Welcome to Worship
This Sunday, 30 November at 10am
+ The Last Breakfast: Come for breakfast/brunch and worship. Bring enough food to share with our guests.
+ Worship Leader: Eddie Chapman
+ Members of the Box Hill Community Choir will be singing.
+ Service Theme: The first in our Advent Series, ‘The Light We Carry,’ entitled ‘Hope That Begins in the Dark.
+ Scriptures: Isaiah 9: 2-7; Luke 1: 26-38.
Community News
+ Christmas at Jubilee Housing. This Sunday (30 November) is the last day to bring gifts for children. In the middle of December, leaders of Jubilee Housing will hold a Christmas party at each housing complex and distribute the gifts to the children. Please bring the gifts unwrapped with the gift tag attached. Thanks to all those who have purchased gifts. All the gift tags have been taken. If you didn’t take a gift tag and you’d like to give money, please put it in an envelope or give it electronically marked: Jubilee Housing Christmas Gift.
+ Baptist World Aid has some Christmas gifts that are meaningful, ethical and fun, especially for the family member who has everything or the friend who is passionate about building a better world. Check out the alternative Christmas presents (a piglet, a bee hive or a goat) from Baptist World Aid.
+ Our new Exploring Faith study series commenced last Wednesday night. It’s been a intriguing journey as we tested the new course materials, got some invaluable feedback, and all shared in some remarkable explorations of what it means (and doesn’t mean!) to be a follower of Christ in the modern world. If you’d be interested in Exploring Faith with us in the new year, speak to Eddie as we’d be happy to run this 10 week course again.
+ The Box Hill Community Choir is practising for the following gigs:
- Friday Dec 12 at the Mont Albert Village from 6.30-8.30pm
- Tuesday Dec 16 at Box Hill Central from 9.30-11am
+ Invitation to be Members of Box Hill Baptist Church: One or two people have recently registered their interest in becoming members of our church. This is a pledge of commitment that people make to the church and the church to them. It also means that people can participate fully in the life and direction of the church by voting at Church Meetings and standing for various positions. Speak to Eddie or Geoff or one of the Deacons if you’d like to join them.
Food for Thought and Action
+ 1700 years ago bishops and an emperor wrote a creed about what Christians believe. Millions still recite it in churches around the world, AP, 21 November 2025.
+ In anticipation of Thanksgiving being celebrated in the USA last Thursday, Diana Butler Bass wrote a reflection and a meaningful prayer of thanksgiving that you may wish to ponder and pray. ‘When Gratitude Eludes Us,’ The Cottage, 25 November 2025.
+ Users Turn to ChatGPT for Divine Answers, Sparking New “Digital Faith”: A growing number of people are treating AI like a deity, seeking spiritual guidance and meaning from chatbots that offer authoritative, “all-knowing” responses. Becca Caddy asks: “Does this give any value? What about the risks?” TechRadar, 24 November 2025.
Coming soon
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.
+ Tuesday 7.15pm for 7.30pm: The Bible & Chats group meets in the Village Well. The Scripture readings is Luke 1: 46-55. The particular Advent theme for this Tuesday and the following Sunday is ‘Peace that Disturbs’.
Thursday
+ 11am-1pm upstairs in the Village Well: Social Chat Group. Everybody is welcome.
+ 10am-12pm: English Conversation Classes in the Barn. Convenor: Lynne Dyer
+ 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 Playgroup in the Barn.
+ 4.30-8.30pm: Social Table Tennis (upstairs, 5 Ellingworth Pde)
Saturday
+ 7.30am-8.30am Bakehouse in the Barn.
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 7 December at 10am.
+ Our monthly Communion Service.
+ Worship Leader: Lorraine Mitchell; Preacher: Geoff Pound.
+ Scripture: Luke 1: 46-55.
+ Service Theme: Peace that Disturbs.
+ Being the first Sunday of the month our offering will include non-perishable food items for the needy in our area.
+ A special Church Meeting follows the service in the sanctuary with a vote (no discussion) to adopt our new church constitution and thank our constitution committee for their work over these last two years.
Worship Roster
An inclusive community at the heart of Box Hill 