Table of Contents
Equipping our Fathers
Wednesday 3rd September 2025
As we approach Father’s Day, our hearts are stirred with both gratitude and anticipation. This day is not only a time to honour the fathers, grandfathers, and father figures in our lives, but also a moment to reflect on the God-given calling of fatherhood and its impact on our families, our church, and our community.
This year at BCOC, we are excited to celebrate Father’s Day in a unique and meaningful way. On Sunday, 7 September we will host a special Father’s Day Service featuring a live panel of fathers—men from our very own congregation who will share their journeys, challenges, victories, and lessons learned in the calling of being a dad.
Why a Father’s Day Panel?
Fatherhood is more than a role—it is a ministry, a legacy, and a reflection of the heart of God the Father. Yet, every father knows that the path is not always easy. There are questions, seasons of uncertainty, moments of great joy, and times of stretching. By bringing together a panel of fathers, we hope to create a space for honesty, encouragement, and wisdom.
This panel will allow us to hear directly from men who are walking out their faith while raising children, nurturing families, and standing as godly examples in today’s world. From balancing work and family life, to leading children in faith, to recovering from mistakes and learning along the way—these conversations will give us real-life perspectives anchored in biblical truth.
A Time for the Whole Family
This is not only a service for fathers, but for everyone. Whether you are a parent, a spouse, a young adult preparing for the future, or simply someone who wants to better understand and support the men in your life, this panel promises to offer valuable insights for all. We believe the discussion will spark reflection, ignite conversations at home, and inspire a deeper commitment to the values of love, integrity, and faith.
Our Desire for This Day
More than a celebration, we want this Father’s Day service to be a time of honour, healing, and hope:
- Honour, because fathers and father figures deserve to be recognised for their role and sacrifice.
- Healing, because we know that for some, Father’s Day can bring up memories of absence, pain, or loss.
- Hope, because God is a faithful Father to us all, and He restores, renews, and strengthens every heart willing to lean on Him.
Join Us!
We warmly invite you, your family, and friends to join us for this special gathering. Come ready to laugh, to reflect, to be challenged, and to celebrate the gift of fathers among us. Together, let’s lift up the men who carry this calling and be reminded of our Heavenly Father’s perfect love that guides us all.
We look forward to worshipping with you this Father’s Day.
Operation Christmas Child
Would you like to bring joy and the love of Jesus to the lives of children? How about 200 children? How about 300 children? You have the opportunity to do this by taking part in Operation Christmas Child.
And you can do it in 6 easy steps!
- Purchase a box at the Desk for $1.00
- Fill the box with the gifts
- Label your box
- Bring the box back by Sunday, 19th October 2025
- Make a $12.50 donation for shipping and gospel materials
- 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.
Any questions? Come to the table set up in the foyer after the service, and the team will be happy to assist and respond to your queries.
Father's Day | Sunday 7th September 2025 | 9:00am & 11:00am
TEAM JESUS – Father’s Day | Leading Team Jesus In Your Home
Winning by Living the Kingdom Life – ALL DAY… EVERYDAY… IN EVERY WAY.
You weren’t created to sit on the sidelines – you were created for impact. God has already placed within you everything you need to live a godly life and serve our city with purpose. Now it’s time to activate it.
In this transformational “Team Jesus” series, we’ll explore how living with Kingdom character (i.e. faith, goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, kindness and love) unlocks a life of deep meaning and lasting influence. Together, we’ll learn how to grow and serve with joy, walking confidently in the calling God has placed on our lives.
Whether your Christian walk has just begun or you’ve been running the race for a while, this journey is for you. Let’s be a team that reflects Jesus, not just on Sundays but ALL DAY… EVERYDAY… IN EVERY WAY.
Join us and discover your part. Live your purpose!
Kids Church | Sunday 7th September 2025 | 9:00am & 11:00am
This week at Kids Church…
2 to 4-year-olds | Adam and Eve | Genesis 1:27-28; 2:15, 19-20
5 to 12-year-olds | Moses | Exodus 3–6:12, 7–12:42; 13:17–14:31
Prayer & Fellowship Walk | Tuesday 9th September | 6:30am
Every Tuesday morning, there’s a Prayer & Fellowship Walk around the church property.
This is a powerful time of seeking the Lord together in prayer. We pray for our church, community and nation. So come and join us at 6:30 am in the Berwick Church of Christ Car Park for a time of great fellowship and connection.
This is a wonderful way to start the day and you are most welcome to join us.
Seniors Ministry | Wednesday 10th September 2025 | 1:30pm
To celebrate the new season, we will be focusing on flowers and the joy of Spring.
Join our fancy hat competition and decorate your hat like a floral garden to win a prize!
Details:
- Time: 1.30pm – 4.00pm
- Where: 446 Centre Road, Berwick, Vic, 3806
- Bring: please bring a packet of food for everyone to share
Exploring Partnership | Sunday 14th September 2025 | 1:00pm
Exploring Partnership is an important step in co-ownership of our Church’s vision, mission, and purpose. 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 discuss 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.
Writers Group | Saturday 27th September 2025 | 9:00am
Aspiring writers, published authors, and everyone in between—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 supportive community of like-minded individuals.
Whether you write poetry, short stories, essays, blog posts, 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 one another to reach new heights and unlock our full potential as storytellers.
Don’t miss this incredible opportunity to be part of something special. Whether you’re just starting out or already have a few publications under your belt, we’d love to have you with us.
Join us today and let your creativity soar!
Child Dedication | Sunday 19th October 2025 | 9:00am & 11:00am
“Children are a gift from God; they are His reward” (Psalm 124:3).
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.
If you are interested in your child being dedicated, please complete the Child Dedication Application Form by October 5, and we will be in touch to make arrangements and to explain the details of the service.
For more details, please email sue@bcoc.com.au or phone 0403 822 324.
Men's Camp | Xtreme Character Challenge | Thursday 6th - Sunday 9th November 2025
Men, are you ready for a challenge from Thursday, 6th to Sunday, 9th November 2025, at the Snowy Mountains, NSW? An XCC is a mind, body, and soul adventure – an active and challenging endurance event for men out in the wild.
The XCC is set up like an endless adventure; men are confronted with significant physical challenges, deep camaraderie, and profound moral and spiritual moments. Through the XCC process, men find perspective; they evaluate who they are and find a purpose worth living for.
Early bird pricing
- Book on or before 14-Sep-25: $360
- Book from 15-Sep-25: $450
*Note: This event is run independently from Berwick Church of Christ.
The Compliance Compass
A monthly update on policies and safety to help guide staff, partners and volunteers and ensure a safe and welcoming environment for everyone.
Each month we review our policies and procedures to ensure our standards of safety are improved. Our policies are not just a list of rules; they are a clear statement of our commitment to protecting the vulnerable and ensuring a compassionate, appropriate response should a concern or problem arise.
This month we revised a few policies (listed below), which were approved by the Elders on the 18th of August. These policies are important as they provide details on how we greet, pray, care and relate to each other with the aim to ensure everyone feels safe.
We ask that all volunteers read the following policies and ensure they are aware and understand the safety requirements we have established:
- Caregiving Policy
- Code of Conduct
- Minors Code of Conduct
- EEO, Discrimination & Sexual Harassment Policy
You will find our policies on the church website.
We are also in the process of developing our WHS Management System, and the Elders have approved the following procedures:
- WHS Consultation Procedure
- WHS Induction & Training Procedure
- First Aid & Infection Control Procedure
We encourage questions or feedback about any of our policies. Simply email policies@bcoc.com.au or contact Karen Fletcher at the Church Office (9702 1011).
Interested in becoming 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 the ministry you are interested in, click on the link “Volunteer Application Form – Other Ministries” located at the bottom of the page.
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
