Order of Service
Acknowledgement of Country and Call to Worship (Isaiah 40:28–31)
Song/Hymn: ‘Lord, You Stand Among Us’ (Ross Langmead)
Prayer of gathering and confession
Welcome and community news
Song/Hymn: ‘At the Dawn of the Ages’
Our offering and prayer
(Collection of non-perishable foods for the Community Chest)
Bible reading: Matthew 7:7–11 — Theresa
Song/Hymn: ‘Bring Many Names’
Sermon: ‘Exploring and encountering God’ — Geoff
Hymn: Either ‘Let us break bread together with the Lord’ (BPW 443)
Communion
Hymn (cont.) Last verse (3) of 443
Pastoral prayer & candles: Geoff
Benediction: ‘Deep Stillness of the Silent Inland’ (Julie Perrin/Robin Mann)
Welcome to Worship
This Sunday at 10am
+ Worship Leader: Keith Dyer; Preacher: Geoff Pound.
+ Scriptures: Isaiah 40:28-31; Matthew 7: 7-12.
+ Service Theme: Our service themes are running in tandem with the Exploring Faith group that meets on Wednesdays so this Sunday we are ‘Exploring God’.
+ Communion is celebrated on the first Sunday of the month. Box Hill Baptist has an open table where the invitation is extended to all and each person decides whether they will participate.
+ Our offering on the first Sunday includes an offering of non-perishable food items that are given for needy people in our community.
Community News
+ This week (6th to 13th) is NAIDOC Week in Australia. Common Grace is providing information on the themes for this year’s recognition. Link.
+ The Village Well (our community services arm) is supporting the development of a new community Chess Club. If Bishops and Rooks are your thing, come along on Monday, 6pm-8pm, for a friendly game.
+ Got a Spare Vacuum Cleaner? A family in the Jubilee Housing project no longer has a working vacuum cleaner but really needs one. If you have a working secondhand vacuum cleaner you can donate please speak to or leave a message with Meredith Beaton (Pastoral Worker at Jubilee Housing) on her work phone: 0413 522 060
+ Our new multi-language translation service, known as Breeze, worked well last Sunday when it was launched at Box Hill Baptist. Our people used Italian, Maori, Khmer, Persian, Mandarin, Bahasa, Cantonese and most said it was very accurate and the delay was minimal. Bring your phones along, use the QR code or this link: https://boxhillbaptistchurch.breeze-translate.com/client then select your language. Would you also bring your headphones or ear buds so you can check the audio quality? These will also help us to keep our heads up so we can see the speaker and the pictures on the screen. Keep giving us your feedback.
+ You may have noticed the small bowl of sand and candles to the right of the pulpit. This is available at every service and it may be an aid to prayer as you light a candle at the beginning or anytime during a service.
+ Thanks to the five Box Hill Baptist people out of the thirty people who attended the Zoom meeting last Wednesday arranged by the board of the Open Baptists. We heard of the history of this new Association, the benefits of joining, a story of one church that has joined, the process of joining and this was followed by a Q&A.
+ On Thursday 10 July, 6pm, there is a book launch of Theology Matters, at the Australian Centre for Christianity and Culture.
In the twenty-first century, religion is often seen as divisive, church membership is in decline, and religious institutions have been forced to reckon with their own sins. Yet theology still speaks deeply to many people in Australia, both inside and outside the Christian churches. The launch will feature a panel discussion that includes Peter Sherlock, broadcaster and author Stan Grant, public theologian Robyn Whitaker, and former ACT Supreme Court judge Richard Refshauge, and will be moderated by Genevieve Jacobs. To register and find out more click here
Pointers for Prayer
+ This year a feasibility study of our church buildings is taking place to see what might be possible in the way of future development. No proposals have been received and discussed. Pray for creativity and wisdom for the people who are undertaking this study.
+ We will not only be celebrating the 100th anniversary of our church building but these celebrations will continue into the recognition that next year (2026) marks the 125th anniversary of our church community. Every 4-6 weeks or so from August 2025 to October 2026 (when we plan a special weekend and launch Lorraine Mitchell’s history of the Box Hill Baptist Church) we will seek to invite a former pastor or church identity to come and speak about a different chapter in the church’s life. These will be ‘Back to Box Hill Baptist’ occasions when we invite former members and friends back to the church. Feed in any good suggestions of how we might celebrate with gratitude. Pray for creativity for the small group that is planning these events.
This Week
Monday
+ 2pm-5pm Bike Restoration and Rescue Session at the Community Shed: (rear 470 Station St, Box Hill).
+ 4.30pm-8.30pm Social Table Tennis (upstairs, 5 Ellingworth Pde)
+ 6pm-8pm: Chess Club (downstairs, 5 Ellingworth Pde)
Tuesday
+ 9.30am – The Box Hill Community Choir is taking a break over the holidays on this Tuesday (8th) and the next (15th). It will resume on the 22nd July. The leaders of the choir greatly appreciate the church being made available for the choir rehearsals.
+ 7.15pm for 7.30pm to 9pm: The Bible & Chat group meets in the Village Well for a cuppa and begins study at 7.30pm. The Scripture for study is James 1: 2-8.
Wednesday
+ 7:30 to 9pm – Exploring Faith – Session 5 – The Nature of God (5 Ellingworth Pde)
Thursday
+ 10am-12 midday: The English Language Group is not meeting on this day, the 10th and also the 17th and the 24th. It will resume for term 3 on the 31st July.
+ 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.
+ 7.30pm Bible Study and Discussion in the Gallery. Convenor: Andy McCulloch.
Friday
+ 10am-11.30am The Playgroup will not be meeting on this day, Friday 11th and the 18th. It will resume on the 25th July.
+ 4.30-8.30pm: Social Table Tennis (upstairs, 5 Ellingworth Pde)
Saturday
+ 7.30am-8.30am Bakehouse in the Barn
Coming up
24 August: 100-year Celebration of our church building.
Food for Thought, Prayer & Action
+ Stan Grant opens up on his deepening faith, indigenous spirituality, his response to the Voice Referendum and more in Stan Grant on Country with Indira Naidoo, Compass, 23 June.
+ Trump’s ‘God Bless the USA’ Bible nets $1.3 million in royalties. Religion News, 24 June 2025.
+ ‘Pastors, learn to lean into your ‘two-timing’ congregants,’ Religion News, 25 June 2025.
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.
Every Wednesday, (7:30pm) @ 5 Ellingworth Pde.- Visit exploringfaith.org.au or email office@boxhillbaptist.org.au
Next Sunday 6th July at 10am.
+ Worship Leader: Lorraine Mitchell; Preacher: Eddie Chapman.
+ Service Theme: ‘Exploring Faith and Doubt’.
+ Scripture: James 1: 2-8.
Worship Roster
Box Hill Baptist Church 