Welcome to Worship
This Sunday 21 December at 10am – Fourth Sunday in Advent.
+ Worship Leader: Eddie Chapman; Preacher: Sue McDonald.
+ Scripture: John 1:1-13
+ Theme: ‘Love that Arrives’ in our Advent Series ‘The Light We Carry’.
Order of Service
- Call to Worship
- Song: Christmas is Near
- Community News
- Prayer & Offering
- Song: In Bethlehem
- Bible Reading: John 1:1-13
- Song: Infant Holy
- Sermon (Sue McDonald)
- Song: Nothing is lost on the love of God
- Prayers & Candle lighting
- Song: Born in the night, Mary’s child
- Benediction.
Community News
+ We grieve with those who are suffering and afraid as a result of the targeting of Jewish people celebrating Hanukkah at Bondi Beach last Sunday evening. Pray for the families of the victims and the Jewish community in Australia and beyond that they may know the comfort and peace of God in these difficult days.
+ Eversley Farnbach has made the decision, along with her family, to move to Casterton to live with two of her sons, Tony and Ian. Eversley will leave Melbourne some time in February which gives us and her a little time to get used to this news. She says that she will miss her beloved church and all that goes with it (music, choir, Bible & Chat, soirées and more). We will miss Eversley but we will look forward to her frequent visits to Melbourne.
+ In January, in a month of Sundays, we’ll be embarking on a sermon series on the subject and practice of drinking in beauty.

+ A service of thanksgiving was held last Wednesday for Grazia Sedawie’s mother, Beverley Ruth Sidari. Pray for Grazia and Jon, their siblings, children and clan as they grieve in this season of celebration.
+ Thanks to the Box Hill Community Choir for their recent public performances at the Mont Albert Village last Friday and at Box Hill Central last Tuesday.

+ Congratulations to Dr. Shueh Wah Kennedy as she officially received her Doctorate this week after many years of hard work!
Food for Thought and Action
+ Pray for peace along the Thai-Cambodian border, protection and provision for families as 400,000 people have been evacuated, wisdom for political leaders and comfort for those experiencing fear and uncertainty.
+ Keep up your connections in the new year. For older adults, social connection is one of the strongest predictors of brain health, with evidence it lowers dementia risk and slows cognitive decline, AARP says.
+ The poet, Luci Shaw,who wroteseveral volumes of poetry, many of which were on spiritual themes, died earlier this month at the age of96. Here is one of the tributes.
+ Check out Hugh Mackay, talking about his new book, ‘Just Saying’ [a Christmas gift idea?] and offering some reflections on Australian society in 2025. He offered these views on Monday Matters with Ian Bunston last Monday.
Coming soon
+ Christmas Day service – Thursday 25 December – 9:30am
+ Last Breakfast service – Sunday 28 December – 10am: Join us for our last Last Breakfast of the year, and bring those Christmas leftovers!
This Week
Monday
+ 2pm-5pm Bike Restoration and Rescue Session at the Community Shed: (rear 470 Station St, Box Hill) – The Bike sessions will be on hiatus over January, and returning in February.
+ 4.30pm-8.30pm Social Table Tennis (upstairs, 5 Ellingworth Pde)
Friday
+ 4.30-8.30pm: Social Table Tennis (upstairs, 5 Ellingworth Pde)
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 28 December at 10am.
+ Worship Leader: Eddie Chapman;

Worship Roster








