News & Events

Welcome to Worship

This week we celebrate our monthly Communion Service with a reflection on the first Sunday in The Last Week in the life of Jesus (Mark 11:1-11)

Our offering for this week includes the contribution of non-perishable food items for the needy in our area, so please come prepared if you are able.

After the service we will be moving to the Barn for a church meeting and lunch – Everyone is welcome!

Order of Service

• Call to Worship : Psalm 118 
• Song:  In a byre near Bethlehem
• Prayer
• Welcome, Community News
• Offering
• Song : Ride on, ride on in Majesty 
• Scripture Reading: Mark 11:1-11
• Sermon – Geoff
• Song : Jesus calls us here to meet him
• Communion  – Geoff
• Pastoral Prayers – Geoff
• Song/Benediction : Go out to the world in peace

Community News

+ A Church Member’s Meeting will follow the service this Sunday, 2 March. The main items on the agenda will be discussion on the proposed new BHBC constitution and a recommendation that BHBC joins the Open Baptists Association. The draft constitution and information about the proposal to join the Open Baptists has been emailed out.

+ Check out the current worship roster at this link.

+ Got any old bikes lying around? Our Community Shed is soon going to commence Monday afternoon sessions focused on restoring and rebuilding bicycles to sell and share with the community (as well as supporting the community with basic bike maintenance and skill sharing). Speak to Eddie if you can help.

+ If you’d like to know more about any of the basic steps in following Jesus such as believing, baptism, church membership or if you’re curious to know how things happen in a Baptist church, do have a chat with Eddie or Geoff.

+ The Baptist Union of Victoria is inviting people to attend their upcoming consultations.

+ The City of Whitehorse is offering a range of activities for enjoyment and to foster creativity.

This Week

Monday:

Monthly meeting of the Deacons.

Tuesday

+ The Box Hill Community Choir won’t be meeting as the leaders are on holiday.

+ 7.15pm Coffee/tea for a 7.30pm start: Bible & Chat in the Village Well. Eddie will be getting your good ideas on The Last Week of Jesus with a focus on Monday as described in Mark 11: 12-19.

Wednesday

10am-3pm The Community Shed for women and men to do general woodwork. The Shed is located behind the Box Hill Community Arts Centre, 470 Station St, Box Hill. Contact Glenn Campbell for more details.

8pm: Prayer Link: Some moments via Zoom to pray together. Here is the link.

Thursday

10am-12 midday The English Language Group is held in the Barn. It runs from 10am to 12 midday and includes morning tea. Gold coin donation. Convenor: Lynne Dyer.

11am-1pm upstairs in the Village Well: Social Chat Group—basic English language and Aussie culture, table tennis, Tai Chi, tea/coffee, friendship-making.

1.30pm-2.30pm Bakehouse in the Barn: Saving bread, fruit and vegetables from waste by giving food to those wanting to ease their weekly budget.

7.30pm-9pm Study and Discussion Group meets in the Gallery. Convenor: Andy McCulloch.

Friday

10am-11.30am Playgroup in the Barn for children, 0-4 years of age and their parents, grandparents and carers.

Saturday

7.30am-8.30am Bakehouse in the Barn.

Coming up

+ From Wednesday March 12, we will be hosting a new series of Midweek Jams: live music practice and networking sessions at the church, from 7-10pm. These are aimed to help support our local musicians and artists, and help contribute to a vibrant local live music scene. Make sure to share this event with any musicians you know!

+ The Box Hill Community Choir will be performing in the Box Hill Mall on Tuesday March 18 between 10am and 11am. Plan to come to support them, enjoy the music and have coffee together afterwards.

+ On 24 March 2025 at 7.15pm for 7.30pm ‘Understanding Trans Lives’: An opportunity to hear stories, gain insights about the variety of transgender people and issues and ask questions of counsellor Matt Glover and trans person, Sally Goldner. This is an open invitation to all who would like to learn more.

Food for Thought, Prayer & Action

+ ‘A Strategy for Christian Witness Against Trump’s Autocracy,’ Sojourners, 20 February 2025.

+ ‘Michael Leunig-a rare genius who re-enchanted our world.’ The eulogy to Leunig given by Emeritus Professor, David Tacey with link to recording of Leunig’s Memorial Service, The Living Water, 23 February 2025.

+ Imagine a worship service at Box Hill Baptist where there is a live translation from English to Mandarin, Khmer, Farsi or 120+ other languages. A number of churches are using machine translation whereby people can read the text on their phone or use an earpiece attached to their phone to receive an audio in their preferred language. Peter Bates has compiled a report on churches in England, the platform they are using and their assessment. Check out Peter Bate’s article, ‘How to Decide Whether to Use Machine Translation in Church service’ and let us know your comments.  

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)
• A Small Group meets in the Gallery on the first and third Thursday of the month from 7.30pm-9pm. Convenor: Andy McCulloch.
• The Explorers Group is preparing for a restart in early May for people wanting to explore the Christian faith for the first time or take a refresher. This will be a 12-part series. Ask Eddie Chapman for more details.

Next Sunday 9 March 2025 at 10am

+ Service led by Keith Dyer and Eddie reflecting on the events of Monday in The Last Week in the life of Jesus.

+ Scripture: Mark 11: 12-19

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Worship Roster

Community News

This Sunday 23 February 2025

+ The Last Breakfast at 10am led by Eddie Chapman. Breakfast together with worship on the side. Please bring food to share with others.

+ The monthly quiet and short service—‘Worship Beyond Words’—takes place in the church at 7pm.

Next Sunday 2 March 2025 at 10am

+ Our monthly Communion Service.

+ Worship Leader: Lorraine Mitchell; Preacher: Geoff Pound.

+ Scripture: Mark 11: 1-11.

+ Being the first Sunday of the month our offering will include non-perishable food items for the needy in our area.

This Week

Tuesday

Normally the Box Hill Community Choir meets each Tuesday morning but this Tuesday and the next, the choir won’t be meeting as the leaders are on holiday.

7.15pm Coffee/tea for a 7.30pm start: Bible & Chat in the Village Well. Join us for the new Lenten series as we look at The Last Week of Jesus. This week we’ll focus on Sunday as described in Mark 11: 1-11.

Wednesday

10am-3pm The Community Shed for women and men to do general woodwork. The Shed is located behind the Box Hill Community Arts Centre, 470 Station St, Box Hill. Contact Glenn Campbell for more details.

8pm: Prayer Link: Some moments via Zoom to pray together. Here is the link.

Thursday

10am-12 midday The English Language Group is held in the Barn. It runs from 10am to 12 midday and includes morning tea. Gold coin donation. Convenor: Lynne Dyer.

11am-1pm upstairs in the Village Well: Social Chat Group—basic English language and Aussie culture, table tennis, Tai Chi, tea/coffee, friendship-making.

1.30pm-2.30pm Bakehouse in the Barn: Saving bread, fruit and vegetables from waste by giving food to those wanting to ease their weekly budget.

Friday

10am-11.30am A Playgroup in the Barn for children, 0-4 years of age and their parents, grandparents and carers.

Saturday 7.30am-8.30am Bakehouse in the Barn.

Notices and News

+ Our next Church Member’s Meeting will follow the service on 2 March. The main items on the agenda will be discussion on the proposed new BHBC constitution and a recommendation that BHBC joins the Open Baptists Association. The draft constitution and information about the proposal to join the Open Baptists has been sent out this week to church members. Let us know if this email didn’t reach you.

+ We commence a new Lenten series on Sunday 2 March entitled ‘The Last Week’. Over the next seven weeks we’ll be taking a closer look at the events of that first ‘Holy Week’ which was the last week in the earthly life of Jesus. We’ll be focusing each Sunday and on the preceding Tuesday at the Bible & Chat group, on the readings in Mark’s Gospel suggested by Marcus Borg and John Dominic Crossan in their book, The Last Week. This is a good resource for people wanting to go deeper.

+ Check out the current worship roster at this link.

+ As we welcome Eddie back on deck this week, we express grateful thanks to those who picked up different tasks in his absence.

+ Box Hill Baptist joins with many churches in the City of Whitehorse (under the banner of ‘Whitehorse Churches Care’) to do things like running a Community Space at the Forest Hill Chase. Read about the many events of the WCC, including the farewell to Kerryn Pell and a welcome to Karen Breen (new coordinator at the Chase).

+ If you’d like to know more about any of the basic steps in following Jesus such as believing, baptism, church membership or if you’re curious to know how things happen in a Baptist church, do have a chat with Eddie or Geoff.

+ The Box Hill Community Choir will be performing in the Box Hill Mall on Tuesday March 18 between 10am and 11am. Plan to come to support them, enjoy the music and have coffee together afterwards.

Food for Thought, Prayer & Action

+ Check out the latest articles at the Centre for Public Christianity (CPX)—about Conclave, Death, anti-Semitism, Tim Winton’s lecture and more—without hitting a paywall.

+ The BUV website has posts about the latest stories from around the churches, forthcoming events, resources and training opportunities and more.

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)

·       A Small Group meets in the Gallery on the first and third Thursday of the month from 7.30pm-9pm. Convenor: Andy McCulloch.

·       The Explorers Group is preparing for a restart in early May for people wanting to explore the Christian faith for the first time or take a refresher. This will be a 12-part series. Ask Eddie Chapman for more details.

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Worship Roster

Order of Service

• Call to worship
• Prayer
• Song:  Today I am awake
• Welcome & Community News
• Offering
• Song:  Be thou my vision
• Scripture reading:  Matthew 4:1-11
• Song:  Strong & constant
• Sermon: Wisdom and Courage for the Living of these Days
• prayers for our world
• Song: God of grace and God of glory
• Benediction

Community News

This Sunday 16 February 2025

+ Morning Worship at 10am led by Shueh Wah.

+ Geoff Pound is preaching on the petition in ‘The Lord’s Prayer’, ‘Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil…’

+ Reading: Matthew 4: 1-11

Next Sunday 23 February 2025

+ The Last Breakfast—breakfast or brunch with worship on the side. Please bring food to share.

+ Leader: Eddie Chapman

This Week

Tuesday

7.15pm Coffee/tea for a 7.30pm start: Bible & Chat in the Village Well. The group this Tuesday will wrap up the study of The Lord’s Prayer, with a focus on the words: ‘for the Kingdom, the power and the glory are yours, forever and ever, Amen…’ and discussion about how we pray by ourselves and when we are together.

Wednesday

10am-3pm The Community Shed for women and men to do general woodwork. The Shed is located behind the Box Hill Community Arts Centre, 470 Station St, Box Hill. Contact Glenn Campbell for more details.

8pm: Prayer Link: Some moments via Zoom to pray together. Here is the link.

Thursday

10am-12 midday The English Language Group is held in the Barn. It runs from 10am to 12 midday and includes morning tea. Gold coin donation. Convenor: Lynne Dyer.

11am-1pm upstairs in the Village Well: Social Chat Group—basic English language and Aussie culture, table tennis, Tai Chi, tea/coffee, friendship-making.

1.30pm-2.30pm Bakehouse in the Barn: Saving bread, fruit and vegetables from waste by giving food to those wanting to ease their weekly budget.

7.30pm-9pm Gallery Group meets in the Gallery. Convenor: Andy McCulloch.

Friday

10am-11.30am A Playgroup in the Barn for children, 0-4 years of age and their parents, grandparents and carers.

Saturday 7.30am-8.30am Bakehouse in the Barn.

Notices and News

+ Our next Church Member’s Meeting will follow the service on 2 March. The main items on the agenda will be discussion on the proposed new BHBC constitution and a recommendation that BHBC joins the Open Baptists Association. The draft constitution and information about the proposal to join the Open Baptists has been sent out this week to church members. Sing out if this email didn’t reach you.

+ Date for the Diary: On 24 March 2025 at 7.15pm for 7.30pm we are holding an event called Some Truths About Trans: An opportunity to hear stories, gain insights about the variety of transgender people and issues and ask questions of counsellor Matt Glover and trans person, Sally Goldner. This is an open invitation to all who would like to learn more. Ask Geoff Pound for further information.

+ Check out the current worship roster at this link.

+ Our Local Community: The Whitehorse Council is considering ditching carbon offsets and putting ratepayer money to fund local environmental projects. Read More; More art to surprise, inspire and spark global conversations. Read on.

+ Check out the Open Baptists website and information about the Open Baptist Annual Gathering in March.

Food for Thought, Prayer & Action

+ Leaders in the tech industry talking about their faith, New York Times, (unlocked article).

+ “On funerals, loss, grief, friendship, and support: It’s not about knowing what to say. It’s about being there when nobody knows what to say. The only thing people need to hear is, ‘You are not alone.’ And that doesn’t require words. It just requires your presence.” James Clear.

+ Catch the joy when musicians play Beethoven’s Ode to Joy in the streets. Link.

+ Julia Baird’s article on ‘The Church’s Disappearing Women’ is about the Anglican branch of the church but much of it may be relevant to Baptist churches in Australia. ABC, 9 February 2025.

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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!)

·       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)

·       A Small Group meets in the Gallery on the first and third Thursday of the month from 7.30pm-9pm. Convenor: Andy McCulloch.

·       The Explorers Group is preparing for a restart in early May for people wanting to explore the Christian faith for the first time or take a refresher. This will be a 12-part series. Ask Eddie Chapman for more details.

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Worship Roster

Order of Service

• Call to Worship: Psalm 103  1-2, 6-18 Responsive reading
• SONG : Come as you are, that’s how I want you 
• Prayer
• SONG:  O Lord, you search me and you know me
• Welcome & Community News
• Offering
• Scripture reading:  Matthew 18:21-35
• Song:  Come refresh us with love
• Sermon: Graeme
• After sermon reflection : Forgive us Lord
• Pastoral Prayer
• Hymn 293: O breath of God come breathe within us

Community News

This Sunday 9 February 2025

+ Morning Worship at 10am led by Lorraine Mitchell.

+ We continue our series on ‘The Lord’s Prayer’ and Graeme Davison is preaching on the petition: ‘Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us’.

+ Reading: Matthew 18:21–35.

Next Sunday 16 February 2025

+ Morning Worship at 10am led by Shueh Wah.

+ Geoff Pound will be preaching on the petition in ‘The Lord’s Prayer’, ‘Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil…’

This Week

Tuesday

7.15pm Coffee/tea for a 7.30pm start: Bible & Chat in the Village Well. The group this Tuesday will continue the study of The Lord’s Prayer, with a focus on the petition: ‘and lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil…’

Wednesday

10am-3pm The Community Shed for women and men to do general woodwork. The Shed is located behind the Box Hill Community Arts Centre, 470 Station St, Box Hill. Contact Glenn Campbell for more details.

8pm: Prayer Link: Some moments via Zoom to pray together. Here is the link.

Thursday

10am-12 midday The English Language Group is held in the Barn. It runs from 10am to 12 midday and includes morning tea. Gold coin donation. Convenor: Lynne Dyer.

11am-1pm upstairs in the Village Well: Social Chat Group—basic English language and Aussie culture, table tennis, Tai Chi, tea/coffee, friendship-making.

1.30pm-2.30pm Bakehouse in the Barn: Saving bread, fruit and vegetables from waste by giving food to those wanting to ease their weekly budget.

Thursday 7.30-9.30pm in the Gallery, a new small group meets on the first and third Thursday of the month. See convenor, Andy McCulloch, for more details.

Friday

10am-11.30am The Playgroup in the Barn for children, 0-4 years of age and their parents, grandparents and carers.

Notices and News

+ Our next Church Member’s Meeting will follow the service on 2 March. The main items on the agenda will be Discussion on the proposed new BHBC constitution and a recommendation that BHBC joins the Open Baptists Association. The draft constitution and information about the proposal to join the Open Baptists will be sent out this week to church members.

+ Check out the new and current worship roster at this link.

+ A Providing Safety for LGBTQA People of Faith guide for pastors, faith leaders, small group leaders, youth leaders, volunteer helpers and interested Baptists  in churches of the Baptist Union has been developed and is available from this link.

+ Are you feeling called to explore God’s global mission but are unsure where to start? If so, join others online on Monday evenings (beginning 3 March) to Explore Mission with Baptist Mission Australia. For more information and to register, go to this link.

+ Dr Ros Otzen, will be presenting this year’s Geoffrey Blackburn memorial lecture entitled: “W Gordon Sprigg and the people of the Lake Tyers Aboriginal Reserve” at the first meeting of the year (includes AGM) for the Victorian Baptist Historical Society on 15 March at the Ashburton Baptist Church.

+ The BUV has announced that the Rev Robyn Song has been appointed to replace Rev Meewon Yang as the Intercultural Church Health Consultant.

+ The WellSpring Spirituality Centre is running a 10-week course on ‘Meditation and Mindfulness in the Christian Tradition.’ While registrations have closed, they may take latecomers but you may want to show your interest for when this course is repeated. Follow this link.

Food for Thought, Prayer & Action

+ The Centre for Public Christianity (CPX) has new articles, one on our culture’s reluctance to talk about death and another on the film, Conclave. If you go through the CPX web site you won’t hit any paywalls.

+ To check out the seven week Lenten podcast series sponsored by Common Grace follow this link.

+ David O’Halloran reckons that the story of the widow’s mite (Mark 12: 41-44) is a call to justice not simply a call to sacrificial giving. Link: Pearls and Irritations, 5 February 2025.

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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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Worship Roster

Order of Service

• Call to worship
• Song: ‘Father Welcomes all His Children’
• Prayer of gathering and confession
• Welcome and community news
• Song: ‘Father God in Heaven, Lord Most High’
• Offering & prayer
• Bible Reading: Luke 11:1–4; Matthew 6:5–13
• Song: ‘Father in Heaven, be your Name Hallowed’
• Sermon The Lord’s prayer: ‘give us today our daily bread’
• Song: ‘Let us Break Bread Together’ [verses 1 & 2]
• Communion
• Song: ‘Let us Break Bread Together’ [verse 3]
• Pastoral Prayer
• Benediction 

Community News

Notices and News

New Year’s greetings to those celebrating the Lunar calendar! May this year be one of growth, joy and fulfilment.

This Sunday 2 February 2025

+ Morning Worship at 10am. We continue our series on ‘The Lord’s Prayer’ and are studying the petition: ‘Give us this day our daily bread.’ Readings: Luke 11:1–4; Matthew 6:5–13.

+ Being the first Sunday of the month, you are invited to bring with your offering some non-perishable food items to be given to the needy in our area.

+ On the first Sunday of the month we celebrate the Lord’s Supper.

Next Sunday 9 February 2025

+ Morning Worship at 10am.

+ Graeme Davison will be preaching on the petition in ‘The Lord’s Prayer’, ‘Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us’.

This Week

Monday

7.30pm The Deacons have their first meeting for the year. Let the chair, Shueh-Wah, know if you have any item you’d like to have put on the agenda.

Tuesday

9.30am – 11am The Box Hill Community Choir recommences for the new year in our church building. New participants are very welcome to sing and share morning tea each Tuesday morning.

7.15pm Coffee/tea for a 7.30pm start: Bible & Chat in the Village Well. The group present this last week decided to have Bible & Chat each Tuesday night (now that the Explorers Group is not meeting) for the foreseeable future, except in the weeks when we are scheduling a seminar. This Tuesday we are studying the theme, ‘Forgive us our sins…’

Wednesday

10am-3pm The Community Shed on Wednesdays starts this week for women and men to do general woodwork. The Shed is located behind the Box Hill Community Arts Centre, 470 Station St, Box Hill. Contact Glenn Campbell for more details.

8pm: Prayer Link: Some moments via Zoom to pray together. Here is the link.

Thursday

10am-11.30am The English Language Group starts again in the Barn. It runs from 10am to 12 midday and includes morning tea. Gold coin donation.

11am-1pm upstairs in the Village Well: Social Chat Group—English language, table tennis, Tai Chi, tea/coffee, friendship-making. Waste Education Officer for the City of Whitehorse, Jessica Phillips, will be speaking about waste, recycling and what goes into each bin.

1.30pm-2.30pm Bakehouse in the Barn: Saving bread, fruit and vegetables from waste by giving food to those wanting to ease their weekly budget.

Friday

10am-11.30am The Playgroup commences in the Barn for children, 0-4 years of age and their parents, grandparents and carers.

Saturday

7.30am-8.30am Bakehouse in the Barn.

Notices and News

+ The new draft worship roster is out! Check it out here (https://boxhillbaptist.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/bhbc-roster-feb-june-2025.pdf). If you are not going to be able to do any of the tasks you are listed for, please chat to others and see if you can arrange a swap, and let the office know via email. Thanks as always to everyone who helps out with making our worship so meaningful, multi-faceted, and interactive! 

+ Let us know how you’d like to see our Box Hill Baptist Care Groups changed and improved for 2025! Please send us an email and let us know how you think we could improve these groups! Your feedback and perspectives will really help us make sure you (and others!) are meaningfully cared for and supported in the year to come. Send us an email at office@boxhillbaptist.org.au with your thoughts!

+ We are looking to schedule some seminars. Let Geoff know of topics and speakers you’d love to hear.

Food for Thought, Prayer & Action

+ Ian Bunston runs a Zoom conversation each week entitled ‘Monday Matters’. This Monday, 3 February 2025, from 8am to 9am , social researcher and writer, Hugh MacKay,  will be speaking about ‘Celebrating the Benefits of Community Connections and Australia’s social landscape as we head into 2025′. Click on the following link just before 8am: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89782648416

+ Tim Costello writes in the SMH and The Age for the Centre for Public Christianity on ‘Antisemitism and Islamophobia are not the only things rupturing our communities’, 17 January 2025. Link. Tim begins, “For the new year, I did something I had never done before. Rather than attend my own Protestant church, I went to a Catholic church on a Sunday morning…”

+ Justine Toh writes (13/1/25) in the Guardian Australia on the paradox of parenting—a self-sacrifice that ultimately creates space for something miraculous.

+ Prayer of Blessing for the New School Year:

May the gift of each new day be a chance to learn.

May our kindness and compassion be a moment to teach each other.

May the fragility of students, parents and staff be a place to build community.

May listening and encouragement be the well-spring of leadership.

May the passion of young people keep our hearts alive.

May the wisdom of older people keep our feet on the ground.

May laughter and joy spread like branches above us

May prayer and gratitude be our deepest roots.

May justice and peace ripen like fruit

as we grow in generosity

reaching out beyond our familiar world

to help those in need.

In this Year of Jubilee,

may we be Pilgrims of Hope.

May we find God in every

class, recess, game, performance, meeting,

discussion, assignment, friendship and lunch.

May we find God’s love and grace

in even our most ordinary days.

Amen.

Michael McGirr (2025)

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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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Worship Roster

This Sunday at 10am

This Sunday at 10am (26^th January 2025)

Being the last Sunday of the month, it is the day for our Last Breakfast. It is also Australia Day and the international Leprosy Mission Sunday.

+ Please bring food to share for breakfast or brunch.

+ An information flier is available plus an envelope for anyone who’d like to donate to The Leprosy Mission. Here is a link to donate electronically.

+ Jazz pianist, Andy Vance, will play three well-known hymns but give them a new twist.

Next Sunday at 10am (2nd February 2025)

+ We continue our series on The Lord’s Prayer with ‘Give us this day our daily bread’ being our focus.

+ Being the first Sunday of the month you are invited to bring with our offering some non-perishable food items to be given to the needy in our area.

+ On the first Sunday of the month we normally celebrate the Lord’s Supper.

This Week

+ Tuesday (28^th) 7.15pm for a cuppa and 7.30-8.45pm for the study. The Bible & Chat Group starts for the year in the ground floor of the Village Well (next to the Barn). This group runs every second Tuesday evening. This Tuesday we will reflect on The Lord’s Prayer and focus on the petition: ‘Give us this day our daily bread’.

+ Wednesday at 8pm the Prayer Link resumes for the year. This is 20-30 minutes of corporate prayer which we do together online. Here is the link.

Notices

+ A very happy new year to those who are following the Lunar calendar. The new year starts next Wednesday, 29 January and will be celebrated by people from countries including China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Vietnam, Korea, Philippines and Thailand.

+ News from the Baptist Union of Victoria

BUV Consultation Forums will take place throughout March.  These forums are an important part of our annual Victorian Baptist discernment process and are open to all members of all BUV churches. This year, our discernment process will focus on two important topics:

1.    Prioritising engaging the next generation in faith
2.    Church planting to reach our growing population

See dates and registration details.

Stories of events in Baptist Churches in Victoria.

+ Let us know how you’d like to see our Box Hill Baptist Care Groups changed and improved for 2025! No fancy surveys, no big discussion forums – just send us an email and let us know how you think we could improve these groups! Your feedback and perspectives will really help us make sure you (and others!) are meaningfully cared for and supported in the year to come. Send us an email at office@boxhillbaptist.org.au with your thoughts!

+ Grateful thanks to those who have stepped up to take on many tasks while Eddie is on holiday. There will undoubtedly be gaps and if you see something that needs to be done, please do it yourself or ask someone else to do it.

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Regular Weekly Events

Regular Weekly Events

• Monday
  • 6pm-9pm. Social Table Tennis (upstairs of the Village Well)
• Thursday:
  • 11am-1pm. Social Club (upstairs of the Village Well)
  • 1:30-2:30pm Community Bakehouse (in the Barn)
• Friday
  • 6pm-9pm. Social Table Tennis (upstairs of the Village Well)
• Saturday
  • 7:30-8:30am Community Bakehouse (in the Barn)
• Sunday
  • 9am-1pm Community Shed session (rear 470 Station St)

Worship Roster

Order of Service

• Call to worship
• Song: This is the time
• Bible Reading: Matthew 6:5-13 , Luke 11: 1-4
• “What is the Kingdom of God/Heaven like?” – Readings in two parts
• Song: We are many, we are one.
• Community News
• Offering
• Song: When the wagtail tips her tail
• Sermon
• Song: Daring Dancing Trinity
• Pastoral Prayer
• Closing Song: Deep stillness

Community News

This Sunday at 10am (19^th January 2025) we continue our series on The Lord’s Prayer and our focus will be the petitions:

“Your Kingdom Come, Your Will be Done on Earth as it is in Heaven.”

Next Sunday at 10am (26^th January 2025): Being the last Sunday of the month, it is the day for our Last Breakfast. It is also Australia Day and the international Leprosy Mission Sunday. Make sure to bring some food to share for breakfast or brunch!

+ This Sunday an information flier will be available and an envelope for anyone who’d like to donate to The Leprosy Mission. Here is a link to donate electronically.

+ Jazz pianist, Andy Vance, will play three well-known hymns but give them a new twist. Andy plays jazz music every Friday from 11.30am in the Forest Hill Chase Community Space which is sponsored by Whitehorse churches (including Box Hill Baptist Church).

This Week

Thursday 11am-1pm Social Chat gathering above Village Well.

Thursday 1.30pm-2.30pm Bakehouse in the Barn.

Notices and News

+ Eddie is taking annual leave from next Thursday, 23 January until Wednesday 19 February. A huge thanks to those who have offered to take on some of Eddie’s tasks in his absence. 

+ The Bible & Chat Group resumes on Tuesday week—the 28 January in the Village Well. This group which runs every second Tuesday evening commences at 7.15pm for a cuppa and our study goes from 7.30-8.45pm. We will begin this year by studying and discussing the Lord’s Prayer as we continue this Sunday series. Prior to Easter we will switch to a study of ‘The Last Week: What the Gospels Really Teach About Jesus’s Final Days in Jerusalem’ (aided by the book of the same title by Marcus Borg and John Dominic Crossan. New participants are very welcome and free to come for the series that are of interest to them.

+ Andy and Wendy McCulloch are also thinking of commencing a new group so this provides another option. Discussion themes, times, location are still to be decided by whoever might like to participate. Speak to Andy or Wendy about your interest.

+ We are contemplating some seminars that alternate on Tuesdays with the Bible & Chat Group. In this regard we have been talking with Dr Bruce Rumbold (Baptist minister at Box Hill, Professor of Pastoral Care at Whitley College, Professor in Public Health at La Trobe Uni and more) about some ideas that he might speak to and spark discussion but are yet to nail anything down. Let Geoff know some of the subjects you would like to hear about.

+ In 2024 some people at Box Hill Baptist started to create a study series for people beginning to explore the Christian faith and also be helpful for people who want to go deeper in some of the basics. In the early weeks of this year Eddie and Keith are working on the design and content of this series. After Easter (from the first week in May) the 12-week Explorers Group will be up and running and this will go in tandem with the Sunday services (so we’ll all be explorers).

+ In August this year we will mark the 100^th anniversary of the opening of our church building. It was opened on 29 August 1925. In 2026 we will celebrate the 125^th anniversary of the founding of Box Hill Baptist Church. We have established an Anniversary Committee chaired by Graeme Davison. Speak to Graeme if you have any suggestions of how we might celebrate.

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Upcoming events at Box Hill

Regular Weekly Events

• Monday
  • 6pm-9pm. Social Table Tennis (upstairs of the Village Well)
• Thursday:
  • 11am-1pm. Social Club (upstairs of the Village Well)
  • 1:30-2:30pm Community Bakehouse (in the Barn)
• Friday
  • 6pm-9pm. Social Table Tennis (upstairs of the Village Well)
• Saturday
  • 7:30-8:30am Community Bakehouse (in the Barn)
• Sunday
  • 9am-1pm Community Shed session (rear 470 Station St)

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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

Isaiah 62:1-5

Psalm

Psalm 36: 5-10

Second reading

1 Corinthians 12: 1-11

Gospel

John 2:1-11

Worship Roster

Order of Service

• Call to Worship
• Prayer
• Song: Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty.
• Welcome & Community News
• Offering & Offering Prayer
• Reflective Worship
• Song: God in heaven, Lord most high.
• Sermon: “Hallowed by your name”.
• Song: Bring Many Names
• Pastoral Prayer
• Song: Immortal, Invisible, God only wise.
• Benediction

Community News

+ We talk about Halloween but what does it mean when Jesus taught his disciples to pray: Hallowed be Your Name? Eddie is reflecting on this phrase this Sunday in the second sermon in our new year series on The Lord’s Prayer.

+ Like to get the weekly ‘Record’ (the Box Hill Baptist online newsletter)? It’ll keep you up to date with what’s happening in our church and community, forthcoming events, some people news and links to some interesting articles. Speak to Eddie or send him a note with your email to: office@boxhillbaptist.org.au

+ Being a member of Box Hill Baptist means “This is my community of faith. You can count on me to be involved and serve according to my time and gifts and I look forward to counting on you for support and care.” Talk to Eddie or Geoff to learn more of what membership involves, what Box Hill Baptist is on about and how a Baptist church operates.

+ News from Jim and Jane Barr at Walkerville.

Jim and Jane continue as (non-resident) members of Box Hill Baptist and we are glad to announce that Jim has just been appointed a ‘Long Term Supply’ Minister with the Uniting Church, working with the Foster Uniting Church Congregation. The appointment will be for the calendar year of 2025 and is for 1 day per week. It is a small church in the Parish of Corner Inlet. Part of our Parish is a National Park called Wilsons Promontory and we are also on the Great Southern Rail Trail so Jim says, “It’s worth coming to visit us!  We have a hymn service on the first Sunday of each month and a preaching/communion service on the third Sunday of each month.” Jim is also doing some long-range planning and he adds:

“On Easter Day we have a Dawn Service right where the Rail Trail crosses over the Hoddle Range. We worship as the sun rises behind Wilsons Prom and Corner Inlet – one of the most beautiful ways to celebrate the mystery of Resurrection. Contact Jim on 042 546 2277 if you would like to be part of it.”

+ Thanks for the wonderful response to Eddie’s request for help in picking up some of his responsibilities when he is on holiday from 23 January to 18 February. Some outstanding tasks for you to consider include……. Speak to Eddie asap if you can help.

+ Our church has had a long and rich relationship with Whitley College (currently located in Box Hill). If you’re thinking of doing some serious study of the Bible and theology, check out the subjects being offered this semester. If you want to enliven your spiritual life, check out the offerings at WellSpring. This Spirituality Centre is based in Ashburton.

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Upcoming events at Box Hill

Regular Weekly Events

• Monday
  • 6pm-9pm. Social Table Tennis (upstairs of the Village Well)
• Thursday:
  • 11am-1pm. Social Club (upstairs of the Village Well)
  • 1:30-2:30pm Community Bakehouse (in the Barn)
• Friday
  • 6pm-9pm. Social Table Tennis (upstairs of the Village Well)
• Saturday
  • 7:30-8:30am Community Bakehouse (in the Barn)
• Sunday
  • 9am-1pm Community Shed session (rear 470 Station St)

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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

Isaiah 43:1-7

Psalm

Psalm 29

Second reading

Acts 8:14-17

Gospel

Luke 3:15-17, 21-22

Worship Roster