Welcome to Worship this 125th Anniversary Sunday
125th Anniversary Service of Worship & Thanksgiving including a Commendation by Dr Ken Manley, an Interview with Lorraine Mitchell and the Blessing of the Book (Sing a New Church).
Worship Leader: Eddie Chapman
Preacher: Geoff Pound. The service will involve the telling of brief cameos on some who make up the ‘great cloud of witnesses’ at Box Hill.
Scripture: Hebrews 11:32-40; 12:1-2
The service will be followed by Morning Tea and a light lunch in the Barn – a great time to catch up with people who have been associated with the Box Hill Church over many years.
Order of Service
Opening
- Call to worship: Hebrews 12:1-3
- Song: To God be the Glory
- Acknowledgment of Country
- Opening prayer
- Welcome
- News/Announcements
Blessing of the Book
- Commendation – Ken Manley
- Interview – Geoff and Lorraine
- Prayer of blessing of the book and its readers
- Song: Sing a New Church
Since we are Surrounded…
- Scripture reading: Hebrews 11:32-40, 12:1-2 – Graeme D
- Reflection: Looking Back – Geoff
- Cameos of people in the BHBC cloud – Geoff with others
- Contributing to our own clouds of witnesses
- Hymn 478: For all the Saints (vv 1, 2, 3, 7)
- Prayers as we move from the past to the future
- Offering and offertory prayer
- Reflection: Looking Forward – Geoff
- Song: Creativity
- Pledge of Commitment to the Future
- Closing song: God Gives Us a Future
- Benediction
Community News
- A light lunch is planned for our Anniversary Sunday. If you can bring a plate of finger food to share on the day, please let Teang know.
- The price of the new book, ‘Sing a New Church,’ has been set at $30 to make it within everyone’s budget to buy a copy. On our Anniversary Day (18 October) we will have the opportunity of paying for our books by cash and card.
- Pray for Dean Hoath and his loved ones. Dean has had two surgeries on his brain this last week in Darwin. He is recovering well. Russell flew to Darwin on Thursday to be with Dean and his family.
- Apologies for the Anniversary Service: Barbara & Ray Whitford (in Qld), Stan & Debbie Innes (holidaying in Qld), Audrey & David Brown, Colin & Barbara Richards, and Robert Ashley.
- We report the sad and unexpected news of the death of Glennys Williams, who died in her sleep on Wednesday night at the Hedley Sutton Aged Care Community in Camberwell. Details of the Service of Thanksgiving have not been determined. Do keep the family and friends of Glennys in your heart and prayers.
Upcoming Events
Unwrapping Christmas. Over three Tuesday evenings (10, 17, 24 November) Dr Keith Dyer will be opening the Bible and speaking about ‘Unwrapping Christmas.’ Before we get to Advent and Christmas this year, we have this opportunity to think about Christmas without all the wrappings.
Each session will provide a segment entitled ‘You Can’t Ask That!‘ in which people can ask questions they have longed to ask, such as
‘Did the Virgin Birth Really Happen?‘
‘What was God’s part and Joseph’s part in the conception of Jesus?’ and
‘What about the line in that Christmas hymn, But little Lord Jesus, No Crying He Makes?’
Held in the Gallery, starting with a cuppa at 7.15pm for a 7.30pm start and an approximate 8.45pm finish.
This Week
Monday
- 4:30pm-8:30pm – Social Table Tennis (upstairs, 5 Ellingworth Pde)
Tuesday
- 9:30am – The Box Hill Community Choir practises in the sanctuary
- 7:15pm for a 7:30pm start in the Gallery – The Bible & Chat Group studies the Scripture for next Sunday’s Last Breakfast: Matthew 22:34-46
Thursday
- 11am-1pm – The Social Chat Group (Village Well upstairs): English language learning, table tennis and socialising
- 1:30pm-2:30pm – Bakehouse in the Barn: our food rescue program
Friday
- 4:30pm-8:30pm – Social Table Tennis
Saturday
- 7:30am-8:30am – Bakehouse in the Barn
Food for Thought, Prayer and Action
- We are doing our best through the Bakehouse (Thursdays and Saturdays) to save food waste, but Adelaide Miller contends that ‘Food Waste is Costing Australian Businesses and the Economy Billions’ (ABC News, 13 October 2026).
- Andrew Denton addressed the National Press Club this week on the topic of ‘Voluntary Assisted Dying.’ View the address on ABC iView. What did you think?
- Sing a New Church, our new book on the Box Hill Baptist Church, should give us much food for thought, prayer and action.
Small Groups @ BHBC
Bible & Chat: Tuesdays at 7:15pm for a 7:30pm start, at the Gallery. We reflect together on the coming Sunday’s scriptures. Contact Geoff Pound.
KYB (Know Your Bible): Fortnightly on Tuesdays via Zoom. Contact Helen Timms.
Next Sunday: 25 October 2026
10am – It’s our Last Breakfast with food, talk and conversation around tables. Please bring food to share.
Facilitated by: Eddie Chapman
Scripture: Matthew 22:34-46
