Table of Contents
From Promise to Power
Wednesday 4th June 2025
Pentecost is not just an event on the Christian calendar—it is the fulfilment of an ancient promise and the ignition of a global mission. From the early pages of Scripture to the outpouring in Acts 2, Pentecost reveals God’s unwavering intention to dwell with His people and empower them to be His witnesses in the world.
The origins of Pentecost are deeply rooted in Israel’s story. Known in Hebrew tradition as the Feast of Weeks (Shavuot), it was celebrated 50 days after Passover, marking the giving of the Law at Mount Sinai (Exodus 19). There, God’s presence descended in fire and smoke, forming a covenant people. This Old Testament encounter pointed forward to a greater moment: when God’s Spirit would not only descend near His people but come to dwell within them.
The prophets saw it coming. Joel declared,
“I will pour out my Spirit on all people… even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days”
Joel 2:28–29 NIV
Ezekiel spoke of hearts of stone being replaced with hearts of flesh, made alive by the Spirit (Ezekiel 36:26–27). Jesus Himself pointed to this promise, instructing His followers to wait in Jerusalem for the gift of the Holy Spirit (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4–8).
Then came Acts 2.
The Spirit descended like wind and fire—symbols of divine presence—and filled the disciples. They spoke in other languages, breaking barriers of culture and nation. Peter stood to explain: This is what Joel prophesied. Pentecost marked the birth of the Church, not as an institution, but as a Spirit-filled, resurrection-proclaiming, mission-empowered body of believers.
Pentecost is not merely a spiritual experience or the launching pad for charismatic gifts; it is the moment when new creation begins to work itself out through the Church. Pentecost is the continuation of the resurrection story, where Jesus’ victory over sin and death is now applied to His people through the Holy Spirit. Just as the Spirit hovered over the waters at creation (Genesis 1:2), now the same Spirit hovers over and fills the Church, forming a new humanity.
The Spirit empowers the Church to live under the rule of King Jesus and to proclaim that His Kingdom has come. The point of Pentecost is not to shout ‘we’ve got the Spirit,’ but to announce that Jesus is Lord—and to live accordingly. Pentecost is the divine empowerment for the Church to live as a foretaste of God’s future: to embody justice, mercy, holiness, and mission in a world desperately needing redemption.
As a Church, may we remember that Pentecost is both a gift and commission. We are not left to our own devices—we are filled with the very Spirit of God. Let us therefore go boldly, empowered by the Spirit, to be Christ’s presence in every place.
Come, Holy Spirit.
Join the Car Park Team – Be His presence in the car park!
DO you love Jesus? Do you love people? Then YOU are exactly who we’re looking for! We’re building a team of friendly faces to be the first “hello” and the first blessing people experience when they arrive. Because guess what? Ministry starts in the car park!
Whether you’re pointing out a perfect spot, giving a high-five (or low-wave), or just spreading God’s love — YOU can make a difference in someone’s day before they even step inside the building.
So come on – bring your smile, your energy, and your heart to serve. Fill out the Volunteer ‘Welcome Team’ application form here, hop in, buckle up and join the Car Park Team today!
Care Meals Team
A home-cooked meal can be such a blessing; a genuine expression of love and care in times of need. We would love to expand our team of people who are willing to prepare meals, either to deliver or bring them to the church freezer for distribution as needed. Does this sound like a way that you could be His presence in the lives of others?
Please use this form to express your interest in being part of our Care Meals Team (or email sue@bcoc.com.au if you have questions). Sue Nicholls.
Food Pantry | Help us knit a little more love
At the Food Pantry, we serve more than just meals — we serve love, compassion, and hope. While food is our primary mission, we’ve understood that basic human needs go far beyond what’s on the table. Warmth and comfort are just as vital, especially in winter.
That’s why we’re reaching out with a simple request: please donate a ball of wool.
Wool can be made into scarves, beanies or clothes. With the help of local knitters, we turn donated wool into warmth for those who need it most.
If you have extra yarn or two tucked away in a closet, from an old project or a new hobby you never got around to, we’ll gladly take it off your hands. You can drop off your donation at Berwick Church of Christ’s Food Pantry basket in the foyer, Monday to Friday, 9:00am to 5:00pm or Sundays 8:30am to 12:30pm.
Thank you for helping us knit warmth and weave love into the lives of our neighbours. Together, we’re more than a Food Pantry. We’re a community being His presence in every place.
Cafe | New Open Hours
At Berwick, we deeply value every opportunity for people to encounter Jesus and be present in our Sunday services. To help create a space where everyone can fully engage in our services, our cafe orders will be closing 15 minutes before each service. This means the cafe won’t be taking orders after 8:45am for the 9:00am service and 10:45am for the 11:00am service. We encourage you to grab your coffee early and join us in the auditorium as we gather to seek and encounter Jesus together.
It's not too late to bake for State Youth Games!
If you would like to bake some treats (muffins, slices or cookies) to help feed our cold and hungry hordes, around 185 of them, for this weekend please read on!
You will need to have a Food Handling Certificate lodged with the church. If you don’t have one, here is the link to the free course – it takes less than 30 minutes to complete. Once you have completed the certificate, please upload it using this link.
Food can be dropped to the church during office hours between now and 4pm on Friday, or contact Sue to make other arrangements. Please label with your name, date baked and list of ingredients.
Please contact Sue Nicholls if you can help or if you have questions (0403 822 324 or sue@bcoc.com.au)
Sunday Service | Building In Babylon - PENTECOST | Sunday 8th June 2025 | 9:00am & 11:00am
You’re invited to join us as guest speaker Ken Rayment continues our series, “Building…in Babylon!”
In a world that often feels chaotic and increasingly secular, how do we build faith, hope, and resilience?
Over the course of seven powerful weeks, we’re diving deep into God’s Word, uncovering timeless truths and practical wisdom that equip us to thrive — even in today’s “Babylon.”
From navigating the dynamics of Manhood and Womanhood to understanding the Foundation of Family, Identity, and Intimacy, this series tackles relevant topics that shape our everyday lives. We’ll also explore the Holy Spirit’s power during Pentecost and the unwavering importance of integrity as we live out our faith in a challenging world.
“…Seek the peace and prosperity of the city… for I know the plans I have for you…” – Jeremiah 29:4-14 (NIV)
Don’t miss this transformative journey as we boldly navigate the challenges of living as believers in a secular world. Together, let’s build faith and strength in the face of adversity. Join us for “Building…in Babylon!”.
Kids Church | Discover How To Love Like Jesus | Sunday 8th June 2025 | 9:00am & 11:00am
This week at Kids Church…
2 to 4-year-olds | Barnabas makes peace | Matt 5:9; Acts 9:26-28, 31; Romans 12:18
5 to 12-year-olds | Give Peace a Chance (Live in Peace With One Another / Saul and Barnabas) | Romans 12:18
Men's Prayer Group | Sunday 8th June | 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.
Prayer & Fellowship Walk | Tuesday 10th June | 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, presenting prayer requests for our church and community while enjoying great fellowship. We meet every Tuesday morning at 6:30 am in the Berwick Church of Christ Car Park
This is a wonderful way to start the day and you are most welcome to join us.
Seniors Ministry | Wednesday 11th June 2025 | 1:30pm
Missionary Aviation Fellowship
Pilot Garrett Munyard will speak to us about the work of MAF, which trains and supports Christian pilots to fly in remote and dangerous areas in support of God’s workers.
Details:
- Time: 1.30pm – 4.00pm
- Where: 446 Centre Road, Berwick, Vic, 3806
- Bring: Please bring a packet of food for afternoon tea for everyone to share
Y&Y Service | Sunday 15th June 2025 | 5:30pm
Join us for an unforgettable night at our Youth & Young Adults Service!
We’re so excited to have Ken Rayment bringing a powerful and timely message. Ken has a heart for this generation and a gift for speaking truth in a way that connects and inspires. You won’t want to miss what he has to share!
Stick around after for a BYO dinner! Bring your own food, hang out, and connect with friends old and new. It’s going to be an awesome time of community and conversation! Bring a friend, come hungry (for both the Word and some dinner), and get ready for a great night!
Exploring Partnership | Sunday 22nd June 2025 | 1:00pm
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 our Church. You will meet leadership and we will unpack 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.
Water Baptism Class | Monday 16th June 2025 | 7:00pm
Water Baptism is the complete immersion in water of those who have confessed their faith in Jesus Christ as God’s Son and their Saviour.
This is an important step in our faith journey. Jesus said, “Whoever believes and is baptised will be saved…” Mark 16: 16. If you are not water baptised, please find out more by attending this special class. Book now.
Next Alpha Course Commencing | Wednesday 23rd July 2025 | 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
