“Church”…depending on your personal experience, the word elicits several emotions. It is an incredible phenomenon. Since its inception it has taken on many forms through many ages in many cultures. We see as early as in the epistles the different expressions in different settings. It is a living, dynamic and missional movement that somehow has survived all wars, all natural disasters, all political regimes, and all cultural shifts. Think of our church Berwick Church of Christ. She has in a sense existed before and lived through:
The first sighting of Uluru by European settlers (1873)
The first horse-drawn trams
The first internationally recognised game of Test Cricket played between Australia and England at the MCG
The opening of the Sydney-Melbourne railway
Every political party active today
She was started in a cobbler’s home. Moved from High Street, Berwick to Lyall road, to Enterprise Avenue, and now in Centre Road.
As we celebrate our rich heritage as a church whilst envisioning our future it is important that we discern the elements of being church that should not be compromised:
The Church has a Christ-given purpose which should not be tinkered with:
‘All this energy issues from Christ: God raised him from death and set him on a throne in deep heaven, in charge of running the universe, everything from galaxies to governments, no name and no power exempt from his rule. And not just for the time being, but forever . He is in charge of it all, has the final word on everything. At the center of all this, Christ rules the church. The church, you see, is not peripheral to the world; the world is peripheral to the church. The church is Christ’s body, in which he speaks and acts, by which he fills everything with his presence.'
Ephesians 1:20-23 MSG
Though the church has many critics, >>>
it has no rivals. - Anonymous >>>
2. The church’s victory over darkness is guaranteed by Christ:
'And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. '
Matthew 16:18 NIV
The True Church can never fail. >>>
For it is based upon a rock. - T.S. Eliot >>>
3. It is granted authority and process to guide its members towards victory over sin
' “If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over. But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector.'
Matthew 18:15-17 NIV
The Church is not a gallery for the exhibition of eminent Christians, >>>
but a school for the education of imperfect ones. - Henry Ward Beecher >>>
If you think about the culture we live in and how it shifts its definition of “spirituality and sin” it is very clear that it is time for the Church of Christ to become more serious than ever about discipleship if we are to represent Christ well.
At BCOC we have been working behind the scenes to create a clear, scalable and accessible discipleship framework that will give people access to our brilliant resources. The key to the effectiveness of these resources is that they are all done in small groups (life groups, grow groups, interest groups etc). This discipleship framework is referred to as our ‘Next Steps Process’ and takes people from the start of their journey following Christ all the way through to where they are optimally function in a faith community:
In summary…the church is very much the body of Christ…victoriously discipling people into God’s purpose for their lives. What an awesome mission to join!
Fuse Youth | Friday 15th July
July is happening and Christmas is too far away for FUSE Youth to not celebrate it twice a year so this week is CHRISTMAS IN JULY!! Come in your best Christmas attire and be ready for an awesome night!
Details:
Time: 7.00pm – 9.30pm
Cost: $5
Kids Church | Sunday 17th July
Join us in person or online 10am this Sunday at Kids Church…
PREP – GRADE 6 | Be faithful David and Jonathan| 1 Samuel 20; 2 Samuel 9; 2 Samuel 4:4
WONDERKIDS & LITTLE SPARKS | Jesus can help me choose faithfulness David and Jonathan |1 Samuel 20; 2 Samuel 9
Sunday Service | Vision Sunday
Is your life something to be endured…or something to be enjoyed? We discover God’s beautiful ideal for our lives in a very unique way. Sometimes there are forces that want to derail our lives, but God has a very clear pathway back to a life that is profoundly beautiful as He has promised. We will discover how we can step back into the “Promised Land” God has in store for us. Why not come early and enjoy a coffee at our cafe. We look forward to seeing you!
If you can’t make it Sunday in person, join us online and watch live stream via YouTube or Facebookat 10am.
Y&Y Service | Sunday 17th July
Youth and young adultsand young at heart get ready for a time of worship, an inspiring word and enjoy a meal together. Form new friendships with like-minded youth and young adults in a safe, caring, yet challenging environment. You can discover your true value, find your purpose and fulfil your potential. Join us!
Details:
Time: 5.30pm – 7.30pm
BYO: Meal
Boys Brigade | Monday 18th July
Be part of the action Monday night. For over 20 years the Boys Brigade has advanced Christ’s Kingdom among boys.
It is so easy to feel confused and overwhelmed by all the voices and messaging that surrounds us. Those voices often promote conflicting ideas and options for life, leaving the receiver feeling manipulated and used for someone else’s end.
Cut through all the noise, by exploring in a safe environment what is real and what is true, when it comes to spiritual reality, faith, and God. Book now.
GTM 1 | Tuesday 19th July
GTM is the ideal follow-on course to ‘Search To Find’ or ‘Alpha” and is perfect 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
It is so easy to feel confused and overwhelmed by all the voices and messaging that surround us. Those voices often promote conflicting ideas and options for life, leaving the receiver feeling manipulated and used for someone else’s end.
Cut through all the noise, by exploring in a safe environment what is real and what is true, when it comes to spiritual reality, faith, and God. Book now.
Exploring Partnership | Sunday 24th July
You may have been attending our events or even become part of a close-knit group of people in our community. We would love for you to consider taking up a partnership with us in fulfilling God’s call on our movement. Exploring Partnership is an important step in discovering how you can fit into Berwick Church of Christ. It is an orientation towards what makes us unique and how we function as a community. You will get to know the leadership and we will talk about how you can partner with us to make our vision a reality.
Our Seniors Ministry will have a visit from Andrew & Karen Nielsen from Missionary Aviation Fellowship to share about this vital aviation ministry. A freewill offering will be taken in support of MAF.
Details:
Time: 1.30pm – 4.00pm
Bring: please bring a plate for everyone to share
Small Group Ministry Day Conference | Saturday 30th July
If you are a current small group leader, a budding leader, or interested in becoming a leader of small groups of people/teams then this conference is for you. You are invited to the Small Group Ministry Day Conference where we will learn from Pastors from Saddleback Church. They are travelling from the US to Melbourne to especially minister to us and the wider church in Australia. The event aims to equip and inspire Small Group leaders as we come out of the COVID19 season.
The Next Steps Lunch is a 3-Sunday Lunch event (31 July, 7 August, 14 August) where you will get the opportunity to get connected, learn more about the movement, and discover your potential whilst enjoying a delicious meal. It's also an opportunity to meet and spend some time with the pastors. The lunches are relevant to newcomers and long time attendees alike. So, if you have not been to a Next Step Lunch before or have not experienced Berwick Church hospitality, then we encourage you to register.
The expectation is that people who book will attend all 3 lunches as each luncheon has a different focus. And did we mention that it’s free?
Details:
What: Next Steps Lunch (Term 3)
When: 12:20-2:30, 31st July, 7th August and 14th August
Essendon Football Clubs chaplain Mark Purser, is in his sixth season after serving the Adelaide Crows in the same role for 5 seasons where he dealt with the deaths of two prominent coaches at the Crows within a 15 month period. Join us as Mark shares how being resilient can help you reach your goals. Bring your mates!
Details:
Date: Sunday 7th August
Time: 6.00pm – 9.00pm
Where: 446 Centre Road, Berwick, room 1
Age: 16+
Cost: $10
Included: BBQ, drink & roaring fire
Make sure to wear your favourite footy colours! BOOK NOW.
Team to deaf school | 18th September 2022
Have you ever thought about serving overseas? Has God laid on your heart to serve the underprivileged?Well, this is a fantastic opportunity to do so!
Stuart McKerihan is organising to take a team to a deaf school in Ligao Philippines, to help out with maintenance and encourage staff and students with the love of Christ.
Details:
Where: Fisherman for Christ Learning Centre, Ligao, Philippines.
When: September 18 to September 30th 2022
Cost: Approximately $2400-$2500 all inclusive. Meals, accommodation, flights, and transfers.
