Welcome to Worship
Self-Sacrifice – An outmoded ideal or a radical alternative? ‘The good shepherd’, says Jesus, ‘lays down his life for his sheep’.
In an age when self-interest seems to rule, what are we to make of Jesus’ teaching? Is it a noble but impractical ideal? Or could it be the key to a good life?
Order of Service
- Acknowledgement of Country, Aunties and Mothers
- Call to Worship: singing Psalm 23, ‘The Lord is my shepherd’
- Prayer of gathering and confession
- Welcome and community news
- Song: ‘You are my shepherd’
- Offering and prayer
- Bible reading: John 10: 1–18 (Wendy)
- Song: ‘Come and find the quiet centre’
- Sermon: ‘Shepherds, sheep and sacrifice’ (Graeme)
- Pastoral prayer
- Hymn: Gather us in.
- Benediction
Community News
+ Sad news this week as we were informed that Christine Mason, prior member of our church and one of the key people behind the Chapel on Station Gallery, passed away Thursday morning after a short battle with cancer. Please keep her family and friends in your prayers in the weeks and months to come.
+ It is good that the new Open Baptists Association has been established after Canberra Baptist and Hamilton Baptist (NSW) have been expelled from the Baptist Churches of NSW and ACT. The ABC News published this report and this video on this action with Canberra Baptist. The Newcastle Herald published this story in relation to Hamilton Baptist. Letters to these churches from Box Hill Baptist Church expressing sorrow, solidarity and support in prayer have been appreciated.
+ Whitley College is sponsoring ‘Global Baptist Identities: A Conversation with David Bebbington on 14 May (in person and streamed on Zoom)
This Week
Monday
+ Join in our bike restoration and rescue session at the Community Shed: 2pm-5pm (rear 470 Station St, Box Hill)
Tuesday
+ 9.30am – The Box Hill Community Choir meets in the Church Sanctuary and Gallery.
7.15pm for 7.30pm to 9pm: The Bible & Chat will be studying this Scripture passage: Luke 16:1-13 (the passage that Paul Manning will be reflecting on). Convenor: Geoff Pound.
Wednesday
+ 8pm: The Prayer Link connects people online for about 20 minutes of prayer. Here is the link
Thursday
+ 10am-12 midday The English Language Group meets in the Barn.
+ 11am-1pm upstairs in the Village Well: Social Chat Group—basic English language and Aussie culture, table tennis, Tai Chi, tea/coffee, friendship-making.
+ 1.30pm-2.30pm Bakehouse in the Barn: Saving bread, fruit and vegetables from waste by giving food to those wanting to ease their weekly budget.
Friday
+ 10am-11.30am A Playgroup meets in the Barn for children 0-5 years of age and their parents and carers.
Saturday
+ 7.30am-8.30am Bakehouse in the Barn
Coming up
+ 18 May – Church BBQ (after the service @ the Barn).
+ Sunday 1 June – Church members meeting (after the service @ the Barn).
+ Wednesday 11 June – Launch of Exploring Faith study series (Village Well, 7:30pm)
+ Saturday 21 June – Winter Solstice Bonfire & Games night.
Food for Thought, Prayer & Action
+ A free e-book with 35 articles on the situation in Palestine is available from this link on Pearls and Irritations.
+ Is the manna harvested in Sicily the same ‘manna from heaven’ that fed the Israelites through the desert? Link to this BBC report.
+ It can be a bit nebulous to pray for the whole church or the whole conclave— all 133 Cardinals. So, a website has been created where people can ‘Adopt a Cardinal’. You put in your email address, you’re encouraged to pray for guidance and you submit your request. Read more.
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!)
- Bible & Chat: Currently each Tuesday, 7:15pm for 7.30pm start at the Village Well (5 Ellingworth Pde). The group normally reflects on a Scripture passage for the following Sunday service. Convenor: Geoff Pound
- KYB (Know Your Bible): Tuesdays fortnightly via Zoom. (Convenor: Helen Timms)
- A Small Group meets in the Gallery on the first and third Thursday of the month from 7.30pm-9pm. Convenor: Andy McCulloch.
- The Explorers Group is preparing for a restart in early May for people wanting to explore the Christian faith for the first time or take a refresher. This will be a 12-part series. Ask Eddie Chapman for more details.
Next Sunday 18 May at 10am
+ Paul Manning from Baptist World Aid will be speaking about Palestine and preaching about ‘Seek and Act Justly’.
+ A BBQ is planned to follow our worship service.
Worship Roster
An inclusive community at the heart of Box Hill 