For Sunday the 3rd of June - 9:00am

The things that we hope for in this world can give us big clues about our life with God. For example, when we are thirsty we hope for water, and when we slake our thirst we receive confirmation that this hope is not in vain. Likewise, when we are hungry we hope for food, and when our hunger is satisfied we also receive confirmation that this hope is not in vain. Each human being also has a hope that is deeper that that for food or water, and this is the hope for what is eternal, the hope for God. And only God can satisfy this spiritual hunger and thirst.

This Sunday we will be hearing a reading from the Bible that assures us that through faith in Christ we will share in God’s glory; that we will be come one in love with God and with all of creation. We will be hearing about the way that the Holy Spirit gives us confirmation of this hope as we experience the love of God in our hearts. And we will also be hearing that even our suffering in this world is preparing us to receive the fulfillment of our deepest hopes of life with God.

This Sunday we will be meeting at 9:00am for a service with Holy Communion. Our Sunday school will meet at about 9:45am.

God’s peace,

Fraser Pearce, Pastor

For Sunday the 27th of May - 10:00am

This Sunday we will be thinking through the role that the Holy Spirit plays in the life of the church. We will be hearing about how, by the power of the Holy Spirit, we are adopted as children into God’s family; and we will be hearing about the way the Holy Spirit gives us the freedom to call out to God as our Father.

We will also be paying special attention to the fact that since we share everything that belongs to Jesus we also share in his suffering. Knowing this can give us great encouragement when we face difficulties in life that come from following where Jesus leads us.

We will be meeting at 10:00am for a service with Holy Communion. We will also be celebrating a baptism, and giving thanks to God for the gift of the Holy Spirit. Our Sunday school will meet at about 10:45am.

God’s peace to you,

Fraser Pearce, Pastor

For Sunday the 20th of May - 9:00am

Bendigo Lutheran Church

This Sunday we will be hearing from the book of Revelation, where the Lord says: ‘See, I am coming soon; my reward is with me, to repay according to everyone’s work”.

These words are a reminder that God, who has graciously made us members of his family, wants us to live as his children by showing love for each other. In fact, as we hear from different passages of Scripture, God promises that the work of love that we do will have eternal rewards, and that we can be confident that God will repay our investment in his kingdom.

These words, however, are also a warning to us: if we disregard God’s commands, there will be consequences, both in our lives here and now, and in our eternal destiny. Because of this we do well to seek God’s mercy in Christ Jesus, and to find our peace with God and each other in him.

This Sunday we will be meeting at 9:00am for a service with Holy Communion. Our Sunday school will meet at about 9:45am.

God’s peace to you,

Fraser Pearce, Pastor

For Thursday the 17th of May - 7:30pm

Just a note to let you know that we will be having our Acsension service on Thursday night at 7:30pm. Pstor Allan Heppner, the District Missions' director will be preaching, and Sue Westhorp, Music Directior at St Paul's Box Hill, will be providing the music. I'll be ;eading the liturgy.

I hope to see you there,

In Christ,

Fraser Pearce, Pastor

For Sunday the 13th of May - 10:00am

Bendigo Lutheran Church

One of the gifts that God gives his church is the gift of hospitality. In fact as Christians we experience the way that the Holy Spirit works among us, freeing us to open our homes, and to share from the blessings that we have received.

This Sunday we will be hearing about hospitality in the account of Lydia’s conversion. Lydia was a business woman who trusted God after she heard the preaching of the apostles. The first thing that she did after she was baptized was to show the apostles her hospitality by prevailing on them to stay with her at her home. The message of God’s love freed Lydia to share with the apostles the warmest welcome that she could give them.

This Sunday we will be meeting at 10:00am. We will be receiving God’s hospitality as we share in Holy Communion. Our Sunday school will be meeting at about 10:45am.

God’s peace,

Fraser Pearce, Pastor

For Sunday the 6th of May - 9:00am

Just before he died, Jesus told his disciples: ‘I give you a new commandment, that you love one another’. He went on to say, ‘By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another’.

This Sunday, as we listen to these words of Jesus, we will be thinking through the way he gives us strength to live in community. Jesus doesn’t simply give us a command that we must obey by our own strength. Instead he calls each one of us to follow him, and he fills us with God’s love by the care and service that he gives us. It’s because Jesus is with us that we are able to love one another, and to show all people that we are disciples of the Lord.

This Sunday we will be meeting at 9:00am to receive Jesus’ gracious presence in the Word of God and in the Lord’s Supper. Our Sunday school will be meeting at about 9:45am.

God’s peace,

Fraser Pearce, Pastor