The Record – 14 September 2025

Welcome to Worship

This Sunday, 7 September 2025, at 10am

+ Worship Leader: Lorraine Mitchell; Preacher: Geoff Pound

+ Scripture Reading: Matthew 13: 10-17 and 34-35.

+ Service Theme: Storytelling People. Aussies love to tell and listen to stories. See this in the Australian Story, which for almost thirsty years has become a Monday night fixture and a familiar favourite. Note this in the way Jesus told parables. We’ll think of the value of reflecting on our story and sharing this with others.

+ 2.30-4.30pm Art in the Barn. Artists Joseph, Sarah and Rebekah Zhang continue conducting (in Mandarin and English) a series of twelve free art classes.

Order of Service

• Call to Worship
• Song : Creation sings amazing songs 
• Prayer 
• Song : When the wagtail tips her tail to God
• Community News
• Offering
• Scripture Reading: Matthew 13: 10-17 and 34-35.
• Song: Colourful Creator
• Sermon: Geoff
• Pastoral Prayers : Geoff
• Song: When the earth was created (Robin Mann)
• Benediction

Community News

+ Each Monday morning between 8am-9am, Ian Bunston (coordinator of the Box Hill Community Choir) interviews a different guest on Zoom. This week, on Monday Matters, Ian Parker (from our church) was the special guest. He was speaking about ‘Paper—the everyday material that holds our world together’. It was an intriguing presentation as Ian spoke about the process from a log to a ream of paper. Those listening will now be thinking more reflectively as they reach for that paper tissue or load up their printer. The presentation was recorded. The two Ians should have the link if you want to hear the recording.

+ Spring Music for Peace: A Fundraising (75 Minute) Concert for the children of Gaza at 7.30pm on Saturday, 13 September 2025 at The Avenue Uniting Church, 44 Blackburn Road, Blackburn. Children free. $20 per adult. Funds go towards humanitarian aid through UNICEF. Violin, piano and ensemble performances with music of Telemann, Vivaldi, Schubert, Beethoven, Elgar, Grieg, Piaf and Morricone.

+ Our Deacons have been discussing the possibility of helping local churches and Neighbour Houses to establish their own Bakehouse (food distribution programme). The idea is to save more food from being wasted, help ease the budgets of more people and develop closer connections with local supermarkets and other food outlets. It is interesting to note that two months ago, the Wattle Park Chapel in Box Hill South commenced a Thursday afternoon food programme with 10 crates of food and 12 people attending. Now they have 60-70 families coming on a weekly basis.

+ The funeral of Grace Dodge was held on Thursday 11 September. Grace for 30 years served in Mymensingh, Bangladesh with Baptist Mission Australia (formerly ABMS). A summary of her service can be found at this link.

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Pointers for Prayer

+ Meriel Barber, who now lives in the Surrey Hills Gardens Care Community, is not so well at the moment. She has a bad case of vertigo and is confined to bed. She may still take a phone call or receive a text message if you want to connect.

+ Pray and stand with the people of Myanmar. Tim Costello writes about ‘A Crisis No One’s Talking About,’ Baptist Mission Australia.

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)

Tuesday

+ 9.30am – The Box Hill Community Choir meets in the church followed by morning tea in the Gallery.

+ 7.15pm for 7.30pm to 9pm: The Bible & Chat group will continue to tell the stories about their lives. Everybody welcome! Coordinator: Eddie Chapman.

Thursday

+ 10am-12 midday: The English Language Group meets in the Barn led by Lynne Dyer, assisted by Keith Dyer and John West.

+ 11am-1pm upstairs in the Village Well: Social Chat Group—basic English language and Aussie culture, table tennis, Tai Chi, tea/coffee, friendship-making. Coordinated by Geoff Pound with Clara Jhao (interpreter). Everyone is welcome.

+ 1.30pm-2.30pm Bakehouse in the Barn coordinated by Lynne Dyer: Saving bread, fruit and vegetables from waste by giving food to those wanting to ease their weekly budget.

Friday

+ 10am-11.30am Approaching the holiday period, the Playgroup in the Barn is not meeting today but will resume on Friday 17 October.

+ 4.30-8.30pm: Social Table Tennis (upstairs, 5 Ellingworth Pde)

Saturday

+ 7.30am-8.30am Bakehouse in the Barn.

Food for Thought, Prayer & Action

+ How on earth is it possible to forgive the person who murdered members of your family? Justine Toh ponders this question in her article, ‘I Forgive You, Erin,’ Public Christianity, 26 August 2025.

+ Paul Ormont Blumberg discusses, ‘How Being a Grandparent Can Improve Your Health’ and how to reap similar benefits if you don’t have a grandchild in your family or near you, Time, 6 September 2025.

+ ‘These teenagers are rewriting the rules of Israel-Palestine Dialogue,’ Religion News, 5 September 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)

Next Sunday 14th September at 10am.

+ Worship Leader: Keith Dyer; Preacher: Alison Sampson.

The Rev Alison Sampson is a Baptist minister who is currently Interim Minister at the Manningham Uniting Church. We have asked Alison to speak about her mother, Ruth Sampson, who was a key leader in the Box Hill Baptist Church several decades ago, as well as reflecting on what this season meant for her father John, her sister Robyn and herself.

+ This is another ‘Back to Box Hill Baptist’ event which former members and friends of the church may well be interested in attending. Please pass the invitation around.

+ Scripture Reading: Matthew 13: 34-35.

+ Service Theme: Storytelling People. Aussies love to tell and listen to stories. See this in the Australian Story, which for almost thirty years has become a Monday night fixture and a familiar favourite. Note this in the way Jesus told parables. We’ll think of the value of reflecting on our story and sharing this with others.

Worship Roster