Welcome to Worship
This Sunday, 21 September 2025, at 10am
+ Worship Leader: Keith Dyer; Preacher: Alison Sampson
+ Scripture Reading: Matthew 13: 31-12 and Romans 12:1-9.
+ Service Theme: 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.
+ 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
- Acknowledgement of Country and Call to Worship: Fauna Sunday, selections from Psalm 104
- Song/Hymn: ‘All are welcome to our worship’
- Prayer of gathering and confession
- Welcome and community news
- Song/Hymn: ‘As we contemplate our mission’
- Meeting Alison again for the first time
- Prayers for planet and people
- Our offering and prayer
- Bible reading: Matthew 13:31–32; Romans 12:1-9 — Theresa
- Song/Hymn: ‘The People of God’
- Sermon: ‘Ruth and the body of Christ’ — Alison
- Song/Hymn: ‘The Ballad of God’s People’
- Benediction
Community News
+ Next Sunday at 10am is our monthly Last Breakfast Service where we gather informally over breakfast in the church to share our own experiences of God and be encouraged by our fellow travellers. If you are able to bring something to contribute to breakfast, that is always immensely appreciated. This is a great service to invite friends, family and neighbours too as well!
+ After our Last Breakfast service, we will be having the first of our new local art/community initiatives happening, which are being facilitated by Kendall Bryant (who we met at last month’s Breakfast). This Village Market Gathering will be taking place in the church from midday until 4, and incorporates a whole range of activities. See more below, and we’d love to see you there!
+ If English isn’t your first language, don’t forget that we now translate our Sunday services into a huge range of languages through our new Breeze translate app. We also now have a number of spare mobile devices with the app ready to go, which you can borrow for the service.
Pointers for Prayer
+ Raelene, whose brother passed away this week. Please keep Raelene in your prayers as her and her family grieve and come together at this time.
+ Please pray for our Community Shed as it explores some new ways to ensure it remains sustainable and thriving for locals who need such a space.
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.
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. 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 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 28th September at 10am.
+ Our monthly Last Breakfast Service.
Worship Roster
An inclusive community at the heart of Box Hill 