Table of Contents
Fear Factor
Wednesday 31st July 2024
“Fear Factor” was a popular reality TV series that originally aired on NBC from 2001 to 2006, and later had revivals. The show challenged contestants to face and overcome their fears by participating in a series of daring and often fear-inducing stunts. These stunts included extreme physical challenges, such as high-altitude tasks, eating bizarre and sometimes revolting foods, and dealing with dangerous animals or insects. The contestants competed for a cash prize, typically $50,000, by successfully completing these tasks…amazing what the desire for money can do!
But today, I want to speak to you about a challenge many of us face: the fear of reaching out to our neighbours. In a world where division and isolation seems to grow daily, the call to love our neighbours has never been more urgent. Yet, fear often holds us back. How can we overcome this fear and step out in faith to build meaningful relationships with those around us?
The Bible offers us profound guidance and encouragement. In 2 Timothy 1:7, we are reminded that
“God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”
This verse assures us that fear is not from God. Instead, He equips us with the power to act, the love to care, and the wisdom to do so thoughtfully. When we lean on God, we find the courage to step out of our comfort zones.
Jesus himself gave us the greatest commandment:
“Love your neighbour as yourself”
Matthew 22:39
This commandment is not just a suggestion but a calling. Love is a powerful force that can break down barriers and build bridges. When we love our neighbours as ourselves, we are fulfilling God’s law and reflecting His character.
Consider the parable of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10:25-37. The Samaritan overcame social and cultural barriers to help a stranger in need. He acted out of compassion, not fear. Jesus tells us to “go and do likewise” (Luke 10:37). By showing kindness and compassion, we can make a significant impact in our communities.
Philippians 4:13 reminds us,
“I can do all this through him who gives me strength.”
When we rely on Christ’s strength, we can overcome any fear that hinders us. He empowers us to reach out, even when it feels uncomfortable or challenging.
Remember the words of Isaiah 41:10:
“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
God’s presence is with us as we step out in faith. He promises to strengthen and support us.
In 1 John 4:18, we are told,
“There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear.”
As we allow God’s perfect love to fill our hearts, it will dispel our fears and enable us to reach out with genuine care and concern.
Let us pray for the courage to act, the love to care, and the wisdom to know how best to reach out to our neighbours. Together, empowered by God’s Spirit, we can overcome fear and be the light and love that our communities desperately need.
Exciting Opportunity to be His Presence in our Community
Do you have a spare weekday morning?
Would you like to join our Playgroup team as we reach beyond the church walls?
If so, we have an exciting and hugely rewarding opportunity to be one of our Child Free Helpers.
Have you ever wondered what our Child-Free Helpers do during “their” session?
The short answer is that it varies according to a helpers gifts and abilities.
Some mostly cuddle babies and help toddlers put on dress-ups or participate in crafts.
Some mostly wash paintbrushes and wipe tables to leave the room ready for the next group.
Some facilitate a short singing and story time.
For those who enjoy socialising, some volunteers chat with mums, learn their stories, and even follow up with them during the week.
Some do all of the above!
It’s not a “one-size-fits-all” role, so if any of this sounds like you, please reach out to Sue. Mobile 0403 822 324. Email [email protected].
Operation Christmas Child | Send a Gift-Filled Shoebox in Jesus' Name
Would you like to bring joy and Jesus to the lives of children in need? 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 from the stand beside The Desk for $1
- Fill the box with the gifts
- Label your box
- Bring the box back by Sunday 28th July 2024
- 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 see the Team in the church foyer after the service and they are happy to assist and respond to your queries.
Serve Your City | Volunteering Opportunities
At Berwick Church of Christ, we encourage everyone to Follow Christ, Love People, Serve their City, and Grow Faith Communities. We want to invite you to prayerfully consider serving your city in one of the following three ways. We look forward to helping you go and be His presence in these places.
Do you have a heart for refugees? We are looking for mentors to support eligible people from a refugee background through the COACH Community Mentoring Program located in the Dandenong/Casey region.
What is COACH Mentoring?
Coach Mentoring assists refugees who are seeking to become economically independent.
Each mentee’s goals are identified before being matched with a suitable mentor.
Typically, mentors and mentee’s meet once a week, for an hour and this relationship would continues for a period of 12 months.
Mentors are allocated a COACH Coordinator as a contact point to support them throughout this mentoring relationship.
Our mentoring program suits people with a heart to come alongside and support refugees as they settle in Melbourne. Mentors undergo training and screening checks, before being matched with a participant. The purpose of the mentoring relationship is to be a “friend with purpose”, to support them as they work towards achieving their identified goals, such as education, employment and making community connections.
If you have questions, or would like further information, please don’t hesitate to send an email to [email protected] with your contact details.
As a Kids COACH Mentor, you can help children learn positive social skills, have fun, reach their goals, and build resilience. Come alongside a child at school to offer practical help and be a positive role model for one hour a week, for a minimum of 12 months. This opportunity is in partnership with Crossway South East, with an initial commitment of one day of in-person training and an online module. (10 volunteers for Term 3, 2024).
For more information, contact Ps Mat Daniels. Email: [email protected] or phone (03) 9702 1011.
Would you like to empower primary-aged students to implement positive change in their lives? As a REBOOT program volunteer, you can help upper primary school students (grades 5 and 6) learn about wellbeing through fun games and activities during lunchtime. The wellbeing topics covered are Self-Esteem, Perceived Control, Optimism, Personal Relationships, and Achieving in Life, which are delivered in an actionable format. (5 volunteers for Term 1, 2025 training to be confirmed).
For more information, contact Ps Mat Daniels. Email: [email protected] or phone (03) 9702 1011.
Sunday Service | 4th August | The Fear Factor | 9:00 am & 11:00 am
We continue our churchwide series called the “Art of Neighbouring” where we will unpack the second half of the Great Commandment, “Love your neighbour”. Join us as we dive deep into what it looks like to transform the world by simply becoming a good neighbour.
Kids Church | Sunday 4th August | 9:00 am & 11:00 am
This week at Kids Church…
2 to 4-year-olds | God made me | Genesis 1:27, Psalm 139;13-14
5 to 12-year-olds | Growin’ Up – Jesus grows in wisdom | Luke 2:41-52
Men's Prayer Group | Sunday 4th August | 5:45 pm
Calling all men! At our weekly gatherings, we come together to pray, support one another in our faith journey, and grow deeper in our relationship with God.
Whether you are a seasoned prayer warrior or new, we welcome you with open arms. Our group is a safe space where men can come together to share their hearts, struggles, and victories.
Join us as we seek God’s guidance, wisdom, and strength in our lives and for our families. Together, we can uplift each other, grow in faith, and make a real difference in our community.
“If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land”. (2 Chronicles 7:14).
Come and join our Men’s Prayer Group where together we seek the Lord for our families, community and nation.
Boys Brigade | Monday 5th August | 7:30 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
Exploring Partnership | Sunday 11th August | 1:00 pm
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 some of our Church Leadership as we chat 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.
Baptism Class | Monday 12th August | 7:00 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.
Complete the expression of interest form if you want to be contacted about attending the Baptism Class.
Mental Health Support Gathering | Tuesday 13th August | 7:30 pm
Mental Health Support Gatherings cater for people who may benefit from mental health support. This may be personally or to assist a friend, family member or carer. This is a safe place to be heard, to share life’s challenges, make friendships and have hope restored. Remember, you are not alone.
In addition, the Gatherings also provide tools to assist people in dealing with life challenges and, on occasion, have specialist speakers addressing relevant topics. The Mental Health Support Gatherings are held on Tuesdays fortnightly during the School Terms from 7:30pm to 9:30pm. If you’re interested in coming along please click the ‘Book Now’ link below and choose: Special Interest Group: Mental Health Support Gatherings. For more information please contact the Church Office 03 9702 1011. The Mental Health Support Gatherings are a ministry of the Berwick Church of Christ.
Seniors Ministry | Friendship Group | Wednesday 14th August | 1:30 pm
Quilts For Orphans – Libby will tell us about this organization whose motto is “The next best thing to a hug.” QFO provides quilts for orphanages in many Third World countries. There will be a trading table.
Y&Y Service | Josh Hawkins | Sunday 18th August | 5:30 pm
Josh (or Hi Josh) is a pastor-turned social media comedian. He grew up at a church in North-West Sydney, decided to do a Bachelor of Theology for 3 years and became the Young Adult Pastor at his church. Initially, social media was a hobby of Josh’s, but in 2015 a couple of videos went viral which started to grow his online following. After 5 years of full-time ministry, his social media following had grown to a point where he was able to follow his passion and became a full-time content creator. Now, with over 2 million followers, he is best known for his Google Review and lip-reading videos. He is also a dad of two who lives in Adelaide and attends a local church with his family. Be sure to join us in food and fellowship after the service. SEE YOU THERE!
Baptism Celebration | Sunday 25th August | 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.
Next Steps Lunch | Sunday 25th August | 1:00 pm
As a movement, it’s important for us to get to know each other better and take the next steps in our journey of faith. To this end, we want to invite you to the … Next Steps Lunch.
The Next Steps Lunch is a 3-Sunday Lunch event (Sunday 25th August, 8th and 15th September 2024) 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 especially relevant to Newcomers but if you’ve been an attender, a volunteer, or partner and you have never been to a Next Step Lunch before, then we encourage you to register.
The expectation is that people who book will attend all 3 lunches as each lunch has a different focus. And did I mention that it’s free?
Details:
- Time: 1:00pm – 3:00pm
- Where: 446 Centre Road, Berwick
- Room: 1
- Cost: Free
- RSVP: Thursday, 22nd August 2024
For more details, please email [email protected] or phone (03) 9702 1011.
Writers Group | Saturday 7th September | 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!
Alpha Course | Commencing Wednesday 18th September 2024 | 7:00pm
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.
Thank you for being His Presence in Every Place!
BRAAM BOTHA
Senior Pastor
