Table of Contents
The Arrival
Wednesday 3rd December 2025
Christmas as God’s Invasion of Love
Christmas is often wrapped in sentimentality—lights, traditions, gifts, and nostalgia. But beneath the familiar beauty lies something far more disruptive, far more breathtaking. Christmas is nothing less than the moment when God launched a rescue mission into His world. The incarnation was not God abandoning heaven for earth, but God bringing heaven and earth together in one man!
Christmas is the decisive moment when God stepped into His world to reclaim it.
The angel’s announcement to Mary was not merely the birth notice of a religious figure. It was a royal declaration:
“He will reign… and His kingdom will never end.”
Luke 1:33 NIV
Christmas is the coronation of a King in a manger. A cradle becomes a throne; a feeding trough becomes a declaration that God has not forgotten His creation. Into a world fractured by sin, injustice, oppression, and spiritual darkness, God comes—not with armies or politics, but with vulnerability, humility, and relentless love.
Tim Keller writes that the incarnation is “the ultimate act of self-giving,” the God of infinite glory shrinking Himself into the form of a helpless child. This is not an abstract theological idea. It is the deepest expression of God’s heart: He wants to be with us. Not from a distance. Not through rituals alone. But physically, tangibly, relationally.
Christmas, then, is not simply a story about a baby. It is the story of a King who has come to reclaim His world—not by force, but by sacrificial love. A King who comes close to the broken-hearted. A King who welcomes sinners, outcasts, wanderers, and doubters. A King whose rule brings healing, hope, and restoration to all who receive Him.
This is why Christmas is an invitation. It is God saying: “I am stepping into your world so that you can step into Mine.”
For many of us, we are familiar with the chaos of our own kingdoms—the kingdom of self. We know the exhaustion of trying to hold everything together, the weight of expectations, the fragility of our achievements, and the fear of failure. Christmas tells us there is a better kingdom—one built not on our performance, but on God’s grace.
The birth of Jesus is not just a past event; it is a present call. Every manger scene whispers: Come and see the One who came for you. Every carol beckons: Return to the God who has drawn near. Every Christmas season offers a fresh moment to say, “Jesus, be King of my life again.”
The invitation stands open. Christmas is God extending His hand, saying:
“Welcome home. My Kingdom is for you.”
Christmas Carol Services | Sunday 7th December | 9am & 11am
This Christmas, you’re invited to discover the greatest invitation God gives us. “The Inn-vitation” is a reflective and hope-filled carols service that tells the story of God’s love, from creation to the manger, and into our lives today.
Through Scripture, song, and story, we’ll remember that Jesus didn’t just come to a stable long ago, He is alive and living in and among us. He is still inviting us to make room for Him now. Bring your family, invite your friends, and celebrate the good news of Emmanuel, God with us.
- 📌 Berwick Church of Christ
- 📍 446 Centre Road, Berwick, Vic, 3806
- 📅 Sunday 7th December 2025
- 🕘 9:00am & 11:00am services
- 💬 Invite family and friends!
Kids Church | Sunday 7th December 2025 | 9:00am & 11:00am
This week at Kids Church…
2 to 4-year-olds | The Angel and Mary |Luke 1:26-33, 38
5 to 12-year-olds | Jesus Is Promised |Isaiah 9:6-7, Micah 5:2
Prayer & Fellowship Walk | Tuesday 8th December | 6:30am
The Tuesday morning Prayer and Fellowship Walk is around the church property and 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.
This is a wonderful way to start the day and you are most welcome to join us. If you haven’t joined us before please message 0419 277 500 by 8.00pm on Monday evening so we can keep you updated of any changes to the plans.
Kids Church End of Year Activities | Sunday 7th December 2025 - Sunday 25th January 2026
Sunday 7th Dec | BCOC Christmas Carols
We expect many visitors for the Christmas Carol services. To ensure there is space for your child in Kids Church, please sign-in your child early, as it will be necessary to cap numbers in some rooms.
Sunday 14th Dec | End of Year Kids Church Celebration Day
This is the last week of Kids Church for 2025, and our focus will be on thanking God for the amazing year we have had.
This is a great outreach opportunity for your kids to invite their friends.
We have an Ice Cream Van coming for a special treat, and every child will be given a small gift bag. 🙂
Sunday 14th Dec | Grade 6 Graduations
Grade 6 Graduations will be held in Room 1 at 9:15am and 11:15am, respectively. Grade 6 parents, please check your emails for details.
Sunday 25th January 2026 | Kids Church returns
Kids Church returns with a Summer Fun Day – another great outreach opportunity for family and friends.
Alpha Course Commencing | Tuesday 3rd February 2026
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.
The Marriage Course Commencing | Wednesday 11th February 2026
The 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, while 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 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 other’s 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 other’s “love language” and much, much more….
Family Camping Weekend or Day Out | 20 February 2026 @ 2:00 pm - 22 February 2026 @ 12:00 pm
It’s on again! Calling all camping families – kids of any age are welcome!
We invite you to join us from Friday February 20th to Sunday February 22nd 2026, for the Family Camping Weekend at Warburton. Our main priority is to strengthen the bonds between your family and others.
We’ll enjoy being surrounded by stunning nature and a sense of freedom as we watch children play, enjoy the fantastic free water park and paddle in the Yarra River. The nearby town has plenty of cafes and a Redwood Forest with walking and cycling trails; a great place for fun photos.
At night, get ready for cosy campfires, where we’ll swap stories, roast marshmallows, and enjoy fellowship (please note that campfires and the water park are not available if a Total Fire Ban is declared)
We are staying at the Warburton Holiday Park. Camping is always loads of fun, and even better in a group, but you are welcome to book a cabin if you prefer.
Engage your adventurous spirit, pack a sense of humour, and book a site or cabin for this fantastic weekend. Come and embrace the great outdoors with us! We do advise booking soon if possible as cabins and good sites go quickly!
If the whole weekend isn’t an option for you, you are very welcome to bring food etc and join us on Saturday (provided it is not Total Fire Ban), just let one of the organisers know to expect you, and use the ‘Book Now’ button so we have your details and can keep you updated.
When and where is this all happening?
CAMPING Option:
- Date: Friday 20th – Sunday 22nd February 2026
- Time: Arrive from 2.00 pm Friday, leave by 12.00 pm Sunday, or time of your choosing on Saturday
- Address: Warburton Holiday Park, 30 Woods Point Rd, Warburton, VIC, 3799
DAY Option:
- Date: 21st February
- Time: From 9:00am to 9:00pm or whatever time suits your family
Here’s what to do next!
- Choose your site from the “L”, “F” and “C” sites. You can see where others are camped here, so please add your family to this list after booking.
- Call and book a campsite 5966 2277 or visit the Warburton Holiday Park website to book. A powered site costs $59 per night for two people, plus extra for children (book for Friday and Saturday nights unless you want to stay longer than the rest of us). You can also book a cabin or lodge if that suits you better. Advise the caravan park office or note in the comments section that you are with Berwick Church of Christ. Note that a laptop is easier than a phone when navigating the online booking system.
- Importantly, we need to know that you are coming so we can send communication updates. After booking with Warburton Holiday Park and obtaining a site or cabin number, please REGISTER HERE.
- If you plan to come for the day, please also REGISTER so we can update you and look out for you. We will add campers and day visitors to the WhatsApp chat group for easy communication before and during the weekend.
Shout out if you have any questions
Sue 0403 822 324 or sue@bcoc.com.au
Mikayla 0431 317 332
James 0449 662 512
Amie 0448 762 314
Sarah 0490 016 122
We look forward to seeing you in Warburton whether for the weekend or the day!
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
