Table of Contents
The true dimensions of the Gospel
Wednesday 2nd July 2025
‘For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.’
John 3:16 NIV
In a world constantly measuring value by what is seen, earned, or posted, we are invited into something radically different—a life rooted not in performance or perception, but in the unmeasurable love of Christ as revealed by the Gospel.
Paul’s prayer in Ephesians 3:17–19 offers us a window into the very heart of our spiritual growth:
“I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.”
At the centre of this prayer is a paradox: to know a love that surpasses knowledge. Paul is not calling us to understand Christ’s love intellectually but to be immersed in it—to experience it as the defining reality of our lives. This love is not two-dimensional or abstract. It is wide enough to embrace the entire world, long enough to outlast every season, high enough to lift the lowest heart, and deep enough to meet us at our darkest places.
Notice that Paul prays for power to comprehend the scale of this love, not to perform miracles. Why? Because we live in a world that constantly tells us we are not enough. Our worth is often tied to our productivity, past experiences, or physical appearance. But when we are rooted and established in Christ’s love, those lies lose their grip. We are no longer drifting in insecurity or striving for approval; we are grounded in something eternal and unshakeable.
This love isn’t meant to be hoarded but shared. Paul prays that we would grasp it together with all the saints. The fullness of God’s love is best understood in community—when we sit with the broken, rejoice with the redeemed, and extend grace to those who least deserve it but most need it. We become living testimonies of the love we have received ourselves.
Let this be a season where we pause often to reflect on the dimensions of Christ’s love, not as a theological idea but as a lived reality.
May our roots go deeper, not into fear or pride, but into the soil of grace.
May our lives stretch wider, embracing those who feel far off.
And may we, as Paul prayed, be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
You are more loved than you know, and more empowered than you realise—not because of who you are, but because of who Christ is.
Your Help Please | General Housekeeping
Please help us to keep our lovely facilities tidy by picking up your empty coffee cups, water bottles, personal property (clothing and bibles), and any rubbish as you leave the auditorium.
Kids in the service:
We are a kid-friendly church, and as such, we would love to encourage young families to sit closer to the front near the stage. There is plenty of room for strollers and floor space on the far left and far right of the auditorium. We delight in seeing kids singing and dancing during worship, and being up closer to the front helps kids engage more. 😊
The back section of seating near the Creche is reserved just for young families and their grandparents.
Note: The Creche is for use by young families with children aged 2 and under.
For Child Safety reasons, ALL children MUST be supervised by a parent in the Creche during the service.
Sunday Service | Partakers - MINORS | Sunday 6th July 2025 | 9:00am & 11:00am
It Starts Today!
How can we, as a church, be intentional about raising, empowering, and equipping the next generation to become leaders who will shape the future of the Church? It starts today! The Church needs its young people to step up into leadership — not someday, but today, here and now. Join us this Sunday as we learn from the lives of Moses and Joshua.
Kids Church Update | Oodie Fun Day! | Sunday 6th July 2025 | 9:00am & 11:00am
As Term 2 comes to an end, we’re excited to finish the term with a special celebration this Sunday, 6th July, we are having a Fun Oodie Day at Kids Church. All kids are invited to come along in their favourite Oodies, hoddies or hooded blankets.
For how to engage your kids in church during the Kids Church term break, please read below.
It’s going to be a relaxed and fun-filled morning with games, activities, and a time of thanking God for the great term we have enjoyed together.
Kids Church will then take a short break over the school holidays. We hope all our families enjoy a restful, safe, and joyful holiday season while our Kids Ministry volunteers are having a well-deserved break.
During the two-week break, you will have the blessing of having your kids with you during services 😊. This is a great opportunity for your kids to experience live corporate worship with our larger church family, to hear the Word, and enjoy the fun of watching the Family News together. It will also create space for conversations later about faith and the importance of worship.
Here are some suggestions of how you can help your kids to engage during Sunday services.
- Take time beforehand to explain and discuss what the service will look like and your expectations of how your kids can engage, e.g, use a soft inside voice when the auditorium is quiet, remaining close by.
- During the service, encourage them to stand and join in the worship – give them permission to dance, raise their hands etc
- Bring along a set of ear muffs / headphones for noise sensitive kids during worship
- Bring along a favourite book to read or quiet activity.
NB: Kids Church will also provide activity sheets, colouring in and coloured pencils. PLEASE help us out by returning all pencils after the service. 😊
Term 3 commences on Sunday, 27th July! We look forward to seeing everyone back, refreshed and ready for more exciting adventures as we learn and grow in faith together.
Kids Church | Jesus teaches us how to love others | Sunday 6th July 2025 | 9:00am & 11:00am
This week at Kids Church…
2 to 4-year-olds | Jesus teaches us how to love others | Matt 8:5-13; Mark 5:24-34, 10:13-16; Philippians 2:5
5 to 12-year-olds | Forgive One Another / Jesus Forgives Peter) • Colossians 3:13 (Supporting John 13:36-38; 21:1-19)
Men's Prayer Group | Sunday 6th July | 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 8th July | 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 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 for a time of great fellowship and connection.
This is a wonderful way to start the day and you are most welcome to join us.
Seniors Ministry | Wednesday 9th July 2025 | 1:30pm
Not Useless…Mystery Case Files
Gary Lewis will present a fun afternoon of games to stretch our brains. He will also share from his book “I’m not Useless…I am Onesimus!”.
This week we will be meeting in Room 1.
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
Writers Group | Saturday 12th July 2025 | 9:00am
Aspiring writers, published authors, and everyone in between—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 supportive community of like-minded individuals.
Whether you write poetry, short stories, essays, blog posts, 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 one another to reach new heights and unlock our full potential as storytellers.
Don’t miss this incredible opportunity to be part of something special. Whether you’re just starting out or already have a few publications under your belt, we’d love to have you with us.
Join us today and let your creativity soar!
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.
The Pre-Marriage Course Commencing | Wednesday 23rd July 2025 | 7:00pm
The Pre-Marriage Course is a 5-week program designed to help engaged couples or those exploring the possibility of marriage build a strong biblical foundation for their future together. Key topics such as Communication, Conflict, Commitment, Connection, and Adventure.
Start building your future together with intentionality by signing up today.
- Leaders: Tim & Leola Moore-Coulson
- Cost: $60 per couple, which includes a couple’s guide, coffee or tea, and nibbles
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
