Friday 22nd July 2022

Many people crowded the foyer after church the other day. The chatter raised decibel levels to a point where individual voices became indistinct and all you could hear was the beautiful noise of people interacting in a loving and hopeful tone. I had to communicate with one of my kids on the other end of the foyer from where I was. One problem: they were surrounded by the same volume of decibel charged noises. What do I do? Shall I raise my voice above the conversations and call them over? Shall I start the 30-meter journey through the crowd, with the risk of losing sight of my object, only to get where they were and discover they’ve moved to another spot? No…I decided to use an encoded message delivery system that was produced through many years of communicating to one another as family members whenever we need to grab each other’s attention as a family: “The Botha whistle”. It’s a soft reverse tone whistle that can easily be picked up in big crowds without the need for excessive volume.  The people around me saw the direction of my gaze when I delivered “the Botha whistle” softly…and the immediate response of my child surprised them. I was offered money to train their kids and spouses…! The reality is that there is a whole history behind the whistle. My kids used to get lost and disoriented on a weekly basis amongst Sunday service crowds when they were little…all three of them. Anxiety would fill them, and they would run scared looking for us. It was in those early years of their lives that I would use my peripheral vision to locate them in a crowd…and whenever they felt lost because they couldn’t see me or Sonja…I taught them to listen for “the whistle”. That would mean I could see them, even if they couldn’t see me. That would mean they are safe, even though they may feel anxious. To this day if I whistle in that specific tone…it anchors them and draws an immediate response: they turn towards its source.

Israel had very much the same experience: They were surrounded by the noise of the challenges around them…and then they again heard the whistle of God’s promise:

'If the Lord your God enlarges your territory, as he promised on oath to your ancestors, and gives you the whole land he promised them, because you carefully follow all these laws I command you today—to love the Lord your God and to walk always in obedience to him—then you are to set aside three more cities. '

Deuteronomy 19:8-9 NIV

The premise for the promise was their obedience to a set of laws. Their ability to perform against a set of predetermined rules and regulations that will guard their dedication to the One who made the promise. An external standard for behaviour. As we would, they failed dismally! So, how did God rescue them from that failure? He sent his Son to guarantee the promised inheritance to those who believe in His son…the inheritor of all of God’s promises! Read this beautiful reference to this:

'But as surely as God is faithful, our message to you is not “Yes” and “No.” For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us—by me and Silas and Timothy—was not “Yes” and “No,” but in him it has always been “Yes.” For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God. Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. '

2 Corinthians 1:18-22 NIV

 The Holy Spirit enters our lives as the guarantee that He is going to fulfil all His promises! This has an immediate impact on how we live as people in God’s promises on three levels:

• Wisdom for daily living comes from His Spirit
• Wealth comes from His inheritance of all things
• Warfare against darkness is done from victory not for victory

Over this next term we are going to dive deeper into these three topics. We will dive into it fairly deeply in order to help you hear Christ’s whistle over your life…no matter how loud the noise of your circumstances. Embark with us towards Destination: Promised Land.

Food Pantry | Top 10

Can you give someone a hand up, not a hand out, but a hand up this season. Due to the latest global economic conditions that are affecting our local community, the number of families that seek assistance from the Food Pantry has increased. You can Be HIs presence in Every Place and Serve the City by buying some or one of these items at your next grocery shop and donating them to the Food Pantry at the church.

1. Toilet paper 
2. Long life milk 
3. Spreads 
4. Sweet biscuits
5. Savoury biscuits 
6. Tinned vegetables 
7. Tinned fruit 
8. Shampoo
9. Toothbrush
10. Toothpaste

Thank you for giving someone a hand up in this season.

Operation Christmas Child | Bring joy and Jesus to the life of a child this Christmas

Would you like to bring joy to young people? Would you like to bring the gospel of Jesus to children? Would you like to transform the life of a child in a third world country? You have the opportunity to do this by taking part in Operation Christmas Child. And you can do it in 6 easy steps!

1. Go to the next Steps Desk and purchase a box for 50 cents
2. Fill the box with the gifts
3. Label your box
4. Bring the box back by 24th September 2022
5. Make a $10 donation for shipping and gospel materials
6. Pray for the child who will receive your box

Bring joy and Jesus to the life of a child this Christmas by taking part in Operation Christmas Child.

Find out more by going to the Next Steps Desk before and after the Sunday worship service.

Fuse Youth | Friday 22nd July

This Friday is our first night of real talk and we’re kicking off our RELATIONSHIP series! Get ready for an awesome panel of our amazing leaders! 

Details:

• Time: 7.00pm – 9.30pm
• Cost: $5

Kids Church | Sunday 24th July

Join us in person or online 10am this Sunday at Kids Church…

PREP – GRADE 6 | The power of gentleness
Jesus and the Little Children | Mark 10:13-16

WONDERKIDS & LITTLE SPARKS |  Jesus can help me choose gentleness
Jesus and the Little Children | Mark 10:13-16

Sunday Service | Promised Land – Wisdom 1

“Too often in life, we hold on tightly to hurts from the past.  Over time, harbouring hurts, from mindsets that can blind you to the promises God has for your life. That is Israel’s story…and maybe it is your story! There is a past…an Egypt…that can take up residence in your thinking long after you have moved away from it.  How do you step out of the mentality of Egypt? How do you break the stronghold that years of enslavement can have on your thinking so you can step into the spiritual Promised Land? This Sunday we will see how we can exchange slavery for freedom because of what Christ has done!”

If you can’t make it Sunday in person, join us online and watch live stream via YouTube or Facebook at 10am.

Boys Brigade | Monday 25th July

Be part of the action Monday night. 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

Search To Find Berwick | Tuesday 19th July – last chance to join

It is so easy to feel confused and overwhelmed by all the voices and messaging that surrounds us. Those voices often promote conflicting ideas and options for life, leaving the receiver feeling manipulated and used for someone else’s end.

Cut through all the noise, by exploring in a safe environment what is real and what is true, when it comes to spiritual reality, faith, and God. Book now.

GTM 1 | Tuesday 19th July – last chance to join

GTM is the ideal follow-on course to ‘Search To Find’ or ‘Alpha” and is perfect 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

Grow your relationship with God. Book now.

Search To Find Clyde | Wednesday 20th July – last chance to join

It is so easy to feel confused and overwhelmed by all the voices and messaging that surround us. Those voices often promote conflicting ideas and options for life, leaving the receiver feeling manipulated and used for someone else’s end.

Cut through all the noise, by exploring in a safe environment what is real and what is true, when it comes to spiritual reality, faith, and God. Book now.

Exploring Partnership | Sunday 24th July

You may have been attending our events or even become part of a close-knit group of people in our community. We would love for you to consider taking up a partnership with us in fulfilling God’s call on our movement. Exploring Partnership is an important step in discovering how you can fit into Berwick Church of Christ. It is an orientation towards what makes us unique and how we function as a community. You will get to know the leadership and we will talk about how you can partner with us to make our vision a reality.

Details:

• Time: 12.30pm – 2.30pm
• Bookings close at 3pm Friday 22nd July, so BOOK NOW

Seniors Ministry | Wednesday 27th July

Our Seniors Ministry will have a visit from Andrew & Karen Nielsen from Missionary Aviation Fellowship to share about this vital aviation ministry. A freewill offering will be taken in support of MAF.

Details:

• Time: 1.30pm – 4.00pm
• Bring: please bring a plate for everyone to share

Small Group Ministry Day Conference | Saturday 30th July

If you are a current small group leader, a budding leader, or interested in becoming a leader of small groups of people/teams then this conference is for you. You are invited to the Small Group Ministry Day Conference where we will learn from Pastors from Saddleback Church. They are travelling from the US to Melbourne to especially minister to us and the wider church in Australia. The event aims to equip and inspire Small Group leaders as we come out of the COVID19 season.

Details:

• What: Small Group Ministry Day Conference
• Who: Life Group Hosts
• When: 9am-3pm Saturday, 30th July
• Where: Church, 446 Centre Road, Berwick
• Cost: $50 with lunch
• BOOK NOW

Next Steps Lunch | Sunday 31st July

Would you like an opportunity to meet the pastors? Well, the pastors would like to meet you too! Join us at the next Next Steps Lunch. 

The Next Steps Lunch is a 3-Sunday Lunch event (31 July, 7 August, 14 August) where you will get the opportunity to get connected, learn more about the movement, and discover your potential whilst enjoying a delicious meal. The lunches are relevant to newcomers and long time attendees alike. So, if you have not been to a Next Step Lunch before and would like to  experience Berwick Church hospitality, then we encourage you to register. The leadership would love for everyone to attend the Next Step Lunches.

The expectation is that people who book will attend all 3 lunches as each luncheon has a different focus. And did we mention that it’s free?

Details:

• What: Next Steps Lunch (Term 3)  
• When: 12:20-2:30, 31st July, 7th August and 14th August
• Where: Church, 446 Centre Road, Berwick (Room 1)
• Cost: Free
• BOOK NOW

Men’s Night | Sunday 7th August

Essendon Football Clubs chaplain Mark Purser, is in his sixth season after serving the Adelaide Crows in the same role for 5 seasons where he dealt with the deaths of two prominent coaches at the Crows within a 15 month period. Join us as Mark shares how being resilient can help you reach your goals. Bring your mates!

Details:

• Date: Sunday 7th August
• Time: 6.00pm – 9.00pm
• Where: 446 Centre Road, Berwick, room 1
• Age: 16+
• Cost: $10
• Included: BBQ, drink & roaring fire

Make sure to wear your favourite footy colours! BOOK NOW.

Team to deaf school | 18th September 2022

Have you ever thought about serving overseas? Has God laid on your heart to serve the underprivileged?Well, this is a fantastic opportunity to do so!

Stuart McKerihan is organising to take a team to a deaf school in Ligao Philippines, to help out with maintenance and encourage staff and students with the love of Christ.

Details:

• Where: Fisherman for Christ Learning Centre, Ligao, Philippines.
• When: September 18 to September 30th 2022
• Cost: Approximately $2400-$2500 all inclusive. Meals, accommodation, flights, and transfers.
• Contact: Stuart McKerihan 0403 423 887 or [email protected]

Make a difference in someone's life!
Be His presence in every place.

Thank you for being His Presence in Every Place! 

BRAAM BOTHA

Senior Pastor