Order of Service
- Call to worship
- Song: This is the time
- Bible Reading: Matthew 6:5-13 , Luke 11: 1-4
- “What is the Kingdom of God/Heaven like?” – Readings in two parts
- Song: We are many, we are one.
- Community News
- Offering
- Song: When the wagtail tips her tail
- Sermon
- Song: Daring Dancing Trinity
- Pastoral Prayer
- Closing Song: Deep stillness
Community News
This Sunday at 10am (19th January 2025) we continue our series on The Lord’s Prayer and our focus will be the petitions:
“Your Kingdom Come, Your Will be Done on Earth as it is in Heaven.”
Next Sunday at 10am (26th January 2025): Being the last Sunday of the month, it is the day for our Last Breakfast. It is also Australia Day and the international Leprosy Mission Sunday. Make sure to bring some food to share for breakfast or brunch!
+ This Sunday an information flier will be available and an envelope for anyone who’d like to donate to The Leprosy Mission. Here is a link to donate electronically.
+ Jazz pianist, Andy Vance, will play three well-known hymns but give them a new twist. Andy plays jazz music every Friday from 11.30am in the Forest Hill Chase Community Space which is sponsored by Whitehorse churches (including Box Hill Baptist Church).
This Week
Thursday 11am-1pm Social Chat gathering above Village Well.
Thursday 1.30pm-2.30pm Bakehouse in the Barn.
Notices and News
+ Eddie is taking annual leave from next Thursday, 23 January until Wednesday 19 February. A huge thanks to those who have offered to take on some of Eddie’s tasks in his absence.
+ The Bible & Chat Group resumes on Tuesday week—the 28 January in the Village Well. This group which runs every second Tuesday evening commences at 7.15pm for a cuppa and our study goes from 7.30-8.45pm. We will begin this year by studying and discussing the Lord’s Prayer as we continue this Sunday series. Prior to Easter we will switch to a study of ‘The Last Week: What the Gospels Really Teach About Jesus’s Final Days in Jerusalem’ (aided by the book of the same title by Marcus Borg and John Dominic Crossan. New participants are very welcome and free to come for the series that are of interest to them.
+ Andy and Wendy McCulloch are also thinking of commencing a new group so this provides another option. Discussion themes, times, location are still to be decided by whoever might like to participate. Speak to Andy or Wendy about your interest.
+ We are contemplating some seminars that alternate on Tuesdays with the Bible & Chat Group. In this regard we have been talking with Dr Bruce Rumbold (Baptist minister at Box Hill, Professor of Pastoral Care at Whitley College, Professor in Public Health at La Trobe Uni and more) about some ideas that he might speak to and spark discussion but are yet to nail anything down. Let Geoff know some of the subjects you would like to hear about.
+ In 2024 some people at Box Hill Baptist started to create a study series for people beginning to explore the Christian faith and also be helpful for people who want to go deeper in some of the basics. In the early weeks of this year Eddie and Keith are working on the design and content of this series. After Easter (from the first week in May) the 12-week Explorers Group will be up and running and this will go in tandem with the Sunday services (so we’ll all be explorers).
+ In August this year we will mark the 100th anniversary of the opening of our church building. It was opened on 29 August 1925. In 2026 we will celebrate the 125th anniversary of the founding of Box Hill Baptist Church. We have established an Anniversary Committee chaired by Graeme Davison. Speak to Graeme if you have any suggestions of how we might celebrate.
Food for Thought & Action
“Most adults I know aren’t looking for a religion that answers all of their questions, but rather a community of faith in which they feel safe to ask them.” Rachel Held Evans.
Someone penned these New Year Resolutions: This year I want to be more like Jesus.
- Hang out with sinners
- Upset religious people
- Tell stories that make people think
- Choose unpopular friends
- Be kind, loving and merciful
- Take naps on boats
+ Jimmy Carter Applied His Faith to the Messiness of Politics. We Should Too.
Upcoming events at Box Hill
Regular Weekly Events
- Monday
- 6pm-9pm. Social Table Tennis (upstairs of the Village Well)
- Thursday:
- 11am-1pm. Social Club (upstairs of the Village Well)
- 1:30-2:30pm Community Bakehouse (in the Barn)
- Friday
- 6pm-9pm. Social Table Tennis (upstairs of the Village Well)
- Saturday
- 7:30-8:30am Community Bakehouse (in the Barn)
- Sunday
- 9am-1pm Community Shed session (rear 470 Station St)
Small Groups @ BHBC
Box Hill Baptist Church runs a number of small groups which create opportunities to build friendships, study the Bible and other resources, pray and strengthen our spiritual journeys.
If you are interested in any of the groups below, feel welcome to contact the convenor, or speak to one of our pastors. (And if you’d like to be part of a group but these don’t work for you, come and speak to us and we’ll see if we can start something new!)
- Explorers, & Bible Chats: Tuesdays, 7:30pm at the Village Well (5 Ellingworth Pde). The groups undertakes studies on a diverse range of topics including scripture, books, videos, and other resources.
- KYB (Know Your Bible): Tuesdays fortnightly via Zoom. (Convenor: Helen Timms)
Bible Readings for this week
First reading
Psalm
Second reading
Gospel
Worship Roster
An inclusive community at the heart of Box Hill 