How can we keep our anger from getting out of control? Explore a Christ-centred worldview of how to tame our temper.
Whether it’s our addictions to bad thoughts, food, or TV, how can we learn to have better self-control?
What does it mean to live a life of service? Hear the story of an amazing couple in France who lived extraordinary lives and impacted thousands of people.
Shame is universal, yet we don’t like to talk about it. Brené Brown, renown for her Ted Talks on “The Power of Vulnerability” and “Listening to Shame,” defines shame as the fear of disconnection, that “something we’ve done or failed to do, an ideal that we’ve not lived up to, or a goal that we’ve not accomplished makes us unworthy of connection.” Watch this video as we explore how Jesus heals our shame.
What makes us afraid to share our faith with others? How can we tell people about Jesus without burning bridges?
What are some of our fears about God? That He will judge? That He wants control? Explore how we can find freedom from our fears about God.
What are some of our fears about God? That He will judge? That He wants control? Explore how we can find freedom from our fears about God.
This past weekend we went to Philip Island for our church camp. Saturday afternoon we strolled along the Nobbies boardwalks and saw spectacular views of the coast. We also saw several fairy penguins in their little burrows as well as under the boardwalk.
These little penguins are not only adorable, but they’re unique. This particular specie of penguins is not only the smallest, but also the only penguin with blue and white feathers. They can spend over 4 weeks out at sea fishing for anchovies, squid, and even sea jellies. Once they’ve found enough food, they wait in groups for dusk, when they can hide from predators, and then they waddle across the shore to find their way home.
Using unique calls, the parents call for their chicks, who cheep back until they are reunited. The parent then regurgitates the food and feeds the hungry baby who has been patiently waiting all day (or several days) for a feed. Then they nest together in their burrows for a rest.
Through nature we can see the devotion of parents towards their young and the total dependence of the young in their parents. It is a lovely picture of the kind of love and trust that can develop between God and His people.
Psalm 36:5-9
Your love is faithful, Lord,
and even the clouds in the sky
can depend on you.
Your decisions are always fair.
They are firm like mountains,
deep like the sea,
and all people and animals
are under your care.
Your love is a treasure,
and everyone finds shelter
in the shadow of your wings.
You give your guests a feast
in your house,
and you serve a tasty drink
that flows like a river.
The life-giving fountain
belongs to you,
and your light gives light
to each of us.
Psalm 63:7,8
You have helped me,
and I sing happy songs
in the shadow of your wings.
I stay close to you,
and your powerful arm
supports me.
Waiting can be hard. While we wait for our needs and desires to be met, it can be lonely in our burrow. But God is not inactive nor ignorant. He is working hard to give us the desires of our hearts – and He will come to us in the dusk, calling for us to answer His voice and rest in the shadow of His wing.
by: Jinha Kim
"But those who drink the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life." John 4:14