Table of Contents
As it is in heaven…let it be so in my finances
Wednesday 13th November 2024
Money significantly influences our lives, impacting choices, priorities, in itself values. For Christ-followers, understanding money’s role is crucial, not as an end but as a tool for advancing God’s purposes. The Bible emphasises that while money can serve noble ends, it can also become a barrier to living fully in God’s kingdom if we let it dictate our decisions or sense of worth.
Jesus addresses this directly, warning in Matthew 6:24,
“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”
Here, Jesus reveals the heart of the matter: when we place our trust in wealth, we risk making it our master, pulling our hearts away from God. Jesus doesn’t condemn money itself but cautions against it taking hold on our lives, tempting us to trust in it over God’s provision.
Scripture consistently reminds us that God provides all we need (Philippians 4:19), calling us to live with open hands rather than clinging tightly to material resources. The early church modelled this principle of generosity, using their resources to care for one another and the community around them. In Acts 4:32-35, we read,
“All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had.”
Such radical generosity didn’t stem from compulsion but from a shared conviction that their possessions ultimately belonged to God.
Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 6:19-21 also calls us to view wealth with an eternal perspective:
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven.”
The kingdom-minded believer is called to invest in eternal riches—loving others, sharing the gospel, and building up the community of faith. Wright emphasizes that when we view money as a means to reflect God’s love, it becomes a powerful tool for kingdom work rather than a source of pride or security.
Ultimately, the role of money in a Christ-follower’s life is not to bring power, status, or security but to serve as a resource for loving others and living out God’s mission. Money is an instrument, not a master. We are called to steward it wisely, giving generously and living simply so that our lives reflect the truth that our treasure is found in Christ alone. By holding loosely to material wealth, we can faithfully serve as conduits of God’s blessing in the world.
Kids Church end of year activities
1st Dec | 9am & 11am | Grade 6 Graduations
15th Dec | 9am & 11am | Break-up Celebrations
Parents: Be sure to check your emails for all the details.
Kids Church 2025
Kids Church resumes on Sunday 26th January for a Summer Fun Day. Bring a hat, wear some joggers, reconnect with buddies and bring along a friend for a great day!
Pastoral Care & Life Groups
Pastoral Care
Are you in need of pastoral care? Sue Nicholls is available. Pastoral care is about connection, compassion, and understanding. Sue is dedicated to providing a safe space for you to express your feelings and be encouraged.
Feel free to reach out and contact Sue via email at care@bcoc.com.au.
Life Groups
Do life together and stay connected. No matter what stage of life you’re in, we have a Life Group for you. Life Groups provide the environment where you will build healthy relationships that aid your personal growth, feelings of acceptance, support, and connection within our church and the community.
If you would like to join a Life Group, speak to Arlo van Rhyn, Life Groups Ministry Leader. You can contact Arlo via email at transformed@bcoc.com.au.
Are you a business person?
As business leaders, embodying God’s presence in every place we step into—offices, boardrooms, and marketplaces—means letting our faith and values guide our actions, relationships, and decisions. It’s not just about achieving success; it’s about bringing light, integrity, and hope into our professional spheres. By actively choosing to represent Christ in our work, we become agents of His love and wisdom, impacting those around us in meaningful ways.
This is your invitation to a values-based business networking dinner on Friday 6th December, 6:30pm – 8:30pm. Contact Sally Packeer on 0412 610 001 to book your seat.
A values-based networking event led by John Sikkema can serve as a powerful platform for like-minded professionals to connect and share insights. John Sikkema is a retired businessman who will be sharing with us his testimony on 19 January at Berwick Church of Christ during our Sunday morning services.
Kids Church | Sunday 17th November | 9:00 am & 11:00 am
This week at Kids Church…
2 to 4-year-olds | Elijah and the Widow |1 Kings 17:1-16
5 to 12-year-olds | God Loves a Cheerful Giver | 2 Corinthians 9:7
Child Dedication | Sunday 17th November | 9:00 am & 11:00 am
We will have Child Dedications at our 9:00am and 11:00am services. If you are interested in your child being dedicated in the future, please see the website and complete the Child Dedication application form or contact Sue Nicholls. Email: sue@bcoc.com.au.
Sunday Service | 17th November | 9:00 am & 11:00 am
Join us Sunday for a special service focusing on the “Future Church.” Together, we’ll explore how we can shape the church of tomorrow with hope, vision, and community.
Baptism Class | Sunday 17th November | 12:45 pm
Baptism is the complete immersion into water of those who have confessed their faith in Jesus Christ as God’s Son and their Saviour.
However, it is more than just immersion in water. It has a number of significant meanings.
Book now if you want to be contacted about attending the Baptism Class.
Y&Y Service | Gabby Conlon | Sunday 17th November | 5:30 pm
Gabby Conlon is a passionate lover of Jesus, who walks intimately with the Holy Spirit. For many years Gabby has consistently pursued knowing more of who God is and has a strong passion to enable others to do the same. She is part of the leadership team of The School of Faith where she equips believers all over the world to walk with the Holy Spirit and know the word. Gabby enjoys providing opportunities for people to put into practice what they are learning through creative activations. Her own radical encounters are what propelled her to help others grow in their faith and go after `more of God’ that is so readily available. Be sure to join us in food and fellowship after the service. SEE YOU THERE!
Boys Brigade | Monday 18th November | From 6:00 pm
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
Baptism Celebration | Sunday 24th November | 9:00 am & 11:00 am
Baptism is the complete immersion into water of those who have confessed their faith in Jesus Christ as God’s Son and their Saviour. However, it is more than just immersion in water. It has a number of significant meanings.
Complete the expression of interest form if you would like to be contacted about being Baptised.
Exploring Partnership | Sunday 24th November | 1:00 pm
Exploring Partnership is an important step in taking 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 leaders 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.
Seniors Ministry | Friendship Group | Wednesday 27th November | 1:30 pm
We will have Lloyd Poole on the keyboard, and Major Alan Laurens will bring a Christmas message. Let’s finish the year with joyful praise! There will be prizes for best male & female hat & best male & female outfit!
Details:
- Time: 1.30pm – 4.00pm
- Where: 446 Centre Road, Berwick, Vic, 3806
- Bring: please bring a plate for everyone to share
Writers Group | Saturday 30th November | 9:00 am
Aspiring writers, are you looking for a creative outlet to showcase your writing talents and connect with fellow literary enthusiasts? We are thrilled to invite you to join our Writers Group, where your words will come to life in a community of like-minded individuals.
Whether you write poetry, short stories, essays, or anything in between, we welcome all writing styles and genres. So come join us and ignite your passion for writing! Together, we will inspire each other to reach new heights and unlock our full potential as writers. Don’t miss out on this incredible opportunity to be a part of something truly special.
Join us today and let your creativity soar!
Christmas Day Service | Wednesday 25th Decembr 2024 | 9AM only
On Christmas Day we will celebrate our Saviour’s birth with one service at 9:00 am.
No Church services | Sunday 29th Decembr 2024
As the year comes to a close, we want to express our heartfelt thanks to all our volunteers for your incredible dedication and support. You’ve given so much, and now it’s time for a well-earned break. There will be no church services on Sunday 29th December as our volunteers will be taking a rest over the Christmas holidays, and we will be reopening on Sunday, 5th January 2025.
We are deeply grateful for everything you do, and we wish you a joyful, peaceful holiday season. We can’t wait to serve with you again in the new year! With sincere thanks.
Young Families | Camping Weekend | Friday 21st February 2025
Calling all camping families – kids of any age are welcome!
Get ready for a weekend of making unforgettable memories! We invite you to join us from February 21st (Friday) to February 23rd (Sunday) 2025, for the Young Families Camping Weekend at Warburton. Strengthening the bonds between your family and others is our main priority!
Enjoy crisp, fresh air, surrounded by stunning nature and a sense of freedom, watch children play around the campsite, enjoy the fantastic free Water Park and paddle in the Warburton River. Warburton has plenty of cafes, and Redwood Forest has fantastic walking and cycling trails and is great fun for photos.
At night, get ready for cosy campfires, where we’ll swap stories, roast marshmallows, and enjoy fellowship.
We are staying at the Warburton Holiday Park. Camping is loads of fun (and much easier with a group).
So gather your adventurous spirit, pack your sense of humour, and join us for this amazing weekend. Come and embrace the great outdoors with us!
Please mark your calendars and book soon because our Young Families Camping Weekend awaits and sites are filling up with 120 people already registered!
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.
Thank you for being His Presence in Every Place!
BRAAM BOTHA
Senior Pastor
