Table of Contents
From Concern to Compassion
Wednesday 11th September 2024
There is a mandate on us as God’s people to engage communities in such a way that we will see His glory manifested in every sphere of society. Many cities are suffering because of a scarcity of Christian presence. Materialism (dressed as capitalism) has taken over the pursuit of the mission of God! We see a prophetic reflection of this in one of the smaller books in the Old Testament:
‘I am Habakkuk the prophet. And this is the message that the Lord gave me… The people you put on this earth are like fish or reptiles without a leader. Then, an enemy comes along and takes them captive with hooks and nets. It makes him so happy that he offers sacrifices to his fishing nets, because they make him rich and provide choice foods. Will he keep hauling in his nets and destroying nations without showing mercy?’
Habakkuk 1:1,14-17
To embrace God’s mission is to offer our communities the love, wisdom, respect, and service they desperately need.
‘For creation was condemned to lose its purpose, not of its own will, but because God willed it to be so. Yet there was the hope that creation itself would one day be set free from its slavery to decay and would share the glorious freedom of the children of God. All of creation waits with eager longing for God to reveal his children. ‘
Romans 8:19-21 GNB
The Lord God is dynamically active in our world, and he plans to empower us as His agents of grace with one audacious idea:
Ordinary people can be used to change the world for good.
We can be city changers and, thus, world changers.
‘God has made us what we are, and in our union with Christ Jesus, he has created us for a life of good deeds, which he has already prepared for us to do. ‘
Ephesians 2:10 GNB
I learned that when God has a plan, He fulfils His purposes… if He can find a man or a woman prepared to trust Him.
‘Then I heard the Lord say, “Whom shall I send? Who will be our messenger?” I answered, “I will go! Send me!” ‘
Isaiah 6:8 GNB
This available man or woman is never left on their own, but by the work of the Spirit is given spiritual witness of God’s plan by faith:
‘Faith makes us sure of what we hope for and proves what we cannot see. It was their faith that made our ancestors pleasing to God.’
Hebrews 11:1-2 CE
Another Transformed Life | Baptismal Testimony by Bethany
As I stand before you, I can confidently say that we serve a faithful and loving God—a God who goes after the one. Looking back at my life, I can see God’s hand over me: protecting, guiding, and fighting my battles.
“As a young baby, I was adopted from South Korea. Although I was raised by the most loving, God-fearing parents, at a young age, I felt the weight of not knowing who I was. I struggled with my identity and wondered why God would love or choose someone like me.
At ten years old, I desired to know God and knew there was more to this world. I knew creation pointed to a Creator, but I couldn’t comprehend it. I was desperate to know God on a deeper level.
At 15 years old, I prayed for blessings, healing and exaltation. By this time, I was in and out of the church. I wanted an experience or an encounter with God like I saw others were having, and when I didn’t receive it in my own time, I told myself God was not real.
At 17 years old, I wanted to be my own god, but I was broken and numb. I was trying to fill the missing piece in my heart I felt so deeply. I had no idea who I was or my purpose in life. My lack of identity led me to seek things of the world. I found comfort in drinking and surrounding myself with bad company. It took my mind away from searching, but it was numbing, and the things of this world are temporary, so they left me hurting.
At 18 years old, I didn’t believe in God. I didn’t like the idea of it. I didn’t want to be confined. I didn’t understand the weight of God’s love for me, so I shut Him out. I desired to be in full control of my life. I didn’t understand that God’s ways were for my good. I was comfortable living separate from God, I was so tied to my sin and the world that I felt no more desire to seek Him.
I struggled to pick up my bible, and I struggled to pray, I questioned who I was. But at age 20, God was faithful to my prayer as a 10-year-old, “God, I desire to know you deeply”.
After years of being broken and unsure of who I was, God showed up at the right time. The prayers of my loved ones, especially my beautiful parents and friends, kept my heart beating for God. No one is too far gone, He is standing there with arms wide open waiting for you. For those still searching to fill that hole in your heart, only Jesus can fill it. It was made for him. He is faithful through the ages, he is El Roi the God who sees each of us. The one thing I would encourage you today would be that God’s timing is perfect. He loves working miracles – He sees you. Let my testimony be proof of a loving and faithful God”.
Are you considering Water Baptism? Want to find out more?
At Berwick Church of Christ we believe that Baptism is a sacred and meaningful occasion, and we want to ensure that all participants are well-informed and prepared to fully embrace this special moment. Attending the Baptism Class would enrich your understanding and experience of this important milestone in your faith journey. Book now.
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 refugees@coachnetwork.org 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: mdaniels@bcoc.com.au 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: mdaniels@bcoc.com.au or phone (03) 9702 1011.
Food Pantry | Our city needs our help
In 2023, the Food Pantry supported 96 families (231 visits) who required crisis support. 96 families! Imagine, they could be your friends or neighbours; local families who are doing it tough. Last year the City of Casey Council recognised the generous support the Food Pantry and volunteers give to our local community by presenting us with the ‘Community Group of the Year Award’.
Let’s reach out and continue supporting this great cause by purchasing something from our list below in your next shopping trip. Then simply drop it in the Food Pantry Trolley located in the foyer, Mon-Fri 9am-5pm or Sundays 9am -12 noon.
Needed items:
- Biscuits (e.g. Arnott’s)
- Jam Spreads
- Pasta sauces
- Olive oil
- Muesli bars
- Tinned tuna
- Soup (e.g. tinned, powdered)
- Long life milk
- Toothpaste & toothbrushes
- Shampoo & conditioner
- Blankets
- Reusable shopping bags
We also accept cash, card, and online donations. Payment via cash or card can be made during the above times or you can donate online.
- Account name: Berwick Church of Christ Inc.
- BSB: 033 609
- Account number: 434168
- Reference: FOOD PANTRY
This is one way we can Love People, be His presence and Serve our City of Casey! Many thanks!
Fuse Youth | Friday 13th September | 7:00 pm
Hey Fuse! This is our intentional BRING A FRIEND night! All you have to bring is yourself… And 1! We are pumped for a crazy night of all-in games, food, and we will of course be giving your friends the opportunity to meet Jesus! After our series, The Art of Neighbouring, we really wanted to give you a space to bring along that person you have been journeying alongside! We can’t wait for an EPIC evening! 7-9.30pm, $5!
Sunday Service | 15th September | 9:00 am & 11:00 am
We will continue our new 3 week series on Worship, delving into what happens in the heart of a true worshiper and how we can be more intentional when we enter God’s presence both in our private and congregational times of worship.
Kids Church Sports Fun Day | Sunday 15th September | 9:00 am & 11:00 am
Come join us on Sunday 15th September for a super fun sport day! Dress up in your favorite AFL team colours, or your own sporting team colours, wear the Aussie green and gold, or your countries national team colours. Whatever you choose will be awesome! Wear your joggers / runners and why not invite a friend or two. This is a great way to introduce friends to Kids Church.
Kids Church | Sunday 15th September | Online | 9:00 am
This week online at Kids Church…
2 to 4-year-olds | A new commandment | John 4: 1-30, Luke 18:15
5 to 12-year-olds | Take time – Jesus heals Bartimaeus | Mark 10: 46-52
Y&Y Service | Chester Cameron | Sunday 15th September | 5:30 pm
Chester is an everyday lover of Jesus. He once was lost, and now he is found. He once was hopeless, nameless, broken, and rebellious. Now he is not. How? Jesus… Just Jesus.
Chester grew up in Berwick Church of Christ, where he first met God – the One who created him, and where he first said “Yes” to following Him. Since then, through highs and lows, Chester has continued to simply say “Yes” to God. His willing and obedient heart to follow God has taken him to study paramedicine in Bendigo, share the Gospel across the globe and across the street, and now brings him back to BCOC to speak at Y&Y.
Be sure to join us in food and fellowship after the service. SEE YOU THERE!
Men's Prayer Group | Sunday 15th September | 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 16th September | From 6:00 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
Growing To Maturity (GTM 1) Course | Commencing Tuesday 17th September 2024 | 7:00pm
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 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 the meaning of life and faith.
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.
Come along and enjoy a meal with others, watch an Alpha Talk video and have an open discussion in a friendly and non-judgemental environment where everyone’s opinion and experiences are validated.
Seniors Ministry | Friendship Group | Wednesday 25th September | 1:30 pm
Tiny and sometimes annoying though they be, we can learn some lessons from ants. With more than 15,000 species, and 2.5 million for every human on earth, we have lots to learn!
Mental Health Support Gathering | Tuesday 8th October | 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 Tuesday evening 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.
Writers Group | Saturday 19th October | 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!
Men's Camp | Xtreme Character Challenge | Thursday 31st October 2024
Men, are you ready for a challenge on 31 Oct – 3 Nov 2024 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.
NB: This is NOT a Church Men’s Camp. The XCC is set up like an endless adventure; men are confronted with significant physical challenges, deep camaraderie, and profound moral and spiritual input moments. Through the XCC process, men find perspective; they evaluate who they are and find a purpose worth living for.
Cost: $450:00
*Note: This event is run independently from Berwick Church of Christ.
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.
From the Governance Committee
This month we have been working with Evolve Safety and reviewing our Human Resources policies. All staff have had the opportunity to review these policies and provide feedback. We anticipate these policies will be finalised next month. These policies include:
- Bullying & Harassment Policy
- Equal Employment Opportunities, Discrimination & Sexual Harassment Policy
- Grievance Handling Policy
- Discipline & Termination Policy
- Code of Conduct & Minors Code of Conduct.
Staff, contractors, and volunteers are responsible for ensuring they have read, understand, and comply with all the Church policies. All our policies are located on the church website.
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) should you wish to have a chat.
Scriptural references for our Policies
At Berwick Church of Christ we are continually endeavour to create policies that ensure equal and fair treatment of all cultures in a multicultural congregation. All policies created will be an interpretation of Jesus’ final command to His disciples:
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
John 13:34-35 NIV
Scriptural references will provide our foundation and context for all policies, emphasizing principles of love, respect, and inclusivity. On our policies page on the website, you will find some scriptural references that we use in the creation of such policies.
Victoria’s Child Safety Standards (the Standards)
The Standards were put in place in 2016 to protect children and young people from harm and abuse and we are legally required to comply with the Standards. On the 1 July 2022, the Standards were revised with eleven Standards being introduced to replace the previous seven. The new Standards outline what action we need to take to keep children and young people safe.
We have reviewed our policies to ensure we comply with the Standards, and you may have noticed the various signs around the Church outlining our commitment to child safety and providing details of who to contact if you have any concerns. We have also added our commitment to child safety on the kids church page on our website.
How to sign up as a Volunteer…
If you are interested in becoming a volunteer, please check out the volunteering page on the website. There are a number of ministries listed but if you do not see what you are interested in, click on the link at the bottom of the page for our other ministry opportunities.
What is involved? You will need to complete a Volunteers Application Form, have an interview with one of the Pastors, hold a current Working with Children Check, sign our Policy Induction, and undergo online Safety Ministry Training (which helps us meet our insurance and legal obligations).
If you have any questions or need any assistance, talk to one of our Pastors or please feel free to contact Karen Fletcher at the Church Office 9702 1011.
Thank you for being His Presence in Every Place!
BRAAM BOTHA
Senior Pastor
