‘Knowing, Serving & Proclaiming Christ in the power of the Spirit to the glory of God.’

War & tyrants - Revelation 6Do you think there’s ever been a day in the last 2000 years when no-one was killed or injured in a war? On Remembrance Day 1993 A Current Affair came to the Primary school where my wife

Jenni was teaching at in Randwick to do a piece that included an interview with a 94 year-old world war one veteran. After lots of questions from the kids, the interviewer asked him “Do you think the war was necessary?” He thought for a moment, then looked at the interviewer and said. “No… if you could only stop the idea that we must have more power you would never need to have a war.” Well was he right? Will wars ever cease? As Jesus opens the seven seals on the scroll of human history in Revelation 6 we discover the answer.

The first for seals opened by Jesus reveal the four horsemen of the apocalypse. The rider on the white horse is bent on conquest, the rider on the fiery red horse represents the battles and bloodshed that follow. The rider on the black horse is famine and destruction that come with war and the pale rider on the fourth horse represents death which inevitably follows the other three. The vision given to John provides a devastatingly realistic picture of war. Whenever a ruler is bent on conquest these tragic consequences follow. This vivid picture has proved an accurate description of human history since John first penned it. Even just in the last century historians estimate that Adolf Hitler killed 12 million civilians, and Joseph Stalin 9 million. Well before them Genghis Khan- it is estimated killed 40 million people! These were all men obsessed by power. And there are hundreds of others like them scattered throughout human history that all confirm John’s apocalyptic vision of the four grim riders on their coloured horses. And so, tyranny and war are the projected forecast for human history as Jesus opens the first four seals. It’s a prediction that continues to prove accurate. For John’s readers the words would have struck a chord as well. In their lifetimes they had seen warfare waged by the most powerful military machine ever. The Roman empire was unstoppable. They would have seen first-hand the devastating Roman invasion of Galilee and Judea, which began 30 years earlier in 66AD at the command of Nero. Many of John’s readers were Christian Jews who had probably fled from the war zone and made new lives in the cities of Asia. The historian Josephus, an eyewitness of these events, tells how dwellings and synagogues were destroyed. The temple in Jerusalem was demolished. Vineyard, fruit trees and other crops were uprooted and tens of thousands of men, women and children were put to the sword. Josephus tells of how captive Jews were slaughtered by wild animals in the amphitheatres of the Graeco-Roman cities of Palestine. The most prized of the Jewish resistance leaders were shipped to Rome and publicly butchered as the climax to the triumphal March through the streets of Rome! They knew what John was talking about when he spoke of these 4 riders.

Now at one level all of this would seem terribly discouraging. However, the comfort comes in the truth that all of this happens under the sovereign control of the one who is gathering a refined people to himself for eternity under Christ’s rule. As the fifth seal is opened, we see the martyrs who have been killed under the regimes of tyrants asking the burning question. “How long O sovereign Lord… until you judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood?” It’s a cry that should resonate within us as well as we see on the news what human beings are capable of doing to one another. The opening of the sixth seal assures us that justice will be done in God’s time on judgement day. Regardless of what comes, we must never lose heart, God has it in hand and justice will be done. While we may not always understand God’s purpose and plan in what unfolds in human history, we must always remember that he loves his people and will bring us home. On judgment day, Jesus will bring justice on the earth. So, when we see evil and injustice on the news, when we experience injustice at the hands of evil people ourselves, we must not lose heart. The things that are not right now, will be made right then. When Jesus returns to judge, all evil will be brought to account, and all believers will share in his glory.

With love in Christ, Rod Chiswell.

St. Peter’s South Tamworth & All Saints Duri

Bible Reading

Revelation 6

St Peters Online Sunday ServiceWatch at your normal service time with Zoom Fellowshipsun@8 - sun@10 - sun@4 - sun@6

5th July 2020

Notices...St Peter’s Church at Carinya - Setup & Packdown teams needed!Due to social distancing protocols, our sun@10 & sun@4 services will be held at Carinya School hall. This will enable our kids church programs to run, and for all to be at one location for service. (sun@8 & sun@6 will remain on St Peter’s property.)sun@10 - Setup team. Needed each sunday morning before service to setup chairs.sun@4 - packdown team. Needed to pack away chairs after service ready for school. Please contact the office if you are available to serve in this way.

Perspectives Online CourseThe course that will change the way you view mission! NSW On-line (ZOOM) course

commencing on Thursday 23rd July. Questions? Please contact Ian on 0427 818 827

Hillvue Breaky Club Are you able to volunteer for Hillvue Breaky Club? Can you make yourself available from 7.45-9.15am once every two weeks during school term?If you can serve in this way call or text the office. Term 3 is looking positive for starting back up. Our hope and prayer is that we will be able to continue to love and serve the Hillvue school community.

SRE Money box returnsIf you have an SRE money box, please drop them to the church office or call/text for collection, and the money will be deposited and box returned to you. Thank you for supporting God’s word in schools!

Story The Bible. 10-12 JulyThis course is great for learning effective ways to communicate God’s Word to others. Learn and tell Bible stories in different ways. Info online at www.wycliffe.org.au/events or find the link on our facebook page. Contact Margaret Love for more information or for help to register. 0425 231 333

Text Feedback 0466 200 791You can give us feedback via text. Prayer points, sermon questions, comments, requests etc (No call, just texts).

St Peter’s YouthWe plan to see you all in person in term 3! For updates, keep checking

the facebook page ‘St Peters Youth’ or Instagram account ‘stpetersyouthtamworth.’

NEW Growth Group Booklets New Study Booklets are available at the office. Contact the office for delivery options.

Women’s Book Club - New Book Respectable Sins by Jerry Bridges has arrived at the church office. $25 per book. Call by and pick up a copy or call/text the office for delivery options.

We look forward to gathering together!Sunday 26th July

More info to come over the next few weeks.

sun@8 & sun@6 at St Peter’s as normal.sun@10 & sun@4 with kids church at Carinya School Hall

Enter via Boronia Drive, Calala.

Kirk & Christine Franklin Wycliffe Global Alliance/Wycliffe Bible Translators.

“…wait quietly before God, for [our] hope is in him” (Ps 62:1).

In September 2019, the Board of the Wycliffe Global Alliance (WGA) appointed Stephen Coertze from South Africa to take Kirk’s place as Executive Director of WGA. Stephen Coertze commenced duties in the new role on 3 June. So after 12 ½ years in this very demanding role, Kirk is no longer Executive Director and Stephen will lead WGA going forward.

What comes next for the Franklins?They’ve been in prayer and multiple discussions with various leaders seeking the Lord’s direction for the way Kirk continues to serve the Lord. What has emerged is that Kirk’s focus is still on developing current and future leaders for the Bible translation movement; and also other global mission movements. This involves mentoring, research, developing and teaching topics (in-person and online) about global missional leadership and the future of global missions (in the post-COVID19 world). It’s a collaborative effort involving Wycliffe Global Alliance, Oxford Centre for Mission Studies and Melbourne School of Theology, as they continue as members of Wycliffe Australia.Please pray with Kirk & Christine: • We’re thankful for the encouragement we’ve received from friends and colleagues in the transition of leadership responsibilities for Kirk. He officially stepped down as Executive Director of the Wycliffe Global Alliance on 3 June. • Christine had her left knee total replacement on 14 May and is thankful for good progress with physiotherapy and rehabilitation. Now that she has two ‘new’ knees, she’s noticing the beginning of pain free movement—something she has not experienced for the past 2.5 years! • Pray for discernment for Kirk as ministry requests for his new mentoring, research and teaching role are steadily coming in.

How to give to missions: 1. Direct Deposit or Internet Banking to:Westpac Bank Tamworth. Acc name: St Peter’s Trust AccountBSB 732-621. Acc # 07 0873. Reference: specify a mission/missionary 2. Use the mission side of the envelope and write on it the name of the mission/missionary you want to support. Unless specified in writing, donations will go into unspecified receipts and be distributed proportionally across the missions targets.

Pray for our Ministry Partners...

Lord, give your people grace to withstand the temptations of the world, the flesh, and the devil, and with pure hearts and minds to follow you the only God; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Immediate special needs: Helen PatonCarolyn CashDorothy PorterGreg & Rhonda DavisJodie Bishop

Doris lee Monique Wratten(Bev Smith’s daughter) Alison Murray (June’s daughter) Joe LivingstoneBradley Chandler (Joan Dunne’s Grandson )

Ongoing special needs:

Maree DartPat ColemanJoan SmithPat Tattam Dagmar Phillips

Ray AmosMeryl GowingKaye SturgeonGarry LeeDonna WallingtonSharni NevilleDennis & Kim Sharples

Please pray for:

Great news!St Peter’s physical Services will be resuming Sunday 26th July.More details to come…

-sun@8 & sun@6 at St Peter’s Church

-sun@10 & sun@4 at Carinya School Hall

• SRE classes - term 3• Hillvue Breakfast Club - term 3 (not week 1)

Postponed until further notice...

• St Peter’s Mid-Week Service • Coledale Frontyard Church • St Peter’s Toddler Group • ESL physical classes • Parish Prayer meeting • St Peter’s Homemakers • Ladies Craft Group • Men’s Coffee Club

St Peter’s Church OfficeMon to Fri 9am - 4pm

6765 9304 • 34 Vera Stadmin@stpeterstamworth.org.au

Text Feedback0466 200 791 https://www.facebook.com/

StPetersSouthTamworth/

stpeterstamworth.org.au

Church Finances - General A/c

2019-2020 Budget $ 13,000 Ave weekly giving after week 50 $ 12,374

Total giving (budget deficit) $ (30,803)

For online banking details please note information to the right on this page. Arrangements for those giving by envelope:

• They can be dropped to the church office. • Please contact the office if you would like someone to collect your offfertory.

1. Direct Deposit or Internet Banking to:Westpac Bank Tamworth.Acc name: St Peters General AccountBSB 032-621Acc # 810 168 Reference: Giving/Offering

2. Giving Envelopes Sets of envelopes for anonymous giving are available at the office.

Giving at St Peter’s