"Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in

the bond of peace. There is one body,

and one Spirit, even as ye are called in

one hope of your calling; One Lord, one

faith, one baptism,"

[ Ephesians 4:3-5 ]

71 King Street Hamilton, Victoria, 3300

Issue No. 3-17-297-1

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Bulletin & News

Sabbath March 4th, 2017

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Song Service 9:45 am

Sabbath School 10:00 am

Church Service 11:30 am

We WELCOME you to our Worship Services Today

Taking the Three Angels’ Messages to the whole world...

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Welcome - We welcome Ray Lucas to the pulpit today and for Sabbath

praise and worship with us. May God bless you and lead you in His truth always.

Combined Lunch - There will be a combined lunch today in the church

dining room after the main service as Ray Lucas has joined us again this Sabbath. All are welcome to join us for fellowship and a light meal. There will be a combined lunch next Sabbath also.

Prayer Meeting, March 8th at 5pm Please join us each fortnight for

prayer and a short Bible study. Let us always keep the communication channels to heaven open through our prayers.

C.A.R.E. Group meeting, March 10th - It’s held every Friday.

(See page 11 and Krystal for address and further details.)

Communion Service - On March 11th there will be a communion service

for this quarter. Please prepare your hearts and minds for this special time with Christ Jesus. Deacons and Deaconesses, please prepare yourselves for the service.

Recipe Club - On Tuesday, March 28th, the first recipe club for 2017 will

be held. Please pray for a successful meeting and that hearts will be drawn to Christ. Do come along and fellowship with the members of the group.

Building Fund - Today there is an offering for the church building fund.

Please dig deep so we can make the necessary changes and additions to the church building and grounds.

Special Thanks - Thankyou. Jay and Krystal for your ongoing support with

the Sunday Market Stall. May God bless you both in this area of outreach in the church.

SCAW Meeting - Pastor Bone is holding a SCAW (Safe Churches

Awareness Workshop) in Warrnambool church on Sunday March 19th. He will also run a workshop in Hamilton in May (date to be decided). All church officers need to attend a workshop to fulfill government requirements, so plan to attend one of the above. Please let one of the elders know which one you will attend.

Business Meeting - There will be a church business meeting on Wednesday

March 8th at 6pm after the prayer meeting. One item to discuss is the new church sign. Please plan to attend.

~ Weekly Announcements & Upcoming Events ~

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So many times we pray doubting the Saviour’s ability to answer our innermost prayer.

Boldly we come before the throne of grace and bring our petitions before Him. Humbly we ask our

hearts desires for healing, love, restoration and remembrance, but in closing our doubt springs

forth. We ask believing the cower away doubting.

“Not in my time but in yours”, “When you’re ready Lord”. Believe that it is done and it will be done!

~ Reflections ~

Where there is love, there is hope and

where there is unity there is prosperity.

Singing Group - Joi Wilkinson, who is a very good singer, would like to

start a group to sing at nursing homes. She is calling for anyone interested to meet in the church at about 1.30pm next Sabbath March 11.

Big Camp - Big Camp is on again this year during the Easter long weekend

in April. (16th-20th) Application forms available from Amber.

~ Prayer Requests ~

This Week’s Prayer List: Please remember Milan Kelemen's sister in

Belgrade, Joan Ruthven, Johnny and David Mocilac, Dale Mea, Olga Novak, Kezia Derksen, Simon Novak, Shaun’s daughter Keryn and family for accommodation, (still no luck there), Marilyn McDonald, John Tyack, Suzi, Roger Pearce, Peter Tyzack and family, Maria and John Franjic and John’s brother and his family, the Recipe Club, Sunday Market Stall and our Pastor.

Special Prayer Vigil - Please set aside the time on Wednesday, March 8th,

5:45pm for a special prayer season. The aim is to pray for a Church Growth and Blessings on the Pastor. Time is short and we need to be ready now!

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CATHOLICS AND LUTHERANS PLAN JOINT REFORMATION “CELEBRATION”

Thursday February 23rd, 2017 in Briefings, Prophetic Intelligence Briefings

Catholics and Lutherans have made yet another step toward ecumenical commemoration of the 500th anniversary of the Reformation in 2017. They have published a joint “Common Prayer,” booklet which provides a template for an ecumenical service, including prayers, appropriate hymns and themes for sermons.

At first, Catholic leaders in Germany, Luther’s home country, balked at the idea of jointly “celebrating” the anniversary. But the 93-page report, “From Conflict to Communion,” published in 2013 after joint discussions between the two churches relieved those concerns. They announced that they would mark the anniversary together and spun the Reformation as the start of a shared 500-year journey not a single divisive event.

The latest ecumenical guidelines say all services should stress the concepts of thanksgiving, repentance and common commitment, with the main focus on Jesus.

Ecumenical discussions in recent decades have reached such a reconciliation that theologians recently suggested they explore the possibility of sharing Communion, which the Catholic Church does not allow with other Christians.

The “Common Prayer” booklet stresses the shared beliefs between Roman Catholicism and Lutherans. The section on repentance admits the post-Reformation

~ KTF Ministries ~

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wars of religion and says, “We deeply regret the evil things that Catholics and Lutherans have mutually done to each other.”

“This common prayer marks a very special moment in our common journey from conflict to communion,” said the Rev. Martin Junge, general secretary of LWF, and Cardinal Kurt Koch, head of the Vatican’s ecumenical department in a joint letter accompanying the guidelines.

The booklet suggests that ecumenical services have two presiders, one Catholic and one Lutheran, and several prayer readers of both faiths. They should use hymns known to both Catholics and Protestants, and presiders are instructed to lead a prayer that laments “that even good actions of reform and renewal had often unintended negative consequences.”

For Luther, it was much more than that! His loyalty to the Bible exposed the corruptions of Rome, and he fearlessly exposed the man of sin. He would be horrified if he saw what the church he founded is doing.

“All the world wondered after the beast…” Revelation 13:3

Source References:

Catholics and Lutherans to worship together at Reformation anniversary

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7 SMALL CHURCH CHOICES THAT WILL STRENGTHEN YOUR MINISTRY...

Continued from last week...

4. Do More By Doing Less There was a season in our church when we stopped doing everything but the ministries we could do really well, including several things we've been told every church must do. It took some time. It wasn’t painless. And it left us with very little on the calendar. But it was one of the best decisions we ever made. Doing less allowed us to concentrate our efforts on a few things we knew we could do well, instead of wasting our time, money and energy on doing a lot of things poorly. Starting from there, we only added ministries when we knew we could do them well. Doing fewer things so we can do them better is a good small church choice.

5. Build Your Farm Team

Big churches are like the New York Yankees. When they need a new team member, they can hire a great player from another team. Small Churches are like the Kansas City Royals. If they want a great team, they have to build it from the ground up by developing a solid farm system. It has to be home grown. That’s a lot harder, but it can still win you a World Series. Hands-on discipleship must be in the DNA of every healthy church – big or small. I know it’s hard to find and train willing volunteers. But in the long run, it’s harder not to do it. Finding and training volunteers is a good small church choice.

~ Off The Net ~

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Lesson 7

The

Life of Christ

First Quarter, 1899

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1. I. IMMEDIATELY following His baptism, where did the Spirit lead Jesus? Matt. 4: 1. See note 1.

2. What was the object of taking Him there? See note 2.

3. Who were His companions there? Mark 1 :13.

4. How long did Jesus fast before He felt the pangs of hunger? Matt. 4:2. See note 3.

5. When Satan approached Christ in His extreme hunger, with what words did he assail Him ? Verse 3. See note 4.

6. With what answer did Christ meet Satan's insinuation ? Verse 4.

7. What was then done with the Saviour? Verse 5.

8. What did Satan then ask Christ to do ? Verse 6.

9. What reason did he give for asking this test ? See note 5.

10. How did Christ meet this plausible statement ? Verse 7. See note 6.

11. Where was the Saviour next taken ? Verse 8.

12. From that vantage spot, what was pointed out to Christ?

LESSON VII - TEMPTATION OF JESUS

Luke 4:1

Deut. 8: 2; Mark 6: 30, 31; Heb. 4 : 15.

Mark 1 : 13; Luke 4 : 2 ; Isa. 52 : 14.

Matt. 3:17; 27:40 ; 2 Cor. II : 14.

Deut. 8: 3.

Ps. 91 : 11, 12.

Deut. 6 : ,6.

Side Texts to be

studied with

February 18, 1899.

In the Wilderness of Judea, A. D. 27.

(Matt. 4 : I-1 I ; Mark I : 12, 13 ; Luke 4 : 1-13 )

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13. To whom did Satan say these belonged? Luke 4 : 6.

14. On what condition did Satan promise all these to Christ ? Matt. 4: 9

15. What reply was made to this offer, and what was its effect? Verses 10,11. See note 7.

16. Who then came to minister to the Saviour?

READINGS. " Desire of Ages," pp. 114-131.

NOTES

1. EVERY movement of Christ was controlled by the Spirit, of which He was "full." John r :16. He was conceived of the Holy Spirit. Luke I : 35. The Spirit was not given to Him by measure. John 3 : 34. The Holy Spirit was the source of His power. Acts 16: 38. Through this He was spotless. Heb. 9 : 14. By the same He gave directions to His apostles concerning their work, after His resurrection. Acts 1 : 2.

2. THE object must have been twofold: (I) He must undergo temptation in its most direct and potent way, in order that He 'might reach the depth of human suffering in that line, and so know how to sympathize with those whom He came to save. (2) These days were also to serve for Him as a season of meditation and preparation for the great work before Him. It was also to be a season of triumph, not only over Satan in his direct attacks, but also a triumph over the flesh, by absorbing, elevating communion with God—a lesson for all who have been intrusted with responsibilities in the work of salvation.

3. HE was probably so absorbed by His devotions in the face of a persistent enemy, that He did not feel the need of food. It will be

John 12: 31.

Deut. 10: 20; I Sam. 7 : 3.

Luke 22 : 39-44 ; “Spirit of Prophecy vol .2 p97”

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noticed that both Mark and Luke imply that the Saviour was being tempted at every stage of the forty days' fast. It may be that during that time the question was being revolved, from His human side, as to whether He was really having God's protection, while being left in so desolate a place. This is suggested by the attack of Satan after Christ became sensible to hunger.

4. Forty days before, at His baptism, a voice from heaven had said, "Thou art My beloved Son." Now, in the solitude of the wilderness, with only wild beasts for companions, pale and emaciated from a long fast, with the pangs of hunger gnawing at His vitals, will His faith rest on that Word spoken to Him a few days before? Satan seizes the opportunity to insinuate a doubt of the truthfulness of that statement, hoping thereby to cause a failure of the plan of salvation. To doubt would be to disprove His Sonship. If this plan does not carry, Christ may attempt to prove His Sonship by obeying the dictates of Satan, and so take Himself out of the keeping power of God. He feels quite sure that on one or the other of these lines Christ will fail. See " Desire of Ages," p. 119.

5. Satan virtually said to Christ: Now You have assumed to depend on God's Word for support and protection, let me, and all these worshipers in the court below, see God care for You, when You cast Yourself out into space; then all will believe You are the Messiah. Has not God said, He shall give His angels charge over You, to bear You up in their hands, to preserve You from being dashed against the stones? Now trust this part of the Word, if You depend so much on it.

6. Christ does not in this case attempt to argue the matter. That would be to step down on a level with His tormentor. He quietly said, " Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God." It is one thing to trust Him while doing His will, another to try Him while presumptuously taking a course He has not prescribed. God- can rescue me from this position, and I still trust Him.

7. These words, spoken by way of command to Satan, when he openly revealed himself, gave him the evidence he pretended to be disinterestedly seeking for. In them was manifested the power which he feigned to doubt was with Christ. The effect of their power was quickly felt by Satan, and he slunk away without another attack upon the Son of God. See " Desire of Ages," p. 130.

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"Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:"

[ Romans 6:8 ]

~ Memory Verse ~

We are not just another small group meeting weekly to read the bible and hang out together - we are a C.A.R.E. Group! C.A.R.E. stands for Christ's Attitude Reflected in Everyone - and that is exactly what we are all about. Our group meets on Friday nights from 6:30pm every week at Amber and Krystal's House. Next gathering - Friday, March 10th. EVERYONE is welcome to join in the fun of sharing and caring for one another and there is plenty of floor space. For more information contact Krystal/Amber (03) 5572 5589 or visit http://hamilton-adventist.net/sda_church/web_pages /care_group.htm or find us on Facebook - Hamilton CARE group. See Amber or Krystal for more information.

~ C.A.R.E. Group ~

"To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne."

[ Revelation 3:21 ]

~ Bible Promises ~

Because of God, we belong, We can feel secure regardless of difficulties.

Know that the Lord is God. It is He who made us, and we are His;

we are His people, the sheep of His pasture.

[ See Psalm 100:3 ]

~ God’s Little Book of Encouragement ~

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Testimonies for the Church Volume I … by (E.G. White)

“The Shaking” (chapter 32, pp 479.2 - 481.2)

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November 20, 1857, I was shown the people of God, and saw them mightily shaken. Some, with strong faith and agonizing cries, were pleading with God. Their countenances were pale, and marked with deep anxiety, expressive of their internal struggle. Firmness and great earnestness were expressed in their countenances, while large drops of perspiration fell from their foreheads. Now and then their faces would light up with the marks of God's approbation, and again the same solemn, earnest, anxious look would settle upon them.

["BLOW THE TRUMPET IN ZION, SANCTIFY A FAST, CALL A SOLEMN ASSEMBLY: GATHER THE PEOPLE, SANCTIFY THE CONGREGATION, ASSEMBLE THE ELDERS. . . . LET THE PRIESTS THE MINISTERS OF THE Lord, WEEP BETWEEN THE PORCH AND THE ALTAR AND LET THEM SAY, SPARE THY PEOPLE, O Lord, AND GIVE NOT THINE HERITAGE TO REPROACH, THAT THE HEATHEN SHOULD RULE OVER THEM: WHEREFORE SHOULD THEY SAY AMONG THE PEOPLE, WHERE IS THEIR God?" JOEL 2:15-17.

"SUBMIT YOURSELVES THEREFORE TO God. RESIST THE DEVIL, AND HE WILL FLEE FROM YOU. DRAW NIGH TO God, AND HE WILL DRAW NIGH TO YOU. CLEANSE YOUR HANDS, YE SINNERS; AND PURIFY YOUR HEARTS, YE DOUBLE-MINDED. BE AFFLICTED, AND MOURN, AND WEEP: LET YOUR LAUGHTER BE TURNED TO MOURNING, AND YOUR JOY TO HEAVINESS. HUMBLE YOURSELVES IN THE SIGHT OF THE Lord, AND HE SHALL LIFT YOU UP." JAMES 4:7-10.

"GATHER YOURSELVES TOGETHER, YEA, GATHER TOGETHER, O NATION NOT DESIRED; BEFORE THE DECREE BRING FORTH, BEFORE THE DAY PASS AS THE CHAFF, BEFORE THE FIERCE ANGER OF THE Lord COME UPON YOU, BEFORE THE DAY OF THE LORD'S ANGER COME UPON YOU. SEEK YE THE LORD, ALL YE MEEK OF THE EARTH, WHICH HAVE WROUGHT HIS JUDGMENT; SEEK RIGHTEOUSNESS, SEEK MEEKNESS: IT MAY BE YE SHALL BE HID IN THE DAY OF THE LORD'S ANGER." Zephaniah 2:1-3.] {1T 179.3}

~ From the Spirit of Prophecy - Think About: ~

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HAMILTON CHURCH WEBSITE

Website: http://www.hamilton-adventist.net Church Email: info@hamilton-adventist.net recipeclub@hamilton-adventist.net

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hamiltonsdachurch.victoria Mobile App: http://hamilton-adventist.net/sda_church/sda_site/web_pages/mobile-app.htm Recipe Club: https://www.facebook.com/groups/171081359679949/

Evil angels crowded around them, pressing their darkness upon them, to shut out Jesus from their view, that their eyes might be drawn to the darkness that surrounded them, and they distrust God and next murmur against Him. Their only safety was in keeping their eyes directed upward. Angels of God had charge over His people, and as the poisonous atmosphere from the evil angels was pressed around these anxious ones, the heavenly angels were continually wafting their wings over them, to scatter the thick darkness. {1T 180.1}

Some, I saw, did not participate in this work of agonizing and pleading. They seemed indifferent and careless. They were not resisting the darkness around them, and it shut them in like a thick cloud. The angels of God left these, and I saw them hastening to the assistance of those who were struggling with all their energies to resist the evil angels, and trying to help themselves by calling upon God with perseverance. But the angels left those who made no effort to help themselves, and I lost sight of them. As the praying ones continued their earnest cries, a ray of light from Jesus would at times come to them, to encourage their hearts, and light up their countenances. {1T 180.2}

I asked the meaning of the shaking I had seen, and was shown that it would be caused by the straight testimony called forth by the counsel of the True Witness to the Laodiceans. This will have its effect upon the heart of the receiver, and will lead him to exalt the standard and pour forth the straight truth. Some will not bear this straight testimony. They will rise up against it, and this will cause a shaking among God's people. {1T 181.1}

The testimony of the True Witness has not been half heeded. The solemn testimony upon which the destiny of the church hangs has been lightly esteemed, if not entirely disregarded. This testimony must work deep repentance, and all that truly receive it will obey it and be purified. {1T 181.2}

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~ For The Kids ~ We are currently going through the Books of the Old Testament.

What things can you think of that are in this Bible book?

Write your answers below...

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March 4th Christ's Blood Was Shed To Remit Our Sins Since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, they are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus. Romans 3:23, 24, R.S.V.

We need Jesus every moment. To lose His love from our hearts means much. Yet He Himself says: "I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love." . . . The religion of many is very much like an icicle--freezingly cold. The hearts of not a few are still unmelted, unsubdued. They cannot touch the hearts of others, because their own hearts are not surcharged with the blessed love that flows from the heart of Christ. . . . Genuine religion is based upon a belief in the Scriptures. God's Word is to be believed without question. No part of it is to be cut and carved to fit certain theories. Men are not to exalt human wisdom by sitting in judgment upon God's Word. The Bible was written by holy men of old, as they were moved upon by the Holy Spirit; and this Book contains all that we know for certain and all that we can ever hope to learn in regard to God and Christ, unless, like Paul, we are taken to the third heaven. . . . This revelation to the apostle did not spoil his humility. The life of a Christian is a life regulated by the Word of God just as it reads. All the truths of the Old and the New Testaments form a complete whole. These truths we are to cherish, believe, and obey. To the true disciple, faith in God's Word is a living, active principle; for "with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation" (Romans 10:10). By faith man believes that he receives the righteousness of Christ. Faith, in itself, is an act of the mind. Jesus Himself is the author and the finisher of our faith. He gave His life for us; and His blood speaks in our behalf better things than spoke the blood of Abel, which cried unto God against Cain the murderer. Christ's blood was shed to remit our sins. Many commit the error of trying to define minutely the fine points of distinction between justification and sanctification. Into the definitions of these two terms they often bring their own ideas and speculations. Why try to be more minute than is Inspiration on the vital question of righteousness by faith?--Manuscript 21, 1891. Those who are united with Christ through the daily, hourly exercise of the faith which works by love and purifies the soul receive the forgiveness of their sins, and are sanctified unto eternal life.--Manuscript 12a, 1901.

(Reflecting Christ – Ellen G White - page 77)

~ Weekly Devotional ~

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~ Sabbath Services ~

Service This Week Next Week

March 4th March 11th

Divine Service Ray Lucas Pastor Justin Bone

Sabbath School Peter Tung Pastor Justin Bone

- Contact Details - Pastor Justin Bone 04 3973 4368

~ Church Website ~ Website : http://hamilton-adventist.net/

Email : info@hamilton-adventist.net

~ Sunset Times ~ Sunset Sabbath (Tonight) 8:07 pm DST

Sunset Next Friday 7:58 pm DST

~ Church Offering ~ This Week: Local Church Budget

Next Week: Adventist World Radio

~ Church Cleaning ~ February 26th 2017 - March 11th 2017 Amber Morris

March 12th 2017 - March 25th 2017 Tung Family

~ Garden Maintenance ~ February 26th 2017 - March 11th 2017 François Oberson

March 12th 2017 - March 25th 2017 Peter Tung