Author: eddie

Order of Service

• SONG: Come and join the celebration
• Opening Litany
• Passing of the peace
• SONG: O Come all ye faithful (Combined with the Advent candle lighting)
• Welcome, notices, etc.
• Bible Reading
• Musical interlude – Away in a Manger
• Reflection
• SONG: Hear How the Bells (All Creatures of Our God and King) – see below
• Prayer & Benediction
• SONG: Joy to the World

Community News

We wish everyone a peaceful, renewing, joyful Christmas as we gather together there this morning, and with friends and family over today and days to come.

We feel privileged to have shared the journey through Advent with you, and the many events and experiences through which we’ve experience God, and engaged with and supported our local community.

For those who are travelling and journeying, we wish you all safe travels and look forward to welcoming you back in 2025.

+ This morning our retiring offering will go to support victims and communities impacted by the Vanuatu earthquake on the 17th of December, through CARE. We invite you to place your offering in the plates before you leave, or you can donate online at: https://www.care.org.au/appeals/vanuatu-earthquake-appeal/

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Upcoming events at Box Hill

Last Breakfast service – 29 December @ 10am

Worship without Words – A Year in Reflection – 29 December @ 7pm

Regular Weekly Events

• Monday
  • 6pm-9pm. Social Table Tennis (upstairs of the Village Well)
• Thursday:
  • No events this week, including Bakehouse and the Social Group.
• Friday
  • 6pm-9pm. Social Table Tennis (upstairs of the Village Well)
• Saturday
  • 7:30-8:30am Community Bakehouse (in the Barn)

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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!)

• Explorers, & Bible Chats: Tuesdays, 7:30pm at the Village Well (5 Ellingworth Pde). The groups undertakes studies on a diverse range of topics including scripture, books, videos, and other resources.
• KYB (Know Your Bible): Tuesdays fortnightly via Zoom. (Convenor: Helen Timms)

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Bible Readings for this week

First reading and Psalm

Isaiah 62:6-12

Psalm 97

Second reading

Titus 3:4-7

Gospel

Luke 2:(1-7), 8-20

Worship Roster

Order of Service

• Call to Worship
• Opening Prayer
• Song – In Bethlehem 
• Passing of Peace and Love
• Lighting of the Advent Candle
• Silent Night Performance
• Welcome & Community News
• Offering
• Song – Little Town of Bethlehem 
• Bible Reading
• Sermon
• Song – Every Star
• Decorating the Christmas Tree
• Prayers for the World
• Song – Angels from the Realms of Glory
• Benediction

Community News

“Thank you to all those who provided gifts for the children of Jubilee Housing. We received a wonderful variety of gifts for those in our Box Hill and Burwood housing complexes. They were distributed and received with joy and excitement. One young girl was jumping up and down when we gave her the gift, a beautiful moment. Please know you have made a big difference to these families at a time when life is challenging for so many. Thank you to the Box Hill Baptist Church Community for your ongoing support of our program. We wish you all a wonderful Christmas filled with joy and celebration. Meredith Beaton (Pastoral Care Worker)

+ An immense thanks to Lynne and Keith Dyer and the entire team of volunteers who supported Wednesday’s first Nandos Community Christmas meal taking place in the Barn, which served about 160 people from our local community.

+ Check out the new 10 week in-person course at the WellSpring Spirituality Centre (Ashburton) on Meditation and Mindfulness in the Christian Tradition.

+ Thanks to Mary Edgar who is happy to share the labyrinth on her Blackburn property for quiet half-days or to be used informally.

+ On the first Sunday in January we will commence a new sermon series on The Lord’s Prayer.

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Upcoming events at Box Hill

Christmas Day Service – 9:30am (finishing about 10.15am)

Last Breakfast service – 29 December @ 10am

Worship without Words – A Year in Reflection – 29 December @ 7pm

Regular Weekly Events

• Monday
  • 6pm-9pm. Social Table Tennis (upstairs of the Village Well)
• Thursday:
  • No events this week, including Bakehouse and the Social Group.
• Friday
  • 6pm-9pm. Social Table Tennis (upstairs of the Village Well)
• Saturday
  • 7:30-8:30am Community Bakehouse (in the Barn)

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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!)

• Explorers, & Bible Chats: Tuesdays, 7:30pm at the Village Well (5 Ellingworth Pde). The groups undertakes studies on a diverse range of topics including scripture, books, videos, and other resources.
• KYB (Know Your Bible): Tuesdays fortnightly via Zoom. (Convenor: Helen Timms)

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Bible Readings for this week

First reading and Psalm

Micah 5:2-5a

Psalm 80:1-7

Second reading

Hebrews 10:5-10

Gospel

Luke 1:39-45, (46-55)

Worship Roster

Order of Service

• Call to Worship
• Song: Joy to the World
• Prayer of Gathering and Confession
• Welcome & Community News
• Song: Infant Lowly
• Offering & Prayer
• Bible Reading: Matthew 1:18-24
• Song: Carry me to Bethlehem
• Sermon: ‘Ordinary Joe or Holy Joe?’
• Reflection & adding to our Christmas Tree
• Hymn: Where do Christmas songs begin?
• Pastoral prayers
• Sung Benediction

Community News

+ A wonderful opportunity to gather over dinner and music last night at our Carols Dinner. Thanks to everybody who joined in and shared in preparing food, cleaning up, and especially making our many visitors feel welcome.

+ Many regular activities—Community Choir, Bible Study Groups, Prayer Link, English Language Group, Playgroup—have finished for the year. The Thursday Social Chat Group (11am-1pm) and the Thursday and Saturday Bakehouse will continue throughout the holiday period except on Boxing Day.

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Upcoming events at Box Hill

Christmas Day Service – 9:30am (finishing about 10.15am)

Last Breakfast service – 29 December @ 10am

Worship without Words – A Year in Reflection – 29 December @ 7pm

Regular Weekly Events

• Monday
  • 6pm-9pm. Social Table Tennis (upstairs of the Village Well)
• Thursday:
  • 11am to 1pm Social Chat: Coffee, tea, ping pong, gardening activities, simple English language, Tai Chi, friendship making. (Venue: upstairs above the Village Well.)
  • 1.30-2.30pm Community Bakehouse food distribution (in the Barn.)
• Friday
  • 6pm-9pm. Social Table Tennis (upstairs of the Village Well)
• Saturday
  • 7:30-8:30am Community Bakehouse (in the Barn)

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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!)

• Explorers, & Bible Chats: Tuesdays, 7:30pm at the Village Well (5 Ellingworth Pde). The groups undertakes studies on a diverse range of topics including scripture, books, videos, and other resources.
• KYB (Know Your Bible): Tuesdays fortnightly via Zoom. (Convenor: Helen Timms)

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Bible Readings for this week

First reading and Psalm

Zephaniah 3:14-20

Isaiah 12:2-6

Second reading

Philippians 4:4-7

Gospel

Luke 3:7-18

Worship Roster

Order of Service

• Call to Worship
• Lighting of the Advent Candle
• Prayer
• Song: It came upon the midnight clear
• Welcome & Community News
• Offering and Prayer
• Pastoral Prayer
• Song: O come, O come Immanuel
• Sermon (Rev Sue McDonald)
• Song: In a Byrne near Bethlehem
• Continuing to decorate our tree
• Benediction & close.

Community News

+ It was a wonderful gathering of people as our Community Shed opened up last Sunday. Thanks to everyone who attended, and of course to Glenn and the other members of the Shed who have helped pull this together. You can find out more about the shed and join here.

+ Tuesday evening is our fortnightly Bible Chats, and we will be exploring Luke 1:26-38. This will be our final Bible Chat for the year, so pop along and share your thoughts on Mary’s role in the Christmas story. From 7:30pm, 5 Ellingworth Pde.

+ This Friday we invite everyone in our community (and your friends, neighbours and family!) to join us for our Dinner & Carols, commencing at 6pm, featuring some favourite songs and a simple liturgy to help us focus on what’s important this Christmas. This will be a potluck style dinner, so if you’re coming please bring along some food to share.

+ At the first meeting of our church diaconate this week, we’re delighted to announce that Shueh Wah Kenned was re-appointed as the Chair for the next year. Thanks Shueh Wah!!

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Upcoming events at Box Hill

Friday December 13 – Dinner and Carols @ the Barn – 6pm start as we share in a time of food and festive songs – Please bring a dish to share!

Regular Weekly Events

• Monday
  • 6pm-9pm. Social Table Tennis (upstairs of the Village Well)
• Tuesday:
  • Community Choir (in the church) from 9:30am
  • Study Groups from 7:30pm (Village Well) – this week, Bible Chats.
• Wednesday:
  • 8pm. Prayer Link: Thirty minutes of prayer via this Zoom link.
• Thursday:
  • 10am. English Language Classes (Barn)
  • 11am to 1pm Social Chat: Coffee, tea, ping pong, gardening activities, simple English language, Tai Chi, friendship making. (Venue: upstairs above the Village Well.)
  • 1.30-2.30pm Community Bakehouse food distribution (in the Barn.)
• Friday
  • 10am to 11.30am Playgroup for children 0-5 years of age and their parents. Grandparents and carers in the Barn.
  • 6pm-9pm. Social Table Tennis (upstairs of the Village Well)
• Saturday
  • 7:30-8:30am Community Bakehouse (in the Barn)

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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!)

• Explorers, & Bible Chats: Tuesdays, 7:30pm at the Village Well (5 Ellingworth Pde). The groups undertakes studies on a diverse range of topics including scripture, books, videos, and other resources.
• KYB (Know Your Bible): Tuesdays fortnightly via Zoom. (Convenor: Helen Timms)

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Bible Readings for this week

First reading and Psalm

Malachi 3:1-4

Luke 1:68-79

Second reading

Philippians 1:3-11

Gospel

Luke 3:1-6

Worship Roster

Looking for a fresh, peaceful way to connect spiritually? Join us for Worship without Words, an evening of quiet contemplation and shared reflection, where music, imagery, and movement create space for worship beyond language.

This service is designed to transcend cultural and linguistic barriers, welcoming people from all backgrounds. By removing words, we create a more inclusive and contemplative environment, allowing everyone to experience worship in their own way – through sound, sight, and stillness.

📅 Date: September 29 (and the last Sunday of each month thereafter)
🕖 Time: 7:00 PM
📍 Location: Box Hill Baptist Church

Whether you’re new to faith, exploring spirituality, or just in need of peace, this is a unique opportunity to gather, reflect, and find quiet connection. Come as you are and experience worship without words.

We’re very excited to introduce Wei Min Zhang to the team to Box Hill Baptist Church, as Min works alongside our community here for the next 3 months to help build stronger bridges between the church and our local Mandarin-speaking community members.

She’ll be doing some invaluable work in helping people connect to BHBC’s programs and activities, as well as helping inform the church about how we can best support our community.

Min will be popping up all over the place in the coming weeks, so we hope you find a chance to say hi!

Free on a Tuesday evening? Then join in with some warm fellowship and insightful study as a number of our bible and study groups gather together in the one place with something for everyone!

Join us at 7:15pm for supper, and then at 7:45pm we split into two groups:

• Bible Chats – Which looks at the upcoming lectionary reading and together with Rev Geoff explores its interpretation, meaning and application – and helps inform the sermon for the following Sunday! So a great opportunity to help yourself grow, and contribute to the growth of our entire church!
• Explorers – Who are taking on the challenge of creating a new, biblically grounded, contemporary and inclusive introductory series for people new to the faith (or just wanting to find out more). If you’d love to get behind that, we’d love to have your input!

Everyone is welcome – whether you’re a regular member, or a complete newcomer. We’d love to see you there.

It all takes place at the Village Well (5 Ellingworth Pde – just two doors down from the church).

Jesus did some of his most important work over meals, so we’re following that example – and you’re invited!

At the end of every month we join together to worship informally over breakfast. It’s a wonderful opportunity to share our journeys, challenges, joys and needs with a warm, affirming community in a relaxed, friendly environment.

Each Breakfast is different, but there will often be a short reflection, some readings from the bible and maybe a prayer or two – but with plenty of time to explore some questions with your breakfast neighbours and make some new friends.

Everyone is welcome and breakfast is free!

All are welcome as we enter the season and celebration of Easter with a range of diverse, meaningful and engaging services, designed to help you connect with the meaning of Easter, and each other.

• Palm Sunday, 24 March at 10am – Together we join in celebration and anticipation as Jesus enters into Jerusalem for the last time.
• Maundy Thursday, 28 March at 6:30pm – Fellowship Meal and Last Supper Reflections. Tonight we will gather around the table with the community, just as Jesus did, and share in the anxiety and pain of those final hours. (Please contact office@boxhillbaptist.org.au if you are planning to attend to help us plan for catering).
• Good Friday Service, 29 March at 9:30am – This morning we focus on the symbol and sacrifice of the cross – in more ways than one!
• Easter Sunday Last Breakfast Service, 31 March at 10am. Join us as we follow in the footsteps of Jesus with ‘breakfast at the beach’, including a free breakfast as we unpack Jesus’ resurrection.

Welcome to the Box Hill Village Market – Easter edition! Join us for a festive day filled with delicious treats, unique crafts, and a vibrant atmosphere. The market will be held at 3-5 Ellingworth Parade (10am-2pm), where you can browse through a variety of stalls offering everything from homemade candles, handcrafted decorations, food, honey and all sorts of locally made crafts and goods.

There will also be a range of food on offer, and even an Easter themed scavenger hunt and free fairy floss for the kids!

Bring your family and friends to enjoy the Easter spirit and support local artisans. Don’t miss out on this special event! No need to register, just come along!