Table of Contents
A Sacred Conversation with God
Wednesday 12th February 2025
Prayer is more than a religious duty or a means of presenting our requests to God—it is a conversation that draws us into a deeper relationship with Him. Prayer is a two-way interaction where we both speak and listen. Authentic prayer is neither a monologue nor a mere transaction but a dialogue with the God who first speaks to us.
God Speaks First
In any meaningful relationship, communication is key. Just as we do not begin conversations with others without first listening, our prayer life must start by hearing from God. This aligns with the biblical principle that God initiates, and we respond. Psalm 27:8 (NIV) captures this beautifully:
“My heart says of you, ‘Seek his face!’ Your face, Lord, I will seek.”
God calls, and David responds. This pattern echoes throughout Scripture, reminding us that our prayers should be shaped by what God has already revealed in His Word.
Grounding our prayers in Scripture allows us to engage in thoughtful, God-centered conversation rather than self-centred monologues. When we pray through the Psalms or reflect on Jesus’ words, we allow His truth to shape our responses, leading to richer and more aligned prayers.
Prayer as Dialogue, Not a Wish List
Many people approach prayer primarily as a list of requests. While bringing our needs before God is essential (Philippians 4:6), conversation also requires listening. A one-sided relationship, where only one party speaks, is neither fulfilling nor transformative. True conversation with God involves meditation, reflection, and surrender, allowing His Spirit to impress His will upon our hearts.
Jesus models this in His own prayer life. In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus pours out His anguish yet submits to the Father’s will, saying, “Yet not my will, but yours be done” (Luke 22:42). This moment shows that prayer is not about convincing God to grant our desires but about aligning our hearts with His purpose.
Awe and Intimacy in Prayer
Prayer is both awe-inspiring and deeply personal. We approach a holy God, the Creator of the universe, yet He invites us to call Him Father (Romans 8:15). This paradox creates both reverence and closeness in prayer.
Awe reminds us of God’s greatness, while intimacy assures us of His love. When we engage in prayer as conversation, we are changed—not by merely reciting words but by encountering the living God.
A Call to Engage in Real Conversation with God
To cultivate a deep prayer life, we must approach it as a dialogue, not a duty. We listen through Scripture, respond in surrender, and trust in His presence. As we do, we grow in faith, wisdom, and intimacy with our Heavenly Father.
May prayer be a practice and a transforming conversation that draws us into a deeper relationship with God.
Food Pantry | Our city needs your help
The City of Casey Council recognised the generous support the Food Pantry and volunteers give to our local community. Council presented BCOC Food Pantry with the ‘Community Group of the Year’ award. Let’s reach out and show our support by purchasing something from our list in your next shop. You can drop it off in the Food Pantry trolley located in the foyer, Mon-Fri 9am-5pm or Sundays 9am-12 noon.
Let’s Love People and Serve Our City, and buy one item to be His presence in the City of Casey!
- Biscuits (e.g. Arnott’s)
- Jam Spreads
- Pasta sauces
- Oil
- Muesli bars
- Tinned tuna large
- Soup (e.g. tinned, powdered)
- Long life milk
- Toothpaste & toothbrushes
- Shampoo & conditioner
- Blankets
We also accept cash, card, and online donations. Payment via cash or card can be made during the above times or you can donate online.
- Account name: Berwick Church of Christ Inc.
- BSB: 033 609
- Account number: 434168
- Reference: FOOD PANTRY
Kids Church | Sunday 16th February 2025 | 9:00am & 11:00am
This week at Kids Church…
2 to 4-year-olds | Philip and Nathanael |John 1:43-49
5 to 12-year-olds | Lydia – using your gifts | Acts 16:13-15
Sunday Service | Sunday 16th February 2025 | 9:00am & 11:00am
Join us and discover prayer as a transformative conversation with God, a relational act, and not just a ritual. We will unpack how prayer deepens our intimacy with God and is the central way to know God and grow in grace. It is an invitation to experience heaven on earth.
YA Social CHANGE OF LOCATION | Sunday 16th February 2025 | 1:30pm
Boys Brigade | Monday 17th February 2025
Be part of the action
For over 20 years the Boys’ Brigade has advanced Christ’s Kingdom among boys.
ANCHORS | Grades 1 & 2: 6pm – 7.15pm
JUNIORS | Grades 3 – 6: 7pm – 8.30pm
SENIORS | Grades 7 to 18 years old: 7pm – 9.30pm
Raising Awareness of Neurodiversity | Special Event | Thursday 20th February 2025 | 7:00pm
We have the great honour to host this special event to raise awareness of neurodiversity needs in our church and broader community. Sandhya Menon is a Multiple Neurodivergent Educational and Developmental Psychologist. Her organisation, Onwards and Upwards Psychology in Melbourne, focuses on upskilling and empowering clinicians, parents, and teachers to understand and support autistic and ADHDer individuals, with the ultimate goal of better well-being for these communities.
Sandhya has previously authored two best-selling children’s books using a neurodiversity affirming approach, The Brain Forest and The Rainbow Brain, and speaks at national and international conferences on autism, ADHD and cultural perspectives.
During this event Sandhya will present strategies to help broaden inclusion, specifically for group settings. NB: Only questions related to group settings will be addressed in the Q&A (not individual needs).
This is a great PD opportunity for teachers and practitioners – the full price for this event is $60. Book early to secure a seat.
This event is a free event for all BCOC volunteers, Board and staff. An email with a discount booking code has been sent out. Check you have recieved it and book now so you don’t miss out.
Young Families Camping Weekend/Young Families Day Out | 21st-23rd February 2025
Our Young Families Camping Weekend at Warburton Holiday Park is coming up soon.
The camping sites and cabins are fully booked but you are most welcome to come on Saturday 22nd February and join in the fun.
The day could include:
- A trip to Redwood Forest for great photos
- Enjoy a sausage at our communal BBQ lunch
- Kids playing in the free water park
- BBQ marshmallows around our campfires in the evening
To check for any cabins/camping site cancellations, please contact Sue Nicholls 0403 822 324.
Baptism Celebration | Sunday 23rd February 2025 | 9:00am & 11:00am
Is God stirring your heart to Water Baptised?
Baptism is the complete immersion into water of those who have confessed their faith in Jesus Christ as God’s Son and their Saviour. Baptisms are a wonderful source of encouragement and inspiration to the entire congregation. If you are considering being baptised, please book now for the Baptism class on Monday 10th, February, where the significance of Water Baptism will be unpacked.
Seniors Ministry | Wednesday 26th February 2025 | 1:30pm
None of us can forget the amazing ministry of Billy Graham. We will share video clips and history of his remarkable life.
Details:
- Time: 1.30pm – 4.00pm
- Where: 446 Centre Road, Berwick, Vic, 3806
- Bring: please bring a packet of food for everyone to share
YA Summer Camp - Empowered for Unity | 28th Feb - 2nd Mar 2025 | Registration closes 16th Feb
WELCOME YA! Empowered for Unity
Join us for fun, worship and fellowship. Here are some of the things we will be doing!
- Water sports
- Optional Golf
- Service on the Saturday Night
- BBQ Dinner on Friday
- Dinner at the Bonnie Doon Hotel on Saturday Night
- Plenty of chances to hang out with friends as well as making new ones.
We look forward to seeing you there.
Next Steps Lunch | Sunday 2nd March 2025 | 1:00pm
As a movement, we need to get to know each other better and take the next steps in our faith journey. To this end, we want to invite you to the … Next Steps Lunch.
The Next Steps Lunch is an opportunity to connect, learn more about our church movement, and discover your potential while enjoying a delicious meal. The lunch is especially relevant to Newcomers, but we encourage you to register if you’ve been an attendee, volunteer, or partner and have never been to a Next Step Lunch before. And did I mention that it’s free?
Exploring Partnership | Sunday 16th March 2025 | 1:00pm
Exploring Partnership is an important step in taking up co-ownership of the vision, mission, and purpose of our Church. This meeting is an opportunity to understand the role of partnership in the broader functioning of the Church. You will meet leadership and we will talk about how you can partner with us to make our vision a reality.
If you regularly attend Berwick Church of Christ and are not yet a partner, we would like to invite you to attend our next meeting and enjoy lunch together.
GTM 1 Course Commencing | Tuesday 1st April 2025 | 7:00pm
Growing To Maturity course (GTM1)
GTM is the ideal follow-on course to ‘Search To Find’ or ‘Alpha”. It is the perfect next step for those who:
- Are hungry to grow in their relationship with God
- Want their faith to move from head knowledge to life experience
- Desire to learn how to live out the Christian life in a practical way
Growing To Maturity (GTM) is a unique discipleship course that combines the use of:
- Participant workbooks
- DVD’s
- Weekly inspiring audio talks
- Group discussion and sharing
- Special weekends
- Personal challenges
Alpha Course Commencing | Wednesday 2nd April 2025 | 7:00pm
WHAT IS ALPHA?
Alpha is a series of interactive sessions that create a safe and honest space, where people can explore life, faith and meaning.
Enjoy a meal with others, watch an Alpha Talk video and have an open discussion in a friendly and non-judgemental environment.
Connect
Connecting with others is important; friends gather around the kitchen table, meeting for coffee or catching up online. It’s no different at Alpha. All sessions start with a time to connect, relax and build friendships – whether in person or virtually.
Watch
The Alpha talks are designed to engage and inspire conversation. Each video talk is around thirty minutes long and explores important issues around faith and the basics of Christianity.
We address questions such as;
- “Who is Jesus?”
- “How can we have faith?”
- “Why and how do I pray?”
- “How does God guide us?”
Discuss
One of the most important parts of any Alpha Course is sharing thoughts and ideas in small groups. There’s no obligation to say anything, and there’s nothing you can’t share (seriously). It’s an opportunity to hear from others and contribute your own perspective in an honest, friendly, and respectful environment.
Have a safety concern?
We are serious about keeping our faith community safe. We encourage all staff, volunteers, partners and congregation to report any concerns they have about safety and wellbeing. We are committed to handling all concerns seriously, legally and in a child-focused way (if concerning children).
If you have any concerns about safety at the Church, we strongly encourage you to share your concern with one of our Pastors or the Safety Contact Person, Karen Fletcher and fill in our Reporting Concerns Form.
From the Governance Committee
The following new staff policies were approved by the Elders on the 18th December 2024:
- Flexible Working Policy (New) – Requests for flexible working arrangements now form part of the National Employment Standards (NES).
- Remote Working & Working from Home Policy (New) – Our Remote Working and Working from Home Policy outlines our guidelines for staff who may work from home or a location other than our offices as part of their flexible working arrangements. We want to ensure that both staff and the Church benefit from these arrangements.
If you have any questions or feedback about any of our policies, simply email policies@bcoc.com.au or contact Karen Fletcher at the Church Office (9702 1011).
You will find all volunteer-based policies located on the church website.
How to sign up as a Volunteer
If you are interested in becoming a volunteer, please check out the volunteering page on the website. There are several ministries listed but if you do not see what you are interested in, click on the “Volunteer Application Form – Other Ministries” link at the bottom of the page for all our other ministry opportunities.
What is involved?
You will need to complete a:
- Volunteer Application Form
- Have an interview with one of the Pastors
- Hold a current Working with Children Check
- Sign our Policy Induction
- Undergo online safety training (which helps us meet all our insurance and legal obligations)
This may seem like a lot, but it is a once-only process, with a safety training refresher every 3 years, and allows you to serve in any ministry area, with only one additional requirement: if you serve in the Café or Kitchen, you will need to hold a Food Handler’s Certificate.
If you have any questions or need assistance, please talk to one of our Pastors or contact Karen Fletcher at the Church Office 9702 1011.
Thank you for being His Presence in Every Place!
BRAAM BOTHA
Senior Pastor
