After a leave-shortened week and leading into a long weekend, I thought I would simply post this proverb as a reminder to trust the Lord in all ways and at all times!

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all you ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” (Proverbs 3:5-6)

See you Sunday!

Marc Rader | Senior Pastor

This Sunday:

Daylight saving starts this weekend! Don’t forget to set your clocks forward one hour on Saturday night

9:30am Service: Join us for church and then stick around afterwards for tea and coffee

6:00pm Service: Come back in the evening and stay afterwards for dinner together

We’d love to see you at either service (or both!)

Save The Date:

10th October: Kids Disco (rego on Linktree)

18th October: Fair Trade Market (volunteers still needed)

6th December: Ladies Gingerbread Decorating Afternoon

Prayers on the edge - Collective compassion

Reflecting on a year since stepping down as a NSW Ambulance Chaplain—having almost 40 years in the emergency services—I have been reminded of the vital role of compassion in crisis situations, particularly those involving life-or-death consequences

Crisis points, while dangerous, can be transformative moments leading individuals from peril toward hope and a better future.

Ministry in trauma settings is described as “ministry on the edge,” offering both risk to the carer’s own wellbeing and profound opportunities to serve at moments of deep human need. These experiences, while consuming, also allow for significant personal growth and deeper spiritual insight.

Drawing from 1 Corinthians 9:24, in “running the race before us”, this underscores the importance of community and teamwork in sustaining those in caregiving roles, noting that chaplains never serve alone but within a supportive, supervised team.

Ultimately, this leads me to focus on collective compassion—expressed through prayer—to bring healing, wholeness, and closeness to God into our world, communities, and personal lives.

Please join us on Thursday nights at 7:30pm for 30min of guided zoom “prayers on the edge “led by one of GBC’s Elders.

Greg Williams, Elder

Gymea Baptist Church has been made aware that someone is impersonating our senior pastor, Marc Rader, by creating false gmail accounts and sending phishing emails to current and past attendees of GBC. We are in the process of investigating how email addresses were accessed by working with Elvanto. We can confirm that our main database with confidential information, financial information, child/youth details, visitor details, and external group details has not been breached.  While we are investigating, the GBC Member Directory access via GBCLinks has been removed. GBC has posted onto our social media and sent an email from the office to all currently list in our main database who have allowed general emails to alert people of the scam. GBC has reported the scam to ScamWatch.

If you receive an email from what appears to be Marc, please check the email address closely.  If it is from a gmail account, please block the sender and delete. If your email platform has a way for you to report the scam, please do so via your email's platform. You can also report directly to ScamWatch: https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/report-a-scam.

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

School holidays have begun, but the fun doesn’t stop at GBC!

5:30PM: Sausage sizzle dinner + a doughnut for dessert
6:00–7:30PM: Disco time!

$5 for a hotdog, doughnut and glowsticks!

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 Team are still in need of 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! 

The Fair Trade Market is a wonderful way to engage with our community! 

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

The leadership is now accepting nominations from the members of GBC for the roles of Church Council member and Elder. The Position Descriptions can be found bellow. Essentially, the Church Council have oversight of the vision, strategy, and risk management for GBC and Elders are primarily involved in congregational care. Nominations are open until Friday, October 17. If you would like to nominate someone for one of these roles send an email to Marc.Rader@gymeabaptist.org.au. It is not strictly necessary to gain permission from the individual you would like to nominate. All names received will be considered by the Nominating Committee in preparation for our AGM I in November.

CLICK HERE FOR ELDER POSITION DESCRIPTION

CLICK HERE FOR CHURCH COUNCIL POSITION DESCRIPTION

The restoration works are underway. The carpet has been removed from the auditorium, lounge, parents room, and media room.  A new hearing loop will be installed on Tuesday next week followed by the carpet laying. The space is open and ready for Sunday services although a bit industrial feeling.

Come along to the Embrace Ladies Morning Tea on Wednesday 15th October from 10.00am til 11.30am at Jack Gray’s Café, Grays Point. Invite a friend and catch up with the ladies from GBC. Register with Janine at the tall table after the service to reserve a spot or contact her on 0405 629 790.

Each September at GBC we run Hopetember to support the life-changing work of Hopefield. This year our goal was to raise $35,000 to fund a clinical counsellor two days a week, providing professional support for the most vulnerable in our community.

We are excited to share that we reached and surpassed our goal, raising a total of $39,941.20!

A huge thank you to everyone who gave and prayed for this initiative!

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

​

Sutherland Board Of Christian Education

Dear SBCE Supporters,
Thank you for generous support and prayers for Scripture at Kirrawee & Gymea High Schools with Joanne and Aaron.
A “Boardwalk” is being held on the Weekend of October 18/19 as a fundraiser. Sponsor your Church representative (it is tax-deductible)or do a walk/run/cycle for SBCE yourself and collect from your family/friends. 
 If you’d like to donate to Team SBCE remember it is tax-deductible-
SBCE Westpac BSB: 032059 A/C 259320 Contact SBCE Treasurer on  sbcescripture@gmail.com for a receipt.
Sue McCubben
Secretary

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]

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.

* 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. 

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