Over the next three Sundays we are returning to Kingdomtide – the period on the church calendar in which the focus is on growth in mission, service, and faith. We will be following that with a series on The Fruit of the Spirit as we head towards the end of the year.

While growth in maturity as followers of Jesus has always been important, it seems especially timely at this cultural moment. Our world has built its house on a faulty foundation and now, as the waters rise, is finding out in real time just how bankrupt wealth is, how impotent power is, how ignorant education alone is, and how limited self-sufficiency is as a foundation for the good life.

The swift erosion of these foundations (among others) has left many looking for a stable place to stand. In a volatile, unpredictable, complex, and ambiguous world, a life built on a rock that will never be overwhelmed is appealing.

I remember, as a kid, swimming in one of the Great Lakes where the waves and current had cut a trench a short way off the shore. The trench was deep – over my head – but just beyond it was a sand bar where the water was only shin-high. Other boys had gone out before me and were standing on the sand bar. Their presence there was enough to traverse the trench to be someplace I could stand again.

Our lives built on the rock of hearing the words of Jesus and putting them into practice is an encouragement to those around us who are in the trench, with no place to stand. As we return to a focus on our maturity as followers of Jesus, let us build our lives, ever more solidly, on the rock so that others too may find a place to stand!

Marc Rader | Senior Pastor

This Sunday:

This Sunday we’re jumping back into our Kingdomtide sermon series, after wrapping up Origin Story: Studies in Genesis 1–11.

We’d LOVE to hear your thoughts on the Origin Story series! If you have a spare moment, please fill out this short survey, we’d really value your feedback.

[Click here to complete the survey]

Don’t forget, HopeDrive is also on from 1:30–3:30pm, lets be big hearted and others focused in that space this month. 

Stick around after the 9am service for tea and coffee, and after the 6pm service for dinner together!

Save The Date:

10th October: Kids Disco 

18th October: Fair Trade Market

6th December: Ladies Gingerbread Decorating Afternoon

While God’s purposes to renew and restore the world are good, His plans to do that often seem upside down don’t they? For one, God wants to use us! In John 17:13 Jesus prays to His Father about his disciples before He leaves them and asks that “they may have the full measure of my joy within them”. That’s nice. But He goes straight on to say how the world hates them like it does Him and He prays “that you protect them from the evil one.”! It would seem that our lives as followers of Jesus will be met with opposition, persecution and hostility. It’s a spiritual war out there, but there can be joy, great joy on the inside, that gives us strength. After all, Jesus lives in us, and through the power of His Holy Spirit, by faith, we will overcome the difficulties we face with thanksgiving, not anger, trust, not fear, because the Lord is with us working out His plans and purposes whether we understand how or not. So how should we then live?
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 says it simply - “Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus."

Sonia Beresford, Elder

Hopetember is an initiative we run each September at GBC to support the life-changing work of Hopefield.

The goal this year is to raise $35,000 to fund a clinical counsellor two days a week, offering professional support to the most vulnerable in our community. This will be a counselling service for those impacted by trauma and domestic violence. So far, $28,188 has been raised! We invite you to prayerfully consider making a donation of any size to help us reach our goal.

Every donation is a step toward healing, restoration, and renewed hope!

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We are planning to hold a baptism service on Sunday October 19. Baptist churches across Australia are doing the same as part of Baptism Week. If you would like to be baptised or would like to learn more about what baptism means fill in the expression of interest form and we’ll be in touch. We’re looking forward to celebrating lives changed by Jesus!

The Fair Trade Market is a wonderful way to engage with our community! The Fair Trade Team need volunteers to help make the day happen. This could include packing up or down, helping on the BBQ, welcoming people, supervising the kids’ jumping castle—and much more! We’re also looking for cake makers to contribute to our cake stall.

You’ll find the Fair Trade Team at the tall black tables after church, ready to chat and sign you up. Alternatively, you can email fairtrade@gymeabaptist.org.au

Let's give generously to help families and individuals experience kindness and a practical helping hand. HopeDrive is always the last Sunday of the month - donations can be brought in during the week or on Sundays, or use our Drive-Thru Drop Off from 1:30 - 3:30pm. Every donation matters.

Christmas Trees Wanted!

Can you belive Christmas is coming up again?!

We are hoping to 'grow' a forest of Christmas trees for our Festival of Christmas this year, 21st-23rd December.

If you have a tree you could donate for the weekend of the festival, or if your thinking of purchasing a new tree this year and are needing to offload your old Christmas tree please contact Jackie Martin [HERE]

Kids Worship Disco is coming up on Friday, 10th October!

Dinner at 5:30pm 

Dance and Praise at 6pm-7pm

$5 for a hotdog, doughnut and glowsticks!

* Please continue to pray for the Drury family and for Karen Watkins as they each recover from major neurosurgery.

* While we don’t know of any other specific updates, we encourage you to pray for all those in our church family who may be unwell, weary, injured, or struggling in any way. 

If you have something for Family News, contact office@gymeabaptist.org.au or call on 9521 4611. 

You are invited to join us for a short but effective time of “zoom” prayer Thursday at 7:30pm. A 30 minute guided prayer led by one of our wonderful GBC Elders. You can join in using this link JOIN PRAYER ZOOM or using the Meeting ID: 919 1693 5880 Passcode: f603j2. We look forward to spending this time together in prayer.

Following the completion of the wall, part two of the restoration work (from the April 2024 flooding) will begin this week. The auditorium and lounge area will be closed during the week.

Because of these works, we’ll need to clear out the auditorium after the PM service on Sunday, this includes stacking chairs and moving the two sandstone wall props. If you’re at the PM service, we’d absolutely love your help!!

Black Box Parenting for mums is a free 5 week program facilitated by Hopefield in Cronulla for mums who have experienced tough life challenges. If you know a mum in your sphere who’s had some challenging life experiences, this program provides skills to build confidence in parenting. Program starts 14th Oct