Table of Contents
Hope for heartache
Wednesday 26th March 2025
Disappointment is a universal experience. We all encounter moments when reality doesn’t align with our hopes, relationships let us down, and outcomes fall short of expectations. But what do we do with disappointment if we are serious about cultivating a spiritually healthy heart?
The heart is “the control centre of our whole being”—the seat of our trust, desires, and identity. As Christ Followers we are challenged to disentangle our hearts from counterfeit gods—those things we depend on for worth, security, or happiness that are not of God. Disappointment, then, can serve as a diagnostic tool. It exposes where we have placed ultimate trust in things that cannot bear that weight.
Heartache can feel all-consuming when a job fails, a dream dies, or a relationship fractures. Tim Keller reminds us: “If you make anything more fundamental than God to your happiness, meaning in life, or identity, then it is an idol—and it will break your heart.” A healthy heart learns to relocate its deepest hopes back into the hands of a faithful God.
The Apostle Paul offers a radical reframe:
“We rejoice in our sufferings because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame…”
Romans 5:3–5 NIV
Disappointment becomes a soil in which hope can grow—not a cheap optimism, but a resilient, Spirit-sustained hope anchored in Christ.
Christian hope is not wishful thinking; rather, it is rooted in the resurrection. The heart trained by resurrection hope does not ignore disappointment but absorbs it into God’s larger story. The resurrection is not just a promise for life after death but the launch of God’s new creation, where every tear will be wiped away and every disappointment will be redeemed.
In Psalm 73, the psalmist wrestles deeply with disappointment—envying the success of the wicked, and questioning God’s justice. But the turning point comes when he enters the sanctuary and says,
“Then I understood their final destiny… My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”
Ps. 73:17, 26.
A healthy heart returns repeatedly to the sanctuary of God’s presence and finds Him sufficient.
So, what do we do with our disappointments? We do not deny or drown in them; instead, we let them direct our hearts to the One who cannot fail. We realign our affections. We deepen our endurance. And we rehearse the promise that God is redeeming all things, even this.
Prayer: Lord, teach us to trust You more deeply in our disappointments. Help us discern where our hearts have wandered and restore a hope that does not disappoint. May our hearts grow healthy—not by avoiding pain, but by meeting You in it. Amen.
Care Meals Team
A home-cooked meal can be such a blessing and an 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.
Sunday Service | Sunday 30th March 2025 | 9:00am & 11:00am
Join us for Heart Health, a powerful new series exploring the key emotional and spiritual issues that shape our relationships with God and others. Together, we’ll uncover how to:
- Break free from the weight of guilt
- Loosen the grip of greed
- Overcome the shadow of disappointment
- Find freedom from anger
Experience freedom and peace from living in the truth of God’s grace, sufficient to transform even the deepest struggles of the heart. Don’t miss this life-transforming series!
Kids Church | Sunday 30th March 2025 | 9:00am & 11:00am
This week at Kids Church…
2 to 4-year-olds | Jesus heals Peter’s mother-in-law | Matt 18: 14-15
5 to 12-year-olds | We’re all in this together (the church is one body with many parts) | 1 Corinthians 12: 12-27
Men's Prayer Group | Sunday 30th March | 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 31st March 2025
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
Seniors Ministry | Wednesday 9th April 2025 | 1:30pm
Don’t miss our Easter celebration as Rabbi Lawrence Hersch opens our understanding of Jesus in The Passover meal.
Details:
- Time: 1.30pm – 4.00pm
- Where: 446 Centre Road, Berwick, Vic, 3806
- Bring: Please bring a packet of food for everyone to share
Forge Young Adults Service | Sunday 13th April 2025 | 5:30pm
Peter Botross will be joining us to share the word. Peter has a heart to equip Young Adults in Australia to reverse the decline of YA Christians. This vision brought Peter and his wife to found Gen J. Gen J dreams to see young adults equipped to live like Jesus in the world, multiply Jesus-like disciples and transform their community by the power of the Spirit.
Make sure you stick around afterwards for some food and fellowship.
Alpha Course Commencing | Wednesday 16th April 2025 | 7:00pm
WHAT IS ALPHA?
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.
Baptism Classes | Monday 7th and Tuesday 22nd April 2025 | 7:00pm
Baptism is complete water immersion 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. Book now if you want to find out more.
GTM 1 Course Commencing | Tuesday 29th April 2025 | 7:00pm
Growing To Maturity course (GTM1)
GTM is the ideal follow-on course to ‘Search To Find’ or ‘Alpha”. It is the perfect next step 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
Growing To Maturity (GTM) is a unique discipleship course that combines the use of:
- Participant workbooks
- DVD’s
- Weekly inspiring audio talks
- Group discussion and sharing
- Special weekends
- Personal challenges
Alpha Marriage Course Commencing | Wednesday 30th April 2025 | 7:00pm
The 8 week Marriage Course is for married couples who are seeking to strengthen their relationship. Some married couples attend the course to intentionally invest in their relationship, others are looking to address more specific challenges. Either way, the course offers essential tools and practical ideas to help you build a relationship that lasts a lifetime.
The 8 week Marriage Course is based on Christian principles but designed for all married couples with or without a church background. The course will help you to:
- Understand each others needs
- Communicate more effectively
- Grow closer by learning methods to resolve conflict
- Recover from the ways you may have hurt each other
- Recognise how your upbringing affects your relationship
- Improve relationships with parents and in-laws
- Develop greater sexual intimacy
- Discover each others “love language” and much, much more….
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
