Sarina Anglican Parish

22/08/2026

Ministry Matters 23rd August

22/08/2026

Dear Family and Friends
What do you fear and how do you react to it? Most people understand the principle that we when feel threatened, we either fight or run away (known as fight or flight). This, of course, is a natural instinct to keep ourselves safe. I propose that when we do not understand something fully we also use this instinct; we fight (argue) or flee - backdown/give in rather than decide to explore which can open ourselves to being a little vulnerable and this, most would agree, can be a little uncomfortable.
This week's Old Testament reading from Exodus gives the account of a baby who was placed in a small basket and placed in the crocodile-infested Nile River. The king of Egypt at the time, was fearful because the Israelites, slaves to the Egyptians, were becoming numerous and posing a perceived threat to his authority and reign. So he ordered all male Israelite babies, at birth, to be thrown into the Nile as a means of suppressing the threat to Egypt. This King of Egypt felt threatened because he didn't understand God or the Israelites. His response therefore was to fight - give orders for destruction but one mother, fearful of the fate of her son, chose to flee and protect her child by placing him in a water-proofed basket amongst the reeds of the Nile where he was discovered by Pharoh's daughter. This baby was adopted by Pharoh's daughter and she named him Moses - meaning "drawn from the water".
I believe we are no different today; when we don't understand something, we argue against it or we change the subject instead of discussing the idea or researching to gain more perspective. In this week's Words Of Wisdom, Christians are urged not to give in or be conformed to the worldly things we are subjected to on a daily basis but to
"be transformed by the renewing of your minds so that you may
discern what is the will of God" (Romans 12: 2)
Paul tells us not to fight, not to bury our heads in the sand when confronted with things that threaten our thoughts, beliefs or well-being but to read, discuss, research and seek God's will in all things. Moses grew up to be a man blessed by God and we will have God's blessings too when we put Him at the centre of our decision making.
My prayer for us all this week is to seek God's wisdom and guidance when we feel threatened or vulnerable.

Services in our Parish tomorrow:
St Luke's Sarina 9 am

This Week’s Readings (These and other amazing things can be found in the Ministry Matters attached)
Exodus: 1:8-2:10
Psalm 124 Romans12:1-8
Matthew 16: 13-20

IMPORTANT THINGS ON THE HORIZON
Next Family Service
13th September at 4:00 p.m. Followed by a sausage sizzle.
Wed Prayer Group
Wednesday 8:30 – 9:30
Catherine 0409067801 for details
Sarina Aged Care
Wednesday 26th August at 10 a.m. See Rev Janet for details.
FACE Up on Fridays
Friday 9:45 a.m. Call Shirley for details: 0402855083.
Mainly Music
Fridays (During school terms) 9 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. Call Kari for details: 0407132183
Sat Bible Study
Call Dianne for details: 0448 522 559
God’s blessings on your worship this weekend and may you feel His Spirit at work in your life as you strive to be transformed by the renewing of your minds.

15/08/2026

Ministry Matters 16th August 2026

14/08/2026

Dear Family and Friends
We often tell children to "do the right thing" and, in fact, God himself gave this command which we can read in the book of Isaiah and is the scripture I have chosen for this week's Words Of Wisdom:
"Thus says the Lord, 'Maintain justice, and do what is right" (Isaiah 56:1)
But what does "do the right thing" mean? And how difficult is it to actually do the right thing? Maintaining justice involves protecting the vulnerable and oppressed, telling the truth and restoring peace and few of us would argue against that. However, it takes strength and courage to stand up for what is right and too often the opinions of others, our day-to-day commitments, our lack of confidence or our fear of "getting it wrong" prevents us from following through on what we know to be the right thing. Added to this is the "I'm just one person" mentality which can be the cause of our inaction.
One of my very favourite children's books is an adaptation of a short story written in 1908 by Leo Tolstoy which seeks to explain what the "right thing" is. A young boy sets out on a quest to discover the answers to three questions: When is the best time to do things? Who is the most important one? and, What is the right thing to do? Whether or not Tolstoy was a Christian does not alter the fact that his story aligns well with what Jesus instructed us to do: "Love God and love one another". The best time to do things is now ..... when someone is in need. The most important one is the person we are with because, whatever we do "for the very least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did it for me" Jesus tells us (Matthew 25:40). The right thing to do, Tolstoy says is "do good".
The Bible clearly tells us to love one another and do good. We don't have to stress over the hows and wheres and whys or go on a long journey to seek the answers; we simply have to be "present" with those we encounter, listen to their story and help those in need. And yes, it often means putting ourselves last but remember that "many who are first will be last and many who are last will be first" (Matthew 19:30)
I pray that this week, we will all seek to be more present with those we are with, find ways to help each other and find the strength to maintain justice and do what is right. (And you can hear a reading of The three Questions by Meryl Streep on YouTube if you are interested.)

Services in our Parish tomorrow:
St Luke's Sarina 9 am
All Saints Koumala 9 am
This Week’s Readings (These and other amazing things can be found in the Ministry Matters attached)
Genesis 45: 1-15
Psalm 133
Galatians 4: 4-7
Matt 15: (10-20), 21-28

IMPORTANT THINGS ON THE HORIZON
Next Family Service
13th September at 4:00 p.m. Followed by a sausage sizzle.
Wed Prayer Group
Wednesday 8:30 – 9:30 Call Catherine 0409067801 for details
Sarina Aged Care
Wednesday 26th August at 10 a.m. See Rev Janet for details.
FACE Up on Fridays
Friday 9:45 a.m. Call Shirley for details: 0402855083.
Mainly Music
Fridays (During school terms) 9 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. Call Kari for details: 0407132183
Sat Bible Study
Call Dianne for details: 0448 522 559
God’s blessings on your worship this weekend and may you feel His Spirit at work in your life as you strive to maintain justice and do the right thing.
In Christ's Love

08/08/2026

"Let us not neglect meeting together ........ but let us encourage one another" (Hebrews 10:25)

Hope you can join us.
Blessings

02/08/2026

Dear Family and Friends
We live in an ever-changing world and it's hard to keep up sometimes. Change can certainly be a good thing in many ways but is also capable of causing problems for many. The changeable weather is a good example; I mean, look at today's - I'm sure many people are annoyed, inconvenienced and downright frustrated especially if they are involved in running, ring events or just attending the Sarina Show. But one thing that never changes; one eternal constant, is God's love and provision for us as written in this week's Words Of Wisdom:
"And all ate and were filled; and they took up what was left over of the broken pieces,
twelve baskets full." (Matthew 14: 20)
This scripture is written at the end of the account of the miracle performed by Jesus as he fed 5000 men, women and children with just 5 small loaves of bread and 2 fish. The point of the miracle is to assure us all that God provides for all our needs and his blessings are endless. We read a similar account of God's provision in Isaiah 55 verse 1: "Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and you that have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price." In other words, you do not have to pay for God's grace, mercy and blessings. We simply need to believe, follow and trust Him through Jesus Christ.
I'd like to leave you with the words of an amazing hymn which reminds us of these things. It's a hymn written by Frank Anderson, an Australian hymn writer and composer. The Water Frank refers to, is of course, God. Just as we need water for our physical body to live, we need God for our spiritual survival. But, more than that, when we "come to the Water" we receive much more than spiritual well-being; God blesses us with things for our physical needs as well.
I pray you will find joy and comfort in the words of Frank's hymn and if you'd like to listen, click on

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZOzZC1q9kYI

Come to the water, you who are thirsty
Though you have nothing, I bid you come
And be filled with the goodness I have to offer
Come, listen, live

Why spend your money on what cannot fill
The emptiness deep in your heart
Listen to My word and you will enjoy
Goodness and peace in your heart

Come to the water, you who are thirsty
Though you have nothing, I bid you come
And be filled with the goodness I have to offer
Come, listen, live

Just as the heavens are high above earth
My ways and thoughts beyond you
Call me your Father and know I am near
I will be Father to you

Come to the water, you who are thirsty
Though you have nothing, I bid you come
And be filled with the goodness I have to offer
Come, listen, live

Services in our Parish tomorrow:
St Luke's Sarina 9 am
This Week’s Readings (These and other amazing things can be found in the Ministry Matters attached)
Genesis 32:22-31
Psalm 17: 1-7,16
Romans 9: 1-8 (9-16)
Matthew 14: 13-21

IMPORTANT THINGS ON THE HORIZON
Next Family Service
9th August at 4:00 p.m. Followed by a sausage sizzle.
Wed Prayer Group
Wednesday 8:30 – 9:30 Call Catherine 0409067801 for details
Sarina Aged Care
Wednesday 26th August at 10 a.m. See Rev Janet for details.
FACE Up on Fridays
Friday 9:45 a.m. Call Shirley for details: 0402855083.
Mainly Music
Fridays (During school terms) 9 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. Call Kari for details: 0407132183
Sat Bible Study
Call Dianne for details: 0448 522 559
God’s blessings on your worship this weekend and may you feel His Spirit at work in your life as you strive to come to the Water for all your needs.

The hymn can be used as an entrance, offertory and communion hymn d...

12/07/2026

Ministry Matters 12 July 2026

12/07/2026

Dear Family and Friends,
Jesus, the master of parables and analogies, looked for ways to reach those who gathered to listen to Him. Sometimes, however, the meanings of His parables were a little obscure to those who were listening and further clarification was needed such as in today's Words Of Wisdom which come from Jesus as recorded in Matthew's gospel:
"For to those who have, more will be given, and they will have an abundance;
but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away." (Matthew 13: 12)
Many would have wondered what Jesus meant; why would more be given to those who already have plenty? And why would those with a little lose what they have? Maybe if we substitute "seek" for "have" and "gained" for "given" in the first line and "do" for "have and "lost" or "eroded" for "taken away" it would make more sense. The passage would then read:
For to those who seek, more will be gained and they will have an abundance;
but from those who do nothing, even what they have will be lost or eroded.
In other words, the more we listen to God and seek to know and do His will, the richer in faith and blessings we will be but when we do nothing, when we expect to grow without any effort on our part, the understanding and faith we possess will diminish with time.

This Week’s Readings (These and other amazing things can be found in the Ministry Matters attached)
Genesis 25: 19-34
Psalm 119:105-112
Romans 8: 1-11
Matthew 13: 1-9; 18-23

IMPORTANT THINGS ON THE HORIZON
Next Family Service
Tomorrow 12th July at 4:00 p.m.
Wed Prayer Group
Wednesday 8:30 – 9:30 Call Catherine 0409067801 for details
Sarina Aged Care
Wednesday 22nd July at 10 a.m. See Rev Janet for details.
FACE Up on Fridays
Friday 9:45 a.m. Call Shirley for details: 0402855083.
Mainly Music
Every Friday (During school terms) 9 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. Call Kari for details: 0407132183
Sat Bible Study
Call Dianne for details: 0448 522 559
God’s blessings on your worship this weekend and may you feel His Spirit at work in your life as you seek and find blessings.
In Christ's Love

09/07/2026

Everyone is welcome to gather with us on Sunday afternoon. Even though Mainly Music isn't meeting in the holidays, there is an opportunity to gather in the church at 4 pm for our regular Family Service to learn and grow in faith.

Mr Percival, our newest puppet will be making his debut appearance and is sure to be a hit with the children.

14/06/2026