Christ is our non-anxious presence

Christ is our non-anxious presence

Friday 27th May 2022

Fear mongering – also called scare tactic – is a strategy that is used in order to scare you into agreeing with a point of view that usually involves some kind of protection or banning something which thus enacts more and more directives. In extreme cases, this tactic is used to keep people under control, as scared people are easier to control and are more dependent on the powers driving the scare tactic.

It is not a new concept, I read through scriptures and see it being used in so many instances:

  • Pharaoh vs Israel
  • Sanballat vs Nehemiah
  • Goliath vs Israel’s army
  • Herod vs the New-born King

The list goes on and on…

The past three years have been very tough on humanity, and that is true of Australians as well. Our environment lends itself to scare tactics, either by the way of governments or by the way of conspiracy theories against governments. Information is so readily available. Cognitive bias is being “jet fuelled” by individualism and the right to own “your truth”. We get information about our world faster than we can process it. This feeds into three dangerous assumptions:

  • Those who have a different opinion than me are by implication, my enemy!
  • All who are in power have ulterior motives!
  • Every decision made, is made at my detriment!

You see the fearmongering working there? Sometimes we can end up using the scare tactic against ourselves!

When you add antagonistic forces, volatile circumstances, and an uncertain future, there is a perfect storm wherein we as individuals and a Collective Church are forced to think much deeper about our role and identity in the darkness the world finds itself. Under ever increasing pressure to conform to a role and identity wherein the forces of the day would want us to be.

Our purpose as a movement is to be His presence in every place. What does His presence bring in a fear-filled, fearmongering environment? Jesus went counter-culture:

' “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”'

Matthew 11:28-30 NIV

In one sentence Jesus counsels us to change our focus…towards Him. He would then in return give us something he defines as “rest”. I think this gift is beautifully referred to in a letter to a leader who was completely burned out by his circumstances. His mentor addressed him when he was on his last leg with the following reference:

'For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. '

2 Timothy 1:6-7 NIV

A fear filled world >>>

needs a flame filled church! >>>

Christ has given us His Spirit so we can live fearlessly in this world. As we approach Pentecost, let’s put time aside to be filled with His Spirit regularly in order to carry His presence with us wherever we go. A spirit-filled life is cultivated through being devoted in your scripture reading, prayers, worship times, fellowship with believers and serving others in love. Let’s be counter-culture and deny fearmongering a place among us!

Church Leaders & Conflict | Graeme Cann Free Event

Whether your head of a household, corporate leader, or business owner you will be feeling the weight of responsibility for the people that are entrusted to you. Your responsibility to lead them well, will definitely trigger the potential for chaos whenever their personal conflicts spill over into communal conflict. When this happens, it does not take much for a constructive environment to flip into an abrasive and destructive one.

  • How do you diffuse the communal conflict?
  • How do you identify its origin?
  • How do you go about bringing restoration?
  • How do you handle the individual that instigated conflict?
  • How do you bring healing to historic hurts?

Graeme Cann has been an organizational leader for more than 50 years. In his latest book “Confronting Conflict” he distills his more-than-half-a-century worth of experience into a simple and proven plan to recognize the root causes of conflict, create safe places for healing and conflict proof your environment for the future!

Invest in your conflict diffusing capacity as a leader, as we see people engaging again organizationally post the Covid-19 pandemic. You will be able to steer your areas of responsibility away from the antiquated win/lose mentality. You will be able to reposition yourself as a servant leader and set your environment free from the fear of authoritarianism!

Join us for this powerful mid-morning time of investment! BOOK NOW

Youth Alive | So much fun!

Last Friday we had an INCREDIBLE night here at Berwick hosted by Youth Alive. We had over 600 youth fill our auditorium for a night of fun, worship and amazing God encounters. We were blessed to have guest speaker Alyssa Moore from Horizon Church Sydney preach a powerful message to the youth of Casey. 117 teenagers… yes your read that right… 117 teenagers responded and gave their life to Christ in what was a huge testimony of what God is busy doing in the lives of young people all across the city of Casey! Check out this quick highlight video of what was truly an epic night!

Video credit: Youth Alive Victoria

Next Steps Lunch | Packed house

We had an amazing time at the inaugural Next Steps Lunch. It was well attended and our amazing Next Steps team fed a total of 56 people (including volunteers). I (Braam) shared the vision of the movement and most of the time was dedicated to fellowship and food in a family atmosphere. For those who don't know, the Next Steps Lunch is a 3-Sunday Lunch event where you get the opportunity to get connected, learn more about the movement, discover your potential, and take the next steps in your faith journey whilst enjoying a sumptuous meal. The next luncheons will run again in Term 3 so watch this space! 

Seniors Ministry | Tea party

Look who is having way too much fun! Today was an Alice in Wonderland tea party. Check out the costumes. What a fantastic afternoon.

Seniors ministry runs a gathering called the ‘Friendship Group’ which celebrates coming together to stay connected in our community. Gatherings are held on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of each month at 1.30pm in the Connect Lounge.

For the latest events or to download the events program, visit our website.

Your Story | Enlarge the place of your tent

Each year we have a verse we use for our lives + Business+ Family. In church just before Christmas David had a verse come to mind and thought, Bron won't like that one. He turned to me and said we haven't got our verse for next year, without thinking I straight away said the first verse that came to my mind, it was the exact same verse!!! There are 31000 verses in the bible!! Our 2022 verse is Isaiah 54:2 " Enlarge the place of your tent, stretch your tent curtains wide, don't hold back; lengthen your cord, strengthen your stakes. God is amazing!"

We love to hear inspirational stories about how individual lives have been changed! If you would like to share 'Your Story', please email: [email protected] and inspire others!

Fuse Youth | Friday 27th May

This week is our second discipleship night! We’re having an extended worship night with Annie sharing an awesome word on MADE TO MAKE and an awesome band leading us in WORSHIP!

Details:

  • Time: 7.00pm – 9.30pm
  • Cost: $5

Walking Group Clyde | Saturday

Get ready to put on your walking shoes! If you are looking for a social walking group in Clyde, you have found it. We are of all ages and fitness levels. Bring your family and friends. Make new friends, build a support network, have fun, and work on your fitness.

Details:

  • Date: Every Saturday, weather permitting. Check iConnect Facebook page for updates.
  • Time: 8am – 9am
  • Address: Casey Fields Playspace car park

Kids Church | Sunday 29th May

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

PREP – GRADE 2 | Keep looking to Jesus
Never stop believing | Heb 12: 1-3

WONDERKIDS & LITTLE SPARKS | God made everything and God made me
Creation Day 7 | Gen 1:1 – 2:3

Sunday Service | Relationship

As Christ Servants, we realize we can never let “what” we do become more important than “why” we do them. All healthy service is born out of a deep love for Christ and our fellow man.

‘I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked people, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary. Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first. Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place. But you have this in your favor: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God. ‘ Revelation 2:2-7 NIV

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 30th May

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

Child Dedication Service | Sunday 5th June

Child dedication is the acknowledgment that not only are children a gift from God, but they are His children. You place your child into God’s hands and trust that He will guide you in parenting. Essentially, dedicating your child to God is to declare that you will train your child in the ways of the Lord.

Child Dedication is part of our regular service and requires the parents to bring their child to the front of the church at the appropriate time. We encourage siblings of the child to join in and we like to display a photo of your child on the monitor so everyone can see.

Please complete a Child Dedication Application Form and we will contact you.

SYG Meeting | Sunday 5th June

State Youth Games is only a few weeks away now and we are starting to prepare ourselves for the freezing cold weather of Warragul! There are still a few areas that you can help with if you have the capacity to do so! 

Given the cold and wet weather, we need an abundance of old towels that can be used to clean and dry tents across the weekend. If you have any old towels lying around that you no longer need and that you would be happy to donate to us, we would love it if you could drop them off at the church office or next steps desk on Sunday. 

If you love to bake, we would like to be able to take away some pre-baked snacks that the youth and young adults can fuel themselves with over the weekend. If you would be able to bake even just a tray of cookies, please contact Sue Nicholls at [email protected]! That would be greatly appreciated. 

Another way you can help is by praying for our young people in the lead up to this event. We are trusting that over this weekend many will come to know Jesus, experience his love and power, that chains will be broken over this generation and that community will be strengthened. 

We would like to thank everyone at Berwick for getting behind our young people and having already been so generous! SYG couldn’t happen without you and so we say THANK YOU!

If you have booked a spot at this year’s SYG camp, you won’t want to miss out on all the details. Come along and get ready to learn more about this year’s exciting camp.

Details:

  • Time: 12.30pm – 2.00pm
  • Room: Family Life Centre

Seniors Ministry | Wednesday 8th June

Our Seniors Ministry will be having a visit from Michele Philips to speak to us about her work at South Oakleigh Wildlife Shelter, which is the largest Wildlife shelter in The Melbourne Metropolitan area and operates 24 hours a day. A freewill offering will be taken to support this work.

Details:

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

Thank you for being His Presence in Every Place! 


BRAAM BOTHA

Senior Pastor